Title: Giant Days Vol. 8
Author: John Allison
Artists: Max Sarin, Liz Fleming, Whitney Cogar, Jim Campbell
Volume: Volume 8 (Single Issues #29-32)
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Graphic Novel
Pages:112
Publisher: BOOM!Box
Year Published: 2018
Format: Paperback Copy (Library)
"Best friends Susan, Daisy, and Esther's adventures at university continue in Giant Days vol. 8.
It's the end of the second year for the best mates Susan, Daisy, and Esther, and crack are appearing in the foundation of the unshakeable trio. Between (irritating) new loves, (secretive) old loves, (unlikely) new friendships and (terrible) old houses, they'll be lucky to make it to third year alive."
My Rating: 5/5
It's been a while since a read a book in this series or a graphic novel at all. And this was amazing. I love the characters and the setting. The way that the authors truly capture the young adult time in your life when you're in college. The changes in friendships, relationships and classes. Also, the change in your drive that happens when you're almost finished your post-secondary careers. I can't wait to read the next volume and if anyone has any hints as to when that comes out I would freaking love to know.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Max
Author: James Patterson
Series/Standalone: Maximum Ride (Book #5)
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 309
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Year Published: 2009
Format: Audiobook
"James Patterson's bestselling Maximum Ride series is back, with Max and the gang as The Protectors. Someone-- or something-- is decimating ships and sea life off Hawaii's coast and Max and her flock find themselves sucked into the Navy's top-secret investigation of the catastrophe. Their objective: Rescue Max's activist mom from a wicked subterranean enemy. The hitch: They must dive deep into dark waters, where gruesome evil dwells... and for high-flying Maximum Ride, could there be anything more terrifying than being trapped in the great abyss? This soaring new adventure takes Maximum Ride and the Flock into terrifying new territory-- fans, hold your breath."
My Rating: 3/5
I took a break from this series for a few months and now being back it was enjoyable. It's not going in the direction that I hoped the story would go, but after the last book, it was at least a bit of an improvement. Easy to listen to and follow, I look forward to listening to the next book in the series and finishing it out.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Daughter of the Siren Queen
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Series/Standalone: Daughter of the Pirate King (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 341
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Year Published: 2018
Format: Audiobook
"Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.
When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first... after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen."
My Rating: 5/5
I have recently reread the first book in this series and was on the wait list for the audiobook for this one. I was not disappointed at all. This duology is one of my favourites and I can't suggest it enough for lovers of pirates and a well-done romance. I especially love the audiobook.s This series has one of my favourite romances in YA. It's a slow burn will they or won't they that keeps you gripped. Along with the plot that has twists, adventures including rival pirates, sirens and the sea herself there is never a dull moment in Tricia Levenseller's writing. I can't wait to read more of her works and will never forget the romance in this story. It was everything for me and I plan to purchase physical copies as soon as possible!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Series/Standalone: The Illuminae Files (Book #1)
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 602
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2015
Format: Physical Copy
First Line: "So here's the file that almost killed me, Director."
"This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra- who are barely even talking to each other- are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of date to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to the light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.
Brief noting: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents- including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more- Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes."
My Rating: 4.75/5
This reread still held up surprisingly well. It wasn't such a shock to read the dossier this time around. I enjoyed the time period and the idea of plague in space it kept the book fast-paced and interesting. There were certain aspects that I forgot about. Characters reactions to certain aspects that happened, different twists and turns that I forgot. I was also impressed at the way the authors wrote the horror aspects in the story. I will say the relationship was a little forced at some points for me but I'm looking forward to continuing my reread of the story.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Of Triton
Author: Anna Banks
Series/Standalone: The Syrena Legacy (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 246
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook
"Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she's a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half-Breeds should be put to death.
As if that's not bad enough, her mother's reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms- Poseidon and Triton- against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen's request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? or should she risk it all and reveal herself- and her Gift- to save the people she's never known?
Once again, Anna Banks infuses Emma and Galen's points of view humor, intrigue and waves of romance."
My Rating: 3.75/5
This book was surprising to me. I thought that it would be more of a reintroduction to the Syrena world with the help of Emma's mom. Rather this story was about the disruptions in Syrena society and how the changing world effects the ancients below the surface. I liked the story overall but there were times where it was too corny at the wrong times. The end did hit hard and I was grateful that the author took this part of the story seriously. I'm excited to complete the series over the next few weeks.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Girl in the Blue Coat
Author: Monica Hesse
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery
Pages: 310
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook
"Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion.
On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman's frantic plea to find a person- a Jewish teenager Mrs Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such dangerous work but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance, open her eyes to the horrors of Nazi war machine, and compel her to take desperate action.
Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and meticulously researched, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary, gripping novel from a bright new voice."
My Rating: 4.5/5
Another audiobook that I zoomed through. I seem to be in the mood for historical fiction lately and I'm just going for it with my audiobook. I think this book includes a perspective that I haven't read before. The idea of mystery and resistance and taking a hard look at the small things that happen in a huge war and disaster. The changes in friendships and lives that took place during this time never fail to amaze and horrify me. I was just a little disappointed in the ending, and a few of the choices that Hanneke made.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Publisher: Speak
Year Published: 2011
Format: Audiobook
"It's 1941 and fifteen-year-old artist Lina Vilkas is on Stalin's extermination list. Deported to a prison camp in Siberia, Lina fights for her life, fearless, risking everything to save her family. It's a long harrowing journey and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?"
My Rating: 5/5
Books like this are hard to rate. Especially because it's based on so much horror and historical truth. I'm under the opinion that we must read about the past so we can stop the same tragedies from taking place in the future. It is horrifying to think that something like this could go unnoticed for 13 years. Or if it was noticed the amount of fear that was in the remaining citizens was so high that they felt they could not help for they were protecting their own. I appreciate the fact that the author often tells stories that people haven't heard of before. Or historical events that are not as well known. I will continue to read her works and learn more about our past as humans. Some may argue that she is brutal and violent in her writing and I agree with those statements. But I believe that this a positive aspect in a historical fiction author. We need the whole truth. It's important especially due to our changes in our government and laws today. It was also important to note that many atrocities take place today and we are so privileged to live in the world that we do.
Thank you for reading,
Sidny
Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Series/Standalone: Red Queen Series (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopian
Pages: 383
Publisher: HarperTeen
Year Published: 2015
Format: Own it (Hardcover and Collectors)
First Line: "I hate First Friday."
"This is a world divided by blood- red or silver. The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. That is until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her the long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime. But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance- Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart."
My Rating: 5/5
This took a surprisingly long time for me to reread this time around, not because I didn't enjoy it. No rather because I was a bit lazy to reread and needed something that would gather my full attention and for that reason, I listened to many audiobooks lately. I also found that I was more looking forward to some of the aspects that happen in the coming books. I look forward to continuing my reread. Just unsure if it will be immediate.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Of Poseidon
Author: Anna Banks
Series/Standalone: The Syrena Legacy (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 324
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Year Published: 2012
Format: Audiobook
"Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen- literally, ouch!- both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gift. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...
Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance."
My Rating: 4/5
This book was something that I couldn't have imagined. I was surprised to enjoy listening to it so much. It was everything that I wanted from a paranormal romance. Mermaids, sarcasm, sexual tension and most importantly a mystery that will change the main characters life. I loved the characters and both the fantastical elements and the realistic ones. I can't wait to continue the series and see where the characters go. Especially after the final twist?
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: The Final Warning
Author: James Patterson
Series/Standalone: Maximum Ride Series (Book #4)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Pages: 256
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Year Published: 2008
Format: Audiobook
"In this breathtaking new story from the astonishing imagination of James Patterson, a girl has to save herself from an army assembled just to capture her-- and maybe save the planet while she's at it.
Maximum Ride is a perfectly normal teenager who just happens to be able to fly, the result of an out-of-control government experiment.
Max and the other members of the FLock-- six kids who share her remarkable ability-- have been asked to aid a group of environmental scientists studying the causes of global warming. The expedition seems like a perfect combination of adventure, activism-- and escaping government forces who watch the Flock like a hawk.
But even in Antartica, trapped in the harshest weather on our planet, Maximum Ride is an irresistible target in constant danger. For whoever controls her powers could also control the world. Maximum Ride is James Patterson's greatest character, a heroine who manages to be human and fearless at once."
My Rating: 1.5/5
This was such a crazy book to listen to. For me, it just came off so preachy. And it was a pretty weird story to hear. They changed the narrator and then the music was still over the top. The more I listen to the audiobooks the more I feel like I'm just too old for this. That being said global warming is a real thing and we do need to take it more seriously. I just can't handle how in your face textbook this book felt overall. Needless to say, going to be taking a break from this series for a while.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
