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betwixt_the_pages's reviews
936 reviews
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
4.0
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: awesome continuation; fresh, new characters to fall in love with; an intriguing and complex subplot; ALL THE FEELS!
I've been trying to finish up some of my started series, except I'm pacing them out instead of reading them all at once (because they're good, but I want to read other things too! So many books, so little time!)
I decided to read Scarlet yesterday. I fell in love with the characters in Cinder--particularly Iko--and wanted to see if Marissa Meyer's beautiful, poignant writing lived up to the task in book two. Unsurprisingly, it did.
Marissa Meyer knows how to weave her fairy tales with unique, inspiring ideas. Drawing this time upon the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the big, bad wolf, Marissa Meyer took readers on a journey through--not a forest this time--but Paris, France.
I fell in love with Scarlet almost immediately--her stubborn resolve and almost naive clinging to hope is so familiar to me, I couldn't help but root for her from the start. Wolf took almost as little time, despite being a "bad" guy--his devil-may-care attitude is exactly the sort of thing I'm often attracted to in favorite characters.
The mix of Cinder's story with Scarlet's in this continuation was well-done and beautiful. While I know fans often wish, after reading this book, there was more Cinder in the pages, I feel as if that would have made it LESS about Scarlet's journey than it should have been. This book is, after all, ABOUT Scarlet--I appreciated the glimpses we received into Cinder's own journey, but I believe there was just enough to not only keep the plot running, but to do the job of getting us from point A to point B.
I also love that we, at the same time, were given a few brief glimpses into the OTHER characters' lives, as well--the addition of Adri and Pearl, Kai and Levana, helped to show us what was going on in the rest of the world...and tie up any loose ends that might have happened otherwise going into book three.
The writing is still just as gorgeous, though I noticed that perhaps it's not AS poetic as Cinder was. The action is fast-paced, giving us just the right amount of information and clues without being overwhelming, and the story just as fascinating and enjoyable. I can't wait to read Cress--hopefully I'll get to it pretty soon! This was another awesome, steampunk-esque retelling from Marissa Meyer; I definitely recommend it!
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: awesome continuation; fresh, new characters to fall in love with; an intriguing and complex subplot; ALL THE FEELS!
I've been trying to finish up some of my started series, except I'm pacing them out instead of reading them all at once (because they're good, but I want to read other things too! So many books, so little time!)
I decided to read Scarlet yesterday. I fell in love with the characters in Cinder--particularly Iko--and wanted to see if Marissa Meyer's beautiful, poignant writing lived up to the task in book two. Unsurprisingly, it did.
Marissa Meyer knows how to weave her fairy tales with unique, inspiring ideas. Drawing this time upon the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the big, bad wolf, Marissa Meyer took readers on a journey through--not a forest this time--but Paris, France.
I fell in love with Scarlet almost immediately--her stubborn resolve and almost naive clinging to hope is so familiar to me, I couldn't help but root for her from the start. Wolf took almost as little time, despite being a "bad" guy--his devil-may-care attitude is exactly the sort of thing I'm often attracted to in favorite characters.
The mix of Cinder's story with Scarlet's in this continuation was well-done and beautiful. While I know fans often wish, after reading this book, there was more Cinder in the pages, I feel as if that would have made it LESS about Scarlet's journey than it should have been. This book is, after all, ABOUT Scarlet--I appreciated the glimpses we received into Cinder's own journey, but I believe there was just enough to not only keep the plot running, but to do the job of getting us from point A to point B.
I also love that we, at the same time, were given a few brief glimpses into the OTHER characters' lives, as well--the addition of Adri and Pearl, Kai and Levana, helped to show us what was going on in the rest of the world...and tie up any loose ends that might have happened otherwise going into book three.
The writing is still just as gorgeous, though I noticed that perhaps it's not AS poetic as Cinder was. The action is fast-paced, giving us just the right amount of information and clues without being overwhelming, and the story just as fascinating and enjoyable. I can't wait to read Cress--hopefully I'll get to it pretty soon! This was another awesome, steampunk-esque retelling from Marissa Meyer; I definitely recommend it!
The Isle of the Lost by Robert Venditti, Melissa de la Cruz
4.0
Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by a magical force field that keeps the villains and their descendants safely locked up and away from the mainland. Life on the island is dark and dreary. It is a dirty, decrepit place that's been left to rot and forgotten by the world.
But hidden in the mysterious Forbidden Fortress is a dragon's eye: the key to true darkness and the villains' only hope of escape. Only the cleverest, evilest, nastiest little villain can find it...who will it be?
Maleficent, Mistress of the Dark: As the self-proclaimed ruler of the isle, Maleficent has no tolerance for anything less than pure evil. She has little time for her subjects, who have still not mastered life without magic. Her only concern is getting off the Isle of the Lost.
Mal: At sixteen, Maleficent's daughter is the most talented student at Dragon Hall, best known for her evil schemes. And when she hears about the dragon's eye, Mal thinks this could be her chance to prove herself as the cruelest of them all.
Evie: Having been castle-schooled for years, Evil Queen's daughter, Evie, doesn't know the ins and outs of Dragon Hall. But she's a quick study, especially after she falls for one too many of Mal's little tricks.
Jay: As the son of Jafar, Jay is a boy of many talents: stealing and lying to name a few. Jay and Mal have been frenemies forever and he's not about to miss out on the hunt for the dragon's eye.
Carlos: Cruella de Vil's son may not be bravest, but he's certainly clever. Carlos's inventions may be the missing piece in locating the dragon's eye and ending the banishment for good.
Mal soon learns from her mother that the dragon's eye is cursed and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She'll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the dragon's eye, these kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain't so bad.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: the villains of Disney!; chuckle-inducing moments; interesting plot twists; a new, inspiring look into the lives the most loved (or hated?) Disney characters
Oh my goodness, where do I even start with this book?
Okay. So, confession time: I LOVE Disney movies. I grew up watching (and owning!) pretty much all the animated films on VHS...and have since collected, and expanded, them in my DVDs. This book is a brilliant glimpse into what happens AFTER "happily-ever-after"......specifically, to the most loved (hated?) villains of the Disney universe--and their descendants.
I went into this book unsure WHAT to expect, save some mischief, shenanigans, and evil-doings. And from page one, it appeared that's pretty much what we were going to get--the book starting off with the villains pissing off (rather unwisely) Maleficent, the island's queen.
But as the story progressed, a lot of other things started happening in rapid succession. Friendships and alliances began being formed with the descendants; rules started being dismissed (even more than they already were); in general, the children and grandchildren of the villains....began thinking for themselves.
I think what makes this book most fun was the fact that Melissa de la Cruz KNOWS her Disney movies. She introduces characters, plot lines, and story concepts from the original movies; keeps the big baddies to their already-decided personalities....and still gives them a sense of quirky individuality. Evil Queen, for instance, is still ALL ABOUT being the fairest of the land...but because magic is forbidden and her mirror no longer talks to her, she makes HERSELF the mirror (personality disorder, anyone?) Jafar is still all about treasure and gold and being king....but on an island of throw-aways and leftovers, his big schemes tend to fall on deaf ears. Besides, who would listen to a man in lamp pajamas anyway?
There are so many fun, light-hearted twists to the stories we all know so well, I found myself cackling (very loudly, at times, to the chagrin of my husband). The writing, while a little bit sloppy in places (there are some typos and repeated words that are pretty noticeable, and distracting), is entertaining. The characters--both the big baddies, their descendants, AND the citizens of Auradon on the other side of the lake (they make several appearances, as well, with their own unique and individual stories!)--are endearing, though still pretty villainous. They don't, after all, quite know how to do anything but live for themselves and loathe everything else. They aren't, to be honest, really sure how to even love their children.
But the thing I think I MOST enjoyed was the growth of our four main descendant characters--Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos. Starting out practically hating each other, the adventures and misdemeanors they find themselves committing to--the journey that, as usual, turns out to be just another disappointment to their parents--bands them all together and shows them that just because the rest of the family doesn't understand what it means to be happy, doesn't mean they have to live that way too.
This was an overall entertaining, heart-warming sort-of-retelling of the stories so many of us grew up cherishing; I definitely enjoyed this read!
But hidden in the mysterious Forbidden Fortress is a dragon's eye: the key to true darkness and the villains' only hope of escape. Only the cleverest, evilest, nastiest little villain can find it...who will it be?
Maleficent, Mistress of the Dark: As the self-proclaimed ruler of the isle, Maleficent has no tolerance for anything less than pure evil. She has little time for her subjects, who have still not mastered life without magic. Her only concern is getting off the Isle of the Lost.
Mal: At sixteen, Maleficent's daughter is the most talented student at Dragon Hall, best known for her evil schemes. And when she hears about the dragon's eye, Mal thinks this could be her chance to prove herself as the cruelest of them all.
Evie: Having been castle-schooled for years, Evil Queen's daughter, Evie, doesn't know the ins and outs of Dragon Hall. But she's a quick study, especially after she falls for one too many of Mal's little tricks.
Jay: As the son of Jafar, Jay is a boy of many talents: stealing and lying to name a few. Jay and Mal have been frenemies forever and he's not about to miss out on the hunt for the dragon's eye.
Carlos: Cruella de Vil's son may not be bravest, but he's certainly clever. Carlos's inventions may be the missing piece in locating the dragon's eye and ending the banishment for good.
Mal soon learns from her mother that the dragon's eye is cursed and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She'll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the dragon's eye, these kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain't so bad.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: the villains of Disney!; chuckle-inducing moments; interesting plot twists; a new, inspiring look into the lives the most loved (or hated?) Disney characters
Oh my goodness, where do I even start with this book?
Okay. So, confession time: I LOVE Disney movies. I grew up watching (and owning!) pretty much all the animated films on VHS...and have since collected, and expanded, them in my DVDs. This book is a brilliant glimpse into what happens AFTER "happily-ever-after"......specifically, to the most loved (hated?) villains of the Disney universe--and their descendants.
I went into this book unsure WHAT to expect, save some mischief, shenanigans, and evil-doings. And from page one, it appeared that's pretty much what we were going to get--the book starting off with the villains pissing off (rather unwisely) Maleficent, the island's queen.
But as the story progressed, a lot of other things started happening in rapid succession. Friendships and alliances began being formed with the descendants; rules started being dismissed (even more than they already were); in general, the children and grandchildren of the villains....began thinking for themselves.
I think what makes this book most fun was the fact that Melissa de la Cruz KNOWS her Disney movies. She introduces characters, plot lines, and story concepts from the original movies; keeps the big baddies to their already-decided personalities....and still gives them a sense of quirky individuality. Evil Queen, for instance, is still ALL ABOUT being the fairest of the land...but because magic is forbidden and her mirror no longer talks to her, she makes HERSELF the mirror (personality disorder, anyone?) Jafar is still all about treasure and gold and being king....but on an island of throw-aways and leftovers, his big schemes tend to fall on deaf ears. Besides, who would listen to a man in lamp pajamas anyway?
There are so many fun, light-hearted twists to the stories we all know so well, I found myself cackling (very loudly, at times, to the chagrin of my husband). The writing, while a little bit sloppy in places (there are some typos and repeated words that are pretty noticeable, and distracting), is entertaining. The characters--both the big baddies, their descendants, AND the citizens of Auradon on the other side of the lake (they make several appearances, as well, with their own unique and individual stories!)--are endearing, though still pretty villainous. They don't, after all, quite know how to do anything but live for themselves and loathe everything else. They aren't, to be honest, really sure how to even love their children.
But the thing I think I MOST enjoyed was the growth of our four main descendant characters--Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos. Starting out practically hating each other, the adventures and misdemeanors they find themselves committing to--the journey that, as usual, turns out to be just another disappointment to their parents--bands them all together and shows them that just because the rest of the family doesn't understand what it means to be happy, doesn't mean they have to live that way too.
This was an overall entertaining, heart-warming sort-of-retelling of the stories so many of us grew up cherishing; I definitely enjoyed this read!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
4.0
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: kick ass female assassin; interesting world building and characters; a writing style that made it difficult to pin down or guess plot twists (which I love!); a quasi love-triangle (which...seemed a bit unnecessary?); a lot of weird tie-ins/wrap-up sections in the end that might not have been needed
This is a book I picked up SOLELY because of the amount of rave reviews I've seen lurking around the last few months; it seemed everyone was talking about this series, and I decided I wanted to know why.
It took me a little while to actually settle IN to Celaena's story, to be honest. The beginning, for some reason, seemed a bit rough...as if the author was patchworking all her ideas into a quilt, but hadn't quite closed up the seams. I have to say, I don't think I really became invested in the story and the characters until AFTER chapter fourteen; something about the first 13 chapters just didn't appeal or call to me.
Once I got excited about what I was reading, however, it didn't take long to get me hooked. The writing is pretty, the style intriguing and thought-provoking. It's a style that doesn't leave readers grasping at straws OR guessing the plot twists before their time; instead, it's a healthy blend of back story, character arcs/motivations, and present action--just enough to keep readers always reaching for more, flipping the pages.
I feel as if perhaps Celaena, our main protagonist (as well as the other main characters) wasn't really given much room to GROW here. While it's true she stops seeking escape around every corner or plotting the destruction of everyone who dares look at her, there's not much past her stone-cold shell and wise-cracking demeanor. I LOVE how fiery and fierce she is, and we are given a few glimpses at a side of her I WISH we'd seen more of in this book--particularly in instances with Dorian.
I wasn't pleased with the relationship aspect, however. While Dorian and Chaol each maintain their own unique relationships with the assassin, I didn't see a reason to have it become the quasi love-triangle it did in the end. I NEVER ONCE thought that she and Dorian made a good couple; in fact, I REALLY hated the idea of them winding up "together" at the end of this book. Something about the way Celaena treated him, perhaps, or acted around him... I can't explain it, but I just couldn't picture her actually loving him in THAT way. That's not to say I didn't like the scenes with the two of them--she's different around him in a way I hadn't expected. The scene in the bedroom the morning of Yulemas is one of my FAVORITES, because she lets her guard down completely--we see her in a completely different light, and I loved it. I just... I don't understand why every book anymore NEEDS a love triangle. They're usually done only for the drama...and OVERLY done, at that.
The ending, also, seemed a bit...unnecessary? I understand Sarah J. Maas was attempting to clear up loose ends or tie in future plot lines, but... can't she have done that in a different way? The last few chapters just seemed to DRAG...I wish they'd been written differently, or taken out altogether. I don't feel (at this point, having only read this first book) we really NEEDED all the wrap-ups we were given. This is a series, after all...shouldn't some things remain sort of mysterious and unexplained, at least for now?
Overall, I enjoyed this read. The characters are quirky and fun, the story is different from what I'd been expecting; Sarah J. Maas knows her craft, that's for sure. I will be picking up the next book sometime in the future, definitely!
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: kick ass female assassin; interesting world building and characters; a writing style that made it difficult to pin down or guess plot twists (which I love!); a quasi love-triangle (which...seemed a bit unnecessary?); a lot of weird tie-ins/wrap-up sections in the end that might not have been needed
This is a book I picked up SOLELY because of the amount of rave reviews I've seen lurking around the last few months; it seemed everyone was talking about this series, and I decided I wanted to know why.
It took me a little while to actually settle IN to Celaena's story, to be honest. The beginning, for some reason, seemed a bit rough...as if the author was patchworking all her ideas into a quilt, but hadn't quite closed up the seams. I have to say, I don't think I really became invested in the story and the characters until AFTER chapter fourteen; something about the first 13 chapters just didn't appeal or call to me.
Once I got excited about what I was reading, however, it didn't take long to get me hooked. The writing is pretty, the style intriguing and thought-provoking. It's a style that doesn't leave readers grasping at straws OR guessing the plot twists before their time; instead, it's a healthy blend of back story, character arcs/motivations, and present action--just enough to keep readers always reaching for more, flipping the pages.
I feel as if perhaps Celaena, our main protagonist (as well as the other main characters) wasn't really given much room to GROW here. While it's true she stops seeking escape around every corner or plotting the destruction of everyone who dares look at her, there's not much past her stone-cold shell and wise-cracking demeanor. I LOVE how fiery and fierce she is, and we are given a few glimpses at a side of her I WISH we'd seen more of in this book--particularly in instances with Dorian.
I wasn't pleased with the relationship aspect, however. While Dorian and Chaol each maintain their own unique relationships with the assassin, I didn't see a reason to have it become the quasi love-triangle it did in the end. I NEVER ONCE thought that she and Dorian made a good couple; in fact, I REALLY hated the idea of them winding up "together" at the end of this book. Something about the way Celaena treated him, perhaps, or acted around him... I can't explain it, but I just couldn't picture her actually loving him in THAT way. That's not to say I didn't like the scenes with the two of them--she's different around him in a way I hadn't expected. The scene in the bedroom the morning of Yulemas is one of my FAVORITES, because she lets her guard down completely--we see her in a completely different light, and I loved it. I just... I don't understand why every book anymore NEEDS a love triangle. They're usually done only for the drama...and OVERLY done, at that.
The ending, also, seemed a bit...unnecessary? I understand Sarah J. Maas was attempting to clear up loose ends or tie in future plot lines, but... can't she have done that in a different way? The last few chapters just seemed to DRAG...I wish they'd been written differently, or taken out altogether. I don't feel (at this point, having only read this first book) we really NEEDED all the wrap-ups we were given. This is a series, after all...shouldn't some things remain sort of mysterious and unexplained, at least for now?
Overall, I enjoyed this read. The characters are quirky and fun, the story is different from what I'd been expecting; Sarah J. Maas knows her craft, that's for sure. I will be picking up the next book sometime in the future, definitely!
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
3.0
What if you'd been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?
When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, who she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that's as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her archnemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger). But just when Alice's scores are settled, she goes into remission.
Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she's said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she caused irreparable damage to the people around her—and to the one person who matters most?
Julie Murphy's Side Effects May Vary is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.
- - - - -
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: I just couldn't get into this book; great character motivations/growth; some tough choices and cringe-worthy scenes; cyclic, non-linear story telling
Let's start with the easiest thing for me to say in this review: I just could not get into this book the way I wanted to. It's nothing against the characters, I don't think—they're pretty complex, multi-dimensional, and overall teenage angsty. I'm not sure; I can't think WHY this book didn't speak to me. It just... Didn't? That's a terrible conclusion statement; let me try to outline the reasons why I DID like this, okay?
There are some GORGEOUS quotes at the beginning of this book. The prose is seamless at these moments, almost poetic with the weight of the words Julie Murphy is throwing around like silk scarves during a juggling act. The ballet of beautiful descriptors and complex, thought-inducing prose almost brought me to my knees. But as the book goes on and things begin falling apart around our main duo...the prose seems to fall apart, too. It's like...the deeper we go into our characters' minds, the more chaos they leave behind, including upon the words themselves.
The characters are pretty spectacular overall. Their motivations are honest and stark, a juxtaposition of true and false against the backdrop of Alice's health. Alice goes through a HELL of a lot in a very short amount of time, and her character arc is a long loop of ups and downs that are bound to tear a reader's heart out (they did mine). And through all of it, no matter how mean she was...I felt she might just be justified in her actions. Perhaps I connected with her on a more personal level. Perhaps I just like mean girls for characters (I mean come on, they make some AWESOME fodder for books). Whatever it is, I actually LIKE Alice in this book.
But...that's about where my adoration stops. Something about this... Maybe the story itself?... just didn't speak to me the way I hoped it would when I started. The ideas are there—I love the idea of tearing down all the walls, getting the last say because you know you don't have another chance...only to get a second gasp at it all. I love that Alice put herself so fully out there...only to realize that actions have consequences even when you don't expect you'll be around to deal with them.
I don't have a problem with this book, per se. It just didn't touch me as powerfully as I'd hoped it would. Something about it falls flat in the end; I don't know what, so please don't ask. Perhaps it's just ME, personally, who feels this way. Perhaps I've read so many other noteworthy, emotionally overpowering things lately, this one sort of got lost by the wayside. Perhaps I'll never really know.
In the end, I enjoyed this read—but I didn't LOVE it. The characters are honest, realistic, and filled out in all the right places. The nonlinear, almost cyclic writing style is fascinating and enthralling. The morals are subtle and well-explored. I would still recommend this read to lovers of John Green, Jay Asher, and (maybe?) Sarah Dessen.
When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, who she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that's as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her archnemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger). But just when Alice's scores are settled, she goes into remission.
Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she's said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she caused irreparable damage to the people around her—and to the one person who matters most?
Julie Murphy's Side Effects May Vary is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.
- - - - -
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: I just couldn't get into this book; great character motivations/growth; some tough choices and cringe-worthy scenes; cyclic, non-linear story telling
Let's start with the easiest thing for me to say in this review: I just could not get into this book the way I wanted to. It's nothing against the characters, I don't think—they're pretty complex, multi-dimensional, and overall teenage angsty. I'm not sure; I can't think WHY this book didn't speak to me. It just... Didn't? That's a terrible conclusion statement; let me try to outline the reasons why I DID like this, okay?
En pointe she was a force, a tornado: safe to look at from a distance, but in close proximity, you risked being just another piece of her debris. Some days I thought I could only be so lucky.
There are some GORGEOUS quotes at the beginning of this book. The prose is seamless at these moments, almost poetic with the weight of the words Julie Murphy is throwing around like silk scarves during a juggling act. The ballet of beautiful descriptors and complex, thought-inducing prose almost brought me to my knees. But as the book goes on and things begin falling apart around our main duo...the prose seems to fall apart, too. It's like...the deeper we go into our characters' minds, the more chaos they leave behind, including upon the words themselves.
The characters are pretty spectacular overall. Their motivations are honest and stark, a juxtaposition of true and false against the backdrop of Alice's health. Alice goes through a HELL of a lot in a very short amount of time, and her character arc is a long loop of ups and downs that are bound to tear a reader's heart out (they did mine). And through all of it, no matter how mean she was...I felt she might just be justified in her actions. Perhaps I connected with her on a more personal level. Perhaps I just like mean girls for characters (I mean come on, they make some AWESOME fodder for books). Whatever it is, I actually LIKE Alice in this book.
I’d always heard that when you truly love someone, you’re happy for them as long they’re happy. But that’s a lie. That’s higher-road bullshit. If you love someone so much, why the hell would you be happy to see them with anyone else? I didn’t want the easy kind of love. I wanted the crazy love, the kind of love that created and destroyed all at the same time.
But...that's about where my adoration stops. Something about this... Maybe the story itself?... just didn't speak to me the way I hoped it would when I started. The ideas are there—I love the idea of tearing down all the walls, getting the last say because you know you don't have another chance...only to get a second gasp at it all. I love that Alice put herself so fully out there...only to realize that actions have consequences even when you don't expect you'll be around to deal with them.
I don't have a problem with this book, per se. It just didn't touch me as powerfully as I'd hoped it would. Something about it falls flat in the end; I don't know what, so please don't ask. Perhaps it's just ME, personally, who feels this way. Perhaps I've read so many other noteworthy, emotionally overpowering things lately, this one sort of got lost by the wayside. Perhaps I'll never really know.
I wanted nothing more than to feel something, but I didn't know how to deal with what came after the feeling.
In the end, I enjoyed this read—but I didn't LOVE it. The characters are honest, realistic, and filled out in all the right places. The nonlinear, almost cyclic writing style is fascinating and enthralling. The morals are subtle and well-explored. I would still recommend this read to lovers of John Green, Jay Asher, and (maybe?) Sarah Dessen.
The Girl In Between by Laekan Zea Kemp
4.0
Bryn Reyes is a real life sleeping beauty. Afflicted with Klein-Levin Syndrome, she suffers episodes of prolonged sleep that steal weeks, and sometimes even months, from her life. But unlike most KLS patients, she doesn’t spend each episode in a catatonic state or wake up with no recollection of the time she’s missed. Instead, Bryn spends half her life in an alternate reality made up of her memories. For Bryn, the past is a place, until one day a boy she’s never met before washes up on the illusory beach of her dreams with no memory of who he is.
But the appearance of this strange boy isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Bryn’s symptoms are worsening, her body weakening as she’s plagued by hallucinations even while awake. Her only hope of finding a cure is to undergo experimental treatment created by a German specialist. But when Dr. Banz reveals that he knows more about her strange symptoms than he originally let on, Bryn learns that the boy in her head might actually be the key to understanding what’s happening to her, and worse, that if she doesn’t find out his identity before it’s too late, they both may not survive.
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Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: unique look into a mysterious chronic illness; intriguing story, complex characters; an inventive exploration of what MIGHT happen to a person's brain when comatose; creative story-telling with an air of tension
So, not that it matters much, but how interesting is this cover?! It's so unique, I've never seen anything like it! You know what makes it better? The fact that that statement covers the READ, too.
First off: the main female character, Bryn? Suffers from Klein-Levin Syndrome. Also known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome. I mean...the girl sleeps for like... WEEKS?! At a time?! And still, somehow, manages to hook a reader's interest, keep them enthralled and engaged...and come off more realistic and human than other characters I can think of off the top of my head. The rest of the characters fall nowhere NEAR flat. They all hold their own, and make the story leap to life—which is saying something, considering Bryn spends a good portion of the book in comatose land.
The focus on such an intriguing and mysterious chronic illness/condition also made for an out-of-the-box, unique read. While I'd heard of Sleeping Beauty Syndrome before embarking on this journey, I hadn't done much research or really looked into it beyond the surface. Having the illness described in such easy-to-follow, uncomplicated language really helped drive home the point—and the utter uncertainty that Bryn lives with day to day.
There is a hint of romance...but it's subtle, and the characters are so endearing you'll be rooting for them anyway. The fact that things in Bryn's world begin changing once Roman shows up... Well, it's a bit of a cliched idea, I'll grant you that. But it's effectively done and helps to push the plot forward when things might otherwise have started to drag.
The exploration of what happens (or...MIGHT happen) to the brain while comatose or unconscious for long periods of time brought a new level of contemplation and mystery to the world being created here. Laekan Zea Kemp went to a lot of trouble to make this a cohesive, realistic journey—and she succeeded.
Overall, this was an inventive and intriguing read, and I'll be sure to snap up the rest of the books in this series as soon as I can! I need to know what happens next—that cliffhanger ending must be resolved! (it's like my favorite television shows...except I don't have to wait for a whole new season!) I'd definitely recommend to lovers of unique fantasy and inventive world-building.
But the appearance of this strange boy isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Bryn’s symptoms are worsening, her body weakening as she’s plagued by hallucinations even while awake. Her only hope of finding a cure is to undergo experimental treatment created by a German specialist. But when Dr. Banz reveals that he knows more about her strange symptoms than he originally let on, Bryn learns that the boy in her head might actually be the key to understanding what’s happening to her, and worse, that if she doesn’t find out his identity before it’s too late, they both may not survive.
- - - - -
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: unique look into a mysterious chronic illness; intriguing story, complex characters; an inventive exploration of what MIGHT happen to a person's brain when comatose; creative story-telling with an air of tension
So, not that it matters much, but how interesting is this cover?! It's so unique, I've never seen anything like it! You know what makes it better? The fact that that statement covers the READ, too.
People don’t exist in just the light or the dark. They exist in the contrast. In the shadows where the two overlap.
First off: the main female character, Bryn? Suffers from Klein-Levin Syndrome. Also known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome. I mean...the girl sleeps for like... WEEKS?! At a time?! And still, somehow, manages to hook a reader's interest, keep them enthralled and engaged...and come off more realistic and human than other characters I can think of off the top of my head. The rest of the characters fall nowhere NEAR flat. They all hold their own, and make the story leap to life—which is saying something, considering Bryn spends a good portion of the book in comatose land.
The focus on such an intriguing and mysterious chronic illness/condition also made for an out-of-the-box, unique read. While I'd heard of Sleeping Beauty Syndrome before embarking on this journey, I hadn't done much research or really looked into it beyond the surface. Having the illness described in such easy-to-follow, uncomplicated language really helped drive home the point—and the utter uncertainty that Bryn lives with day to day.
“Who’d want a lifetime of waiting?”
I stared at the soft lines of her lips. “Someone who knows what it is they’re waiting for.”
There is a hint of romance...but it's subtle, and the characters are so endearing you'll be rooting for them anyway. The fact that things in Bryn's world begin changing once Roman shows up... Well, it's a bit of a cliched idea, I'll grant you that. But it's effectively done and helps to push the plot forward when things might otherwise have started to drag.
The exploration of what happens (or...MIGHT happen) to the brain while comatose or unconscious for long periods of time brought a new level of contemplation and mystery to the world being created here. Laekan Zea Kemp went to a lot of trouble to make this a cohesive, realistic journey—and she succeeded.
Dream with your heart and the universe will bend at your will.
Overall, this was an inventive and intriguing read, and I'll be sure to snap up the rest of the books in this series as soon as I can! I need to know what happens next—that cliffhanger ending must be resolved! (it's like my favorite television shows...except I don't have to wait for a whole new season!) I'd definitely recommend to lovers of unique fantasy and inventive world-building.