Book Review: Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

So, last week, I finished this book.  I had my eye on this story for nearly a year now. Sometimes, the mystery in your mind is more satisfying then a story that... isn't.

Twisted Fairytales seems to be a new sub-genre in YA fiction. This is where Cinder belongs. I might put it lower on the totem pole, below Miss Jackson Pearces' Sister's Red,  Sweetly and SOON TO COME OUT - Fathomless. 

I forgive the predictable plot that mirrors Cinderella, as it should, the predictable characters are less easier to forgive. Perhaps it isn't even that - perhaps I just was unable to connect with Cinder. I adored her sidekick Iko (think of Eve from Disney's Wall-e), and her step-mother with step-daughters were done well enough. The refreshing part of this story was 1 sister was not evil (although, predictable unlucky Cinderella puts this sister in jeopardy).

The romance between Cinder and the Prince fell flat. It was obvious the Prince had interest in her, but you never knew quite why. Cinder wasn't far enough on a scale to tip it in her favour. She wasn't extremely homely or extremely pretty or extremely funny or extremely brash.. I think to gain the Prince's favour in any way, she'd have to stand out from the crowd. So, WHY does Prince show her any interest to being with?

Cinder had good ambitions and had a good heart, she had good reasons to make the choices she did. I did feel pity on her and I did want her to 'win'.. and she might have 'won' but never 'triumphed'.

The other twist to the tale probably stems from the authors love of Sailor Moon (okay, you found me out - that's really the reason why I wanted to read this book so badly).  Maybe it was my imagination, but I could easily pick out the Moon-esque similarities (the gloves, the lunars, prince is an ethic tuxedo mask). It's not a BAD thing by any means, but perhaps these themes/ideals could have been woven more intrictaly in the story.

It felt like the narrator was an excited young girl trying to tell me an epic love story. Usually when that happens, details are left out. Atmosphere suffers. The mood is a constant high. 

I liked this book. I will read the sequel. When I want a 'twisted fairytale' done right, I'll go to my Jackson Pearce part of my bookshelf and re-read those. 

Fantastic Giveaway - Hurry!

Click here to enter a fantastic giveaway!

Over at a blog I follow (and read just about every day), they have been having a fantastic large giveaway, that ends in just a couple of days.

It all starts with Remembrance.  Lizzie Davenport, a classy lady reincarnated, has fate shoved in her face when Drew Carmichael transfers into her school. She's immediately hooked, fascinated, can't take her eyes off him... but, he's nothing but a cold icicle. 

If you haven't read this series, this give-a-way is a perfect chance in getting immersed into a fate-smashed, i love you but i don't love you story. The 3rd (and final) book has been revealed and it sounds like the story will take you right to the 'beginning' of their time.. 
I love history stories like this, and it sounds like it has a really great push and pull love-hate-fate relationship. 

Good luck to all entrents!

Book Review: Revived - Cat Patrick

Revived - Cat Patrick

This is the only non-zombie zombie book I've read. For the record.

It's taken me a little while to capture what I really want to say about this story -- it's more than just 'I really liked it'. While I did like it, very much, I wanted to point out several things this author achieves besides writing a captivating story.

A - Due to the nature of the secret-drug Revive, the agency calls the man in charge 'God'. The agents are thus denoted as 'Disciples'. Even as the story is told through a young woman's point of view, there is a definite symbology (a word I just created) to religion. She's lived this kind of life and taken for granted everything she's been told as the truth and nothing but the truth.  The perfect alignment of circumstances - she  begins to ask her own questions, and to see the grey areas of places she knew as Black or White.

I particularly liked this, and perhaps it is my own imagination, but it's a sly way for Cat Patrick to have Daisy identify with people coming of age, coming to realize they have to form their own thoughts and opinions around heavy issues - Life, Death, 'Religion' (the secret government agency she's with) and other Adults (when you realize, just because they are older, does NOT mean they are right).

B - Healthy detachment. Hear me out - a love story consists of person meeting person, person needing person, person doing everything possible to be with person, no matter the obstacle.  Cute, right? Sometimes.  In this case, Daisy is able to keep her love-interest at a healthy arms-distance, even through very difficult times. Maybe this is because she's used to just up and leaving? Maybe this is because there are more serious issues at hand? (MORE serious than a YA love interest?! Gasp, say it isn't so! BUT IT IS!) My point is, while I sat and rooted for this young couple, I was almost proud of Daisy's ability to separate when necessary, to have patience and believe in things will work out. To give the other person room to Breathe and sort his crap out. *

*Having said all this, there are times when they move mountains to be together. Thumbs up for that!


I'll stop the wall of text here.. and give you words that also describe this book;

-Awesome
-Gripping
-Fantastically well done - point of view wise
-Strong Heroine
-Page Turner (i was carrying this around with me, even into the bathroom)
-Surprisingly no zombies for a drug that revives people from the dead...