Hello, fellow bibliophiles, and welcome back to another installment of Book Review Tuesday!
This particular read was a one of my Kindle-interim-between-library-visit-books. At less than three hundred pages, I expected to gobble up The Everafter quickly. Which, don’t get me wrong, I did. But this book made me think, stirred up emotions in me, and made me cry a little. (Not in the way you’d think, though.) Surprisingly deep. Enjoy your review!
(Forgive me for the small cover image. This was the best quality one.)
The Everafter
17 year old Madison Stanton wakes up, drifting through an incomprehensible, dark void, with knowledge of only one thing.
She is dead.
But Madison soon realizes that she’s not alone. Floating around her are objects-ones that she’s lost in her previous life, and know, when she touches them, they trigger a memory of the past, be it a childhood trip to Disney World, her new cat, a teenage sleepover that ends up severing friendships, and even her first kiss. Although these objects have provided Madison with an idea of her past life, she still can’t figure out one thing, and she won’t stop until she finds the answer: How did she die in the first place?
From the description, I expected this book to be kind of sad, at the most. But not only did it make me think about the concepts of life and death, but it was actually pretty depressing. Nonetheless, it was an incredibly thought-provoking and powerful book.
One thing I prominently thought about after finishing this book was the concept of the lost objects triggering memories in the afterlife. My first thought was that one of the first objects that I (hypothetically) would find was this stuffed Webkinz Chihuahua that named Linny (yes, after the character from Wonder Pets…I was a weird child). To this day, I have no idea where the ever-loving heck she could’ve went. Sheesh.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your evening, and (if you live in a place that has this) try not to get COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY THROWN OFF by Daylight Savings Time! (“Hello, darkness, my old friend,”…or maybe it’s the opposite…)
Hello, fellow bibliophiles, and welcome to the first BRT of March 2018! Exciting, isn’t it-I’ve had lots of great material to read, and it’s starting to get relatively warm outside! (“Relatively warm” meaning “in the high 50s and low 60s”…that’s Colorado in the spring for ya…sorta warm and slushy.) Also, I’m almost finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird, and so far I’ve cried twice. The first time was in the middle of Study Hall. Oof.
Anyway, I read this glorious novel last week, and boy, I FELL IN LOVE! I was so sad to return it to the library…*sniffles*
Before I proceed to the review, here’s a heads-up: this is based off of a fan-fiction written by a character in one of Rainbow Rowell’s other novels, Fangirl. It’s supposed to basically be a parallel-universe type Harry Potter, but in this case, Harry falls in love with Draco. And Draco’s an extremely hot vampire.
Carry On
After seven years being roommates with Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch-a pale, rich vampire who seems to have it in for him-Simon Snow is completely fed up with him. Through all of his problems at the Watford School of Magicks, be it his uncontrollable magic or his recent break-up with his girlfriend, Agatha Wellbelove, Baz has always been there to tease and torment him. And to add to all of the mess, there’s a monster running throughout England, hungry for all of its Magic. Something tells Simon that Baz is plotting against him, and he’s been doing it for the entire time. But this year, both Simon and Baz are seeing a great shift in themselves-where once they were enemies, they are now hopelessly in love with each other. Can they keep their newfound love a secret-and stop the sudden disappearance of magic?
This book deserves all the stars. Okay, maybe not all the stars in the universe-that goes to WondLa. But how about the amount of stars in the Milky Way? Hmm…
Yep. Seems legit.
Regardless, Carry On deserves it all the way. Action! Magic! Ghosts! Monsters! Kissing!
AND…
VAMPIRES.
HOT VAMPIRES.
Specifically, Baz. Those stupid, sparkly, fairy princess Twilight vampires got nothin’ compared to him. Plus, the guy plays Kishi Bashi on his violion.
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! SQUEEEEEEEE!
Anyway, I’ll dispense from the swooning over a certain vampire and stop this post. Goodbye, and enjoy your evening.
Sorry, I had to fit that in there. I’m a hopeless nerd.
Anyway, hello and welcome to the last BRT of February 2018!
This book’s a bit more predictable in terms of origin, as it is another library copy. At almost 500 pages, I gobbled it up in about two days. Not the best thing the literature universe has delivered, but definitely a fun ride. Enjoy the review!
MILA 2.0
As far as Mila knows, she’s a normal 16 year old girl, living in a tiny town in the middle of Minnesota. She lives with her single mother, after her father died in a fire in Philadelphia, where they used to live. But after an injury reveals a shocking secret, Mila realizes that she’s anything but human. Mila was an android, designed by the U.S. military to be the ultimate killer. To keep their identities a secret and their lives safe, Mila and her mother must evade the authorities in whatever way possible. But though they may run, they can never truly hide…
I’d say my book-rating scale rating would be about a 7. Hmm…6.75. Yeah, that’s fairly accurate. Not the best, but certainly not the worst. A fast-paced, action packed, and exciting novel.
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day, and keep on posting those SW quotes and gifs!
Again, I’m home sick, (I SWEAR TO GOD, THIS COLD WILL NOT LET GO), but don’t worry-this time, I’ve got a book review!
This one’s a book I’ve been anticipating eagerly since October of last year. It’s the sequel to Scythe (If you want to see my review for that one, see 10/17/17), and boy, if the first book was mind-blowing, Thunderhead BLEW IT OUT OF THE WATER! Which, honestly, was no surprise, as Neal Shusterman is a spectacular author, but let me just warn you that the ending left me…
…how should I say this?
Speechless. Mentally unstable. Shook. DEADISH.
Alright, I had to throw in a Scythe joke in there at some point. Not sorry. Here’s your review!
No spoilers. Promise.
Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe, #2)
Since their apprenticeship, Citra and Rowan-now Scythe Anastasia and Scythe Lucifer-have gone in wildy different directions. Scythe Anastasia has remained within the Scythedom as it slowly crumbles into corruption. She knows something must be done, but everything she tries is blocked from all directions. Even with the help of her mentor, Scythe Curie, it seems that the Scythedom is doomed. Scythe Lucifer, after failing his apprenticeship, has broken off from the Scythedom, snuffing out all of the Scythes he deems corrupt. He’s now one of the most wanted people in the Scythedom, but thusfar, he has evaded them for almost a year. Through it all, Scythe Anastasia isn’t the only one with it’s eyes on the Scythedom’s path. The Thunderhead, the digital ruler of the new world, is not pleased with what it sees. But is there anything it can do?
Okay, THIS BOOK IS A MASTERPIECE. FIVE BIG FAT STARS. SOLID TEN ON MY SCALE. JEEEEEEEEEEESUS, I LOVE THIS BOOK.
(SIDENOTE-I’m pretty sure I looked like Chris Pratt here a few times while reading Thunderhead. No joke.)
Yep, I think the Arc of a Scythe series is now up there right next to The Search for WondLa and Keeper of the Lost Cities as one of my favorite book series of all time.
Well, thanks for reading, and stay warm/healthy/sane!
Yep, that’s right, everyone! Here is your promised Car Seat Headrest album review!
Let me just start this off by saying…
There is not a single bad song on this album.
Okay, that’s probably a teensy bit biased, but that’s what I’ve truly come to believe. I had bought a few songs off the original album, and they blew me away, but this re-release truly blew it out of the water. Don’t believe me? Here’s my review!
TRACK 1: “My Boy (Twin Fantasy)”-8/10
Though it’s only around two and a half minutes long, this song is a beautiful mix of simultaneous hope and poignancy, with consistancy and slowy building vocals and instrumentals. *sad smile* Aww, Will…
TRACK 2: “Beach Life-In-Death”-7.5/10
Normally, my patience for songs runs out at about eight minutes. “Beach Life-In-Death” clocks in at about thirteen. But the good thing about this song is that it’s like three different songs. The first five minutes or so have lyrics that reflect a sense of boredom and redundancy. Then, it changes to melancholy and regret, then slowly transitions back into fast-paced instruments similar to the first third of the song. Me gusta.
TRACK 3: “Stop Smoking (We Love You)”-8.5/10
This was one of the songs I initially bought off the original version of the album. A beautiful, pleading melody with a great message to top it all off. This new version backs up the instrumentals in the background a lot, making the song almost more powerful and meaningful, in some strange way.
TRACK 4: “Sober to Death”-10/10
This was the second song I bought off the original album. And OH MY GOD, Car Seat Headrest blew it out of the water EVEN MORE with the new version of this song! I loved the original the second I heard it, but this version makes me want to jump out of my chair and scream, cry, and dance. It really stirs up my soul and makes it want to burst at the very seams with pure joy. I swear I’m not overexaggerating-THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS IN RECORDED HISTORY. PERIOD.
TRACK 5: “Nervous Young Inhumans”-9/10
(This is the greatest music video ever. I gotta learn Will Toledo’s little dance.)
This song was the other one that I bought off the original album. Though I miss Will Toledo’s little rant about galvanism and Frankenstein and whatnot, I loooooooove the new version of this song. The lyrics (slightly changed) are easier to understand now, and their cleverness and wit truly shines through with this track.
TRACK 6: “Bodys”-7/10
Not the best track on the album, but a fun, catchy, and at times a bit hilarious song.
Okay, I’ll admit, the first time I heard Will Toledo say “Is it the chorus yet?
No. It’s just a building of the verse…” I cracked up. No joke. It’s almost like he wanted the song to end…God, I love Will so much.
TRACK 7: “Cute Thing”-9/10
Aaaaaah! Lovelovelovelove! Such a beautiful, quirky, song-something about it feels like a sort of anthem. An Indie-Rock love anthem. Also, kudos for the They Might Be Giants references.
TRACK 8: “High to Death”-7/10
This song moves about like a lazy river, foggy and misty, almost like a kind of wistful dream. Almost beautifully melancholy, and in the slightest sense, almost dirge-like. The lyrics of “Stop Smoking (We Love You)” are hidden in there too, but they’ve been twisted a bit, which I thought was interesting. I didn’t like the random samples and looped vocals for the last two or so minutes of the song.
TRACK 9: “Famous Prophets (Stars)”-7/10
Like the track prior, “Famous Prophets (Stars)” has a dream-like quality, albeit a 16-minute long dream. It’s a pretty song, but after about around ten minutes, you kind of get the feeling like, “Jesus CHRIST, is this song ever going to end?” Like “High to Death”, there were some odd samples, and more lyrics from other songs (this time, slowed down lyrics to “My Boy (Twin Fantasy)”.
TRACK 10-“Twin Fantasy (Those Boys)”-7/10
With some lyrics borrowed from one of their older songs (“Sunburned Shirts”), more looped vocals, more brief Will Toledo musings, and an air of melancholy, regret, and almost jealousy, “Twin Fantasy (Those Boys)” makes for an interesting track. I like it about the same as I did “Bodys”. A sweet, wistful kind of song.
Just like I did with MASSEDUCTION, I averaged all of my scores for each song, and came out with a solid 8. Overall, pretty dang close to a masterpiece as far as albums go. An amalgam of melancholy, angst, hope, and poignancy that I doubt I’ll get tired of in the near future.
I hope you enjoyed my album review, and have a great rest of your day!
Hey, everyone, and welcome to the first BRT of February 2018!
Pretty much the most boring month of the year. There’s Valentine’s Day, but that’s pretty much all that goes on. Plus, Valentine’s Day is basically for stuffing yourself with overly sweet chocolates and insincere, fill in the blank cards.
*Will Toledo voice* “I’m so sick of…fill in the blank…”
Aaaaaaanyway…
PLOT TWIST-I got the following book from an internship I had at my local bookstore. I got to pick out seven Advanced Reader Copies in exchange for a review of all of them. (The best part? If I didn’t like the book, all I had to write was “Would Not Recommend”!)
It seemed that this ARC had been in there a little while, as it came out last November, I believe. But anyway, it was the first really fantastic one that I came across. Enjoy my review!
Kat and Meg Conquer the World
Though Kat and Meg are both freshmen in the same high school, they couldn’t be more different. Kat just moved, and she’s introverted and suffers from an anxiety disorder. Meg is far more extroverted, but she has ADHD and her parents just divorced. But when they’re partnered for a science fair project, they discover that they have so much more in common than they thought-in particular, their shared love of the video game Legends of the Stone, and a YouTube star who plays it. Soon, they become immersed in their LotS-oriented project, but it soon takes them down roads they’ve both never traveled before-be it a LotS convention, boyfriends, and even the YouTube star himself.
Squee! Even if you’re not a gamer, you’ll have no trouble understanding or (thoroughly) enjoying this book. Very realistic, diverse characters, fast-paced and well written, and all around fun! (Also, the back of the book said that it’s perfect for “fans of Nicola Yoon’s ‘Everything, Everything’, which I adored, so that’s a plus.)
Thanks so much for reading, and have a great evening!
Hey there, fellow bookworms, and welcome to the last BRT of January 2018?
Is it just me or did this month fly by super fast? Come to think of it, that’s probably a pretty good thing. I’m kinda tired of nuts and tide pods and Somebody Toucha My Spaghets. (The latter wasn’t even that funny to begin with.) Gah.
Anyway, I actually bought this one on my Kindle while in Florida almost a month ago. The author had a very intersting take on mythical creatures, and a society that almost revolves around them.
Okay, now I’ll get to the review before I spoil anything more!
Fairy Keeper
In the world of Alluvia, many resources come from magic and mythical creatures. One of those is fairies-not the beautiful, dainty creatures you’ve been led to believe in, but more like bees than anything-used to produce nectar. The special humans who tend for them are the Fairy Keepers, marked by a butterfly-shaped birthmark on their necks and gifted with the ability to communicate and control a hive of fairies. Fourteen-year old Sierra is one of the Fairy Keepers, but she doesn’t enjoy her sacred job. But her opinion is soon shifted when she finds all of the fairies in her hive dead and the queen missing. She soon learns that this is no coincidence-fairy hives across Alluvia have been wiped out, and every queen gone with them. Will she find the source of these mysterious deaths, and stop it before every last fairy is gone?
Though this book wasn’t outstanding, it was certainly a very interesting and inventive take on magical creatures, and an alternate world that revolves around magic itself. The characters were very realistic, and it was easier to relate with their struggles.
Thanks so much for reading, and have an amazing rest of your day!
I’ve only started to really get back into the normal routine of checking out stacks of books at the library, browsing the Kindle library when I’m waiting for my holds, picking books up after school, etcetera. I read this particular book on my Kindle during the interim of finishing a stack of libary checkouts and waiting for my other holds. I must say, it was a very interesting concept.
Now, without further ado, here’s your review!
What’s Left of Me
Eva and Addie live in an alternate version of planet Earth, in which a small percentage of the population is born a “hybrid”-a person with two souls inhabiting one body. Usually, one soul overtakes the other in early childhood, but when that doesn’t happen, the hybrid is institutionalized. Eva and Addie are a hybrid-though they hid the fact that Addie’s soul had not really dominated Eva’s. But the unimaginable happens, and she along with Hally and Lissa, and Devon and Ryan, two hybrid siblings, are now stuck in a clinic, where their other soul will be “extracted” from their bodies. Will they find away out, and keep both souls intact?
Though I would’nt say it was the best book in the universe or anything, it had a very fascinating and inventive concept, very realistic characters, and a well-thought out world and future. All in all, not at all a bad book!
Now, before I go, I’ve got two things to tell you:
Car Seat Headrest is re-releasing Twin Fantasy, (I’m listening to the “Cute Thing” re-release as we speak), and I’m considering doing a review of it.
There’s a something of a drastic surprise coming your way very soon. All I’ll say is that it has something to do with the background change.
Before I get to the acutal review, I just want you guys to know that I did do a BRT last Tuesday, but something must’ve gotten weird with the post (or I got distracted) and it didn’t post. So you kinda get two BRTs today-one was just meant for last week.
Alrighty, that aside, hey there, and welcome to today’s BRT!
This one’s from the same author as Furthermore and Whichwood (you can search those in the “Book Review Tuesday” category, the latter is fairly recent), and honestly? I can’t decide whether I like Whichwood or this novel better! So if you decide to read it, PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!
Here’s your book review!
Shatter Me
Juliette was born with an ability-some say it’s a gift, most other call it a curse. With the slightest touch of her hand, she can kill a person in seconds. After 17 years of moving to new towns, discrimination, punishment, and expulsion, the ruling Reestablishment has put her in prison with charges for murder. But now, they have other plans for her. Now, forced to be a weapon for the Reestablishment, Juliette has glimpsed the oppressed reality of the world outside her window. With the help of another soldier, she sets in motion to escape. But with the eyes of the Reestablishment all on her, will she succeed?
Before reading this (and after reading Mrs. Mafi’s other works), I went into it expecting a well-written book, but a generally overused YA dystopian plot. Both were ture. Thing is, Mafi executed it so well that it was impossible not to be utterly enthralled. What a book!
Have a great rest of your evening, everyone, and stay warm!
Hey there, fellow bookworms, and welcome to (finally) the first BRT of 2018!
Again, I’m so sorry that I was unable to do a BRT last week. That aside, I got this book from the library (no surprise there), and though it was relatively short for my taste, I loved it! Also, it’s by the same author as Scythe (See the BRT for 10/17/17), if that raises your expectations. It certainly did for me. Now for the review!
Everlost
Fourteen year old friends Nick and Allie were both killed in a car accident. But when their spirits passed on, they are not transported to where they’re supposed to be. Instead, they are now stuck in a place in between life and death. This place is Everlost, where lost children run free, with whispers of monsters and sinking into the ground to fear. Ruling over them all is Mary Hightower, who takes Nick and Allie in and teaches them all she knows. But though Nick feels that he has found a home with her, Allie seeks to know more, and above all, just wants to return home. Soon, she begins dabbling in forbidden magics, and soon discovers that Everlost isn’t as harmless as it appears…
Alright, technically this book was written around ten years before Scythe, but let me just say this: MAN, Neal Shusterman really did it again! Intricate world-building, complex characters, and just the right amount of creepy. Love it, love it, LOVE IT!!!
The Bookish Mutant 