The Hunger Games: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Rating: 

Author: Suzanne Collins

Published by: Scholastic

Publication Date: September 14th 2008

Pages: 374

Genres: Teen/YA Fiction/Dystopian/Adventure/Science Fiction

Book Blurb:  

Winning means fame and fortune.
Losing means certain death.
The Hunger Games have begun….

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before– and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Waterstones ¦ Amazon

Review:

Can’t believe I have only just read this book, even after all the teasing from my friends about how I won’t see the films till I’ve read the book, but haven’t read the book. Anyway I finished the book a few days ago and wow. It was better than I expected, even after all the dystopia’s out at the moment that seem all a little too similar, no matter how good.

I loved how the book was written in Katniss’ Point of view because she is such an interesting and brave character from a devastating background. Suzanne has developed her so well and shown that she’s not all perfect which I love in any lead because it makes them all the more relatable and lets you empathise with them and their predicaments.

The description in the games and of the dress are also so beautiful and enthralling. At some parts I felt as though I was watching like one of the Panem citizens watching it live. There were parts that actually felt quite stressful due to the pressure that was on this amazing female lead and the descriptions of the events.

I also like how, although you have the love triangle and love interests, it isn’t such a big focus like it is in some books and instead you have a strong female lead that doesn’t constantly need all the relationship dramas that some have.

Suzanne Collins should be so proud that she has written such a strong willed, independent and brave female lead that many young girls can look up to instead of the usual celebrities making young girls care about looks instead of personality.

Truly inspirational character and an amazing action packed book. A perfect read for any time.

The Black Magician: The Magician’s Guild by Trudi Canavan

Title: The Magician’s Guild

Rating: 

Author: Trudi Canavan

Published by: Orbit

Publication Date: March 4th 2010

Pages: 480

Genres: Teen/YA Fiction/Fantasy/Mystery

Book Blurb:  Each year the magicians of Imardin gather together to purge the city streets of vagrants, urchins and miscreants. Masters of the disciplines of magic, they know that no one can oppose them. But their protective shield is not as impenetrable as they believe. Sonea, angry, frustrated and outraged by the treatment of her family and friends, hurls a stone at the shield, putting all her rage behind it. To the amazement of all who bear witness, the stone passes unhindered through the barrier and renders a magician unconscious. The guild’s worst fear has been realised …There is an untrained magician loose on the streets. She must be found before her uncontrolled powers unleash forces that will destroy both her, and the city that is her home.

 

Waterstones ¦ Amazon

Review:

Before i start the review, let me just say that I’m already rereading this book while I wait for the next book to arrive. What does that say about this book, other than you amount of tea’s you have already seen. This will probably be my next book series/trilogy addiction, with the added fact that Trudi Canavan has two other trilogy’s in this world.

Apparently this author is famous for her female protagonists, which for some reason appeal to me.

Anyway, this book captured my imagination beautifully. What got me interested was the first paragraph that talks about spirits the wind, I don’t know the relevance to the book but it was quite deep I guess.

The main character, Sonea, is unlike other female main characters, for one thing, there is no actual romance at all in this book. There are people I would like her to be with due to how they act around each other, but overall, this book is based more on other aspects of a person’s life other than their love life and interests. This actually gave us more insight into the characters personalities in other events and circumstances.

Most gripping, must read next book, stories usually end in cliffhangers if I’m being stereotypical. This book did not, in my mind, leave me guessing the next event, but it was still such an amazing book I ordered the next book two minutes after finishing the book. I actually read the book in around four hours.

Overall, I thoroughly recommend reading this and I would love it if the trilogy became a TV show (as long as it was good and nothing was too badly changed ‘obviously’)

Maze Runner: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner

Rating: 

Author: James Dashner

Published by: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: October 6th 2009

Pages: 378

Genres: Teen/YA Fiction/Dystopian/Adventure/Sci-fi/Post-Apocalyptic

Book Blurb:  When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he’s not alone. He’s surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade – a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they came to be there \- or what’s happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything \- even the Grievers, half-machine, half-animal horror that patrol its corridors, to try and find out.

 

Waterstones ¦ Amazon

Review:

As some of you may know already, I had seen the movie before reading the book. One of the few times I have ever done it or ever will do. I hadn’t been sure about the whole story before I watched the film. After the film, it was a different story. It was amazing and absolutely thrilling. I read the book as soon as I got home. It was honestly a really, surprisingly good book. Not saying I thought it would be bad, but based on the sort of books I read, I didn’t expect to like it. I loved every second of it. I managed to read this book in around four days, two during, two after school had finished for half-term. The girl, Teresa was an amazing character who was hilarious at times and managed to bring the story to life even more than it already had. This book, though having a female in the plot, was luckily, not consumed by a romance or something. This meant that, although it is nice to have some once in a while, we actually got to see plot and more story line.

Minho is another character, aside from Tomas, the main protagonist, that I loved. He is quirky, witty and just has that sort of personality that makes you instantly think he is an awesome character.

The only criticism is that the book was a little slow during the middle,though it swiftly picked up.

For any of you who think this plot or genre isn’t for you, I seriously suggest you reconsider that opinion. I for one loved it and will most definitely be reading the nest book, Scorch Trials, hopefully soon.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Glass

Rating: 

 

Author: Cassandra Clare

Published by: McElldrey Books

Publication date: March 24 2009

Pages: 576

Genres: Teen Fiction/Fantasy

Summary: With two of the Mortal Instruments now in Valentine’s hands, the world of the Shadowhunters teeters on the brink of civil war. Jace and the Lightwoods are recalled to Idris, the Shadowhunters’ remote and hidden home country, where a search has begun for the last of the Instruments, the Mortal Glass. Clary finds herself caught up in the chaos as the delicate social order of the Nephilim begins to shatter, pitting Downworlder against Downworlder and Shadowhunters against each other. When the City of Glass falls under attack, can Downworlders and Nephilim fight together to defeat Valentine, or will their longstanding hatred destroy them all? And when Clary discovers the unbelievable truth about her own past, can she find Jace before it’s too late?

Waterstones ¦ Amazon

Review:

City of Glass was the original finale for the mortal instruments series, but being so popular, fans begged Cassandra Clare to continue. This book contains many great plot twists capturing the reader. As soon as you start reading, it is impossible to stop. This book also contains great Clace (Clary and Jace) moments, as well as a huge twist that will leave you wondering ‘what’s next?’ You also see great evolution in our main characters: Clary Fray, Jace Morgenstern, Simon Lewis, Isabelle and Alec Lightwood and the high warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane. The book is constantly filled with suspense, no matter what’s going on, there is always something big going on with some of the characters. After reading the first two books, I couldn’t stop myself from reading the third.
It’s probably just me but in this book I sort of did want to see Clary show a bit of a dark side, maybe join Valentine, but then that i just me. Anyway, if you’re thinking about taking a break after City of Ashes, don’t bother. Personally this was one of my favourite installments.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl

Rating: 

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Published by: St. Martin’s Press

Publication Date: September 10th 2013

Pages: 480

Genres: Teen/YA Fiction/Romance/Comedy

Book Blurb:  Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they’re off to university and Wren’s decided she doesn’t want to be one half of a pair any more – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It’s not so easy for Cath. She’s horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she’s experienced in real life.

Without Wren Cath is completely on her own and totally outside her comfort zone. She’s got a surly room-mate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

Now Cath has to decide whether she’s ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she’s realizing that there’s more to learn about love than she ever thought possible . . .

Waterstones ¦ Amazon

Review:

First of all I would like to be the first to say that the cover is amazing. I absaloutely love it. The illustrations are so simple yet have something about them that draws you in. The book overall is quite good, I mean it ends like most romance novels with the girl and boy getting together, but the concept of a girl just starting uni calls for an interesting novel. Her relationship with Reagan is hilarious and is one of the strongest points in the novel. I also love that you get to share Cather’s hobby of writing fan-fiction. It reminds me of my own addiction to awesome stories. The plot line on the whole was quite plain as it was the usual family problems, quiet girl at school problems, although something about it just made Rainbow Rowell’s novel stand out against the rest of those typical Young adult romance novels. I think the main thing that captured me was her relationship with Cather’s sister, Wren. This is because usually when the main character has a sibling they are either on best of terms or worst though this one is sort of about Cather deciding what her relationship with her twin actually is, especially their hugely different personalities when attending university.

Overall this book is good as a sort of summer light romance novel as it has romance, comedy and book geekiness but if you want an original story than this may not be for you.

Just as an extra little thing, if I had a boyfriend like Levi I would be so happy. He’s funny, cool, sensitive and has awesome hair =P