4 out of 5: THE IRON TRAITOR by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa

Summary:

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice. 

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Review:

Have to say, before The Iron Knight (#4), this series was one of my all time favourites. Although Julie Kagawa seems to be picking up the ball, The Iron Traitor is still not the same as The Iron Queen (#3). I enjoy seeing the old characters, although seeing Megan as a mother is somewhat odd. It makes me feel old...

But I can't complain too much because the favourite duo is back together: Ice-boy and Puck!! It's especially cool to see the two work together with the new duo: Kierran and Tough-guy (Ethan).

Next, we have Kenzie, who is the sweetest tough-girl. Throughout the whole book, there is the reoccurring motif of time. Kenzie who becomes weaker through her trek into the Never Never; Ethan who sees a mysterious vision of his death; and Kierran who makes a deal with dark magic. This amps up the anticipation of the book, however, what is still missing is the mysterious outcome of the vision which almost everyone has seen but Kenzie, Ethan, and Kierran. It's absolutely infuriating and awesome at the same time!

Aaaandddd..... I just finished the book. I literally had 40 pages left and thought nothing that amazing would happen, but the world just dropped out from under me in 2 of the last pages. What. a. cliffhanger. I am going to kill Julie. By reading this review, you must read this book because I guarantee you will not see the ending coming!

Go find The Iron Traitor on: Goodreads | Amazon.com

4.5 out of 5: ORIGIN by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Summary:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.
After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.
Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.
But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

Review:

I know it has been a while since I have posted a review; this year has been so busy! But this book needs a review, I simply cannot allow my opinion about this amazing book to be unheard.

For starters, Daemon and Katy's relationship becomes way more serious. Although there are some awkward descriptions at sometimes, you will climb aboard this ship and cling on for life. I really did enjoy Katy's love for books. The way she expresses herself using metaphors from books I have personally read makes Katy so much more real. Lastly, it was nice to see that this whole book did not simply revolve around the if-Daemon-finds/rescues-Katy situation.

Lux has been a highly stressful book series; the stakes for this fourth book were pretty high, yet, Jennifer Armentrout still manages to blow your mind! Especially the ending; you think there will be more to the book because of the snippet from another book at the end, but once you turn the page, you realize: that is it! The book is done and you have to wait a whole year until the next book.

It has been a pleasure reading Jennifer's book... Now I am off to reading her other series The Covenant.

Find Origin on: Goodreads | Amazon.com

4 out of 5: CHAMPION by Marie Lu

Champion (Legend #3) by Marie Lu

Summary:

He is a Legend.

She is a Prodigy.

Who will be Champion?

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position.

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.

With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

Review:

Round of applause for Marie Lu who wrapped up this series perfectly! This series started off with a fairly complex plot and I'm so glad that Marie Lu didn't just butcher the ending. Action at the beginning was somewhat slow, but this book really pulls on your heart strings.

I'm not 100% sure but, when I finished Prodigy -the second book-, I wasn't entirely excited to start Champion, there just wasn't a whole lot of anticipation; the ending was slightly unremarkable. Of course, like every other book obsessor, I just had to finish the series. And let me tell you, it was worth it! The only problem is that I'm now suck at this point where I finished the last chapter, and I'm not sure I want to ruin this beautiful moment by reading the epilogue. Sometimes, the epilogue ruins the effect of the last scene, but sometimes -some rare beautiful moments-, the epilogue actually enhances the book. (If you get to reading this book, let me know how you thought the epilogue was)

As for the main characters: Day and June. Day seems to be that boy who has the whole package: good looks, nice, smart, and the ultimate roll model. I love how throughout this whole series, his one true goal was to keep the people he loved safe. Meanwhile, June has this hardcore personality -she continues to try doing the right thing throughout this series, and I really admired that. Although the plot sounds really awesome in the synopsis, I think the best element of this book was the relationship's between June and Day.

I'm glad I stuck to this series (through thick and thin) because the ending was totally worth it. If you liked Ally Condie's Matched series, I'm sure you'll enjoy this too. Check out my review on the 3rd book of Ally Condie's series: Reached.

Update: the epilogue DOES make it better!!!! *fangirling!!!* ^o^

Find Champion on: Amazon | Goodreads

4 out of 5: THE DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) By Maggie Stiefvater

Summary:

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same.

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life.

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Review:

My favourite element to this series is the mystery and the complex plot between each of the characters. Although the spooky element did not come through quite as much in this book as the first, I have to say: it's still a pretty darn good book. Lately I've been slowing down with reading since the start of school, but even with my lack of interest in reading lately, Maggie Stiefvater has pulled me down her "rabbit hole". I have to say this series is so much better than Maggie's first series -The Wolves of Mercy Falls.

I loved the beginning passage to this book. It immediately drew me in making me all giddy to get started on this book. In fact, it is one of those passages that just make you think "I wonder what slimy secret is lurking inside poor, broken Ronan?" If only the passage was a bit smaller, I would write it everywhere; it's just so perfectly haunting and you wished everyone could read it. My next favourite thing about the beginning chapter is that it ties in with epilogue at the back of the book; it's like the nice conclusion to that really lengthy essay that you cannot even remember what was at the beginning.

The only thing that is, once again, missing in this series is that kiss -the kiss that Blue had been told would kill her true love. I totally understand that once that kiss had happened, the series would be pretty much over because all the suspense would be gone. So, in the mean time, anyone who reads this book, you'll have to settle for the small little snippet of Blue and Gansey's quality time under the stars.

By the end of the book, certain things are solved, but in a way it really was not. They still haven't found the king -whose name I always forget. And on top of that, some else has traveled underground with the king... It results in an odd cliffhanger. But if you're a fan of prophecies -just like me,- you need to read this book!

Find The Dream Thieves on: Goodreads | Amazon

5 out of 5: ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terril

All Our Yesterdays (All Our Yesterdays #1) by Cristin Terril

Summary:

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

Review:

First off, if you couldn't tell from the cover, All Our Yesterdays is about time travel! Time travel is exciting stuff, it's one of those topics that -right off the bat- make you think. The mystery of the book was already raveled into the genre of the book. Secondly, round of applause to Cristin Terril for starting of this time travel book right! If Cristin started off with spoiled, annoying, superficial Marina, I would have immediately burned dropped the book.

Every moment in this book was intense. I nearly fell of my chair within the first few chapters of this book. I love how this book has so much going on that if you read the summary, it doesn't give away half of the book. As for the romance, it seems like there is some sort of time-love triangle, and the want for the characters to get together is quadrupled because of the present/future and past story lines.

I am mind blown over how Cristin managed to put the story together and make the pieces fit together. Although, the ending was a bit confusing, it leaves you pondering about how it all happened. For the plot and goal of this book, I don't think it's necessary for Cristin to create a sequel. Yet, at the same time, I really want read more about Marina; even though it's only been 4 days, I don't want her to just disappear from my life. :P

Find All Our Yesterdays on: Goodreads | Amazon