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behindthepages's reviews
731 reviews
Cress by Marissa Meyer
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cress is the story of Rapunzel if Rapunzel were a sheltered lunar hacking expert. Stolen from her parents at a young age, Cress is a lunar shell locked away to live out her days as Sybil’s best programmer. That is until Cinder launches a plan to save her and further the team’s goals of overthrowing Levana. In the third installment of The Lunar Chronicles, join the characters you’ve come to know and love as they race to save Emperor Kai and the people of Earth.
Cress’ character might weigh on some reader’s nerves with her damsel in distress behavior, but Marissa Meyer makes sure to add a bit of humor in about it. Cress has never experienced true social interaction, growing up in front of port screens and entertained by a programmed version of herself to keep company. She is lonely, and lives in a fantasy world she builds for herself until she meets Cinder’s crew. Imagine if you grew up only learning about other people from romance novels and TV. You can quickly see how Cress might behave when these are the only role models she had. I let it slide that she was near helpless most of the time. Especially because I have seen how Cinder has evolved as a character.
The only downside was the lack of balance between characters. The storyline was engaging, but there wasn’t enough page time for everyone. I had a feeling this might happen, as each book is set to introduce a new main character. There are only so many pages to cram them all in. Scarlet took a huge backseat in this story and it left me unsettled. Especially after the huge build-up of her character from the last book. I wanted to see more of her.
Throughout this series, readers have seen more and more of Levana’s cruelty show through. Marissa Meyer peels back another layer in this book, leaving readers poised on the edge of their seat as it unfolds. But Cress still maintains its status as being an appropriate young adult book. With each addition to The Lunar Chronicles, I am further entranced by the seamless blending of fairy tales and steampunk attributes. I honestly haven’t seen another series like this one. I love it!
Cress’ character might weigh on some reader’s nerves with her damsel in distress behavior, but Marissa Meyer makes sure to add a bit of humor in about it. Cress has never experienced true social interaction, growing up in front of port screens and entertained by a programmed version of herself to keep company. She is lonely, and lives in a fantasy world she builds for herself until she meets Cinder’s crew. Imagine if you grew up only learning about other people from romance novels and TV. You can quickly see how Cress might behave when these are the only role models she had. I let it slide that she was near helpless most of the time. Especially because I have seen how Cinder has evolved as a character.
The only downside was the lack of balance between characters. The storyline was engaging, but there wasn’t enough page time for everyone. I had a feeling this might happen, as each book is set to introduce a new main character. There are only so many pages to cram them all in. Scarlet took a huge backseat in this story and it left me unsettled. Especially after the huge build-up of her character from the last book. I wanted to see more of her.
Throughout this series, readers have seen more and more of Levana’s cruelty show through. Marissa Meyer peels back another layer in this book, leaving readers poised on the edge of their seat as it unfolds. But Cress still maintains its status as being an appropriate young adult book. With each addition to The Lunar Chronicles, I am further entranced by the seamless blending of fairy tales and steampunk attributes. I honestly haven’t seen another series like this one. I love it!
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Death no longer exists. Well, permanent death anyway. Revival centers have sprung up across the world, guaranteeing people a ticket back to life. And they can even turn back the clock, relive their early adult life, over and over again. Given the rampant undeath, there must be some form of population control. Scythes were enlisted to weed out the population. When a Scythe gleans it is permanent death. Scythes must be diverse in their gleaning, making sure to keep a balance between races and never stray over their intended quota. And a Scythe must never like gleaning. But what happens when a Scythe starts to enjoy the power over death?
Scythe took a while to catch my attention, but Neal Shusterman’s smooth writing style and subtle humor are not to be missed. The reader will switch back and forth between Citra and Rowan’s point of view as the two teens begin to learn what it means to be a Scythe. The two create a great contrast to one another as the story develops and their paths split in radically different directions. You will see a prime example of how teaching techniques can change a person, for better or for worse.
In between chapters, there were also journal entries from various Scythes that interacted with the two main characters. It was fascinating to see their different opinions on death and being a Scythe. Everyone seems to carry their own philosophy on how gleaning should be done, and the drastic differences in technique reflect their personalities.
And the world-building was well done. The overall state of the world and how the population has taken to never dying is written in gradually so as not to overload the reader. There are some political aspects in this book as you delve deeper into the world of the Scythes and how they function, but the humor that is woven in between the lines helps to soften them. The same can be said about the different Scythe’s philosophies on life and death.
This isn’t a book for those looking for immediate resolution, or fast paced action. I recommend this book to those who are willing to invest their time in a story that promises to grow with each addition. The issues that surface in book one are far from over. This is also a simpler writing style since it is young adult. I’m looking forward to book two!
Scythe took a while to catch my attention, but Neal Shusterman’s smooth writing style and subtle humor are not to be missed. The reader will switch back and forth between Citra and Rowan’s point of view as the two teens begin to learn what it means to be a Scythe. The two create a great contrast to one another as the story develops and their paths split in radically different directions. You will see a prime example of how teaching techniques can change a person, for better or for worse.
In between chapters, there were also journal entries from various Scythes that interacted with the two main characters. It was fascinating to see their different opinions on death and being a Scythe. Everyone seems to carry their own philosophy on how gleaning should be done, and the drastic differences in technique reflect their personalities.
And the world-building was well done. The overall state of the world and how the population has taken to never dying is written in gradually so as not to overload the reader. There are some political aspects in this book as you delve deeper into the world of the Scythes and how they function, but the humor that is woven in between the lines helps to soften them. The same can be said about the different Scythe’s philosophies on life and death.
This isn’t a book for those looking for immediate resolution, or fast paced action. I recommend this book to those who are willing to invest their time in a story that promises to grow with each addition. The issues that surface in book one are far from over. This is also a simpler writing style since it is young adult. I’m looking forward to book two!
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The characters are truly what makes this story shine. I’m not one for heavy politics. Unfortunately, most of Peter and Valentine’s motives didn’t interest me. But that isn’t to say they weren’t well written. Peter and Valentine play well off of one another, and within them, the reader can see why the government allowed their mother and father to take another chance at having Ender as a third child. Together Peter and Valentine are just as influential as Ender but in different ways. Which is the entire reason Ender was promoted to battle school when Peter and Valentine were not
Ender is the entire reason I finished this book the first and second time. Watching him grow and adapt to the new situations he was put in kept me reading. Ender endures quite a bit of cruelty and readers will watch it break him down and reforge him into a stronger yet damaged new person. He is a survivor and if there is a way to beat the system, he will do his best to find it.
Ender’s Game is a worthwhile science fiction read. It is heavy on politics, but the science fiction elements and characters carry the story. I am intrigued to continue this series to see where it goes.
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Buggers tried to destroy the human race, now it is time for the humans to strike back. Ender is only six years old when his training begins. Taken from his family he is placed in battle school, where the teachers will spare him no mercy. He is thrown up against impossible odds and given nothing. Isolated and afraid, Ender must endure whatever is thrown at him and learn to adapt. The teachers will do anything they can to mold Ender into the perfect commander, even if it costs him his sanity. And while Ender endures the harsh realities of battle school in space, his siblings Peter and Valentine begin to unleash their own plans for Earth. Ender isn’t the only genius of the family. Together, Peter with his violent and quick mind and Valentine with her ability to manipulate, plan to bring the Earth under their control.
Orson Scott Card has taken children and made them so believably intelligent, that the reader never questions their motives. I could hardly remember that Ender was only six as he learned to master self-defense and tactical analysis. And let’s not forget Peter and Valentine who begin to play the politics of earth and warp how the citizens of different countries view one another. All so they can gain the upper hand and control the tide of war and reform.
The characters are truly what makes this story shine. I’m not one for heavy politics. Unfortunately, most of Peter and Valentine’s motives didn’t interest me. But that isn’t to say they weren’t well written. Peter and Valentine play well off of one another, and within them, the reader can see why the government allowed their mother and father to take another chance at having Ender as a third child. Together Peter and Valentine are just as influential as Ender but in different ways. Which is the entire reason Ender was promoted to battle school when Peter and Valentine were not
Ender is the entire reason I finished this book the first and second time. Watching him grow and adapt to the new situations he was put in kept me reading. Ender endures quite a bit of cruelty and readers will watch it break him down and reforge him into a stronger yet damaged new person. He is a survivor and if there is a way to beat the system, he will do his best to find it.
Ender’s Game is a worthwhile science fiction read. It is heavy on politics, but the science fiction elements and characters carry the story. I am intrigued to continue this series to see where it goes.