Book Review: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Iron Widow

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Iron Widow 〰️

Holy mother of shirt balls. THAT ENDING. I did *not* see that coming, although I probably should have.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Not going to lie; it took a little while for me to get into this book fully. I'm not 100% sure why. I know I found it exciting, and I loved the "history" (actual and implied) of this world. But I only fully got into mid-way, and then I was invested in the story.

Side note, every time Zetian mentioned her feet, I cringe at the thought. I love that the author gave her some flare in the looks department (like her unibrow, even though it gets shaved off, and her bound feet). She feels like just your average girl. Even if her actions prove that she is far beyond anything but ordinary.

I love the world-building, and I LOVE some LGBT+ rep. This was also the first story I read with a polyamory relationship, even if it didn't get to be explored too much.

For a debut novel, I'm impressed. I can see how it became a bestseller instantaneously. It has a strong female lead, compelling characters, great world-building and excellent sequel bating. I can't wait for the second book to come out, especially after what we found out in the last few pages of the epilogue. I can't wait to learn more about how humans forgot they were on an alien planet. Makes sense, though. I was wondering the whole time why other countries weren't helping out in the war or mentioned, but this makes sense now.

Anyway, this was a great read. I do hope we get to Shimin again. I mean, it would be a copout if he came back, but I really liked the guy, despite his "flaws". (The author did a great job at making you like someone society has deemed "the bad guy". He did murder people, but he had the right intentions? Ahaa, what are morals lol)

Book Review: In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park

In Order to Live

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In Order to Live 〰️

What is there to say other than "wow." It is incredible the things people can do to other people and get away with it. It is unbelievable that this can and still happens in this day and age.

I currently live in South Korea, and like many of my Korean friends, and foreign friends, I didn't know much about North Korea or what happens when you try to escape. I learned a lot from this book. Sadly, most of it wasn't knowledge that was fun to learn. It was sad, raw, and authentic. It's hard to imagine that everything that happened in this book wasn't one of my fiction books. Instead, it was real life that happened to the author and her family.

I can say that this book gave me a much-needed appreciation for the life I have lived. It gave me a new perspective. I also appreciate how brave Park was in telling her story, for it was not an easy story to tell.

This book, though highly educated, is not for the faint of heart. If you are not in a good mental state, perhaps hold off reading until you are in the right mindset. But with that said, I highly recommend this read. I wish the author and her family all the best in life.

In Order to Live

by Yeonmi Park

Book Review: Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Extras

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Extras 〰️

Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars.

I love this series, I really do. And I love the expansion of world-building and learning how people lived after the events of the first three books. But I gotta say, I wasn't a huge fan of Aya. I liked her, but maybe I would have liked her more if she was the MC throughout the whole series. I'm so used to Tally that having a new MC in the fourth installment was weird. Plus she only really had true character growth in like the last few chapters. (I was happy that Tally did make an appearance at least, along with Shay, David, and Fausto).

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

I know a lot about Japanese culture and some of it felt a little off in this book, making it seem like it wasn't written by a Japanese author. (And it isn't, and that's fine, it just feels like there could have been more research). But then again, this is the future and things could have changed culture-wise. I mean, things DID change, but semantics.

I do wish that the Sly Girls could have stayed around a lot longer. They seemed to be only around as a plot device. I liked them and it would have been nice to get to know them more. I mean, they're mentioned on the blurb on the back of the book and I feel like they are barely in the city. I kinda wish that Aya would have seen them as great friends and through them learned not to "kick" every story out there instead of the way things went down in the novel.

Still, I think this was an excellent addition to the Uglies series. I still enjoyed it, though I admit not as much as the original trilogy. But if you love the Uglies series and want a little "extra", this is a great book to read.

Book review: Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Specials

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Specials 〰️

I love this series right from the start. I even loved this third installment just as much as the previous two. But I'm ranking it as a 4 star instead of a 5 star because of how uncomfortable the book made me feel with the "Cutters". I know a lot of people who suffer from bad mental health and having people essentially self-harm to have a clear mind just didn't sit right with me. I get what Westerfeld was going for, and I'm sure he had no ill intention, but I feel like there could have been another way for Specials to feel "icy".

Aside from that, this series is excellent when it comes to pacing. The action and downtime are always at the right length.

It was also interesting to see Tally (and Shay) as sorta the "bad guys" of this series. (Even if they wouldn't have been otherwise. They were forced into being Special after all).

Speaking of forced into having unwanted operations, I love how this series explores consent. From having people consent to take the cure to how consent is taken from them to getting operations done.

Another thing this series has going for it (besides body positivity talk) is a big philosophical question: is the price of freedom worth it over losing the planet to war, overpopulation and climate change? Seriously, though. Once everyone learns that being "pretty" comes with a price, they can choose to be cured and be free again. But the problem in regards to our planet and humanity, the problems that happened during "Rusty" times (aka around our current present), will probably happen again. There was a reason the operation was invented, and it seemed to save the planet, but at what cost? It's something to ponder on anyway.

All in all, love this series. (Super sad to see that apparently, Tally isn't the MC in the book. Not sure how I feel about that but I'll see what I think about it after I've read the 4th book). Still, I recommend this series to anyone who loves a good YA.

Book review: Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties

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Pretties 〰️

This series keeps getting wilder and wilder, and it's only the second book!

I absolutely love the expansion of world-building. Not to mention the pacing of this series is one of the best in a book series I have seen in a while. It was fast-paced in all the right places and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I could hardly put the book down. Each new chapter held something that made me keep reading for more. I loved it.

This book is filled with great characters and villains (and some good characters turned villains. of which I love the villain arc).

As with the first book, there wasn't much I didn't like. In fact, I may have liked this book even more. So if I need something to criticize, I'll go with what I said in the first book. I'm still not 100% a fan of the font and formatting of the book but it's a very small nitpick.

If you are looking for a great YA novel "that isn't like the other girls", this series is for you. It's different and has such a cool concept and really makes you think twice about the human race. Love it. And for that, I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies

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Uglies 〰️

I had this book as an ebook for years when someone, though I can't recall who recommended it to me. But I never actually read the book version. I ended up buying the box set of the entire series instead. (I like reading ebooks but physical books are my jam).

Anyway, what a wild ride! From start to finish, the action was there. And the world-building was great! What an exciting concept this book has. The pacing was on point, and the characters were a blast to read. And that ending! Gimme book two now, please!

Seriously, though, this is a great YA read. There were sad parts and more violence than I expected (that didn't bother me, I wasn't excepting it).

Uglies By Scott Westerfeld

Pretty much the only thing I didn't like about this book (and no, it wasn't the number of times the word "pretty" or "ugly" is used, and it is a lot) was the formatting. I didn't like the font, though I got used to it. It didn't feel like a traditionally published book because of that. (Though I enjoy the cover. Or at least the version I had anyway). But that is a minor nitpick.

I will say, though, how long ago in our society it became socially acceptable for everyone to call each other ugly and make fun of ourselves before we get this life-changing operation that everyone was down for? But besides that point, this book does dive into body positivity (and I'm not talking about the pretties), and I love that.

If you're looking for a great action-packed YA, this book is for you. Just be sure to have the next one handy as it does end on a great cliffhanger.

Book Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief

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The Book Thief 〰️

I've never read a book based on actual history before. I knew this book was a movie, I've heard the name, but never knew it was a book. My friend actually recommended it to me and I'm glad she did.

First off, the use of Death as a character/narrator was a smart choice. Brilliant writing on Zusak's part.

Second, I love the lightheartedness sprinkled throughout the book, as with a story that takes place in Nazi Germany, you need it. I love books about books and there were plenty of books referenced in this one. (I do wonder if the titles stolen were actual published books or made up for the sake of the story, however).

It was sad reading this book knowing that most of the characters were going to die. (I mean it was apparent because of the real history the book takes place in and the fact that Death is the narrator). But the characters felt real. The history was real and knowing that these things did happen to real people made my heartache. It's amazing what people can and will do to another human being and how we can view one race as superior to another even though we are all human beings.

This book isn't for the light of heart or a bit of light reading. It's a heavy topic. But an important one. Though the characters and their journey are fictional, the setting and history are, as mentioned, real, and we mustn't forget our history.

For a well-written story (and excellent formatting I might add) and great characters (of which I was extremely sad to see go), I highly recommend this book.

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

Book Review: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

The Starless Sea

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The Starless Sea 〰️

The stories! Oh! The stories this book tells. Literally! So many stories and yet they somehow all fit together at the end.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

The easiest way to describe how good this book was, (especially after reading Morgenstern's debut novel, The Night Circus), is that now anything Morgenstern writes will be an automatic insta-buy for me. I absolutely LOVE her writing style. It's so unique I could pick up her books with no cover, start reading, and know it was her writing it.

The sheer amount of imagination to have like a bazillion different stories all being told at once and yet somehow all intertwine in the end is something I find incredible. The author essentially wrote like 50 novels in one yet none of it felt out of place.

Morgenstern's description of literally everything in this book is astounding. I could vividly smell all the books, see all the elaborate stories, and taste the honey on my tongue. Plus there were cats. Lots of cats. I love cats so that makes this book A-Okay in my books. Not to mention that the MC is gay makes my LGBT heart squeal for representation.

Honestly, I don't want to divulge too much of the book because I think people need to experience this for themselves. It's not just reading a book. It really is an experience. I just wish I could learn a little bit more about how the underworld library Starless Sea came to be, but that's just a small nitpick. The rest of the worldbuilding was great. Though now that I think of it, I would have liked to see what happens when <sspoiler>Kat opens her door and if Zachary and Dorian eventually make out to the top world. </spoiler> But it still had a great ending.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story.