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Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was so much fun! It kept me wanting more with every turn of the page.
Beatrice or 'Tris' is a girl struggling to find herself in a very black and white community. At a coming of age ceremony where the teenagers must choose whether to stay with their family and commit to their ideals or to become part of a new family forsaking the old, Beatrice's choice changes her life forever. Tris will be pushed to the limit of her endurance both physically and mentally. Will she be able to find herself without destroying her future?
I really enjoyed the whole concept of the factions and how the characters embrace one virtue while still, but not obviously, exhibiting others. I read a particularly bad review of this book where the reviewer commented on how unrealistic it is for people to live devoting themselves to one virtue or another; but honestly, I think that it makes it quite evident that, although that is the concept behind the infrastructure, everything is not as black and white as it seems. The initiates all struggle to become what is expected of them, but they still all hang on to what they truly are inside. Anyway, I couldn't put the book down and I read it all in a day. Afterward I wanted more, and wished I would have spaced it out a bit, but I guess that is what the author is going for! I highly recommend Divergent for anyone interested in this genre.



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Blood Red Road by Moira Young

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


WOW! I loved Blood Red Road!!! This book was so amazing.
Saba tells the story of her journey to save her twin brother Lugh who was kidnapped by four cloaked horsemen. Saba along with her young sister Emmi are relentless in their search for their beloved brother while constantly struggling with their own tenuous relationship. Nothing can stop Saba from accomplishing her goal. She learns that she is someone without Lugh, who was always first at everything with Saba content to stand in his shadow. Saba is a survivor and she recognizes that in herself and uses it to overcome extreme obstacles! She even manages to find love in the midst of all this adversity.
I was immediately captivated by the narrative, Saba, and her family. I could go on to list everything that captivated me immediately but that would be a whole lot of commas and conjunctions. I read this book in just a few hours. I cried when tragedy struck Saba again and again. It was a highly emotional read! Saba is kick ass without trying, and who doesn't love that in a heroine? I was trapped by the evolving relationship between Saba and Emmi and of course Jack. To say that I want to read more right this instant would be a total understatement. This was one of the BEST dystopian novels I've read so far, and I have read quite a few. I would definitely recommend, whenever possible, picking this book up and giving it a shot. I know you will be surprised. SO GOOD!



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Graceling by Kristin Cashore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book wowed me. I don't generally love books like this, but I'm tempted to change my mind. The world sucked me in and I became an oppressed member of the population. I felt for the people and I wanted vengeance right alongside Katsa.
Katsa was such a brilliant lead character. She was everything I always wanted in a female lead, strong, courageous, not obsessed with femininity, competent, and above all, KICK ASS! Her counterpart was equally brilliant. Po was intelligent and sympathetic with non traditional physical characteristics. These characters had depth and were not the cookie cutter perfection some authors like to stick in lead roles.
Katsa and Po embark on a journey to uncover a conspiracy surrounding Po's family. Along the way they discover themselves and many others including Bitterblue, a young princess in need of protection from her father, and King Leck, a father determined to capture Bitterblue and use her to his own ends. Every step of their journey is riveting. I wasn't capable of putting Graceling down a single time after I cracked its cover.
Graceling is the perfect blend of adventure, love, and tragedy and I highly recommend it to all readers!



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