Book Review: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Published: August 11th, 2011 

Publisher: Gollancz

Pages: 615

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

ELANTRIS WAS A PLACE OF GLORY

The capital of Arelon, the home to people transformed into magic-using demigods by the Shaod.

But then the magic failed, Elantris started to rot, and its inhabitants turned into powerless wrecks.

And in the new capital, Kae, close enough to Elantris for everyone to be reminded of what they have lost, a princess arrives. Sarene is to be married to unite Teod and Arelon against the religious imperialists of Fjordell. But she is told that Raoden, her husband to be, is dead.

Determined to carry on the fight for Teod and Arelon's freedom, Sarene clashes with the high priest Hrathen. If Hrathen can persuade the populace to convert, Fjordell will reign supreme.

But there are secrets in Elantris, the dead and the ruined may yet have a role to play in this new world. Magic lives.

Deskynowsky's Review:

I am enchanted by the beauty of Brandon Sanderson's world... so EPIC!

so I bought Elantris in hoping to get introduced to the magical world that Brandon Sanderson has created through his hypnotic writing style.. And I think Elantris is a great choice for me and anyone who wants to start reading his books... I could easily choose to read his famous series, the Mistborn series, but before I invest my money, my energy, and my time, I really wanted to know first if it will be worth that much.. and Elantris sold it for me.. even after couple of pages, I knew this book is a win!

Well, I can tell you, I have all other Brandon Sanderson books waiting in my basket.. just a click away... I am that much swooned over his awesomeness...

This book is a complete package, I don't know if my review will be legit enough to describe how amazing the story of Elantris.. I think this book can stay as a Standalone.. So no worries guys, it's really satisfying..

This book is about the extinct of magic, the lost glory of the Gods, the power of politics and money, the battle of faith, the blossoming romance, loyalty and justice, and the rising of hope.. I am so so so satisfied and happy after reading this book.. is like I have found Magic... this book and I believe, all other Brandon Sanderson's books must be really magical... the story was so engaging, well-plot and developed, the characters were believable and they were so amazing.. and the writing was so easy to digest yet pretty and sharp..

If you guys haven't read any Brandon Sanderson's book before like me, I really and highly recommend you guys to pick up this book, it is a great introduction of what we can expect and read more from him.. and although on Goodreads, it said that this book is part of a series, but I think it can be a Standalone.. so no worries guys... I love it, I think it's amazing, and I think you should read it too........ ok, to the next read

TBR for period of 16th to 30th of June 2014 - Fantasy Marathon!

I am freaking excited to start these awesome fantasy books!

So I have:

- 2nd and 3rd books of Demon's Lexicon Trilogy by Sarah Rees Brennan, the Demon's Covenant an the Demon's Surrender ! I really really really love Demon's Lexicon, you can see my review of the book here (Book Review: The Demon's Lexicon (The Demon's Lexicon #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan). And I am sooo excited to see where everything will go after the whole crazy things in the 1st book!

- Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. This is going to be my first book by Brandon Sanderson. I have seen Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Trilogy around on BookTube community quite often lately, so I think I will start with this one coz I think it's a standalone so far.. And see if I really like it, I will start to collect the Mistborn trilogy books afterward :)

- AND SO EXCITED for STROMDANCER by JAY KRISTOFF!!! I think it's a Japanese Steampunk story.. It looks freaking bad-ass!

<3 <3 <3

Book Review: The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Author: Robyn Schneider

Published: August 27th, 2013 

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Int'l Paperback Edition)

Pages: 335

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis:

Ezra Faulkner was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with new girl Cassidy Thorpe.

Deskynowsky's Review (Free Spoilers)

I was considering 3.5 stars, but I thought about it again, and decided to give it 3 stars.. It was Ok, definitely a coming of age story, about a boy who used to be The Golden Boy, The Popular Boy, but then he had a car accident that changed his life forever... And in the state of his changed life, he found another life that he had been overlooked... He started to find the true meaning of being a life etc etc etc... I like the premise of the story... The writing style was a bit slow and kinda long (in a way) and yeah..... it was really Ok, I didn't feel any particular feelings after finished reading this book..... The characters were Ok, well-developed, thou I could not say the same to a particular female character who helped the main male character in the book post-car accident.. But I thought she had served her purpose in the boy's life here.. So.. yeah... and on-to the next read!!! :)

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Author: Morgan Matson

Published: May 6th, 2014 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (hardback)

Pages: 449

Rating: 5/5

Deskynowsky's Review (Free Spoilers):

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!

This is definitely my favorite summer read so far! A very very very perfect Summer-Read! HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

This book somehow reminded me of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (in a way). These two are totally different story, but I think similar in how I feel about the female lead characters.. Although, I have to admit I love Emily Hughes more, the main female in Since You've Been Gone.. and Gosh.. can I have a Frank Porter!??? WE NEED TO CLONE THIS GUY!!!

This was a story about Emily who had a bestfriend named Sloane and then Sloane kinda disappeared at the beginning of Summer. Emily was a girl, a pretty much socially awkward and unconfident about herself and Sloane was exactly the opposite of Emily. Their friendship worked so well, and Emily was pretty dependent on Sloane in terms of social-interactions with a general-similar-age-group-of-people. The disappearance of Sloane had such impacts on Emily's life. She was like a ship without a captain. Then suddenly she received a list from Sloane sent by mail, a list of things that Emily would not normally do. But she really wanted to find Sloane, so she was hoping by doing the things in the list would put her closer to find Sloane. And this was the start of very many intersting, loving, heartwarming, funny, romantic adventures....

This book is so perfect and I really love it.. I love the writing style, the development of characters (yes, all characters in this book developed, not just the main one), the plot, the scenes, the drama, the romance, the adventures, the comedy.... oh man.. it's awesome....

If you like contemporary books, I am 100% sure that you will enjoy this book! So GO READ IT!!! <3

Current Reads for June 7th to 14th 2014 (or I hope I can finish it during this timeline) xp

Book Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Published: February 28th, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (paperback)

Pages: 527

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis:

Mara Dyer knows she isn't crazy. She knows that she can kill with her mind, and that Noah can heal with his. Mara also knows that somehow, Jude is not a hallucination. He is alive. Unfortunately, convincing her family and doctors that she's not unstable and doesn't need to be hospitalised isn't easy. The only person who actually believes her is Noah. But being with Noah is dangerous and Mara is in constant fear that she might hurt him. She needs to learn how to control her power, and fast! Together, Mara and Noah must try and figure out exactly how Jude survived when the asylum collapsed, and how he knows so much about her strange ability...before anyone else ends up dead!

Deskynowsky's Review (FREE SPOILERS):

HOLY HOLY HOLY BAT-SHIT!!!!!!!

I am just so soooo sooooo freaking glad that I decided to pick up this book, it's just definitely a 5 BRIGHT STARS READ! I have to thank-you, Ellen from AstridTheBookworm (a booktuber), her review on The Evolution of Mara Dyer convinced me to continue with the series... You might not know, but I didn't really impress with the first book, it was just too heavy on the romance-cheesiness! that I kinda felt a bit iffy about it... 

BUT THIS was/is definitely a winning sequel for me.. I fell in love with the story, the characters, the creeps, the romance, the mystery, and the everything! so PERFECT! Everything was just in right proportion! all the elements in the story were perrrrrrffffeeeccct! Enough creeps, enough romance (It's a Swoon Fest. and Noah was the STAR!), enough drama, enough thriller, enough mystery, it was just CLICKED!

What can I say more.. read this book, it's more intense, creepier, more mysterious, and more superior than the first!

OMG! I can not wait for the third book to come out! I WANT MOREEEEEEEE... the ending was craaazzzzyyy!!!! <3 <3 <3

Book Review: This is WAR by Lisa Roecker & Laura Roecker

Author: Lisa Roecker & Laura Roecker
Published: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Soho Teen (paperback)
Pages: 276
Rating: 2/5

Synopsis:

This is not a story of forgiveness...

The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Emily Thorne would be proud.

Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return.

Alone.

They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.

Enter the W.A.R.— the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.

Deskynowsky's Review:

So after reading this book....I decided to give it two stars..

Well, it was not horrible, I found myself enjoyed reading it.. It was okay, thou there were things that I want to question... Because somehow it was just left me more confused...

These characters in the book were mostly unlikeable, but the writers did a pretty good job on how to make them pretty interesting when they put them in dramatic situation. The drama, mystery, and how they act in that situation, well it was quite intriguing.. The story was told in 5 parts.. And divided based on 4 characters POVs (part 4 & 5 from one particular character POV).. I think it meant for readers to get more understanding and relate to these characters, well tbh I still didn't like them and I couldn't sympathize with them as well..

In summary of everything about this book in one sentence, it would be "there was something happened, then nothing at all".. Yeah it was confusing.. I feel in a way, these characters didn't do much, and the mystery kinda unraveled in not very spectacular way..

It was meant to be a YA mystery summer book, and I was drawn to the mysterious cover, intriguing synopsis, and that sticker telling the book to be "TeenVogue YA hottest read"..

Oh well...