Insurgent

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
 
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Collins)
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have so many thoughts and opinions running through my head that I don't really even know where to start. All I know is that I really love Insurgent! I honesty like 'Insurgent' better than 'Divergent'. 'Insurgent' has more meaning sending out to the readers. The book showed, demonstrated a whole lot of goodness through Tris' character as I read of what it really means to be brave and selfless. What struck me the most was what truly is bravery, courageous and boldness. I would really want to thank you the author for coming up such a strong character that has helped me so much this past week. I'll share my side of story. Here goes.

It was the day of PE that we have running of 3 rounds around the school. My friends and I obviously has no passion for running. Teacher doesn't even have to know whether we like it or not. I guess I had no choice but run. I ran and ran and ran. Along the process I started to realize that my feelings and views were changing. I knew I wanted to stop running because I could feel the pain through my lungs, legs - all the pain beating the breath out of me - wanting me to stop, just stop running. I did not.

"It doesn't matter if you believe you can or not. You will, because that's who you are." -Tobias

In my thoughts I said, "Come on, run! If Tris could do it, you can too!" But that wasn't enough of motivation. The side of my body was screaming in pain. I said to myself "Run! Pretend there is a bullet in you that has to be remove immediately! You'll survive if you run now!" I did, of course! I don't want to die just yet.

"I can pretend to be brave, but I'm not." -Tris

"Abnegation taught me: turning away from myself, projecting always outward, and hoping that in whatever is next, I will be better than I am now." -Tris

And for the last round and final motivation was from classmate who told me that I should run and something caught sparks to what he said, "Your brother is athletic! Come on, Q, run! *clap clap*" I ran, proving him wrong I'm nothing like brother and not I could be athletic when I want to.

It's all about choices. If you choose to do what you really want to do, you will do it and you CAN! The running of 3 rounds taught me that lesson. And thanks to 'Insurgent'! Such an amazing inspiring book!! I was thinking, if I read 'Insurgent' every day I will always be reminded to be brave. However, that's not it. I had researched quotes on bravery:

"When life gives you something that makes you feel afraid, that's when life gives you a chance to be brave."

"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt"

"Necessity makes even the timid brave."

I got good ones and I also came across a war tactic who wrote "The Art of War", Sun Tzu. It connects someway or another to 'Insurgent' the uprising war that's coming in the society. The necessity quote reminds me of Tobias: "...the value of a sacrifice lies in its necessity, not throwing your life away!"


"We both have war inside of us. Sometimes it keeps us alive. Sometimes it threatens to destroy us." -Tris
Yes, there are times that it's not other people who are our enemies but within us.

The Lunar Chronicles #1: Cinder

“. . . it unfolds with the magic of a fairy tale and the breakneck excitement of dystopian fiction.” –Publisher’s Weekly (starred review) Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another one of my favorite fairytale retelling! In fact, it has a good story that eventually, when we get to the end of it - there's that conclusion we're all going to be looking forward to! I cannot wait for that and so are the rest of you who knows that this series will kill us! Be prepare, bookworms!

 I can't believe myself that I had to wait a year to read this book. Why did I wait so long? I don't get myself sometimes. *shrugs*

I actually have seen the book in the school library. I wasn't interested and misjudged the book's cover and title. I am sorry. However, reading the book and it's synopsis, proved me wrong - turning my negative thoughts the other way, telling me to READ it and so I picked the book up and started reading it. It's great! I just so adore fairytale retelling!! You must read it! At the end of the book, it has gotten complicated for Cinder and in my opinion, I had the same confusion. A lot to take in. I could feel her emotion seeping out through her and letting the readers know her honest emotions -  raw and a rush of uncontrollable emotions. Someway or another, I understand why she must had felt that way.

Definitely unexpected happenings going on and actions! Love the actions! All the secrets yet to be revealed and lots and lots of those dirty secrets still hanging loose! Oh myself! Get a grip! Absolutely a book to check out and have your opinions and thoughts gathered neatly so as not to have the same emotions I have at the moment! Sequel will extremely get me literally killed. Let's do this!

Why We Broke Up

This novel tells the story of Min Green and how she and Ed Slaterton met at a party, saw a movie, followed an old woman, shared a hotel room, and broke each other’s hearts.

3 stars rating.

To others who had personally experienced heartbreaks and thought love was true between their first loves, might have found this beautiful and relevant. At same time, significant even— all memories and everything that comes together that made this book. In my opinion, it was not relevant to me. I have never really been in a relationship. So, I have NO idea. Nevertheless, good book!

“You either have the feeling or you don’t”

And yes, Ed was plain jerk. I don’t even need to get to the ending to tell me the conclusion is that he is just one big jerk. Even as Min was writing, all the things he did with Min was for an act. However, I think not everything was for a front act. He did love Min. We might as well just say he’s a playboy. You know…popular guy and all. So, it happens.

This is going to be a spoiler so look out!!

“Dumping you times infinity. Still not enough.” Min is so hurt, Ed, you jerk

Min was not ready to say ‘I love you’ to Ed. On that part, I could connect to what she was feeling because I too find it difficult to say ‘I love you’ not to my boyfriend I don’t have one but actually saying it with meaning to my parents is difficult to me. Why? They might think I’m just saying it just for the sake of it when actually they don’t know that deep inside I love them very much and I wanted to show them I love them by studying hard, obeying them. I’m not good with spoken words. I have my thoughts and actions to show my love through what I do.

Both Min and Ed are very realistic characters. Min, she has this wild imaginations and creativity in her and probably that’s what makes her different. She’s a girl who wants nothing else and only want Ed’s love in return. She’s very simple that when you ask her what she wants she’ll not ask lots of things that are temporary but she asks for the things she needs and likes very much and just very cheerful girl! But I don’t get it to why she thinks she is a loser when she is not.

With or without Ed, Min, you are beautiful. You may think that when you were with Ed he is the only person who lift you higher than the sky, well you are wrong.

“I’m dumping this box on your porch, Ed, but it is you Ed, who is getting dumped.” Min has got the girl power going on!

The irony in the whole story. It is wonderful yet heartbreaking. I could not believe the irony of it. And it happens in reality too. Unpredictable, unexpectedly different of how everything turns out to be. It happens. I admit that I was surprised. Now that I think of it, we can only trust ourselves and not all people are there to help you instead they could manipulate you to thinking something true when it is not.

The illustrations are well drawn. The simplicity of each picture is just love love love. I feel like I’m a kid filled with pictures in an YA adult which I enjoyed so much! I love being a kid at heart! The quality of writing style of the author is great. The author wrote vivid descriptions which I am very pleased about.

Hilarious quote!!
Trevor: “I just mean, you guys are like those two planets that crash together in a movie I saw on TV when I was a kid once, the blue people and these weird red guys.”
Min: “When Planets Collide. It’s a Frank Cranio film. At the end they’re all purple.”
Trevor: “Yeah! Nobody i ever knew ever knew that.”

Ed, let’s just say you were wrong and Min was right. She called it off because you are not her cup of tea. She’s not THAT into you anymore and that’s why you broke up.

I’m now fully aware why Min and Ed broke up. That sums everything up.
And this review – it’s a wrap!! Woo! Happy reading!!

The Mortal Instruments #5: City of Lost Souls

 

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

First of all, I was really glad that I got to read this edition that has a bonus story of how Jonathan Morgenstern transformed and happily took the name of Sebastian Verlac. I find that it was descriptions were awfully nasty of how Jonathan did his way to what he wanted. But despite my disgusted face while reading it, I find that the author truly writes beautifully and brilliantly that the characters and events that happened right in front of my eyes. They all come out of the book! It’s fascinating!

What surprised me the most was, I needed a whole week and another day just to finish the ever many pages that sums up every-thing Jace’s lost soul. I guess I was just really exhausted every single day because of school and I was being a lazy bum. Nevertheless, I really feel like I had accomplished so much just finishing the book. SO many good vocabulary used too, by the author! She’s so awesome!!

Oh yes. I would like to share songs from a band named Fuel. These songs were supposed to be included in the review that I did for City of Fallen Angels or was it for City of City of Glass? That’s a rhetorical question. Anyway, as I was saying…. let’s just get to the point. The songs are from their album “Angels & Devils” which, just from the title is already pretty relevant. Go check out the songs: “Falls on Me” and don’t miss out listening to “Scars in the Making” too!! Just to be sure – don’t hesitate to listen to the whole album itself! In my opinion – those two songs are my most favorite and that connects/sounds relevant to the Mortal Instruments series! I’m going to included some quotes that makes the book so memorable – SO AWESOME!

As we all know we’re coming to the end of TMI series but I don’t care – I never regret reading this series!! The best books ever!!!

“He padded off to the kitchen, the antennae on his slippers waving gently like a seaweed in a current.” Sounds cute to have that slippers haha! Where did you purchase your green slippers since it’s described as seaweed huh Magnus B must be vintage hahah!!! *shuts up before Alec notices I’m flirting with his boyfriend*

I hardly believe myself for laughing at Jace but “not Jace” remarks. He sounded really weird but funny and I thought the book was not serious at all about any of every situation. That part of the book I have to question. I admit though, I laughed which is a really good thing. However, I don’t understand why I did even. Haha I’m rambling. Just read the book.

Clary: “Ducks?” Jace: “I hate ducks. Don’t know why. I just always have.” Jace, i can tell you why LOL

My theory for the next book – Jace will have the weapon that will kill Sebastian. I can imagine Jace killing Sebastian just because of his charming face and every of his flawless handsome face and sure he will agree with me. I hope to get a good kiss on the cheek for the compliment, haha!! And only Jace can get access to Sebastian and completely destroy him and end everything with no remaining of him. Fully get to him. Jonathan. Brain, you’ve got to stop confusing me.

Clary is still annoying as ever. I get so irritated when it’s her thoughts that I’m reading. I don’t like her. I like Isabelle better! Clary's more than a fictional character though. Realistic even. She has that recklessness that people can relate to and probably that’s my positive comment I’ll give her credit for.

“It was stupid to hope, she knew. But sometimes hope was all you had.” –Clary Fray

My heart’s breaking in pieces for Alec and Magnus. They have got to have some other way to fix things between them! Please! Hoping something better comes between the two! Chairman Meow

And let’s not forget to chase the problem Maureen is causing to the Shadowhunter/Downworlder world, all right. Because she’s a minor problem that’s adding to the major problem. The Clave has got to prevent her from what she’s doing so wrong! Who knows Sebastian might get her to join his side of Roman, evildoers – the Team Bad? I am so making wild guesses now, all right. I don’t want things to be worse for Jace and then Simon would blame himself because he is responsible for Maureen’s doing at the moment. Aaaaah just no! Readers will also have to stay tuned for this too!

“I’ll take Shadowhunter, then. Because from what I’ve experienced of vampires, you mostly suck. No pun intended.” Hahahah!! Look at Simon entertaining the current leader of vampire clan, Raphael. HAHAHA I laughed my head off!! Too bad Raphael isn’t the type of guy who like being entertained HAHAHAHA

I forgot to talk about a couple of things.

I’m very much pleased with Alec and Magnus witchlight scene. I can imagine the witchlight full of colors – rose, blue and green. I call it the witchlight one last moment. Warlocks are so so cool!!

Alec is one of the most honest and bravest. Let me tell you. I have my reason. First, he doesn’t want any more barriers that will prevent him to let the whole world know who he truly is. He wants to be himself around others. And with that attitude that Alec projects out to people, Aline stepped out and was inspired for standing up for what she believes too. Now that’s just something we all should learn. Be yourself even when others think differently. Stand up to what you think is right. Be happy.

Another one would be when Jocelyn and Isabelle met the Iron Sisters. I really thought throughout the series we will not get into any of the sisters’ fortress because it’s confidential for boys. Well, I’m a girl. And some readers are boys so…. What am I saying.

Next one – Brother Zachariah. Oh I’m interested of his previous life so much. He’s so full of showing emotions that the other Silent Brothers. Oh brotherhood. I’m in for those theories other readers are asking/telling Cassie – this might be our Jem Carstairs. The mystery is literally killing me. And Brother Zachariah might have given us 2 clues when he said he loved two people. Oh brotherhood! I can’t stop saying “oh brotherhood!” hahah!!

Last but not the least, my lovely, fair skin no pores but all flawless with his nerdy spectacles and huge fan of comics plus Star Wars – Simon Lewis. He is love. He’s so genuine and caring you just have to love him. And Isabelle changed because of him. Aww.

Jordan and Maia. Ah. Werewolves are in love too. Now I’m in for anything “in love”. Haha!

So many lovebirds I’m drowning with no one to save me. Valentines’ Day is coming, YO!  I don’t want to complain. I’m just going to squeeze myself in all of the love teams in this warm group – The Team Good!

Overall – 4 stars!! So in love with it. Always.

The question is HOW MANY MORE TORTURING MONTHS TO “CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE”???? GIVE IT. I NEED CoHF TO SURVIVE.