Review: This is Where it Ends

Title: This is Where it Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Publication Date: January 5, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Rating: 4.5 stars

Goodreads | Book Depository 

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03
The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05
Someone starts shooting.

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student's calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

This book gutted me in a quiet and unexpected way.

           

            The actual story is told over the span of 54 minutes, yet there is so much history encompassed in these pages; the kind of history that speaks to what kind fo town Opportunity is, the legacy of its families, and, of course, the intimate lives of the narrators of this event. There are multiple POVs but it was never confusing and I felt like I was not only able to get to know each character but really connect with them. By the end of the book, felt regret, mournful, and relief alongside them- a rare feat for any author to accomplish, especially in such a short amount of pages. I’ll be honest, I’m usually quite picky about books that have a lot of flashbacks but this one pulled it off amazingly well.

I really enjoyed this story, not only because it was gripping in a horrifying can’t-look-away kind of way. The author did a great job fleshing out all of the characters and I wanted to applaud the different representations she included to give a true multifaceted view of how all of this came to happen.

There are tough themes in the book like bullying, abuse, and sexual assault and by the end there is so much regret and heartbreak. This book is dark, diverse, maybe controversial, and hauntingly real. A powerful debut by Marieke Nijkamp, and one that has me looking forward to her future works. 

2015.... So that happened

Hello, blogosphere!

Wow, looking back on old posts, it's actually been over a year since my last post. And to be honest, for a while, I really didn't think I would get back into blogging. I'm in my third year of university, and in the past two years, I just wasn't able to find the time to read as much for pleasure as I used to. Between my coursework and extracurriculars, blogging took a backseat for a while, but it was always there in the back of my mind, keeping track of ideas for posts that I never had time to write.

Starting this year, I made a list of resolutions (bookishly-related, of course) to hopefully get me back into blogging. Not only do I miss the warm network of fellow book bloggers, I miss writing creatively. Along the way to getting an English major, I've started to feel like I'm only ever churning out critical responses and close-readings. In the span of this unfortunately long blogging slump, I've definitely had the luck of discovering some fantastic YA novels that I can't wait to finally write about.

In addition to just getting back into blogging, I've also discovered some new platforms I'd like to further explore. No worries, I fully intend on still posting here, it is my original brainchild after all. But if any of you are so inclined, feel free to follow me at my tumblr as well: Joy in Translation
I've found that the tumblr layout really works for me, especially when it comes to doing short photo posts or mini-updates. I'll be posting pretty much the same content (reviews, musings, etc.) on both blogs, but I may have a little extra stuff on my tumblr!

So, going into this new year, here are my 10 Resolutions: of 2016:

1. Read 50 books this year (aka my Goodreads challenge)
2. Start book blogging again! 2 reviews a month minimum 
3. Finish a journal
4. Make better grades
5. Revive a piano piece that I can whip out at future dinner parties
6. Stop being such a procrastinator 
7. Document my life
8. Work out regularly 
9. Learn how to cook something fancy 
10. Memorize a sonnet 

I'll be using my blogs as a way to keep track of these goals and, hopefully, in the time that I was away, I learned to be a better writer hehe.

Cheers!

~Joie

City of Heavenly Fire Cover Reveal!

City of Heavenly Fire (TMI #6)

Cassandra Clare

May 27, 2014

"ΕRCHOMAI, SEBASTIAN HAD SAID. 

I am coming."

Scarlet Read-Along, Anyone?

Hello lovelies! I know I've been dreadfully absent from the blogosphere for the past couple of months. Unfortunate byproduct of college, I suppose. But I'm back for winter break and I'm partaking in the Scarlet Read-Along in anticipation for Cress! :)

The read-along it hosted by Tt over at Never Ending Stories Book Blog. Here's the info in case anyone else wants to join in!

• Starting: January 1, we will read 2 chapters of Scarlet (or Cinder if you haven't read it yet!) by Marissa Meyer each day and discuss via your blog each day(not an entire post each day maybe just talk about what you read that day and your thoughts) or via twitter! If you tweet or talk about Cinder on your blog that will get you more entries into this awesome Giveaway!!!
• Prizes: We have some awesome prizes for our participants! Macmillian will be Giving-away: 5 winners will get Cinder, 5 other winners will get Scarlet, 5 other winners get Cress, and another 5 winners will get swag bags!!!!!!!!!!!!
•  Pace: There are no right or wrong ways to read with us. If you would like to do two chapters a night, that's great! If you would like to read Cinder in one night and post on your blog or tweet and discuss as we go, more power to you!! If you have not read Cinder you are allowed to read Cinder, tweet, and collect points as well. Beware of spoilers since this read-along is for the second book in the series!

1. Please Leave your: Name,Blog URL,&Twitter  in the comment box below to sign up! If you could spread the word and copy this post you can get more points in the rafflecopter below(You get ten points for signing up to read with us). Once you leave your comment in the comment box below enter in the rafflecopter for your points!) .
2. Start reading and posting on your blog and twitter on January 1, 2014! You can chat about the book and post your favorite quotes from Cinder (If you haven't read it yet) or Scarlet!
3. Tweets: Your tweets must include :  @marissa_meyer @mackidsbooks . You can enter all your tweets into the raffle copter below for more entries to win! If you dont have a twitter, you can blog about Cinder everyday and put your links for the posts in the rafflecopter below for more entries as well!
4. Be Creative: For bonus points you can do a fun post about the Lunar Chronicles and if you need any ideas; here are a few:

 -Make a Lunar Chronicles playlist 
-Fan Art!!!
 - Make a movie/Book trailer for Cress.
-Make a fun post about the lunar chronicles.-  Lunar Chronicle Cast!- Be Creative  Put together clothes, purses,tea or anything that makes you think of the Lunar Chronicles.

-Make a Pinterest board filled with pictures reminiscent of the Lunar Chronicles.

Here is the Schedule:

1/1- Read to Chapter 2

1/2- Read to Chapter 4

1/3- Read to Chapter 6

1/4- Read to Chapter 8

1/5- Read to Chapter 10

1/6- Read to Chapter 12

1/7- Read to Chapter 14

1/8- Read to Chapter 16

1/9- Read to Chapter 18

1/10- Read to Chapter 20

1/11- Read to Chapter 22

1/12- Read to Chapter 24

1/13- Read to Chapter 26

1/14- Read to Chapter 28

1/15- Read to Chapter 30

1/16- Read to Chapter 32

1/17- Read to Chapter 34

1/18- Read to Chapter 35

1/19- Read to Chapter 36

1/20- Read to Chapter 37

1/21- Read to Chapter 38

1/22- Read to Chapter 39
1/23- Read to Chapter 40
1/24- Read to Chapter 41
1/25- Read to Chapter 42
1/26-Done (Last day to tweet)

1/27-Winner'sAnnounced on Twitter/Blog

5 winners will get Cinder, 5 other winners will get Scarlet, 5 other winners get Cress, and another 5 winners will get swag bags!!!!!!!!!!!! 20 winners in one Giveaway!!?? Wow!! 

Stacking the Shelves

Bought:

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

United We Spy (Gallagher Girls #6) by Ally Carter

Newest book purchase....

So far I have heard great things about this book, and I can't wait to get started...

*sees pile of required English reading*

.... Eventually.

Currently reading...

Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi

(also an assigned reading for my Contemporary Women's Text class)

All I can say right now is that it's very interesting... Raises a lot of questions about not only physical harems (which is, in reality, very different from my perceptions) but also one's internal harems.

A quick break from college life...

Hello lovely readers!! 

I've recently started my first year of college and let me apologize in advance because I won't be able to post as frequently as I would like. I have a TON of readings to do on a daily basis- I'm taking two English classes, History of Lit in English I and Contemporary Women's Texts. 

But worry not, I WILL still be posting!

I'm really excited and I can't wait to tell you all about new books I'm reading in class. They probably won't be YA so don't be surprised if I start blabbering about Beowulf (though I really doubt that). Anyways, I'm currently reading Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson for my Contemporary Women's Texts class. I'm surprised by how much I like it so far! Very funny delivery. Can't wait to do a review when I finish. 

Okay, that's my quick update for the night.  And to everybody going back to school, good luck!  :)

Top Ten Favorite Secondary Characters

Hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

Tesadora and Perry from The Lumatere Chronicles

There is so much back story for these two characters and SO much character development with regards to their relationship towards each other. Tesadora and Perry should definitely have their own book series.

Dee from Just One Day

He is just made from awesomesauce. I'd love to have someone like Dee as a BFF.

Finnick and Annie from Catching Fire/Mockingjay

I love these two not only for their heart-crushing romance, but also because of how these characters make readers rethink their initial impressions and look at them in a new light. 

Sonia from Crime and Punishment

She is just such a wonderfully selfless character- a real angel figure. By far my favorite character in the book.

Jackal from The Immortal Rules

This guy is a sadistic, slightly crazy vamp. With an awesome sense of humor. And I kind of love him. Julie Kawaga, what are you doing to me?!?

Rose and Linden from Wither

My God, what I wouldn't give for a prequel about these two.... Seriously! I'd give up chocolate! (Maybe for like a week, but it's the thought that counts.) I think the relationship between Linden and Rose is so complex and interesting... almost Stockholm-like. But I also think they're super cute and perfect for each other. So.

Isabel and Cole from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series

I definitely liked these two more than Grace and Sam. They were such broken characters, though undeniably tough in the face of what they were going through. 

Severus Snap from the Harry Potter series

Admittedly, he is a rather large secondary character, but I'm going to include him on this list because REASONS. 

Seriously. If you need me to explain why, then you need to go back and re-read the series.

Noelle from the Private series

Throughout the series, she's had so much development and, bitchy or not, I really love her as a character. 

Isabelle from The Mortal Instruments series

Izzy is a character who doesn't really start to shine until the later books. Sure, you see her sass and badassery in CoB and CoA, but its' afterwards you realize just how strong yet vulnerable she is. 

To be honest, I like her SO much more than Clary. 

Movie Review: City of Bones

Am I the only one who thinks it's surreal that just last year, we were freaking out over casting news and scouring the web for set pictures, and now the actual movie is actually out...? Like- in theaters.

Yeah, it's cray-cray.

I apologize in advance for how unorganized this following review will be. The thing is, I just have way too many feels about this movie to try and organize it into a coherent, well-written review so this random list of thoughts and such is what you're going to get instead. :)

I didn't have time for a re-read prior to seeing the movie but I thought that the movie captured all the key scenes very well. If they had lost some of the small moments in between, it wasn't big enough to notice. The pacing was very fast and full of action. There was literally not a moment of down time and I loved that. 

The cast was wonderful. Any other argument is invalid. Lily Collins played a great Clary- I'm normally not a huge Clary fan, but I really enjoyed her portrayal. To those who doubted Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace, eat your words now because he was absolutely fantastic! And the chemistry between the two.... Let's just say that I am not an adamant shipper of Clace in the books, but I was squealing and flailing like crazy every time they had a Moment in the movie 

Other character-related thoughts

• Really enjoyed seeing more Simon-Isabelle interaction. Give. Me. More.
• I had my doubts about Kevin Zegers as Alec, but he nailed it!
• "Godfrey Gao more like Godfrey WOW." Amiright? That being said, I feel like the movie took away some of Magnus's flair and humor. He was more intense and badass, which was nice, but I really missed his flippant side. Hopefully they can bring out more of that in the later movies.
• Lena Headey totally kicked ass.... in the moments before she lost consciousness, yes, but still.
• Hodge's story line was slightly altered. I liked it, and I'm really interested in seeing how it continues. 
• Jonathon Rhys Meyers.... Well. He definitely took his own spin on Valentine- slightly more madman-esque and creepy. Brilliant portrayal but. Please. Lose. The. Braids. Just. No. 

Overall, though, I think the characters lost a lot of their normal humor and wit in the translation to movie form. There were a lot of great direct quotes from the book (which my inner fangirl greatly appreciated) but I really missed Isabelle's flippant sass and the ever-enjoyable Jace-Simon banter.

The special effects were great- especially in terms of how they portrayed the Institute. By far my favorite location in the movie- the Institute's library gave me a good idea of what I want my heaven to look like. The runes looked amazing and I could tell that a lot of detail went into incorporating the runes not only on the shadowhunters but on various artifacts. I personally thought the demons were pretty dang scary.... especially that little demon child. *shudder*

In terms of how well the movie followed the book, Harald Zwart did a great job. I'd say the movie nailed all the major plot points- and I understood the ones that they had to change. 

BUT. THAT. ENDING. The movie differed greatly from the book in terms of the ending, and I am still left with a bunch of conflicting emotions about that. I understood some of the changes that were made, but others kind of disappointed me. 

This is one of the better movie adaptations out there- pretty high up in my list of favorites- but it's not without its faults. I think it definitely helped to have read the book because the world-building was only briefly explained. The pacing was so fast that had I not had prior knowledge of this world, I would have been a little lost. That being said, I did really enjoy this movie and words cannot describe how excited I am for the next one.

RATING: 4 STARS

Last note:

To all the reviews out there calling City of Bones a Twilight wannabe.

Stop.

Just. Stop. 

Top Ten Books I Wish Could Have Had Sequels

Hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

Coming up with 10 books for this list was... surprisingly hard.

As I looked back on all the books I'd marked as read on goodreads, I realized just how many of those books were part of a series. Must go out and explore more stand-alone novels. 

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

The whole book was about Amy and Roger coming together and I'd really like to see how they are as a couple.

Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

The ending of this was good, but too open-ended for my liking!! I need to know what happens to my OTP!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

DAT. ENDING.

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

First off, this book was perfect as a stand-alone. I wouldn't change a thing about it. But I love the characters so much that I definitely would not mind a sequel. 

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

The fairy tale curse aspect is so cool and I definitely think it could be explored further in a sequel or spin-off. (*ahem* I'd particularly love a Beauty and the Beast retelling...)

Reckoning by Lili St. Crow

What even was that ending?!?!?! Endless. Frustration. If ever there should be a sequel for a series that has already ended, it would be for this one.

Sold by Patricia McCormick

I think this as a stand-alone was absolutely perfect. Flawless. But McCormick captured the protagonist's voice and the hell that she was going through so beautifully that I'm sure if she ever decided to write a sequel, it would be equally wonderful. Plus I really would like to know what happens to the protagonist after that ending.

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

I loved Remy and Dexter! I'd love to have a whole book to see how these two fair after Remy's in college.

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

In my opinion, this is the only Dessen book that really needs a sequel. Hallie and Macon. I just- I WANT SOME ANSWERS, OKAY?

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

I don't know if this one counts since Marchetta has said that she has an idea for a Jimmy Hailler book in mind, but I haven't heard definitive news about this would-be book yet. 

But I want it. Really, really badly.  

Review: The Eternity Cure

Title: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publication date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: I recieved a copy by Netgalley in return for an honest review

Rating: 4.5 stars

Goodreads l B&N l Amazon l Book Despository

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

As far as sequels go, I'm glad to say that The Eternity Cure did not disappoint- which was quite a feat considering how much I loved The Immortal Rules. This book made me feel so many things- from anxiety to anticipation to short-lived joy to heartache- that I'm going to have to break down this review piece by piece.

The Characters
Allie. Badass as ever. She is both fierce and fearsome, which makes for a great vampire, yet she also carries vulnerabilities and insecurities, which makes for a great, relatable protagonist. In this book, Allie is really starting to come into her own, accepting and embracing her new vampire life. I'm really excited to see where Kagawa takes this character in the next book. Especially with the way this one ended.....

Zeke. Bookish bad boys better watch out because Ezekial Cross is making the Nice Guy persona very swoon-worthy. My favorite thing about Zeke, aside from his innate goodness is his unwavering loyalty and faith. In that respect, I think he and Allie complement each other very well.

Jackal. Oh, Ms. Kawaga.... what have you done? I think Jackal just became my favorite character in the series!! I loved how I was constantly guessing whether he would end up a hero or a villain. There are little moments when he proves to be a good ally (and great comic relief) but there is always this understanding that he can't be trusted. I guess I'm just a total sucker for morally ambiguous characters with snark. I also enjoyed his twisted sibling relationship with Allie- it brought some much needed humor and lightness into an otherwise dark story.

Kanin...... is such and interesting character. After two books, I'm still not completely sure what to make of him. Kanin takes a bigger role in this book which was quite nice because I love his demeanor, especially in relation to all the other characters. For me, Kanin is definitely the most intriguing one to read about.

And, in case you were wondering, Sarren is still as twisted and sadistic as ever.

The Plot
As always, Kagawa's pacing was perfect. This book had me hooked from the very first chapter and kept me enraptured all the way up to that jaw-dropping ending. Literally, I openly gaped at the book when I got to the last page. But don't worry, no spoilers for you!

The most notable thing about this book was that there was a lot more gore than in The Immortal Rules. On one hand, this was nice because more action was happening throughout the book- and, really, who doesn't love awesome fight scenes? On the other hand, it did feel just a tad bit excessive. There are only so many pages I can stand of sword-slashing and vampiric dismemberment.

The Romance
This is pretty surprising for me to say, but I was a little unsatisfied with the romance. It's not that I didn't like the romantic development (because I totally support the Zeke/Allie ship) but the initial meeting between the two, namely Zeke explaining why he came after Allie, did not feel very natural to me. I may be in the minority here, but, following the events of book 1, it didn't seem like their relationship was at a point where it was realistic that Zeke did the things he did for her.

All in all:
The Eternity Cure was a very riveting read. Kagawa has hit the character-plot-setting trifecta once again.
Warning: this book ends with one heck of cliffhanger. Unless it's 2014 and the third book is out, prepare junk food on hand to eat away the feelings.

Cover Reveal: Cress

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)

By Marissa Meyer

To be published February 4, 2014

My thoughts:

It's. So. BEAUTIFUL.  *o*

Definitely my favorite cover in the series thus far.

Top Ten Beginnings & Endings

Hosted over at The Broke and Bookish

BEGINNINGS

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” 

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

 "My father took one hundred and thirty-two minutes to die. I counted."

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

“She will fight for light, and he for dark,
Battling through the ages for loves sweet spark.
Wherever two souls adore truly, you will find them, lo,
The brave Juliet and the wicked Romeo.” 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love.
It did not end well."

ENDINGS

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

"'Yes,' I said. 'Isn't it pretty to think so?'” 

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it."

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
“Instead, I try to adjust to the dawn, letting the tears fall where they may, because it is morning; it is morning and there is so much to see.” 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This one's spoilery so I won't include the actual text but just- ALL. THE. FEELS. 

Identical by Ellen Hopkins

No spoilers for you! Let me just say that my. Mind. Was. Blown.

That is all. 

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

brb crying because of the beautifulness