Title: Song in the Dark
Author: Christine Howe
Publication: February 21, 2013 by Penguin Australia
Format, pages: Paperback, 216
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
My Rating:  

From Goodreads:

Where do you end up when you have nowhere to go, and no one to turn to?

Paul isn’t thinking clearly. After destroying a series of relationships – with his friends, his flatmates, his mum – he finally hurts the one person he cares about most of all. And then he runs away.

An extraordinary and heartrending story of love, betrayal, addiction and hope.

Christine Howe’s debut novel Song in the Dark is a book of tough and mature themes definitely written for a mature young adult audience. It’s nice to know that some authors write to not squeeze into what’s popular within the age group such as young protagonists, cliched romances, and genre trends, but write matters that have meaning and levels of emotionality that you wouldn’t see elsewhere. Song in the Dark is one of those, but sadly for me, I didn’t quite connect with the book. I mean, it was good. But as it was written in third perspective it was hard to connect with our main character Paul as he hurts people he loves, family and friends, and runs away to recover at a rehab treatment centre for his marijuana addiction. I felt incredibly distant from him because of it; maybe it’s because I’m the polar opposite. If it were written in first there might’ve been a difference in the way I felt about this book. Despite it being short and a quick read I had skimmed about 30% of it and that’s really a shame.

Thanks to Penguin Australia via NetGalley for the egalley to review.

• • •

Title: Shadow Kiss, Vampire Academy #3
Author: Richelle Mead
Publication: November 13th, 2008 by Razorbill
Format, pages: Paperback, 348
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
My Rating:  

From Goodreads:

It’s springtime at St. Vladimir’s Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since making her first Strigoi kills, Rose hasn’t been feeling quite right. She’s having dark thoughts, behaving erratically, and worst of all… might be seeing ghosts.

As Rose questions her sanity, new complications arise. Lissa has begun experimenting with her magic once more, their enemy Victor Dashkov might be set free, and Rose’s forbidden relationship with Dimitri is starting to heat up again. But when a deadly threat no one saw coming changes their entire world, Rose must put her own life on the line – and choose between the two people she loves most.

Richelle Mead has soooo many passionate fans the world over for her Vampire Academy series and I think I slowly am becoming one. I’ve taken my time – even if poorly – with this series and it’s a goal to finish the series this year. Shadow Kiss, the third instalment in the series, was packed with thrilling if not emotional moments, especially the ending between Lissa and Rose. It’s such a genuinely complex relationship between friends and one of the best I’ve read; there’s a lot of depth and history to their friendship that you don’t see anywhere else. It’s at that ending that it explodes and Rose and Lissa ricochet their own ways, and it’s funny how it’s both their faults. I look forward to reading the next three in this series following Rose and the path she takes to find Dimitri. This was a great instalment and the next books seem like they’re just going to cascade down on me.

• • •

Title: Pandemonium, Delirium #2
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publication: February 28th, 2012 by HarperCollins Children’s Books
Format, pages: Hardcover, 375
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Romance
My Rating:  

“So what was your name before?” I say, and she freezes, her back to me. “Before you came to the Wilds, I mean.”For a moment she stands there.

Then she turns around.

“You might as well get used to it now,” she says with quite intensity.

“Everything you were, the life you had, the people you knew… dust.”

She shakes her head and says, a little more firmly, “There is no before. There is only now, and what comes next.”

After falling in love, Lena and Alex flee their oppressive society where love is outlawed and everyone must receive the “cure” – an operation that makes them immune to the delirium of love – but Lena alone manages to find her way to a community of resistance fighters. Although she is bereft without the boy she loves, her struggles seem to be leading her toward a new love.

This review may contain spoilers for the previous two books in the trilogy.

*

Title: Shades of Earth, Across the Universe #3
Author: Beth Revis
Publication: January 15th, 2013 by Razorbill 
Format, pages: Hardcover, 369
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating:  

From Goodreads:

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceshipGodspeed behind. They’re ready to start life afresh–to build a home–on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn’t the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed‘s former passengers aren’t alone on this planet. And if they’re going to stay, they’ll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who–or what–else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed–friends, family, life on Earth–will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.

WHY DID I PUT Shades of Earth OFF FOR FIFTEEN DAYS?!!! ARGHHH! Yes. Fifteen days is a long time to put off a book that was number five on your ten most anticipated books of the year. And a book that. Was. Just. Soooooooo. Good. And evil! And Good! No… IT WAS AWESOME!

‘What is in our hearts is real whether we name it or let it exist only in darkness or silence.’

Okay. So. Beth Revis is evil … a genius … an evil genius. Why can’t all YA authors be like her? Seriously. All those other authors need to step up to the plate and show some true bravery and release their inner mad[wo]man. It’s the words written by the psychopath side of you that will surprise whoever reads your book. It’s true. That’s something that will make me buy and read a book immediately. Speculating about what might happen would just be a huge waste of time and preparing yourself is the best that you can do – I knew since Across the Universe that Beth Revis’s books are just those you have to prepare for. But in Shades of Earth, I didn’t even think to prepare myself – there was no time to. Revis – literally – blew my mind before I had time to prepare my fortifications and protect what little innocence I had left. Her fiery barrages of surprises, twists and turns, smouldered that innocence to ash.

Across the Universe introduced us to Godspeed, to its functioning and purpose, to Amy and Elder, and to a mysterious and thrilling new story in space. A Million Suns raised the stakes aboard Godspeed higher, tearing the civilians in two, while more revelations about Godspeed came to light. Shades of Earth raises the stakes even higher, as high as they can possibly go, as high as the tallest building in the world. Yeah, that’s high. In Shades of Earth we see the shuttle with Amy and Elder, the thousand-and-something other Godspeedians, and the eighty-or-so cryogenically frozen people land on Centauri-Earth despite a few malfunctions. Once they land a number of events occur… And that’s where I’ll stop… Shades of Earth is no happily ever after.

What I would’ve liked to have seen is much more of Centauri Earth and the creatures that inhabit it. There certainly was quite a few twists in what little we did see of it, but just more of it would’ve been nice. Despite that, the world building is pretty incredible. Amy and Elder, the shipborns and the Earthborns, had no idea what they were getting into, had no idea what Centauri Earth is like. So Shades of Earth was quite an absorbing book as we discovered this new planet – or like I said, this corner of it – at the same time the characters did. Revis instills fear in the reader just as she instills fear in her characters, experiencing things together at the same time.

So much has happened to these characters we’ve grown to love or despise since Across the Universe to the end of Shades of Earth. I feel like there’s much more that can happen in this universe, on this planet, with how the trilogy concluded. Beth Revis could write another trilogy or other books, further expanding, further developing, further exploring the entirety of Centauri-Earth. I have already in my dreams thought about story lines that could be written post-Shades of Earth, story lines that a season 4, a season 5, a season 6 could possibly use if these books were ever adapted for the TV. I’d even alter the very ending of Shades of Earth so that the story would further develop and continually roll out the surprises that Beth Revis is known for. If I’m given the opportunity to adapt these books to the TV I would do it with dignity, with respect, with a love for the source material. But I digress.

The plot in Shades of Earth continually evolved, continually kept you questioning, on your feet, running, hiding, gasping for air, in astonishment, in terror, in shock. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! this book went, the explosions galore helping me since I did not have to shave before work the next day. The trilogy arc is something I’ve been quite impressed with – one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Whoever at Razorbill/Penguin told Beth Revis that the story could develop after Across the Universe, whoever pushed Beth Revis to write another two books, whoever believed in Beth Revis and her divine storytelling and the potential in life after Across the Universe should be awarded a medal of some kind. Seriously. Revis had a plan since the start and it ended in ways I did not expect. Shades of Earth was an explosive conclusion, raining down revelations and debris all around.

I must add something that I took notice of and must spotlight. There was this new character Adam. He was made to be a new love interest for Amy, someone to cause tension and conflict between Amy and Elder. But to be honest, whoever calls that a love triangle is seriously mistaken. Yes, she was attracted to his looks. Yes, she flirted. Yes, they spent some time together. But there was a moment where Adam leaned in towards Amy to give her a kiss. But Amy refused it, turning her head away. I had always loved Amy since the beginning, but this moment proved that she was mature, not constantly seeking attention, not wanting to make out and be with every guy she finds attractive under the sun. Because she is with Elder. And Elder is with her. This shows that she’s head-strong. This shows that she’s loyal – to Elder, as well as to others. It was a trait of hers that I found to be the most memorable. I guess I have to talk about Elder now too? Well, Elder was great. He was loyal, driven, brave, and determined to protect Amy and everyone, even those he had rivalled with in the past, putting himself in harm’s way for the betterment of everybody else. He was a hero; she was a heroine. Together they were gold.

‘I learned that life is so, so fragile. I learned that you can know someone for just days and never forget the impression he left on you. I learned that art can be beautiful and sad at the same time. I learned that if someone loves you, he’ll wait for you to love him back. I learned that how much you want something doesn’t determine whether you get it or not, that “no” might not be enough, that life isn’t fair, that my parents can’t save me, that maybe no one can.’

The conclusion to this trilogy is one not be missed. Although it might leave you with post traumatic stress disorder for the rest of your life, Shades of Earth is worth it. Whatever other book Beth Revis comes out with will be worth it. Being Beth Revis right at this moment would be a pretty good feeling. If I ever meet Beth… When I meet Beth… oh, man, I cannot fathom not meeting Beth and not being able to stroke the head that holds that brain built from epicness, the brain that produced such an awesome trilogy that is the Across the Universe trilogy.

Hi, Beth! … … … … *flails*

What others have said about this book:

Author Amie Kaufman:

I just… I loved this book. The author was brave. She went places. Get it, read it. Gosh, just read it.

Other books in this series:

1. Across the Universe (January, 2011)
2. A Million Suns (January, 2012)
3. Shades of Earth (January, 2013)

Here I am, finally posting words, thoughts, on three final instalments that I read in the last few months of 2012, even if I have little to say. Hence why these are mini-reviews. These books are Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick, the last book in the Hush Hush quartet, Reached by Ally Condie, the final in the Matched trilogy, and Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, the last in the Caster Chronicles. The final book in series are usually the hardest and most demanding to write, because you not only have to tie all those story arcs and loose ends together perfectly but you have to make it gripping and explosive and memorable, have something in it that the reader will want to return and reread the series. Some writers succeed and some fail; these books are always the most anticipated. And no doubt the most emotional.

• • •

Title: Finale, Hush Hush #4
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publication: October 1st, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Australia
Format, pages: Paperback, 458
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal – Angels, Fantasy
My Rating:  

From Goodreads:

Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the “New York Times” bestselling Hush, Hush saga.

Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend’s ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn–but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can’t conquer?

Finale was a good conclusion to the Hush Hush series. It’s not the most memorable series of all the books I’ve read and certainly does not make me go cray cray over them, but there’s the plot twists that kept me coming back and the war between the Nephilim and Fallen Angels that kept me interested. Nora isn’t the brightest, and I guess that’s why in Finale she gives me something to remember: that I called this book ‘The Book of Lies and Doping” instead, because that’s all there ever was in Finale in regards to Nora. It certainly made the plot progress but I found it was such a forced plot device like Nora becoming amnesic at the beginning of Silence. It’s these things that are memorable; not much of anything else. I had an inkling and I called the culprit early, which was saddening as I was expecting a little more. But the last fifty pages was what I liked the most, where there was a battle and much action to be lost in until the final page of the book and the series.

• • •

I remember what Anna called the three of us.
The Pilot. The Poet. The Physic.
They are in all of us. I believe this. That every person might have a way to fly, a line of poetry to put down for others to see, a hand to heal.

Title: Reached, Matched #3
Author: Ally Condie
Publication: November 13th, 2012 by Penguin Australia
Format, pages: Paperback, 520
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction
My Rating:  

From Goodreads: 

After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

I have to say… I loved the prose in this book. So many amazing lines. Especially in those final pages.

I loved Matched because it was a more subtle and introspective dystopia than what people expect from such a genre – it had little action; it was a change from the usual. I didn’t find Crossed to be all that engrossing because I was expecting more from it, instead of traversing across The Carving. But Reached, oh my… Reached picked up that introspective feel again, and with the beautiful prose and characters there was so much more to love. So much more to think about. So much more to reach. Ally Condie ties the trilogy up perfectly, and if I reread Crossed I know I would enjoy it much more than I had the first time as I’d know why Crossed was Crossed – not a sequel, but rather the middle section of an overarching story. Cassia, Xander and Ky were perfect leading characters and it was sad to leave them behind as I turned the back cover of Reached and reflected on the meaning of this trilogy. Brilliant!

• • •

Maybe there isn’t a meaning to life. Maybe there’s only a meaning to living.

Title: Beautiful Redemption, The Caster Chronicles #4
Author: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Publication: October 26th, 2012 by Penguin Australia
Format, pages: Paperback, 451
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Romance
My Rating:  

From Goodreads: 

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan’s return, vowing to do whatever it takes — even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.

I pushed myself in December to read Beautiful Chaos and Beautiful Redemption so that I know how it all ends and can have a fresh slate before watching the Beautiful Creatures film and experience this story again but through film and stunning visuals. Beautiful Redemption was a bittersweet ending to this series, but I felt like it needed a lot more – I was waiting for much more, considering everything Ethan goes through to return back to Lena and all the events that lead up to the end ever since the beginning. Sure, there was interesting twists here and there, but the pacing of the plot was all over the place – slow, then fast, slow, then fast. I just wanted to hurry it up and get to the actual conclusion that we have all waited for, the major conflict between Ethan and Angelus, but Angelus was such a sloppily-created villain that I knew he could do no real threat and as much damage as Seraphine had done previously. Obviously, it was probably because I knew Ethan had to win, but everything seemed a bit too easy and smooth sailing (e.g. the fight with Abraham where I was expecting a BATTLE OF HUNDREDS but got a standoff of five). Still, this book would look stunning on the big screen and I cannot wait for all four books to be adapted and for Gatlin County to become reality. Goodbye E&L.

• • •

That’s another three series completed. I wonder what’s next in 2013…

‘I have to succeed,’ Annabeth said simply. ‘The risk is worth it.’

Title: The Mark of Athena, The Heroes of Olympus #3
Author: Rick Riordan
Publication: October 2, 2012 by Puffin (Penguin Australia)
Format, pages: Paperback, 572
Age Group: Childrens (Middle Grade), Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Greek Mythology
My Rating:  

From Penguin Australia:

One fatal prophecy. Seven brace demigods. A quest to find – and close – the doors of death.

Annabeth and her friends Piper, Jason and Leo have landed at camp Jupiter with one mission in mind. The time has come for Roman and Greek demigods to unite. With Percy Jackson, Hazel and Frank by their side, they must combine forces to find – and close – the Doors of Death.

But Annabeth is hiding a secret – a command from her mother, the goddess of war and wisdom: ‘Follow the Mark of Athena, Avenge me.’ Annabeth is already risking her life . . . What more does Athena want her daughter to do?

Now the seven demigods must begin their quest across land and sea to Rome, but what will they have to sacrifice this time – and what unspeakable horrors await?

Goodreads | Booktopia

Rick Riordan demonstrates his superb storytelling abilities once again in the third instalment of the Heroes of Olympus series, The Mark of Athena. I am envious of Rick Riordan’s talent for crafting such great books with an emphasis on giving both boys and girls something to love. His books have plots that are the perfect blend of adventure, action, fantasy, mythology and romance, involving a cast of amazing characters with flaws, complexities and developments, and a prose that transitions from seriousness to hilarity seamlessly – The Mark of Athena is an ideal example. The Mark of Athena is the best book yet and although I complain way too much that time flies, I do hope that the next year does just that so I can have The House of Hades in my hands already. After the ending of The Mark of Athena you’ll be wishing for the next year to be over and done with too… Just saying.

After the The Son of Neptune our favourite heroes have finally come together – Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Hazel and Frank. The Argo II lands in New Rome so that the Greeks can try to make peace with the Romans and purge any hostility between the two so that they can ally together to fight and stop Gaia from rising. But this does not happen due to some unforeseen events… Our league of heroes then set off to make things right between the Greeks and the Romans once and for all as per Hera’s wish, while completing the prophecy that takes them to Rome, Hazel’s brother Nico, and the Doors of Death – which they ultimately need to close. Oh, and don’t forget Coach Hedge who also goes along on this perilous adventure.

Having known Percy and Annabeth for the greatest amount of time from the Percy Jackson and Olympians series you would think you know them as much as you know yourself, however that is not the case after all in The Mark of Athena. Rick Riordan continues to make Percy and Annabeth interesting, adding new dimensions and maturity to their characters. They just do not get repetitive. Their relationship flourishes and becomes ever so obvious and strengthened in and throughout this instalment, and the ending of The Mark of Athena relied on their relationship for the “twist” to occur. It was such a heart-rending moment – my heart was melted, then hardened, then pulverised into a million pieces. On Twitter I tweeted: “Someone please find me my own Annabeth, daughter of Athena. I would like to be her Percy, keeper of promises.”

‘We’re staying together,’ he promised. ‘You’re not getting away from me. Never again.’

The Mark of Athena has been said to be Annabeth’s book; she exhibits her true nature of being a daughter of Athena, by putting all that wisdom and audacity to use. However this book also comprises of Percy’s, Hazel’s and Leo’s POVs, and so is as much the other six’s book than just Annabeth’s. Yes, the whole reason they go to Rome is because Annabeth has to follow the mark of Athena and avenge her mother, but on this journey Percy, Jason, Hazel, Piper, Leo and Frank also discover something new about themselves and each other – we as the reader also learn something new about each of the characters. Jason really has the toughest job to grab the reader’s attention considering in the beginning of this series he did fill in for Percy and become our newest hero. Because of that there is an obvious rift; in The Mark of Athena the dominance/leadership quality that they both have almost becomes a shared possession between the two – by the end they find respect in one another and a bromance emerges. It was a great dynamic within the group to observe (as were all the relationships).

‘I could have killed you.’
‘Or I could have killed you,’ Percy said.
Jason shrugged. ‘If there’d been an ocean in Kansas, maybe.’
‘I don’t need an ocean—’
‘Boys,’ Annabeth interrupted. ‘I’m sure you both would’ve been wonderful at killing each other. But right now, you need some rest.’

‘Hmm…” Jason snapped his fingers. “I can call a friend for a ride.’
Percy raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh, yeah? Me too. Let’s see whose friend gets here first.’

Leo was just Leo – awesome, hilarious, and the odd man out with his baby Argo II. He always knew when to bring the laughs to the party (e.g. early scenes with Echo and Narcissus). Leo had this unsureness about the others – he was especially skeptical about Frank, because he just did not understand him as much as the others did… as much as Hazel did. So there was a bit of caution and uneasiness between the two. For me, I thought Leo used his jokes as a sort of defence mechanism against Frank or as a way of showing that he is an alright dude. But there is this awkwardness between them because Frank has a problem with fire, as we learned in The Son of Neptune. Moving on… Frank I found was the introverted and shy one of the bunch, evident in his relationship with Hazel but also in his distance from Leo. Plus he turns into a goldfish at one point – like I said, he’s a precious being. Hazel: this daughter of Pluto/Hades is something! She is the complete opposite of her father – where Hades kind of likes the whole conflict side of things, Hazel doesn’t; she aims to settle all contentions and disputes that arise in her good, calm demeanour (once again, e.g., between Frank and Leo or Jason and Percy). And then finally Piper, our daughter of Aphrodite, can really use that power of persuasion to do some good in the world – and she proves that she really is as intelligent than what people usually thought of her, considering she is the daughter of Aphrodite and all… the daughter of a goddess who would rather gossip over tea and cakes than discuss the war that is happening. We must NOT forget about Coach Hedge. Coach Hedge is just so effing cool… and strange… and a total goat!

So yeah, if you didn’t see, The Mark of Athena was so so so good! The characters were the best part of this story and were all relatable. The House of Hades can you please come sooner? I cannot wait to see what Rick Riordan serves up to us in the next chapter of this series – I have a feeling we’re going to get to know more about Hazel along with Nico while in the Underworld. HELLO HADES!

*Also, you would think that after the five Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, these three and The Kane Chronicles that I would have habituated to the stupidness of some of the mythological beings in them. But that’s what brings the humour and allows our heroes to use their wit more than force, intelligence over strength.

A big thank you to Penguin Australia for the review copy.

Books in the series:

1. The Lost Hero (October, 2010)
2. The Son of Neptune (October, 2011)
3. The Mark of Athena (October, 2012)
4. The House of Hades (October, 2013)
5. Untitled (October, 2014)

If you want to be surprised when reading this considering the ending of Froi of the Exiles, then don’t continue any further. Just know that Quintana of Charyn will leave you speechless.

___________

‘You were never able to break her. She is the stone of this kingdom.’

Title: Quintana of Charyn, Lumatere Chronicles #3)
Author: Melina Marchetta
Publication: September 26th 2012 by Viking Australia/Penguin Teen Australia
Format, pages: Paperback, 516
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating:   (What else really?)

Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi must travel through Charyn to search for Quintana, the mother of Charyn’s unborn king, and protect her against those who will do anything to gain power. But what happens when loyalty to family and country conflict? When the forces marshalled in Charyn’s war gather and threaten to involve the whole of the land, including Lumatere, only Froi can set things right, with the help of those he loves.

Goodreads || Fishpond

Immediately after finishing:

… … … … *blink* … … … … *blink* Ummmm… *blink* … … … … I’m sleeping with this book tonight.

What reverberated around in my cranium a few days ago: 

Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi  Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi GARGARIN GARGARIN GARGARIN LIRAH LIRAH LIRAH ARJURO ARJURO ARJURO Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Finnikin Finnikin Finnikin Isaboe Isaboe Isaboe Phaedra Phaedra Phaedra Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi GARGARIN GARGARIN GARGARIN LIRAH LIRAH LIRAH ARJURO ARJURO ARJURO Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi Quintana Quintana Quintana Froi Froi Froi

As can be seen, these characters are a lifeline.

Two days later (today):

Having read Froi of the Exiles and Quintana of Charyn back-to-back, I could not have experienced and read these wonders any other way. I was glad I waited out the year since I got Froi – everyone’s desperation for Quintana became common knowledge considering its ending, so I turned to logic and logic won out. Froi of the Exiles was amazing; but Quintana of Charyn was perfect, unforgettable… beautiful.

We entered Melina Marchetta’s Skuldenore and the world of the ‘Lumatere Chronicles’ through Finnikin of the Rock. It was breathtakingly real and raw, albeit fantasy. We were first introduced to characters such as Finnikin and Isaboe, and developed a strong love for them. We met Froi, too, among others. Finnikin was an introduction – this book established the world and gave us insight into the rift between Lumatere and Charyn, presenting us with a dark, hopeless and war-torn continent, its people ambivalent as to what the future may hold. Finnikin was the beginning of a spellbinding journey, which then continued in Froi of the Exiles. Melina Marchetta took us further into the darkness of this world; more notably into Froi’s unknown past, the key to understanding the hope for the future. Froi hooked himself into our hearts, and slowly with understanding, Quintana did too. I was invested more in the story in Froi than I was Finnikin, most probably since I was familiar with the characters and I was desperate to learn more about them and soak up any bit of detail there was to them.

Then finally we came to Quintana of Charyn. After following the developments of the characters and knowing them as much as I know myself, I did not want to leave them; I did not want to forget them; and I did not want to stop reading about them. Quintana contained a number of memorable moments where each character found their home, found safety and comfort, and most importantly, found hope. All that because they found each other.

Ending books on cliffhangers are tricky as it is uncertain as to how they would be received. However, how the ending of Froi played out was necessary in transitioning us to the final chapter of this story. With haste, Melina Marchetta pulls the reader back into the struggles of Quintana and Froi. Froi was being nursed by Arjuro after the fatal injuries he received a few weeks earlier and constantly on his mind was the safety of Quintana – a safety which he could not give her considering his circumstances. Once mended, along with his parents Gargarin and Lirah he goes in search for Quintana, who has appeared in the valley between Lumatere and Charyn, in search of someone that could give her the safety that Froi is not able to provide her with. And with her carrying their baby, every second is crucial to their survival and their ambivalent future.

Simultaneously, Isaboe and Finnikin contemplate whether Froi has done his job that he was sent to do, as no one has heard or seen him since he left Lumatere to assassinate Quintana. Isaboe and Finnikin are also expecting, and Finnikin ponders whether he is good enough to be the father of a Lumateran King as well as the husband of Isaboe – not a King; just her consort. This is addressed when Finnikin and Froi come together after a few hiccups in their honesty and friendship concerning the role that Isaboe plays in each of their lives.

 ‘I have an equally strong bond with you, my friend,’ Froi said. ‘It’s not that I desire one of you over the other. It’s that I want what you have together. I know that despite everything . . . it must eat at your heart that you’re her consort and not her king . . .’
……Finnikin shook his head again.
……‘It’s not about having power over her,’ Finnikin explained. ‘If I was the King, I could take care of her. I could keep her free from the troubles of Lumatere, which seems endless. And so trite. Honestly, Froi, ours are such ungrateful people at times. Despite our hard work, all we hear are complaints and woe and who suffered most and whose soil deserves more. Why can’t they just be happy with what we’ve got? We have our kingdom back, but no one seems truly happy, and I’m frightened that it’s now in our blood. That we’ll pass on that dissatisfaction to our children and our children’s children and that we’ll be the ancients one day and our descendants will say, “Ah yes, a melancholy dour lot.”‘

Before I move further into my review for Quintana of Charyn I just want to share another quote in the book that I adore, as it encompasses what the meaning of life is all about. We can’t all be kings and queens and witness our dreams come true, but if we make do with what we have and live life to the best that we can then it will be a good life and that’s all you really need. I find after reading Quintana that what Isaboe says is relevant to twists later on, if not foreshadows those events.

‘…In the games of queens and kings,’ she said to Froi, ‘we leave our dreams at the door and we make do with what we have. Sometimes if we’re fortunate, we still manage to have a good life.’

Then to enhance what Isaboe says to Froi, Lirah says this which is equally as inspirational:

‘You said to me once that you weren’t what I dreamed of. You were right. You surpass everything I dreamed of. Even the rot in you that’s caused you to do shameful things. Some men let the rot and guilt fester into something ugly beyond words. Few men can turn it into worth and substance. If you’re gods’ blessed for no other reason, it’s for that.’

You get to the end of some trilogies and series and you feel as though there could be another book or that there is more to the story that the author has not shared. The Lumatere Chronicles is not one of those. I feel as though Melina Marchetta has poured every ounce of her experience and storytelling abilities into this story, especially in this third and final book, to the point that fatigue consumes you. All the characters ended in positions that they were happy to be in, and if they are content as is the author, then I am too.  Skuldenore, although still with subtle rivalries and problems, has returned to the peaceful state that it once was, because of the actions of our heroes and our heroines, the major and minor. What I need to do is to reread all three books again, and I am sure I will learn a helluva lot more than I did the first time.

These characters will never be forgotten. The Lumatere Chronicles is so well received because of the characters; they’re flawed human beings with dark pasts and uncertain futures, living their present with caution and a desire to see better days in the world that they live in. Because of how much I adored Froi and Quintana after Froi of the Exiles, I had trouble finding that same devotion for Isaboe and Finnikin at the beginning of Quintana of Charyn. But as the novel progressed and Isaboe and Finnikin understood Froi’s situation and the role Quintana has to it, that was when I admired this quartet – they complemented each other. They are different in every way, bringing about an influx of dynamics that would not have occurred if these characters were any other way. Gargarin, Lirah, Arjuro, Phaedra, Tesadora and a few others make this story ever so richer with their own stories to tell. I will miss them all, each and every single one of them.

Quintana of Charyn is now a favourite, and once the rest of the world has their opportunity to indulge in the beauty of this book there’s going to be a fanfare with the words ‘Queen’ and ‘Melina’ sung throughout.

A big thank you to Penguin Australia for providing a copy to review.

Books in This Series:

1. Finnikin of the Rock (September, 2008)
2. Froi of the Exiles (October, 2011)
3. Quintana of Charyn (September, 2012)

 What others have said about Quintana of Charyn:

Mandee @ Vegan YA Nerds:

Quintana of Charyn is a compelling, entertaining and beautifully written story involving realistic and loveable characters that will have you laughing and crying throughout the journey.

Danielle @ AlphaReader:

I’ve loved every page of ‘The Lumatere Chronicles’, and though I was sad to read its end with ‘Quintana of Charyn’, I found there was a lot to love in this goodbye.

There is nothing like a quest to understand everything, even if there is nothing to know.

Title: The Rise of Nine, Lorien Legacies #3
Author: Pittacus Lore
Publication: August 22, 2012 by Penguin Australia
Format, pages: e-ARC, 333; Paperback, 384
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating:  

Thanks to Penguin Australia for the e-ARC via NetGalley!

Until the day I met John Smith, Number Four, I’d been on the run alone, hiding and fighting to stay alive.

Together, we are much more powerful. But it could only last so long before we had to separate to find the others. . . .

I went to Spain to find Seven, and I found even more, including a tenth member of the Garde who escaped from Lorien alive. Ella is younger than the rest of us, but just as brave. Now we’re looking for the others–including John.

But so are they.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They caught me in New York–but I escaped.
I am Number Six.
They want to finish what they started.
But they’ll have to fight us first.

| Goodreads |

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I am a sucker for books packed with action (and conflict), addicted to them like girls and their book boyfriends. The Lorien Legacies books continue to be more exciting than the last; The Rise of Nine was one helluva book. There’s still three more books to come, but man, I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT ANYMORE! Okay, since I read The Fallen Legacies novella I may have a smidge of a sense what would be involved in Book Four… but this is a review for The Rise of Nine – looks like I’m already itching for book four… and five… and six… This series is addictive as hell! There is still so much more awesomeness to come and we’re only halfway through. Imagine what I’ll be like for the final book. Dead, I imagine, from an overdose of Loriens… or Legacies… both. THE LORIEN LEGACIES!

Like The Power of Six, The Rise of Nine was told through John’s (Four), Six’s, and Marina’s (Seven) perspectives. It begins with Marina, Six, Ella (Ten), and Clayton flying to India, as they believe that is where another member of the Garde is after reports of a God-like child, which we discover is actually Eight. While those four are occupied with that, John and Nine are also making their own discoveries involving their chests, their Legacies, and about themselves. John doesn’t stop moaning about the loss of Sam and Sarah, and Nine is the one telling him to get his act together. Both groups come across difficulties forcing them to use their Legacies and through a sequence of events find their paths to one another so that they can defeat Setrakus Ra once and for all – at least fight him.

‘We are not going to Ohio to see if another one of your humans is all cozy and safe. This is not our home, Four. These humans are not our brothers and sisters. Everything we do here on Earth is for our real home, for our real brothers and sisters, for the Elders who sacrificed their lives to put us on that ship …

If you don’t have Lorien in your heart, then you should say so right now. I won’t run around with a traitor. Our only goal is doing everything we can to be at full strength so we can defeat Setrakus Ra and his army. That’s it. Got it?’

I decide to remain silent. My feelings for Sam and Sarah will never subside. I know this. But Nine is right about what comes first. We are of help to no one if we do not increase our strength, and that only happens if we can find the others.

p. 118 from e-ARC

Sam makes no appearance in The Rise of Nine sadly since the Mogadorians have him as a sex slave in their brothel captured him and Four and Nine could not rescue him at the end of The Power of Six. However, there is Sarah towards the end, and my faith is restored in her. Felt so sorry for her. But the humans aren’t the makers of this story. It is the members of the Garde.

The new addition to the journey, Eight, has some amazing abilities/Legacies, providing Marina with a boy to crush on and this also provides an opportunity to come to realisations about certain things and into her own self. Six was just as kick-ass ever. And Ella, well, she’s not bad too. Besides his constant moaning over Sam and Sarah, John comes to understand a lot. The chapters of him with Nine show how cheeky Nine can be – a substitution for Sam’s hilarity in The Rise of Nine. Even with their constant bickering and physical fights, I sensed a real brotherly bond form between the two. Where Sam is a friend, Nine is a brother. I just loved it! And then when all the Garde come together (minus one – Five)… wow!

Fifty pages in there was a full-scale, explosive, film-imagined action sequence full of missiles and helicopters flying balls of fire. Imagine the action a hundred pages in, then go to the climax and the end. The action doesn’t stop. Even if it’s an exchange of words. I didn’t know what to expect in the oncoming chapters. Pair the action with the perilous adventure and the new revelations about the world of the Lorien Legacies, you have here an amazing science fiction series that  will have you wanting more, and you’ll see yourself return as soon as possible. I reached the end of The Rise of Nine and swore because I wanted more. I’m addicted; it’s my crack. It wasn’t a cliffhanger, but it was just a too sudden ending; it was a fantastic close for Act 1. Now, it’s Act 2 and I certain it’s going to kill me. Damn you, Pittacus Lore!  

–> THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES. <–

Title: Black Dawn, Morganville Vampires #12
Author: Rachel Caine
Publication: April 26, 2012 by Penguin Australia (Razorbill)
Received an ARC from NetGalley
Format, pages: Paperback, 350
Finished on: April 8, 2012
My Rating:  

In Last Breath, the rain brought a new and dire threat to Morganville and its vampires… their ancient enemies, the draug. Now, the vampires are fighting a losing war, and it will fall to the residents of the Glass House: Michael, Eve, Shane and Claire, to take the fight to an enemy who threatens to destroy the town, forever.

Lovers of Morganville, rejoice: Black Dawn takes the intrigue, romance and nail-biting suspense of the series to its highest level yet!

Goodreads || Book Depository

First thing I want to say is that this series needs to be turned into a TV series stat! I’d be happy to write the script – lately I’ve added ‘write a tv series/script’ to the list of things I want to accomplish. Morganville reminds me of Revenge just in terms of all the game-changers and twists and turns that you do not suspect. This series has evolved so much since the first book, Glass Houses, that I feel like I’ve known these characters for ages – and with twelve books as of yet, that is exactly the reason why I feel so close to them, especially Clare, Michael, Eve, and Shane. They are the glue that hold the series together.

Secondly, this book was to be the final book in the series until Rachel Caine was signed on for three more. I’m all for more Morganville books, but I would’ve loved to still have a more resolved and completed ending to this book. I wanted an epic battle between the vampires and the drudge. I wanted more intensity in that “planned” confrontation scene that will remain unsaid. I wanted closure. If you’ve read Black Dawn already and understand where I’m getting at then please don’t hesitate to agree or disagree with me on this. I felt like we could’ve gotten more from this instalment and because there were three more to come, with Bitter Blood next, that Rachel Caine held back her original plans and changed them to fit the newer ending, drudge-less. Although, I bet they’ll still be around to wreak havoc. I’m just not sure.

Long series keeps me on my feet and Morganville Vampires is one of those which I love for that very reason. I do love the character development in Black Dawn though. Scarred is what I can describe each and every one of them. And I wonder what more Rachel Caine can show us, throw at us, hold at our eyes in order to keep us reading. That’s my only worry. That the blood and surprises in Morganville will run out. But I know – I trust in Rachel Caine, and she’ll give us another three books that may as well blow every burnt down house and building in Morganville off the ground and leave nothing but vampires burning in the Texan sun.

Bitter Blood come faster! I want to know what happens next! Like now.

Title: The Reluctant Hallelujah
Author: Gabrielle Williams
Publication: February 22, 2012 by Penguin Australia
Format, pages: Paperback, 220
Source: Publisher
Finished on: February 16, 2012
My Rating:  

But there I go, getting ahead of myself. Skipping straight to the part where I was front-page news and they were calling me Dorothy, instead of starting at the beginning…

When Dodie’s parents go missing just as final year exams are about to start, she convinces herself they’re fine. But when the least likely boy in class holds the key – quite literally – to the huge secret her parents have been hiding all these years, it’s up to Dodie, her sister, the guy from school, and two guys she’s never met before, to take on the challenge of a lifetime. So now Dodie’s driving – unlicensed –to Sydney, and being chased by bad guys, the police, and one very handsome good guy.

Goodreads || Fishpond

If you have read Beatle Meets Destiny you would know that Gab Williams knows how to find that perfect voice for her characters. In The Reluctant Hallelujah Dodie is given this distinct voice that changes over the course of the book, which becomes influenced by the decisions and actions she has to make and commit to while on this quest and road-trip. Of course you’re going to be frantic and stressed when you’re final Year 12 exams are just a couple of days away. In addition to this, you’re going to feel like you’ve been run over by a truck ten times over when you discover that your parents have been hiding a family secret right under your nose and you have to move this “secret” to Sydney days before your exams in which you’ve barely studied for, you have to care for your sister which you hardly like to spend time with, drive a car without a license with a couple of guys you know nothing about, and all you have on your mind is being convicted as a criminal and sent to jail when you’re just doing a job you’ve been urged and told to do – fated to do.

What a life – rather mad few days – Dodie has to plow through. Oh and don’t forget when she becomes a hot, emotional wreck once she falls for one of those guys – just another load of weight packed onto the cross she already struggles to pull along. (Who likes my analogy? I sure do!) Obviously you can understand where I’m coming from when I say Dodie has this unique voice. Who wouldn’t be? And add in those witty comments of hers, we have here a young Australian – like any other – about to sit their final exams; emotionally unstable and just about to implode with stress about one’s own future, but witty enough to hide the weight of everything that’s on their shoulders and the sacrifice she has to make for her parents.

Now you know I like to ramble on about books that I love (proof above), but you don’t know – or maybe you do – that I tend to get a despicable love for those authors who have an uncanny ability to transport you right into the thick of everything, into the shoes of the main characters. What also helped in The Reluctant Hallelujah’s case was that I could picture Gab’s scenery in Melbourne, Gippsland, and along the coast to Sydney, as I’ve seen it myself.

If you’re worried that this book will demean religion and faith or be sacrilegious to the point that you think God will disown you or set you alight like a vampire or creature of the night if you even touch or purchase the book, then you are clearly wrong. Gab Williams deals with the idea of religion and faith in such a way that it is reverential, and this clearly shows through her writing, through her characters – although a bit jokey – and the themes and resemblances explored.

Put simply: The Reluctant Hallelujah is an inventive yet insightful view of faith among today’s young people, and with it, a coming-of-age story that teaches us to make sacrifices in our lives for the greater good: for family, for yourself, for your love. This is a book you must read if you love your road-trip stories but bare in mind it ends in a tragedy like no other, a sacrifice like no other… The Reluctant Hallelujah is a love story like no other (just try to keep your ruby slippers with you at all times).

Title: The Shiny Guys
Author: Doug MacLeod
Publication: February 22, 2012 by Penguin Australia
Format, pages: Paperback, 261
Source: Publisher
Finished on: February 6, 2012
My Rating:  

‘Wouldn’t it be funny if they were real?’
‘Shiny red men?’
‘What if I were the sane one and everyone else was mad?’

One night, the shiny guys visit fifteen-year-old Colin Lapsley. They don’t speak, but Colin can read their thoughts. They want him to pay for the terrible thing that he has done. When the shiny guys won’t go away, Colin is admitted to ward 44. Ther he discovers an alien world, a powerful weapon, a gentle giant, and a girl who may be able to see what he can see.

The Shiny Guys is a dark, sometimes funny novel about how fantasy and reality can merge, especially when electricity is involved.

What is there for me to say about this book without repeating myself due to its brilliance? This review is quite hard to write as it’s one of those books that gives you an appreciation for many things. As I am studying Psychology and have looked into mental illnesses and know how it’s like and how someone can act and experienced it with children first-hand, it just makes this less of a review but more so praise for Doug MacLeod – for writing a story directed at young adults, dealing with such a difficult subject as this. And Doug does it with such skill that you don’t find yourself reading from the perspective of someone who is depressed, or has anorexia, or a development disorder. You read it as though they’re like every other normal person with big dreams, hopes, and ambitions – just with an unlucky streak. Reading The Shiny Guys is a breather from the shelves of countless other young adult books today.

Now, don’t think this book is a ‘breather’ literally. Colin our main character does not give you much of a chance to take a breath with his never-ending playful jokes and his witty and jesting narration, even through the highs and lows, the dips and falls, in the book. Although Colin has had a traumatic experience not long ago (which you will learn of when you read) and finds himself in this psychiatric ward Ward 44, and surrounded by all these other patients – some he likes and some he despises – he doesn’t stop with the jokes, even in his one-on-one meetings with his psychiatrist/doctor. This is another reason why I could praise Doug MacLeod to no end (and it’s very hard to explain why right now so I’m just going to sit on this and think about it more, so that I can put it in a meaningful and comprehendible sentence). But a passage I thought could encapsulate what I could want to say is:

That night, I feel uplifted by the new focus in my life. When we are all gathered in the dining room, I tell everyone that before we eat I would like to say grace. Patients look surprised. Val thinks this is a lovely idea. I close my eyes, clasp my hands and recite with quiet dignity:
‘While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the grass,
The angel of the Lord came down
And kicked them up the arse. Amen.’
Mango and Anthea burst out laughing. Even apologetic Jill cracks a smile. Val and Len, who sit together, are clearly not amused. Val tells me that there will be a day of judgement, and I won’t let be let into heaven. This is fine by me. The place is probably full of reformed alcoholics. [p.111-112]

Now this may not be funny, but it sure does show how much Colin loves to joke around and make fun of those patients he doesn’t enjoy being around – Val is one of them, a woman who is heavily religious but is an alcoholic. There’s your background information .

Every now and then though we also get a type of Q&A between Anthea – the young girl with anorexia – and her doctor, giving us a path to fully recognise and learn Anthea’s predicament, and also we get a couple chapters from Mango’s point-of-view that are expressed differently. Mango’s narration is full of spelling mistakes as if it’s that way he would spell it, and although he is around the same age as both Anthea and Colin, he has developmental problems which affects the way in which he communicates and deals with the world around him and the people who he is with. These chapters could be the ‘breathers’ from Colin’s.

Within Ward 44 we see a crush develop into a severe infatuation which doesn’t turn out the way Mango had wanted it to. We see evil cockroaches – the shiny guys – inhabit Colin’s reality and his quest by the human-sized cockroaches called Nestorians to eradicate them. And we see Anthea try and defeat those shadows lurking near her, within her. All in all, it’s about discovering the truth and not hiding behind your own self-created lies. Something we must all learn in ourselves and which many people with disabilities of all kinds can do so much better at than those that don’t.

You should all read this.

In the end you can’t always choose what to keep. You can only choose how you let it go. 

Title: Crossed, Matched #2
Author: Ally Condie
Publication: November 10, 2011 by Razorbill (Penguin Australia)
Format, pages: Paperback, 376
Source: Publisher
My Rating:  

Rules are different outside the Society.

Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky-taken by the Society to his certain death-only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices everything to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.

Narrated from both Cassia’s and Ky’s points of view, this hotly anticipated sequel to Matched will take them both to the edge of Society, where nothing is as expected and crosses and double crosses make their path more twisted than ever…

Crossed had a lot going for it considering I enjoyed Matched very much last year. There were lots of mixed reactions about Matched, but I was one of those who loved it as it was less action-oriented unlike many dystopians, but much more introspective through Cassia’s point-of-view giving you a more thought-provoking read. Crossed on the other hand—although having that same introspective prose—fell flat as really nothing happened in the book (only travelling). We do however get to learn more about The Society and The Rising.

Basically Crossed loosely picks up where Matched left off (via a little time-jump), where Ky is sent to the Outer Provinces to live the rest of his days, and Cassia struggles to escape The Society to seek out Ky. But Ky himself escapes the Outer Provinces, therefore making Cassia travel further. Most of the book takes place in The Carvings, and all you’ll read for the scenery is rocks and stone and caves and hills and whatever else is in these barren environments. And as all that happens in Crossed is Cassia and Ky picking up companions on the race through The Carvings, and climbing and climbing, and running, and climbing, and sleeping, and camping, and nothing much else happened. Because of this and the less events that occurred within Crossed, it was slower than Matched allowing my mind to wander onto other things.

Unlike Matched which was just told through Cassia, we get the perspective of both Cassia and Ky this time round. By giving us part of the book through Ky, we get to dig deeper and see into his past and how he became the person he is now. Although it was a great move by Ally Condie to further enhance our reading experience to see/learn more of the characters and their beliefs and give more of the story, however, there was a downside to it. We were not given two distinct voices, of the two genders, and of the two individuals. At times it got distracting trying to figure out whose perspective it was from although each chapter was titled with either “Cassia” or “Ky”. If Ally Condie is going to continue to use the dual/multi-POV in the third book, I believe there needs to be further improvements.

Besides the slowness and the indistinct voices, Ally Condie continues to deliver her introspective and wonderful prose which I enjoyed immensely from Matched. It flows brilliantly. There are many passages or quotes I would like to share just to get my point across but I will just choose a couple.

Everyone has something of beauty about them. But loving let’s you look, and look, and look again. You notice the back of a hand, the turn of a head, the way of a walk. When you first love, you look blind and you see it all as the glorious, beloved whole, or a beautiful sum of beautiful parts. But when you see the one you love as pieces, as why’s, you can love those parts too, and it’s a love at once more complicated and more complete.

Do you agree? And this:

Love has different shades. Like the way I loved Cassia when I thought she’d never love me. The way I loved her on the Hill. The way I love her now that she came into the canyon for me. It’s different. Deeper. I thought I loved her and wanted her before, but as we walk through the canyon together I realize this could be more than a new shade. A whole new color.

Although my expectations for Crossed were not met, this sequel still manages to set us up for what is to come in the last book of the trilogy. I just hope it is more engrossing and involving than Crossed was, and brings us more into The Rising…and back within The Society where it all started.