Movie Monday [01]: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Just thought about writing a different post today. Instead of posting loads of review, I decided to feature something different. Something Book Lovers anticipate most of the time, especially when it is a very good book.

Movie Monday features a book that is going to be filmed soon. So, for my first Movie Monday, I decided to feature Divergent. Since, this is the most recent book I've read in which movie will be out this year.

What do I think of the book?

Though I've watched Hunger Games first before reading this one. I haven't got the similarity issues. Aside from they are both under dystopia genre, I can't see anything to compare them with.

I like the story of Divergent, I felt the grief of Tris parents after knowing she will be in a different faction, I felt how Tris wanted to belong and prove herself to her new faction, I felt Tris and Four's romantic moments and looked forward every chapter hoping for a progress.

The world building is definitely awesome, but I don't know if it is "just me" but I did imagine the Dauntless Headquarters to be under some sort of cave.  (My best friend told me that it was "just me". Oh well...)

Anyway, based on previous experiences from books turned movie. I don't expect much. I've learned how to NOT wish for the movie to be as great as I read... because it won't be! 

Nothing beats a good old book and your highly imaginative brains.

Don't forget to check out Divergent!

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

ISBN: 0062024035 (ISBN13: 97800624039)

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, 

Fantasy, Romance

Publication: February 28th, 2012

AMAZON  |  GOODREADS

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue-- Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves... or it might destroy her.

About the Author

Veronica Roth

Official Website ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter ✿ Goodreads

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Amber Rain by Alyssa & Celesta Thiessen Book Review

Amber Rain
by Alyssa Thiessen & Celesta Thiessen

ASIN: B00I8S5CMM
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Publication: February 3rd, 2014
Source: Story Cartel

Ellie Lauder and her family grew up in an underground shelter. They are the descendants of the survivors of the amber rain, an astronomical tragedy that brought human to the brink of extinction. Although population in the shelter are numbered, Ellie and her three brothers was always bullied by kids of their age.

Her father wasn't exaggerating; she was at the top of her class. Not that it won her any friends. Not that anything would. Why do they hate me so much.

Most of the time her brothers stood out for her, but they were always the odd one out, an outcast. There was one incident that forced her to fight back, and Ellie being sick of always being bullied decided to runaway and eventually discovered a secret entrance that leads to the surface. A place where she thought was gone forever.

The  world wasn't opening up and swallowing her. This was outside. This was above. She looked into the sky again. Sun. Clouds. It was so much bigger in real life, so much brighter - so much more terrifying.

My Impression

At first I thought the story would be like "The City of Ember", but visualizing the technology they have here in Amber Rain, I already guessed not. It would pass for a middle grade genre if it weren't for some violent settings. It was an easy read and I really felt like the book is for ages 14+.

I wasn't really enticed by the book cover, I was actually wondering about the connection between the title Amber Rain to the the Girl looking at the wilderness. As I read the story it does makes sense after all. 

The story was okay for me, it kept me reading till the end of the book without pausing. I guess the mystery behind their existence, their history and the mystery of what's waiting for them outside the shelter made me held on. I was actually also waiting for Ellie to fight back and get even with the other kids. I guess, it touches some nerves. LOLx.

I also liked the minimal twist in the story, about Ellie finding out who she really is and the switch! I really liked that part. I was like... TIME TO KICK SOME BULLIES GUTS! 

Although the ending isn't a cliffhanger type, I find myself looking forward in knowing what's going to happen next, how will they survive, how will everyone get along and how those hanging romance bloom.

Rating:  4 Stars

Plot: Well paced story.

Page Turner: In most part

Continued?: Yes.

Recommended: Yes.

Book Boyfriend:  I had a hard time visualizing Lee, River and Will. So, no.

About the Author

Celesta Thiessen

Official Website ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter

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Origin Book Review

JenniferL. Armentrout

ISBN: 1622660757 (ISBN13: 9781622660759)

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Published: August 27th, 2013

Note: Synopsis taken from Goodreads

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? 

And will they even be together?

HOLY. ALIEN. BABIES. Errm... Sorry, it's just that the cover is just so beautiful. Burning the world concept in the background, model Daemon pissed off but still gorgeous and those abs. DAYUM!

Anyway, I really wondered how this book could be as exciting as the third book Opal. But boy, I wasn't disappointed. Kathy being captured by the Daedalus isn't as boring as I thought it would be. The truth and lies behind everything got me wondering all over again. 

Daemon and Kathy's reunion got me all teary eyed. Yeah, I honestly never expect to be touched by it, but I guess it got something to do with Daemon's POV. How he saw Kathy as the only girl he loves, how he is deeply in love with her, and how much pain he is emotionally. 

"My heart stopped. My entire world came to a halt. I walked forward, and my step faltered. Only at the last possible second, I caught myself from hitting the floor on my knees. The back of my throat and eyes burned." -Daemon

Kathy is my ideal heroine. She is not weak, as I say in my previous reviews, not a damsel in distress (even though Daemon wants her to be one). She makes mistakes, sometime can be annoyingly stubborn, she is not perfect. She is selfless, she thinks and stand for what she believes in. I admire her for handling everything on her own.

"She attacked several members of my team."

A smile spread across my face. That's my girl. "So sorry to hear that." - Daemon to Nancy

And there was Archer, I was really mystified by him, being the silent type, by-stander but someone who cares character that he is. He is certainly someone to watch out for in the next installment.

"Well, aren't you just a special snowflake," Daemon murmured.

"That I am." Archer's lips quirked into a half grin.

I just wanted to say something to Blake...  You got that coming dude... You certainly got that coming!

This book certainly got a pretty good hold on me. The story line is good as it progress to it's end. And speaking of "end", geez... the ending of this book... . There goes Jennifer Armentrout's soul sucking ending. There's still so much to look forward to and more than enough reason to anticipate the final book.

Rating:5 stars and counting...

Plot: Action pack, Jaw dropping

Page Turner: Yes.

Continued?: Yes.

Recommended: Yes.

Book Boyfriend: Completely awed.

 

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Official Website ✿ Email ✿ Blog ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter ✿ Goodreads

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Opal Book Review

JenniferL. Armentrout

ISBN: 1620610094 (ISBN13: 9781620610091)

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Published: December 11th, 2012

As Kathy and Daemon deal with Dawson's disturbing behavior, they still try their best to become a normal couple. Having to depend on each other's decisions, they work out every situation as partners. 

"What kind of punishment would that be?"

He chuckled. "Probably the sort of punishment you'd enjoy."

Warmth infused my cheeks and veins.

Daemon being the over-protective brother, usually runs to chase after Dawson and make sure he doesn't get to trouble or get himself caught again. Kathy promised to help Dawson bring back Bethany, but under the condition that he'll have to wait as they organize a plan to do so.

Much to their dismay, Blake comes back with an offer that they're most likely find hard to turn down. Problem is, they have to decide to whether to trust him again or not. They will soon realize that a secret organization is experimenting on the hybrids and torturing them. With the help of dubious source, they will have to risk everything again.

“I love you, Katy. Always have. Always will.”

You'll never know how those simple, cheesy sentence could affect you so much. This is such an "Oh, no!!!" moment for me. This is so far my favorite book in the series. Daemon and Kathy tried to live their lives the best way they can. They rely on each other's opinion and sort them out. Yep. Kathy had to learn the hard way. Their relationship is great. The author had made it so that it took time to develop so it doesn't seem rushed. Of course there's still their cat/dog bickering, which I find cute and funny.

“A slow, wry smile teased Daemon’s lips. "Simmer down, Kitten, before I have to get you a ball of yarn to play with."
Annoyance flared deep inside me. "Don’t start with me, jerk-face.”

Kathy is less stubborn and could totally kick-ass. I felt bad for her about her relationship with Dee, but I know they will fix everything again. Daemon on the other hand is still ridiculously charming, as always. He showed how much his family means to him. He is such a good actor being a jerk and an ego maniac when he really is... as Dee said "a thankless hero".

The plot was such a thrilling ride as they come closer to their enemy, introducing some more key characters which will leave you wondering "who among them would betray or help them".

And the ending... I was like  then  "GO DIE BLAKE!!!" then  and .
Yep. An absolute crashing ending.

Rating:5 stars and counting...

Plot: Jaw Dropping.

Page Turner: Yes.

Continued?: Yes.

Recommended: Yes.

Book Boyfriend: Head Over Heels!

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Official Website ✿ Email ✿ Blog ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter ✿ Goodreads

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Onyx Book Review

Jennifer Armentrout

ISBN: 1620610116 (ISBN13: 9781620610114)

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Published: August 14th, 2012

Kathy gets too confused about her feelings for Daemon and tries to hold them back leaving her  in denial. She's too presuming that he is only doing all the sweet deeds because of their "alien mojo" connection.

"I wanted what my parents had. Undying love. Powerful. True. A whacked-out alien bond couldn't do that for me."

The problem is the more she denies it, the more she falls... hard.

“His brows were lowered in concentration. Thick, sooty lashes hid his eyes.
They lifted and his lips spread into a grin.
I was in so much trouble.” 

Then the new student appear, Blake Saunders, who seems to take interest in her. While Kathy is sure that there was actually no competition between him and Daemon, she gives Blake a chance to get to know her, for normality sakes. But so much for normal, she realize that Blake has a secret of his own, and guess what? He has something to do with a Luxen too.

While there's so much happenings going on they blindly become aware that the real threat was at their feet, much more dangerous that the Arum. The DOD - Department of Defense. And now Kathy is unexplainably and uncontrollably having alien powers, DOD should never know that Daemon is now linked to her, or they'll end up like Dawson (Daemon's brother) and Bethany(Dawson's Girlfriend). Dead.

“If there is anything, there is us. You and me. No one else.” 

Next installment of the Lux Series, Onyx, will surely take you on a roller coaster ride. There had been so much of the jaw dropping events, so many twist and turn. Kathy and Daemon's chemistry is still undeniably sizzling. If Obsidian made women fall and drool, well then it's wash and repeat like ten times more with this one.

Kathy did irritate me more than once, but I love how she is not a perfect heroine. She makes idiotic decisions, hated her for being freaking stubborn, but it made her character grow. I find myself smiling about the fact that she is such a book nerd, which obviously I can relate. She is still full of confidence and I super love how she can still snap back during Daemon's arrogant moments.

“Just because I’m human doesn’t mean I’m weak.” 

And Daemon, Oh, Daemon. He is so funny in this series. It's really nice to know Daemon's soft sweet side. Told you there's really something about those bad ass dude who can fall deep and he is so cute when he is jealous!  He had me laughing so hard as he pretend to not to remember Blake's (new guy) name and keeps on changing it just to annoy him. It was hilarious.

Oh, geez. I twisted toward Blake. “This is Daemon Black.”
His smile faltered. “Yeah, I know who he is, too.”
Laughing under his breath, Daemon straightened. At his full height, he was a good head taller than Blake. “It’s always nice to meet another fan.”
Yeah, Blake had no idea what to say to that.” 

"Jesus." Blake rubbed his throat. "You have anger management problems. Its like a disease." "There's a cure and it's called kicking your ass." 

Rating:  4 stars

Plot: Growing in me

Page Turner: First few chapter's a bit slow,  but it gets better.

Recommended: Yes.

Book Boyfriend: Decided to signup to Daemon's fans club.

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Official Website ✿ Email ✿ Blog ✿ Facebook ✿ Twitter ✿ Goodreads

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