Dreamfire - Kit Alloway

Began reading: 8.2.2016
Completed reading: 14.2.2016
Overall rating: 4 stars

Unlike most seventeen-year-olds, Joshlyn Weaver has a sacred duty, to enter the Dream universe we all share and defeat nightmares. To fail is to release those nightmares into the world, with all the emotional turmoil they cause.

But despite Josh's reputation as a dream-walking prodigy, she's haunted by her mistakes. A lapse in judgement and the death of someone she loved has left her doubting. Now she's been assigned an apprentice, a boy whose steady gaze appears to see right through her, and she's almost as afraid of getting close to someone again as she is of getting them killed.

Then strangers with impossible powers begin appearing in the Dream and it isn't just Will that Josh has to protect - it's the whole world.

Dreamfire by Kit Alloway is a young adult novel that consists of genres including fantasy, romance and mystery. I was anxious about reading this book, as I thought it might be suited to a younger audience. I was pleasantly surprised! I actually really enjoyed the plot and most of the characters.

The novel was well-written, despite a few spelling and grammatical errors. The dreams, characters and situations were described in detail. Alloway also utilised literary techniques, such as metaphors, to add depth to the writing. I noted some quotes from the book that were really good. These include:

‘…Better to wear too many coats than freeze to death in a bush’ (p. 24).

…One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is thinking of firing it… (p. 83).

Forgive me, Ian, for missing you so much I’ll settle for your ghost (p. 228).

Her need to move was closely tied to her desire to escape her own skin (p. 243).

‘I called Ian words I’d never spoken out loud before. He called me worse. We’d been together so long, we knew exactly how to hurt each other’ (p. 264).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

The structure of the book was clearly defined, which made it easier for me to follow. I could easily identify where the complication and resolution were, which helped with keeping the plot interesting. Also, character development was evident, especially in Joshlyn and Will. For example, Joshlyn began as a cautious girl, who didn’t want to form close relationships with anyone for fear that she would harm them. As the story progresses, Joshlyn learns that not everything is her fault, and she can’t go on trying to shut people out from her life. This development kept me turning the page, as I wanted to see how each character would respond to the change.

I really liked the secondary characters, as they were varied and interesting. In the beginning, I didn’t like Winsor — especially what she did to Joshlyn. However, when Joshlyn confronted her and they made up, I began to forgive her. *WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER* When Winsor was placed in a coma and Joshlyn kept wanting to visit her, it almost brought me to tears. Aside from Winsor, the other characters were unique and differed from each other. I liked Deloise and Whim, and I thought it was adorable that they ended up together! This part was extremely adorable:

‘You are never allowed to scare me like that again,’ Deloise informed Josh. ‘I was nearly out of my mind.’

‘She was,’ Whim agreed. ‘I had to make out with her for half an hour to calm her down.’

‘Whim!’ Deloise cried, and she turned and smacked him with a kitchen towel. ‘That never happened,’ she told Josh, but she had flushed bright pink.

It totally happened, Whim mouthed to Josh.

If it did, Josh mouthed back, I’m going to kick your ass.

It never happened, Whim agreed (pp. 347-348).

   

The romance was so realistic. *WARNING: SPOILER* Josh and Will didn’t announce their feelings for each other until the end of the book. Although they kissed a few times throughout the book, the timing of their announcement was perfect. It made it realistic and complete, as I saw it coming and I was wondering when they would say how they felt.

This may be due to my horrible sense of humour, but I found some parts of the book funny. They may not have been intentional, but some parts amused me. For example, in a dream about a mob trying to get inside a house, Josh and Will tried to help the dreamer by convincing her that there was nothing to be afraid of, when this happened:

Josh tried to help and the woman chucked a glass sea lion at her.

It hit Josh in the face. ‘Ouch!’ (p. 76).

Another example was when Josh and Will were trying to help a gothic girl in a candy church. They were hiding in a candy coffin, from a witch who was upset about them eating the church’s candy, when the girl began to grope Will. It was just so random and funny.

As I said, it may not have been Alloway’s intention, but I found it humorous. I loved that there was some humour in the novel, as it made me chuckle and enjoy the book a bit more.

I found the concept of the Dream to be a bit confusing at times. Some dreams were described in great detail and were easy to imagine; however, there were some dreams that left me thinking, the hell did I just read?

                          

For example, I could imagine how a woman could be afraid of a mob and tries to close all the blinds so she can’t see the faces, or a woman who is afraid of her dad and ends up being shot by him; however, I couldn’t imagine different archways with different dreams in each. I don’t know, but some things just left me so confused.

*WARNING: SPOILER* Some parts of the plot were predictable, especially with Josh and Will’s disagreements and Josh being the True Dream Walker; however, there were a few plot twists that left me reeling. *WARNING: SPOILER* For example, Peregrine being evil, Gloves using Ian’s body, and Ian’s soul being confused with Haley’s body. I thought that Haley was a suspicious character, especially when he went through Josh’s scroll, but I was glad that this turned out to be false. Similarly, I was surprised that Josh’s scroll was false. These plot twists were interesting, and kept me hooked to the book.

My favourite character was Joshlyn, as she was responsible, loyal, badass and clever. She really cared about her friends and family, and it was disheartening when she was so hard on herself. As I mentioned previously, I liked the secondary characters too, as they added interest and depth to the plot.

Will bothered me for a while, especially when he disobeyed Joshlyn. I understand that she needed his help, and she could have been killed if it weren’t for Will, but every time he went against Josh’s wishes, I felt like I wanted to yell at him.

Again, I did want to slap Winsor a couple of times, especially after knowing that she seduced Ian and wouldn’t apologise for it. Her arrogant personality made me want to scream. But I’m glad that she and Josh made up. Speaking of slapping, I really despise Peregrine. I mean, HOW DARE HE?! He is so evil, so heartless and so rude. I really hope Josh gets her revenge in the next book!

I have a couple of favourite parts in the book, including Josh’s birthday, her battle with Feodor and the epilogue. Firstly, I would have loved to have witnessed Josh’s birthday, as it sounded so pretty and fun. Her battle with Feodor would have been intense and epic to see, which is why I enjoyed reading it. Finally, the epilogue was SO GOOD! It was a major plot twist, which will carry on in the next book, and I’m so looking forward to it. The epilogue was my favourite part out of these sections, as it was a mixture of danger and calm together. When I finished it, I think my face was like this:

                     

Recommendation time! If you like the Spellcaster series and the Firebird series by Claudia Gray, and The Twixt series by Dawn Metcalf, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Inception, The Wizard of Oz, The Matrix, and the Harry Potter series.

I will also be reviewing the second book of the Dreamfire series: Dreamfever. Keep an eye out for that!

Happy reading!

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Dumplin' - Julie Murphy

Began reading: 4.2.2016
Completed reading: 7.2.2016
Overall rating: 4.1 stars

Willowdean Dickson (Dumplin', to her mum) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Really, the criteria is simple. Do you have a body? Put a swimsuit on it.

But life as Willow knows it is about to change, and when this happens she suffers an unaccustomed, and unwelcome, attack of self-doubt. In an effort to take back her confidence, she enters into the local Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs and a wildly unforgettable heroine - Dumplin' is guaranteed to steal your heart. And send you out to buy that bikini!

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy is a contemporary realistic fiction novel, incorporating romance and humour suitable for young adults. I have been eyeing this book in the local Dymocks for a while, and I finally decided to purchase it. I was so glad that I did! I really, really liked this novel!

The novel was well-written, with great use of literary techniques to add depth to the situation. Similarly, there were some awesome, relatable and inspiring quotes throughout the book that I thought I would share, including:

It’s not that I don’t like new people. It’s just that, in general, I do not like new people (p. 30).

All my life I’ve had a body worth commenting on and if living in my skin has taught me anything it’s that if it’s not your body, it’s not yours to comment on. Fat. Skinny. Short. Tall. It doesn’t matter (p. 33).

My first kiss. It’s the fastest thing that lasts forever (p. 52).

‘…you don’t have to win a pageant to wear a crown’ (p. 67).

I don’t get why we call it a crush when it feels like a curse (p. 39).

This thing between us is a roller coaster. The breaks might be out and the tracks might be on fire, but I can’t make myself get off the ride (p. 74).

I think maybe it’s the things we don’t want to talk about that are the things people most want to hear (p. 182).

‘Just ‘cause something’s easy doesn’t make it right.’ He lets the [swing’s] chain go and I kick my feet out into the stars (p. 183).

…no matter who you are, there will always be someone prettier or smarter or thinner. Perfection is nothing more than a phantom shadow we’re all chasing (p. 242).

‘I think you gotta be who you want to be until you feel like you are whoever it is you’re trying to become’ (p. 239).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I knew the book had a positive message in terms of self-acceptance, which is good. I think that self-acceptance is a growing challenge for people, especially young people, so a book that advocates positive body image is progressive and refreshing. I believe that having a ‘larger’ protagonist emphasises the need for positive body image. It was great to see that Willowdean accepted herself and labelled herself as ‘fat’ so early in the novel. Her confidence was infectious, and I loved it!

                                 

The uniqueness of the plot and characters was another positive in the book. The plot was set in Clover City, Texas, where not a lot of stories are set. Similarly, the beauty pageant and challenges with body image are unique. Each character had individual personalities, which made them memorable.

I found sections of the book to be emotional, especially since I found Willowdean to be so relatable. For example, the separation caused by Willowdean and Ellen’s argument was sad, but also relatable. Similarly, the grief that Willowdean experiences, following Lucy’s death is also tragic and relatable. Such emotional ploys encourage readers to gain a stronger connection with characters and the novel, and it definitely worked on me.

*WARNING: SPOILER* I really liked the hype and excitement of the beauty pageant. It felt that the pageant was the part that I was waiting for through the whole book, so I was excited when it finally began. I would have liked to have known who won the beauty pageant, but I suppose it’s good to leave some mystery.

On the downside, I found the love triangle to be dull. I felt that Mitch was an extra, and was only included in the book to add interest in the shape of a love triangle. Unfortunately, I found Mitch to be sweet but boring, while Bo was always present and egotistical. They both bothered me, and didn’t get me excited for the romance.

My favourite character was Willowdean, as she was the most relatable — confident, slightly sarcastic, hard-working and loyal. I found Millie and Amanda to be super adorable and sweet. I wasn’t expecting these two to play larger roles, but I’m glad they did. I think that they made the book more interesting, and they were incredibly brave.

                     

I compiled a small list of characters that I want to punch in the face. They include Willowdean’s mum, Ellen, Callie, Hannah (at times), and Patrick. I have to rant about Will’s mum. I found her to be ungrateful, rude and conceited. I understand that she and Will aren’t close, but seriously?

                      

My favourite parts of the novel include the beauty pageant and the ending when Will stood up for herself and owned Patrick. I liked the beauty pageant because I was able to gain an insight into pageant life and how Will handled the stressful situation.

Recommendation time! If you like Kissing In America by Margo Robb, A Little Something Different and Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell, The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger, and Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot.

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Signs Point to Yes - Sandy Hall

Began reading: 31.1.2016
Completed reading: 3.2.2016
Overall rating: 4 stars

If only Jane’s Magic 8 Ball could tell her how to get through the summer. With her “perfect” sister, Margo, home for her “perfect” internship, Jane is not going to be able to spend the summer writing fan fiction, as she had planned. And her emergency babysitting job requires Jane to spend the whole summer in awkward proximity to her new crush, Teo, a nerdy-hot lifeguard with problems of his own. With his best friend out of town, Teo finds himself without anyone to confide in… except Jane. Will Jane and Teo be able to salvage each other’s summer? Even the Magic 8 Ball doesn’t have an answer… but sings point to yes.

Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall is a contemporary realistic fiction novel, incorporating romance that is suitable for young adults. Following A Little Something Different, I was not looking forward to reading this book. I was pleasantly surprised! I could tell that Hall had improved her writing for this novel. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.

The book was well-written, with no grammatical or spelling errors. Also, literary techniques were used to described characters and situations, which was great. There were also some great quotes, such as:

‘Dude, chill out,’ he said.

‘I’m perfectly chill, thank you,’ Jane said said. Ravi’s response was a really good example of why she hated confrontation. The way the other person could so quickly take the upper hand, no matter how righteous you felt about the situation, made her so angry (pp. 56-57).

Jane peeked out the window and watched him walk home. He glanced up and caught her there, peering out at him, and he waved.

Normally she would have been embarrassed, but right now she was happy that he was the kind of guy who looked back one more time (p. 91).

Lying isn’t wrong if you’re doing it to help someone else… (p. 132).

Margo: ‘What are you going to do?’

Jane: ‘Wander around the grocery store and pretend I don’t know you while actually watching your interaction from every possible angle’ (p. 149).

Humour was used throughout the novel, which I loved. I’m a big fan of humour in novels and I was pleased to see that Hall included more than enough humour. For example:

Jane: ‘You sound like my grandmother.’

Teo: ‘She’s a lovely woman. How is she these days?’

Jane: ‘She died three years ago’ (p. 162).

Jane rolled her eyes. ‘The problem is that now he’s talking about not coming home. And I need your help,’ Jane said, addressing Margo.

‘I’ll do anything,’ Ravi said.

‘I don’t really need your help.’

‘I volunteer as tribute!’ he said, standing up (p. 213).

                                                    

As I mentioned in the review for A Little Something Different, I really enjoy humour in books, as it keeps me turning the page. I find that humour also helps with making the plot and characters more memorable, as I am more likely to remember a character’s joke than the plot.

I found the characters to be relatable, and I found myself identifying particular characteristics that I possess in each of the characters. For example, Jane was quirky, Teo was irrational, Margo was trustworthy and Ravi was fluent in sarcasm. I enjoy a book more when characters are relatable, as it is easier to connect and imagine a similar experience occurring to myself.

The structure of the book was clearly defined. While the structure in A Little Something Different was pretty much non-existent, I could easily identify the complication and resolution. Again, this makes the book more interesting, and improves the flow of the story. I’m really glad that Hall took the times to define the novel’s structure this time ‘round.

In regards to the plot, I found it somewhat predictable. I was able to predict what was going to happen fairly early in the novel. *WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER* For example, when Jane came up with the idea to find Teo’s biological dad:

She knew exactly how she could help Teo — she would find his dad for him (p. 71).

I’m sorry, but when is an idea like this ever a good idea? It irritated me that I knew what was coming; however, there were a couple of plot twists that I obviously didn’t see coming. *WARNING: SPOILER* Learning that Teo’s dad was completely unexpected, as was Ravi’s fondness for Jane. Such plot twists were unexpected, but were beneficial to the plot. I enjoyed these twists because they were different, and creative. I thought that Teo meeting his uncle was a great idea, and was very creative.

My favourite character was Ravi, as I found him hilarious and relatable. He was sassy, sarcastic and extremely funny. Although he was a secondary character, I found that I wanted him to make a bigger appearance. I was excited when he decided to go on the road trip. In the beginning of the book, I thought he would be a pain throughout the entire novel, but I was happy to see that he had a softer side hidden away. I secretly hoped he and Margo would get together, but oh well…

                                                     

As I progressed through the book, I thought that Jane became increasingly annoying. I found her to be clingy, neurotic, nosey, and a little immature. It also bothered me when she admitted that she was a bit of a pushover:

It was obvious to Jane that part of it was Teo’s nature: He hated being alone. So, sure, maybe he was using her, but Jane didn’t mind (p. 145).

                      

Despite this, Jane was also relatable, as her lack of concern for college was something that I experienced at her age:

‘I’m not lazy,’ Jane frowned. ‘Well, I am lazy, but it’s not laziness that’s keeping me from wanting to go to college. Maybe a little, but not about the work — about the getting there. The applications and the SATs. It’s all really scary. It all seems like so much effort when I don’t even know if it’ll work out’ (p. 128-129).

I have a few favourite parts in the book, including Jane’s babysitting, Claudia’s party, Jane and Teo’s date and the road trip. Firstly, I enjoyed Jane’s babysitting because I was able to see how she interacted with Teo’s little sisters. I thought those three were absolutely adorable! I enjoyed the part about Claudia’s party because we got to see Teo’s drunken side and his hilarious fail at kissing Jane. Jane and Teo’s date to the cinema was creative because they watched a random film that turned out to be inappropriate for a first date, haha! After the movie, they went for Fro-Yo, which left me craving Fro-Yo. Finally, the road trip was hilarious, as Ravi tagged along and I was able to get a better idea of how he and Jane got along when Teo wasn’t around.

Recommendation time! If you like Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle, A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall, Unbecoming by Jenny Downer and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Mystic Pizza, The Sound of Music, and Bound + Babysitting, you will love this book.

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A Little Something Different - Sandy Hall

Began reading: 29.1.2016

Completed reading: 31.1.2016

Overall raing: 3.6 stars

Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is a little aloof, Gabe is shy, and it looks like they are never going to work things out.

But something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at the local Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV series. The bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes Lea and Gabe were meant to be together.

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall is a contemporary realistic fiction novel, incorporating romance that is suitable for young adults. I had so much hope for this novel, as the main characters’ shyness is something I can relate to. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this novel as much as I had hoped.

Hall included some great literary techniques, including metaphors and similes; however, there were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors in the book. This was one of the few things that ruined the book for me. Among the errors, there were a couple of great quotes, including:

‘Sometimes it’s better to say something stupid than nothing at all’ (p. 66).

I did lose some of my wariness and fear as I matured, but I’ve never quite shaken my shyness. When I think about it, it’s like I would have never been able to grow out of it. It’s like the tree and the bicycle. I grew around it and it became part of me (p. 82).

I think that says a lot about a person, the way they treat animals. It tells you how they’ll treat you when you’re not saying a word. That they’ll talk to you even if you don’t say much in return (pp. 233-234).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

As mentioned on the book’s cover, the story is told with fourteen viewpoints. This was way too much for me to handle. Firstly, some of the voices sounded the same, which left me confused. Secondly, perspectives from a squirrel and a bench — completely random and unnecessary. I really couldn’t care less about what a squirrel and a bench thought of the characters. Replacing these perspectives with those of Lea and Gabe would have been far more beneficial, as we never knew what these two thought of each other except through verbal dialogue.

I found the plot to be dull and predictable, which also ruined it for me. Many sections were plain cringe-worthy, and some of the characters’ actions were childish. Nothing major happened, which leads to the topic of the plot’s structure: non-existent. It just plodded along, with a not-so-big reveal regarding Gabe’s hearing impairment towards the end. *WARNING: SPOILER* He was in a car accident! [Sarcastic voice] Wow, I didn’t see that one coming…

                  

There were also some unrealistic things that occurred. For example, people just knowing that Lea and Gabe were meant for each other.

The quick eye contact they shared was good, but the fact that they both picked up on my inadvertent Buffy the Vampire Slayer reference makes me feel like they must be kindred spirits” (p. 8).

That’s just like saying that two people with the same interest in Harry Potter or The Big Bang Theory are soul mates. Another example, the teacher’s hate for a student caused by interrupting her ‘matchmaking plans’:

I didn’t know I could hate the name Hillary quite this much. I am seething with almost as much rage as Victor experiences in this classroom on a daily basis […] This is not over between Hillary and me. She has poked the bear (p. 45).

I can understand if a teacher disliked a student due to bad behaviour, but this? Please. I’m no teacher but even I know that this is crap, to say the least.

                                       

Aside from a few good quotes, the only other positive I found was the humour. I let out a chuckle here and there, which I enjoyed. Here are some examples:

I glance back over by the bench and Gabe is sitting by himself and apparently talking to a squirrel.

I’m a little bit concerned (p. 150).

‘Are you spying on us?’ Lea asks.

‘Yeah, just like you spied on Gabe,’ I say with a chuckle.

She scratches her nose nonchalantly. ‘Wow. That was quite the burn’ (p. 211).

I always love a bit of humour in books, as always keeps me turning the page. This was the case with the humour in the book. I might have a horrible sense of humour, but I enjoyed it.

My favourite character was Victor. Although he was a secondary character, I found that I related to him the most. Victor was totally against romance and fluff, and was also sarcastic 99% of the time. It’s strange that I related to a secondary character more than a primary character, but I would have liked to have read more about his personality.

I also related to Azalea/Lea to a lesser extent, as she was quirky and shy. However, as I mentioned earlier, a few of the characters were childish and did some cringe-worthy things. Lea was one of them — getting her friend to spy on Gabe while listening their conversation on the phone, and also stalking him around the campus and library.

                                           

Similarly, I thought Gabe was just weird. He was overly awkward and said some very strange things. I understand why he has difficulties with hearing, but in a couple of instances, he just stared at people. How did they not find that unsettling? Also, how could one be so shy that they couldn’t respond to people’s questions?!

Unfortunately, I did not have a favourite part of the novel; however, I did enjoy Victor’s perspectives. He saw this romance from a different angle, and added some interest through the use of humour and sarcasm.

Recommendation time! If you like Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle, Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall, and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes She’s the Man, Say Anything…, 10 Things I Hate About You and The House Bunny, you will love this book.

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Soundless - Richelle Mead

Began reading: 23.1.2016

Completed reading: 28.1.2016

Overall rating: 3.8 stars

In a village without sound…

For as long as Fei can remember, no one in her village has been able to hear. Rocky terrain and frequent avalanches make it impossible to leave the village, so Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom. 

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink. Many go hungry. Fei and all the people she loves are plunged into crisis, with nothing to look forward to but darkness and starvation.

One girl hears a call to action…

Until one night, Fei is awoken by a searing noise. Sound becomes her weapon.

She sets out to uncover what’s happened to her and to fight the dangers threatening her village. A handsome miner with a revolutionary spirit accompanies Fei on her quest, bringing with him new risks and the possibility of romance. They embark on a majestic journey from the peak of their jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiguo, where a startling truth will change their lives forever…

And unlocks a power that will save her people.

Soundless by Richelle Mead is a young adult novel that consists of genres including fantasy, romance and historical fiction. I did not purchase this book immediately, as I was sceptical about how Asian culture would be portrayed. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I had hoped.

The book was well-written and contained great detail. I really liked that almost everything was described in detail. For example, the view from the mountain’s cliff, and the broken bowl in the Red Myrtle Inn. Also, there were some great quotes. For example:

Some things don’t need words… (p. 82).

We need to know how to describe the world. Otherwise we’d fall into ignorance (p. 82).

Elder Lian has lectured us many times on proper behaviour between boys and girls, darkly warning of how ‘dangerous feelings’ can arise. I’m not that worried about any feelings arising, though. They’re already here, no matter how I try to suppress them (p. 92).

You shouldn’t marry because of someone else’s wishes — because it’s a wise match. You should marry someone who loves you. Someone who loves you passionately and would change the world for you (p. 113).

Moving me up the line at such a fast speed is no small feat, especially after all the work we did climbing down. But there is a relentless air about Li Wei as he turns, a determination that tells me I have nothing to fear so long as my fate is in his hands. He will guide me up to the top of the mountain, no matter the cost to him. His resolve wraps around me, securing me more than any rope could (p. 185).

I’m hanging here in the darkness, suspended between heaven and earth with nothing propelling me forward anymore (p. 187).

We’re pretty good at the impossible (p. 215).

Perfection is an admirable thing to strive for. But so is knowing when to stop (p. 261).

More quotes from the book can be found here.

I really enjoyed the character development throughout the novel. It was slow-paced, but I believe that it made the characters realistic. It was not rushed, which was great. Before I had completed the novel, I thought that the development was dull, due to its pace; however, after completing it, I believe it was well-paced.

I thought the plot was unique,  as it dealt with hearing and sight impairments. This stood out for me, and made the plot a lot more interesting. I found the lack of verbal dialogue made the story a bit tedious, but again, I thought the uniqueness of it made it all the more notable.

Similarly, I enjoyed the interaction between the main characters and the secondary characters. At first, I thought that the secondary characters would be introduced then quickly forgotten as the story progressed. I was surprised when the secondary characters were brought back into the plot towards the end of the book. I liked that the epilogue provided closure, explaining what happens to the main characters as well as the secondary characters.

                                             

As I mentioned previously, I was adamant about reading this book, as I was worried about how Asian culture would be depicted. I feel that I was right to be adamant, and I’m disappointed. In the Acknowledgements section, Mead claims to have conducted thorough research on “language acquisition and hearing loss”, as well as seek information from others regarding the “Mandarin language and the cultures of Taiwan and China”. In the novel, this research did not seem to be incorporated. There was very little about Asian culture, and at times, I forgot that the story was even taking place in Asia. I was expecting more from the acclaimed author of the Vampire Academy series. To say that I’m dissatisfied would be an understatement.

                     

My favourite character from the novel is Fei. I found her to be compassionate, headstrong, adventurous and creative. Her development in the book was slow, but it made her more relatable. I also thought that Zhang Jing’s character was relatable, as she was obedient, responsible and loyal to Fei. I only wish that she had a bigger presence in the novel.

I thought that the relationship between Fei and Li Wei was adorable, especially as he called her ‘general’. A cute example is after he shares his opinion about entering the township:

…Well, that’s what I think, at least. But I’m only the advisor.

I give a faint smile at the joke of referring to himself as xiangqi’s second most powerful piece… (p. 122).

I think they are just so cute together. I was glad that Mead didn’t rush their relationship, as some authors tend to do. I found this quote to be adorable too:

Goodbye, Fei, he says when he straightens back up again. Save our people… and don’t forget about me.

Tears threaten me. I release the line long enough to sign, There will never be another name on my heart (p. 184).

                                     

My favourite parts of the novel include Fei’s time at the Peacock Court and the Red Myrtle Inn. These places were described in immense detail, and highlighted the relationships that Fei had with the people in those places.

Recommendation time! If you like The Courtesan and The Samurai and The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer, and The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes Memoirs of a Geisha and Shu Shan Zheng Zhuan.

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Trust Me, I'm Trouble - Mary Elizabeth Summer

Began reading: 18.1.2016
Completed reading: 23.1.2016
Overall rating: 4 stars

I crawl around the blood. Uncurling his fingers, I pull out a three-inch figurine. She's in a sparkly blue dress, her hair is shorn in a pixie cut. Her expression is mischievous, but what shakes me to my core is the feeling of long, thin ridges pushing out of her back. I turn the figurine over: delicate, translucent wings.
The blue fairy.

Staying out of trouble isn't possible for Julep Dupree. Running cons holds her guilty conscience at bay, but unfortunately, someone wants Julep to pay for her mistakes... with her life.

Against her better judgment, Julep takes a shady case that requires her to infiltrate a secretive organisation, one that may be connected to her long-gone mother and the enigmatic figure called the blue fairy. But there's not much time to worry about right and wrong - or to save your falling heart - when there's a contract on your head.

Murders, heists, secrets and lies, hit men and hidden identities... If Julep doesn't watch her back, it's her funeral. No lie.

Trust Me, I’m Trouble by Mary Elizabeth Summer is a contemporary young adult novel that incorporates mystery, thriller and romance to create an action-packed sequel to Trust Me, I’m Lying. I was excited to read this book when I purchased it, and overall, I thought that this novel was slightly better than the first.

First of all, the book was well-written, as there were no spelling or grammatical errors. Also, situations were described in great detail. However, the same could not be said for the characters’ descriptions. I found this an issue in the first book too, and I hope that this issue could be fixed when the next book is released. As usual, I found some quotes that I really liked. They include:

Ghosts don’t haunt people. Guilt does (p. 4).

Normal is not a thing I’m ever going to be, no matter how hard I try to convince myself otherwise (p. 101).

‘No one gives you a leg up in this world. The only advantage is the one you take when no one else is looking’ (p. 318).

…bad things only get worse when you hide from them (p. 334).

Character development was one the highlights in this novel. Many of the characters experienced growth, which was great to see. For example, Julep grew more confidence, Sam matured, and Dani grew to be more compassionate. Character development provides readers with a way to connect with the characters, and allows us to see why a character is the way they are. For this reason, I value character development in a novel, and why I enjoyed this book.

There were so many plot twists throughout the novel, which is what I like to see! I may have mentioned before that too many plot twists ruin the story for me, as it becomes overwhelming. In regards to this book, the amount plot twists kept the plot interesting, and had me going:

                   

A great deal of humour and sarcasm was included in the dialogue, which made me chuckle a few times. The use of humour and sarcasm was good in the previous book, and I was glad that it continued in this novel. *WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER* Here are some examples:

Julep: ‘This isn’t Petrov. If he had this kind of reach, he’d have gone for me directly.’

Murphy: ‘As someone who stands next to you a lot, that’s really comforting,’ he says (p. 26).

…Murphy pulls the van into the back of the parking lot for Allied Security Systems, Inc. I’m pretty sure the Inc. was added for the sake of the acronym (p. 232).

‘His name is Spade. He is not just a professional. He is the professional you call if you are not getting results.’

Mike rubs his face. ‘I’ve heard of him. From D.C., right?’

‘D.C., Los Angeles, Istanbul. He is a force of nature.’

‘Fantastic,’ I say, hugging my soon-to-be- dead self. ‘Do you suppose it’s too late to take out a life insurance policy?’ (p. 263).

I think that Summer should have given bigger roles to secondary characters such as Sam, Bryn and Murphy. I didn’t like that they were just there in the background. It would have been nice to read more about them. Hopefully, they’ll make a bigger appearance in the next book!

In the previous book, Dani was my favourite character. Now, Sam is my favourite character. Although he didn’t play much of a role, I did enjoy reading about him when he did appear. I thought that Sam was mature, extremely loyal, mysterious in terms of sharing his findings and experiences with Julep, and supportive. Lily closely followed, as she gave us a clue into how Tyler’s family was coping after his death. Lily was someone that I didn’t trust in the beginning; however, she proved to be trustworthy and helpful. I hope to read more about her in the next book.

On the other hand, I didn’t really enjoy Julep’s character at certain times. In contrast to the previous novel, she had become more childish, whiny and clingy. It just really annoyed me. As I mentioned in my review for the last book, I thought that Julep exaggerated her grifter reputation. She kinda sucks at getting jobs done, yet has the audacity to say: “I am the best grifter in Chicago…” (p. 338). Yeah, no. You may be the luckiest, but definitely not the best.

                                   

*WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILER* Also, I had no idea why Mrs. Richland was mentioned in regards to the contract. It seemed totally out of place, and did not affect the outcome. It bothers me that such a bombshell was dropped, yet didn’t influence the story line. Hopefully, it will have a bigger significance in the next novel.

I enjoyed reading about Julep’s first day at NWI, with the leadership and trust activities. I thought this was creative, and was a great way for Julep to meet the other characters. I didn’t see how this would later involve a major plot twist, but now that I know, I think that it was an awesome idea!

I also liked the suspenseful ending! I will definitely read the next book to find out what is on the flash drive, but I really, really, really hope that the suspense won’t result in disappointment.

I have to admit that I ship Sam and Julep — much more than Julep and Dani. I think that Sam and Julep have known each other for far longer, share some intimate memories and get along incredibly well. I really want to see these two together! My favourite part of the book with these two:

‘Do you remember taking my hand?’ He turns my hands palm up in his.

I nod. I remember losing my equilibrium for a split second and grabbing Sam to steady myself.

‘You took my hand and you looked at me, and suddenly I knew how to fly’ (p. 210).

                     

Recommendation time! If you like Unbecoming by Jenny Downer, Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom and Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, you will love this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who likes 3 Days to Kill, The Tourist and Rush Hour.

My review for TrustMe, I’m Lying can be found by clicking on the title.

I will also be reviewing the rest the series when the book(s) are released. Keep an eye out for that!

Happy reading!

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