forevermorepages's reviews
811 reviews

I probably wouldn't have picked this book up if my mom didn't suggest I read it. I was hesitant because I didn't think it sounded all that interesting, but I was pleasantly surprised. This book unveils one of the least discussed portions of American history and the brutalities of life for orphans affected by this time. The abuse and sadness in Vivian's life as a child disturbed me, but was truly eye-opening.

I found Molly's part of the story just as interesting, but I did, unfortunately, find it written in a somewhat patronizing way. When I read young adult books, their depiction of teenagers seems so much more raw and realistic, but in the adult genre, it comes across like a criticism of teenagers. I felt this way about Molly's chapters, especially in her description of being "goth". I really did like her character, but I think I would have liked her more if I got to see better into her emotions. I also wish I could have seen more into her relationship with her boyfriend because he seemed really controlling. Their relationship came across really negative to me. He constantly put her down and wanted her to lie to protect his mom. It just didn't seem right to me.

I never once found this book slow, unlike how I expected, and read the majority of it on New Year's Eve to meet my challenge goal. If you're looking for an influential novel about United States history (but not in the conventional way), I highly recommend it. I didn't cry, but it really was painful at a lot of points. I also have been known not to cry very often, so... My point, though, is that I truly felt for the characters, and I think that's one of the most important parts of a book--having your emotions affected. If a book doesn't affect you, it isn't worth recommending.

-Book Hugger

5 stars for enjoyment, but about 4 stars critically since there were some...plot holes...and I'm a tad confused.

------

In light of the morning, I'm changing this to 4 stars because I still can't get past how much I felt was missing at the end.

-Book Hugger

Admittedly, there's nothing special about the writing and I struggled to take some parts seriously, but all in all, this book was REALLY fun and I enjoyed reading it and it was different from other YA books!

RTC

-Book Hugger

I honestly didn't go into this thinking I'd like it more than Warcross but here we are. There won't be a full review, but I will say this:
The emotional packed into this book was beautiful, the diversity packed in was beautiful, the world-building exceeded expectations, and my previous questions were answered (something I was worried about after Warcross Yes, I do have to say that there was too much telling and not enough showing, but that's really the only flaw I can find with it. I had reservations about where the plot was going, but I ended up enjoying nearly every second of it.
Thank you, Marie Lu, for restoring my faith in you.

-Book Hugger

For the record, I cried when I finished Bright We Burn, and not because the ending was overwhelmingly tragic, but because the series is over. It's been such a wild ride. I can 100% say The Conquerer's Saga is one of my all-time favorite series. The characters are so fleshed out with individual stories that still feel important to the main one. It reminds me why I love history, because everything is morally-grey, and there's never really a right or wrong answer when you're trying to protect your own people. None of the characters make good decisions, but they all have a reason, and that's the best part of it all.

Still, I can't say I love Lada. She's so messed up and killing a whole room of men is a little shady, but I loved reading about her. A genderbent Vlad the Impaler isn't meant to be a good guy; it's just meant to be interesting. She's fascinating. And sometimes the best characters are the antagonists, especially if they have really deep backstories.

When I was at Comic-Con, Kiersten White said something interesting, that The Conquerer's Saga came about when she read up on Radu and Vlad, how they both had the same upbringing but turned out opposites. She wrote the book as the answer to that question, how one person could be softened by the same terrible childhood that hardened the other.

There was never a dull moment within Bright We Burn. Everything was perfectly fast-paced, invigorating, exciting. Pivotal events occurred and the characters were changed and the character development (cue the screaming) was amazing. I'm so pleased with how things turned out, honestly, which is something weird to say at the end of a gut-wrenching series. Usually, I'm in immense pain because all of my favorite characters had a bittersweet or just outright tragic ending, but these characters...well, they got what they deserved, and I'll say that much.

I couldn't really ask for a better conclusion. All I want to do right now is pick the series right back up and reread it all. I want to watch as Radu grows to love himself despite who he loves, watch as Lada realizes she doesn't need Mehmed.

The sibling relationship is a special one. Radu and Lada, as previously stated, are polar opposites. Radu faces everything with compassion (and deserves the entire world, if you ask me), while Lada stands with her knife pointed out waiting for someone to make a wrong move. This series isn't about any other relationship at the heart of it, but the relationship between siblings who weren't truly meant to be on the same side ever. The only side they were meant to be on was their own, not with a country, but with each other.

I could go on for ages, but I think it's clear I love this series. If you haven't picked it up, I highly recommend trying it.

-Book Hugger

http://www.bookhuggerreviews.com

“Hold hands with the devil until you are both over the bridge.
Or kill the devil and burn the bridge so no one can get to you.”
 
I think I have found one of my new favorite series, possibly in the top ten series that I have ever read. Words cannot express how much I love this series. It combines some of my favorite elements of books: history, retellings, character development, diversity, and slow burn romance (if you've read Now I Rise, you know what I'm talking about). Kiersten White, in my opinion, has written a masterpiece, and from here on forward I will read any book she publishes, even if it's a compilation of all the grocery lists she has ever jotted down on scratch paper. Actually, I might draw the line at that, we'll see.

Honestly, though, this series really does have a special place in my heart. I still don't like Lada, but the last one hundred pages, which were very Lada-centered, had me on the edge of my seat. Those pages were brutall, but it was some of the most well-done character development I have ever seen. She is one of the strongest, most self-reliant female characters I have ever read about and if that doesn't interest you, I don't know what would. She's a fascinating character to delve into, no matter how much I hate her actions. She is the epitome of an antihero. Oh, how I love morally grey characters. Literature often makes history beautiful where it never was. Thank you, White, for not making this beautiful. 

“Mercy is the one thing I cannot afford. Not yet. When Wallachia is stable, when we have rebuilt, then yes. What we do now, we do so that someday mercy will be able to survive here."

I think it's important to note here that this really isn't Lada's book either. The last bit is centered around her, but the majority of the book is about Radu and his adventures in Constantinople at the side of Cyprian (who I shamelessly love). It was really interesting to see Radu's character develop as he struggled with which side he truly aligned. Was he with Mehmed, the man he worshipped, or with Cyprian? I am so fascinated by foreign affairs and politics in general, so this part really peaked my interest. I also find the concept of spies really interesting.

As well, the drifting between Lada and Radu, both finding their own place in the world, Lada's in Wallachia and Radu's not yet to be found, was great to read about. This isn't an ordinary sibling story. It's the story of two siblings who grew up at each other's side realizing that they both can be strong on their own. It's heartbreaking to read about, but I loved it nonetheless. It's an aspect of life not often read about, and an aspect of these brutal stories of the past not often explored. 

“Tonight, she felt the full weight of that loss. The loss of a brother who would have stood at her side and fought this battle of manners and politics for her. The loss of a man who would have laughed at her dress and her hair but also been desperate to be alone so he could undo it all for her.
Perhaps she had never stopped being that girl lost in a place where she could never have power.”

As for the side characters, I am so glad we got to see more of Nazira. I love her friendship with Radu and I love her so much. She's truly an amazing character. I am so grateful that this book doesn't shy away from the hardships the both of them face. 

“I cannot imagine a god who hates anything that is love, any way we find to take tender care of each other. I want you to find that same love, and I never want you to hate yourself for any love that is in you.”

I almost rated this four stars. Almost. Through the beginning, I found Lada's chapters somewhat disinteresting. However, that was all dismantled within the last portion of the novel when Lada was at her most interesting. Now, in the amount of pain I am from that cliffhanger, I can't even imagine this being rated any less than five stars. Bright We Burn is way too far away. I can't wait for July of 2018. How am I supposed to be that patient? I can barely wait for the end of the school day! Ugh, that ending was cruel. If you haven't started this series yet, I would recommend waiting until closer to Bright We Burn's release date. 

-Book Hugger

My blog: http://www.bookhuggerreviews.com

As a little beginning note, I am so glad that nearly all of the books I've picked up this year so far have been incredibly diverse. Talk about starting 2018 off right! This book made me so very happy because it's been such a long time since I've read a book that has such great representation of marginalized groups (in my opinion--correct me if I'm wrong) and really portrays a normal high school. It's not realistic for everyone to be white and straight. I look around my school and I see the exact opposite. And it's fantastic to see that written in a book. 

Anyway, I loved this book. I had a few quibbles (hence the four star rating), but I did truly enjoy it. I don't read contemporaries that often and probably wouldn't have read this if not for Owlcrate, and for that, I am very grateful. This book has such a cute romance and amazing side characters. As well, it's got a little Shakespeare in it and who can complain about that? Okay, maybe a lot of people, but not me. I regretfully haven't read A Midsummer Night's Dream, but it's very high on my Shakespeare TBR list. 

“Sometimes...around some people, I feel like I have to, like...try, you know?...But with you-- when I'm with you, I can just...exist. You know what I mean?” 

I really liked Claudia. She's a really relatable character and I loved that we got to see so many different facets of her. She plays video games (yay same!), loves a boy band (not same, but cool!), is good at school, loves her friends, loves her family, and yet still has issues with her friends and family. Can I also applaud Emma Mills for having a really strong familial aspect here? There's so little positive families in YA and this was such a pleasant surprise! We see the ups and downs of family, but at the end of the day, they all love each other and care for each other. It was so fluffy and sweet. 

“Sometimes it's hard to know if something's for real? It's hard to believe it, even if you want it to be real. Even if you want it so badly. Sometimes it seems...safer, you know. Not to risk it.”

I also loved her friends and this book is definitely more about friendship than romance, in my opinion. I really did love Iris, despite her being a complete jerk in the beginning. She underwent a lot of character development and I liked that Mills explored the other aspects of her character, like the boy band fan and the girl whose never really been liked by anyone but Paige. Also, her friendship with Claudia was A+. Can we have more female friendships in books?? They're so precious. 

As well, Claudia's friendship with Zoe was super sweet and reminded me a tad of one of my friendships. I did think the "issue" between them was fairly cliché and I wasn't a huge fan of that. I personally, would have also been mad at Zoe and may not have been so keen on forgiveness. But I'm also petty and hold grudges. Anyway, I also loved Noah and Gideon's friendship. The line about Noah being his brother made me smile so much. 

Anyway, I think my main issue was how quick Gideon and Claudia were to become interested in each other. In no real world would a boy take one look at a girl and become interested. Or maybe I am a huge cynic that doesn't believe in true love. It felt a lot like instalove though and boy, am I not a fan of that trope. I did like that it took a long time for them to get together (slow burn for the win!), but I think it had a messy start.

I also thought that the conflict felt more middle-grade to me, but the content wasn't fitting to the younger genre at all, so...Personally, it could have used a little more depth, but maybe that's my preference for a ton of angst. I think that's more a case of "it's not you, it's me". 

But anyway, the rest of this book was totally me. It was cute and sweet and so wonderfully done. I highly recommend this book!

“It just feels like..." Her voice small. "Sometimes it just feels like I'm faking." 
"Maybe everyone feels that way.”

-Book Hugger

“Actually, the problem is that I can’t lose my mind,” I said. “It’s inescapable.”

It’s been a very long time since I read a book and felt this emotionally attached to it, as though I were somehow bound to the main character and their problems. I think nearly everyone in the book blogging community found solace in [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] by Rainbow Rowell and I did too, but…Turtles All the Way Down blows that out of the water. I have never related to a character more than I relate to Aza Holmes.

John Green’s writing isn’t spectacular. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve watched enough of his Crash Course videos to hear his voice instead of my own when I’m reading either. Even Aza’s quotes sounded like Green. It’s a little unnerving if you ask me. Aside from that, it comes across as though he’s trying too hard at parts to sound like an inspirational poster. A few lines is okay, but every other paragraph he adds something “profound” and “deep”. Don’t get me wrong, I love all that, but after awhile it feels a tad forced.

“In the best conversations, you don’t even remember what you talked about, only how it felt. It felt like we were in some place your body can’t visit, some place with no ceiling and no walls and no floor and no instruments”

If I were going by logistics, I would rate this four stars, but I honestly can’t bring myself to do that. I read the last half (ish) during my photography class when I finished working and I had literal tears in my eyes. If it’s an effort to get me to shed tears while reading in general, it’s even more of an effort to get me to do so in public. Thankfully, I didn’t receive any uncomfortable looks.

I really saw myself in Aza. It was 100% visible that this was an own voices novel. I’ve never seen someone write about anxiety so raw and real. I felt Aza’s anxiety as if it were my own. I don’t have as severe of anxiety as she does and am very lucky, but I saw myself in her existential crises and constant fear. She was also a lot like me in that she doesn’t express her emotions very well, choosing to repress until it all burst into a mess too large to pick up.

“True terror isn’t being scared; it’s not having a choice on the matter.”

Beyond even the anxiety representation, I really loved how it touched upon first love. Romance wasn’t even at the center (shocking, right?). It actually felt more about friendship and I loved that. I can’t say I was overly satisfied emotionally by the ending (no spoilers!), but I do have to say it was a million times more realistic than anything else I’ve ever read. I also really, really loved Davis. I would very much like to have a Davis in my life. His poetry was A+ material, too.

“It’s a weird phrase in English, in love, like it’s a sea you drown in or a town you live in. You don’t get to be in anything else—in friendship or in anger or in hope. All you can be in is love.”

The romance aspect tied really well into the mental illness and anxiety portion. It wasn’t one of those books where the love interest “cures” the main character. That was where I could really tell Green understood what it was like because the majority of books with the “cure all” mentality are written by authors who don’t understand.

As well, the friendship between Aza and Daisy was extraordinarily messy. I can’t say I like Daisy at all, but I think the character development was pretty strong. She’s a terrible friend, quite honestly, but at the end of the day, Aza wasn’t all that great at it either. Both of their characters were really flawed and it made it feel so real.

“You’re both the fire and the water that extinguishes it. You’re the narrator, the protagonist, and the sidekick. You’re the storyteller and the story told. You are somebody’s something, but you are also your you.”

All in all, this book broke me into a million pieces. I also didn’t see the plot twist coming at all, so kudos to you, John Green.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you have anxiety and would love to feel seen.

I will leave with one more quote, a personal favorite, that shook me to my entire core: “But I also had a life, a normal-ish life, which continued. For hours or days, the thoughts would leave me be, and I could remember something my mom told me once: Your now is not your forever. I went to class, got good grades, wrote papers, talked to Mom after lunch, ate dinner, watched television, read. I was not always stuck inside myself, or inside my selves. I wasn’t only crazy.”

-Book Hugger

(This review was basically one-third quotes, but I have no regrets. I would plaster this book all over the world if I could).

I picked Far from the Tree up a bit randomly because I loved Robin Benway's other book, Emmy & Oliver (under-hyped!). I, for some reason, thought it'd be happy, what with the pretty cover and me clearly having no memory of the roller coaster of emotions in E&O. I almost cried reading Far from the Tree, and I probably would have had I not finished this in a car on the way from the zoo (weird, yes).

As in E&O, there's a strong emphasis on family in Far from the Tree, this time on siblings separated because their mother put them all up for adoption. At the same time, there's an emphasis on adopted family, too, and how it isn't any less important than blood family. I love how it worked through that and even more with Joaquin who didn't have an adopted family at the start of the book, who had gone through issues with adoption.

"That’s what parents do. They catch you before you fall. That’s what family is.”

I can't say I loved all three of the siblings, but I felt for them. I connected most with Joaquin and Grace instead of Maya, but found them all interesting to read about. Joaquin and Grace, in my opinion, had deeper storylines than Maya's, which meant I was more emotionally attached to them. THOUGH, I still love Maya and found her story important, in the least.

"It took us fifteen years to find each other, but we still did! And sometimes, family hurts each other. But after that's done you bandage each other up, and you move on. Together. You've got us now, like it or not, and we've got you.”

Honestly, I went into this hoping for a sweet contemporary and found a pile of emotions instead. Not that I'm complaining. It was just unexpected (and mostly because I'm daft).

I have very little more to say because I honestly just loved this? And couldn't ask for any more? It was so beautiful and heartwarming and just...yes.

Last thing, the romances? I thought it was interesting that two out of three were already established and having problems, so it was more about fixing things than creating them. But I still loved the one that was a new relationship (for Grace, finding someone new after her ex who got her pregnant left her).

I'm still flailing.

And now I want to reread Emmy & Oliver. (Read it!)

-Book Hugger