Undivided (Unwind #4) by Neal Shusterman: Review

RATING: 5/5 stars!

 

Author: Neal Shusterman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Bought

Release date: October 14, 2014

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE PREVIOUS BOOKS. HIGHLIGHT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

 

Teens control the fate of America in the fourth and final book in the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology by Neal Shusterman.

Proactive Citizenry, the company that created Cam from the parts of unwound teens, has a plan: to mass produce rewound teens like Cam for military purposes. And below the surface of that horror lies another shocking level of intrigue: Proactive Citizenry has been suppressing technology that could make unwinding completely unnecessary. As Conner, Risa, and Lev uncover these startling secrets, enraged teens begin to march on Washington to demand justice and a better future.

But more trouble is brewing. Starkey’s group of storked teens is growing more powerful and militant with each new recruit. And if they have their way, they’ll burn the harvest camps to the ground and put every adult in them before a firing squad—which could destroy any chance America has for a peaceful future.   

REVIEW:

Because this is a last book in a series, I will keep my review brief.

This book is my absolute favorite book of 2014, and possibly one of my favorite books of all time.

It made me laugh, it made me smile, and it made me cry. It was beautifully written, and handled the subject matter beautifully. It was absolutely fantastic! One of the best series endings I have ever read.

All I can say is, if you have not read this series, I highly suggest you do so immediately.

CONTENT: Kissing, one sex scene, but it is only implied. Hardy any swearing, but there is a lot of dark subject matter dealing with unwinding, and some of it is very disturbing.

2014 End of Year Book Survey

The End of Year Book Survey was created by The Perpetual Page Turner.

 

I did this last year and it was so much fun, that I've decided to do it again! Without further ado...

 

Number of Books I read: 101

Number of rereads: 14

Genre I read the most from: Fantasy

 

1. Best Book You Read In 2014?

Without a doubt, UNDIVIDED by Neal Shusterman absolutely blew my mind.
 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

 

 The Young Elites by Marie Lu. I thought I would love it way more than I did. (My review)

 

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read in 2014? 

 

 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I thought I would live it, but I hated this book. 
 

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did) In 2014?

 

 Cinder by Marissa Meyer, and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles. Most of my friends read it after I pushed them to, and I feel very accomplished.
 

 5. Best series you started in 2014? Best Sequel of 2014? Best Series Ender of 2014?

 

 The Grisha trilogy. Oh so many feels. But I loved it so much.
 

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2014?

 

 Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner, who wrote These Broken Stars. They're really two authors, but I loved how they wrote together.
 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

 

 We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. I never usually read contemporary style books, but this one I read and loved.
 

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 

 The Savage Blue by Zoraida Cordova. I could not put this book down.
 

 9. Book You Read In 2014 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

 

 The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski. I have to reread it for The Winner's Crime.
 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2014?

 

 Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater. This cover is seriously GORGEOUS.
 

 

 

11. Most memorable character of 2014?

 

Jonas Agallon from the Falling Kingdoms series. I LOVE him so much.
 

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2014?

 

 We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful.
 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2014?

 

Undivided by Neal Shusterman. EXTREMELY thought provoking, and very pro-life.
 

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2014 to finally read? 

 

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova. LOVED this book.
 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2014?

 

 

 

Baghra feels.

 

 

 

JONAS IS MY FAVE!!!
 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

 

 

Shortest: If I Stay by Gayle Forman (201 pages)

Longest: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (725 pages)
 

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

 

 I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. This book was SO creepy.
 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

 

 Not book related...but Stiles and Lydia from Teen Wolf. I love them so much.

 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

 

Addie and Laila from Pivot Point and Split Second. They are the coolest characters.



20. Favorite Book You Read in 2014 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

 

Undivided by Neal Shusterman. OH SO GOOD!



21. Best Book You Read In 2014 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. My friends peer-pressured me into reading this, and I really didn't like it. At all.


22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2014?

 

Gansey from The Raven Boys. He is so swoon-worthy.


23. Best 2014 debut you read?

 

Alienated by Melissa Landers. SO GOOD! (My review)



24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

 

Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes. The world-building is absolutely SUPERB.


25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

 

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West. Such a cute book.


26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2014?

 

Undivided by Neal Shusterman. I bawled my eyes out in one part.


27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

 

Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes. This series totally deserves more hype.


28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. SO MANY EMOTIONS.



29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2014?

 

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. I have never read anything like this series.



30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman. I really did not like this book, and it made me so frustrated.
 

 

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2014? 

 

Adventures in YA Publishing
 

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2014? 

 

My review for City of Heavenly Fire
 

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

 

My discussion of book to movie adaptations
 

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

 

 I love participating in Top Ten Tuesday, but I have so little time to be able to do it recently, and it depresses me.
 

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2014?

 

When I finally read 100 books!


7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

 

My review of Echoes of Us by Kat Zhang


8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

 

I was pretty proud of my review of Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce
 

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

 

BETTER WORLD BOOKS. It is seriously the greatest store ever!
 

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

 

I completed my challenge to read 100 books, and I kind of completed my goal of posting at least once a week (not really), so I want to work on this next year. 

 

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2014 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2015?

 

 The Sorcerer Heir by Cinda Williams Chima. I was hoping to get to it this year, but college applications made sure that didn't happen.
 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2015 (non-debut)?

 

Oblivion by Kelly Creagh. I have waited so long for this book, AND I NEED IT SO BAD!


3. 2015 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

 

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir...because the cover is gorgeous.


 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2015?

 

Fairest by Marissa Meyer. Queen Levana prequel? HELL YES!


5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2015?

 

Read 90 books and post at least once a week.


6. A 2015 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

 

I actually have not read any books published in 2015. But I have so many that I'm looking forward to!

 

 

 

Happy new year, everyone! Wishing you all many blessings and good books in 2015!

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

 

This week I'm talking about my top ten books I wouldn't mind Santa bringing me this year!

 

1. The Sorcerer Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

 

 

This book came out 2 months ago, and I have yet to get my hands on it.

 

2. Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes

 

 

I WANT THIS BOOK SO BAD! Why must I be broke?

 

3. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

 

 

I read and loved this book over the summer, and I desperately need a copy of it.

 

4. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

 

I read and loved this book too, but again, I have yet to get a copy of it.

 

5. Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

 

Yes, I want this book based purely on the cover. I have no shame admitting that.

 

6. This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

 

 

THESE BROKEN STARS was absolutely fantastic; I can't wait to read this one!

 

7. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

 

Yeah, this book isn't out until January, but if it could just magically appear under the tree, I wouldn't be disappointed.

 

8. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

 

Yes, this is another one of those that I want because the cover is gorgeous. 

 

9. The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

 

See the caption for SNOW LIKE ASHES

 

10. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

 

Again, I know this book isn't out yet, but I would LOVE if this book would just happen to be under the tree on December 25th. :)

 

What is your top ten?



In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken: Review

RATING: 5/5

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Source: Bought

Release date: October 28, 2014

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds.

They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.

Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.

 

REVIEW:

 

Let me start out by saying that THE DARKEST MINDS is one of my most favorite books of all time. NEVER FADE was even better, and IN THE AFTERLIGHT was one of my most anticipated books of 2014.

 

While I still loved this book, I didn't think that it was quite as good as the first two. There were so many times when all of the characters were doing was sitting around and talking, and it was so frustrating. There were so many times when I was so frustrated with Ruby and Cole and Liam, that I had to put the book down and walk away. But once the book finally picked up, it was absolutely AMAZING!! It brought on so many emotions, and I was in tears by the end.

 

In short, this is a fantastic trilogy. If you have not read this series, I highly suggest you do so!

 

CONTENT: Kissing, and implied sex scene, heavy swearing, and moderate violence.

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu: Review

 

RATING: 4/5 stars!

 

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Source: Bought

Release date: October 7, 2014

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY(from Goodreads):

 

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

 

REVIEW:

 



When I first head his book was coming out, I was ecstatic. I loved Marie Lu's Legend series, and I was so pumped for this book to come out.

Did it live up to my expectations? Not exactly.

I'm really sorry to say that this book was definitely not as good as Legend. The main problem for me was the main character, Adelina. She annoyed me SO MUCH! She wouldn't tell anyone anything, and all she did was second guess herself almost the whole time. Girl, get it together! Find some resolve, and then kick some ass!

Other than that, I thought the book was great. The supporting characters were awesome, and the world building, while a little lacking, was still pretty good. So if you want to give the book a try, you should totally go for it!

CONTENT: Heavy on the sexual content. There is no actual sex described, but a few of the characters are "consorts" and have different partners every night. There is also heavy making out, moderate language, and a decent amount of violence, some of it graphic.

Stacking the Shelves (7): The "Wow it's been three months since I've done one of these" edition

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

 

 

What? It's been over three months since I've done "Stacking the Shelves"?

 

Whoops.

 

Since it has been so long, I can't remember all of the books I've acquired, so I gathered up all the ones I could, and voila! Here are the books:

 



BOUGHT:

 

• Slaves of the Mastery by William Nicholson
• The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
• The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
• Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan
• Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
• Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
• The Young Elites by Marie Lu
• Talon by Julie Kagawa
• In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
• The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
• Deliverance by CJ Redwine
• The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (UK edition)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling (UK edition)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (UK edition)
• Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

WON:

• Arson by Estevan Vega (signed!)
• Ashes by Estevan Vega (signed!)
• Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini (ARC)
• The Savage Blue by Zoraida Cordova (signed!)
• If I Stay by Gayle Forman (signed!)
• Sanctum by Madeleine Roux

GIFTS:

The Secret Book or Treat Buddy Exchange hosted by What a Nerd Girl Says happened this month, and I got some pretty awesome stuff from it!

That is all I got in the past few months. What did you all get?



Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas: Review

 

RATING: 10/5 stars!!

 

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Source: Bought

Release date: September 2, 2014

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

 

REVIEW:

Another cliffhanger?

 

 

YOU CAN"T KEEP LEAVING IT LIKE THIS!!!! GAH!

Even though that cliffhanger was awful, I still loved this book SO MUCH!! I highly recommend reading this series!!

CONTENT: Kissing, implied sex, lots of violence, and I can't recall much swearing, but I may be wrong.