WWWoW – I Am Reading YA

Sup guys. After posting entirely nothing these past days, I’m back with a bunch of novels that needs to be reviewed, ranted, pondered and cried about.

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What are you currently reading?

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The premise of Traveler is anything I could ever hope for. Parallel words, metafiction, time loops and people dying—yup, sounds like my cup of tea—and yet the author manages to make these wonderful elements boring. It still is interesting and I hope it picks up its wits halfway.

Traveler by L.E. Delano

Jessa has spent her life dreaming of other worlds and writing down stories more interesting than her own, until the day her favorite character, Finn, suddenly shows up and invites her out for coffee. After the requisite nervous breakdown, Jessa learns that she and Finn are Travelers, born with the ability to slide through reflections and dreams into alternate realities. But it’s not all steampunk pirates and fantasy lifestyles—Jessa is dying over and over again, in every reality, and Finn is determined that this time, he’s going to stop it… This Jessa is going to live. (Goodreads)

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What did you recently finished reading?

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Hah. I’ve read quite a lot of books the past months thanks to my long commute to work and my handy phone. I finished most Rick Riordan’s novels whilst sitting inside a noisy jeepney with its noisy passengers. The Knife of Never Letting Go was read between trips to home and to whatever place I feel like going, mostly by bus where the aircon is either too cold or too warm.

And hey, I’m finally reading YA books. I’ve always been a bit snobby to the genre but inevitably end up reading them. This year was a quite a good year for me in YA because I discovered a few beauties I loved and a few terrible ones that I still enjoyed anyway (glances at Ten and Scythe).

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Waiting on Wednesdays

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Okay. I decided to put WWW and WOW together since I couldn’t follow-up with the books that I intend to read. Something always comes up that deems far more important to read, so, instead, I’ll post here the books I want to read.

Hah. I never thought I’d be so pumped up on a book that I disliked and liked so much. Look at that cover. Look at that cover.

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit-and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords-and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all. (Goodreads)

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Dear You,

“You’re different. And I’m different too. Different is good. But different is hard. Believe me, I know.”

Among the stack of fairytale retellings, contemporary romance, and dystopian YA fiction, nothing fascinates me more than ever as the bittersweet coming-of-age novel. We’re talking about Catcher in the Rye where profanity is spoken with passion and angst is character. We’re talking about the alienated boy with issues, the misunderstood and ignored, the hopelessness of adulthood and the harsh reality that the world does not give a damn whether you slash your wrists or not. This sort of novel, perhaps, did not blow away our world or made it any better but it did something that you probably wanted to do for a long time– it cried, it wailed, it cursed the world and all of humanity– it’s like having a friend who could understand you. 

WWWoW – I Can’t Read YA

Hullo guys, how’s life? I haven’t been posting a lot these past few days but I do have read a lot of books this month. I’m still preparing reviews for my recent reads, which has become rather difficult because my keyboard has gone bonkers. As I wasted all my savings goig to theaters, I couldn’t even afford a cheap plug-in keyboard. I’m currently struggling with an on-screen keyboard so if you notice any missing Bs and Ns on my comments, I apologize.

Click the images for more info about the book.

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What are you currently reading?

Operation Salazar by Dan Lawton

A bunch of people try to outwit each other and fails.

I got a copy of the book from a giveaway hosted by SciFi and Scary. The book builds-up an intense and claustrophobic atmosphere spiraled by multiple characters who are simply trying to do their respective jobs yet are unknowingly caught in each other’s string of problems. I have plenty of reasons to praise this novel but I also have several issues that keeps me from fully enjoying it such as 1) the writing  and 2) the technical errors. I don’t usually mind these things as 1) authors have distinct voices of their own and 2) I couldn’t care less about typos if the story has me hooked. But then, the writing does get tedious in the long run (it has plenty of telling than showing) and when the prose is tiresome, I start to see the typos. I do hope the story has more to offer so I could overlook these little technicalities and just submerge myself into the novel.

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafron

David tries his best to write a book for the devil.

The Angel’s Game seems as lost as the main character itself, which works effectively in the story’s context. David’s cynicism was a nice change from Daniel’s innocence and his spiral down to his own demise makes his situation even more hopeless. I appreciate that Zafron is trying something different and darker. Daniel was a teenager with teenage problems (which, I have to say, is stranger than most teenage problemos). David is a grown-up with a proxy Lucifer making him write a Bible. One thing worse than puberty is sacrificing your soul to Satan. He has the right to angst about that, I give that to him.

And like The Shadow of the Wind,  I need breathing space. A lot more, I have to say. This book is far more emotional and depressing than The Shadow of the Wind. Ugh. I remember having to stop for a few days after reading Nuria Monfort’s letter and just take all of it in before proceeding. I need a break from tragedy and despair so I’ll be putting this down for awhile.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

The Mother of Dragons entertains a glum, wheel-chaired man, and they fall inlove I guess?

The book feels like chick-lit material, a genre I have yet to explore. I just need something light to read but I have reason to believe that it won’t be too long before the tear-jerkers appear.

 

 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

A cyborg-ish girl meets a prince aaandd… I never really moved from there.

For some reason,  I can’t stand the writing of this book. Maybe I’m used to having my heart carved out from the very beginning of the pages?

I like the premise and I think Cinder has plenty of bad-assery hidden up in her sleeves, but there’s something off about the book that I can’t particularly point-out.

God, I need to learn to read YA.

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What did you recently finished reading?

Learning to Swim by Anne Cosby

Teenage angst not handled very well

I received a copy of this book last March.

I’ve been reading this for almost three months.

I just can’t– this book was—UGH. *facepalms *

 

 

Beneath Wandering Stars by Ashlee Cowles

A very likable protagonist and her not-so-likable partner walk. And walk. They talk a bit. And then they walk again.

I asked for a free copy of this book from Ashlee Cowles after seeing the cover, which is so-so attractive by the way. Review coming – up soon~ Let’s just say it was a mixed journey for me, but there were a few notable aspects about this novel that I want to point out. Hoping I manage to make a review this week..

 

Forgive me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Catcher in the Rye vr 2.0, with violins, Christians, nazis and apocalyptic letters

So after a string of ‘pretty-okay-but not-very-okay’ YAs, I turn to one that could never fail me, the angsty YA. You can always trust them to stab you in the back, which are my kind of books I suppose?

Anyway, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is GLORIOUS. AND IT’S WRITTEN IN CAPSLOCK TO SHOW YOU THE INTENSITY OF ITS GLORIOUSNESS. Hallelujah. Like mind-blowing, emotionally-shattering- glorious. Another awesome book for the year! I can’t format my text enough to describe how awesome this book is.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

I bought Nimona out of whim. This is why I sometimes hide my money from myself.

Nimona wasn’t a disappointment though. It was exactly as it should be and as it is supposed to be. It is perfect.

 

 

 

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Waiting on Wednesdays

Okay. I decided to put WWW and WOW together since I couldn’t follow-up with the books that I intend to read. Something always comes up that deems far more important to read, so, instead, I’ll post here the books I want to read.

Silent Hall by N.S. Dolkart

A coward’ son, a merchant’s daughter, a young prince, a wild girl, and a half-dragon all find themselves refugees from their island home. When a plague destroys their home, they try to forge their own future. Along with a sinister wizard, they awaken a dragon and defy the gods.

After their homeland is struck with a deadly plague, five refugees cross the continent searching for answers. Instead they find Psander, a wizard whose fortress is invisible to the gods, and who is willing to sacrifice anything – and anyone – to keep the knowledge of the wizards safe. With Psander as their patron, the refugees cross the mountains, brave the territory of their sworn enemies, confront a hostile ocean and even traverse the world of the fairies in search of magic powerful enough to save themselves – and Psander’s library – from the wrath of the gods. All they need to do is to rescue an imprisoned dragon and unleash a primordial monster upon the world. How hard could it be? Expected publication: June 7, 2016

An unlikely set of heroes who could either destroy the world or save it. HMMM..

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