In The Afterlight is the last book of The Darkest Minds Series that I'm going to read. It's because it supposed to be the last installment of the seriIn The Afterlight is the last book of The Darkest Minds Series that I'm going to read. It's because it supposed to be the last installment of the series and I'm not that impressed with the story.
World: I like the concept of the world that Alexandra Bracken's built for In The Afterlight. At some point, I felt like they were at war ... like in WWII. And I've to talk about the rehabilitation camps; the way it's described in this series makes me think of the concentration camp. It's not just cabins and bunk beds. The children are stripped off their name and called by their identification numbers. In the camps, the kids are forced to do hard physical labor. Torture and death within the camps were common and frequent.
Plot and Story: It's predictable and somehow weak plot; however, we can't judge the book by that alone. In The Afterlight has the nasty way of lifting me up just to throw me back down. Some part of the story overwhelmed me with emotion; I nearly shed a tear. Yet, I was let down by the mystery which Alexandra Bracken left breadcrumbs here and there (from chapter 5 or 6 onwards) ... the mystery that I could guess and got it right from the start. The story drags on far too long. The preparation phase at the Ranch takes about 70-80% of the book and believe me nothing is really happening there. When something happens, it's cut short. And where is my action scene? At the end of the book, there are a few stones that leave unturn.
The plot hadn't gotten better or any more original ... they all followed the same plot: girl is wronged, girl struggles and girl comes out on top. The ultimate story of The Darkest Minds Series.
Characters: The gang (Ruby, Liam, Chub, Vida, and Zu) dynamic is what I like the most in The Darkest Minds Series. But I rarely see it in In The Afterlight since it's overpowered by drama. The way Alexandra Bracken resolves it is way too easy. It makes me feel like problems between them (Liam and Ruby) aren't that important to the main story. She just creates it to give characters some emotional drama and conflict. The characters are barely developed and they never learn from their mistakes. And Ruby, she degrades herself to a whining and irresponsible heroine.
Abilities: At some point, you might forget that they even have the ability. It rarely uses (except for Green and Orange). I don't know if it's just me that felt cheated by Orange's abilities since it seems limitless ... new skills always pop up.
With the ending like this, I can't help but feel disappointed. I'd see it coming though....more
I can't believe I'm going to say this but I'm glad that I decided to read Never Fade. I liked it so much more than the prequel.
Maybe because I'm drunkI can't believe I'm going to say this but I'm glad that I decided to read Never Fade. I liked it so much more than the prequel.
Maybe because I'm drunk.
The first half or so of Never Fade. I was bored. It was like déjà vu all over again. There are a few similarities in the story. It felt like I was re-reading The Darkest Minds. That was when I noticed that Alexandra Bracken kept using the words 'dark/ darkness' and 'mind' a lot. So I invented a game to keep me from getting bored out of my skull ... I drank one or two sips of beer every time I saw those word.
In turn out, there are about 160 ' dark/ darkness' and 170 'mind'.
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After that, the story was picking up with a load of actions. I was really enjoyed reading that part of Never Fade despite the predictable plot. However, I didn't see that kiss coming though. The kiss that brought back Liam's memory. Is this a Disney fairy tales that everything can be undone by a true love kiss?
I can't say that the characters are well developed ... it's more like the level up. I meant they fought with enemies, won and gained more experience in both skill and life. Then they were somehow wiser and Ruby could up-skill. But I liked the way the gang (Ruby, Liam, Chub, Vida, and Jude) interact with each other. They made me laugh a lot.
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I'm sorry if this review doesn't make any sense or hard to understand ... I blame it on the alcohol. Move on to Book 3....more
After watched the movie adaptation, I expected The Darkest Minds to be worst. Strangely enough, it's tolerable and at some point, I even enj2.75 Stars
After watched the movie adaptation, I expected The Darkest Minds to be worst. Strangely enough, it's tolerable and at some point, I even enjoyed it.
A lot of things happen in The Darkest Minds but most of them were plain. It couldn't pique my interest. Since I didn't have any positive expectations, this book didn't let me down. There wasn't any unique about the plot ... it was like the X-Men (or the kids in Xavier Institute) but with the limited abilities: green, blue, yellow, red and orange. The main characters were well cliché ... you could find them in most of young adult dystopian books.
I'm not sure that I'll recommend The Darkest Minds to anyone. But since I'm curious about how it's going to end, I'll soldier on the sequels....more
"Fever" is making my heart aching. Even if this second book of The Chemical Garden doesn't meet my expectation; however, it still move me. It's funny "Fever" is making my heart aching. Even if this second book of The Chemical Garden doesn't meet my expectation; however, it still move me. It's funny as much as it's boring. Here are the reasons.
1. The cover of "Fever" is a clue of what'll happen in the book. I have to admit that was a fascinating idea. The name of the book also made me curios at first but after reading it the only thing I could say was, "Fever it is." (I also thought that I had a fever when I was reading it. It was because I could hardly know what was real and what was Rhine's nightmare.)
2. The story has remained its old concept ... surviving the crucial world where males only live to age 25 and female only live to age 20. Lauren DeStefano has made that world's the living hell for female characters. I can see poor Rhine struggles to live and runs away from those awful things that always follow her around. Everything in "Fever" looks gloomy.
3. I also curious that why every science fiction book the scientist has to be a bad guy. Housemaster Vaughn is so evil. (DeStefano also did a great job to create this monster and I also love the way she built the story for Vaughn's plans.)
4. I don't know there is the love triangle in "Fever" or not since I cannot find much of an affection between Rhine and Gabriel. (He's delirious more than a half of the story.) It's also make me miss Linden very much.
5. "Fever" is very slow paced story and that makes me bored in some part of it. (However I'm very sure that every little things in this book will have its priority in "Sever".)
At this point, I still don't know why I gave this book two stars. I do love it but something in the story makes me don't want to give any more stars than this ,,, it maybe because what happened to Rhine or something else. Still "Fever" is worth it to read ... Can't wait for "Sever"....more
"Wither" is impressed me with such a details. I love the creativity of Lauren DeStefano that opened the new and interesting chapter of science fiction"Wither" is impressed me with such a details. I love the creativity of Lauren DeStefano that opened the new and interesting chapter of science fiction. The book cover is also beautiful and can describe Rhine's individuality and feeling very well. The same as "Wither," the book's name, also suit the story. I can't find anything that less than awesome in its.
I love the unique plot that human race can't live longer than twenty-five years; in women case, it's even worst. They only twenty years of their lives in this world. This thing never cross mind. Since when we talk about virus, all I could think of is zombies not shortening our lifespan. The more pages I turn the funnier I can get. I like the way that I can't predict how the story will turn out ...
I divide characters in "Wither" in three categories that is love them, hate to love but love to hate them, and hate them: 1. Love category: Rhine (I like that she never gives up hope. I like the way she determines to break free from her prison. I like that she's patient, kind, and independent.), Gabriel (This one I don't know why I like him ... maybe because of Rhine's feeling toward him.), Jenna (I really love her. (view spoiler)[I like the way she always takes care and looks out for her sisters wives (hide spoiler)].), and Rowan (I feel connected with him. I love that he always protects his twin sister. I like how he sees the world.) 2. Hate-to-love-but-love-to-hate category: Cecily and Linden (I have no reason for this group ... it's just pure feeling.) 3. Hate category: one hundred percents Housemaster Vaughn (I don't know but in this type of book the lead scientist always be a bad guy and I always hate them. He's also selfish and cruel.)
I can't wait for "Fever" but first I'll read "The Seeds of Wither" if I can find the book. The sequel of this book must be satisfied me when I see Rhine and Gabriel against the world. Of course, I'm Gabriel team ... at least for now. ...more
WOW!!! I didn't expect "The Hunger Games" to be that great. I read it because they say the story was similar to "Battle Royale" and I loved "Battle RoWOW!!! I didn't expect "The Hunger Games" to be that great. I read it because they say the story was similar to "Battle Royale" and I loved "Battle Royale" so I started to read this book. Then I found out that only the main plot was the same but less (or no) violent; however, "The Hunger Games" had a few particulars that made me love it more than "Battle Royale." 5 stars for "The Hunger Games."
Every time I read fight-to-death-in-order-to-be-the-last-one-who-service novel, I always think that why bother killing. If everyone doesn't try to take each other life, all of them will live ... right? It's a win-win situation. But it's the author job to make that impossible and Suzanne Collins did the incredible job. Even though, at the end of the game (view spoiler)[Suzanne made problem by saving two tributes, Katniss and Peeta, by making them threaten to commit suicide (hide spoiler)]. That brings back the theory I mentioned but after that she gave a good reason to dismiss it again.
"The Hunger Games" introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where North America once existed. This is where a powerful government working in a central city called the Capitol holds power. In the book, the Hunger Games is an annual televised event where the Capitol chooses one boy and one girl from each district to fight to death. The Hunger Games exists to demonstrate that even children are not beyond the reach of the Capitol's jurisdiction.
I love the way Suzanne created characters that fit the story. I think the tributes are not bad because they try to survive and that is one of human basic instincts. I really hate Gamemakers, though. It's like they try to play god; they want to safe their face and their asses more than saving the tributes' lives. Okay, forget about Gamemakers and focus on our narrator, Katniss. Katniss is a tough girl who knows how to survive. I like her because in that circumstance, she tries hard to survive but in the meantime, she doesn't give in to Capital either. She has a kind heart and she sacrifice herself in order to save her own family; however, she has some trust issue (but who can blame her after what she's been through). That's something. For Peeta, I love Peeta. He's clever and a real master-mind. At first, I'm doubt about (view spoiler)[his feeling toward Katniss but he shows me that his feeling for her is real (hide spoiler)]. He makes me laugh every time he speaks. Haymitch is another character that I like because I like bad ass heroes ... drunk but smart. May be drinking is the thing that fools people and makes them underestimate him.
Even if I can predict some part of the story but it doesn't make "The Hunger Games" less fun. I'll read "Catching Fire" right away. I want to know (view spoiler)[what will happen between Katniss and Peeta, and what will the Captital do to Katniss (hide spoiler)]?...more
I've heard that most people accused The Hunger Games for ripping off Battle Royale’s storyline; however, I don’t think of it that way. It’s because ifI've heard that most people accused The Hunger Games for ripping off Battle Royale’s storyline; however, I don’t think of it that way. It’s because if I do, almost 50% of the books I’ve read would be ripped off each other. So, let just call it...
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Students in class 3-B are excited to go on a study trip. They chat and goof around with each other (just imagine a typical field trip) right before they’re gassed. And when they wake up, their life will be changed forever. They’re forced to take part in a government program in which they’ll have to fight each other to the death. But it's just the beginning...
As I read through each page, I slowly get a grasp on the protagonist's feeling. Every word shows his confusion and how he struggles to come to term with the situation which he never will. At least, not until he’s told that he’s here to kill his classmates. It’s so sinister. In order for him to live, he’s to kill 41 lives (his friends). From that moment, even the students are frightened, they’re trying to survive.
In my opinion, I think the story’s more intense than The Hunger Games.
In The Hunger Games, everyone’s already known what’s going to happen when they reach 12 years old. However, in Battle Royale, the government killing program is top secret. You only know about it when you’re already in the program.
I’d like to give a round of applause to Koushun Takami because he doesn’t stop at that. The students are coerced to wear a silver metal collar which can blow their head off. They also receive a map. It shows the location zones which will be forbidden at the certain time. If they’re in that zone after the designated time, their collar will be exploded. It means at some point, they’ll eventually have to kill each other.
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Battle Royale is focused on the morality of characters and of course, the killing. Each killing scene’s so graphic and violent; I was stunned by it. Before that, most characters didn’t know how to kill. However, when they do kill, it’s so brutal. Needless to say, everyone wants to live. So, they’ve to do everything in their power to stay alive. They're willing to trick and betray their friends' trust in order to survive. It makes the story even darker and you’ll never know what’ll happen next.
The characters are delicately crafted and deliberately developed. Every main character has their own background which gives characters depth in both emotion and mentality. Koushun Takami even brings up the way they’ve been nurtured to a mix in order to reflect their current behavior. Their thoughts, their actions, and their morals also change as the story progresses. With the characters like this, it makes the story even more convincing and realistic.
If you love horror, thriller, dystopia and super dark young adult (even though I don’t think it’s YA) book, I’d like to recommend Battle Royale to you....more
*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*
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