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aldoregan's reviews
389 reviews
Warcross by Marie Lu
3.0
I don’t really know what to say about this book. I had fun reading it. The world of Warcross is pretty cool and amazing. The concept of the game is really entertaining to the point where I even wished that I could play this game (even though I don’t even have an interest on video games). It was a little predictable, but the characters weren’t bad and there’s great representation here as well. I just feel like there was something missing. I really enjoyed reading the book but I don’t think it was a mind-blowing story and I didn’t find anything that was outstanding about it. There isn’t really anything about this book that shined. However, the second book might change that as we dive deeper into the story.
The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
“we were not made to please princes.”
A Leigh Bardugo dark retelling of fairytales? Count. Me. In.
Bardugo has proved countless of times that she can craft a novel excellently, but in this book she proved that she can be a masterful short storyteller as well. Each of the stories give off both a haunting and enchanting vibe. We get to see the Grishaverse in a different light, and it gives the world a clearer structure. The Language of Thorns is a fascinating exploration of the world’s folklore and it is definitely a wonderful way to learn about the world of Grisha.
“this goes to show you that sometimes the unseen is not to be feared and that those meant to love us most are not always ones who do.”
The Soldier Prince - 5/5
When Water Sang Fire - 4.5/5
Ayama and the Thorn Wood - 4/5
Little Knife - 4/5
The Witch of Duva - 3.5/5
The Too-Clever Fox - 3/5
“but hope rises like water trapped by a dam, higher and higher, in increments that mean nothing until you face the flood.”
A Leigh Bardugo dark retelling of fairytales? Count. Me. In.
Bardugo has proved countless of times that she can craft a novel excellently, but in this book she proved that she can be a masterful short storyteller as well. Each of the stories give off both a haunting and enchanting vibe. We get to see the Grishaverse in a different light, and it gives the world a clearer structure. The Language of Thorns is a fascinating exploration of the world’s folklore and it is definitely a wonderful way to learn about the world of Grisha.
“this goes to show you that sometimes the unseen is not to be feared and that those meant to love us most are not always ones who do.”
The Soldier Prince - 5/5
When Water Sang Fire - 4.5/5
Ayama and the Thorn Wood - 4/5
Little Knife - 4/5
The Witch of Duva - 3.5/5
The Too-Clever Fox - 3/5
“but hope rises like water trapped by a dam, higher and higher, in increments that mean nothing until you face the flood.”
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
5.0
RE-READ: Sept. 09, 2017
And this is where the intense action scenes begin! This is probably my third favorite of the series. There was so much going on and the mysteries just kept on coming. I'm pretty sure I've said this in my previous reviews of the other books but rereading this feels like I'm reading it for the first time. So even though I already know what's going to happen, I still get surprised by all the the twists and turns that this book has! I love love love this book!!
And this is where the intense action scenes begin! This is probably my third favorite of the series. There was so much going on and the mysteries just kept on coming. I'm pretty sure I've said this in my previous reviews of the other books but rereading this feels like I'm reading it for the first time. So even though I already know what's going to happen, I still get surprised by all the the twists and turns that this book has! I love love love this book!!
Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
5.0
RE-READ: Sept. 10, 2017
Despite this having only less than 300 pages, it still has the right amount of everything-- Action, romance, mystery, humor, thrill. Plus it's so fast-paced so there's never a moment in which I found myself bored to death. The transition of the story as the series goes on is also very well done. We started innocently, from learning about CoveOps to a much darker side, and by that I mean actually fighting against an ancient terrorist group. I also love how the character development is evident in each of the characters. I just love this series so much. I love how the story unfolds, I love all of the characters, I love each and every part of this book! There's just too much to say, but not enough words!
Despite this having only less than 300 pages, it still has the right amount of everything-- Action, romance, mystery, humor, thrill. Plus it's so fast-paced so there's never a moment in which I found myself bored to death. The transition of the story as the series goes on is also very well done. We started innocently, from learning about CoveOps to a much darker side, and by that I mean actually fighting against an ancient terrorist group. I also love how the character development is evident in each of the characters. I just love this series so much. I love how the story unfolds, I love all of the characters, I love each and every part of this book! There's just too much to say, but not enough words!
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
5.0
RE-READ: Sept. 08, 2017
One of the biggest aspects that this series has is female friendship, and that's something I don't see in books as often as I would've liked. You see, the idea of female friendship has been discarded and dumped in the trash, never to see the light of day. When I read this series a hundred years ago, the female friendship was normal to me. It was like common sense. But today, knowing how much of a rarity it is, I've come to appreciate it in a whole new level. The bond and the friendship that Cammie, Bex, Macey, and Liz have is admirable and inspiring. The amount of love, care, and trust that they have for each other brings me to tears. And in each book, as the series progresses, their friendship develops as well. It's so special, what these girls have. And I'm glad I was able to read about it at a young age. I learned how valuable friendship can be.
Aside from that, this book is a stepping stone to the real plot. This is where the real action starts and we are finally introduced to the real, and absolutely villainous, enemies. Mysteries are introduced, and the action scenes are much much dangerous and thrilling. I loved (yet again) each and every page of it. So fast-paced and suspenseful!
One of the biggest aspects that this series has is female friendship, and that's something I don't see in books as often as I would've liked. You see, the idea of female friendship has been discarded and dumped in the trash, never to see the light of day. When I read this series a hundred years ago, the female friendship was normal to me. It was like common sense. But today, knowing how much of a rarity it is, I've come to appreciate it in a whole new level. The bond and the friendship that Cammie, Bex, Macey, and Liz have is admirable and inspiring. The amount of love, care, and trust that they have for each other brings me to tears. And in each book, as the series progresses, their friendship develops as well. It's so special, what these girls have. And I'm glad I was able to read about it at a young age. I learned how valuable friendship can be.
Aside from that, this book is a stepping stone to the real plot. This is where the real action starts and we are finally introduced to the real, and absolutely villainous, enemies. Mysteries are introduced, and the action scenes are much much dangerous and thrilling. I loved (yet again) each and every page of it. So fast-paced and suspenseful!
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
4.0
RE-READ: Sept. 05, 2017
Reading this series again brings forth a surge of nostalgia. I read this when I was 10 or 11 years old, and while everyone else's gateway to YA literature was the Twilight saga, mine was the Gallagher Girls series. It's what led me to discover the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the Selection series by Kiera Cass, and so many more amazing YA books that have become one of my all-time faves as of today!
This series isn't the best that the world of YA genre has to offer, but it's a fun read filled with just the right amount of humor, romance, and action. And even though I know this series has flaws, it will always have a special place in my heart.
Reading this series again brings forth a surge of nostalgia. I read this when I was 10 or 11 years old, and while everyone else's gateway to YA literature was the Twilight saga, mine was the Gallagher Girls series. It's what led me to discover the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the Selection series by Kiera Cass, and so many more amazing YA books that have become one of my all-time faves as of today!
This series isn't the best that the world of YA genre has to offer, but it's a fun read filled with just the right amount of humor, romance, and action. And even though I know this series has flaws, it will always have a special place in my heart.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
4.0
RE-READ: Sept. 06, 2017
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy is still an innocent and all fun book to read compared to the other books in this series. This is still an introduction to the world of the Gallagher Academy. But it does dive a little bit into the secrets that it holds beyond its stone walls. Just like the first, it has the right amount of everything that you need from a fun spy book (especially one that targets an audience of pre-teens) and has a quick and easy-to-get-into pace. But you know what makes this better than the first book??? ZACHARY GOODE. He has been my first fictional crush and still is one of my crushes up until today!
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy is still an innocent and all fun book to read compared to the other books in this series. This is still an introduction to the world of the Gallagher Academy. But it does dive a little bit into the secrets that it holds beyond its stone walls. Just like the first, it has the right amount of everything that you need from a fun spy book (especially one that targets an audience of pre-teens) and has a quick and easy-to-get-into pace. But you know what makes this better than the first book??? ZACHARY GOODE. He has been my first fictional crush and still is one of my crushes up until today!
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
3.0
second read: April 02, 2018
rating: 3.5/5
I believe the reason why this earned a 5/5 stars from me three years ago when I first read it was because of the last 20% of the book. Rereading this book made me realize that not a lot of exciting things really happened in the middle. Sometimes, despite the fact that I was already familiar with what was going to happen, it felt like the plot was turning towards the nowhere zone. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as I remembered it to be. I still am very excited about the movie though! And I know in my heart that the second book in this series is 10x better so I’m also very excited to reread that!
first read: March 25, 2015
rating: 5/5
I LOVE THIS BOOK. IT'S BRILLIANT.
rating: 3.5/5
I believe the reason why this earned a 5/5 stars from me three years ago when I first read it was because of the last 20% of the book. Rereading this book made me realize that not a lot of exciting things really happened in the middle. Sometimes, despite the fact that I was already familiar with what was going to happen, it felt like the plot was turning towards the nowhere zone. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as I remembered it to be. I still am very excited about the movie though! And I know in my heart that the second book in this series is 10x better so I’m also very excited to reread that!
first read: March 25, 2015
rating: 5/5
I LOVE THIS BOOK. IT'S BRILLIANT.
In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
3.0
honestly, this was a little too underwhelming. it mightve been bc i was expecting more. other than that, this was also REALLY slow and felt dragging at times. bracken wrapped this up well but not enough to blow me away. probably wouldve rated this higher if i read this three years ago, but ive read far too many fantastic final books that completely outshined this one. slightly disappointed tbh ://
Renegades by Marissa Meyer
3.0
“There's no rule that says you have to be a prodigy to be a hero," she insisted. "If people wanted to stand up for themselves or protect their loved ones or do what they believe in their hearts is the right thing to do, then they would do it. If they wanted to be heroic, they would find ways to be heroic, even without supernatural powers.”
Yall know how much I love Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles series and how attached I am to all of the characters, but somehow I knew this one wasn’t going to meet that love that I have for the TLC series.
Renegades is a story about superheroes and supervillains. The normal people (those who do not have superhuman abilities) rely on the heroes and fear the villains. It’s basically a story of the good and the bad and the in-between because people’s actions and intentions aren’t always what they seem. Although I find it to be a really enjoyable read, there was one factor about the story that kept bothering me: the predictability. It’s a fun and entertaining book but it’s so full of cliches that sometimes I find it hard to take it seriously. The plot twists felt flat and was expected rather than surprising. The romance was cute, but it was also cliche that I internally cringed at times. I started to really like it when I got to the middle parts, but the near end felt underwhelming, confusing, and a bit rushed.
The characters in this book are diverse, however, I do wish that we got the chance to get to know more of the side characters instead of just letting them stay in the sidelines and only using them for particular scenes. I did like this, it just didn’t WOW me. It’s entertaining but it certainly is far from outstanding. Maybe the sequel will be better. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
“Heroism wasn't about what you could do, it was about what you did. It was about who you saved when they needed saving.”
Yall know how much I love Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles series and how attached I am to all of the characters, but somehow I knew this one wasn’t going to meet that love that I have for the TLC series.
Renegades is a story about superheroes and supervillains. The normal people (those who do not have superhuman abilities) rely on the heroes and fear the villains. It’s basically a story of the good and the bad and the in-between because people’s actions and intentions aren’t always what they seem. Although I find it to be a really enjoyable read, there was one factor about the story that kept bothering me: the predictability. It’s a fun and entertaining book but it’s so full of cliches that sometimes I find it hard to take it seriously. The plot twists felt flat and was expected rather than surprising. The romance was cute, but it was also cliche that I internally cringed at times. I started to really like it when I got to the middle parts, but the near end felt underwhelming, confusing, and a bit rushed.
The characters in this book are diverse, however, I do wish that we got the chance to get to know more of the side characters instead of just letting them stay in the sidelines and only using them for particular scenes. I did like this, it just didn’t WOW me. It’s entertaining but it certainly is far from outstanding. Maybe the sequel will be better. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
“Heroism wasn't about what you could do, it was about what you did. It was about who you saved when they needed saving.”