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wordsandnocturnes's reviews
441 reviews
The Hunger Games Protocol: Unauthorized from the Capitol by Robert Greenberg
3.0
This book is a guide to the inner workings of The Hunger Games, and it shows a lot the books by [a:Suzanne Collins|153394|Suzanne Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394819770p2/153394.jpg] don't tell, and if you wonder a lot about the many different Games - about the various Mutts and any of the tributes before Katniss, Peeta, Finnick and the whole lot, this would be just the book for you.
This book goes clearly into the details of everything to do with The Hunger Games (not the books, but the actual Games), ranging from different types of arenas and Mutts. There are stories of famous tributes (which are really interesting), more details on Avoxes (the procedure of becoming an Avox is stated in the book) and even diary entries by a tribute that shows The Hunger Games from her point of view.
The book is written from the point of view of Magnus Augustus Clarr, a CEO Directorate of Hunger Games and Avox Services. He adds his notes and comments on different topics, which can be quite amusing sometimes.
3.5 stars. Although this book may lose its charm now and then (as it did to me), it was worth a read. It is really a collection of interesting facts. Enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book goes clearly into the details of everything to do with The Hunger Games (not the books, but the actual Games), ranging from different types of arenas and Mutts. There are stories of famous tributes (which are really interesting), more details on Avoxes (the procedure of becoming an Avox is stated in the book) and even diary entries by a tribute that shows The Hunger Games from her point of view.
The book is written from the point of view of Magnus Augustus Clarr, a CEO Directorate of Hunger Games and Avox Services. He adds his notes and comments on different topics, which can be quite amusing sometimes.
3.5 stars. Although this book may lose its charm now and then (as it did to me), it was worth a read. It is really a collection of interesting facts. Enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Influence by David R. Bernstein
2.0
[b:Influence|31455623|Influence (Influence, #1)|David R. Bernstein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471320345s/31455623.jpg|52160115] is another dystopian.
The events in this book takes place in a world where there's Harvesters, terrible people who is considered dangerous to other people. They "harvest" whatever they can find, taking things roughly for themselves. There is also groups like Magnus and... Vernon(?). I can't remember the name, but these groups compete with each other, gaining power and more civilians. The group with more of all these things are deemed more powerful. To gain power and keep civilians in line, they kidnap Influencers, who are people who can control people's minds with their minds.
Influencers have different types of what they call the Push. Some can control people's thoughts, some can send messages (thoughts) to other people's minds... The main Push many Influencers specialise in is changing the mood and will of other people without Influencer powers.
Kaylin is a teenage girl with strong Influencer powers, being able to imply her Push powers immediately on others without having to nurture the bond and make the bond between her and others grow stronger. She lives out in the wild, moving around with her friend (who she cares a lot for), Amanda. They try not to connect with others because of Kaylin's powers, which would land them being chased after by groups like Magnus.
However, Kaylin IS caught along with Amanda. It all begins when she meets and helps a guy they found almost dying by the streets named Farren that turns out to be from Magnus. Many dystopian-y stuff ensues, including a mission to rescue Amanda and a fight to destroy Magnus once and for all. There is no love triangle, and there's a plot twist at the end which sort of reminds me of the ending in [b:City of Bones|256683|City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432730315s/256683.jpg|2267189] by [a:Cassandra Clare|150038|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1270502031p2/150038.jpg]. It's nothing like City of Bones though.
Influence is average (in my opinion), which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. Quite worth a read if you don't really have anything else to read at the moment. It's not bad, interesting enough, but not as gripping as [b:Configured|32065903|Configured (Configured #1)|Jenetta Penner|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474136270s/32065903.jpg|52710430], another dystopian I read this year (which I do reccomend picking up!).
I couldn't connect with Kaylin or any of the other characters, even if I did try my best to put myself into their shoes. They weren't really well-developed, but as this is the first book, perhaps there would be more character development in the upcoming books. Still, when sad things and touching things happened, I didn't feel a thing. I was more like "oh". And there are quite a lot of characters, many of whom I keep forgetting.
The story is also fine, but I didn't absolutely like it or fell willingly into it or even keep rushing back to read what happened next. The pacing and writing style are well. No memorable and beautiful quotes to quote or anything that made me feel amazed and longing for the next book. I was around Chapter 20+ when I thought it should have ended, but it didn't. Quite good, but not my cup of tea.
Still, there's the lovely bullet-filled death of someone which made me say "finally".
I received a copy from the author.
The events in this book takes place in a world where there's Harvesters, terrible people who is considered dangerous to other people. They "harvest" whatever they can find, taking things roughly for themselves. There is also groups like Magnus and... Vernon(?). I can't remember the name, but these groups compete with each other, gaining power and more civilians. The group with more of all these things are deemed more powerful. To gain power and keep civilians in line, they kidnap Influencers, who are people who can control people's minds with their minds.
Influencers have different types of what they call the Push. Some can control people's thoughts, some can send messages (thoughts) to other people's minds... The main Push many Influencers specialise in is changing the mood and will of other people without Influencer powers.
Kaylin is a teenage girl with strong Influencer powers, being able to imply her Push powers immediately on others without having to nurture the bond and make the bond between her and others grow stronger. She lives out in the wild, moving around with her friend (who she cares a lot for), Amanda. They try not to connect with others because of Kaylin's powers, which would land them being chased after by groups like Magnus.
However, Kaylin IS caught along with Amanda. It all begins when she meets and helps a guy they found almost dying by the streets named Farren that turns out to be from Magnus. Many dystopian-y stuff ensues, including a mission to rescue Amanda and a fight to destroy Magnus once and for all. There is no love triangle, and there's a plot twist at the end which sort of reminds me of the ending in [b:City of Bones|256683|City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1432730315s/256683.jpg|2267189] by [a:Cassandra Clare|150038|Cassandra Clare|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1270502031p2/150038.jpg]. It's nothing like City of Bones though.
Influence is average (in my opinion), which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. Quite worth a read if you don't really have anything else to read at the moment. It's not bad, interesting enough, but not as gripping as [b:Configured|32065903|Configured (Configured #1)|Jenetta Penner|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474136270s/32065903.jpg|52710430], another dystopian I read this year (which I do reccomend picking up!).
I couldn't connect with Kaylin or any of the other characters, even if I did try my best to put myself into their shoes. They weren't really well-developed, but as this is the first book, perhaps there would be more character development in the upcoming books. Still, when sad things and touching things happened, I didn't feel a thing. I was more like "oh". And there are quite a lot of characters, many of whom I keep forgetting.
The story is also fine, but I didn't absolutely like it or fell willingly into it or even keep rushing back to read what happened next. The pacing and writing style are well. No memorable and beautiful quotes to quote or anything that made me feel amazed and longing for the next book. I was around Chapter 20+ when I thought it should have ended, but it didn't. Quite good, but not my cup of tea.
I received a copy from the author.