*I reviewed an ARC of this book last and seeing its publication is approaching, I'm updatWant more bookish posts from me, visit: Lili's Blissful Pages
*I reviewed an ARC of this book last and seeing its publication is approaching, I'm updating it. :)
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When Jura's father tried to kill her, she thought he was under some ancient dark magic. As the daughter of the FIRST, ruler of The Republic of the Sand Sea, she was forced to rule in her father's stead.
Still naive in her new responsibility, she condemned a man named Tylak, who was accused of stealing fire, to death, only to seek his help later. Along with Tylak, Jura must find the Prince of the Shadow, to uncover the truth behind her father's fate. But the truth she was seeking turned out to be more dangerous.
The Republic is on the verge of collapsing, and dangerous unknown entities lurk around every corner. Jura must be careful who to trust and what to do. Because she might or might not ignite the war she is trying to stop.
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This story is filled with intrigues, betrayal and secrets. It also centers on politics, which even though not really my favorite plot point on other books, this one ade it so interesting and yeah, intriguing. Imagine a politician (for that was Jura is, a politician) in a world where the water is the currency. Where there are people who can bend fire and do other things. Let's throw a bit of romance(it's only first book), friendship and family issues. And yeah DRAGONS and some other creatures we still don't know the names. It's an interesting and definitely engaging plot.
For a first book in a series, this one did a good job. Ignited makes you wanna read the next book right away, only to be disappointed that you maybe still have to wait for another year. Needless to say, the writing was okay. I don't know if this is a debut novel but if it is, it was a good one.
Though there are parts that a little cliche, overall, it wasn't predictable. The fictional world must have something to do with that. As for the Romance, I liked it. It was smooth. There were cliched conversations (more like banters) but they still make me smile and giggle.
And oh, at first the story was a little confusing, maybe because of multi POV narration. I even thought at first why on earth their POVs are needed. But it seemed like there are still so many things to be revealed to us that's why their stories are needed. And sometimes, the narration would become slow and then pick ups and everything's alright.
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JURA:
Naive at first. Understandable. She turned out to be smarter than I expected, thank Heavens. I say she's an interesting character and I'll sure looked out for her in the next book, especially because of that little exhibition she did in the last 20% of the story. It was something to look forward.
TYLAK:
I like him more. Oh I like him. He's sweet but also a little cocky. Bound to find his brother, he's willing to do everything even help a rich bratty who is Jura.
KAY:
This little kid is veeeery promising. I'm so sure she'll be badass. She already is.
The other characters are all promising. And I liked most of them.
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This is a good instalment in a promising series. Not grandiose but engaging enough. I wouldn't say exactly that it's filled with action, but it's not also boring. It's not slow. It's just AVERAGE. I like this book and enjoyed it and will recommend it to anyone.
Huge thanks to the publisher and author for providing me an ecopy through Netgalley.
MY OWN SYNOPSIS:
When Josie's father, was shot and killed thirteeHuge thanks to the publisher and author for providing me an ecopy through Netgalley.
MY OWN SYNOPSIS:
When Josie's father, was shot and killed thirteen years ago, her entire life changed. Her mother ran away to join a cult, her twin sister, Lanie, who once her bestfriend, betrayed her. The tragedy she endured convinced her to spend the last ten years far from the family she once had. Now she's settled in New York with her boyfriend Caleb. But when Poppy Parnell, a radio personality, who hosts a podcast called 'Reconsidered' re-opens the case, it threatens everything that Josie had accomplished in the past decade since that she didn't tell Caleb everything about her past.
With the unexpected death of her mother, Josie was forced to go home, not only facing the family and the tragedy she left years ago, but maybe also the TRUTH.
OVERALL REVIEW:
I'm not that familiar with podcast, but it sure was one of the reasons why I requested this book. I want a new touch in my usual mystery genre but I ended up having mixed feelings about 'Are you Sleeping '. The author, obviously has a talent for it, but as the story goes on, I found it dragged and losing the thrill. And with that i found the whole plot, the whole book less interesting.
I begun guessing everything before the second half of the book ended and in the end, turned out my guesses were correct.
About the characters, sadly, the only character I found real was Poppy Parnell. She acts like a real reporter. The others were all mediocres. Josie, herself, is an unreliable character, and though it sometimes adds to the thrills, it makes me scartch my head most of the time. And Caleb? He is a little unrealistic.
But overall, it was an okay read for me. This won't be the last book I'll read from the author....more
Five stereotyped high school students walked into detention Monday afternoon, but only four of RECOMMENDED: to YA lovers and mystery enthusiasts
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Five stereotyped high school students walked into detention Monday afternoon, but only four of them make it out alive. Bronwyn, Addy, Nate and Cooper were devastated after witnessing the awful almost-death of Simon. But the next day was even more awful with the news that Simon is really dead, and suddenly, the four of them is the suspect.
Simon, the creator of the Gossip app everyone in Bayview High is talking was supposedly about to post things about Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper. It's easy to see and say that they all have reason to kill him.
But there's more to this story than what were told. Besides, there aren't only five characters in this book. High school is a one big movie with stereotyped characters, it just happens that Simon, is the omniscient narrator.
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PERFECT!!! I stared at the cover with interest and it stared back at me, as if telling me to pick it. I couldn’t say no. I really like it when a book cover illustration seems so alive that it’s like the story starts there and not at page one. I own the one with four faces (of the MCs), each covered with piece of paper. That tells me that there is something inside that I should find out and that I wouldn’t be disappointed. The cover somehow lied.
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I’ve started reading novels when I was eight years old. I repeat EIGHT YEARS OLD. And no, I am not bragging, I just think I have to mention this fact to be able to give a perfect, and precise review. Also I have to mention that the very first novel I read was John Grisham’s THE CLIENT. So obviously, I am familiar with this genre. And so I already figured the ‘WHO DONE IT’ part before second chapter ends. And realized the answer have been given out even before second chapter. It is also a little obvious for me who would solve the mystery at the end.
So needless to say, I'm disappointed and was clearly bored.
We’ve read this kind of plot before. so if you're gonna read it, instead of focusing on the CRIME AND REVEAL, enjoy the Funny parts and the Romance-ish side of some of the characters. I’m still laughing at the BANANA and NEWMAL. (You guys have to read this if you want to know why). As for the Romance, I was okay without it, but praise the author for including a sweet parts.
Anyway, the only thing differs in every cliche story is the characters and how it is written. And I must admit, this one is somehow, still well-written in a way that kept me excited until the very last page regardless of the fact that I already solved the crime. I’m still interested on how the bits will unfold, how and when the reveal would take place, and how the story will end for the characters.
Thus the two stars. It could've been just one, y'know... The author has her own style of storytelling that I think really matters in this kind of genre. The two stars are for Karen McManus's writing style, not for the plot or anything else.
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Halfway through the novel, I almost think they’re all flat characters. Well, not entirely flat but so cliché and nothing interesting about them. Nothing special, which usually, how YA characters go these day. I almost not care about any of them, except Nate and his lizard(grin), because he’s a bad boy. And I love bad boys (which is maybe inappropriate and unnecessary to mention here)
Anyway, they seem to dramatically redeemed themselves at some point. I wouldn’t usually, talk about MCs one by one but I should make an exception for these FIVE.
BRONWYN: The brain—I expected her to be the most interesting character. Besides, the narration starts with her. But even now, I still think though there was a character development, hers is lesser than the others. The only interesting thing she dis was when SHE CONFESSED TO…
ADDY: The princess - she thinks her sister thinks she’s a doormat. And really, I think so too. She was playing this stereotype teenage princess in high school. You know the girl who is seemingly doll-like and popular but secretly insecure and just goes by the flow. What a stereotype! But then, at the end... I think she somehow redeemed herself.
COOPER: The athlete. He’s too nice to be hated by the other characters inside the story or even by the readers. I wasn’t even surprised at his character reveal. And it makes me sad when he stated this in his narration:
“He’d never look at me the same. The way he’s looking at me now, even though I’m a murder suspect who’s been accused of using steroids. That he can handle.”
NATE: The criminal. The bad boy I was talking about. I love him simply because of that but he’s more than that, of course. Though I fell in love with him as earlier as chapter one; that time when he smirked, I found myself falling in love with him over and over again with his little gestures. (Don't blame me, I'm weak. LOL)
SIMON: The outcast. Ahh Simon... The creator of that gossip app. He created it. It is amazing how the author make of Simon's character still unforgettable even though he didn't have a part in the narration and the parts about are just other characters referring to him. Yet, I got to know Simon as much as I did with the four alive.
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I am sorry if I somehow gave away spoilers, but I tried not to. And please, don’t ever think that this book is poorly written just because I had it figured out too early and gave it a two-star rating. Maybe it’s not the book, it’s me. Actually, I seldom pick up mystery novels these days, because of this reason.
And I say it again, don’t focus on solving the mystery, instead, pay attention with the characters, not as just murder suspect but real people who have real situations. Indulge in the story as a whole, with it’s every part, you’ll see, it’s not just a mystery novel.
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There’s always more to the story than what’s told. And I've often heard that there are always two sides of the story, but sometimes, there are more sides. Maybe three, four or even more.
And that thing that Cooper's Nonny said..What a lesson!!!
Things’ll get worse before they get better,” Nonny says placidly. “That’s how it goes..."
There were so many good reviews about this one so I'm kind of expecting too much. Though the story is great and the characters are fine too. But I canThere were so many good reviews about this one so I'm kind of expecting too much. Though the story is great and the characters are fine too. But I can't give five stars. It was so fun to read at first half. Jake is awesome being a father figure to Chelsea's six nieces.
And A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight. great line.
Chelsea is an awesome heroine but I was grateful the whole was in Jake's POV. I just think it would be full of too much drama if Chelsea narrates because let's face it her life is drama, with uppercase D.
The kids are funny. Especially Reagan, when she says hi over and over again. Hilarious. Jake's interactions with the kids are just pure fun.
After the first half of the story, I get bored with Jake and Chelsea..though the kids and other stuff are still enjoyable. But before the story ends they mentioned, When Harry Met Sally and that incredible quote from that movie. And oh man, I just felt so alive again because that's my favorite movie.(which makes me think to watch that movie again.)
When I first read this, i hadn't had a chance to make a review. Now, I have.
This is a story of Anna and her family. Anna was conceived for the sole puWhen I first read this, i hadn't had a chance to make a review. Now, I have.
This is a story of Anna and her family. Anna was conceived for the sole purpose-to be her older sister's donor of almost everything(from bone marrow, to blood, and to kidney). For almost thirteen years, she did just that-donating. But all of a sudden she had the guts to file a suit against her parents. She wants them to stop using her body for her sister's sake.
(seriously heartbreaking) I cried when she said that the four-letter word for VESSEL is ANNA. Like she's just a vessel for her sister, not for herself at all. *CHARACTERS*
ANNA, our protagonist is such a brave girl. She's loving and I'm truly rooting for her. Even with the lawsuit, which will kill her sister Kate, still she's doing it for Kate. She said something like-she's the only one whoever gets to give what her sister wants. and this time, her sister wants to die, so that's what she's giving. Just heartbreaking in a sense that she's willing to give everything she can give to Kate.
KATE-the one who has cancer. I totally understand her. It's better to die than to live the way she's been living since she was diagnosed. She needs rest and maybe for her family, that would be unfair because they'd been fighting for her to live. But for Kate, it seemed like life already left her long ago so what's the point of going back to the hospital constantly? Not to mention she's killing Anna in the process.
SARA, the mother of the two girls(and of another boy). She's one-sided but she has no choice. We can never really judge a mother's love, how she thinks, and acts when it comes to her children. The problem is she keeps forgetting that she has two daughters, not just one. But in her situation, she thought Kate needed her attention/love more. She might also thought, since she had her own sacrifices for Kate, she expected the people around her to do the same, especially ANNA.
BRIAN, The father, he loves his wife but it was great he rooted for Anna at the end. He had to.
JESSE, He's fucked up but what do you expect? He spent all his life living in that house. No one ever seemed to realise he badly needs the same attention his two sisters are getting.
CAMPBELL, the lawyer. He's great. Seriously that's all I can say about him. And yeah I love his love story along with ANNA's GAL, JULIA. Let me add one thing about him, it was moving that he helped Anna because he truly understand what it means to have no right about one's own body.
Okay here's what I found incredibly questionable? Why did Anna need to die? I don't care about the lessons it's trying to teach like, we only realise what matters when it's gone, or some lessons like that. I don't really understand the relevance of her death in the entire story. Why not just end the story like, Kate survived but still we all know she won't last long. That's acceptable, more acceptable than Anna dying after all she'd done. Maybe one of this novel's lesson is LIFE IS UNFAIR. It appeared that Anna was only her sister's keeper. She existed only for that purpose.
I didn't like the ending but still give this book FIVE STARS, it deserves it, I'm not the author anyway, I don't get to choose how it should end.
I learned from this book that SACRIFICING IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO PROVE YOUR LOVE TO SOMEONE. Sometimes, it's simply just respecting their choices. Like what Anna did when Kate didn't want to live her life that way anymore, she intended to respect it....more
So far this is the best book I've read from Emma Chase. Brent and Kennedy's love story is deeper and more touching than the two previous couples (StanSo far this is the best book I've read from Emma Chase. Brent and Kennedy's love story is deeper and more touching than the two previous couples (Stanton and Sofia, Jake and Chelsea).
Maybe because they were reunited. They had a past together, a fucked up past that haunted them for many years. Brent even had no idea how much his past affected him as he grows old, and Kennedy was scarred deep with everything she went through, sadly because of Brent.
But when they met again, BAM!!!!..so effing awesome experience they gave me. Obviously, they are fated to meet again though their ever-controlling parents admitted they planned their reunion all along.
Okay to conclude, Brent and Sofia's journey was hot and sexy. Hilarious and witty. But that isn't surprising since these characters are from EMMA Chase's mind, they're all funny and sexy.
“Look at me," he said, glancing down at his legs. "A wretched old man in a red monkey suit. A convicted murderer about to be gassed like an animal. And “Look at me," he said, glancing down at his legs. "A wretched old man in a red monkey suit. A convicted murderer about to be gassed like an animal. And look at you. A fine young man with a beautiful education and a bright future. Where in the world did I go wrong? What happened to me? I've spent my life hating people, and look what I have to show for it. You, you don't hate anybody. And look where you're headed. We have the same blood. Why am I here?”
It all started when MarkSway (11) took his younger brother Ricky (8) in a secluded part of a park to teach him how to smoke. They were just doing It all started when MarkSway (11) took his younger brother Ricky (8) in a secluded part of a park to teach him how to smoke. They were just doing their business when a shiny car arrived and apparently the driver was trying to kill himself and did so by the end. Suddenly Mark along with his brother(who suffers a trauma) became witnesses of not only a suicide of a well-known lawyer, but Mark knows more than that. This is a story of an 11-year old boy caught up in a legal drama too big for himself but he has help. His 52-year old lawyer, Reggie Loves, will do everything to ensure Mark and his family is safe and that he's not being denied with all his rights. It's no secret that this book is the first real novel that I've ever read my entire reading life. I was eight and because of this book I became a reader and started dreaming of becoming a writer someday. So I might be biased with my rating and I'll tell you why in a moment. this book isn't perfect. First of all, whatever genre you see on Goodreads listed with this book, do NOT believe it. Because if you go into this book thinking of a wrong genre, you'll be disappointed. This is NOT a legal Thriller, not even a Mystery or Suspense, this book is a plain Legal Drama, period. There's no secret or puzzle, you, as a reader, would try to solve. There is no on-edge-of-the-seat feeling. Okay? And since this is not a whodunit thriller/suspense, I do understand if the story doesn't appeal to everyone. But interesting things happened very early in the book that I can say Grisham doesn't waste his time or mine, and pages. He got on with the juicy parts so early.
But like I said, this book isn't perfect.
It's the plot. What makes it NOT a thriller? because the plot was plain. I'm not gonna call it weak but others might. You see the whole conflict could've been avoided if Mark Sway, our protagonist, told the truth from the very beginning. With little help from other, especially from his amazing lawyer, Reggie, things could've been solved earlier. But I like to think John Grisham really wanted this book to be more character-driven than plotwise, unlike most of his books.
And I must say, he did a great job with it. You see, despite the plot, and that despite the fact that you can guess everything, including the end in 30% mark, you'll still read the whole thing because by then you're already invested on Mark Sway and his lawyer. The moment Mark was introduced in first chapter, I was sold. The opening scene with Mark trying to teach his younger brother how to smoke was just so adorable. Not that I find smoking adorable, but Mark, really, you have no choice but to love him. He's one of the most interesting characters I know.
I just love hearing/reading his thoughts. And I think Mark is top of the reasons why I fell in love with this book before. John Grisham really did a great job introducing his MC in this way. Mark's POV, or voice, is realistic for an 11-year old but his uniqueness is apparent making him more interesting than any other 11-year old. I mean he calls his father, his ex-father. hehe. And the way he thinks of himself as the man in the house so he protects his mother and Ricky seriously.
And as soon as he became the center of this legal drama, my heart went to him completely. His fear is apparent, it broke my heart. He was still smart and strong but that doesn't change the fact that he's just a kid. No matter how many times he said he's mature enough. He's a product of a broken family and of an abusive father but he turned out to be great kid.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. This isn't Grisham's best work(I'll get to that soon as I reread all his books), but you'll enjoy it. Again, mind the genre. be sure you knwo the right genre.
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