REVIEW: Sever by Lauren DeStefano (The Chemical Garden #3)

Synopsis: 

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered

My Rating: 5/5 stars 

I love the way Lauren brings to life the story she tells in this amazing conclusion to Rhine's story. The way she starts off the book isn't ordinary, she goes right into where she left off without all the back story nonsense many end-of-trilogy-books have. Rhine is struggling in her relationship with her husband, sister wife and evil father-in-law. Linden, her husband, doesn't want to believe anything she says about his father. Cecily is pregnant (again) and she's more arrogant and selfish than ever. Vaughn won't give up on finding a cure and he'll do so at any cost. Rhine doesn't know where Gabriel is or if he's even alive and she STILL hasn't found her brother. Now they're at Linden's uncle Reeds house, and he couldn't be more different than his brother. Basically, Rhine has to be in a million places at once to fix everything. 

There's many plot twists, I threw my book across the room and yes I'm crying, there called FEELS look it up moments throughout reading this. Despite this, its still a very well written book, with quite possibly the most well wrapped up in a bow ending.  The way the author writes this story makes you want to keep reading. Its basically impossible to loose interest. There's  so many genres in one, its like a old fashioned/dystopian/sci-fi/survival story had a baby. Another thing I enjoyed  so much is the ammount of figurative language Lauren uses, it reminds me of Tahereh Mafi's (Shatter Me) style of writing in many ways. Some of the quotes are deep too like, "Hope, that risky, illustrious thing. It should have gone extinct by now, but we keep it alive...We hope for things we may not get to see, and we hold on with both hands because its one of the few things that can't be stolen from us. " I swear I just got teary from typing that, she's the master of making you FEEL things! 

Now, Lauren DeStefano has taken something away from me that I don't appreciate. I won't say what it is but I cried forever about it. (I STILL CRY) For that I will forever be sad. I must say that Sever is the most perfect title for this book because my heart sure is severed. *cries* This is quite possibly the best, most well written, heartbreaking conclusion I've ever read. You think you know feels?? HA sure, try reading this story. 

*current emotion* 

With that I must say it READ IT!!! Read the entire trilogy, trust me you love it. 

About the Author: 

Lauren DeStefano 

Lauren DeStefano (pronounced: de STEFF ano) is a lawn gnome enthusiast and New York Times bestselling author of some books, which you can find listed below this bio. For the first six years of her life, she thought she was a mermaid and still has her suspicions. When she isn't writing, she is often composing tweets that make as little sense as possible. They can be found here: https://twitter.com/LaurenDeStefano 

Visit her here: http://www.laurendestefano.com/

(Azelyn) 

REVIEW: Wither by Lauren DeSefano

Synopsis: 

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out? Together with one of Linden's servants-Gabriel-Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

My Rating: 4/5 stars 

So, I had been waiting to read Wither for quite some time now and I had heard such great things about it that I am happy to say I didn't disapoint. Granted it started it off a bit slow, but not "how on earth am I supposed to finish this first page" slow which is good. The way Lauren did world building in the beginning was great, she didn't start off in a usual way I mean the story opens when the main character, Rhine, has awoken from being kidnapped so she has to go back and fill in the details. I do like Rhine as a Character she wasn't to whinney or stubborn, and she wasn't too stereotypically pretty. 

Now for the things I didn't enjoy to much. I honestly think that this is not a meaty you have to pay attention to every detail type of book. There wasn't very shocking plot twists (except maybe one) and I kind of felt like "why am I reading this??" But that's escapist literature for you, sometimes you honestly don't know why your reading it but it makes you feel good. I think in the end the positive out weighs the negative in this book. 

I do have to say this story concept was very interesting. It's not like anything I've read before. Basically, its in the future when scientists have figured out how to have disease proof babies but there's a catch. Males die at 25 and Females at 20, so its very sombering. The whole time I was reading this I was thinking, "Would I want to live in a world where there are no diseases but you know your death date?" Uhhhh NO. I feel like I would be depressed all the time. So I think this world is up there in my top fictional worlds I'd pass up on. 

Overall, I'd say read it! Wither is a very different type of story that will pull you in and leave you wanting more. 

About Lauren DeSefano: 

Lauren DeStefano (pronounced: de STEFF ano) is a lawn gnome enthusiast and New York Times bestselling author of some books, which you can find listed below this bio. For the first six years of her life, she thought she was a mermaid and still has her suspicions. When she isn't writing, she is often composing tweets that make as little sense as possible. They can be found here: https://twitter.com/LaurenDeStefano 

Visit her online at: http://www.laurendestefano.com

(Azelyn) 

REVIEW: Panic by Lauren Oliver

(Synopsis)
Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars 

My Review:
Okay, so I don't normally like to give such low ratings but I really think it was only a 3.5. When I first started reading Panic I thought it was a bit slow, granted she was story building but it could have had a lot more. It begins with the actual game of Panic starting and then it goes to right before the game starts so it's kind of confusing. I do like the way she wrote Heather and Dodge's POV because they were both very different but also very much the same. They both lived in crap houses with family issues, but Dodge was used to moving around all the time and Heather had been stuck in Carp all her life.

Initially, Heather was not supposed to play Panic, but everyone has a reason to compete. Dodge played for revenge. Natalie, Heathers annoying friend, played for the money. (I'm not really sure why though because she was richer than Heather and Dodge..??) And Bishop, the side friend that kind of like LOVES Heather, doesn't play at all but he definitely has something to do with the game. That's another thing I really enjoyed, all the plot twists and the revealing of the rounds of Panic. There were definitely some times when I'd start to speed read because I was getting so into it and as I was finishing off the book, my heart was beating so fast because of the intensity of the story!

As an over all review I'd say: read it. Yes it starts out kind of slow but as the story goes on and the game continues, you can't put it down! Lauren Oliver has done it yet again, she has written another story that you can't help but love. If you enjoyed any of her other novels such as Delirium, or Before I fall, then I suggest picking up this over all great read!

About Lauren Oliver:

Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer every day, mulling over the difference between “chortling” and “chuckling,” is normal. She has always been an avid reader. 

She attended the University of Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After college, she attended the MFA program at NYU and worked briefly as the world’s worst editorial assistant, and only marginally better assistant editor, at a major publishing house in New York. Her major career contributions during this time were flouting the corporate dress code at every possible turn and repeatedly breaking the printer. Before I Fall is her first published novel. 

She is deeply grateful for the chance to continue writing, as she has never been particularly good at anything else.

Visit her at: http://www.laurenoliverbooks.com

(Azelyn) 

COVER REVEAL: The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore

            The cover for the 5th Lorien Legacies book is out!!

What do you guys think?? Why do you think it has grass on it? I think its because of Marina and her Legacies of healing plants/people. Though, it would have been cool if it was like ice or something since she recently developed that Legacie. And I hope that *spoiler* she figures out a way to bring eight back, BECAUSE THEY'RE MY OTP. Anyways if you guys haven't read any of these books, then you seriously need to get your priorities together. 

(Synopsis)
The worst was supposed to be over. We were reunited after a decade apart. We were discovering the truth of our past. We were training and getting stronger every day. We were even happy...

We never imagined the Mogodorians could turn one of our own against us. We were fools for trusting Five. And now Eight is lost forever. I would do anything to bring him back, but that's impossible. Instead, I will do whatever it takes to destroy every last one of them.

I've spent my entire life hiding from them, and they've stolen everything away from me. But that stops now. We're going to take the battle to them. We have a new ally who knows their weaknesses. And I finally have the power to fight back.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

Number Three in Kenya.

And Number Eight in Florida.

They killed them all.

I am Number Seven.

I will make them pay.

About Pittacus Lore:

Pittacus Lore is Lorien's ruling Elder. He has been on Earth for the last twelve years, preparing for the war that will decide Earth's fate. His whereabouts are unknown. 

Learn More at: http://www.iamnumberfourfans.com

(Azelyn)

REVIEW: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

[Synopsis]
Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.

This book was not what I was expecting at all. I was thinking more along the lines of young nobody becomes a heroine when she makes an amazing discovery. But no, Mara is not your typical girl, who has friendship issues and feels like she doesn't fit in. She's so much more than that. She has been through a horrific accident and has somehow survived. Now she has to move and starts suffering from PTSD. Mara also starts seeing things that shouldn't be there, and thinks that weird "coincidences" keep happening to her. Just when she thinks things can't get worse, Noah Shaw strolls right into her life. As the British school hottie, Mara thinks he would never notice her. Yet, why does he have such and interest in Mara and seems to know more about her than she does? 


The way Michelle Hodkin sets up Mara's life is very different, she makes it about something not every teen goes through. It makes you think how scary it would be to live Mara's life, having to take pills to be "normal" and being treated as an insane person. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is not like any book I have ever read, yes people may compare it to several stories but I think it is truly original, and must be read! 

P.S. Noah Shaw is MINE. :) 

About Michelle Hodkin: 

At the age of sixteen, Michelle Hodkin lost the rights to her soul in a poker game with pirates just south of Natchez. Shortly thereafter, she joined an acting troupe and traveled the world performing feats of wonder and mischief. She has been seen on stages nationwide and earned rave reviews for her one woman performance of Titus Andronicus before writing the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer Trilogy. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and its sequel, The Evolution of Mara Dyer are available now, and the third book in the trilogy, The Retribution of Mara Dyer, hits shelves in 2014. Michelle currently lives with her three pets and may or may not be a reliable narrator of her own life. 

You can visit her online at:
http://www.michellehodkin.com

[Azelyn]

Paper Towns...THE MOVIE!!!

It was recently announced that the novel Paper Towns by John Green, is going to the big screen!! We also found out that the same people who wrote/produced The Fault in Our Stars, another popular novel/ movie to be by John Green, will be doing Paper Towns!!  

The lead, Q, is going to be played by Nat Wolff, who also plays Issac in TFIOS. *squeals* 

Nat Wolff, "Q" 

 While the role of Margo has not been announced, I think that either Mae Whitman or Kaya Scodelario would fit the part perfectly!!

Mae Whitman 

Kaya Scodelario

What do you guys think? Are they great or not so much? Who would you fancast? 

We will keep you posted when we get further casting details! 

(Azelyn) 

                             

The Wait is over...

THE DIVERGENT MOVIE IS OFFICIALLY HERE!!!
 
   After waiting for about 1-2 years for most people, the movie is FINALLY here!!! While I got to see it on March 3rd at the red carpet screening in Atlanta, GA, I had the pleasure of going last night with more of my friends!! This gave me another chance to catch things that I missed the first time and to just enjoy it all over again.
 
*entering mild spoiler zone*

     I think that Neil Burger did an AMAZING job, and even though he left some things out, he still did very well. You cant squish everything from the book into a 2 and 1/2 film. One scene I really wish they had put in there was the butter knife scene, I mean they barely even showed Edward! If it had been in the movie it also would have shown just how evil Peter really is, because the way the film made him seem was not nearly as bad and make-you-want-to-cut-him as he should have been. Another thing they left out was at the very end were Tobias should have said, "I think I might be in love with you." Like come on it could have used more Fourtris!! But, at the end of the day, I'd say this movie was big success, and I highly recommend it.

(Azelyn)