Confessions of a Teenage Leper | Blog Tour // Review & Character Aesthetics!

Greetings readers!

I have the honour of being the last tour stop for this wonderful book. I would like to thank Penguin Teen CA for sending me the invite and the book to take part in this tour and I want to thank all the bloggers before me who have had such incredible posts and reviews!

Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little

Publisher: Penguin Teen
Pub Date: Sept. 11, 2018
Price: $21.99 CAD
ISBN: 9780735262614
Goodreads

Abby Furlowe has plans. Big plans. She’s hot, she’s popular, she’s a cheerleader and she’s going to break out of her small Texas town and make it big. Fame and fortune, adoration and accolades. It’ll all be hers.

But then she notices some spots on her skin. She writes them off as a rash, but things only get worse. She’s tired all the time, her hands and feet are numb and her face starts to look like day-old pizza. By the time her seventeenth birthday rolls around, she’s tried every cream and medication the doctors have thrown at her, but nothing works. When she falls doing a routine cheerleading stunt and slips into a coma, her mystery illness goes into overdrive and finally gets diagnosed: Hansen’s Disease, aka leprosy.

Abby is sent to a facility to recover and deal with this new reality. Her many misdiagnoses mean that some permanent damage has been done, and all of her plans suddenly come tumbling down. If she can’t even wear high heels anymore, what is the point of living? Cheerleading is out the window, and she might not even make it to prom. PROM!

But it’s during this recovery that Abby has to learn to live with something even more difficult than Hansen’s Disease. She’s becoming aware of who she really was before and what her behavior was doing to others; now she’s on the other side of the fence looking in, and she doesn’t like what she sees. . .

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BUY IT!

Amazon | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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Review:

Abby was an unlikable character no doubt. She was vain, shallow and selfish. And yet, I really enjoyed reading her confessions, her journey and her redemption.  The thing is that I understood and empathized with Abby. I’m not saying I was the type of girl Abby was in high school, the flirty, pretty and popular type, but I understood how Hansen’s disease was the most tragic thing to happen to her at the time. Her whole life (not to be dramatic) kind of depended on how she looked and the disease took that away from her, so she had to come up with a Plan B. And Plan B was where the real Abby shined. Where she finds that she can care about her appearance but not make it everything, where she can be compassionate and helpful but also take care of herself.

The writing was spot on. It had that teenage, snobbish vibe to it.  Ashley Little kept me hanging ever so often between Abby’s confessions which is what I really enjoyed. The plot was really well thought out. It starts before Abby shows signs of the disease and finishes off with not exactly an ending to Abby’s journey, but the end of one chapter in her life.

This book was uncomfortable to read sometimes, not gonna lie. Ashley Little holds back only a little when it comes to descriptions and stories. And sometimes Abby’s attitude made me uncomfortable, the tragic, dramatic way in which she viewed her life. But it all added to grander impact of the story and the important message that it left behind.

The subplots were also really well drawn out. I especially loved seeing the evolution of Abby’s relationship with her brother Dean. I was seriously worried for a while for *reasons* There was also even a smidge of romance in it! Nothing too much and it was sweet. I think that for a girl who thought physical attraction trumped all else, Abby had quite a surprise.

Overall, I thought this book was unlike anything. It was interesting, addictive, tragic and heart-warming.  It was sold to me as Mean Girls-esque story and it 100% delivers!!! Not to mention that it is short, fast-paced and more entertaining with each turn of the page! For someone who rarely–and I mean rarely–reaches out for a book like this, it was quite the read!

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Recommend: Oh yes!

About Ashley Little:

via PRHC

ASHLEY LITTLE received a BFA in Creative Writing and Film Studies from the University of Victoria and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. Her book The New Normal won the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize, and Anatomy of a Girl Gang won the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, was a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award, longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and has been optioned for television. Confessions of a Teenage Leper is Ashley’s fifth novel. Ashley lives in British Columbia with her partner, their daughter, and her toy poodle, Huxley. (via PRHC website)

Now for the fun part!!

I wanted to leave this tour off with a little bit of pizzazz. Like many characters, Abby goes through a lot in this book. Her character doesn’t just learn to accept, she fights everything along the way, she goes through different trials, has many ups, but lots of downs too.

So I wanted to give you a little insight into Abby’s journey in this book, and what better not-so-spoilery way than through aesthetics! (LOL this is my first time making these collages so they may not be the absolute best, but a girl tries.)

Stage #1: Old Abby

Stage #2: No Abby

Stage #3: Still Abby

*Disclaimer: I own none of the images used*

Each collage holds some subtle (and not so subtle) hints about what happens to Abby in the book, but in order to figure them out you are going to have to read it!

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Let me know what you think! Are you going to pick up this book? Are you up for a mean girl read? What did you think of my first try at aesthetics?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Save the Date | Review

Greetings readers!

I have been bitten by that summer bug. And it infected me with a mood. A contemporary mood. I have like twelve different YA fantasies on my side table that need immediate attention and yet I want the fluff. I need the fluff. The summer sun and all the warm fuzzzy feels.

A couple of weeks ago, a YA contemporary Queen was in town and what better way to start off my contemporary summer mood than with a wedding book! Morgan Matson’s new novel, Save the Date sounded like the perfect way to start my summer and after attending her event, I was so excited to get to it!

Save the Date  by Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pub Date:  June 5th, 2018
Price: $23.99
ISBN: 9781481404570

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.

The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.

There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.

There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.

Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.

Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.

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BUY IT!

Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

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Well, well. I had fun. Considering  it was my very first Matson book, I enjoyed it. Not exactly as much as I hoped to enjoy it, but it was a fun book overall.

What I Liked:

The Comic Strip. I thought it was such a cute touch. It really showcased the importance of the strip and it made it more than just a simple motif. Plus it added an extra amount of funny to the book.

I liked Charlie enough. She wasn’t my absolute favourite, but I did connect with her on some level. I totally related to her love of family. Her desire to have those together moments. Those times that are the memory makers. I often find myself searching for those moments with my own family and getting frustrated when we start to bicker or fight. Matson painted a real family. They were never perfect, but they had their moments of bliss and happiness.

Matson also approached the topic of change and how Charlie absolutely dreaded it. Especially as she was trying to figure out what she wanted for her future and how much she would have to let go in order to reach her goals. It was a very touching theme to the novel and I loved reading about Charlie’s journey to embracing change. It was not easy and she was quite stubborn, but I really connected to her struggle.

The book was also very humorous. The synopsis promises crazy and it delivered. Delivered to the point where I found it terribly ridiculous, but frankly I liked it. It was entertaining, the three days that this story spans is  filled with all sorts of trouble. It’s absolute chaos and I enjoyed it quite a lot.

Bill. He was cute and charming and I wanted more from him. He did however come off as very flat, I would have liked a little more development in that area.

Those Canadian references! *Patriotic Rendz freaks.*

The ending, although bittersweet was quite heartwarming. I liked it a lot. I thought this was going to be really fluffy until Matson hit us with the hard ball and it hurt!

What I Disliked:

Okay. Here it is. The hard cold truth.

Every character in this Grant family was an asshole.

Especially Danny. JJ not that much. (JJ was actually my favourite of them all)

Their behaviour was disgusting. The way that this family treated outsiders did not sit well with me. My mom would call them “maleducados” i.e. rude. They were rude rude rude. Like, I get that family comes first, but these people were awful. Danny actually disgusted me, I was so unimpressed that Charlie practically worshipped him.

There was another asshole in this book, that I won’t call out for spoilers…but I knew knew knew that he was not worth it.

The fact that I didn’t like this family’s behaviour really spoiled a lot of he book for me. I often found myself rolling my eyes and disagreeing with many of their actions. I literally wanted to smack them all outside the head.

This book was wordy. It was long and it took forever. Plus the font was tiny! Okay maybe that was a little too technical, but in all honesty this book was too too too wordy. Charlie does a lot of thinking, some of it I could have honestly lived without. I got bored sometimes because there would not be a lot of character interaction instead it would just be Charlie in her head thinking thinking thinking.

The friendship theme in this book was very minimal. I was expecting a lot more from that element of conflict. It was set up really well, but there was no thorough execution. It left me disappointed.

The romance wasn’t even enough for me. WHERE WAS MY SUPER DUPER FLUFF??? THE SWOONY MOMENTS. BECAUSE I LITERALLY GOT ZERO. (I’m not counting the first chapter for *reasons*)

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Overall, the book was good. It was not perfect and as you could see I had my issues with it. It was funny, ridiculous and despite its length, I think some people will fly through it! Did it fulfill my contemporary mood? For the most part. It did its job, but I am still very much hoping to jump into another fluffier book soon!

Rating: 3 / 5 Stars

Recommend?: Yeah, I guess… It was fun,  and a perfect summer read! Just beware of the super obnoxious characters.

Let me know what you think! Have you read this? Did you enjoy it? Who was your favourite character? What Morgan Matson book is your favourite?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Bring Me Their Hearts | Review

Greetings readers!

Sometimes you really have to be in the right mood to enjoy a book. I was not when I read this. I was reeling after the glorious end of Reaper and I needed something soft and gentle to pull me through an oncoming slump I felt. But Rendz ignored inner-Rendz and jumped into this fantasy anyways and the results did not end well.

Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf

via Goodreads

Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pub Date: June 5, 2018
Price: $24.99
ISBN: 9781640631465

Zera is a Heartless – the immortal, unageing soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a Prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum; if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy her heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him – every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him – until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The Prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

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Buy It

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository 

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*I was provided a digital copy by the publisher via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion in any way!*

I really wanted to like this. I was prepared to pour my whole fangirling mess into it. But no, that didn’t happen. I was just bored all the time. I tried hard to connect with the characters and the world. I tried to feel something for this book, but I got a whole lot of nothing. Sigh sigh sigh.

What I Liked:

I liked the idea of the Heartless and how they were controlled by the witch. That was cool. I wish that we could have spent a little more time with the witches, understanding their past and the magic they have. The few witches that were mentioned were very elusive and only present at the very beginning of the novel.

Malachite. Because he was the best.

The sassy plays. The snarkiness. The wit! I was having a glorious time with the dialogue if anything. The comebacks were coming left, right, front and center. Wolf did an excellent job of bestowing that personality into her characters. Frankly everyone in her world had the wits and the smarts to make a good comeback, I don’t think I would fit in quit well XD

What I Disliked:

I was just not feeling the connections to the characters. I totally felt for Zera and her turmoil about choosing between what was right and what was wrong was very twisted. There was so much she was risking and there were too many things that could go wrong. But did I feel connected to her? No. I liked her sassiness, but sometimes I was just annoyed. Her speech was often repetitive and it was always about falling for princey vs  killing princey. Her actions were predictable and while I never disliked her, I was missing the attraction.

I have no complaints about Malachite. Again, he was the best.

Now Princey. Lucien. I was just not feeling you. I like the broody. I like the dark pasts. I like the rebel-against-the-world attitude. But I did not like him. I just…I don’t know! I just didn’t see it. WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE MOODY, BROODY AND SECRET SOFTY ARE BASICALLY ALL THINGS THAT ATTRACT ME TO A CHARACTER! But no. Nothing. I found him irritable, spoiled, annoying and well…too tropey. There was just nothing terribly unique about him.

And the romance….nothing. Like I get why they would be attracted to each other but…nope. Nothing. And trust me there was tension, banter, angst. But I did not feel this ship. Too rushed. Too…forced.

The world was confusing for me. There was a lot of history between different races of creatures that were barely brushed upon. I think I needed a lot more information on how this world functioned. The whole Spring Bride thing didn’t turn out to be that important either. It was just tossed over the shoulder.

And this book could have used a lot more magic, just saying.

The twists. Were there any? There was excitement, yes, but not enough to drop my jaw or make me yell a little. I was never eagerly anticipating the next scene. I was never giddy and to be completely 1000% honest, I skimmed because I got bored. And this book was just not memorable for me. I’m already forgetting so many things.

The end twist. Saw it coming.

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Overall, I feel like this book just wasn’t for me, someone who reads fantasy all the time and basically studies the genre. Where I expect rich, complex plots with twists here, there and everywhere, this book was really mellow. It was simple, and while it was entertaining, I’m finding it hard to remember.

Rating: 2.75 / 5 stars. Really close to the 3, but just not enough!

Recommend?: Um maybe? For like beginner fantasy peeps, or peeps who don’t usually draw into this genre?

Let me know what you think! Have you read this book? Did you enjoy it? Have you ever found yourself in the wrong mood for a book?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Whisper of the Tide | Review

Greetings readers!

I hope you are all having an amazing week! My week is slowly getting better, it started out rough, but it’s Friday so I am quite happy!

At the beginning of the week I shared with you my review for Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser! Today I bring you the review for the sequel! This is a Pirate YA series, so if that is your thing, then I definitely think you should give these a try!

Whisper of the Tide by Sarah Tolcser

via Goodreads

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pub Date: June 5th, 2018
Price: $23.99 CAD
ISBN: 1681193000

Caro Oresteia spent her life waiting to be called by the river god, as those in her family had been for generations. But when she’s swept away on an adventure to save the Akhaian royal prince, Markos, her destiny is sealed by the sea god instead.

For now, Caro is landlocked, helping Markos reclaim his throne after nearly his entire family was assassinated in a political coup. Without any financial or military support, Markos is desperate for allies, and Caro has fought off more than one attempt on his life. When a powerful Archon offers his army in exchange for Markos’s marriage to his daughter, Caro must choose: Her love for Markos, or the fate of Akhaia? And more importantly: How much is she willing to risk to defy the sea god’s wishes and chart her own course?

With shipwrecks, lost treasure, old and new enemies, dark magic, and breathtaking romance, Sarah Tolcser weaves another epic story about chasing your fate.

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BUY IT!

Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

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*I was provided an advanced copy by Raincoast Books! All opinions are my own*

So while I was not blown away by the first book, I was still excited to see how things would play out for Caro & co. in the sequel seeing as the synopsis promises a lot of drama with a touch of angst. Just how I like it. And while the book did deliver that, I felt like there were definitely some things missing and other things that could have been explored further.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Caro: I think I liked her a bit more in the sequel. She was in an identity crisis throughout this novel, so her journey to self-discovery was something I enjoyed reading about. She is still stubborn and quite clueless sometimes, but I’ll forgive her for that. She is still not exceptionally amazing to me, I did not feel a true connection, but I did enjoy her for the most bit. She was defiant and determined to do what she could to make things right. Even doing the unforgivable. (Her heart still beat so loudly in this one)

Markos: A step up from what he was in book one. I am still not 100% positive he is book boy toy material, but I did appreciate his sacrifice and  dedication to the cause in this book. (But that comes to a rather quick end, more on this later). Again, no real connection was there, but he was a good character and way better than what he was in book one.

Melanos: Honestly, I am a sucker for the morally gray and those with redemption arcs. This man is by no means any “good,” but that redemption arc! He is one fiery and angry and sad pirate, people! He makes many poor decisions and his past is tarnished too, but I think Tolcser did a great job of showing the importance of asking for and extending forgiveness.

On a funny note. One character had the unfortunate circumstance of being named, Dido. And I have a filthy mind.

The World:

In this book, much more of the sea and land is explored which I thoroughly enjoyed. Tolcser was once again able to paint the distinct landscapes in their unique way that made each adventure the characters had more fun and dangerous. While we didn’t get to in touch with actual people of the land, there was a lot more development into the character of the sea god. She was not as benevolent as I thought she would be which was quite a pleasant and rude surprise! I really enjoyed the way Tolcser tried to antagonize her and yet make her a supporter of our heroine as well. I’ll just say that the gods, especially this sea god, likes to play games!

The In-Betweens:

*We are back with this section, huh*

The Plot:

While I was looking forward to the “We can no longer be lovers” story, I was glad it did not take precedence. Instead the characters went on a treasure hunt, which should be just as fun! The thing is is that as the story went further in, the focus shifted back to the romantic tension and the discovery of the treasure, while it had its action, was not a wow factor. I think I was just expecting a lot more from the discovery. The twists in the romance were kind of obvious, so I was hoping the treasure would hold a lot more pizzazz. It was fine, it had action, just not enough for me.

The Romance:

Again, it’s not that I did not ship it, it’s just that I was not invested. Seeing as I could spot the twist in this little “marry the Archon’s daughter” charade, I found myself lacking in drama. The angst was there, but the drama, the scandal, the heartbreak. Meh.

What I Disliked:

The Quick, Clean Ending:

So this book just ends. The characters go off and live their lives and the end. No politics get resolved. There is still a bunch of problems in the world. But to Caro and Markos everything is all sunshine and happy endings.

Highlight the following for spoilers:

>| They literally leave the empire at the hands of a blood thirsty tyrant. Markos leaves his position as Emparch and hopes that the former Lord will rise up in revolution someday so he can go off sailing with Caro. What. The. Actual. F***. Ummmmmmmmm how is this in any way a satisfying ending??? If she writes another series about the sister, then we can talk. Unless Tolcser just randomly added that Markos’s sister was touched by the Lion God (was it a lion?), I think that girl may show up again in the future. <|

End of spoilers.

Let’s just say that there are plenty loose threads available for a spin off series, which I don’t know will happen. I am generally interested in seeing this political turmoil resolved so….I’m up for it, since I do not think there is going to be a third instalment.

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Overall, the book was okay. I enjoyed it a tad more than book one. I thought it had a great adventure to it, and even though I was not super invested, the romance was sweet. I had hoped for a bit more action and twists. There were not too many heart-pounding moments. Still, I did enjoy reading Caro’s journey in self discovery and forgiveness.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

Recommend: Sure, if you want to read about more pirates!

Let me know what you think! Did you enjoy this book? Which book did you enjoy more, the first or second? Who were your favourite characters? Any other pirate book recs?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Furyborn | Review

Greetings readers!

Three months ago I was  blessed with getting a chance to read this anticipated 2018 title early, but because I suck at managing my reading, I totally forgot I had it! WHAT?!? Am I disappointed that I didn’t read it earlier? Yes and no. Yes, because it was quite good. But, no because I have less time to wait for a sequel. Hehehehe.

Furyborn by Claire Legrand

via raincoast.com

Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub Date: May 22, 2018 (Today!)
Price: $16.99 CAD (pb)
ISBN: 9781492673002

The stunningly original, must-read fantasy of 2018 follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world… or doom it.

When assassins ambush her best friend, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing herself as one of a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light, and a queen of blood. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven elemental magic trials. If she fails, she will be executed… unless the trials kill her first.

One thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a fairy tale to Eliana Ferracora. A bounty hunter for the Undying Empire, Eliana believes herself untouchable-until her mother vanishes. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain and discovers that the evil at the empire’s heart is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world-and of each other.

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BUY IT!

 Amazon.ca  | Chapters Indigo  | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

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*I was provided and e-ARC by the publisher via Netgalley. This does not influence my opinion!*

This book has a lot of hype surrounding it with very good reason. It is incredibly fast-paced, there are many twists and turns, and the magic is quite a wonder in itself! I love all things YA Fantasy so of course I just had to pick this one up and I was not disappointed!

What I Liked:

Characters & Dual-POV:

I have to say that I was quite surprised at my reaction to the dual-POV. Usually, I tend to care more for one POV and focus on that while trudging reluctantly through another perspective, but with this book I looked forward to both stories. There was never a time where I felt the need to skim just to get back to another character because I *needed* to know about both! I think that had a lot to do with my love for the main characters, Rielle and Eliana.

Rielle started off as my favourite just because she was mischievous and had this “innocence” to her in the first chapter (the prologue is a little something else…). I really did pity her because her life was a lie and a secret, and the people closest to her might have resented her for that. Eliana on the other hand, turned out to be my favourite by the end. She was not a *good* person in the traditional sense. A liar, a murderer, a thief and many more terms synonymous with dread, but I love a good redemption arc!!!!! Both girls had their distinct personalities and mind sets that often led them into deep trouble. The one thing that they do share is that they know what they want, and they do what they need to get it.

Then there other characters like Remy, Zavi and SIMON. Remy is a precious bean, whom I love and needs to be protected at all costs. Zavi is still a mystery to me, I feel like there is not enough yet known about her and she is going to play a bigger role later on. Then we get to SIMON because he deserves all caps. I don’t even know what to say. He’s just really great. Another precious bean. Corien is trash.

The Plot & Writing:

I enjoyed the plot for the most part. Legrand’s direction was quite clear and her writing wasn’t too complicated. I didn’t think the major jump in time/era was confusing, since both societies were quite distinct. I am, personally, a huge fan of “fulfilling the prophecy” plots, it makes the book like a guessing game and I love it when my theories are correct! I also love “trials of magic,” I am such a complete sucker for those and this book has that so…!!! As for the twists, they were very twisty, perhaps not as shocking as I had hoped, but they did still have a big impact on the story that are setting up good things for the sequels.

There were even little history snippets before every chapter, which I LOVE!! It sets up the chapter for you, so you can kind-of-sort-of-not-really brace yourself for what it to come.

The Magic:

I thought that the magic was excellently done! Let’s bring back the age of angels, please!!!! My sister was a super fan of paranormal angel books and it became a guilty pleasure of mine when I was younger. When I first read that this book had angels I was a little hesitant, but I really did like their purpose and history. If you are a fan of the classic elements with a bit of a twist, I think you would enjoy this.

The Prologue: 

Now I’m just rambling, but I really loved the prologue. Let the guessing games begin.

The Romance:

It was fine. I wasn’t really too into it, which is shocking for me. The ships were cute. There was one that evolved much faster than the other and watch out for chapter 41, ’tis quite–quite–steamy. The other romance was enemies-to-lovers and I. Am. A. Sucker. For. That.

******************* Spoiler – Highlight to read!***************

>|Harkan is so not dead, people. And this is gonna come back to bite us in the butts. |<

**********************End of Spolier**************************

What I Disliked:

I have to knock off one star, for the sole reason that I’m having a hard time believing this book to be memorable. The story while I was reading was quite good, but I could spot moments when I could put it down and just stop reading. There was no intense need to get back to reading. It had its fair share of dull moments and this was quite a large book.

The ending was also a bit…meh for me. There was no shock or complete rush of adrenaline. It just ended. I can actually wait for the sequel, despite how much I want to know more about these character. That is never the greatest sign.

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Overall, I did enjoy this. I am looking forward to the sequel, although I might be in need of a reread when the time comes for the next book! The characters are what really made this book for me since these girls were just so epic and unapologetic.

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Recommend: Yeah! It’s like super hyped, but I’d say give it a go if you love fantasy (and angels!)

Let me know what you think! Have you read it? What did you think? Who was your favourite character? Who was your least favourite character? Rant to me, I am ready!

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

The Penderwicks At Last |Blog Tour – Review & Giveaway

Greetings readers!

I am so, so excited to be a part of this tour. The Penderwicks series my Jeanne Birdsall is one of my favourite children’s series ever! I will one day put up a post describing the significance of these stories to me, but for now let’s stick to my review!

Today I will be presenting to you my thoughts on the long awaited finale of this series! (I waited three whole years for this!) Make sure you head to the end of the post for a chance to win a copy! It is US only, but I do believe there are a few Penderwicks fans in my audience!

The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall

Pub. Date: May 15, 2018
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 256
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N,
iBooks, TBD

The finale you’ve all been waiting for: The Penderwicks at Last is the final, flawless
installment in the modern classic series from National Book Award winner and New York Times bestselling author Jeanne Birdsall!

Nine years, five older siblings, a few beloved dogs, and an endless array of adventures–these are the things that have shaped Lydia’s journey since readers first met her in The Penderwicks in Spring.

Now it’s summertime, and eleven-year- old Lydia is dancing at the bus stop, waiting for big sister Batty to get home from college.

This is a very important dance and a very important wait because the two youngest
sisters are about to arrive home to find out that the Penderwicks will all be returning to Arundel this summer, the place where it all began. And better still is the occasion: a good old-fashioned, homemade-by-Penderwicks wedding.

Bursting with heart and brimming with charm, this is a joyful, hilarious ode to the family we love best. And oh my MOPS– Meeting of Penderwick Siblings– does Jeanne Birdsall’s The Penderwicks at Last crescendo to one perfect Penderwick finale.

*Thank you, Penguin Random House CA for providing me with a copy. All opinions are my own*

This final book revolves around the youngest Penderwick sister, Lydia, who had a minor role in the previous novel, The Penderwicks in Spring. Despite this book being about a new character, we are taken back to the setting of book one and even though much has changed, including the older Penderwick sisters, there is still a lot of fun to be had!

What I Liked: 

Characters: The characters were the most important reason why this series means so much to me. In this book we follow only one sister, but the other Penderwick personalities were definitely present despite being more background characters!

Lydia: Lydia was a spark of pure delight (though don’t tell her I said that because she might argue against it XD). As the youngest of the Penderwick family, this was Lydia’s first trip to Arundel and after hearing all the incredible stories that her sisters told, she was excited to see the actual estate herself. Lydia was quite charming, she was a dancer and found a reason to bounce and twirl and step, whatever the occasion. Contrary to the sassy attitude she evoked as a toddler, the 11 year-old Lydia was quite curious and always found the best in people. She, like all her siblings, had a distinct personality. She was a dancer, free-spirited and quite imaginative, but also stubborn!

Alice: Alice was also quite fun to follow. Much to Lydia’s delight, they became fast friends on this summer vacation and she showed Lydia all the secrets of the estate. Alice herself was also very funny and blunt. Her tendency to say exactly what is on her mind was hilarious and I loved her competitiveness with her brother, Jack. Although we don’t get to exactly walk in her perspective, she always added more humour and mischief to the scene.

The Writing: 

While I wouldn’t say that Birdsall has a purple/flowry prose, she does have a way with words. She knows how to make me feel wonder as I’m reading about the adventures that Lydia is having. But I think where she really wins with me is that she gives everything a personality. She most certainly gives them to humans, but also to the creatures and animals surrounding the characters. There is always, always a dog personality on scene and in this book comes a sassy chicken. I’d like to say that Jeanne Birdsall’s writing is pure joy put in words!

Bringing Back the Old:

Since this book didn’t star any of the original Penderwick sisters, I really enjoyed every moment when Jeanne would remind us of those times. Since she used the same setting from the first book, it was really nostalgic visiting the old gardens where the sisters had had so many adventures before. This was–of course–Lydia’s story and her experience in Arundel is slightly different. However, despite the fifteen year distance between book one and this book, readers will get to see many familiar faces and revisit many familiar places!

The Ending:

Before reading the ending, I knew that Jeanne was going to do something special. She wasn’t exactly going to leave it open (which it is, but also not), but she wasn’t just going to say this is the end. So when I did read the ending, my heart burst. Like it literally burst. She 100% did THAT. It might not even be something many readers notice, but I did and JEANNE, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I’ll leave a hint for those who don’t catch it after reading it, so please remember: the tunnel.

Honourable mention: Not only does Jeanne throw in many Narnia references, which fulfilled my little fangirl heart, she also has one character travelling to Canada! So you know Patriotic-Rendz came out and was squealing with glee!

What I Disliked:

I am going to knock off 0.5 and I’m not 100% sure why. It was just something I couldn’t fully grasp with this story. I laughed, I teared up a bit, it had everything, but maybe it’s the speed to the finish. Everything moves so quickly (and I’m complaining because I really would have liked to read about the wedding XD).

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Overall, I am overjoyed. This truly was a spectacular finale to one of my favourite series. It had all the right humour, the best personalities, the touch of nostalgia and the bittersweet knowledge that this is the end. I absolutely adored this series and this final installment is cherry on top!

Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars (It’s really a 5….I’m being picky!)

Recommend: I WILL SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS. IF YOU LOVE SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS, ANIMALS AND ADORABLE FAMILIES THEN READ THESE BOOKS!

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About Jeanne:

Jeanne Birdsall grew up in the suburbs west of Philadelphia, where she attended wonderful public schools. Jeanne had lots of great teachers, but her favorites were: Mrs. Corkhill, sixth grade, who encouraged her intellectual curiosity; Mr. Tremonte, eighth grade algebra, who taught Jeanne to love and respect math; and Miss Basehore, second and fourth year Latin, to whom Jeanne (and Mr. Penderwick) will be forever grateful.

Although she first decided to become a writer when she was ten years old, it took Jeanne until she was forty-one to get started. In the years in between, Jeanne had many strange jobs to support herself, and also worked hard as a photographer, the kind that makes art. Some of Jeanne’s photographs are included in the permanent collections of museums, including the Smithsonian and the Philadelphia Art Museum. Her work can be seen in several galleries, including the R. Michelson Galleries in western Massachusetts.

Jeanne’s home now is with her husband in Northampton, Massachusetts. Their house is old and comfortable, full of unruly animals, and surrounded by gardens.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Giveaway!

Details:
– 3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE PENDERWICKS AT LAST
– US Only

Enter:

Rafflecopter Link

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Follow the Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/7/2018- Bri’s Book Nook– Review
5/8/2018- Christen Krumm– Review
5/9/2018- RhythmicBooktrovert– Review
5/10/2018- Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers– Review
5/11/2018- Reading with Rendz– Review (You are here!)

Week Two:

5/14/2018- Little Red Reads– Review
5/15/2018- Buttons Book Reviews– Review
5/16/2018- Will Read Anything– Review
5/17/2018- Two Points of Interest– Review
5/18/2018- The Desert Bibliophile– Review

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Let me know what you think! Have you read any Penderwicks books before? Which book was your favourite? How excited are you to read the finale? What sibling-hood would you love to be a part of?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Islandborn | Review

Greetings readers!

Today I am coming with a special review!!! I was contacted by Penguin Random House Canada to feature some of their special spring reads and of course I said yes! There were so many types of books to pick from, but this book really called out to me! The gorgeous cover, the colours and the synopsis were all so intriguing, I had to pick it up!

Islandborn by Junot Díaz, Illustrated by Leo Espinosa

via Goodreads

Hardcover
Publisher: Dial Books
March 13, 2018
$23.99
ISBN: 9780735229860

From New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Díaz comes a debut picture book about the magic of memory and the infinite power of the imagination.

Every kid in Lola’s school was from somewhere else. Hers was a school of faraway places.

So when Lola’s teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can’t remember The Island—she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories—joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening—Lola’s imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family’s story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela’s words: “Just because you don’t remember a place doesn’t mean it’s not in you.”

Gloriously illustrated and lyrically written, Islandborn is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and our imagination’s boundless ability to connect us—to our families, to our past and to ourselves. 

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BUY IT!

Amazon | Chapters-Indigo | McNally Robinson

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This story was absolutely lovely. Visually stunning and incredibly heart-warming. The story is full of colour in words as much as it is in pictures.

Following Lola on her journey in discovering The Island was so much fun. Reading about her spirit and enthusiasm brought so much life to the story. Lola was a very curious and with this new project that her teacher has her creating, she’s all about asking questions! She was such a sweet and determined child, her imagination coming to life with the wonderful illustrations by Espinosa.

Every person that Lola asked about The Island, shared a unique and wondrous tale about their homeland. The nostalgia in their expressions and stories was so clear and beautiful, it brought such a heartwarming feeling inside of me. Each story added to the overall story that Lola ended up writing and it created quite a tale! My favourite story would have to be the one that Lola’s abuela told. Not only was the little tidbit she recounted about The Island beautiful, but it was incredibly depicted.

If you didn’t get the message, I absolutely adored the illustrations. They perfectly fit the imaginative and childish perspective of Lola and complimented the story of each person so well. Every page was stunning, but the last page was exploding with so much beauty, I have to claim it as one of my favourites!

This is a perfect read for kids of all backgrounds. It speaks wonderfully to the immigrant experience. I know for me personally, I can relate a lot to Lola’s story. Since I wasn’t born in El Salvador and have only visited a few times, the way I learned about where my family came from was through the stories they shared the images I created in my imagination. This book really speaks to that and I couldn’t be more happy!

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Overall, I loved this story. It is everything a picture book needs to entertain and charm all audiences. The beautiful story full of wonder and humour, matched with adorable illustrations will have you longing to visit The Island!

Rating: 5 / 5 stars!

Recommend: Si! Si! Si!

Let me know what you think! What are your favourite picture books? What books take you back to your childhood? What would you draw to depict your homeland?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

 

Immortal Reign | Review

Greetings Readers!

Oh so long ago, I picked up this book called Falling Kingdoms. Back then (and now) I was really into swords and magical kingdoms and princesses and princes, so in picking up Falling Kingdoms I had high expectations. But I didn’t expect to be completely sucked in. Just immersed in the world and it’s twists and turns.

I was addicted.

Today, marks the end of my journey. The publication of my review for the final book. Six books I have spent with these characters. Six books with new adventures, but the same journey. Six books of death. Six books of love. So today I reminisce on this, the sixth book.

Let’s begin.

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes

via Goodreads

Publisher: Razorbill
Page count: 391
ISBN: 1595148248

Synopsis: As two lethal elemental gods set out to destroy Mytica, sworn enemies must become allies in the final fight to save the kingdoms.

Jonas continues to willfully defy his destiny, but the consequences of plotting his own course are drastic. As the fight for Mytica rages on, he must decide just how much more he’s willing to sacrifice.

Lucia knows there’s something special about her daughter and she’ll do anything to protect her, even if that means facing Kyan alone.

Amara is called back home to Kraeshia. Grandma Cortas has her own plans for Mytica’s future. She promises Amara power, revenge, and dominance if she agrees to be part of her scheme.

Magnus and Cleo‘s love will be put to the ultimate test. Dark magic is causing widespread destruction throughout the kingdom. Enemies across the sea are advancing. And unrest is stirring throughout the land. Is their love strong enough to withstand the outside forces tearing them apart?

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Buy It!

Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

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I read this book fast. This is what I love about Morgan’s books. Everything happens, boom, boom, boom. It’s a cut-to-the-chase kind of series. Not to mention, the ending of book 5 was absolutely monstrous so I was DYING to pick this up. Things happened and I honestly was not sure how our characters were going to get out of that mess. Going in, I was prepared for an ending that would destroy me and it turned out to be quite unexpected.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Cleo: My girl. I have hated every character in this series for a little while, except one. Cleo. I have rooted for her from the very beginning of the book. Yeah, I agree she was a pampered, pompous princess at the start, but boy did she have to grow, adapt and manipulate to survive this giant fiasco. In short, I absolutely adore her and her wit. Her growth from this puppet princess to this comeback queen was epic.

via giphy.com

Magnus: My boy. We have come a long way, have we not? Let me tell you all. I hated this man for the first 2 books, tolerated him in the third one and have been head over heels for him for the fourth, fifth and sixth books. Is that an evolution or what?! Magnus goes through quite a few changes, from striving to be like his tyrant father to trying to be a more merciful ruler. He is still pretty mean to most people, but I’d say he is much more thoughtful now than in book one. His evolution is one I enjoyed very much, plus after his final scene in final Crystal Storm….umm….reading this book was necessary! In this sixth book, he is still a snarky prince, and I cannot help but love him.

Jonas: Oh Jonas. No offense, my friend, but you were really irrelevant for like most of the books. 🙂 Jonas had to learn how to make decisions. He made a lot of poor ones and then made some poorer ones, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! He makes some good decisions in this book and for that I applaud him. His scenes are a lot more action-y so they make up for the more intense political or magical scenes the others get. But who am I to say that Jonas doesn’t get a little magic himself? 😉

Lucia: Oh girl, I’m gonna be honest. I liked you in the first book and that’s about it. I get it, you have been used all your life and now that you have power and people fear you, it is best to use it at your advantage. Not going to lie, you took it to an extreme and I know you tried very hard to be redeemable…but yeah you still aren’t a fave-fave. You have cool magic though! And I appreciate the way in which you honoured Lysandra.

Everyone Else: People, there are six different perspectives in this book, plus a million side characters some of which I adore (Felix ❤ ). Just know that they add all the more drama, heartbreak and humor to the story. And one in particular just brings a lot more trouble *cough* Amara *cough* Needless to stay, they make the story richer despite it being a little tricky to keep track of them all.

Story & World: This is a big series, with many subplots and of course the big main plot. There is magic, war, politics and romances that come with their own twists and turns. It is addictive. I just wanted to keep being invested in how these characters could possibly resolve all these problems they have caused throughout six books! And while you may be turned off by the multiple POVs, I ask you to fear not because it is actually not that hard to follow. Every character has their own voice, their own distinct goals and faults.  I also love that Morgan made the lands in this novel very different. You know where everyone is because of the distinct landscapes. There is even a stunning map to help you along if you get lost!

Writing: Morgan doesn’t do the heavy, whimsical fantasy writing that one would normally expect from these kinds of books. It’s easy, it’s light, perhaps a little juvenile, but it is simple and clear to understand. It is the best kind of writing for this story considering there are so many characters to follow and one has no time to get caught up on figuring out what this prophetic, metaphorical sentence is trying to tell you! It also makes the reading faster and for six books, I’m telling you, you will FLY through them!

Romance: This series is home to one of my most epic ships. Just look at that cover. Look at it. Tell me you are not intrigued by those reaching out hands. By that smirk on his face. BECAUSE WHEN I SAW THIS COVER I FLIPPED. AT SCHOOL. IN THE CAFETERIA. IN PUBLIC. I FLIPPED. I want to give a shout out to all the other ships in this book too! BUT I MEAN MAGNEO IS AN ADDICTION. One of the BEST enemies-to-lovers romances I have read because I friggin experienced it too! I hated Magnus and then I loved him. I have never been THAT invested in a romance (Save Cresswell)! Suffice to say, that I loved it. A lot.

via giphy.com

The Hint of A Possible Spin-Off Series: Morgan did THAT. She left us with a prophecy. One does not leave readers with a prophecy and not commit to telling it! Dear Morgan, I am ready for more. Please and thank you.

What I Disliked:

I Missed the Final Wow Factor: I just…needed more. A bigger BANG! More PIZZAZZ. I don’t mean to say that there were not any jaw-dropping moments because there are, but I felt like everything was cleaned up neatly and swiftly. Wrapped in a bow and ta-da. I wanted a tad more drama, more risk. *More than the whole world Rendz, which was already at risk?* Yes.

No One Died: Okay, this is wrong of me to say. People did die…just not the people I wanted to die. Am I a bad person for saying this??

via giphy.com

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Overall,  I had a blast. I flew through the first 60% of this book and savoured the last 40 because I realized that this truly was the end. Am I happy with the ending? Yes. Did I think the characters got what they deserved? Most did. Will I forever fangirl about Magneo? Absolutely!! Honestly friends, if you want a magical, political and adventurous fantasy series to binge, I HIGHLY recommend this series! (Plus you have to support Canadian YA!)

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommend: Yeeeees! A fun, fantastical, and fabulous read!

Let me know what you think! What are your thoughts on this series? Who is your favourite character? Who is your favourite ship? Did you enjoy the final installment? 

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

S.T.A.G.S. | Review

Greetings readers!

I do love a thrill. I love an adventure. I love the high-stakes, the heart pounding panic of what will happen next! What?! What?! What?! I get a lot of that from fantasy. Lots of epic battles and plans that go awry!

Now, I don’t usually expect thrill from contemporary. I usually look for the warm fuzzy feels and drama. But when reading a contemporary-thriller you have to expect less warm fuzz and more of that heart-pounding-my-goodness-what-is-going-on???? feeling.

Which I definitely experienced.

S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

via Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Greer, a scholarship girl at a prestigious private school, St Aidan the Great School (known as STAGS), soon realizes that the school is full of snobs and spoilt rich brats, many of whom come from aristocratic families who have attended the institute throughout the centuries. She’s immediately ignored by her classmates. All the teachers are referred to as Friars (even the female ones), but the real driving force behind the school is a group of prefects known as the Medievals, whose leader, Henry de Warlencourt, Greer finds both strangely intriguing as well as attractive. The Medievals are all good-looking, clever and everyone wants to be among their circle of friends. Greer is therefore surprised when she receives an invitation from Henry to spend a long weekend with him and his friends at his family house in the Lake District, especially when she learns that two other “outsiders” have also been invited: Shafeen and Chanel. As the weekend unfolds, Greer comes to the chilling realization that she and two other “losers” were invited only because they were chosen to become prey in a mad game of manhunt.

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Buy It!

Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

This book releases January 30th! Drop by your local bookstore or library to check it out!

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*I received a free digital copy from the publisher on Netgalley, which does not in any way influence my opinion!*

Well. Well. I enjoyed this book very, very much. You guys know that thriller (like scary-dark thriller) is just not my thing. (I am a scaredy cat) But when I do make an exception and brace myself for some good ol’ thrill, I hope that it will crush my expectations and make me crave more of this genre.

Goal achieved.

**Plus this had the most gorgeous cover I just had to request it!! **

What I Liked:

Characters: 

Greer: I found her to be a very interesting. She had spent the first half of the school semester as a misfit and shunned, scholarship kid. She basically had zero friends, meaning social life was at an all time low and getting an invite to an exclusive vacation at the richest/most beautiful popular boy’s house was the best thing that happened to her in a long time. Or was it??

giphy.com

Anyways…I really did enjoy Greer as a narrator and MC in this book. She was quirky and intuitive. She was also foolish and at one point I really want to knock her outside of the head. But she redeems herself! I absolutely loved that she brought up references to the films she and her dad loved to watch and how she inserts her personality and likes into the narration of the story. It really showed off her nerdy and quirky self and her grand ability to make connections and put two and two together!

Shafeen: Although he is not in most parts of the story, he is still very much a present. And when he is there, he is there. He shut down those racist, rich white kids so many times with such class. *applause, applause* Every word that came out of his mouth, priceless. Every move he made turned tables.

Other characters...There was also Nel, who had it pretty rough in a Gatsby style. She was of new money and the white rich kids did not appreciate people who were not of old money!

So then there are The Medievals a.k.a the white, rich (psycho) kids who brought down their wrath on the previous three characters mentioned. I wasn’t thinking of mentioning them because I really hated them, so let’s just say I enjoyed hating them very much.

The Blood Games:

I have never been hunting, shooting or fishing. Blood sports are really just not my thing. The Medievals version of Huntin’ Shootin’ Fishin’ really is not my style either…let’s emphasize the blood shall we. I’m not meaning to intend that this book was filled with gore and washed in blood every few pages because it wasn’t. It was a very bloody book in that these sports fostered danger, elevated the stakes and made the characters act in ways that were feral and wild. I really enjoyed the twist of the games and how they brought characters together and wreaked havoc too.

The Narnia References are in Full Force:

Okay so this isn’t really about the book, but hey! It’s important to me. I got like ten references to Narnia. First it was just a comparison to Prince Caspian then it was full blown, referring to the movie and talking about discovering secret worlds, finding magical apartments and…and…and.. I freaked out a little. I was just so excited. Trust me this book references lots of films, as that Greer’s favourite thing, so seeing my favourite movie/book referenced  gave me all the feeeeeeeeellllllllllssssss!

*Plus LWW ends with the Pevensies chasing a White Stag…so it’s fitting that the movie be referenced :)*

via giphy.com

The Narration:

Greer was retelling the story to us. It’s that kind of thriller, where the reader goes in and they are given this mini-introduction, so they have a foggy idea of how the book is going to end or where the direction of the story it headed. Then as Greer tells you the story you start picking up on things, connecting some dots and predicting events that just might happen. I especially loved it when Greer would add in her own little comments about what was happening and how she should have acted differently. Especially when she was in her more foolish nature, narrator Greer would take a side note just to point out how dumb she was being.

The World:

Perhaps “The World” is the wrong title, because this book took place in England. Not some foreign fantastical land. Still…the world was very different. We get a glimpse into the white, privileged, upper class life with a medieval twist. A literal medieval twist, these kids not only called themselves Medievals, but lived through that mantra. They avoided having too many modernities like the internet, phones, and most other electrical appliances and they engaged in traditional sports; hence Huntin’ Shootin’ Fishin’.

What really struck me about this world though, was experiencing the consequences of the power and privilege bestowed upon these teenagers that were almost lethal. They controlled everything and everyone. They got away with everything they did. And it’s not a far fact from how it is in real life. How far money and power can take you. How much money rules the world and the extent to which it can bend the will of a person. Scary stuff.

The Ending:

The gif is enough to summarize.

giphy.com

What I Disliked:

It Was Not As Twisty As I Was Hoping?: 

There were twists trust me and some of them I saw coming. This really stems from the very beginning of the book and how Greer introduces the problem. I already knew going in that deaths would be inevitable and I was kind of thinking that everyone was going to die. And while I don’t mean to sound sadistic, one person died and it was a little anti-climatic. You have an idea of who dies and why they die and who kills them. So I felt that the intro given by Greer gave too much and it took away from the reader.

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Overall, it was a great book. For a non-thrillerish gal I thoroughly enjoyed it very much. It was fun, fast, and quite a ride. It makes you think about the consequences of money and privilege and also the effect of living in a world where everything is on the internet. The ending was a bit cliff-hanger like. I mean it did open up the possibility of a sequel, but I think it would be best to leave this as a stand alone and let the readers wonder and imagine how that could possibly be resolved.

Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

Recommend: Yes! Especially if your not always that into the thrills, but your in the mood for a little thrill!!

Let me know what you think! Have you read this? Are you good at guessing endings? What are some of your favourite thriller/mystery books? I need recommendations after all!

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Renegades | Review

Greetings readers!

Well…I…did…it.

I read my most anticipated book of the year. My Queen, Marissa Meyer came out with the highly hyped, totally intriguing superhero novel that I had put on hold after I received it in November.

Well, I finally read it.

And I’m…I’m…

Underwhelmed.

via giphy.com

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone…except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova’s allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

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Buy It!

Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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Don’t get me wrong. This book was definitely not a bust for me…but it really lacked the BOOM! too. I just…I just…I was hoping for so much, much more. And I didn’t get that. Maybe I was hoping for too much and I over-hyped myself because ladies and gents the Lunar Chronicles is my life, Marissa is my Queen, but this book just did not reach that bar.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Nova: My amazing Nightmare. Gosh I really liked her character for many, many reasons. A) I love a good tragic/sob story and since we actually (sort of) experienced what happened to her at such a young age, it was even more tragic. (That prologue really hurt my soul) B) I love an inventor. And my goodness is this girl nifty and thrifty! I was not one who could pursue a career in all the sciences (I was an excellent science student, but passion lies elsewhere 😉), but geez the things you can create with that kind of knowledge is priceless! Nova’s abilities and creativity is amazing, it’s like a second super power she has. C) Snark. Snark. Snark. I love it when characters can come up with a good comeback!

Adrian: I liked him well enough, I just feel like I don’t know enough about him. He’s cute, I totally admit. A) TATTOOS and for that matter SUPER POWER TATTOOS!!! This all points to book boyfriend status! B) He is incredibly sweet. Especially when he is with his brother!!! I was aww-ing perhaps a little too much for my own good. C) His super power is making his drawings come to life. YES!YES!YES!I NEED THAT!!! Still, I feel that I don’t know enough about him. That connection is still very loose.  So whoever said that Adrian tops Carswell Thorne, you are incredibly wrong.

via giphy.com

Other characters…I loved reading the varying characteristics between the Renegades and the Anarchists. Seeing how their stories related and clashed with each other. I would have so many conflicting emotions because while I sided with one, I also saw the reason of the other side. I was one reader full of contradicting feelings! There were characters of different races, mixed races, disabilities, sexualities and beliefs. So you know, a regular world….but with super powers. :))))

via giphy.com

World:

I liked that it wasn’t too sci-fi and still stayed true to the current technology that we have today, but ever so often mentioned the more advanced mechanics and structures functioning within the city. I loved the story of the Battle for Galton and how this story is not set too far in the future from that event, so the wounds are still fresh!

The Super Powers:

There were all kinds of super heroes in this book with all kinds of power. I loved that Meyer used a variation of powers. Of course the classics like “flying”, “fire” and “invisibility” were all still present, but adding in more non-conventional powers into the mix created a more interesting dynamic. Having characters with powers that were different, fun and even silly made the characters and the story better.

What I Disliked:

Mellow, mellow, marshmallow: 

Where was the intensity? The action? The nail-biting suspense? The high stakes? I did not feel any intense emotion while reading this. It was all so mellow and just….I felt nothing! And I wanted to feel like I was being crushed by a building! Like the sky was falling! Like waiting a year would tear out a piece of my soul. But no, I did not feel those at all. This book should have had so much more. More conflict. More drama. More fighting. Higher stakes! Something! THERE WASN’T EVEN ONE LOUSY KISS!!! COME ON!!! THE SMOOCH FACTOR WAS THROWN OUT THE WINDOW!

via giphy.com

Predictable:

Oh gosh the ending. The ending. The ending! I saw it coming from the very beginning of the novel! Heeesh………..really! It was so cliche and just no. There were perhaps, a few things I didn’t see coming. But the ending was a dead giveaway. Sighhhhhhhh. After finishing I actually said I could wait the year. Hopefully she makes the next one more epic.

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Overall, I feel underwhelmed. It’s as if Meyer lost her focus on this one. What was the point of it? Still…the novel is incredible in other areas. Like making you question your own allegiance to the Anarchists or the Renegades. Seeing the greys between good and bad. That is all wonderful and the characters are amazing, but I just felt that this one did not meet the high, high expectations I had going in. Never fear, Marissa Meyer is still my Queen but this book just did not meet the levels of fangirl like TLC and Heartless created. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Rating: 3.75-4 / 5 Stars (This is what I call a “good four”, not a “great four”)

Recommend: Well yeah, but don’t go in with the highest of expectations. The next one should have bigger things in store.

I feel like this was one giant negative review, but trust me it’s not! I really did enjoy most of the book. The characters were cool, the last hundred pages or so had me flipping. However, I cannot say that it met the standards I was hoping it would set off.

Let me know what you think! Have you read it, what did you think? Any favourite characters? What super-power do you want to have? 

Happy reading!

~ Rendz