The title of the final 5th Wave book has been revealed!!!!

So Rick Yancey posted to his website today the title of the third and final book in The 5th Wave series. I am beyond excited! I think this is a great title to end it all with and I cannot wait for this freaking book! It’s supposed to be released September 8 but I am not keeping my hopes up on that one. I feel like the date will be pushed back since it was about a year and a half between the first and second. But who knows maybe I will be surprised and it will be released in September! Anyway, the video of the cover reveal is below. Let me know what you think!

The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Rating: 4/5

I was so excited when this book came out. But then did not get to buying or reading it until this past weekend. The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin was one of my most anticipated reads of 2014. And unfortunately it fell a tad bit short of my expectations. The long-awaited conclusion to the Mara Dyer trilogy had as much laughter, pain, love, and loss as one would expect the book to have. The premise of this book is Mara’s vengeance on those who wronged her including Dr. Kells and whomever is backing Dr. Kells’ “research”, which is more or less torture not research. The novel switches points of view and again includes flashbacks to the past of Mara’s grandmother and her journey through India, England, and life.

Retribution begins with Mara waking up on an iron bed in a mirrored room with her reflection talking to her. Yes, once again, this book starts out with a mind fuck. And it continues pretty much to the conclusion of the book. I thought that maybe half way through the book I would finally have some idea about what the hell was going on, even after reading two and a half books, but no, I was still as lost as ever. However, that is what makes these novels so compelling! The fact that it is unpredictable and confusing. As a reader, you keep second guessing yourself on all of your theories and ideas about what is going to happen next and how it will end. Who is behind Dr. Kells research? Why exactly is she doing this? Is there really a cure for G1821 or is it really a genetic mutation that will always be inside of those affected by it? I could write down all the crazy ideas I had but I don’t want to spoil anyone. But this is the gift that Hodkin has, her ability to write a novel that keeps you on your toes and makes you keep reading, page after page, when you feel like you need to hold your eyes open with tape because they just want to close but you can’t sleep just one more chapter because you need to find out what happens next. Maybe Hodkin has G1821 and her ability is to write spell-binding novels. Perhaps one of my favorite things about her writing is her humor, even when the book gets dark and you know someone is probably going to die on the next page (and it’s probably Mara doing the killing), Hodkin writes incredibly funny, witty, fangirl worthy dialogue. How does one not appreciate the fact that in seven lines of dialogue, she manages to make references to The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I was laughing out loud, my boyfriend looked at me as if I were crazy. I had to take a picture of the page and send it to my sister. (It’s page 265 if you are curious.) These are the kind of things that made me fall in love with this series to begin with. There was even a Hunger Games reference early on in the book. If Hodkin can write a story like this, I wonder what its like in real life, is she just as awesome? If so can we please be friends? Yes, I was talking to you Miss Hodkin, you know so email me if you are reading this!

Despite the humor and page turning addictiveness, I do think the book ended a little flat. I felt like there were far too many holes. And there are some spoilers here so if you didn’t read the book yet you might want to stop and just skip to the quotes part. What happened with David Shaw and why did they just let them go? He had to have known after the fact that Mara was still alive and that Noah was killed and then magically saved. I know Mara kept saying in her thoughts she would get revenge one day but it still felt like a cop-out. I think more story could have developed around David to make the story more conclusive. Even if it had to do with court and lawyers and all that jazz. Secondly, what the hell were those devices inside of Mara? She removes them and suddenly becomes better but why were they put inside of her in the first place and when they were taken out why did most of her mental issues disappear? Like talking to her reflection. If those were the root cause of most of the mental disorders than were these placed in her body sooner than after Horizons was “destroyed”? Maybe when Jude convinced her to slit her wrists, when she was in the hospital. Or even sooner than that? What about after Tamerlane collapsed? I understand that her PTSD acted as the trigger for her manifestation of G1821 but those things that were inside of her just don’t add up. If anyone reading this has a theory please contact me because I would love to talk about this! Lastly, I wish there was a little more depth with Lukumi/Lenaurd. I really just want to know more about him! Maybe we can get a novella? Once again I am talking to you Michelle Hodkin!

OKAY OKAY SPOILERS ARE OVER!

Overall, I really did enjoy this book. It kept me up late a few nights and almost missed my bus stop more than once because I was so engrossed in reading. As I said before I felt that Hodkin did an incredible job of writing a thought provoking novel and sending my head into a sandstorm of confusion but eventually the sand settled and I began to understand. My only wish was that the ending was more solid, did not end as quickly and answered just a few more questions. I definitely recommend anyone to read this trilogy. I think it is so much different from a lot of other YA. So if you are down to feeling complete lost and baffled while reading a book, pick up this trilogy ASAP!

Favorite Quotes

“You have the soul of a kitten.” “A kitten.” “An assassin kitten.”

“What’s the most terrifying thing you can think of in these tunnels? Rats? Mole people?” “Wrong. The most terrifying thing in these tunnels is me.”

“The people we care about are always worth more to us than the people we don’t. No matter what anyone pretends.”

“You should’ve seen the way he was looking at you while you were out.” “How?” “Like you’re the ocean and he’s desperate to drown.”

“It is our choices that define us, not our abilities.”

‘It’s like you’re a mirror, and you show me who I want to be, instead of who I am.”

“Maybe sometimes we can only see the truth about ourselves if someone shows us where to look.”

“I’ll love you to ruins.”

“You think it can’t get worse than wanting someone and not having them, but it can. You can want someone, have them, and want them more. Still. Always. You can never get enough.”

“I love you. Today. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever. If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If I were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.”

A Year in Review and Anticipations of 2015

Let’s just pretend that today is not February 6 and I am just now writing this because you know, see above. I have had a very busy start to the year but a lot of time for reflection. I am going to dedicate a lot more time to reading, reviewing, and writing; including starting my YouTube channel. Finally!!! I am in the process of putting together an office at my house so I will have a dedicated place for writing reviews and my novel. A warning is in order though, once the NHL playoffs begin in May I will be less present as normal. So let’s get down to business. My goal last year was to read 100 books, however, I slacked a bit and only read 75. FYI this does not count any rereads and I know I had quite a few of those. Here is my list of my favorites that I read last year in no particular order, except the first four listed which, in my opinion, where beyond amazing.

*Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

*We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

*Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

*The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

–Under The Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi

–Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi

–Paper Towns by John Green

–Ruins by Dan Wells

–Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

–City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

–Sabriel by Garth Nix

–The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken

–Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (review coming soon! I promise!)

Besides all the books and feels and tears and laughs I had over the last year through reading I also had fun at a few other bookish things as well. Including a book tour with Veronica Rossi, Tahereh Mafi, Kiersten White, Sophie Jordan, and Claudia Gray in New Orleans. Of course there was YallFest and the Q&A with Veronica Roth and Garth Nix, as well. On top of all that there were a few movie releases of YA adaptations. I absolutely loved Mockingjay Part 1 and Divergent, ummm Theo James, oh my goodness (fans face). I think The Fault In Our Stars was the second best adaptation of the year, I even brought an entire box of tissues to the theater with me. But hands down the best adaptation of the year was probably very underrated and that was, drum roll please…..The Maze Runner!!! If you haven’t seen the movie, read the book first, then see it and you will understand.

So now that 2014 has come and gone there is much to look forward to in 2015. I have already read 9 books so far this year, which feels like a good start. Two of my favorites so far have been Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore and Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. First off, why did I wait so long to read Bitterblue??!!? It was the best of the Graceling series, I think, and I just couldn’t get enough. I was so sad when it ended. I have actually been in a 3 day book hangover since I finished it Tuesday night. I demand another book in that world! I’m talking to you Kristin Cashore! And then there is Throne of Glass. I never thought this book was going to be as amazing as it was. I was blown away. Celaena Sardothien is, by far, one of my favorite female heroines ever! I cannot wait to read the rest of the books that have been released and then get mad when I have to wait for the next.

I do have a few books I am looking forward to reading this year that I have acquired over the last few months but have not had a chance to read.

–The Callling by James Frey

–A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

–Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

–Lirael, Abhorsen, and Clariel by Garth Nix

–The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (which I am about to start after I post this)

As far as movies for 2015 we have…

–Seventh Son February 6

–Insurgent    March 18

–Paper Towns    June 4

–The Scorch Trials    September 16

–Mockingjay Part 2    Novemeber 18

–Fallen    unknown release date

And finally what is the most important thing. The list of anticipated novels of 2015. Side note: I am very, very upset that Lady Midnight, the first book in The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare got pushed back to March of 2016! sad face. But now to the good stuff…

–I Was Here by Gayle Forman   released January 29

–Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard    February 10 (next week! eeeee! so excited!)

–Bone Gap by Laura Ruby    March 3

–Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver    March 10

–An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir    April 28

–A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas    May 7

–Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas    September 1

–Passenger by Alexandra Bracken    September 22

–Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo    October 6

–Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch    October 13

I hope all these books are everything I am hoping they will be and more! Until next time…

In The Afterlight

***So I never got to writing a review for Never Fade because the second I put it down I picked up In The Afterlight. Although my spoiler free review will just be on In The Afterlight, I will include some thoughts from Never Fade in the spoiler part.***

***Second note: I know I have been MIA. This review has been sitting in draft form for over a month, actually since December 18, so I am sorry for any holes that may appear in this review because I honestly cant remember everything!***

Rating: 4.5/5

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken is the stunning conclusion to The Darkest Minds series. The series ended leaving me with a feeling of closure and content. Of course that doesn’t count all the other times I was reading this and was sad, angry, annoyed, almost threw the book across the room or wanted to punch not just Clancy but Ruby, Liam, or Cole in the face. This book was a roller coaster of up and down turns that left me with a severe case of whiplash. However, I will take that whiplash because Bracken once again showcased her ability to write a story that not only is a page turner but makes your emotions fluctuate from 0-10 in five seconds with no warning signs.

The darkest minds never fade in the afterlight.

Favorite Quotes (The entire Prologue is a favorite quote so you will just have to read that one on your own.)

“There would never be another word from him; he’d come to an end the way all stories eventually did. He wasn’t in a better place. He wasn’t with me. [name removed for spoiler reasons] was buried with all of his hopes under cement and dirt and ash.”

“The thing is what they don’t tell you about forgiveness is this – you don’t give it for the other person’s sake, but your own.”

“Fear is worthless. It stops you when you need to keep moving most. And it only exists inside of your head. You can hate yourself for being scared, but that’s still letting it control your life. ”

“It’s a bit tragic, isn’t it? To give someone the one thing they desperately want, knowing that in the end, it only has the power to destroy them.”

“Everyone needs reality to punch them in the face every once in awhile. Keeps you on guard.”

“They’d never fade, even in the afterlight of all of this.”

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

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OH MY GOD TEARS OF JOY AND HAPPINESS CAME STREAMING DOWN MY FACE AT THE END OF THIS BOOK!! Even though I tended to be an emotional wreck through most of it. Was I the only one who got super annoyed with the way that Liam and Ruby were treating each other? Everyone can tell you both just want to rip each others clothes off so by all means please do instead of getting mad at each other and keeping stupid secrets! But anyways let me start from the beginning, way back, as in the end of Never Fade and the review I never got to writing.  Why Jude, why Jude, why?!?!?? He was the glue that held everyone together and he was ripped apart from them. He was never supposed to be put on that op with Ruby but he survived through all of it and then how can he just be killed. Broke my heart into a million pieces and pretty much every other character in the book.

So going into In The Afterlight Ruby continues to beat herself up over Jude’s death which is not surprising. When they finally are able to get out of Los Angeles, I started biting my fingernails because I just knew something was going to go wrong. I thought someone was gonna die, glad they didn’t but Clancy found out about Cole. Great, just great. I knew something would happen with this and oh boy did something happen, at the end, which I will get too. Anyways, so now they see all this road code and that’s when my heart starts beating faster, could it be Zu? And it was! So happy. So then a bunch of stuff happens in the middle, blah, blah, emotional roller coaster, blah, blah. I have been waiting for this freaking moment since Never Fade but finally Chubs and Vida because duh! They are complete opposites, they bicker and fight all the time so how would they not end up together? I just knew it was going to happen on this trip to get Lillian Gray. I loved the flirtatious bickering between them when they returned and Ruby tried to put it together. Since they just accidentally fell in love! Or “coping with stress” as Chubs put it when caught in the act. Also I just want to say I love Vida! I was so happy it was Vida who put so much strength into Zu and made her realize she cant let the past control the present and influenced her to start speaking. It literally brought tears to my eye!

Oh and then Cole got killed and it was all Clancy’s fault. And I wanted to kill Clancy. Again.

So Ruby finally gets her dream of destroying Thurmond and freeing all the kids. I loved the reaction from the police, military, and parents as the kids ran from the camp. However, I think the most satisfying part of this book was the conclusion. And I am not talking about the open ending with Liam, Ruby, Cubs, Vida, and Zu driving down the open road. I am talking about the true compassion of Ruby and what she did to Clancy. Clancy struggled with his hatred and inner demons his entire life. He placed so much anger into every single thing he did.  But Ruby knew he would never overcome anything inside of him unless he didn’t even remember it. Her act of mercy was probably one of the most benevolent gifts she could have given.

This series was nothing short of amazing and I cannot wait for the next book from Alexandra Bracken.