Book Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Welcome to the day one of Feb Feels presents The Lunar Chronicles! 

Check out the schedule here.

Scarlet

by Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles #2

Genre: YA, sci-fi, fantasy, retelling, dystopian

Published February 5th 2013 by Feiwel and Friends

Source: Bought

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local purchase/order: Fullybooked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

My Thoughts:

Scarlet was the second installment of The Lunar Chronicles. A series with incredible twists, actions, and magnificent futuristic re-envisioning of some famous fairytales. On Cinder, the first book in the series, we met Cinder, the cyborg mechanic. Marissa Meyer's version of Cinderella. Mixed with sci-fi, fantasy, and even dystopian-ish. (Learn more about Cinder here.) Cinder's story continued in Scarlet, where a part of her past was revealed, and also the introduction of new characters who are based from Red Riding Hood, and their roles in Cinder's story. Like in Cinder, Scarlet (and the entire series) was told in third perspective. I preferred first person POV for Cinder, but now in Scarlet, I can appreciate the third POV since the story and the scenes are not only focused on Cinder, but also to the supporting and additional characters, who, also, made the book--the story--even more exceptional.

Cinder had a character improvement, which I greatly appreciate. She became a fighter and a stronger girl in this book. Sadly, her and Prince Kai's appearance lessened due to the new added story and characters. However, I'm glad that I've come to meet these new characters. Despite several different scenes to cover--Cinder escaping, Kai handling all the chaos, plus the spotlight on the new characters like, Scarlet searching for her grandmother, and others--the author made sure that nothing will be left behind and still manage to rock this second installment. The Lunar Chronicles was like a companion series and a series at the same time. It picks up where the story left off but will also continue/introduce new characters.

I love the idea and the twists Marissa made on Red Riding Hood. The role of Scarlet and Wolf (not to mention, his true identity/origin), and the grandmother. It was brilliant. Wolf also was too cute to describe. (Plus, I might ruin some things you readers should find out for yourselves.) Even though I have read this book two years ago and just re-read it recently, I remember why this book became part of my Best of 2013. From page 1 'til the last, the mystery, excitement, and thrill, had made me breathless. I want to finish it but don't want to at the same time.

Scarlet was a fast-paced, heart-pounding sequel to Cinder. And just as I swore after reading Cinder years ago, I will read every book/novella published under this series--because I fell madly in love with it!

Check out my review of Cinder, which I wrote yeaaaaars ago, here. I might write a re-review one day. Let's see. Here's also my review for Cress (book 3) and Fairest (book 0.5).

Rating:

WWW Wednesdays (86) / Waiting on Wednesday (86): Everything, Everything

(Info)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

This goes out of the plan. My books haven't arrived yet (where did they go??) so I picked Pawn by Aimee Carter first. 

Finished Reading:

Read two romance contemps in just a matter of week! One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin was like between more-than-average to not-really-more-than-average. My complete review here. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, on the other hand, is definitely more than average. The beginning was slow but I loved the ending (and the feels!) and the overall was really good. Funny too! Review next week.

Read Next:

I have no idea. Yet. Hoping for my copy of Fairest by Marissa Meyer to arrive this week so I could dive into it 1) because I'm VERY excited, 2) because I'm reviewing it also for Feb Feels presents The Lunar Chronicles this week. (More details about Feb Feels below this post.)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on.

Everything, Everything
by Nicola Yoon

Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Delacorte

Blurb (Goodeads):
This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who's literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she's ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I'm allergic to the world.I don't leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He's tall, lean and wearing all black--black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.


Maybe we can't predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It's almost certainly going to be a disaster.

One of the debuts that caught my eye. This sounds really interesting. The protagonist's story was like Rapunzel's (lived her whole life inside the house). But let's be matured and know that this isn't a fairytale retelling. :3 It sounds really good, though!

***

Blog announcement!

See the banner above? Feb Feels is back! This year, I'm featuring The Lunar Chronicles.

Feb Feels is a Valentine-themed blog event. I featured different YA contemp romance books and authors last year but this year, it's more like, "what I love". Don't forget the feels on Cinder-Emperor Kai, Scarlet-Wolf, and Cress-Thorne!

I will be reviewing Scarlet, Cress, and hopefully Fairest, featuring an interview with the lovely Marissa Meyer, and will be having a giveaway for this event on February 12-15, so stay tuned!

***

Now tell me about your books this week!

ARC Review: One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

One of the Guys 

by Lisa Aldin

Genre: YA, contemporary, romance

Expected publication: February 10th 2015 by Spencer Hill Press

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble  * Book Depository

Blurb (Goodreads):

Tomboy to the core, Toni Valentine understands guys. She'll take horror movies, monster hunts and burping contests over manicures. So Toni is horrified when she's sent to the Winston Academy for Girls, where she has to wear a skirt and learn to be a lady while the guys move on without her.

Then Toni meets Emma Elizabeth, a girl at school with boy troubles, and she volunteers one of her friends as a pretend date. Word spreads of Toni’s connections with boys, and she discovers that her new wealthy female classmates will pay big money for fake dates. Looking for a way to connect her old best friends with her new life at school, Toni and Emma start up Toni Valentine’s Rent-A-Gent Service. 

But the business meets a scandal when Toni falls for one of her friends--the same guy who happens to be the most sought-after date. With everything she's built on the line, Toni has to decide if she wants to save the business and her old life, or let go of being one of the guys for a chance at love. 

My Thoughts:

*This review is based on electronic advanced reading copy. There might be some changes with the finished copy.

I really enjoy best-friends-to-something-more and one-of-the-boys stories. There's something magical in it that makes the story more cute and romantic. And One of the Guys is one of the products of my hunt.

Toni was "tomboy to the core", as the blurb put it. Her being tomboy was justified in the beginning, even when she was sent to the all-girls school. However, she began to change physically and emotionally on the middle of the book when she started to hang out with a new friend--which is a girl--and feel weird feelings towards her guy best friend. I don't think Toni had a consistent personality. She was described as tomboy and cringes at nail polishes and skirts (she even wear basketball shorts under her new school uniform skirt). She'd rather spend her time with the boys and do boy stuff. But she wasn't able to hold that personality until in the end. I mean, it's okay to change and embrace her feminine side but she appeared as inconsistent to me. It was so easy for her to agree on upgrading her Halloween cow costume into a sexy one, wear make-up, and nail polish. You'd think it would take a great time and effort to convince a tomboy to the core to wear that stuff. She also acted like a kid. I don't like that sometimes she sounds immature.

Despite the things I didn't like about Toni, I found myself relating to her. I'm not one of the guys, I enjoy skirts, and other girly stuff, but I don't like wearing nail polish, either. You know, not only that of course, but other random things. I can also understand her on her fear of change. Like when things happen, when people go, when time flies. It's hard to catch up and be the same and make other things and people remain the same. The feeling that you just want to hold everything in your hands and will it to stop growing or going on. Yeah, that's one heck of an emotion right there.

I wanted to know Micah more. Sure, from Toni's perspective, he's caring and kind friend but other than that and being sweet, I don't think I know him. There was a connection between them but it also felt like it could be better. The plot was simple but the date for rent was a new thing and it came as a plus. The story, the ending, could be better, though. There's something lacking in their relationship/progress/overall story.

One of the Guys was fun, enjoyable, and light read. Sometimes funny and cute. There are things that I like, things that I don't, and things that I wish could be more. It was between more-than-average to not-really-more-than-average. I guess it falls to I liked it read. 

*Thanks to Spencer Hill Press for the review copy in exchange of an honest review!

Rating:

Book Blitz (Excerpt + Giveaway): How to Unbreakup by Rebekah L. Purdy

Hey everyone! I realized I haven't done any book blitz or book feature for quite a while now. So when I saw this book from YA Bound Book Tours, I signed up right away. Not only because I haven't done any blitz, but also because this sounds like a really interesting novel. Come on, how to unbreakup?

How to Unbreakup 

by Rebekah L. Purdy

Genre: YA, contemporary, romance
Published February 10th 2015 by Swoon Romance
Purchase: Amazon

Blurb (Goodreads):

First rule of breakups: There’s no going back.

For three years, seventeen-year-old Grace Evers has regretted breaking up with Sage Castle.

That day, she lost her boyfriend and best friend. And let's be honest, it's impossible to just be friends with the one person who gets you, faults and all, and loved you anyway. It's impossible not to think about how it felt to be held by him, or the way he looked right before he was about to kiss you with the most perfectly yummy kiss goodnight.

And now that things are over between them, they've become strangers to one another. Sage won’t even look at Grace, let alone talk to her!

Breakup life sucks and Grace is utterly miserable, doing whatever she can to ease the pain of losing Sage. She's spent the better part of high school pretending to be something she’s not and hanging out with people who probably wouldn't notice if she wasn't there. Crappy dates, backstabbing friends, and Sage's cold shoulder have taken their toll.

So when her parents propose going away to their house on Lake Michigan for the summer, Grace is thrilled. No more massively bad dates with horrible kissers or lunch with frienemies. Just three months of swimming,

hiking, and relaxing before senior year starts.

But when Grace learns Sage and his family will be joining them, she readies herself for a totally awkward family vacation of disastrous proportions. How can it be anything but awful if Sage won't even acknowledge she exists?

This is it, Grace's last chance to get Sage back and unbreakup.

EXCERPT

     “Here you go. Signed. Sealed. Delivered.” Lyncee handed me back my yearbook. “You have to wait until you get home to read it.” 

     “Oh great, what’d you put in here? I hope you didn’t mention anything about me dropping my cell in the toilet.” 

     She laughed. “No. Something better.”  

     I groaned. Her idea of something better meant it could beanything from embarrassing to, well, more embarrassing. I smoothed down my jean skirt and spun my locker combination for the last time of junior year. Next year, we’d be seniors. We’d have our last homecoming and prom. We’d rule the school and all that crap. To be honest, I was ready to be done with school. Leave the idiots behind. I’d spent the last three years pretending to be someone I wasn’t just to fit in. Lyncee was my only real friend to survive my breakup with Sage. 

     Sage. We hadn’t talked since the end of eighth grade. The day I brokeup with him. He’d stopped picking up my calls and when his parents came over to play cards with mine, he’d stay home. He avoided me at school, online, at soccer tournaments. It was like he’d completely erased me from his life. I never meant to hurt him like that. The truth was, I missed him. A lot. It sucked not having anyone to talk to about the Star Wars marathon they played on Memorial Day, or the new Hobbit trailer, or about the awesome pair of soccer cleats I wanted to get. Not that Lyncee wasn’t there for me, she was, just not in the same way. 

     Needless to say, I’d spent the last three years regretting mine and Sage’s breakup. I’d trade anything, even my popularity, to have him back. The thing was, I was running out of time to make things right. I’d tried getting over him, but there were some people you just couldn’t leave behind.

***

About the Author

Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate...

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

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ARC Review: Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

Free to Fall 

by Lauren Miller

Genre: YA, sci-fi, dystopia, utopia

Published May 13th 2014 by HarperTeen

Source: Traded

Purchase: Amazon
* Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local purchase/order: Fullybooked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

What if there was an app that told you what song to listen to, what coffee to order, who to date, even what to do with your life—an app that could ensure your complete and utter happiness? 

What if you never had to fail or make a wrong choice?

What if you never had to fall?

Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly optimizes decision making for the best personal results. 

Just like everyone else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is following what Lux recommends. When she’s accepted to the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured. But once on campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious dream school. 

Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn’t use Lux, and begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going against Lux’s recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that everyone has been taught to ignore — a choice that leads her to uncover a truth neither she nor the world ever saw coming. 

My Thoughts:

*This review is based on advanced reading copy. There might be some changes with the finished copy.

There are so many good things about Free to Fall. I don't even know where to start. All I know is that I'm very glad I jump on the chance the moment I found out Precious had an extra copy for trade (thanks again, P!). And it turns out my fellow Pinoy book bloggers were right with this book, and I'm glad I'm not disappointed either. You know, when more than two people says that a certain book was really good and you should REALLY read it like, NOW (oh, the enthusiasm of booknerds), you will feel scared. Well, at least I do. Because from that point, even when you don't have any expectations (or even an idea about the book), the expectations increases. And you want it to be fulfilled. With Free to Fall, you're more than fulfilled.

This book was like a video game. The beginning was the easiest, regardless of the rules. But as you surpass each level--chapter--things get messier, dangerous. The mystery challenges you and when you think you figured it out, plot twist: you haven't. Because there's more. Each chapter, Free to Fall has more to offer. Stakes are higher and still there are more surprises. That was a really good thing about this book. Another thing was the originality. Free to Fall doesn't have to be a trilogy or freaking long series to prove its point, its story. The genre wasn't new, but the story, plot, and world building was something you haven't read but should really do. Sci-fi was this book's strongest pursuit. Science/techie nerds would love this book, and non-nerds would turn into one. You'd be like, talking about codes and hacking by the time you finish reading. And it's really fun geeking out about it!

So of course, a YA novel wouldn't be complete without a love story--even if we're talking about technologies big time here. I found Rory and North's meeting a little bit cliche. The cliche didn't stop on their first meeting, but that didn't stop me from feeling their connection, their chemistry. It's one of those lovely progress-type of romance. It's sweet and just cute. The romance wasn't the..let's say, main attraction or story of this book. It's an added sweet spice to their complicated and techie world story. Which was an A+ for me.

Speaking of the characters, I really like them too. Rory was a strong, sweet, and independent girl from the start, despite her dependence with her decision-making app, Lux. Let's not get confused there. She was an avid follower of Lux, where she depends her decisions, schedules, etc. But she's also an independent girl in a way that she doesn't need other people to be able to stand. She has still this personality that highlights her being the main character of this book. She wasn't boring or self-centered or annoying narrator. North gets the truly independent personality. What I like about him the most was his nerdiness. I like him geeking out without even trying to--it's so freaking adorable! However, sometimes, he feels like a mystery to me. The whole time I think he might betray Rory or whatever. But he remained to be true and adorable.

From one standalone novel, comes an extra-ordinary tale about the techie future that could ruin who we are and what we truly believe in. At the same time, Free to Fall tells the readers to listen to your own voice. Not on an app or other people or anything in this world. Because no matter how advanced our world might become, we still have this personal capability to make decisions for ourselves, to listen and do what you really want to. 

Original story, very nice and unpredictable twists, strong characters, sweet romance, nerdy feel, mysteries, and a lot more. Free to Fall was clever, fun, and brilliant novel. You can add cute and bad-ass there, even if they don't sound good together. If you're not still moved by the things I said above, then you're missing out on something.

Rating:

Blog Tour (Review): Love, Lucy by April Lindner

Welcome to the Love, Lucy blog tour! Click here for the tour schedule.

Love, Lucy

by April Lindner

Genre: YA, contemporary, romance

Expected publication: January 27th 2015 by Poppy

Source: Tour host

Purchase: Amazon
* Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local purchase/order: Fullybooked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

While backpacking through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to college, Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the culture, the architecture, the food...and Jesse Palladino, a handsome street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home, determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too. 

In this coming-of-age romance, April Lindner perfectly captures the highs and lows of a summer love that might just be meant to last beyond the season.

My Thoughts:

*This review is based on an advanced reading copy. There might be some changes with the finished copy.

Reading Love, Lucy was fun. It actually reminds me of Gayle Forman's Just One Day. It was a light read but my overall thoughts about it was split in two. So allow me to write this review wherein I point my likes and dislikes.

Here are the things I loved about Love, Lucy:

It's a travel novel--and most especially--in Florence, Italy. One of the places I'd love to visit. The handsome (and sweet) street musician. The happily ever after that made it feel like a modern fairytale story. The self discovery, and of course, that lovely cover and overall package. Love, Lucy is the kind of book I would grab even if I just saw it.

However, there are also things that I didn't liked:

There are scenes and dialogues that are cliche and predictable. I wasn't able to connect to the characters and feel the chemistry between Lucy and Jesse. The part on the near ending was annoying, which I couldn't tell you to prevent spoilers.

Love, Lucy is an okay book for me, still a worth the read. I was hoping for a more cuter or romantic story, but it didn't work for me. I'm glad for the HEA, though, like I said above. 

*Thank you Dianne for letting us borrow your copy!

Rating:

WWW Wednesdays (85) / Waiting on Wednesday (85): The Last Summer of Us

(Info)
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

Not exactly currently reading..but I'm about to start One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin after writing some blog posts.

Finished Reading:

I read Cress by Marissa Meyer yesterday and oh my gosh, it was so, so good. I love it so much! So many feels and epic scenes. Be sure to check out Feb Feels presents The Lunar Chronicles (see the banner above?) next week. I will be reviewing Scarlet, Cress, and hopefully, Fairest. Giveaway is tentative as well.

Read Next:

Depends. If something arrives from the mail this week, I'll probably read it. But if not, I'd read Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on.

The Last Summer of Us
by Maggie Harcourt

Expected publication: May 1st 2015 by Usborne Publising

Blurb (Goodreads):
Limpet, Steffan and Jared. Three best friends crammed into a clapped-out rust bucket of a car on a whirlwind road trip to forget their troubles and see out the end of the summer. But no matter how far they drive, they can’t escape the hidden secrets and slow-burning romance that could upset the balance of their friendship – perhaps forever.

I love roadtrip novels that's why this book caught my eye. And even though it looks like it has a scary love triangle, I'm still up for it. I bet this would be an emotional kind of a ride.

***

Which books made up your Wednesday list?

Share them below!