Life and stuff

So, once again my life has gotten a little crazy. I have just recently started my senior year of high school, and there have been some family emergencies recently. Because of all the complications related to that, I haven't had much time to read. I'm sad to say that there won't be many blog posts for a while - at least until I get caught up on some reading. My Goodreads page will still be updated with my progress, and I will try to make video updates when I can. I'm sorry that life has, once again, taken away from a good read.

If you would like me to read something, or are just interested in my thoughts on a book, please comment below and let me know which stories I'm missing.

Thank you,
Leah

Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare (Infernal Devices #2)

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends. With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart. [Goodreads]
It took me a while to start reading this book, mostly because, while I was fond of Clockwork Angel, and Cassandra Clare is a fantastic author, it wasn't one of my favorite books. I am happy to say that this book just so happens to be one of my favorite sequels. My heart both soared and broke with the characters in this sequel. So many things happened and so many new things were brought to light. You learned more about the institute, and a certain sarcastic warlock has resurfaced. I don't know how to review this book, because it was just that awesome. I will say that I am team Will, and the massive cliffhanger at the end of this book makes my anticipation for Clockwork Princess, the final book in the Infernal Devices trilogy, that much more.

The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead

 

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher. [Goodreads]
Before I review the masterpiece that is The Golden Lily, I would like to take a moment to freak out. OHMYGOD THE GOLDEN LILY AND ADRIAN AND OHMYGOD.

Now that that's over with, let's get into the review. We meet a few new characters in this sequel, and there is a lot more drama and y'know in true Mead fashion, the dreaded love triangles. Not to mention helping to plann a wedding and trying to make sure that your charges don't get killed by some crazy people while trying to protect the Mori princess and her friends. Oh, and homework. That's important too.

There was some awesome character development in this sequel, along with some heart break and things of that nature. Sometimes I just really really REALLY wanted to bash a speaker on Sydney's head because it's so utterly obvious that Adrian and her need to get together. But, then again, maybe that's just me going down with this ship. You get to see more of the supporting characters, and Eddie! My heart. I just can't even form the words right now.

Also, there's a new group of bad guys. So, that poses a problem.

So many things happened in this book that it's hard to review. It was awesome - obviously, it's Richelle Mead - and I would definitely rate it 5/5 stars. In true Mead fashion, there is another cliffhanger, and there are definitely some questions that NEED to be answered. Especially after an epic ending like that. Oh, and have I mentioned Adrian?

The Girl in the Steel Corset - Kady Cross

In 1897 England, 16-year-old Finley Jayne is convinced she's a freak. No normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch. Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special . . . that she's one of "them." [Goodreads]

My version of The Girl in the Steel Corset has a small prequel added on to it. In this prequel, we learn a little more about Finley and her past. I wasn't fond of this prequel - I thought that it was unnecessary, but it was something that piqued my interest into the rest of the book, so I guess it did its job. I really, really loved the villain in the prequel because he was so complex and the ending just made me love him even more. For that, I would rate the prequel a 3/5. 

Can we just marvel at the time period in which this is set? I mean, come on. 1897 ENGLAND. I was half expecting Sherlock to come prancing around the corner. Sadly, that didn't happen. But, anyway.
The Girl in the Steel Corset started out great, I was really, really into the book. Then, for some reason, all of the characters bored me - save Sam. I thought that, for a while, the only person who had some real depth was Sam and his half-robot self. Don't get me wrong, the other characters had some great back stories, but they were all very chiche to me. Finley's character was great, although, the whole I-don't-know-who-I-really-am theme in YA is definitely giving me some migraines. While this book was extremely predictable, there were some parts of it that made me want to know more. I would rate this book a 3.5/5 I can't wait to read the next book in this series, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.

Insurgent - Veronica Roth (Divergent #2)

This review will contain spoilers for those of you who have not read Divergent, blah, blah, blah. 

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature. [GoodReads]

After finishing Divergent, I was extremely excited to begin reading Insurgent, so I started it the day it came out (May 4) and sadly, I finished it about a month later. Now, I could blame this on my school crap - and yes, that was partially to blame - but there was just something different about Insurgent. It was a lot slower than I thought it would be. There were some bits of action here and there, but other than that, there wasn't much of anything. Most of the book was just political mumbo-jumbo and that's just not interesting to me. I have never, nor will I ever be, a politician.Something about Insurgent's plot was slow, and I couldn't dive right into it as I had done with Divergent. The major plot twist at the end had me reeling - in true Veronica Roth fashion. Overall, I'd give this book 3/5 stars. Hopefully all of the political nonsense is leading up to one fantastic BA ending. Although, I'm not sure that I want this series to end just yet...

Go Ask Alice - Anonymous

January 24th After you've had it, there isn't even life without drugs.... It started when she was served a soft drink laced with LSD in a dangerous party game. Within months, she was hooked, trapped in a downward spiral that took her from her comfortable home and loving family to the mean streets of an unforgiving city. It was a journey that would rob her of her innocence, her youth -- and ultimately her life. Read her diary. Enter her world.
You will never forget her. For thirty-five years, the acclaimed, bestselling first-person account of a teenage girl's harrowing decent into the nightmarish world of drugs has left an indelible mark on generations of teen readers. As powerful -- and as timely -- today as ever, Go Ask Alice remains the definitive book on the horrors of addiction.

My older sister recommended this book to me, she said that she had read it in school and that it was one of her favorites. I wasn't sure how I would feel about reading someone's personal thoughts, and their personal memories, but there was just something about this one that kept me coming back.This diary was phenominally raw and real, not much was edited from what I can tell. There there is too much to say about it, only, I can't put my thoughts into coherent words. Every teenager, or adult, should read this book. If you haven't read it yet, then please, do.

*There is heavy drug use in this diary, and multiple f-bombs were dropped, also, some graphic scenes. I would recommend that anyone 15+ read this book.*

Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel (1)

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger—and even romance.

Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

When I picked this up from my local library, I was expecting something that was as fantastic as the original VA books. I was a little disappointed in reading this book, I guess I was just expecting more detail plot wise. I mean, the basic plot was there, it was just kind of in bits and pieces and I kept having to remind myself what happened in the first VA book to make certain things in this graphic novel make sense. I don't know if this novel would make much sense to someone who hasn't read the VA books, because I don't think a person who hasn't read VA would completely understand the characters and the world that VA is set in. Either way, the graphic novel was good. I loved the drawing and this was a good way for me to recap what happened in the first Vampire Academy book. Plus, Dimitri was pretty awesome. I can't wait to see what they do with Adrian and he rest of the gang. This book definitely needs to be on my shelf.

3.5/5 stars

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now. 

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind. [GoodReads]

John Green says that there will be no spoilers and so there will be no spoilers. Know that this book is way beyond awesome and that you must read it - if you haven't already. Read it as soon as you get your hands on it and don't try to stop reading it because you won't be able to. This story is so magnificently tragic and horribly beautiful at the same time. I can only compare it to a car crash, and the bits of broken glass that remain on the road and sparkle in light. Please, read this book, it will open your mind, forever.

The Walking Dead vol 1

An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled: There is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. Rick Grimes finds himself one of the few survivors in this terrifying future. A couple months ago he was a small town cop who had never fired a shot and only ever saw one dead body. Separated from his family, he must now sort through all the death and confusion to try and find his wife and son. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living.

This was the second graphic novel that I've read, and I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot. I don't have much to compare it to, but from all of the talk about this TV series, I think that it'd be ok if I said that this book was a really good first book for this series.
I enjoyed the depth of the characters, they were developed well, but for some reason I thought that there could have been more development. Some things were hinted at in the dialogue - and sometimes even in the drawing - but they weren't fully developed. The extreme plot twist at the end made me want to read more, so I ordered the next four books in the series from my library... Anyway, I loved the post-apocalyptic setting and the drawing was phenomenally creepy. I am definitely going to keep up with this series, but first I think I have to catch up...

4.5/5 stars

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain

"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn." - Ernest Hemingway

Of all the contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, none has a better claim than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Intended at first as a simple story of a boy's adventures in the Mississippi Valley-a sequel to Tom Sawyer-the book grew and matured under Twain's hand into a work of immeasurable richness and complexity. More than a century after its publication, the critical debate over the symbolic significance of Huck's and Jim's voyage is still fresh, and it remains a major work that can be enjoyed at many levels: as an incomparable adventure story and as a classic of American humor.

John Seelye's introduction discusses the context from which the novel emerged

I started reading this book because it was required for school and I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed reading it. At first, I was wary about it - I had to read Tom Sawyer for school in 8th grade and I didn't like it as much (probably because I had to read it for school). Although the dialect was sometimes difficult to understand, Huck is a very believable and fun character, and to me, his character alone makes up for the sometimes incomprehensible words. However, at times I found myself skipping paragraphs of the book - particularly the details that had to do with the setting. After a while of reading through the very elaborate details, I got bored and had to skip to something that was more interesting. I'm not sure that I skipped these parts because they were extremely boring or because I wanted to get my homework done. Either way, this classic second installment in Twain's "Adventures" series (as I call them) is a must read for anyone who is interested in reading classic American literature.

Overall, I'd rate this book a 4/5.