Legend (Legend #1), by Marie Lu

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And before I forget... regarding the poll concerning, I'm going to be reading Paper Towns (including the Google+ vote as well, because then the two books are equal). especially as the majority of people I've asked have chosen Paper Towns.
So, back to the post!
Even though I read this book a good month ago, I still have yet to do a review for it.
So here is my review on Legend, the first book in the Legend trilogy!
Also, even though I have already finished the trilogy before posting this review, I will do all I can to stop spoiling the rest of the trilogy for those that have not read the trilogy yet!
And... review!

Legend (Legend #1), by Marie Lu

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: Sci-fi/ fantasy/dystopian/ romance, I'd say.

Release date: 29th November, 2011

Pages: 295

Blurb: "LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA,

REPUBLIC OF AMERICA

HE IS DAY,

THE BOY WHO WALKS

IN THE LIGHT

SHE IS JUNE,

THE GIRL WHO SEEKS

HER BROTHER'S KILLER.

On the run and undercover, they meet by chance.

Irresistibly drawn together,

neither knows the other's past.

But Day murdered June's Brother.

AND SHE HAS SWORN TO AVENGE HIS DEATH."

My Thoughts

Damn, this book! This book was explosive and exciting, with characters that didn't just surprise you with their actions, but also because they seemed real and raw, and everything that makes you relate to people! It wasn't just some sci-fi, black and while action book like I was expecting, but so much more!

I mean, it wasn't completely perfect, but this book kept me interested from the starting page, all the way to the ending sentence.

This book wasn't super original, but there were significant parts (mostly from the character's personalities) that stood out, and gave the book a completely different feel to the rest of the dystopian trilogy's in the market.

The story was kind of predictable to start off with; ongoing war, two perspectives, one trying to catch her brother's killer, then they meet and have undeniable chemistry; it wasn't the most original. There were also a couple of scenes that didn't fit into the plot straight away; I knew these were going to be gaps that would lead on to the following books in the trilogy. But overall, the plot was pretty amazing, considering what the foundation of it all was. There were twists and turns even I wasn't expecting. And then, suddenly it was hit, wham, PUNCH! Knockout. And the Sci-fi element made sure that it didn't read like it was out of date either.

Now, the characters. They read like a breath of fresh air. Two perspectives: Day and June. Completely different backgrounds, brought up differently, in two different sides of the war that is currently taking place. Day failed his test, whereas June got a perfect score.

Yet they have this undeniable chemistry. In terms of their characters and personality, they are both extremely brave and clever. June in experience, in the way she fights, but Day in his ability to escape. And both ruthless and desperate. Makes for very interesting characters and an interesting story.

The writing was infectious. It sucked me in from the moment. Absolutely no complaints about the writing. I could actually picture everything that was happening, and that doesn't happen much. The events of the story were happening that I could keep track of everything, but fast enough that I was excited about the scene that Lu was portraying before my very eyes.

This was the sort of story that in theory shouldn't work. BUT IT DID. And I am so happy about that, as I loved it!

The characters, the story, the writing, everything. It was an amazing first book to the trilogy, and I hope the rest of the trilogy is as good (it is).

So that is my review of Legend! I know it is fairly short, but it is also detailed, so I hope that makes up for it! I will see you all on Monday. I hope you all have a wonderful wonderful wonderful day, I am reading Paper Towns next, and I will see you then.

Byeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

House Rules, by Jodi Picoult

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And I haven't done a review in a while it seems. Almost two months, but I'm doing one now- and I will be doing a bunch of them this month, as I was literally just posting NaNoWriMo updates last month (if you're not a writer I apologise, but I will be back to posting about books as of now!)

I also haven't done a Jodi Picoult book recently, though I have read a fair amount of Jodi Picoult this year- three new books that I've read this year, if my count is correct!

So this is my third review year! Here is my House Rules review, by Jodi Picoult!

House Rules, by Jodi Picoult

Title: House Rules

Author: Jodi Picoult

Genre: Contemporary, crime.

Release date: 2nd March, 2010

Pages: 603

Blurb: "When Emma Hunt's son is

diagnosed with Asperger's,

she knows she will do

anything to help him.

She expects people not to understand.

She expects the stares and whispers.

She even expects trouble with the police.

But she doesn't expect Jacob to be

charged with murder.

And when all the hallmarks of your son's condition

-his tics, his inappropriate actions, his inability to look

you in the eye- can be read as guilt; when you cannot

put your hand on your heart and swear he is innocent...

How can you help your child then?"  

My Thoughts

I was quite interested to read this book leading up to it, to be honest. Not only was it because people have talked about how I have some of the traits of a person who suffers with aspergers (and aspergers is a big part of this book), but because I wanted to see how even an aspergers child's (I say child, his disorder makes me act quite like a child, but he's actually 18) behaviour was eratic enough to be accused of murder. It was like an information book with that burst of mystery and suspense, to be honest. 

And unsurprisingly, I loved it. 

This book was actually really easy to get into, I have to admit, despite the massive 500 pages. And that's intimidating. But I didn't choose to read a book that has more than 500 pages, for nothing, and so I started House Rules.

And it was actually very good. It pulled me in straight away. First with shock, because, this kid (Jacob) with aspergers, likes to re-create crime shows.

Also, this book is the type of book where you don't need to pay attention (much), because most of the events in this book will be brought back at another point in the story, but you also do need to pay attention, for the same reason. (If that makes sense???)

Probably doesn't, but you do need to pay attention to the events in this book, because Jodi Picoult has a habit of plot twists.

The plot was actually quite enjoyable (and if that makes me a psycho because it was a thriller, then...)

Anyway, the plot was decent. It had twists and turns, some plot points where unpredictable, others weren't, though I wasn't able to predict what was going to happen much (I do give myself credit for suspecting something that turned out to be a MAJOR plot point :D), but you will never be bored. If you are on the fence as to read this book, I promise you will never be bored.

Because something is ALWAYS happening.

Again, the different perspectives of the family that were surrounding the murder, as well as Jacob's lawyer and a couple of other people were really interesting, (Jodi Picoult is good at different perspectives) and it really helps you to see the whole picture.

As for the writing, it was just enough. It wasn't too much description, and there was enough dialogue. It was just right, and that's the way I like it.

So that is my House Rules review, by Jodi Picoult! I hope you enjoyed it, and sorry for waiting for sooooo long before posting it, BUT I FINALLY POSTED IT!

So I will see you tomorrow (hopefully- if I don't get super lazy again)! Have an amazing day, and I will see you all tomorrow!

And please get voting for which book you want me to read (out of The Wolf Wilder, Paper Towns and Stealing Snow, because right now, two of them are tied- someone voted on Google+ and I am counting it!) Especially as I have like 100 pages left of Flawed, the last book before I read one from this poll! (By the way, in the event of a draw, I will be choosing the book that was chosen first, so at the moment I will be reading Paper Towns!)

 So I will see you tomorrow, when I will likely be doing another review!

Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxxx

November Wrap Up & December TBR (2016)

Hey guys, this is Abi here,
And it has literally been two months since I've done a wrap up and TBR, so I admit, it does feel strange to be doing one.
But I did actually read some books this month, so it's nice to actually do a wrap up!
So everybody, this is my

November Wrap Up and December TBR (2016)

November Wrap Up (2016)

So I read three book in November, which isn't a huge amount, but it's still a lot better than last month, when I only read one book. Those books were:

1. House Rules, by Jodi Picoult

2. Legend (Legend #1), by Marie Lu

3. Prodigy (Legend #2), by Marie Lu

(I actually finished Prodigy on 23:27, the last night of November, so that was a close shave, but I still finished it!)

The TBR Jar challenge for the month was to read a book of 500+ pages, (the book that I picked was House Rules, so I completed that challenge at least!)

Oh! There will be reviews for all of these books, at some point this month, so look out for those!

December TBR (2016)

So this is the last month of 2016. December. In terms of reading, I've had ups and downs (reading slumps) but pulling into the last month, I only have three books that I need to read, to reach my goal of 50 books (which was actually my original goal at the beginning of the year, funny enough) and I have three books that I need to read to reach that goal. So these are the books that I hope to read in the month of December!

TBR Jar challenge: Read a book by a new-to-you author.

I didn't even have to look in the box to know that this is the TBR jar challenge for this month, because 1) it is the only one left, and 2) I've had the book for this challenge since March.

If you've been here since March, you will know that I did go to see Teri Terry in Birmingham in March, (lovely lady, and I love her books even more now :) ), and while I was there, I did also get a signed copy of Flawed, by Cecelia Ahern! Even though I've wanted to read this book for MANY MONTHS, it's kind of perfect that this TBR jar challenge was saved for December, as the final book in the series will be out in *checks back of Flawed book* the 30th March 2017! So, I actually won't have to wait too long before reading it, and something about this book tells me that I'm going to want to read the final book (it's a duology). If you can't tell, I am really looking forward to reading this! Comment down below if you think this book sounds... interesting?

Other Books

1. Champion (Legend #3), by Marie Lu

I'm about 100 pages into this and to be honest, I'm kind of stressing about how this is going to end, because every time I mention this book, people get this look on their face, so I think something is going to happen. I haven't been spoiled, and I want to get to the end, but I also kind of don't. It's a vicious cycle. So far I am loving this trilogy, and I'm glad I can tick it off my list for series. I love the characters, the plot-line, and the world building. Also, they are tiny, so they're not at all time consuming, so that works! There will definitely be a review for this one, because I will have some thoughts on this book! Comment if you've finished the trilogy and what you thought! (Most likely won't read the comments until I finish, because spoilers, but feel free to comment anyway!)

2. POLL ALERT!

I actually cannot decide what book to read. I've lowered it down to three books, which are actually all winter related. And I'm going to be letting you guys decide which one it is.

Okay, so the three contenders are:

• The Wolf Wilder, by Katherine Rundell
• Paper Towns, by John Green
• Stealing Snow, by Danielle Paige

I will do a poll at the side of my blog, so you guys can vote over which book I should read. The closing date will be when I finish the other two books, so I should take it down by like the 20th December, if I'm on schedule. If I'm ahead, I might even read two of them, who knows? I will also do a temporary text about each individual book, so you know what each book is about, if you don't know them, okay? Great!

Here are the covers for the books!

 

3. (Doubt I'll have the time to read this, but I'm adding it on the list anyway): Demon Road (Demon Road #1), by Derek Landy.

I know, I didn't read this for the first time all that long ago, but I'm re-reading it so I can marathon the rest of the series in the new year, as I know have the rest of the books waiting for me to read them on my shelf. (And they are beautiful :D, here are the covers: )

(Especially as another Skulduggery Pleasant book is coming out in the new year). I probably won't be reviewing the re-read of Demon Road, as I already have the original review on Post Pandemonium (2016), but I will be reviewing Desolation and American Monsters in the new year.

Okay, so that is my November Wrap Up and my December TBR! I hope you enjoyed it, as it was longer than the posts I've done in the past month, and I will get on that poll as soon as possible! Comment down below about any of the books I read in the last month or what I plan to read this month, as your comments make my day! Really!

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I will see you all on Monday! (Not going to be posting on Sunday anymore, sorry guys!) So, Byeeeee!

-Abi xxxxx