1. Pendragon: Soldiers of Halla by D.J. MacHale | 4.5/5
"No time for second guesses. No room for hesitation. Nothing left to lose.
If you're asking me, there's only one thing we can do... Mates, let's get dangerous."
If you're asking me, there's only one thing we can do... Mates, let's get dangerous."
p. 75
"They never let you be famous and happy." He lifted an eyebrow. "I'll tell you a secret."
"Tell me." I loved it when he was like this.
"I'm going to be the first." He took my palm and held it in his.
The Walled City follows three teenagers in Hak Nam Walled City, a lawless outland occupied by gangs, vagrants, and prostitutes. The world is interesting in theory, but the execution, sadly, falls flat, and so the story lacks an actual plot, replaced instead with over-the-top, miles-long descriptions that sometimes don't even mean anything. The Walled City is boring and slow, predictable at times and dragging in others. To be fair, there were a few pretty descriptions and I liked the bit about sibling love, but the real life Kowloon Wall City, for which the book was inspired by, is far more interesting to me than this book itself.
p. 65
4. American Vampire Vol. 3 by Scott Snyder | 3/5
I find the vampire obsession in American culture sort of excessive and draining (looking at you, Twilight), but American Vampire wasn't too bad. Writing's great, artwork's outstanding (though I prefer Fiona Staples' style). At the end of the day, however, I didn't care for Skinner Sweet or Pearl Jones. Which sucks. I want to care about the characters I read about, to feel something about the journeys they embark on. This was an enjoyable read, but that's all and nothing more.
"Again, glad you could join us, Mr. Preston."
"Fuck you, too, Hobbes."
5. Just One Day by Gayle Forman | 2/5
In Just One Day, an American girl named Allyson falls for a mysterious Dutch dreamboat, who disappears the next day without an explanation. Though I value the underlying messages in this book, such as being brave, following your gut, letting yourself get lost and wander, and how fleeting moments change us, Just One Day was impossible to enjoy after Allyson's love interest disappears. She just met this guy and yet she's irrationally and tremendously affected by his absence, which is disappointing to say the least because a hopelessly boy-crazy heroine is all at once boring, frustrating, and annoying to read about. Not to mention, it fucks with my definition of "heroine." Allyson comes into her own near the end, but regardless I find it too little, too late.
p. 244-5
6. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani 5/5
It's not everyday I fall for a book from beginning to end, as was the case with The School for Good and Evil. Even as an adult reader, I greatly enjoyed this children's fantasy book about fairy tales and friendship. Since reading it, I've recommended it to young and adult readers alike. Fairy tales, after all, are for everyone. This one in particular is unpredictable, clever, fun, hilarious, and downright delightful. The heroine, Agatha, I loved from the start. The anti-heroine, Sophia, I sometimes loved to dislike. Point blank: I fell hard and fast for many reasons. I even pre-ordered the trilogy, so you know it's real.
"I was angry!" Sophie cried. "I didn't mean any–I don't want to hurt him! I don't want to hurt anyone! I'm not a villain!"
"You see, it doesn't matter what we are, Sophie."
Lady Lesso leaned so close she just had to whisper.
"It's what we do."
7. Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Sáenz | 2.5/5
"I know people think that druggies are really nothing but a bunch of losers. But the truth is that the smartest kids, they're the ones doing the drugs. We're thinkers and we don't like rules and we have imagination. All right, so we're also fucked up. But hey, you think sober people aren't all fucked up? The world is being run by sober people—and it doesn't look like it's working out all that well."
p. 22