Review: These Broken Stars

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did the thing you're not supposed to do, I judged a book by its cover. The cover just drew my eye and I decided to read it without knowing the premise. The author made both characters relatable, even though they were the typical trope of uptown girl and downtown boy which could have been unoriginal and boring. The switching of perspective between the debrief/interview (the present) and the two main characters (the past), added a nice depth to the narrative and storybuilding. The characters were not flat and this allowed them to develop over the course of the story. I do wish we had gotten a little more backstory to make them more fully developed, but it was still good as written. The world building could have definitely been more expansive. They were on an entirely foreign world and I had to rely almost entirely on my imagination to populate it. Despite those concerns, I really enjoyed reading the book and definitely recommend it. I will be reading the subsequent books in the series.

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Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A re-read of Mockingjay (and really the entire series) was long overdue. I haven't read the series since it came out and wanted to re=familiarize myself with it before watching the movie. I remember being Team Gale rather than Peeta (but that may have just been after the casting of Liam Hemsworth). Upon re-reading, I found myself not having a strong opinion about either suitor. Gale is much angrier than I recall him being, Peeta doesn't have much of an impression (after being jacked) and I just don't care what Katniss decides. That is certainly not how I felt in the first book. She becomes decidedly less relatable to me as the books progress. Hunger Games was definitely the strongest in the series and as a result, the finale felt like a bit of a letdown. The death toll was realistic, as they were embroiled in a war but not emotional. There were only a few deaths that I really felt, while the rest you could just immediately move on from. Perhaps that's terrible to say, but I believe they would have meant more if the reader was able to connect to the characters more. If you haven't read the series ye3t, what has taken you so long? Definitely read the series. The world building is wonderful, even if the ensemble cast can come across a bit flat at times. You will enjoy it if you're a fan of YA, dystopian fiction or want to read the books before you see their film adaptations.

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Review: Inferno

Inferno by Dan Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dan Brown's novels always give you wanderlust. I cannot read one of his books without dreaming of traveling to Italy, viewing the famous statues, buildings and art, traveling in a gondola in Venice or wandering the ancient streets of Rome. Inferno is not exception. It also inspired me to read Danté, research the works of art mentioned in the novel and otherwise immerse myself in the experience. I oscillate between liking the main character, Robert Langdon and being turned off by his portrayal. I just don't find everyone's instant attraction to him to be believable and find it to be off putting. I did enjoy the diverse cast of supporting characters that Brown introduces in this novel. Overall, greatly recommended and to enhance the experience perhaps familiarize yourself with Danté.

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Review: Legend

Legend by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While the idea of Legend is in no way unique, with the recent influx of post-apocalyptic/dystopian storylines in YA fiction, it is still an enjoyable read. It was nice to have the two varied perspectives - the boy from the street and the girl of means. Their story is full of highs and lows, deception, hurt, betrayal and death. Each deals with events in their own way and comes out of the series as a very different person. (Series-wise) (view spoiler)[I was not entirely satisfied with the ending. It left the reader with the temptation of promise and a what-if, but felt like an afterthought. The epilogue didn't seem as pulled together as the rest of the novel. It felt more like the readers raged against the conclusion of the book and the author tacked this story on at the end to appease them. Remember what tragic things, what relationships, what changes happened at the end that you didn't like? Just kidding, I take it back. Here's a glimpse of the storyline you actually wanted. (hide spoiler)] Other than that I really enjoyed the series and would recommend it.

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Review: Mirrored

Mirrored by Alex Flinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of Alex Flinn's fairytale re-tellings, especially Beastly, I was anticipating this novel greatly. It was a unique take on the Snow White tale's Queen, Huntsman, Prince and happily ever after. As the story of Snow White is pretty well known, there's not much I can say without giving away how this re-telling decided to approach the story. Definitely recommended for those who enjoy fairy tales and happily ever afters.

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Review: Zodiac

Zodiac by Romina Russell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every time you think you have something figured out in this book, the author throws you a curveball. I never knew what to expect when reading this book but enjoyed it overall. The world building was good, but I hope it is developed more in subsequent books. It could be so rich and immersive if that happens. Some of the scenes were weak and made the pacing drag. The main character is relatable despite her unexpected change in station and dramatic odyssey. As seems typical in recent YA fiction there is an element of a love triangle. I don't find it entirely believable, so it pulls me out of the narrative at times. Overall, it's an enjoyable read and I will be reading the subsequent books in the series. Definitely recommend reading this book if you like YA fiction about space, technology, bad guys, adventure or romance.

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Review: Black Widow: Forever Red

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but this was not it and yet I enjoyed it immensely. It almost makes it okay that we didn't receive a Black Widow movie in Phase 1, since we have this really unique way to explore her character. The book itself was full of the action, espionage and utter heart wrenching agony one would expect from a good Black Widow (back)story. Without wanting to spoil it, I just recommend that you read it and tease that a certain Avenger makes a cameo.

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