I've read this a hundred times before... Ugh | Beyond the Red

Beyond the Red by Ava Jae

Published: March 1st 2016 by Sky Pony Press

Genre: young adult, science-fiction

Goodreads summary: A story of betrayal, love, and loss—all on a technologically advanced alien planet where monarchy reigns, but lies rule.

Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. But that doesn’t stop him from defending his people—at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He is given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.

REVIEW

So, you've read the synopsis of the book just now, I guess. Then, my friends, I'm sorry to tell you that you've been spoiled for the whole plot of the book. 'What the heck??', you will tell me. The main characters are only forced to flee 58% into the book, so I can't understand how an editor could put that in the summary. The same goes for the genocide, a twist at the end of the book. In fact, it's a good thing I didn't pay too much attention to the summary, because I didn't know this would happen.

My problem with this book is that… There was literally nothing new. Everything was pretty generic and had been in hundred books before. In fact, if I hadn't known Beyond the Red was set on another planet, I would have guessed it was another generic fantasy novel. Royals were ruling, there were arranged marriages, a ball, a rebellion, a forbidden romance between the queen and a guard and *gasps* a long-lost royal. Sounds similar?

It's so sad, because the book was off to a good start, with a crazy first chapter where the author wasn't scared of killing her characters. The beginning was good, introduced us to a scary monarchy where the slaves were completely stripped off their identity and looked all the same. But well, after that it got downhill, with a powerless Kora who was supposed to be queen and a plot that dragged… Until 58% in, when there was finally this murder attempt. The ending was okay I guess, it got interesting again but I had stopped caring at that point. Moreover, be warned that even though this book is a standalone, it’s clearly not. Beyond the Red is supposed to be part of a series, but it depends on how it sells I guess…

I’m a bit sceptical about the world-building in this one, because while it was explained humans came to this planet at some point, I never got to know what happened. Moreover, Kora’s city was pretty unhappy about her being on the throne, so here we go for another sexist world and the city needed help, but I never understood why. There was a problem but the author never said what it was so I couldn’t understand. I like that the characters went to several locations though, because we also saw the rebel camp and another city. In fact, I think I was waiting for more sci-fi elements, but it just felt like a fantasy book with royalty, which was pretty weird.

I never managed to connect with the characters, because once again, they felt pretty generic. I was so mad that Kora was so badass but no one cared about her or obey her. I understand everyone was sexist here, but she was still their queen, right? It felt like no one considered her as such, but yet she hadn’t been overthrown, so it didn’t make sense. She was so powerless, except for helping Eros, obviously. *eye roll* Eros was a half-blood, from a human and an alien, so of course he wasn’t accepted by society and blah, blah, blah. Of course he was a warrior and a rebel but still helped Kora. If you can’t say, I’m deeply annoyed. Also, can I laugh at how their positions were similar when Kora was supposed to be queen? At least, this book got a bonus point for the diversity of the characters, as everyone was dark-skinned and there were some gay characters.

Of course, this book had a forbidden romance between Kora and Eros, or it wouldn’t have been completely cliché, right? I truly understood how the author built her romance up, even though I don’t know if I would have been able to fall in love with someone who ordered my family murdered, but that’s what a tragedy is anyway. Because Kora had to marry, a love triangle was blooming, but the author conveniently ended it off (it’s not like the other character had a chance anyway). I’m all sarcastic because this romance was something I read hundred times before, but, something actually bothered me. At some point, Kora is on her own and men are attempting to rape her. She’s rescued by her love interest… And they start making out. I don’t understand how a woman who was almost raped minutes ago could want to be so ardently with a man right after??? I was so pissed after that; you have no idea…

Overall, I strongly disliked this book. I was looking forward to a sci-fi novel when it just felt like other fantasy novels. Everything was cliché, had been used for years in YA books and the plot was basically spoiled by the summary (that’s new!). I advise you to skip this one, it was a complete waste of time, in my opinion, as it had so little redeeming qualities.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Do you have YA sci-fi books recommendations (I've read the most popular ones)?

A huge disappointment set in one of my favourite eras | Into the Dim

Into the Dim (Into the Dim #1) by Janet B. Taylor

Published: March 1st 2016 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Genre: young adult, time travel, historical

Goodreads summary: Sixteen year-old Hope Walton travels back in time to rescue her mother who is trapped in twelfth century England in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Along the way, she becomes entangled with a secret society of time travelers and a mysterious boy who could be vital to setting her mother free... or the key to Hope's undoing. Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, "Into the Dim" is an "Outlander "for teens

REVIEW
 

I've never been sadder to write a negative review than for Into the Dim.* It was one of my most anticipated debuts of the year, because it dealt with time travel in the 12th century, which doesn't happen enough in young adult fiction. I feel like a black sheep for this one, because those who finished it seemed to really enjoyed it. For me, it was just a succession of tropes I thought had been eradicated from young adult fiction for the last four years or so. It had started well though, with a catchy first sentence. I can't tell you if it's similar to Outlander, for I haven't read it and don't intend to.

*To make this review happier, all the gifs will be from Harry Potter. Obviously because this book was set in Scotland and because you won't leave since you love Harry Potter, mwahaha.

This couldn't be more cliché. It starts with a homeschooled girl who travels to Scotland to discover mysterious family members and their big secret. the secret part is the beginning of a lot of books, which is fine, but it dragged for so long. They didn't tell Hope the truth before 20-25% in. She was stumbling into things but they were like: "No, we can't tell her right now" for so many chapters, it was frustrating. Then, when they finally told her the truth... It still took a lot of chapters for them to time travel. As a reader, knowing this book was about time travel but not having it was irritating, because I was just waiting. 

When the characters finally arrived in the 12th century, the plot was more interesting, because we discovered a new era and the book had found its purpose. Nevertheless, I had guessed every twist from the beginning of the novel, I found it to be so predictable. I was never left shocked or anything, I was just rolling my eyes and telling the characters to move on. Also, I really liked the concept of this time travel, it was really interesting and felt realistic.

I couldn't bring myself to care about Hope. For me, she was just another Bella Swan, helpless but yet very special from the rest of the world. I thought we were done with that trope but apparently no? I just wanted to cry in frustration. The only cool thing about Hope was her eidetic memory, but that's pretty much it. 

I didn't relate or care for any of the characters, I think the only pleasant ones were Phoebe, Rachel and Eleanor. Hope's father was described as a despicable person in the beginning, because he had already moved on and was just sending Hope away and blah blah blah. Moreover, Sarah was supposed to be a fantastic person and when we met her... She was not. I could understand why, but it was stupid. It was just part of this : "let's make parents look bad so the teenage characters can do whatever they want"... And I'm so done with that.

The romance was cringe-worthy and unrealistic. I'll just tell you how these characters me: the boy was taking pictures of the girl from afar, of course she caught him. But of course, she's attracted right away to him and accept to see him again. Excuse me but no? Who would accept to see this stranger alone after that in real life? Literally no one, he could have been a pervert and Hope was like "okay I'm attracted". No, just no. 

The ending was a little more fast-paced than the rest of the book, so I liked it a little more than the rest of it... But it clearly wasn't enough, since I guessed every twist correctly. I liked that it was harder than expected for them to get home. However, the final scene? Can we get more cheesy? I think not. It just ended on the characters kissing. Like, no.

Overall, this wasn't the book for me, which made me so sad, since I tried so hard to like it, but sometimes that's how it is. I found this book to be predictable and full of tropes, which you probably got from my long rant, haha. Nevertheless, I liked the concept of the time travel and the era they travelled to... Which is why I'm giving it two stars, let's be generous. But it's pretty much because of the Doctor Who reference.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? Do you love Outlander?

An interesting premise ruined by a useless love triangle and abusive love interest | Exquisite Captive

Exquisite Captive (Dark Caravan Cycle #1) by Heather Demetrios

Genre: YA fantasy

Published: October 7th 2014 by Balzer + Bray

Goodreads summary: Nalia is a jinni of tremendous ancient power, the only survivor of a coup that killed nearly everyone she loved. Stuffed into a bottle and sold by a slave trader, she's now in hiding on the dark caravan, the lucrative jinni slave trade between Arjinna and Earth, where jinn are forced to grant wishes and obey their human masters' every command. She'd give almost anything to be free of the golden shackles that bind her to Malek, her handsome, cruel master, and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle.

Enter Raif, the enigmatic leader of Arjinna's revolution and Nalia's sworn enemy. He promises to free Nalia from her master so that she can return to her ravaged homeland and free her imprisoned brother—all for an unbearably high price. Nalia's not sure she can trust him, but Raif's her only hope of escape. With her enemies on the hunt, Earth has become more dangerous than ever for Nalia. There's just one catch: for Raif's unbinding magic to work, Nalia must gain possession of the bottle...and convince Malek that she truly loves him.

Battling a dark past and harboring a terrible secret, Nalia must make choices that betray everything she believes in and choose between the jinni who has unexpectedly stolen her heart and the dangerously persuasive master who wants to own it. Soon Nalia realizes her freedom may come at a price too terrible to pay; but how far is she willing to go for it?

In this gorgeous fantasy debut, Heather Demetrios brings to life a deliciously seductive world where a wish can be a curse and shadows are sometimes safer than the light.

REVIEW

The world we were introduced to was so unique and interesting, I really enjoyed it. But at the same time, I didn't like the way the author presented it, because we knew nothing and then boom someone told something really important... If I hadn't been that careful in the beginning, I would have missed vital information to this story. Then, in the middle of some chapters, we'd got an full history lesson or a flashback and it felt unnecessary and info-dumpey *sigh* The jinni's world was very interesting though, I loved learning about it, the hierarchy and the different types of jinnis.

The plot was really interesting and could make me want to continue with this series, but I don't think I will. In the beginning, it was so slow because we mainly saw Nalia's life with shopping, parties and so on but it wasn't what interested me. Same for Haran's chapters, it was creepy and interesting at first but it quickly became boring!

Nalia was an interesting main character, but she complained a lot and looked powerless sometimes, when she was supposed to be one of the most powerful jinnis. It was pretty weird. It was interesting seeing her using her power, like with the client in the beginning (that's the powerful and strong woman I waited for the whole book). I understood why she needed to fight, it was a cute reason, but it didn't explain why she planned on selling her body. No, just no. I'm so mad that it was the only solution and that Leilan, her friend, almost found it... Normal. Yep, because she went there too. Okay, I understand the slave situation and that sometimes you don't have a choice but here... She had a choice and choose to do this???

That's exactly it, Nalia.

Malek was the worst character of all times (my rant is starting). He was Nalia's master that bought her decades ago and sometimes he was basically torturing her. Like, he was locking her in the bottle and didn't let her out for MONTHS (now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think we got to see what the inside of the bottle looked like... Or was it in the part I skipped?). He was an abusive master that hit her sometimes and then... He totally changes his behaviour and decides he's madly in love with Nalia.

"When you came here, you were wild, a feral little thing. But I saw your potential-like a stallion that needed to be broken. I knew how great we'd be together: you just hadn't seen that yet."

Reading this makes me want to throw up guys, I can't believe it! It's kind of incoherent by the way, because at the end of the novel he says he realized he loved her six months ago, but I'm just saying, right? I can't believe Nalia let him touch her and everything. I know she was mostly letting him to get the bottle back but at some point... She was enjoying being with him. I understand Stockholm syndrom but still... This relationship wasn't really questionned, it was almost presented as a healthy relationship... The author wrote some scenes were you could feel the lust everywhere, to make him sexy and everything. How can anyone want a man like that???? I'm stopping there for Malek but I've never hated a male character more than I hate him.

 But this book actually has a love triangle, because obviously you always need one! Raif was fine as a character, a revolutionary and everything... But I'd have liked see him fighting a lot more than this... Their romance was totally instalove-y... At the end I bought it a little more, except when he said that he loved her, because it was unrealistic. It was lust everywhere, not feelings... At all... Please no.

The problem is that this book focused a lot on the romance, the plot moved at a snail's pace... I was in the middle of the book and I wondered what the author still had to say... It could have been shorter, the world-building could have been better, and skip the romance because seriously? If it wasn't for the romance, it would have been 3 stars and I would have continue with the series, because it seemed promising and had a unique world I loved to read about, nevertheless.

Have you read this book? What did you think of the romance? Of Malek? Will you read the second book?

A promising book based on Chinese folklore that let me down | Soundless

Title: Soundless
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: November 10th 2015 by Razorbill

Goodreads summary: From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei's home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into a crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

REVIEW

Funny thing well definitely not for the author, every time I’m going back on the Goodreads’ page of this book, the ratings are getting lower and lower. To be honest, I was so excited about this book, because it was based on Chinese folklore, it was a fantasy, and it was written by Richelle Mead, author of the amazing Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series. However, if I hadn’t known she was the author of this book, I wouldn’t have guessed, because it was so different from her previous works.

In the beginning of this book, I felt so bored, the pacing was really slow and not a lot happened. Fei and Li Wei decided to do something 25% in and this book wasn’t even 300 pages long! I was confused during the first chapters of the books, because I felt like the world had just been thrown at me, with no explanations. I felt it was more a dystopia than a fantasy, because it had such a typical dystopian novel plot… When Fei regained her hearing, I found it pretty easy, because she just had to read the words of someone who could read to understand what it was like, it was unrealistic.

Fei was a brave main character but she didn’t stood out to me, she felt like every other YA heroine I’ve read before, I lacked of connection toward her. I really didn’t like her relationship with her sister, because Fei was doing everything in her place – without asking her opinion sometimes – it was pretty irritating, especially when you know that Fei was the younger of them. I had actually forgotten that detail and thought it was the contrary, until I read other reviews, it’s how confusing it is. The romance she was into was pretty cheesy and predictable, like : “Oh I’m promised to someone I don’t love but this guy I’ve always swooned over starts to get interested in me.”

The plot started to be interesting when Fei discovered other villages. However, the climb before that took forever, I just wanted it to stop. The explanation behing why Fei’s village was lonely and treated differently was interesting, but I wasn’t blown away or anything…

This book is labelled as “Chinese folklore” but sadly, it was almost non-existent. Actually, it felt like the only reason I could think this book was set in a China-esque country was the name of the characters AND THAT’S ALL. This Chinese folklore I was promised was set in the last two chapters of the book…

Final thoughts:

I was expecting a lot of this book, because I love Richelle Mead, she always writes funny books with swoon-worthy characters. I’ve always loved getting into one of her books, because I knew I would love it. I was expecting the same of this one, but I felt let down. It was a short book where not a lot happened and that felt more like a slow first book in a series. I have this weird feeling that Richelle Mead was trying to prove she could do other things than Vampire Academy and Bloodlines by getting a book published as soon as possible (The Ruby Circle, last book in the Bloodlines series, was published in February, this one in November), but it didn’t work. I didn’t see a lot of research concerning Chinese culture, I think she didn’t know how to put it in the book.

Have you read books based upon Chinese folklore? Do you have any recommendations for me? Are you a fan of Richelle Mead? What did you think of that new novel of hers and are you excited for her new series, The Glittering Court?

The Iron Daughter | Book Review

Title: The Iron Daughter (The Iron Fey #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Published: August 1st 2010 by Harlequin Teen

Goodreads summary: Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

REVIEW

Just like in the first book, I really enjoyed the plot, it was strong, went in his own direction, even if it adds to the bigger picture. Because of the ending, I think the beginning of the first one will be interesting, I'm looking forward to see how the characters move on. But, let's be honest, this book has flaws, that made me cringe.

This book was drama after drama for the characters, and honestly, I didn't sign up for a soap opera. At the beginning of the Iron Daughter, Meghan has to go to the Winter Court, a very dangerous place for her, when you know she has a relationship with Ash, which is forbidden, because she's Summer and he's Winter. So of course, what would you do, if you had a brain, in this situation? You would try to conceal that relationship, right? Well, nope, you're wrong. Meghan isn't able to understand, she complains that Ash didn't say her hello, doesn't want to speak to her and everything. Of course, at the same time, she's in front of a queen who could have her head because Ash is her son, but no, Meghan tries to speak to him. How stupid was it, really.

Moreover, I wasn't happy about the romance, at all. First, Meghan tells Ash she loves him, when she has only known him for weeks. Yes, that's insta-love. BUT, when the difficulties come and Ash has to leave her (for her own safety), what does she do? She goes to Puck, the Jacob or the Gale of that story. The best friend who loves her since the beginning of time, when we know he doesn't stand a chance… So to sum up, things are complicated between Ash and Meghan, so a love triangle would be useless, but well, it is a trend, so why not? Now, don't get me wrong, I like Ash and Puck as characters, I'm just against that love triangle.

Now, the plot was interesting, and there was some magic development around Meghan that made sense. However, I didn't like that a new Iron King was trying again to abduct Meghan, because it felt so repetitive, and apparently, it will happen again in the next book, from what I gathered from the synopsis. Ironhorse's addition to the story was a good idea, though. Moreover, the fact that the bogey was Ethan's friend was really funny.

To sum up, it was a good plot, with new developments of this world, but it wasn't enough. Meghan's character is really similar to Bella Swan and I can't stand that kind of characters. I did when Twilight was released, but not anymore. The love triangle was unnecessary, it's just playing with poor Puck who doesn't stand a chance, you see it at the end of the story. I don't know if I'll finish this series because I'm tired of this drama, but I'd like to read the spin-off series, to see if it improves. Still, I like Julie Kagawa as a writer, I read the Blood of Eden and enjoyed it, the Talon saga came as a surprise, because I love it.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it (especially Meghan, and the love triangle)? Let me know in the comments ;)

Alive | Book Review

Title: Alive (The Generations Trilogy #1)

Author: Scott Sigler

Published: July 14th 2015 by Del Rey

Goodreads summary: From New York Times bestselling author Scott Sigler comes something utterly new: a gripping sci-fi adventure trilogy in the vein of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner. A group of young adults awake in a mysterious enclosed space with no knowledge of who they are or how they got there…and an indomitable young woman must lead them not only to answers but to survival.

A young woman awakes trapped in an enclosed space. She has no idea who she is or how she got there. With only her instincts to guide her, she escapes her own confinement—and finds she’s not alone. She frees the others in the room and leads them into a corridor filled with the remains of a war long past. The farther these survivors travel, the worse are the horrors they confront. And as they slowly come to understand what this prison is, they realize that the worst and strangest possibilities they could have imagined don’t even come close to the truth.

REVIEW

The premise of this novel was really intriguing and there was so much promotion for this book on BookTube (with the spear on book hauls and everything) that I really wanted to read this book. It seemed to contain everything I liked. But then, it went wrong. The beginning was really abrupt, with short sentences and it made me totally hooked on this story. It is always a good way to start a novel, but when it goes on during the whole story, it gets annoying. A LOT.

Our main character wakes up in a coffin without knowing anything -even her name- except it's her 12th birthday. However, she's in the body of a 20 years old woman. She rambles a lot about everyone is beautiful. It was really boring. They all have strange symbols on their forehead, but I'm not even sure we know why. Maybe it was explained and I missed out, but it doesn't really matter. This main character is a total snowflake, she became leader for no apparent reason.

"I answer him in a whisper. ‘But why? Why do they follow me? I have no idea what I’m doing.’ He shrugs. ‘Because there’s something about you.’"

I thought the mystery was really intriguing and at first, all I wanted was answers. Then, I got bored 65% in and almost didn't finish this book (in fact, that's the point where you start getting answers). The issue was the characters didn't do anything except walking. At some point, I decided to skip a part and the chapter started by "We run downhill", then I went back and it was "We walk uphill". It upset me so much, I wanted much more to happen.

I was really disappointed by the ending, because it was similar to books I read last year and the execution was better than this one. I totally see where it will lead to in the second book and I'm really not interested. To be honest I'm disappointed. Moreover, there might be a love triangle in the next books. Personally, I don't care, because I won't be there to see it.