Thursday, January 29, 2015

{Series Review} The Selection Series: The Selection, The Elite, & The One by Kiera Cass


"35 Girls 1 Crown The Competition Of A Lifetime"




Titles: The Selection, The Elite, The One, The Prince, & The Guard 
Author: Kiera Cass

Hey guys!

 So this past week I read so. many. books! During this past week I just needed to get away for a bit. So, I dived into the world of the Selection. I read the Selection when it first came out in 2012 and I absolutely loved it! At the time, I had a big pile of library books to read, and I eventually just forgot about waiting for the sequel. I recently watched youtuber's videos hauling the series and I said to myself: "I need to read those through!" So I picked them up from my local library and just flew through them! This series is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine! :D 

      So, the whole series follows America Singer as she competes in the Selection. The Selection is a competition where 35 girls are chosen to compete for the Prince of Illea's heart. Illea is the futuristic world after the last World War. The land formerly known as the United States, Illea, is run by a king and queen. The whole class system is really whacky, everyone is separated into castes (but the thing everyone lives wherever they want but the castes intermingle and you don't know someone's caste unless they have an obvious job that is represented by their caste). The castes are basically based off of your ancestor's status back when King Illea came to power...so basically everyone was a 4 or 5 or lower and very few were 2's and 3's and only royals were 1's....America didn't want to sign up for the Selection...she was content. But her family needed the money, so she signed up. And she was chosen....

The Selection 

 -Published: April 24th 2012
-Published by: HarperTeen
-Pages: 336 
-Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 
My Rating: 5 stars

The Goodreads synopsis: 

 For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
~~~~

35 Girls 1 Crown The Competition Of A Lifetime

How does that not catch your attention!

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What I Loved: The whole world! I loved how Kiera Cass didn't shove the world into your face and gradually gave you the bits of pieces of the world and it is so beautiful! 
What I Disliked: How easily America could be swayed by Aspen. I mean I understand that he was her first love, but she really needs to let him go. Aspen. I do not like Aspen at all.
~~~~

My Favorite Quotes: 

  “True love is usually the most inconvenient kind.” 

“I hope you find someone you can't live without.I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them.” 

“It's always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome."

~~~~~~~~~~


 The Elite 
-Pages: 336 

-Published: April 23rd 2013
-Published by: HarperTeen
-Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 
My Rating: 4.5 stars

The Goodreads synopsis: 

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

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.


 ~~~~

    This follows where The Selection left off. The final 6, The Elite, remain...and America is still torn between Aspen and Maxon.

~~~~

 What I Disliked: America being so freaking fickle! Seriously! Maxon is perfect for you! You love him! He loves you! Let go of Aspen!
What I Loved: Everything else! As much as I complain about America, I love her all at the same time! These books are so beautiful and so great!
 ~~~~

My Favorite Quotes:

“Love is beautiful fear” 

“You’ve changed me forever. And I’ll never forget you.”

“Sometimes I feel like we're a knot, too tangled to be taken apart.” 

“Darling, you’re perfect.” 

“I know, I know. It's hard to explain. All I can say is that I've been given a second chance. Maxon matters to me, and I'm going to fight for him."

~~~~~~~~~


The One


-Pages: 323 
-Published: May 6th 2014 
-Published by: HarperTeen 
-Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 
-My Rating: 5 stars

The Goodreads synopsis: 

 The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.
~~~~

    This book! Oh! My! Gosh! It is was such a perfect way to finish up the Selection trilogy! Actually no! I was nearly satisfied but not enough! I need more! This just made me even more excited for The Heir! Guys I waited 5+ days to write about this series aned I still cannot wrap my head around the ending! I NEED MORE! 
    Kiera Cass, you are a word wizard! This series deserves 100 stars! I am getting all the feels!

~~~~

What I Disliked: -Again, America's fickle attitude
                           -Aspen risking America's life when he was trying to get her to                            pick him
                           -Maxon's attitude near the end..I still love you Maxon but                                  seriously don't pull an America!
What I Loved:  Look back to my thoughts ^^ :D

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My Favorite Quote:



~~~~


    If you guys love the dystopian genre, the Bachelor, and dreamy princes and beautiful dresses, action, suspense, and rebel uprisings; you will love these books! I had such an amazing time reading these books! You will seriously fly through them! 

Until later guys!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~ 


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Where To Find:

The Selection:  Indigo // B&N // Book Depository

The Elite: Indigo // B&N // Book Depository

The One:  Indigo // B&N // Book Depository


~~~
Enjoy! Happy Reading!
Olivia 
~livthebooknerd~

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Monday, January 19, 2015

A Time To Reap by Jonas Lee

*This review is sponsered by Mr. Jonas Lee :)*

 Published July 2014 
250 pages
Published by: Createspace
1st In the The Legend of Carter Gabel series

 Format: Thank you to Shannon Thompson and Mr. Jonas Lee for sending me an e-book copy
Genre: Fantasy, Science-fiction, Young Adult
Rating: 4 stars ****

 Goodreads synopsis:

 Pemberton Academy is not just a school, it’s a gathering place for the children of the future that are afflicted with Temporal Displacement and Telepathy; in short, time travelers and mind readers who have been diagnosed with this “disease.” The Academy is not all as it seems after an explosion nearly takes one of its classmates, but not before Carter Gabel rescues her by using an unknown symptom related to his described illness. An unsanctioned group called the Program begins taking notice as the two classmates exhibit stronger abilities when they are together. Carter's sense of reality begins to unwind as he learns more about his estranged father's involvement with it all. 

Carter will have to overcome the past of his father leaving, the present of an unknown adversary hunting him down and a future that seems to change with each decision he makes. He will have to learn who to trust out of the people in his life if he wants to conquer the looming notion that the government may be hunting him down because of his developing abilities.
~~~~

 Hey guys!

     This book was really quite a satisfying read. It was really funny and the plot was really original! I've never read anything like it before! It basically takes place in a futuristic world where it is common for people to have special abilities, such as teleporting, "leaping into time", and mind reading. Jonas Lee created these abilities and this world where people are ruled by power hungry tyrants who are trying to use young people for their abilities. 
     
     Carter is a young boy with the ability to "Leap". He has no control over his abilities. Every time he "Leapt" to another time he wound up naked in a different time...it was very awkward...and when he "Leapt" back he was still stark naked and unsure of how long he was gone. Leapers can't Leap for longer than a 3 month span of time without getting extremely sick or the Leaper could die. 
   
     At first I was really confused, time travel is a foreign concept to me, but I'm glad I read this book. It was so funny and new and just over all a fun read. As I said before, at first I was quite confused about the specifics of the basics about the different abilities of the people and how it affects them. About 30 pages into it the details became quite clear and it was so much fun to read.
   Carter is powerful but with Mo they're invincible. They are Gemini. The government doesn't want that. They want to use they're abilities for their own gain. Mo and Carter do NOT like that. They take out their former school and they shut it down. I'm exctited to see what happens next in A Time To Live. :D

 Favorite Lines: "Who the hell am I going to find willing to be my Obi-Wan Kenobi for this scenario of impending doom?" {Page 9}

 "....As I will recall later, it looks more like a drunken hobo attempting to impersonate a hissing cat, In short I am pathetically hilarious." {Page 104}

 "I snap my fingers, and within a second, my father is a sack of potatoes on the ground." {Page 169}

 This was a really cool read, and if I can get my hands on a copy of the next book I will definitely read it!

 Thank you Mr. Jonas Lee and Miss Shannon Thompson for contacting me! This was a really enjoyable read!

 Until later guys!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~

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Friday, January 16, 2015

My Most Anticipated YA Books of 2015

Fairest: Levana's Story (#0.1 The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

256 pages
Expected publication: January 27th 2015 by Feiwel & Friends

 Genre: Young-Adult, Sci-fy, Fantasy, Dystopian, Fairytale Retelling, Fiction, Romance
In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.


Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?



Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now. 


Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.*
Where To Find It: 



****



  Winter ( #4 The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

Page count undetermined

 Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Feiwel and Friends

 Genre: Young-Adult, Sci-fy, Fantasy, Dystopian, Fairytale Retelling, Fiction, Romance

 This book will feature Cinder and Snow White and will take place on the moon.*

Where To Find It:



*****



The Selection Stories: The Queen and The Favorite (The Selection 0.4 &2.6) by Kiera Cass

240 pages

Expected publication: March 3rd, 2015 by Harper Teen

Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 

Two novellas set in the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series, now available in print for the first time! In The Queen and The Favorite, discover untold stories from the lives of two of the Selection series' most beloved characters.

Before America Singer's story began, another girl came to the palace to compete for the hand of a different prince. In The Queen, follow Prince Maxon's mother, Amberly, through the Selection that made her a beloved queen.

Marlee Tames came to the palace to win Prince Maxon's heart—but her own heart had other ideas. The Favorite goes behind the scenes of Marlee and Carter's life together, from the fateful night their secret was discovered to the events at the end of The One.

Where To Find It:


*****


The Heir (The Selection #4) by Kiera Cass

352 pages

Expected publication: May 5th 2015 by HarperTeen

Genre: Young-adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction 

Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought.


Where To Find It:


*****



The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

320 pages

Expected publication: February 10th 2015 by Orion

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Sci-fy, Fantasy, Dystopian

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Where To Find It:

*****

Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A.G. Howard

384 pages

Published: January 6th 2015 by Amulet Books 

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Young Adult

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

Where To Find It:


*****



I Was Here by Gayle Forman 

288 pages

Expected publication: January 27th 2015 by Viking Juvenile

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, New Adult, Mystery, Realistic Fiction

Cody and Meg were inseparable.
Two peas in a pod.
Until . . . they weren’t anymore.
 
When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, who broke Meg’s heart. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.
 
I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

Where To Find It: 


***I am not being paid by authors or any publishing houses***



*All descriptions are from Goodreads.com

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Monday, January 12, 2015

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi


****THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK****

Published February 4th, 2014
421 pages
Published by: HarperCollins
3rd In The Shatter Me Trilogy

 Format: *I read my library's copy*
Genre: Young-Adult, Dystopian, Science-Fiction, & Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars *****










Goodreads synopsis:

      The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.”

     With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.     The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now, this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.

 _________________________________________________________________________
     This was the perfect way to end the series! This had to be the best book of the series! I usually never say that about sequels, but this was a pretty great ending. I have very few negative points to make about it. Here is what i had problems with: 

  1. Adam's attitude once again- he was a total "douche-canoe". He cannot accept that Juliette isn't the same girl that she was before. I cannot completely hate him but I don't like the way he was treating Juliette and how unforgiving he was to Warner until he finally told him that they were brothers. 
  2. That's it.
  3. I pretty much loved it.
  4. You should totally read this trilogy!

     Kenji, bless him, is such an amazing friend to Juliette. He supports her choices and listens to her and does what he thinks to be the best for the whole group, and the fate of the world. He has this bond with James that I love and he's the comic relief that the bleak setting needs. 

     And then there's Warner!!! ASKGLJSHGAOHFOAL His character growth was astounding! Not only did you find out why he does what he did and you find out that he's not as evil as we all thought. Tehereh Mafi... a round of applause for writing chapters fifty-five, fifty-six, and fifty-seven...OTP OTP! 

      I also loved that Tahereh Mafi kept up the with the style of writing where it looks like Juliette is writing the story but you can still see what she's thinking but she doesn't think is appropriate to say. I also loved that Juliette finally accepted her abilities and she worked it!
Favorite character: Warner or Juliette

 Least favorite character: Anderson

 Places to find it: Amazon // Barnes & Noble //  Audible // Indigo

I hope you guys like this review I'm trying a couple of new ideas to make this blog better :)

 Until next time guys!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~


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