CHAOS WALKING TRILOGY BY PATRICK NESS: BOOK REVIEW // A MERCIFUL ADVENTURE?

Title(s): The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, Monsters of Men
Author: Patrick Ness
Series: Chaos Walking trilogy
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Format: Paperback
Published: Candlewick Press
Source: Purchased
Trigger Warning: Violence, war, death (of loved ones)

Blurb (from Goodreads):

The Knife of Never Letting Go (book 1)

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn’t she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd’s gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is. 

The Ask and the Answer (book 2)

We were in the square, in the square where I’d run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her – But there weren’t no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men…

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor’s new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode…

Monsters of Men (book 3)

As a world-ending war surges to life around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions. The indigenous Spackle, thinking and acting as one, have mobilized to avenge their murdered people. Ruthless human leaders prepare to defend their factions at all costs, even as a convoy of new settlers approaches. And as the ceaseless Noise lays all thoughts bare, the projected will of the few threatens to overwhelm the desperate desire of the many. The consequences of each action, each word, are unspeakably vast: To follow a tyrant or a terrorist? To save the life of the one you love most or thousands of strangers? To believe in redemption or assume it is lost? Becoming adults amid the turmoil, Todd and Viola question all they have known, racing through horror and outrage toward a shocking finale.

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The Choas Walking trilogy was on my 2020 Accountability list. This series has been sitting on my shelves for quite a few years and I finally wanted to cross them off my list. I knew this was a good series from all the glowing reviews on Goodreads, I just honestly didn’t expect to enjoy it this much since I had grown out of the dystopian genre.

An engaging & investing plot

One of the biggest advantages of this series is that it has a good balance between the plot and the characters. Neither was too heavy. The book starts off with introducing our main protagonist Todd Hewitt who is the only boy in town (a blink away from becoming a man when he turns 13). and Prentisstown is where the adventure begins.

From the very beginning, there’s this lurking feeling that something’s wrong.

Well, what do you expect? The town has no woman. Literally NONE. They have all died in the Spackle war (as told in the first book).

Here comes another interesting aspect. The Spackles. The alien race who were the actual residents of the “New World” which the humans have colonised. Their history and backstory were really intriguing. As the book proceeds, a lot of new info pops up. It never feels like an info dump, rather it pulls the story forward. I really loved the worldbuilding, from Prentisstown to New Haven, everything just keeps getting better and better (or the worse, which is literally true in this case).

The best part of the book is the story is constantly moving. With the characters and there is no dull moment.

Then there’s war. And BOOM (which was brutal, tragic but also epic!!). 

So yes, it was not a merciful adventure at all. 🙃

The NOISE

The noise is the showstopper of the book.

All the men have “the Noise”. It’s constant chaos and the writing style prominently depicts that.

The Noise virus affects every man in the “New World”, so basically, there is zero privacy since everybody can hear everybody’s thoughts. Image how horrifying that would be in real life. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps.

Likeable characters

Ohmygosh, the characters!

There’s a lot of them. However, I could remember each of them because each of them was distinctly fleshed out.

Some characters you want to kill, brutally. Some you wanna hug them to death.

Okay, so I literally love Todd to death. He is a stubborn kid who believes everything will be okay when he turns 13. But then, he meets Viola.

Todd was told there was no woman left on “New World.” Viola is literally the first girl Todd actually sees. Then his world takes a massive 180-degree turn. I am a huge romance fan. Like, I want a bit of romance in my every read but I really didn’t mind the lack of romance in this series although there’s a teeny tiny bit in the last one. I really, really enjoyed the character development of both Todd and Viola. I rooted for them from the beginning and they grow up so much throughout the whole series.

Then there’s Ben and Cillian, Todd’s gay dads who you immediately fall in love with. However, Mayor Prentis and Mistree Coyle are the two characters to look out for. I just literally wanted to strangle them both, they are super awesome characters. 🙃 You just have to listen to them talking, it makes your blood boil.

I did really hate Prentis Jr at the beginning, but he became a grey character and well my feelings are complicated. Also, a special shoutout goes to Manche, I loved that dog to death.

If you haven’t read this series, please do. It makes you are riding a hurricane.

The writing style

The central factor of the book. There’s a thing about Ness’s writing style which captures you from the very beginning. It was the same when I read A Monster Calls. PLUS, the way the “Noise” was represented, I um, loved it. VERY MUCH.

Recommend it?

Yes!

Also, who’s excited about the movie? 

I am excited to see Tom Holland as Todd, although he doesn’t look a bit like 13. Actor age-wise, it’s the same for almost every book to movie adaption but this one, may I can compromise happily 🙂 I heard the movie’s coming this year (hopefully)!

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So, I was thinking about adding a K-pop song at the end of each review that matched the vibe of the book. 😀

I mean, you guys can give it a try once, maybe? You don’t know, you may end up falling into this blackhole (MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA…)

Okay, so for the Chaos Walking trilogy, I felt it matched a lot with BTS’s ON. Although this song takes a lot of inspiration from various movies, the journey shown in the MV definitely matched Todd and Viola’s one. So here goes:

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So guys, have you read this series? Are you excited about the movieee?

Also, didya listen? 😛

Review: Gemina & Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff // The ultimate recipe for space disaster and inter-galactic battle!

  

Title: Gemina & Obsidio
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files, book 2 & 3
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 659 & 615 pages respectively, Hardcover
Published:  October 18th 2016 & March 13th 2018 by Knopf Books for Young Readers respectively
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Gemina

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illumina continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair is struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

Obsidio

Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza—but who knows what they’ll find seven months after the invasion? 

Meanwhile, Kady’s cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza’s ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys—an old flame from Asha’s past—reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. 

With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken.

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The Illuminae series was probably my most anticipated read for 2018 and I finally managed to complete that by 2018! This trilogy did not let me down and wow, it was such an explosive read. One of the facts that I loved about this trilogy is how the plot and characters interconnected with one another at the end. For me, I have always found it fascinating to see how the thread comes together at the end and this series does this quite accurately along with leaving a little hint of mystery at the end. Anyhooo, you can read my review of book 1, that is Illuminae here!

“Patience and Silence had one beautiful daughter. And her name was Vengeance.”

*A bit spoilerish!*

In Gemina, we get to see the Hanna and Nik’s story. Their characters are literally polar opposites, the spoiled princess and well… the drug supplier? That sounds literally crazy if I just put it out like that that. LOL. Anyway, although Hanna seemed like a spoiled brat, she was a pretty badass chicka. Her ability for making awesomesauce strategies won me over in no seconds. Nik and Hanna’s constant banter was my favourite thing in this book apart from the visual-worthy action. It was a continuous treat and it was so much fun to read… apart from the bloody mess which was most of the book. The action in this book is so well defined, we even get a few comic-like pages which were absolutely awesome.

While I was reading a few reviews after finishing up with Gemina, someone said that the virus-thing was much more horrific than the alien thingy in this book. Although I was completely dedicated to these aliens… err, I mean that slimy stuff creeped me out but yes, the first book had its own charm with everything being new and sudden. (It was still scary!) 

In Obsidio, we get the final showdown between our beloved characters and evilish BeiTech! On top of that, we get Asha!! Kady’s cousin! Yohooo. Although Asha’s character was my least favourite was she was humanly fierce and I admired her for that. She desperately wanted to save her baby mouse, and the rest of Kerenza, well whatever was left of it. BiTech people were really, really plain trash. I kinda wanted to see a more detailed punishment for them at the end. The ending did feel a bit rushed, however, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Although there were some portions which scared the living hell out of me, at the same time, I couldn’t stop reading either!

But when it comes to scary, AIDAN takes home the price ladies and gentlemen. With the advancement of technology, the possibility of such things actually coming true made the situation more horrific. AIDAN gave me the chills!! And what’s up with it being so obsessed with Kady? My goodness… The level of creepiness I had to deal in this book.. yet it was the best! Okay, the moment I thought AIDAN has redeemed itself, he just goes on a murder spree. Again. *sighs* Yet without AIDAN nothing would have been possible either. AIDAN is such a character you love to hate, similarly hate to love. Weird. I know. But that’s what AIDAN is. 

If you loved the formatting of the first book, I am damn sure you loved these two as well. One of the things I love about series is how the characters all unite in the last book. This book was no different, albeit the circumstances were pretty rare. Anyhooo, the characterisation and development of the plot throughout this series is pretty phenomenal. The fast pace and the storytelling were engaging and on-point throughout the whole series. I am definitely looking forward to the second trilogy of these authors together! I have a feeling it’s not going to let down as well!

Recommend it?

Must-read!!

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So, guys have you read the Illuminae series? How was your experience with it? If you haven’t picked it up yet, are you excited to read it? Share your thoughts with me!

Book + Movie Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline // A thrilling and engaging watch and read!

Title: Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Series: Ready Player One, book 1
Genre: Dystopia, Science-Fiction, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Format: 374 pages, Paperback
Published: April 5th, 2012 by Arrow Books
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

It’s the year 2044, and the real world has become an ugly place. We’re out of oil. We’ve wrecked the climate. Famine, poverty, and disease are widespread.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes this depressing reality by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia where you can be anything you want to be, where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets. And like most of humanity, Wade is obsessed by the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this alternate reality: OASIS founder James Halliday, who dies with no heir, has promised that control of the OASIS – and his massive fortune – will go to the person who can solve the riddles he has left scattered throughout his creation.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that the riddles are based in the culture of the late twentieth century. And then Wade stumbles onto the key to the first puzzle. Suddenly, he finds himself pitted against thousands of competitors in a desperate race to claim the ultimate prize, a chase that soon takes on terrifying real-world dimensions – and that will leave both Wade and his world profoundly changed.

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Wow. This was one hell of a book! I mean seriously! It took some time for me to get engaged but once I was in, there was no going back! 🙂

In the dystopian world of 2044 where poverty, sickness had taken over the world, the only way for people to escape the harsh reality is through OASIS, a virtual game where one can do whatever they want, go on quests or simply for just entertainment. When the founder of this game, James Halliday dies he leaves a message that whoever can cross the 3 hidden gates and solve the riddles will get his entire fortune. And then the frenzy begins. But when Wade’s life, the person to cross gate 1 real, becomes a threat as well as his virtual one, the game takes a whole new different meaning. Now, he is not only playing for winning but also fighting for his life.

Okay, so this was a hella awesome book! Like literally! Though I have to say that the pacing, in the beginning, was slow and I felt a little bored but gradually things started taking an interesting turn once Wade crossed the first gate. This game was a lot like virtual roleplaying games, just on a much, much higher level. I have done writing roleplays but I had never played one, so that definitely was an interesting aspect.

But one thing, I won’t say it bothered me but I felt it was too much, Wade knew everything about gaming. I mean EVERYTHING. Yes, sure he is a geeky person (and I like geeky people, in fact, I prefer them) but his complete knowledge about every possible game and how he mastered one game after another so quickly felt a bit unrealistic. Though I obviously don’t have any experience in this field.

But despite the flaws, I loved Wade. He was geekishly adorable. (Also that effing risk he took!!!! Like seriously!!!!! Spoilers, so I can’t say it but who has already read will know… he was foolishly brave? xD) After Halliday’s announcement, hell broke loose but it soon died out because nobody was able to find the key to the first gate. After a lot of years, when Wade comes out of the maze and overnight becomes the most popular person as well as the enemy number one for one company whose ultimate motive is to buy OASIS. Oooo those people, a.k.a the Sixers were really disgusting. I loathed them, especially their leader Sorrento who was prepared to go down to any level to win the game, even if he had to take innocent lives.

Anyway, the other characters were pretty interesting as well, especially the top 5 who were able to cross the gate first. I liked Art3mis but Aech was my favourite. The part which I loved the most was the action in the game. I didn’t feel it was just a game anymore, like Wade’s it had invaded my life as well. The final showdown was just EPIC!! It kinda reminded me of the mixed power rangers episodes. xD (In a gooood way! I loved PR!!) Also, there were many 80’s pop culture references which I didn’t get but it didn’t bother me much.

Overall, Ready Player One was definitely worth the read! I have never been a gamer myself, but I didn’t enjoy it any less. Despite the initial slow beginning, the plot picked up soon enough and I was emersed in a whole new different world. I felt there was a bit of info-dump here and there but other than that the facts were really awesome!

Recommend it?

Yaaas!

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Name: Ready Player One
Genre:  Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Lena Waithe, Philip Zhao, Win Morisaki, etc.
Release Date: 29 March 2018
My Rating: 

                              

I went to watch Ready Player One at the beginning of March with my ARMY friends. This movie definitely surpassed my expectations. I finished the book before going to the movies and as much as I had loved the book, the movie was equally awesome!

First of all, the cinematography was awesome! The execution of the first clue was indeed handled a different way from the book but I think it was more awesome and had a certain impact on the audience. The bonus features like the huuuuuge monsters were such a surprise! Never in a million years had I expected that but I should have because it was a Speilberg movie after all! There was only one in the book but in the movie, there were so many, we were screaming with joy. Inwardly. (Obvio!) I loooved the friendship between the five. Whereas in the book, the main focus was on Wade, Artemis and Aech but the movie focused on all the top five. Oh, and the revelation about the characters was such a great twist! Not only that it had quite a lot of other surprises in store for us and I have to say I loved each one of them!

Also, this sequence was pretty funny!! XD It depicted the video game aspect with the real world!

The aspects of the movie which were executed differently were kinda pretty tame in compared with other books to movie adaptations because it stayed pretty true to the book. I think there were only two major differences. I guess they were necessary to maintain the pace of the movie. The romance was a small factor in the book but it was cute!! Overall, I was pretty satisfied with the action sequences and the acting! And I had a great time watching it with my friends, I seriously didn’t want it to end!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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Soooooo guys, have you read this yet? Are you excited for the movie? Or have you already seen it? Then what did you think about it?

Review: Afflicted by Susanne Valenti || Where the Execution Beat the Cliches

Title: Afflicted
Author: Susanne Valenti
Series: Tainted Earth Saga, book 1
Genre: Dystopia, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Trigger Warning: Child Abuse
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 240 pages, Ebook
Published: December 15th, 2017 by Amazon
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Change carries on the wind, flows through the rivers and grows in the heart of the storm. Once it is set free, nothing can stop it from spreading like poison through the Earth and all its creatures. The planet is evolving and anything that wants to remain will have to adapt. The animals are learning to fight back while the plants grow beyond control. Kaitlyn and her friends must find a way to survive while everything around them becomes stronger and stranger. They can’t trust anything they thought they knew about the world. They can’t even trust each other. Rage and violence twists its way into the hearts of the contaminated: shaping them into something new. Something which cannot feel pity, mercy or love. Kaitlyn’s heart draws her towards the one person she knows can help them but can she find him in time? Safety lies just out of reach and they must find the strength to achieve it.

Seventy years before Maya discovered the Cage of Lies, Kaitlyn’s world is about to change forever. Afflicted is the first book in the Tainted Earth Saga, an action-packed dystopian romance filled with love, uncertainty and danger on every page.

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Soooo, SooI am an idgit for delaying to read this book for so long. I kind of was in a dystopian slump but reading this would have definitely cured it!! Anyway, after watching Death Cure (which was sooooooo freaking awesome btw!!) this month, I wanted to read dystopia again and as expected Susanne did not disappoint.

Afflicted is the prequel series to the Cage of Lies series which I enjoyed veeeeery much. It was full of action and intrigue. This series depicts how things became the way they were in the Cage of Lies series. And this book just gave us a glimpse of the beginning and I am already excited for the rest of the books in this series!!! SooThis series is definitely a must read for zombie fans! (That sounds weird though… XD)

Things had been going the normal way for Kaitlyn and his brother other than the fact that their parents are called way too often into the new city where a permanent cage-like wall is being set up because of “terrorist” attacks. Then suddenly, random people are going violent and attacking people. They are banned to use the water from the river but somehow this disease is still spreading. But when the connection of their hometown is cut from the new city, will they be able to make it to the other way in time?

Oooh, this was such an exciting start for a new series. The plot although a bit cliched managed to hold down its charm and suspense throughout the whole book. The plot sucked me in from the very first page. Kaitlyn and her friends had been living their normal life until suddenly things start to become suspicious as people are getting violent and randomly attacking anybody on the streets. When things start to get real bad, the city had already decided to let a certain amount of people in from the danger. This already showed a glimpse of the government which we are going to get more in the next book and I already have a line of thought in that matter since I have read the Cage of Lies series.

I looooooved the suspense which kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire time. Especially when Kaitlyn and her friends were having a pretty normal day hanging out together but when they came out of the movies, the whole scenario had changed. The real story began from that point onwards. The action parts were definitely my favourite, I loved how clearly they were depicted but the most interesting aspect was the final chase to the city gates!!!

One of the things I love about Susanne’s novels is her kickass heroines. Although I didn’t immediately like Kaitlyn, she slowly grew on me. The fact I didn’t like about her was that although she wanted to get out of her relationship but she could do it because of petty reasons. Also, at first I thought that her boyfriend was not that bad but then he started to get on my nerves! I was so glad when Kaitlyn finally took a step forward and stood up for herself.

Aaaaaand I am definitely rooting for Lincoln who is Kaitlyn’s childhood friend and he had to leave his home because of the constant abuse he received from his father and a silent mother who did nothing. Those are waaaay worse!! Aaah! I hated her, she definitely didn’t deserve the title of a mother. Anyway, the sparks were crystal clear between Kaitlyn and Lincoln and they had a natural understanding between them which I loved. Kaitlyn’s relationship with her brother was too bad but I am reeeeeally hoping some development in that department in the next books!!

Overall, Afflicted was a great start to the Tainted Earth Saga. This book slowly edged from the normal world to the dystopian world and its full force would definitely be hitting us in the next book. The plot was fast-paced and the writing flowed smoothly! This book kind of ended in a semi-cliffhanger and I am dying to know what happens next!!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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Soo guys have you read this?? Is it on your tbr? Have you read any other book by this author?

Review: The Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown || Where the rising started off slow but ended with a bang!

   

Title: Red Rising (book 1), Golden Son (book 2), Morning Star (book 3)
Author: Pierce Brown
Series: The Red Rising Saga
Genre: Dystopia, Science-fiction, [Adult]
Format: Paperback
Published: 25th September 2014, 8th January 2015 & 22nd September 2016 by Hodder Paperbacks respectively
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Red Rising:

The Earth is dying. Darrow is a Red, a miner in the interior of Mars. His mission is to extract enough precious elements to one day tame the surface of the planet and allow humans to live on it. The Reds are humanity’s last hope.

Or so it appears, until the day Darrow discovers it’s all a lie. That Mars has been habitable – and inhabited – for generations, by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. A class of people who look down on Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.

Until the day that Darrow, with the help of a mysterious group of rebels, disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside. But the command school is a battlefield – and Darrow isn’t the only student with an agenda.

Break the chains. Live for more.

Golden Son:

‘I’m still playing games. This is just the deadliest yet.’

Darrow is a rebel forged by tragedy. For years he and his fellow Reds worked the mines, toiling to make the surface of Mars inhabitable. They were, they believed, mankind’s last hope. Until Darrow discovered that it was all a lie, and that the Red were nothing more than unwitting slaves to an elitist ruling class, the Golds, who had been living on Mars in luxury for generations.

In RED RISING, Darrow infiltrated Gold society, to fight in secret for a better future for his people. Now fully embedded amongst the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his dangerous work to bring them down from within. It’s a journey that will take him further than he’s ever been before – but is Darrow truly willing to pay the price that rebellion demands?

Hic sunt leones.

Morning Star:

Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.

Finally, the time has come.

But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.

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This series has been on my tbr list for a loooong time and it was finally time to tick them off the list. But honestly, I wasn’t that much impressed with Red Rising, I don’t think I would have continued if I already didn’t own the rest of the series. But I’m glad I did pick up because things finally looked up at me from the second half of Golden Son and since then I didn’t have to look back and I thoroughly enjoyed the series.

Darrow is a Red, he lives a world divided by colour and every day is a struggle for survival. He believes he and his mates are doing their best to create a better world for the future generation until he discovers all their efforts were based on a lie. And when the inevitable happens, helped by a rebel group under a nameless leader Ares, Darrow decides to take action by infiltrating the Golds, not by just doing anything but being among one of them. But as time passes Darrow discovers there’s so much more than war, he discovers so much more to life. Will he be finally able to achieve his long lost dream of a better world or will it perish with the uncountable wars?

Interesting Plot!

As I said before Red Rising wasn’t a great read for me. Although things were refreshing and I definitely enjoyed the way things were handled in this book, still it somewhat didn’t feel new. Maybe that’s because I read too much dystopia… Anyway, but as I proceeded onto the next book, things started to look up. The politics were one of the most intriguing parts of this book, this is coming from a girl who loves to stay ten hands away from politics, so yep! In Red Rising, the making of their own houses survival games felt a lot like the Hunger Games but the actual story begins in the second book when Darrow takes command and the actual plan begins to unfold.

“I would have lived in peace. But my enemies brought me war.” 

Golden Son begins to shape up the plot for what’s about to come in the next book and the author does a pretty good job at building the momentum. Aaaand, Morning Star was actually pretty awesome! It was pretty brutal and bloody too. Although Ragnar’s part felt a lot like the Unsullied in GoT but I did like his character. Some of my favourite characters died, some lived to see another day but the war was epic actually. I enjoyed the last book the most. It was full of action and suspense and I couldn’t put the book down. There were also some chilly and powerful scenes which made me shiver, and Darrow rightfully earned the name of the Reaper.

Complex and layered characters!

This book had a vaaaaast number of characters but it wasn’t confusing which was a plus. I definitely loved Darrow, our lead protagonist and his character growth throughout the series. When we were first introduced to him, only revenge was the one thing that kept him going but as days passed and he understood the whole scenario, he knew things were so much bigger than just a petty revenge. And I loved that he didn’t give up until the very end. There were moments, but he trudged on. Of course, that wouldn’t have been possible if he didn’t have such great friends to back him up which brings me to them.

“A man thinks he can fly, but he is afraid to jump. A poor friend pushes him from behind.” He looks up at me. “A good friend jumps with.” 

Among everybody, I looooved Servo the most. That guy was a nutcase but an adorable goryhell nutcase. His irrevocable loyalty and belief in Servo made me love him even more. And even though the tension between him and Servo reached a notch in Morning Star, I was so glad when they solved it like adults because let’s face it Servo is awesome but he is not a great at being a leader. Not only Darrow but seeing all the characters grow throughout the series made me super happy!! Also, I loved Mustang, I never ever doubted her for a second. I loved the chemistry between Mustang and Servo and how their relationship slowly developed from allies to something much more. 

One of the most interesting characters was the Jackel, Mustang’s stepbrother. That guy felt shady from the moment he was introduced and the web of lies he so neatly arranged was mind-boggling. The other villains were pretty interesting as well but I just wanted to beat the heck out of them with my ever-lasting frying pan!! They stooped so low and the Jackel didn’t even care about the consequences and *spoiler*I was glad to see him getting the deserved “reward” in the end.

And even after everything I somehow didn’t lose faith in Cassius, I knew he would eventually choose the best in the end. I just somehow had that gut feeling and I was overjoyed to see him and Darrow reunite at the end.*end of spoiler*

Freaking plot twists!

Another reason to love this series. It kept on surprising me out of bloody nowhere. This especially happened with the war strategies and stuff and it was pretty interesting and kept me guessing what was going to happen next. And there were so many freaking deaths.

“Justice isn’t about fixing the past, it’s about fixing the future. We’re not fighting for the dead. We’re fighting for the living. And for those who aren’t yet born.” 

The most shocking part was Ares’ identity, I seriously did not see that coming. I was woooooahh!! Hold it right there but oh well nobody listened because of the bloody war. *spoiler*Also, Ares’s death was like out of nowhere but it was Ragnar’s death which gutted me the most.*end of spoiler*

Overall,

The Red Rising Saga was an interesting read and I’m glad I was able to enjoy this series till the very end although the beginning was not very strong. I fell in love with the characters and the plot was complex enough for me to keep reading on. I loved the character growth and the way everything was written made it a pretty smooth read. At first, I thought with Morning Star things would come to an end but as everybody knows by now, the fourth book, Iron Gold is coming out next year, although I still don’t know how I feel about that because the blurb is kinda heartbreaking but obviously realistic, I think I would be picking it up.

Recommend it?

Yes.

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So guys, what are your thoughts on this series? Have you read it yet or is it in your tbr? Who’s your favourite character? Are you looking forward to the next book in this series?

Review: Seize Today by Pintip Dunn || An Explosive Conclusion

Title: Seize Today
Author: Pintip Dunn
Series: Forget Tomorrow trilogy, book 3
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 300 pages, Ebook
Published: October 3rd, 2017 by Entangled: Teen
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:

 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old precognitive Olivia Dresden is an optimist. Since different versions of people’s futures flicker before her eyes, she doesn’t have to believe in human decency. She can literally see the path to goodness in each person—if only he or she would make the right decision. No one is more conflicted than her mother, Chairwoman Dresden, and Olivia is fiercely loyal to the woman her mother could be.

But when the Chairwoman captures Ryder Russell, a boy from the rebel Underground, Olivia is forced to reevaluate her notions of love and faith. With Ryder’s help, Olivia must come to terms with who her mother is in the present—and stop her before she destroys the world.

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This book was by far the best in this trilogy!!! It was freeeeeaking awesome! The journey throughout the whole book was quite unpredictable and I really, really enjoyed the ride though the ending was unexpected but it was definitely an explosive conclusion to this trilogy. You can read my review of book 1: Forget Tomorrow, here and book 2: Remember Yesterday, here.

*Spoilerish for those who haven’t read the previous books in this series yet.*

Olivia Dresden has mostly lived her life in isolation clinging to the “good image” of her mother of her visions but she has only met the cold-hearted one in reality. But when her mother brings in Ryder Russel, a boy fated in her destiny, she is forced to reconsider her decision about everything before everything goes up in smoke and they fade away. Literally.

One of the interesting fact about this book is the three books of this trilogy has 3 different narrators and we have Olivia, the villain a.k.a the Chairwoman’s daughter as the narrator of Seize Today and I loved her even more than Callie! We have had glimpses of Olivia in the first two books but in this book, we finally got to see the things her way and I immediately loved her and I just wanted to protect that smol baby bean!

The plot of this book was unpredictable and it kept me on the edge throughout the book, especially when the stakes were so high. A new virus is affecting everyone and slowly everyone will simply start to fade away but the Chairwoman’s company has the only solution but it comes at a much higher price and then there’s Olivia has never stepped out in the outside world and with Ryder, she is forced to step out of her comfort zone and I really liked how she handled everything. Olivia is someone who has precognition, that is, she can see the possible pathways one might take in the future but the results often surprised her, she was such a fascinating character. The chemistry between Olivia and Ryder was instant and I loved that connection between them, I seriously loved those two together. The romance was a little whirlwind but I was absolutely in for it!

We have the whole team in this book, Callie is there, even Jessa and together they had to face the Chairwoman. They formed a great team but despite everything, the only one who could make a difference was Olivia and oh she did… I still had a tiny hope for the Chairwoman just like Olivia but her vision was just too twisted. In her way, she was right but she couldn’t see how wrong she actually was. The thing she did that at the end shocked me to no ends, I was not prepared for that but at least it was something. You’ll know what I mean when you read the book. The plot twist was also awesome!! This book was jam-packed with action and there was never a dull moment. 

Overall, Seize Today was a fantastic read. I couldn’t keep the book down and finished it in two sittings. Although the ending was a little bittersweet, but the plot was executed neatly and I absolutely loved the characters! The writing was beautiful and smooth and it was fast-paced throughout the book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, have you started this trilogy yet? And if you haven’t picked this series up yet, are you interested in reading it? Share your thoughts with me!

Review: The Elite & The One by Kiera Cass || Where I finally bid goodbye to this series

Title: The Elite and The One
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection, book 2 and 3
Genre: Dystopia, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 323 pages, Paperback
Published: April 23rd, 2013 and June 5th, 2014 by HarperTeen respectively
Source: Purchased
My Rating:

Blurb (from Goodreads):

The Elite:

The Selection began with thirty-five girls. Now, with the group narrowed down to the Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon’s heart is fiercer than ever- and America is still struggling to decide where her own heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen, who she always thought was the one?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want–and America’s chance to choose is about to slip away.

The One:

The Selection changed America Singer’s life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she’s made her choice . . . and she’s prepared to fight for the future she wants.

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I read the first book in this series back in 2015 and since then the whole series has been collecting dust on my shelf and this year and I really wanted to finish all the unread books/full series from my shelf, so my finally picked this up. Honestly, I’m just glad I’m finished off with this series because it has been one of the most disappointing ones. Anyway, you can read my review of The Selection, here.

“Love is beautiful fear.” 

When America came to participate in the Selections, her heart wasn’t truly in the competition but it was before she came to know Maxon. Now her heart is torn between him and her first love, Aspen who’s a soldier in the palace. The competition’s getting more fierce day by day and then there are the rebel attacks which are getting frequent as well. And when she realises the truth which changes her whole course, which path will America choose?

The Selection failed to make a mark on me because it was way too predictable though it had some good moments. Thr rebel attacks were one of the most interesting aspects of that book and I was really looking forward to more of it but there was seriously nothing in The Elite. Frankly, I didn’t quite understand the purpose of this book. I didn’t hate America like I have read so many reviews but her indecisiveness really irritated me. There is at least some point where one understands what one’s heart truly craves but America couldn’t till the very end of the last book. Seriously! It felt like she was close to deciding whom she wanted but the very next minute she was running away from that. Anyway, the plot doesn’t move anywhere in the 2nd book, it mostly swayed back and forth on the same point. I just wish this book would have more substance than the frustrating romance.

“Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. 

It was only ever yours to break anyway.”

The One was definitely better than The Elite. This book did focus on the rebel sub-plot but just not as much as I would have loved. America’s indecisiveness continued in this book too and by this time, I had kinda already stopped caring but it was still infuriating. Maxon was such a sweet guy and when she asked for space, he gave her that but when Maxon asked for the same thing, she felt hurt and betrayed. Dude, why? She was pretty much doing the same thing behind his back, I didn’t know why she acted like a hypocrite.

Anyway, I didn’t really like Aspen anymore than I did in book 1. He kept appearing wherever I least wanted him to!! Celeste’s character gave me a whiplash but I definitely enjoyed her character but the thing with Kriss was kinda all of a sudden and oh well, it was all weird. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the plot twist but it was kinda already ruined for me and hence didn’t have much impact on me. Though the ending part made me emotional and with everything going on, I was really afraid at one point but the ending was definitely the saving grace of this whole trilogy, all the loose ends were wrapped up everything finally fell into place. And thank freaking goodness, the choosing ceremony finally happened!

“But even now I know this isn't a fairy tale. 
I know that we'll have hard times, confusing times. 
I know that things won't always happen the way we want them to and that we'll have to work to remember that we chose this. 
It won't be perfect, not all the time.

This isn't happily ever after.

It's so much more than that.” 

Overall, The Elite and The One were an okay read. The plot was predictable but neatly executed. These two books were definitely a fast read and the pace was even throughout the two books. I didn’t want to read book 4 after finishing this trilogy and it ended here for me.

Recommend it?

Maybe.

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So guys, what do you think about this series? Is it one of your favourites or did you not enjoy it as much as you had hoped?

Review: Free by Susanne Valenti || Where everything comes down to the final fight

Title: Free
Author: Susanne Valenti
Series: Cage of Lies, book 5
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 516 pages, Ebook
Published: July 16th, 2017 by Susanne Valenti
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Alone and surrounded by the enemy, Maya doesn’t know which way to turn. In a prison built of corruption and blind faith, does the truth even stand a chance? All paths lead to this and finding a way through will be the toughest test yet. The might of the city stands against her and she must remain defiant in the face of it. Presented with challenges she never thought possible and changes she couldn’t have imagined, she will need to be stronger than ever before. The fight of her life is coming to an end but will she survive to see her dreams become reality?

---

This book was such an intense read. I have been pretty invested in this series from the beginning and I eagerly wanted to know how everything finally boiled down in the end with the stake so huge. Although there were ups and downs, this book definitely lived up to my expectations.

*Possible spoilers from previous books in this series.*

Maya and her friends have finally breached the city but only she manages to escape whereas all the others are captured. With only a little help, she now has to take the next step in order to save the people she came to rescue in the first place along with her friends. But when things become more and more complicated with each step, what will Maya finally do?

The plot of this book was filled with action and one or the other thing kept happening which kept my interest throughout the book. After so many plans, Maya and the others finally decide to execute the rescue mission and tell the city about the world beyond the wall and to eradicate the lies that their leaders have spread through years. From the very first page, I was on the edge, the suspense was well maintained. Though with the help of Livi, her task was made pretty easy which seemed a little unrealistic since the City had such a tight security but she still manages to carry on her plan for most of the part without any significant hurdle along the way. 

I loved the variety of characters. The gang was back to execute their mission and although the characters had their flaws but they were layered. We also got to see another side of Crystal which I liked. I seriously wanted a bit more of friendship between Taylor and Coal, I mean it’s been so long, they should have come to a truce since the feelings began to change (in a good way). Coal and Maya were awesome together, as usual, they made a hell of a team. Maya’s unexpected news was a big surprise but a part of it felt unrealistic too because before she realised the truth, she hadn’t felt any difference but after learning the truth things got different, it was a bit weird but I didn’t mind it that much. I also wanted mooore of Blane and Luca!! Only one chapter wasn’t enough.

Overall, Free was an interesting read. The plot was executed neatly and the characters kept the journey interesting. I enjoyed the romance between Coal and Maya and I loved how Coal didn’t back away when he learnt Maya’s truth. The ending felt a little rushed, after such a big build up, I wanted to know a bit more about how things were being handled. Anyway, the writing was smooth and easy to read and it was fast paced throughout the book.

Recommend it?

Yes.

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So guys what do you think about this book? Have you started the Cage of Lies series yet? How has your experience been so far? Share your thoughts with me!

Dual Review: July Thunder & July Lightning by Shannon A. Thompson || A bitter-sweet yet strong read

Title: July Thunder
Author: Shannon A. Thompson
Series: Bad Bloods, book 3
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 165 pages, Ebook
Published: April 10th, 2017 by Clean Teen Publishing
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Fourteen-year-old Violet has been called many things: a bad blood, a survivor, an immortal…now she has a new name–citizen. But adjusting to a lawful life is not easy, especially when she must live under the rule of the same officers who justified the killings of her flock only eight months earlier.

Segregation of bad bloods and humans is still in effect, and rebellious Violet steps into a school where she is not allowed. When the police get involved, things deteriorate quickly, sparking a new revolution at the wall separating the Highlands from the outskirts.

That’s when Caleb steps in. He might appear to be an average sixteen-year-old bad blood, but he has secrets, and Violet is determined to figure them out. Caleb knows who’s attacking the wall and why, but his true identity remains a mystery–and how he relates to Violet could shake the threatened city to its very core.

Together or not, a storm will form, a rally will start, and shocking truths will be revealed.

---

This book was a quick read. I really loved getting back to the world of the Bad Bloods again and I really enjoyed the diverse characters.  You can read my review of November Rain (book 1), here and November Snow (book 2), here.

The last book ended with the Bad Bloods finally getting recognised as citizens of Vendona. But equal rights are yet to be totally implied. Violet survived the massacre of her flock a few months ago and she’s not ready to forgive the humans for it just yet but when a new rebellion sparks that might be a danger to the Bad Bloods as well, she figures Caleb is the only one who can help but will he?

The plot was refreshing and easy to read. The Bad Bloods were considered a threat to the society because of their powers but after Serena and Daniel fought for their rights, they were finally granted some freedom but the consequences remained. We got a glimpse of Violet in the previous books but we get to know more about her in this book. I really liked the interesting fact about her age and how everything actually worked for her. I really liked her, from the very start. She was rebellious and brave, she just wanted to be treated like a normal person and not someone to be feared but I liked the fact that she didn’t take shit from others and always stood up for herself.

“Some rumors said she was a demon from another world. Other rumors said she was death incarnate, someone to remind us of our misdeeds. But no one had said how beautiful she was. No one had mentioned her eyes. The ones that showed color only for a second. A hint of beauty in absolute blackness.”

We are also introduced to Caleb’s herd where we get to see so many new characters and each one possessed a unique ability. I especially liked Nuo’s powers, Kuthun was quite a unique character as well. This book dragged a little in the middle but it picked up towards the end. Caleb’s true identity is also revealed and it ended on a pretty interesting note which made me pick up the next book in this series immediately after finishing this one.

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Title: July Lightning
Author: Shannon A. Thompson
Series: Bad Bloods, book 4
Genre: Dystopia, Sci-fi, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Cool
Page Count and Format: 267 pages, Ebook
Published: May 1st, 2017 by Clean Teen Publishing
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Caleb has been called many things: a patient, a musician, even a prostitute…now he has a new name- son. After his identity is uncovered, Caleb bands together with the family he once rejected in order to save the city of Vendona. But it won’t be easy. Enemies wait around every corner and so do harsh realities. With Violet and Kuthun by his side though, nothing seems impossible. As Vendona sits on the verge of an economic collapse and a massive hurricane threatens the city, Violet and Caleb must show its citizens how to overcome decades of hostility and division to save themselves. Standing or not, a sea will rage, a wall may fall, and all will depend on immortal pain and sacrifice.

---

This book was pretty awesome. I was on the edge from the very start and couldn’t put this book down.

The threat that looms over their shoulder is becoming bigger and bigger and when Violet finally learns the truth, she knows she has to do something to save them all. With the help of Caleb, will she be able to stop the impending disaster?

This book was not devoid of politics and it was quite and interesting aspect. So many things happened in this book which kept me interested till the very end. I really enjoyed seeing the characters from the previous Bad Bloods duology as well. The character development in this book was one of my most favourite things about this book. I really loved how Violet handled every situation maturely and protected the ones she dearly loved.

The storm added a violent twist to the story. And along with that, the rebellion played a huge role and when we finally get to know who was behind everything, I was a little shocked. Violet knew she couldn’t stop that person and she along with her friends did everything in their power to save everyone but there were tear-jerker moments as well.

“A heroic act is not always followed by glory and parades and forever freedom,” she said. “It’s often small, disregarded, or forgotten. But it matters.”

Another fact that I loved was that Caleb finally forgiving his family and accepting them. He was a real strong character and it took strength what he had to do in the last moments though it was Violet who stole the show for me. This book was unpredictable and although it ended on a bittersweet note, I was left satisfied with the ending.

Overall, July Thunder & July Lightning were a great read. I enjoyed how the plot was executed and the character development throughout the books. The writing was beautiful and smooth and it was fast-paced, I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Recommend it?

Yes!

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So guys, what do you think of this series? Have you read any other book by this author?

Review: Saven Deliverance by Siobhan Davis

Title: Saven Deliverance
Author: Siobhan Davis
Series: Saven, book 4
Genre: Dystopia, Science-fiction, Romance, [Young-Adult]
Heat Rating: Slightly warm
Page Count and Format: 425 pages, Ebook
Expected Publication: February 20th, 2017 by Siobhan Davis
Source: I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 

Blurb (from Goodreads):

The Truth Will Set Us Free.

I’ve been lied to and betrayed my whole life.
Revealing the truth is the only thing that matters.
The truth truly will set us free.

With the political landscape shifting in the galaxy, and the tenuous situation on Earth growing more fraught by the day, Sadie knows time is running out to save mankind. Torn between conflicting agendas, she is forced to make difficult choices that lead to bloody battles and situations she’s not entirely comfortable with.

But this is war, and war means sacrifice.

Ax’s betrayal weighs heavy on her heart and her mind, but it doesn’t override her concern for his welfare. Her desire to protect both the boys she loves is as strong as ever.

Logan has been inaugurated as the new Saven king, but he’s struggling to cope with the pressure of responsibility and the revelation about who Axton is. His people are strongly opposed to Sadie, but she is his forever love and he won’t do anything without her by his side. Faced with impossible obstacles, he is preparing to make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love.

When the final battle draws near, and it’s time to fight the enemy head on, who will be left standing? And will there be anything left to fight for?

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I can’t believe that the Saven series has come to an end! Absolutely can’t freaking believe!! This whole series was such an awesome ride and this book provided the perfect ending for the story. The Saven series has definitely become one of my utmost favourite series! You can read my reviews of book 1: Saven Deception, here, book 2: Saven Disclosure, here and book 3: Saven Defiance, here.

*A little spoilery if you haven’t read the previous books in this series.*

Sadie and Logan are on the brink of a war. Not everybody is on their side and the threat that looms over them is too much of a danger for everybody. The Amarettis are getting closer and chaos is breaking out all over the planet. Will Sadie and Logan be able to stop all those trying to destroy them in the final battle?

Oh dear lord? Where do I even start! This series was absolutely mind blowing! I was waiting for this book for sooo long and when I heard it was finally going to release in February, I was ecstatic. But when I finally got the eARC, I was actually afraid as well as excited to start it! But well, I couldn’t resist any longer (after resisting for one day… 😛 ) and started it yesterday and I’m glad to say this book definitely met my expectations but a teeny-tiny part of me is left unsatisfied because I think I had expected something more from the story.

Saven Deliverance picks up from right where it left off. The plot kept me engaged throughout the book, my attention never wavered for even a second. In all of the books in this series, so much keeps happening and this book was no different but I loved how all the loose ties were connected and executed so perfectly. I enjoyed the action so much and I loved how Sadie could stand on equal footing as the others, especially with her incendio gift.

The characters felt more layered and matured. I loved Sadie and Logan so much. The chemistry and the romance between them are solid as ever and their love grew as each day passed.

“My life means nothing without her. Sadie is my forever, Haydn, and if the Saven people won’t warm up to her as their queen, they can find themselves a new king.”

Although I know Sadie would never let Logan do such a thing because she knew so many people were depending on him but he just melted my heart and he’s such a swoon-worthy guy! The other characters were pretty amazing as well and for the first time in my life, I’m actually looking forward to reading those additional optional novellas about them.

I was so relieved to see Haydn and Sadie’s relationship turn back to how it used to have. But I definitely missed a few characters, especially Neve. Ax, on the other hand, I don’t know what to feel about this guy!!! I don’t think I could ever forgive what he tried to do with Sadie even if she could, I am on the same footing as Logan in this matter.

I enjoyed the action sequences so much and I definitely loved the plot twist! The nail-biting suspense kept me on my toes, I couldn’t stop reading this book and I spend my whole day today glued to my e-reader. The ending really melted my heart and I couldn’t have wanted more!

Overall, Saven Deliverance was a great read! The plot was executed neatly and really well. I fell in love with the characters once more. I really loved the romance between Sadie and Logan and I sooo wanted more! The writing was beautiful and even and it was fast paced throughout the book. I can’t wait to read more by Siobhan!

Recommend it?

Yes!

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Sooo guys, how excited are you for the final book of the Saven series? If you haven’t started this series yet, what are you waiting for?