kariny's book frenzy

TOP TEN 2016

December 31, 2016

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THE SHATTERED CROWN REVIEW

TITLE: The Shattered Crown
AUTHOR: J.W. Webb
SERIES: The Legends Of Ansu #2
PUBLICATION DATE: March 5 2015
PUBLISHER: Palace Park Press
SOURCE: Copy provided in exchange for an honest review

Corin an Fol, Longswordsman and ex mercenary has but one objective: retire early and settle down. Unfortunately the gods have other ideas. When Corin arrives home after many years fighting foreign wars, he finds bad news waiting for him. The High King has been murdered and his crystal crown, the Tekara, destroyed.

The Tekara is no ordinary crown. Wrought of solid crystal it contains a charm of strength that has protected the Four Kingdoms for millennia. But the Tekara is vulnerable to one thing: treachery. So when Caswallon the schemer secretly places the crown on Prince Tarin’s head he knows it will shatter, causing the realms to fall apart. He stands to gain as soon as it breaks.

Though many suspect Caswallon, who is known as a sorcerer, only one dares stand against him: Queen Ariane of Kelwyn. She is visited by her goddess in a dream who warns that Prince Tarin has fled with the shards of the Shattered Crown,and only by finding both Prince and Crown can the Four Kingdoms be saved.

After being promised gold, Corin an Fol reluctantly joins the queen’s desperate quest to salvage the missing shards. But Caswallon is on to them and already watching their every move.

Let me just start off by saying, WHAT AN ADVENTURE!

I have to admit that i got pretty confused at times to situate who is who, and who is allied to who...there are so many characters! But the effort was so worth it because all the characters bind together and form part of this intricate action-packed plot! Each and every character was super well written and unique, you could tell the author put in a lot of extra work in them and they didn't feel like side characters but major characters because they were so well developed.

Corin was pretty awesome. He's this badass ex warrior with a brutal and sad past that readers sympathize with. He just wanted to go home and live out his life but his ex boss sends him on an errand to accompany the queen on her quest for guidance. I loved that he was grumpy most of the time, it kinda made him less of "cliché" hero. He's not trying to be a hero, he just does what's in his best interest but somewhere along the way he starts to care for other people. As for queen Ariane, she was so kickass. She swears, she fights-not your typical queen-but even after becomign a queen at such a young age, she's extremely courageous and intelligent.

So basically, although this is book 2, you don't have to read book 1 because it takes place 1000 years after book 1! Though i was absolutely thrilled at the mention of some characters from book 1! Basically Ansu was a land where two species were at war; the Gold folk (Elves) and the Dog-Men. There are fae but they're not really involved in the story but maybe they'll show up in the next book. They're older then the Gold Folk and the Dog Men. So then this host of humans (a character from book 1) arrives and allies with the elves to destroy the Dog Men. They win the war and in exchange, the Gold Folk give the human army a crown to protect them from the rise of the Dog Men. And for centuries, the humans ruled but the story takes place when the current king is betrayed by his counselor- a sorcerer who bids the prince to steal the crown. The crown is destroyed, the Dog Men are on the rise, kingdoms fall, allies are made and yeah the works of a great fantasy book!!!!

My favorite character had to be Rael, he's a bad guy, but he was so intriguing! He's a master assassin and kind of a psycho but i loved reading his part in the novel! (Can i just say on a side note that there was a lot of farting in the novel lol :P). The author does an AMAZING job at writing the villains! I think i actually like them more than the good guys!

This book was LONG, and i was scared i'd get bored but there was not one dull moment! Action filled this book to the brim! I am a big romance fan so i did feel a little lack of it in this book but i can't fault it for that because it would have driven the focus away from this complex plot...But the novel jumps right in into the action, there is no long wait for the book to actually start. Right from the beginning you feel the sense of urgency and danger that just throws all the characters into action. There are other characters that have maybe one or two POV's in this book that i hope will become major characters in book 2 because they are super intriguing!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and i will most definitely be reading the next one! If you guys like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings or, like me, felt a need to read an epic fantasy after Empire Of Storms by Sarah J Mass, then definitely pick up this one! I'm talking dragons, magic, fey, gods, dark sorcerers! The author has left us with quite a few unanswered questions that makes you need book 3 right away! It's a rich and epic tale of heroes and loyalty! Pick this up and become ensnared in this action packed quest!

December 28, 2016

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contemporary

'HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE' WHAT'S WITH THE HATE!?

TITLE: Holding Up The Universe
AUTHOR: Jennifer Niven
SERIES: Standalone
PUBLICATION DATE: October 4 2016
PUBLISHER: Knopf Books for Young Readers
SOURCE: Bought

Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.

Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours

Hey guys! This isn't really a review but i just had some things i wanted to say about the backlash this book has received. I'm not saying the people who back-lashed this book are wrong, it is their opinion, and i still don't agree with rating a book without reading it. But this is my opinion and i'd like to share.

It's been out barely two months and before people have actually read the book, they've rated it one star because they found the synopsis 'offensive'. I completely agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion! But if you don't like a synopsis fine you can say so, but why attack the author on social media? Why rate the book down? Read it, if you hate it then say how much you hate it! I mean i was doing research before writing this post and i saw a full on twitter war about how offensive this synopsis was between a reader and one of the author's friends! Is this what a YA novel supposed to inspire has come to?

I'm sorry but i see nothing offensive when i read the synopsis! Yes Libby needed a crane to get out of her house, but that's not offensive, it's reality. Just google it. And you'll see that quite a few people have had to get out of their houses by a crane! And no it's not offensive, it's showing you how these people might feel, what they might be going through. That people do live in beyond shitty situations and yet they survive.

This part of the synopsis has also been called 'dehumanizing' to fat people. How? I feel that simply by reading the synopsis and not reading this character's journey you are dehumanizing her. Your're just seeing her as the girl who needed a crane to get out of the house. That's what you're judging her on, not her personality and certainly not her journey! And that's exactly the kind of behavior the author tries to expose in her book. She presents Libby as more than the 'fattest teen in America', she shows you her personality, and what she goes through. And i'm sorry but this happens to real life people-THIS IS REALITY. Does this make these real people not human!?

And the bullying that happens in her school? It was pretty tough to read about but it's not that much of a work of fiction. This is a real life situation for many of the people out there.

This is not a book about loosing weight, it's about accepting yourself as long as you're happy. And how can you be happy if people around you are constantly saying things that show you that you shouldn't be happy the way you are? I really connected with Libby, i've struggled for years with weight issues and i've been a little bullied-though not as much as Libby. I felt all of those things and i was even depressed for a little while, which is why this book struck a cord with me! And then there was the part where Libby writes hurtful comments about herself in the bathroom-they say it's sending a bad message, But guess what? For those of us who've been there, it's normal. If we're not writing it down, we're constantly tormenting ourselves mentally. It's called being depressed and insecure. And i surpassed all of that eventually. And that was what Libby did! She has this 'larger than life' personality, she's trying to grow her confidence despite other people trying to ram her down! How is that offensive or dehumanizing?

I sometimes watch this show on TLC, known as my Big Fat Fabulous Life and the girl, Whitney, just screamed out Libby too me. She's joyous, she's snarky, she strives to be the best she can be, she transcends societal judgement and she expresses her passion for dance. It's one of my favorite shows!

Image result for whitney my big fat fabulous life weight loss

Seriously go check out this show, that woman is inspiring!

And then people said that it was offensive when the other describes Jack as 'broken' in the synopsis. I read a comment on goodreads where the girl has the same situation but she didn't see herself as 'broken'. But so what? Not everyone deals with their situation the same way! And besides, the author doesn't describe Jack as broken, he feels broken. And this is his journey-how he surpasses all that and learns to live with it. To feel not so broken.

And another thing, it's one thing to say bad thing's about the author's writing and her book-it's your opinion, you're totally entitled to it. But how can you bash the author herself? There were comments about how a 'skinny' author cannot write about a 'fat' person. But hey, as a fat person speaking here, the author just captured what i felt basically my whole high school years, and i cannot even begin to say how much i regret that this book had not been published YEARS AGO. The message of the book was beautiful, it spoke to the readers directly.

Is Sarah J Mass a faerie?No right, then why is she allowed to write about the fae. How could she know what they're feeling. It's a totally invalid point!

I read this beautiful article from the author where she explains that this book is an extension of her personal journey and that of her friends, if you want to check it out this is the link.

"That is why I wrote Holding Up the Universe—to let readers know that big, small, tall, short, pretty, plain, friendly, shy, they are wanted. They are necessary. They are loved."

-Jennifer Niven

Ugh. Okay rant over, it just really irritated me. I don't get all the hate, that's just my opinion. You guys should definitely pick up this book! It's a wonderful journey! This was my first book by this author and i found it absolutely inspiring!

December 21, 2016

2 Comments

WATER & BLOOD BOOK BLITZ+GIVEAWAY

December 20, 2016

0 Comments

standalones

THE DIABOLIC REVIEW

TITLE: The Diabolic
AUTHOR: S.J. KINCAID
SERIES: Standalone
PUBLICATION DATE: November 1 2016
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
SOURCE: Bought

Nemesis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator's daughter, Sidonia. The girl who has grown up by her side and who is as much as sister as a master. There's no one Nemesis wouldn't kill to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia.

She must become her.

Now one of the galaxy's most dangerous weapons is masquerading in a world of corruption and Nemesis has to hide her true abilities or risk everything. As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns that there is something stronger than her deadly force: the one thing she's been told she doesn't have - humanity. And, amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity might be the only thing that can save her, Sidonia and the entire Empire...

FIRST OF ALL. LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO APPRECIATE THIS GORGEOUS ANIMATED COVER.

Now a lot of people have compared this to Red Queen. It's not. Yes she goes to court, and there are politics and stuff but that's where it stops. Red Queen was awesome and then the twist that did happen kinda threw me off the series because i have a feeling the series is gonna get more predictable. The Diabolic is NOT the same! Seriously, don't compare these two!

I was quite skeptic going into this book because i'm not a huge fan of sci-fi and space books. I loved the Lunar Chronicles but i'm pretty on the fence with this genre. A friend recommended it to me and i fell in love with the cover-yes i judged the book by its cover, i have no morals-and so i ordered a gorgeous hardcover!

Also, there are two covers- a black and a white one but apparently you don't get to choose which one when you order. I prefer the white one-thankfully that's what i got!

Image result for the diabolic s j kincaid

I didn't really like Sidonia at first but she kinda grew on me after a while. And Nemesis, she was just so weird, i honestly didn't know what to think of her in the beginning. She was ruthless and yet and the same time so human.

and then...

I cannot begin to describe how awed i was at the setting in this book!!! I'm talking intergalactic races, supernovas, spaceships, galactic empires and all! It was a very complex world building so i had to reread a few times to really understand but it was totally worth it!

So from what i understood, it is a dystopian and the people live in space and different galaxies. Each territory is ruled by a Senate and then you've got the 'King' who rules all and is known as an Emperor (this is just a basic there is so much more!!!) . So the Emperor and many of his followers enforce the Hellonic religion, which kind of outlaws studying the sciences. They have high technology and all but they don't want to learn more, they believe that they have enough machines that can fix the broken ones and stuff.

Sidonia's family are heretics and they're known for it, They believe in learning. And so when things get out of hand, the emperor orders Sidonia to come to him as a hostage as warning to the heretics. And that's when Nemesis' protective instincts kick in and she decides to go instead of Sidonia.

Then you have the genetically engineered 'humans' which are known as Diabolics. And i found it super interesting how they were considered a trend and that all the families had one of them. Their soul purpose is to protect the one they've been bonded too. They apparently can't feel emotions except for the person they're bonded too. That's what was really interesting about Nemesis though she keeps breaking the definition of a Diabolic.

Tyrus. My first thought-the dude is mad. Like the Joker mad. But he held so much intrigue you just knew there was more to him-WHICH THERE WAS. I just loved his character most of all!! He wasn't a swoon-worthy character to me but he was the most intriguing one in the novel! He was sheer genius! And well all i can say without spoiling it is that you never really know where to stand with him. His character development leads you to question him and kinda go through what Nemesis does. I think his intellect and his cunning side came mostly from that hostile family he grew up in. Manipulative and cunning, that family has issues. But IT WAS SO AWESOME.

And then we have Tyrus' grandmother,

Image result for you people need therapy gif

That woman needs therapy. Like urgently.

This was one of my favorite parts-the simplicity of it just made me laugh!

"Tyrus!" rebuked the Emperor. "What have i told you about killing people?"

"Yes, yes, ask you first, Uncle," grumbled Tyrus, sweeping into a bow. "But in my defense she was irritating me."

The intergalactic politics...thought i would hate it. Couldn't have been more wrong!!! It was actually really interesting and kept you totally hooked from the beginning!!! That struggle for power was there and so tangible within the Emperor's family. It was basically like Reign (the tv show) except in space.

I loved Nemesis and Tyrus' relationship. I just loved it all!!!!!!! I can't say a lot about the romance without spoilers so let's just say it was awesome!! A bit predictable but it was still awesome.

I don't know if it's because so many things have already happen and there nothing left to happen or because the focus was not supposed to be on something happening. I don't know i just felt the very last pages could have had more. Needless to say it's only a teensy detail because my heart stopped a couple times throughout the book! It was NEVER dull that's for sure and the twists keep coming.

But seriously what an amazing job the author did!!! This was such an epic journey and to have it all in one book? It's just mind blowing. This is a gem, Go spend your money and buy it.

GO PICK THIS UP NOW. SERIOUSLY. AND GUESS WHAT. IT'S A STANDALONE.

I want more books of course so after a little stalking on twitter, i found that the author signed a contract for another two books BUT she said that this book will remain a standalone. So since it's a HUGE UNIVERSE, she can really write whatever she wants! i'm sure there are other characters and i don't think she'll link it to this book. So if you're looking for an amazing standalone, pick this one up. I guarantee it's a standalone and totally worth it.