Mini-Reviews

Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one, but what I got was dark, twisted, and riveting. I first heard about this one on the TeaTime weekly book chat, and it lived up to my expectations. It was creepy in the right way, and I can honestly say that I was not expecting the twist at the end.

The themes that the book focused on were great. Selfishness, consequences to actions, life's purpose...okay I know I'm doing a really bad job selling them. To summarize: the book may be dark and violent, but Quinn has a purpose for all of those scenes.

Overall: It was hard to sleep after this one, but it left me with some great existential questions.

Published by HarperTeen

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Well, I knew with all the Twitter outcry that the ending was going to be brutal. I somehow managed to avoid spoilers, and I'll do so here. What I will say is that I found the ending to be emotional (I totally cried), and satisfying.

There was some great twists, some scenes that caused me to scream "why" dramatically (my cat was not impressed by my dramatics), and the exploration of relationships between the characters really kept me engaged.

Overall: A nice wrap-up for the series. Can't wait for the movie, and for whatever Roth writes next!

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

 Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I'm so behind in this series, but everything that I've read about it has been positive. It took me a while to adjust to the writing style, but once I did I couldn't set it down. I had to know what happened to Juliette, and I wanted to learn more about The Reestablishment.

The world that she lives in isn't a good one (in fact, I actually expect it to get worse in subsequent books). She's been imprisoned and abandoned, and oh my gosh is there a steamy romance. I will be grabbing the next in the series ASAP.

Overall: I understand the hype, and love the new covers (the cover to the left is the original).

Published by HarperTeen

Stacking the Shelves (January 5)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews! It's a way to highlight the books that everyone got throughout the week.

Christmas Gifts - 

Jim Henson: The Biography 

For the first time ever-a comprehensive biography of one of the twentieth-century's most innovative creative artists: the incomparable, irreplaceable Jim Henson.

He was a gentle dreamer whose genial bearded visage was recognized around the world, but most people got to know him only through the iconic characters born of his fertile imagination: Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy, Big Bird. The Muppets made Jim Henson a household name, but they were only part of his remarkable story.

 Published by Ballantine Books

I can't wait! I adore the muppets, and Henson seemed to have a positive impact on everyone around him. So, I will be diving into this during the next snowstorm we have.  

Allegiant  by Veronica Roth

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Well, I remember the public outcry at the ending, but I avoided being spoiled. So, I will be sure to have a box of tissues handy just in case. 

Waiting on Wednesday (September 21)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This weekly meme shares the upcoming books that I'm most excited about.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.


Published by HarperCollins
Release Date: May 2012