Literally Lenny: novel

What's it About?:

"WELCOME TO MANHATTAN, 2118.

A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. Everyone there wants something…and everyone has something to lose.

LEDA COLE’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.

ERIS DODD-RADSON’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.

RYLIN MYERS’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will this new life cost Rylin her old one?

WATT BAKRADI is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy for an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.
And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is AVERY FULLER, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

Amid breathtaking advancement and high-tech luxury, five teenagers struggle to find their place at the top of the world. But when you're this high up, there's nowhere to go but down...." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

I cannot possibly tell you how much I adored this book. The Thousandth Floor is easily, easily, my favorite book of 2016. I have never been so immersed in a book before.

The story is set in the future where hover boards are the norm, and thousand floor buildings are architecturally possible. I have heard a lot of people say that it is a futuristic version of Gossip Girl, and even though I was never a fan of Gossip Girl, I know exactly what those people were getting at. Regardless of the futuristic setting, Katharine McGee made this story incredibly realistic for people who are living 102 years in the past. She included the simple topics such as love and betrayal, as well as talking about the serious parts of everyday life. McGee brought the intense side to the story by talking about computer hacking, drug addictions, and family affairs. Each character was so different from the next, it's hard not to relate with at least ONE of them.

I loved it, and I will read it again and again until the sequel is released next Summer.

I highly recommend you give this a read, because you will NOT be disappointed.

4:32 PM No comments

What's it about?

Elias and Laia are running for their lives. After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.

Laia is determined to break into Kauf—the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison—to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.

But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene—Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.

Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own—one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape…and kill them both.

My Thoughts:

An excellent sequel to an excellent debut. It's difficult for me to say which book I liked more because they both brought completely different things to the table. The first was full of so much information and an introduction to their world. The sequel dives so much more into each character's life, allowing us to relate with many of the characters, resulting in MANY MANY more feels. So many feels, you guys.

But...how was the return of the main characters? Well. To be honest, some I loved, and some just did not impress.

Elias:

Elias became more complicated and complex when you were able to see the things he found worth fighting for. Without giving away spoilers, Elias proves to us just how strong and loyal he is after we see him being violently tossed around in his own mind. Overall though, his character hadn't changed much from the first book. He was still the badass Elias who's mother was out to get him after she had thrown him to the curb. (But. That's okay. No bitter feelings, clearly...)

Laia:

Laia did not impress me much in this sequel. She was a major badass in the first dealing with everything that was thrown her way from the death of her family to becoming a slave for the most ruthless woman of the empire. But in the second, it was almost as if her character became weak. I wasn't impressed by anything she "courageously conquered". Her character became very dull in the sequel, making me almost think that she was a completely different character.

Helene:

We finally got to peak into Helene's mind as well, which was probably my favorite part. She is just a conflicted character, working for the empire when the empire has taken everything you love away from you. The strength and power she shows is remarkable and I cannot wait to learn more about how she takes on the Empire.

The ending leaves you wanting so much more. A decision is made by many but you have no idea how anything is going to work out or if it will work at all. It leaves you confused and scared, but overall, just really freaking happy that a writer like Sabaa Tahir exists. Cause trust me, she's wicked badass; just like her books.

9:18 PM No comments

What's it about?

"Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…

She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world" - Goodreads Synopsis

My thoughts:

I was very worried I wasn't going to enjoy this as much as I did. I gave Heir of Fire only 3 stars because I found it quite boring. However, this book did redeem itself. I think I was able to enjoy this because all original characters were back together again. Not to mention, I finally understood the purpose of Manon and her story. Because forever I just did not see her purpose. Not even remotely.

So. For why I love this book: I love how Sarah J Maas wrote Aelin's character. I love how freaking MORE badass she is now, not to mention how brilliant she is. Major girl power. She 100% is always on top of her game and coming up with the next best plan. I loved the mind games she played with people to get what she wanted. If anyone wants a symbol of girl empowerment, look no further. This woman is seriously bad. ass.

Ok. Here comes the explanation for only 4 stars.

The name change. I will never STOP being confused about this. She will always be Celaena to me. I just wish Sarah J Maas had done without a permanent name change because boy does it screw me up. I get so lost trying to keep up with character's names throughout the MASSIVE story, and changing the main character's name did not help me keep everything straight in my head. Yes, I understand why it happened and why it was significant, but I could just not wrap my head around it.

But honestly, that's such a minor negative to this book that it really does deserve 5 stars. But I'd be lying if I said the permanent name change didn't irk me a bit.

Overall, I give Queen of Shadows 4 fiery stars.

Next stop: EMPIRE OF STORMS!

11:38 AM No comments

What's it about?

"Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

Now overall, I wouldn't say that this book was a dissapointment as a stand alone, but as the sequel to the series, It did not live up to the first book that I adored so much. It wasn't as gripping and heartbreaking as the first one was. I think the best way to describe it (in hopes that the next will be better) it was just a bridge between Red Queen and Kings Cage. I don't feel like any major developments occured, and if anything Mare became weaker and more selfish. I do have high hopes for Kings Cage though. Because I believe that this can be redeemed quite easily.

I still love the world they are in and the plot that is unfolded, but the characters in this book just did not evolve as I would have liked them to. And in a lot of novels, the characters make the story.

But, despite all of this being said, I will not hold this against the Red Queen series. I know that the first book was phenomenal, and the second book was in no way bad...it just did not live up to my expectations.

And if anything, it just made me crave Kings Cage more and more.

Overall, I give Glass Sword 3 stars.

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11:53 AM No comments

What's it about?

"After growing up on a farm in Virginia, Walthingham Hall in England seems like another world to sixteen-year-old Katherine Randolph. Her new life, filled with the splendor of upper-class England in the 1820s, is shattered when her brother mysteriously drowns. Katherine is expected to observe the mourning customs and get on with her life, but she can't accept that her brother's death was an accident.

A bitter poacher prowls the estate, and strange visitors threaten the occupants of the house. There's a rumor, too, that a wild animal stalks the woods of Walthingham. Can Katherine retain her sanity long enough to find out the truth? Or will her brother's killer claim her life, too?" - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

The Gilded Cage was essentially a cross between Pride and Prejudice and the Princess Diaries circa 1800s with a side of murder mystery. If this sounds even remotely interesting, you should definitely give this book a read. It's a wicked quick read and very gripping.

I really liked George and Katherine because of their relaxed country manners. They didn't go into lordship for the money. They did it because they were the heirs. I don't know. I guess I just liked how humble they were. Not to mention the opening scene is Katherine on the farm doing target practice. Major badass.

The romance seemed very forced...not to mention quite random. Like yes, it was essentially the hate turned love relationship that Liz and Darcy had, but it was almost as if it was trying too hard to be Liz and Darcy rather than their own.

I will say, the murders were a complete plot twist because given that I had not read the synopsis before starting this, I was thrown completely off guard. I love when that happens because I feel as if it's really difficult to catch me off guard when reading a book. I find most books to be even somewhat predictable.

The reason I would rate it what I do is just because it wasn't anything significant. Nothing super special or mind blowing. Just another quick read that was fun to read when you get home from a long day of work.

Overall, I give The Gilded Cage 3 stars.

7:55 PM No comments

What's it about?

"Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts:

I'm going to start off by making my opinion of this book very clear: I was NOT expecting it to follow in the footsteps of the other 7 Harry Potter novels. Not even a little bit. Therefore, I think I was able to enjoy this book much more than some other people did. It did read like fanfiction, and I did find some inconsistencies but overall, as a seperate entity of the Harry Potter world, I think it was as perfect as it could have been.

In the beginning, the writers were trying way too hard to try to pull everyone back into the storyline. It was almost cringe worthy. Not to mention, that reading the words of Harry, Ron, and Hermoine just did not seem anything like their originial characters. I get that it's 22 years later, but it was forced...and not sincerely them.

However, I bloody loved Scorpius. Draco completely redeemed himself for me. Ron just got 10x better in my book. And Snape...ugh. The emotions. I can't.

So I think what everyone is "doing wrong" is that they're expecting way too much of this book. If you're expecting it to be just another book in the series, you are going to be massively dissapointed. But, if you understand that this book is CO-WRITTEN by JK Rowling and ADAPTED for a screen play, then you'll understand, and just appreciate the gift JK has given us of returning to Hogwarts for 308 pages.

Overall, I rate this 3.5 stars.

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5:45 PM No comments

What's it about?

"A prehistoric fantasy—with allusions to Pride and Prejudice.

Hunting, gathering, and keeping his family safe—that’s the life seventeen-year-old Kol knows. Then bold, enigmatic Mya arrives from the south with her family, and Kol is captivated. He wants her to like and trust him, but any hopes of impressing her are ruined when he makes a careless—and nearly grave—mistake. However, there’s something more to Mya’s cool disdain…a history wrought with loss that comes to light when another clan arrives. With them is Lo, an enemy from Mya’s past who Mya swears has ulterior motives.

As Kol gets to know Lo, tensions between Mya and Lo escalate until violence erupts. Faced with shattering losses, Kol is forced to question every person he’s trusted. One thing is for sure: this was a war that Mya or Lo—Kol doesn’t know which—had been planning all along."- Goodreads Synopsis

My thoughts:

I was really disappointed in this book. I was really excited to read a prehistoric pride and prejudice but it was almost too much with how cheesy and predictable it was. Obviously, being a massive fan of pride and prejudice may make me prejudice towards anyone trying to replicate the story. But I just feel like this could've been so much better. I really did not like Maya. And I found their romance to be really dull and random. I mean, Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship was far from either of those things. Maybe it's just that I was expecting too much. I'm not sure. I think that Maya should have had a much larger part than she did. She was just kinda "there".

I did like when the plot started to evolve into its own story because then nothing was predictable. It actually left me guessing. But. That's where the guessing stopped. The ending was mediocre and very truncated.

However, what saved this book for me was the creativity that the author had with writing such a unique story. Whether or not it was actually historically accurate, it was a fun read just for the setting. Because honestly, when was the last time you read a YA set in a prehistoric time?

Overall, I give Ivory and Bone 3 stars.

9:40 PM No comments

What's it about?

"There’s no such thing as safe.

Kate Harker wants to be as ruthless as her father. After five years and six boarding schools, she’s finally going home to prove that she can be.

August Flynn wants to be human. But he isn’t. He’s a monster, one that can steal souls with a song. He’s one of the three most powerful monsters in a city overrun with them. His own father’s secret weapon.

Their city is divided.

Their city is crumbling.

Kate and August are the only two who see both sides, the only two who could do something.

But how do you decide to be a hero or a villain when it’s hard to tell which is which?"- Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts?

I was really impressed by this book because I had quite mediocre expectations, regardless of the hype currently surrounding this. I'm not by any means Victoria Schwab's biggest fan, but I'm also not her worst enemy. I find her books to be mediocre and entertaining at times, but nothing substantial.

This book made me reevaluate my opinion of Victoria. This book is easily her best work. Easily.

This Savage Song was so refreshing! Yes, it had the typical badass girl with family problems, and the awkward boy with a dark past (no pun intended) but Victoria evolved these characters like I've never seen her do before. I recently read A Gathering of Shadows, which I gave 3 stars, and there was only one character that I found to have a really great development throughout the story. The others were very one-dimensional, as if she only focused on that one character and no one else.

In This Savage Song you actually get to see the inner workings of each character and how their lives become intertwined. I think I also really enjoyed the futuristic setting of this book, when Victoria tends to set her books in kind of a futuristic version of the 1800s...if that makes any sense.

I can tell that Victoria really went out of her comfort zone and explored the possibilities, and let me tell you, she did really well.

Overall, I give This Savage Song 4 stars!

8:00 PM No comments

What's it about?

"Twenty-five-year-old Cassie Danvers is holed up in her family’s crumbling mansion in rural St. Jude, Ohio, mourning the loss of the woman who raised her—her grandmother, June. But a knock on the door forces her out of isolation. Cassie has been named the sole heir to legendary matinee idol Jack Montgomery's vast fortune. How did Jack Montgomery know her name? Could he have crossed paths with her grandmother all those years ago? What other shocking secrets could June’s once-stately mansion hold?

Soon Jack’s famous daughters come knocking, determined to wrestle Cassie away from the inheritance they feel is their due. Together, they all come to discover the true reasons for June’s silence about that long-ago summer, when Hollywood came to town, and June and Jack’s lives were forever altered by murder, blackmail, and betrayal.

As this page-turner shifts deftly between the past and present, Cassie and her guests will be forced to reexamine their legacies, their definition of family, and what it truly means to love someone, steadfastly, across the ages." - Goodreads Synopsis

My Thoughts?

Finishing this book, I'm really confused about what I feel about it. I'm not sure if I enjoyed the story or found it to be too much. The writing was decent since the author was able to paint images very clearly for my mind, but I got incredibly annoyed when she kept going on and on about something as if she was just trying to use a filler! For example (no spoilers), there's one scene where the author is describing the way two figures are standing together, and it felt like an eternity for her to explain the scene.

What I did love though were the women in this book; June, Cassie, Elda, Tate, and even Lindie. Yes, each and every one had their flaws, but they also were able to learn from this and still "follow their dreams". Cheesy, yes. But what I mean is that the things that they did, were out of love for someone. Not one was selfish, regardless of what it seemed. Their characters were strong individuals. Individuals being the key word. Each was strong and very much capable without a man. They just each needed to find what was worth living for. And I admire them greatly for that. Whether or not their lives were what they had always dreamed of or not. They were never selfish.

The story was predictable for most of the novel, however, I was surprised to learn of what the true conflict was in June and Lindie's story. That in itself made the book for me. Completely out of left field, and turned the book into a completely different genre than I had originally expected.

I did not approve of the romantic relationships that occurred during both time periods, but that could just be me. I would never condone cheating, even in a fictional story. I don't like that the person that I saw as the "villain" (Jack) got a "happily ever after" and did not even suffer any consequences. And towards the end, it was almost as if the author was trying to make an excuse for why Jack was the way he was, saying it was okay because "he's better now". That just irked me because I found Jack to be an all-around terrible person. And the fact that the author can make me feel so much hatred for a character, kudos.

So. With that being said, I give June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore 3 stars.

4:39 PM No comments