Review: Ender's Shadow - Orson Scott Card

Rating: 4/5
Summary: Basically this is Ender's Game from Bean's perspective. There is more backround on Bean before and after he meets Ender, but it follows the same sequence of events.
Review: I was recommended this book by several people based on the fact that I loved Ender's Game. I also read Speaker for the Dead and was told that I would appreciate this more because it was more like the first book. In my opinion, its too much like the original book. I was draw in to the story in the beginning because Card tells of Bean's history, but when Bean's story begins to meet that of Ender's, I found myself bored. I knew what was going to happen and the details of Bean's story weren't enough to keep me enthralled as much as Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. I guess its just the originality of the plot line and the new characters that entertain me. Other than that, the quality of writing was just as good as the other two books and character development was definitely up to par with Card's other work. A good sequel, but I actually enjoyed the depth of meaning in Speaker for the Dead more as a sequel.

 *If you don't know how the "sequels" work with the Ender's Game books you should know its quite confusing. Check this link out for a better understanding of Ender's Universe.

Buy it here: Ender's Shadow

Update!

Super busy here with my two baby girls, but I'm currently listening to Ender's Shadow by Card and am about 3/4 of the way through. Next on my list are 1984 by Orwell and Neuromancer by Gibson (I'm on a dystopian kick.)

Will post reviews as soon as I can! Thanks for your patience.

Review: Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

Rating: 3/5
Summary: Jacob believes his grandfather's tales of the magical home he stayed in as a child and the "peculiar" children that lived there with him are just fantasy. Then, when his grandfather is murdered by a monster than only Jacob sees, he embarks on an adventure that opens the door to a world he never knew existed.
Review: Eh, I had high hopes for this book based on the description but I was disappointed in a few things, most of all the ending. I feel like Riggs rushed to finish the book and left it wide open and inconclusive. Also, looking back on the plot line I can almost tell that Riggs found all these photos first and then wrote the story around them. The romance and relationships felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, this wasn't a great book but it wasn't awful either. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are sincerely bored.

Update: Currently reading and future posts

I am currently reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and will post a review when I finish. However, I'm warning you all now, I am 37 weeks pregnant and may be delivering my baby in the next few days/weeks and most likely will NOT have the opportunity (or desire) to post a blog review. So if you don't see anything from me for awhile, just know I will get back to it eventually and keep checking or sign up for posts by email at the bottom of the page. Thanks!

Review: Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card

Rating: 5/5
Summary: In this sequel to Ender's Game we follow Ender as an adult in a future in which he's skipped thousands of lightyears and is now a Speaker for the Dead as he did for the Buggers in the first book. He has traveled to one of the "Hundred Worlds" and must help a new species of alien justify their existence and to speak the deaths of some important, and not so important, people on the planet.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I had heard from several friends that this is too philosophical and not as good as Ender's Game but I found it just as entertaining, although a little sad, and much more adult. I appreciate the deeper meanings in the plot and the depth of the characters and if you liked the ending of the previous book, you will definitely enjoy reading this. Card is a very talented writer and really draws the reader in to his character development and the plots with plenty of surprises and interesting relationships. Definitely a "must read" if you liked the first.

Buy it here: Speaker for the Dead (Ender, Book 2)

Review: Paranormalcy - Kiersten White

Rating: 4/5
Summary: Evie, a teenage paranormal investigator, does not live a normal life. She works as an agent finding paranormals like werewolves and vampires and identifying them for the IPCA to track and monitor. When an unidentified paranormal starts killing the immortals, she discovers much more about herself that she ever expected.
Review: This was a fun read, but I wasn't blown away by it. I had a really difficult time getting into it at first because the beginning was so stereotypical that I found it difficult to believe. Despite the characters being unrealistic, I enjoyed the journey and liked Evie's "secret." The author did a great job of winding the plot together and throwing in some good hidden details. Overall, a good story but not a "you have to run out and get this now" book.

Review: Divergent - Veronica Roth

Rating: 5/5

Summary: In a futuristic world, teenagers must decide to live in one of 5 factions based on their own personal beliefs on life society. Of the 5, Tris chooses the total opposite of what she's from, shocking her family and herself. During the initiation process of joining her new faction, Tris learns some awful truths about the societies and the way each is run while also learning about her own strength and choices.

Review: I actually really enjoyed this book. I worried at first that this was going to be too similar to Hunger Games and I wasn't going to be able to get into it. However, the characters were captivating, the plot was thick with lots of interesting relationships, action and twists. I also thought this book had the perfect balance of fight scenes and sexual tension to make it a great YA book for all ages (above 14ish) to enjoy. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you liked Hunger Games and Unwind.

Buy it here:Divergent