Flow, by Clare Littlemore

A world in tatters. A society where rebellion is not tolerated. A girl desperate to discover the truth. 

Sixteen year old Quin lives in The Beck, a saviour society. Her community has risen from the ruins of a land shattered by Mother Nature. But Beck law is tough. Quin knows that the rules must be followed in order to sustain life in a place where floodwaters constantly threaten existence. A single violation could land her in Clearance. 

But some laws are harder to follow than others. And as Quin discovers the horrifying truth, she knows she cannot stay silent forever.

The author sent me this book to read and review. Thank you to Clare Littlemore for sending this to me. Everything said here is from the heart and not influenced in any way. As I said in my Goodreads rating, this book was amazing. I loved it all and I think that you should all read it. It is dark and thrilling and intense. Honestly, I have never read a book like this. If you want to know more about this book and why I loved it then read on.

The characters were really detailed. They were also really sort of funny. And they were classified, which seemed cruel, I could understand why they were treated that like that. Even though I hated it. And the fact that there were girls supporting each other was awesome as well. All of the characters had their own stories and lives that they dealt with. I loved it.

My favorite character was Tyler. She was awesome. She actually cared about her people and Cameron. And she supported… I really enjoyed hearing about how she talked to Barnes and how she was sassy in a fun way. She was so tough. I can see how she made it onto Patrol. 

So, all in all, I loved the characters. They were diverse and fighting to survive. It was awesome. Sort of. I know, I’m a bad person for liking to read about people’s suffering. But Clare did it so well. The friendship might have been my favorite part. I’m going to stop talking now because I’m rambling. 

The plot was really intense in some places and more relaxed in others. I loved how the characters worked together to figure everything out. That shows a long bond of friendship to come. The book was paced just right and the perfect element of plot twists and I knew that it was coming. Clare had a nice little page in the front of the book saying that she was from the UK and would use UK grammar. That was really helpful, and also really polite of her. So all in all, the plot and other little details were amazing.

The setting was just as good. I really enjoyed reading about how the settlements were divided and where everyone else was. I hope that we meet them sometime. I’m curious about them. I also really enjoyed learning about the injustices of this place. It interested me quite a lot and I learned about it. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series. 

So, as you can see, I really enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend it to everyone. Please remember to fill out my survey!!! You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating: 

Thunderhead, by Neal Shusterman

Citra and Rowan take opposite stances on the morality of the scythdom, putting them at odds, and the Thunderhead is not pleased.

This book was way better then the the first book in the series. You can find that review here. WOW!!!! I thought that my computer would be taken away. (That is not an taunt for said parents to take this again) This book was less confusing and way more entertaining because of that. I also think that the characters were dove into way more and were real. Even though I didn’t like some of their actions and the author brought in an annoying trope the characters were still real. I also liked how we got to get to know the Thunderhead a little bit better. I was curious about it during the first book. Want to know more about my likes and dislikes for this book? Then read on. 

The characters were very good. As in, they were way better then they were in the first book. They were diverse and we got to know them way better. I thought that some of them were insufferable but I think that is how they were meant to be portrayed. But anyway, what I’m trying to say is that the characters were way better in this book.

My favorite character in this book was Scythe Curie. Her sacrifice in the end was amazing. I didn’t predict it and it left me broken. I hope that was cryptic enough. And she was really noble and she cared about Scythe Anastsia. I really enjoyed listening to her and learning about her. So, all in all, I really liked reading about this wonderful person.

The new order and the old guard sound like something out of a Star Wars movie. Yet they are totally different. The new order thinks that those who glean (kill) should take on apprentices (yes, they say apprentices) who also enjoy killing. Doesn’t that sound like a bad idea. And the old guard opposes this. Yep, that’s basically all that the old guard does. But anyway, I side with the old guard.

The plot was very intense. There were lots of deaths (as there would be because this book is about death) so if you don’t like that kind of thing then this book is not for not for you. Sorry. There were a lot of plot twists in this book so I never knew what was going to happen next. I always like books like that. I also really enjoyed the Scythe Conclave. That was one of the most interesting things that I read in this book. Which brings me to Scythe Politics. They were also awesome. I think that it relates somewhat to America’s current political situation. But that might just be me. I don’t know. I should probably stop talking now before I offend someone.

The setting was also very interesting. I loved learning about what happened to the Library of Congress. I really think that the Thunderhead should rebuild it. But of course, this is a book and I can’t change it. Maybe in the next book it will. Of course, I also really like Endura. It was so beautiful. Maybe one day I’ll live there.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I think that you will too. Please remember to fill out my survey. You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating:

An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabba Tahir

Laia is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

This book was awesome!!!! I really loved the action and suspense. The characters were really detailed and realistic. I loved listening to their conversations with each other. The humor was really satisfying. I loved how there was little hope and how this was portrayed. The plot was also really detailed. Want to know more? Then read on.

The characters were really awesome. They were so real and they had a life and such before this book happened. And then everything bad happened. The characters all had second thoughts and debated whether what they were doing was the right thing. Because of this I stayed hooked to the story and was always wondering what the characters were going to do next. 

My only issue was that I couldn’t connect with Laia. She seemed like such a nice person but she seemed like she never did anything. I don’t know if that’s just me though. I know that she’s important and stuff but for some reason Laia and I never clicked. I hope that she’ll get better in the next book.

My favorite character was Elias. He had such a good sense of humor and hope that I couldn’t do anything but love him. He really cares for Laia. He could’ve not cared and just left her to her own devices. And his fears were real and so sweet and so human. I really enjoyed how he always tried to help his men and make their lives easier. 

All of the characters were so different. It was also really cool to throw in the mythical creatures there. I was instantly curious when we started mentioning them. And the stories were amazing. They were so detailed and explained why everyone believed the things that they did. I was curious about that and all of the histories. Even though I didn’t get all of the information that I wanted in this book I’m sure that it’ll all be revealed in the next book. 

The plot was very interesting. I really enjoyed the tension between Helene and Elias. I also really liked how Elias and Laia were in love and they didn’t even though that they were in love. Actually, that was sort of infuriating because I wanted to tell them that they were in love and that they didn’t know it yet. But the suspense and intrigue in the book was really well done. I loved it. The prose and the writing style were also really good. The writing style was very good, maybe one of the best that I’ve read. 

The setting was beautiful (in it’s own way). I could see how it was based on Rome. And of course there was the desire to conquer, which we also see in the Ancient Romans. This book made me remember my teachings about Ancient Rome and their lifestyle. I’m guessing that the Martials were the Romans and the Scholars were the Greeks. I am always impressed with a realistic setting. Please read this book. I really enjoyed it(except for that one issue which I talked about above).

As I’ve said above I did really enjoy this book. Sabba Tahir sure knows how to write a good story. Please remember to fill out my survey. You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating: 

Discussion: How to get (force) friends to read a book that you’ve recommended

So this is my first discussion post, ever, and it will probably suck but I’ll try to write it well. Here we go.

We’ve all had that problem where we suggest a book to someone non-bookish and they never pick it up. It is infuriating!!!! So I’m here to tell you how to convince people to read your favorite books. 

Option #1

Sneak it into their bag or other something else that they own with a note telling them to read it and then return it

This will probably work. If not, then I am deeply sorry. The idea is very straight forward. You take the book, leave a note, and stick it in a backpack, briefcase, bag, or something else. Then you hope that the book gets returned. If they are nice people then they will read the book and return it to you. If not, then you can accuse them of stealing. 

Option #2

Flat out tell them to read the book

This is the one that I use the most. Tell them to read the book and that they will love it. That you will be there to scream and fangirl with them. Tell them that the book is one of your favorites and that you read a lot of books so they trust your opinion. Something like that. Improvise.

Option #3

Make every discussion about the book

Person: Did you know that I like to tinker and play around with inventions?

Me: You mean like Nova did in Renegades? You two would totally relate. You should read it.

See. It works. 95% of the time. It is really fun to do though. People usually listen to this form of persuasion more then the others. I have use this the most to get people to read the books I want them to.

Option #4

Bribery

Say that you will give them something if they read the book. Pizza. The sequel. Makeup. Anything they want. Within reason. Like, they can’t ask for the moon or a puppy. They can figure that out for themselves. If you can’t get it then it’s off limits. And (I should have said this earlier but I didn’t) you should make them sign a contract that says that they should not hurt the book. 

Option#5 (Final Suggestion)

Shove the book in their hands and run

Can’t you see that I’m running out of ideas here? It sucks. So the name of this suggestion is pretty obvious. It is like putting the book in the bag. But it’s not. Or you could just throw the book at them and run. But this sounds like a safer alternative to throwing books. Besides, who would do that to their babies? Not me. But some people do (I’m looking at you little sis). 

As I said above, this is my first discussion post. I hope that it didn’t totally suck. Please remember to fill out my survey!!! You can find the link on my about page!!! Thanks for Reading!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

 

Strange the Dreamer, by Laini Taylor

War orphan and junior librarian Lazlo Strange gets an unexpected opportunity to follow his dream of seeking the mythic lost city of Weep with the Godslayer and his band of legendary warriors.

This book was a mystery. If I had thought that The Cruel Prince had a lot of plot twists then this book had ten times more. It was epic!!!! There was lots of questioning about a characters intentions and it was awesome. I think that it could have been done a little bit better though. I also think that the concept and main idea were really cool. Want to know what else I felt? Then read on.

The characters were really cool. Their motives were always changing and it was really realistic. After all, things do happen that change people’s perspective on things. The characters had time to laugh and then plan their next actions. It was really awesome. There was also the normal girl envy (there was only one guy on the citadel). It was very real.

My favorite character was Calixite. She was such a fun character. Her ideas were always bright and full of life. It was awesome. She was really strong and different. She was the only who cared about Laklo during the trip to Weep. She also was the only one of the group to have gotten arrested and laugh about it. So I really like her. She is someone that I would love to meet in real life. 

The characters were also really diverse. Everyone was different, in their professions, or the color of their skin, or how they see the world. It was really amazing. And then all of these different people came together to talk about how to do something important to them. It was really very impressive. Honestly, I really enjoyed the characters and how the reacted to the world around them.

The plot was very interesting. I enjoyed how dark it was. There was very little hope in it. I know that I’m probably evil for saying this but, I liked that. The fact that the characters accepted their fate was really cool. At least, it was to me. And the way that everything was told was masterful. You never knew what secret was going to be unveiled next. All of the twists and turns were very interesting and I did not see any of them coming. Real talent.

The setting was also very interesting. Weep was a very interesting city with an interesting past. It was healing and you could see that. You could also see what state Weep would be in if it was fixed and everyone was happy. It was very impressive. I really wish that I lived there. Not when all the trauma and sadness was happening but when everything was happy and everyone was at peace with the world. I also would have loved to visit the Library. After all, it was the greatest library of all time. I want to freaking live there. So if you can find a way to transport me into a book that would be wonderful and I would pay you all the money that I have.

I really did love this book. I think that it was very good even though the plot could have had a bit more depth to it. I recommend this book for anyone who loves a good fantasy. Please remember to fill out my survey!!!! You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating: 

The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black

Jude, seventeen and mortal, gets tangled in palace intrigues while trying to win a place in the treacherous High Court of Faerie, where she and her sisters have lived for a decade.

This book was sort of dark and creepy but that was okay. I really enjoyed hearing about this land of the Fae. It was quite different from the ones that I have read (but that might be be because the only experience I have with the Fae is in the ACOTAR series). The characters were awesome. The plot was also awesome. I did not expect that plot twist. It was epic. Want to know more about why I loved this book? Then read on.

The characters were really interesting. Holly Black really went deep with them and with their feelings. Even though I didn’t like their decisions all the time at least I understood why they felt the way that they did. There was quite a bit of character development in this book so I was pretty content. There was a clear dark side and a clear light side (sorry for the Star Wars reference) but there was a gray side in the middle. It was very intriguing. 

My favorite character in this book was Vivi. She was awesome and a very realistic teenager. I also really loved how she took care of her two younger sisters. I think that most sisters wouldn’t do that. Especially if they were Fae and could do whatever they wished. Vivi also cared about everyone else. It was amazing. Vivi is someone that everyone should strive to be. 

The plot was awesome!!! It was full of twists and turns and the plot twist was epic. I was not expecting it. The writing style was awesome. I think that there could have been more action and suspense but there wasn’t and that’s okay. All of the political intrigue was very interesting. The way that the states – courts (what should I call them) functioned was really cool. And the way that the crown passed from one person to another was also really interesting. So, all in all, I really enjoyed the plot except for a few minor issues.

The setting was also pretty cool. Again, it was different then the other books about Fae that I have read. But that was also good. The idea of the Fae in general interests me. If they are real I would love to meet them. But that will never happen, even though I wish it would. I really loved the Court of Shadows’ hideout. It was pretty cool that they had everything that they could ever want and/or need right there. The setting was awesome and I can’t wait for the next book to see what it might bring.

I am very upset that I have never even picked up Holly Black’s work before. She is a great writer. I highly recommend this book. Please remember to fill out my survey. You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating: 

Checked, by Cynthia Kadohata

From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata comes a brilliantly realized sports novel about a hockey player who must discover who he is without the sport that defines him.

Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too—and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

This book will be published on February 6, 2018.

Thank you Edelweiss and Atheneum/Caitlyn Doughty Books for sending this book to me. So before I read this I didn’t know anything about hockey, but let’s be honest, I still don’t know anything about hockey, and that was okay. This book focuses on hockey but it also focuses on family, friends, and spending time with the people that you care about. So this book had a lot of important messages that kids need to learn. So, I really enjoyed this book but I didn’t like it as much as I think I could’ve read on to find out why.

The characters in this book were very deep and realistic. They acted like normal 5th or 6th grade boys. I could understand their train of thought and how they interacted with each other. There was lots of character development which I loved because I always love character development. The main character needed to learn more about himself and how he reacted to the world. I loved it quite a bit.

Sinbad, the dog, was awesome. I was impressed with how strong and brave he was. He didn’t have to be that strong and brave yet he chose to be. If I was going through chemotherapy I would have been way more depressed then that dog. And the way that Sinbad was treated by his family was top notch. Everyone cared about that dog and even though I like cats better then dogs I still liked Sinbad. I loved this dog quite a lot. 

The plot sort of confused me because it talked about hockey and I don’t really understand hockey. I have never played and I never want to play. The plot didn’t just talk about hockey though, it also talked about family, cancer, and friends. I loved how deep this story went. This book will teach kids that it’s okay to be different. Sometimes I couldn’t connect to the characters and events in this book. It may be because of my lifestyle and how I was raised, but it might also mean that some events were not as realistic as they could’ve been. Who knows? Well, what I’m trying to say is that the plot could have been better, in my eyes.

The setting was okay. It could have been worse. That might be the theme of this review. Everything could’ve been worse except for the characters. But that means that everything could have been better as well. I enjoyed reading this book quite a lot. It gave a different perspective on life. The setting was pretty descriptive and realistic. I enjoyed listening to Conor’s life and thoughts. It was satisfying in a way. I know I rambled a lot in this review but I did really enjoy this book. 

Once again, sorry for rambling. I really enjoyed this book, I just think that it could have been way better. Please remember to fill out my survey. You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating: 

Jackaby, by William Ritter

Newly arrived in 1892 New England, Abigail Rook becomes assistant to R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with the ability to see supernatural beings, and she helps him delve into a case of serial murder which, Jackaby is convinced, is due to a nonhuman creature.

First off, I need to thank Mandy at Book Princess Reviews for recommending this book to me. If you haven’t already given her blog a follow then you totally should because she and Sha, the coblogger for Book Princess Reviews, are awesome.  I loved Jackaby a lot, read on to find out why.

The characters were pretty cool. There was an air of mystery around most of them because they were not normal people. If they were even people (one was a temporary waterfowl). The main character wasn’t a special snowflake. She was ordinary. I loved that because, as most of you know, the special snowflake trope has been overused and no one likes it anymore.

My favorite character in this book was Douglas, the temporary waterfowl. It was really funny to be hearing about him because he can’t speak and he does some weird things sometimes. Douglas is also very helpful and very protective. After all, he proves that actions speak louder then words.

All of the characters were different. I really enjoyed learning about lesser known mythological creatures, like banshees. I loved reading about the characters, even the side characters. I did want a little bit more backstory on Jackaby though. Maybe that’ll come in the next book. 

The plot was super intense. This book is a murder mystery so if you don’t like gruesome death scenes then this book is not for you. This book also had a lot of suspense. As in, there are a lot of things that left you in the dark until the end of the book. It was really well done. There are still some questions from me that need answers, but that is why this book is part of a series. I think that this book could have been a bit longer then it was. I also think that we should have heard a bit more about Jackaby. So most of my complaints will probably be solved in the next book. Enough of my ramblings, let’s move on.

The setting was very well done. I’m not sure if New Fiddleham exists but if it does I am pretty sure that I would know where somethings were. I also really enjoyed the pond (if you want to know what that’s about then you need to read the book). The setting was really descriptive and well written. The writing style was very good. This novel was very well written and fun. It was a great adventure – murder – mystery story. I enjoyed reading it a lot.

As you can probably see I really loved this book a lot. I highly recommend it. Please remember to fill out my survey. You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating: 

Dear Martin, by Nic Stone

Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him.

This book was awesome!!!! I think that it is perfect. It drives the point across and breaks your heart at the same time. Who knew that could happen? Me. The characters were so realistic and the book was really well written. I could not find one flaw in this book. I loved it to pieces and I think that it might become one of my favorite books for 2018. Here’s why.

 

The characters were so realistic. There were the haters, the supporters, and the people in between. It was sort of depressing to read about but that’s the way life is now. The fact that there were some evil people in this book as well as the Justyce supporters was what made the book real for me. And the fact that sometimes there were more haters then friends was real as well. I loved it so much.

My favorite character in this was Sarah – Jane (SJ). She stuck up for Justyce even though she didn’t have to. I loved it. SJ was also really funny and I loved how she was always able to win the verbal battles with Jared, one of the haters. I also loved how whenever Justyce was feeling down she tried to cheer him up. Honestly, SJ was just a good person and one that we should all try to be like.

The characters in this book were so real that they broke my heart. I know that there are the haters out there who are just cruel but I don’t pay attention to them (except our current leader). This book gives me an insight into that world of haters. Even though I try to avoid these people I can’t sometimes. These characters broke my heart and I love them to pieces. 

This book was pretty short, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t awesome. I loved the writing style and how Justyce wrote letters to Martin Luther King Jr. (which is why this post is getting published today). After all, everyone has ways of coping and this was his. Sometimes I got mad or scared while reading the book. This had nothing to do with the book itself, just what some of the idiot characters were doing. So if you’re going to read this book, prepare to get upset about things.

The setting was awesome. I think that it was pretty well written and that I could imagine myself there. Not like I would want to. Barsleton Prep isn’t where I want to go to school. And I don’t have any plans for moving to Georgia. But the book was like a movie in my brain. A sad and depressing movie, but a move nonetheless. So even though the book was pretty sad it was still well written and you were able to connect with it. So all I can say is that you should read this book. It is awesome.

As you can see above I really loved this book. I highly recommend it to everyone. Please remember to fill out my survey!!!! You can find the link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!! -Annalee and Buttons.

Book Rating: 

The Tournament at Gorlan, by John Flanagan

In this prequel to the to the Ranger’s Apprentice series, Halt and Crowly travel north seeking Prince Duncan’s royal warrant to stop Morgarath from corrupting the Corps, but if they are to prevent a coup that is nearing success, the young Rangers will have to tread a dangerous path toward the annual tournament at Gorlan.

This book is set way in the past. 15 years in the past to be exact (FYI: I’m doing this off of the first book in the series). I loved this book just as much as I loved the rest of the series. Maybe better. If you read more you’ll find out.

The characters were awesome. I loved them all. I liked how we got see some of the characters way younger, and making mistakes. It was really cool. I loved how funny some of the characters were. Because they were really funny. We also got to know more about some side characters that we meet earlier in the series. 

Crowly was a side character in the Ranger’s Apprentice series. He was a main character in this book. I really enjoyed hearing his quicksilver tongue at work. He was a great leader. I loved how funny he was. It was really satisfying to hear him get at Halt. I wrote down some great insults from Crowly. My eternal gratitude.

So, as you can probably see, I really loved the characters in this book. They were so strong and were always looking out for each other. But, they seemed a little too perfect to be real. That was my only problem with them, otherwise they were awesome, like their skills at insulting people. Those were really satisfying. I admire them for their skills and their courage. 

The plot was very well written. There was lots of suspense and stalking and plotting but there was also a lot of action and running and climbing. This book also had a lot of fun little scenes that made the book way better. The book would not have been the same without those. There was lots of suspense and tension in the little group as well. I loved it so much!!!!!! Sometimes, books just need a fun scene to lighten the mood in a book. I know that I do. There was more action at the end of this book, then in the front of the book. I loved it that way, because it wouldn’t have made sense for it to be in the front of the book. What I’m trying to say is that I loved the plot a lot.

The setting was awesome. I loved how detailed it is. I felt like I was in the book, no surprise there. I think that the book couldn’t have been better. I trusted John Flanagan and he did not let me down. I loved Morgarath’s castle so much. It was so beautiful and I wish I lived there. It sounds like a castle that I saw in Canada, Castle Luna. Or Casa Luna. I loved how in the book the setting was always able to grab my attention and hold it there. It made me want to be there and that is what makes a good setting in my eyes.

I loved this book so much and I highly recommend it and the series. It doesn’t matter if you read this book first. Please remember to fill out my survey!!!!! You can find a link on my about page. Thanks for Reading!!!! Have a Great Day!!!! -Annalee and Buttons

Book Rating: