Waiting on Wednesday/Dying to Read(2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to highlight upcoming releases we're anxiously awaiting! This week I am waiting on....

I'm going to start doing my own spin on the same and call it Dying to Read so that it includes books that have already been released which I've not gotten around to reading.

I know I said I would be more active on the blog but this intensive course is KILLING ME! It's a miracle I'm able to find time to schedule this but I promised I would be more active so here goes.....

Renegades 

by Marissa Meyer

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

I would read anything by Marissa Meyer but it has superheroes as well. It's like Meyer knows how to get me excited. Does she read minds maybe?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

7 Books to Read this Halloween

As Halloween is right around the corner, I thought I would make a list of books you can read if you don't feel like going trick-or-treating!

• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Goodreads)

While this is not classified as horror, the book gave me chills.It's a beautifully written work suitable for young adults and even middle graders. It might make you more emotional than spooked.

• The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.(Goodreads)

A YA crime fiction novel that I fell in love with. While the novel itself is not creepy, the concept and the things the characters go through are. I don't read many spooky novels so most of the items on the list might not be as scary as you wish.

• Unbreakable by Kami Garcia. (Goodreads)

While I didn't enjoy this book because of the love triangle, it definitely fits the Halloween vibe. Murders, supernatural tropes and mysterious things are found in excess in the novel.

• A series of unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket. (Goodreads)

While more depressing and sarcastic in nature than a typical horror novel, I think the series is definitely worth a read on Halloween. The characters and the villains Snicket comes up with encompass the true spirit of Halloween (especially Count Olaf!)

• The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater. (Goodreads)

If you listen to audiobooks, I suggest you grab this one on Halloween. In my opinion this is one of those books that is creepy and spooky effortlessly. It sets the perfect gothic mood and manages to take you in from the beginning.

• The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman. (Goodreads)

A short story that unsettles you by asking some interesting questions. A very short Get Out but for feminists. 

• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. (Goodreads)

Nothing sets the spooky mood in a book like amnesia. The main character doubts everyone and everything she sees, pretty much like a horror movie in words. 

Which books do you think are perfect for Halloween? 

 

New TV Series Review RoundUp: October 2017

I watch a lot of television especially when my academic load gets too hectic for me to read. I thought I would do mini reviews of all the new television series(or new seasons) I've been watching this month:

DO NOT MISS!

The Good Doctor

Synopsis:

Shaun Murphy, a young autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join the surgical unit at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital -- a move strongly supported by his mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman. Having survived a troubled childhood, Shaun is alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, but he finds his niche using his extraordinary medical skill and intuition to save lives and challenge the skepticism of his colleagues.

My Review:
I am obsessed with this series. I remember when it is airing and I wait to see what will happen next. The actor who plays the protagonist is great at getting across the innocence and the arrogance of the character. While I'm not extremely impressed with the supporting cast, I love their dynamic with Shawn. Basically the story is like warm hot chocolate that warms you from the inside.

Strong Girl Bong-Soon

Synopsis: 

A woman born with superhuman strength is hired by the CEO of a gaming company, to be his bodyguard.

Streaming on: Netflix

Original Language: Korean

My Review:

This is the first K-drama I finished and it is such fun! Story wise it is weak but I love the characters and the actors. Especially the CEO and how he fangirls over Bong-Soon.

SERIES I CANNOT DROP

Grey's Anatomy

Synopsis: 

The medical drama series focuses on a group of doctors at a hospital in Seattle, including several who began their careers at the facility as interns. One of the doctors and the show's namesake, Meredith Grey, is the daughter of a famous surgeon. She struggles to maintain relationships with her colleagues, particularly the hospital's one-time chief of surgery, Richard Webber, due to a pre-existing relationship between them -- Webber and Meredith's mother had a personal relationship when Meredith was young.

My Review: 

I'm a huge Grey's Anatomy fan and I loved the season 14 premier, I like the direction the show seems to be going in and the new love interest introduced for Arizona. 

My favourite TUMBLR PIC

Bong Soon

The Good Doctor

Bong Soon

Waiting on Wednesday/Dying to Read

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to highlight upcoming releases we're anxiously awaiting! This week I am waiting on....

I'm going to start doing my own spin on the same and call it Dying to Read so that it includes books that have already been released which I've not gotten around to reading.

US Cover

UK Cover

Blurb:

In the land of Sempera, time is extracted from blood and used as payment. Jules Ember and her father were once servants at Everless, the wealthy Gerling family’s estate, but were cast out after of a fateful accident a decade ago. Now, Jules’s father is reaching his last hour, and she will do anything to save him. Desperate to earn time, she arrives at the palace as it prepares for a royal wedding, ready to begin her search into childhood secrets that she once believed to be no more than myths. As she uncovers lost truths, Jules spirals deeper into a past she hardly recognizes, and faces an ancient and dangerous foe who threatens her future and the future of time itself.

Expected publication: January 2nd 2018

Why I'm Looking Forward to This Book?

 Because the premise reminds of the film In Time. While I enjoyed the film, I thought the premise had so much more potential. I hope the book uses the premise well and makes something substantial out of it.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

TTT: Top Ten Unique Book Titles

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Today's topic is Unique Book Titles. Here are my picks (in no particular order):

• #PrettyBoy Must Die: I like how it uses hashtags. Goodreads

• When Dimple Met Rishi: This is more of a personal preference but I love how the book doesn't shy away from using Indian names in the title.  Goodreads

• Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda: I love how quirky and on point the title seems to be. Goodreads

• Neanderthal seeks Human: I know I seem to be having a thing for sciency titles but I love how a romance has such a title which is why I think it's unique. Goodreads

• The Wrath & The Dawn: I would never have guessed that this was a fairy tale retelling from the name but I think it's a pretty unique title. Goodreads

• Dumplin' : Just look at the title! I don't think I even need to explain my choice. Goodreads

• Crooked Kingdom: My love of the series might be clouding my judgement but I love the name and think it's a pretty unique title for a YA book. Goodreads

• The Duff: Nothing makes a title more unique than a brand new term (which had to be explained on the cover). Goodreads

• Cress: The reason why this title is unique is because Cress is the name of a character based on Rapunzel. While the other books in the series allude to the fairy tale character that has been retold Cress is more subtle. Goodreads.

• Six of Crows: I may be biased but this is a very unique title. It's very hard for anyone to guess what the book is about from the title and whatever they do guess will be very far off the mark.I mean this book is not about crows 😀

Link up or Tell me your Top Ten in the Comments!

Review: Warcross

Warcross (Warcross #1)

by Marie Lu 

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing to make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

My Thoughts:

I really like books set in virtual reality or games which is why I was looking forward to this book. Lu has always written interesting novels though there is always something missing that stops me from falling in love with her novels. While I enjoyed Legend and Prodigy, I have no urge to read Champion anytime soon. Similarly, While I enjoyed the Young Elites, I am in no rush to pick up the sequels while I do think this series has more potential than Legend. The reason why I am focusing on informing you about Lu's previous work will be revealed below.

Positives

The World Building

The world building in the novel is absolutely fantastic. I loved how Lu builds up the world and transports us to a futuristic Japan. I also loved how she focuses on the details in certain areas that really helps build up the plot and the life of the characters. 

The First Half

The first half of the novel really pulls you in as it is follows a natural progression built on just the right amount of suspense, action and world building. I was invested in the characters and the story before I even knew it!

Emika

Emika is a character that is really well defined and it's so easy to relate to her. If you've ever played a game in your life and felt that you weren't good enough, I think you will find a little bit of yourself in Emika. I also liked how she stood up for herself and did things without seeking validation for all her actions. 

Warcross and The Gaming World

This is one of the biggest positives of the book. I loved how well Lu built up the fictional game of Warcross and the challenges were some of my favourite parts of the novel. I wanted there to be more tournaments because they were so much fun and so unique. Warcross seems to be a fascinating game and I wanted to know more about it and the world in it as well as the dark net. 

Negatives

Insta-Love

While I did not notice this immediately, the novel does focus on a romantic relationship mostly built on hero worship and instant love. While one-sided affection based on hero worship made sense, the fact that the romantic interest was mutual did not. (I'm sorry I'm trying to avoid spoilers!) The romance seemed very rushed and built on a house of cards and I predict a love triangle in the future. 

Predictable Storyline

While many who read Lu's work for the first time will find the end shocking, the fact that I had read Lu's work before made the last few chapters extremely predictable. Lu always has some kind of shocking twist towards the end of her first novels which is why I was able to predict the climax of this novel. There were other plot points which were also very predictable, if you're new to Lu's writing style you might not be able to predict them but I felt that The Young Elites managed to shock me more than this novel. I felt that a lot of the plot and the tropes were used by Lu previously and just repackaged in Warcross and I found that to be very problematic. 

Pacing problems

While the first half was at the right pace and built up the story very well, I felt the second half was extremely rushed. I also felt that the narrative took certain things for granted and some adversities were overcome too quickly especially the final tournament. Alliances were also formed very quickly (which might be addressed in the sequel though)

Overall, I had high expectations and though the first half lived upto those expectations, the second half did not. It should be noted that this book did manage to get me out of a very bad reading slump but I am not dying to read the sequel. I felt that the premise had a lot of promise and hope that maybe more gaming world novels will be released in the future.

My Rating:

A post shared by Writer And Tales (@writerandtales) on Oct 22, 2017 at 1:12pm PDT

Toss up between 3 and 3. 5 

(While I am very glad I picked it up, I was extremely disappointed by the second half)

Series Review: Hidden Legacy by Ilona Andrews

Content Warning: This series is not suitable for younger readers and is classified as adult urban fantasy.

This is one series that should not be judged by it's terrible covers. The covers are tacky and absolutely horrendous which must be scaring away potential readers. I'm a huge fan of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, which is why I bought a copy of Burn for Me as soon as it was published. 

Burn For Me (Hidden Legacy #1)

The book follows Nevada Baylor a paranormal private investigatore with a concsience as she ends up being entangled in a very complex controversy. Her involvement in this case, leads her to meet the enigmatic Mad Rogan. Both characters are sketched out very well and the storyline is very engaging. At times, I could see a lot of parallels to Kate Daniels, especially in the characters. Despite the glaring similarities the witty dialogue had me in splits. The ending was slightly predictable but the cliffhanger ending made me want to desperately get my hands on the sequel. 

The reason I am so fond of Andrews' work is because of the way she writes female characters. The female characters have heart and that realness that is not found in all works. You want to root for the females not because they are the protagonists but because they inspire you to be better. While there are some problems with the alpha male characterisation of Rogan, the witty and real dynamic helps the reader overlook his flaws. Nevada is very aware that Rogan is mad and controlling and she calls him out for it, something I love. I also love the lack of insta-love, insta-love is my biggest pet peeve nowadays. 

Overall, as I have read the entire series, I can vouch that this book is at times the weakest novel in the series. 

White Hot (Hidden Legacy #2)

Source: Edelweiss (Thank you Avon for the copy!)

I think this might be my favourite book in the series because of how absolutely hilarious it is.There is this scene with the ferrets which made me die from laughter.This book isn't perfect but I ended up reading this in a DAY because of the long wait. The first book came out in 2014 and this one was released in 2017. The author had warned in advance on their personal blog that there was a delay but the wait was absolute torture. I wanted to read more about Nevada especially after the killer epilogue of the first book. If you've not started the series yet, you're lucky because you barely have to wait for the third novel to release. 

White Hot builds on the relationships and the secrets hinted in the first book. I enjoyed how it focused more on family dynamics and the genetic history of Nevada. I love Nevada's family so the focus was very welcome. I would have preferred a slower build up of the romance but the way it was handled was in a satisfactory way. The new characters that are introduced are interesting and I love the insight into the detective agency and how it works. 

Overall, the witty narrative made this an INSTANT addition to my reading list despite some of its faults. 

Wildfire (Hidden Legacy #3)

Source: Edelweiss (Thank you Avon for the copy!)

The blurb of this novel made me extremely worried. The blurb makes you believe that the focus of the novel would be on how Nevada handled jealousy. Fortunately, the sub-plot is handled excellently. There is no pettiness and unnecessary misunderstandings. The book ties up all the ends while leaving space for a spin-off or a continuation if there is interest. It's a good way to end the series but it left me wanting more of the world. I guess that shows how well the series is written as you don't feel like saying goodbye to the characeters. 

I would love to read anything that features the Baylor family. Generally I fangirl about the romantic pairing but in this series, the family dynamic shines. It is the heart of the series and makes it stand out from all other series which seem to ignore normal family dynamics. The drama is realistic as are the conversations. The series did seem rushed at parts but it might be because I'm used to the slow but steady plot build up found in the Kate Daniels series. 

Overall, I would recommend the entire series for those looking for a witty, hilarious, urban fantasy set in an interesting new world that features strong characters. 

My Rating:

 4.5/5

I love it

Review: A Darker Shade of Magic

A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1)

by V.E. Schwab

Kell is one of the last travelers--magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes connected by one magical city.

There's Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, and with one mad King--George III. Red London, where life and magic are revered--and where Kell was raised alongside Rhy Maresh, the roguish heir to a flourishing empire. White London--a place where people fight to control magic and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London. But no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red traveler, ambassador of the Maresh empire, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive. 

Source: Bought

My Thoughts:

I had heard a lot about this book on twitter and I was delighted to grab an ecopy when it was on sale.Though I had bought and started reading the book almost a year back, I couldn't finish it. I finally finished it a month back and I am very glad I did but I'm not sure the book deserved the hype.

Slow Start and Information Dump

The book starts off well but then it stagnates. There is a specific world which the reader is waiting to re-enter. All the incidents leading upto that tried my patience. I wasn't interested in being introduced to a new character and given an info dump at weird places. In my opinion this weird build up was just frustrating and didn't help me form a deep connection with the protagonists.

World Building

The biggest plus of this book, is the world building. The amount of effort the author takes to show and tell the diverse nature of each London , was the only reason I stayed with the novel.The artifacts that fascinate Kell started fascinating me as I truly began to see the world around him through his descriptions.

Kell

One of the most fascinating male characters I have read. What makes this book even more fantastic is the fact that I want to know more about him even after seeing his point of view. There are so many mysteries around Kell that you want to unravel. 

Lila/Delilah

I'm generally quite fond of adventurous heroines that have an innate strength. I wasn't fond of Lila though. I found her to be extremely headstrong and very stupid. Even though she is not a damsel in distress, she really reminded me of those characters.She is one of the main protagonists in the book but I really had no interest in reading her point of view. 

Strong second half

The second half of the novel was very interesting but the amount of time it took for the story to build up would not appeal to those who do not want to put in the effort. If you want to read an action packed fantasy, I would suggest you look elsewhere.

Overall, The book has its moments but was extremely boring at the start. If you go in having high expectations you will be disappointed. While I am interested in reading the sequel, it's only because I want to unravel the mysteries surrounding Kell. The reviews of the sequel are extremely positive but I have been burned before so I will wait till the sequels are on sale before getting my hands on them.

My Rating:

3/5

Beautiful world building but problems with pacing.

Film Review: Ghost in the Shell {Live action 2017}

Ghost in the Shell (2017 Live Action)

In the near future, Major is the first of her kind: a human who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world's most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people's minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that her life was stolen instead of saved. Now, she will stop at nothing to recover her past while punishing those who did this to her.

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano

My Thoughts:

I would like to start off with the fact that I have not seen the animated film this is apparently based on. Ghost in the Shell is a very well established franchise in the Japanese anime and manga industry and has a very loyal fan following in the West as well. I have an idea about the characters because I've seen two or three episodes of Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex(SAC). 

The characters in Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex

The characters in the Live Action

This would be an unpopular opinion but I could never get invested in Ghost in the Shell SAC.I watch a lot of anime and I've heard a lot about this series but I could never get past two episodes as I believed it would be an action packed police procedural but the focus was never on the action atleast in what I had watched. When I heard about the live action adaptation, I knew I wanted to watch it. Especially after I saw the first trailer as I assumed that Hollywood would definitely focus more on the action and get the story of the franchise across.

My assumption was right, the first scene of the film itself establishes the fact that Johansson as Major is an ass-kicking bawse and we see constant reminders throughout the film. The film is full of fight scenes and lots of battles which I thought would satisfy me. Unfortunately, I did not understand why these battles were needed . Maybe the director really wanted to keep showing off the Major's invisibility skills so that the CGI budget would be justified.

The film was extremely engaging when it focused on the world building. The scenery and the attention to scenic detail in the film was jaw dropping.I would start paying attention to the background as soon as one of those unnecessary fight scenes used to start.The camera and computer work was excellent.

Beautiful work in world-building 

Johansson being overshadowed by the scenery.

While a lot has already been said about Johansson's casting in a role originally suited for a Japanese woman. In my opinion, the fact that I had already seen so many films in which Johansson had taken on a very similar role didn't let me engage with the film. Her characterization of Major was very similar to that of Lucy (in the film Lucy). I would have loved to have seen more of the captain who speaks in Japanese throughout the film. Takeshi Kitano was perfectly cast and I hope he takes on more roles in Hollywood. 

Takeshi Kitano in the film

The biggest weakness of the film is it's story-line. Various characters and plot points are introduced and then left alone. There was a scene in which a character lost their real eyes and had to get prosthetic replacements, the entire ordeal is brushed aside and mentioned in passing. No effort is put into emoting the pain and suffering of certain characters.This makes it very hard for the audience to care about the characters as well. It is only when morality and humanity is discussed that any character seems to show emotion.

Overall, I loved the world that I was introduced to and am definitely going to give the animated versions of Ghost in the Shell a chance. Despite the weaknesses of the film it made me curious about the source material and I would still go and watch the sequel (if there is any) to see more of the world and characters apart from Johansson's Major. 

My Thoughts:

3.5/5

Beautifully shot film that introduces an intriguing new world.

Review: A Promise of Fire [Adult/Sci-Fi]

A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #1) 

by Amanda Bouchet

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

This book is not YA. It is suitable for adults and older readers due to sexual content as well as graphic violence.

My Thoughts:

In case you don't follow me on Goodreads, you might not be aware of my Ilona Andrews obsession. I got addicted to the genre of urban fantasy thanks to them and for a long time kept searching for novels that had an emotionally strong female and did not focus too much on world building (Basically Game of Thrones without the lengthy descriptions and family trees). I like intricate worlds but after a point I want to engage with the characters and not the world.

A Promise of Fire was a nice surprise. It had a strong and sassy heroine with an interesting family tree as well as a lot of political intrigue.According to Goodreads, it is to be a trilogy and the positive effects of this defined end can be seen when the plot progresses quickly and steadily.

I think the weakest link of the story is the alpha male in it. Though Griffin is a sweety, at times he just seems like a caricature when compared to Cat.His family has better character development. 

The book introduces us to an intriguing mythology. The secondary characters are well developed and certain scenes with them make the story almost unforgettable. 

Overall, I thoroughly recommend this book , especially if you're an Ilona Andrews fan or in the search for Percy Jackson for adults or a replacement for Trudi Canavan.

My Rating:

4.5/5