Book Review: 'Acid' by Emma Pass

It's been almost a month since I wrote my last book review, as I've never had such a busy school-life, with revision and other projects that I'm currently working on stealing all of the free hours I use to have. I also haven't been able to read as much as I would have wanted to - although, I did get to sneak in 'Acid' during a short school-break, after it had been on my wish-list for months and I spotted it at my local library.

They stole her life. Now she wants it back.

ACID - the most brutal police force in history.

 

They rule with an iron fist.

 

They see everything. They know everything.

 

They locked me away for life.

 

My crime?

 

They say I murdered my parents.

 I was fifteen years old.

 

My name is Jenna Strong.

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'Acid' was an exhilarating and enthralling debut, that was driven by our main protagonist Jenna Strong, who readers can't help but admire. Set in 2113, the IRB is now controlled by the brutal police force ACID, who rule by inflicting fear onto those who watch on - fed information through their coms. As a person who loves reading, the fact that there are only a limited number of e-Fics that have been approved by ACID was a part of the book that was hard-hitting for me. This aspect was something that struck me, and made me fear where the world could be going; something all good Dystopias need to do. Strong, at the age of seventeen, may be the only women prisoner in Mileway but her wit and determination have kept her alive thus far; not to mention her feisty demeanour, and her unflinching attitude that made this book all the more enjoyable. Pass' debut was set in a mainly dystopia London, one that reflects some of the problems we are currently facing such as political turmoil, and was built carefully, a clear symbolism of the hierarchy that we see everyday in our daily-lives, but tend to ignore as we are so used to it.

The way 'Acid' was written perfectly captured the voice of Jenna Strong, and all the emotions that she experienced throughout the novel - everything from the anger she felt at ACID to her guilt over her parents' murders, and the frustration at not being told certain things. Jenna is definitely one of my new favourite female heroines. Pass' writing caught my attention from the very first page, effortlessly pulling me into a gripping tale that was never short of suspense or excitement; but also able to throw in expert character-building, to the point where you felt like many of the characters, mainly Jenna and a young man named Max Fisher(on the run from ACID) were not just fictional characters; they were depicted so well that they felt real. Feeling as if you are connected to a character is such an important part of a book, but with Jenna and Max, I was left jaw-dropped as if what was happening in their lives was what was taking place in my own.

 

Emma Pass really has established herself as an author I know I will continue to read, no matter what genre she dips her pen into. Not only were there a set of relatable main characters, but we had a set of secondary-characters that never felt as if they had been thrown in to move along the plot - a quick 'shortcut' for a new writer on the block. Instead,  'Acid' was not an overly-crowded, struggling to remember names, type of novel. Pass took complete advantage of the society she had written about, creating government-ministers I saw as villains creeping through the book, ready to pounce on Jenna whenever they wished. Yes, there was quite a large cast of characters, but they were all described so well and I grew to care about them - willing them on.

 

The plot was extremely intricate, and when reading, it was tough to comprehend how much planning it must have taken-place to piece together. With careful hints, you realise later, dropped in throughout the novel, as well as twists and turns throughout the stand-a-lone, it was unexpected - and something any fan of Dystopia novels and those who can spend hours reading thrillers will devour in a few days. The pages were filled with original ideas - and there are various different ways used to tell the story such as using ACID's news reporters - sent straight to com.

 

One of my favourite things about this novel was how it was a stand-alone. Although, the only reason that this is not a five-star read is due to a few loose-ends - but I couldn't recommend it enough for a great UKYA read.

 



4.5 Stars



Have you read 'ACID'?

Tell me in the comments!



Book Review: 'Matched' by Ally Condie

Matched is a book that has been on my shelf for over a year; and I can't believe I have only just read it! I fell in love with the characters: Cassia, Ky and Xander, and was completely engrossed in the Society that they live in.

On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her Match. Society dictates he is her perfect partner for life.

 

Except he's not.

 

In Cassia's society, Officials decide who people love.

How many children they have.

Where they work.

When they die.

 

But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy, she is determined to make some choices of her own.

 

And that's when her whole world begins to unravel.

 

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Matched has everything a perfect dystopia novel needs: a main character, Cassia, that you will be rooting for within every chapter, if not for her determination, but for the way everything comes back to the effect it will have on those she cares about, a love triangle that will have you changing your mind almost as many times as you turn the page of the book, a beautifully-written romance that will have you overcome with emotions and a Society that isn't as perfect as it would like you to think. As my first read of 2014, it set the standards high!

 

Ally Condie creates a world where you have no choices, where every decision is made for you by an over-controlling Society. The novel begins on the night of Cassia's Matching Ceremony, where she will see the boy that she will one day get married to and have children with - all when the Society says she can ,of course. Admittedly, Condie builds this world effortlessly, and you become completely immersed in it within pages. You can clearly see the character growth and how Cassia's mind changes about the world she lives in, going from the night she has been waiting for, to realising that she no longer wants that.  I adored the simplicity yet, beauty of the writing and the way poetry and stories were interwoven in the plot. You always had questions about the Society, wondering what they will do or if they would ever notice Cassia's Infractions, all of which allow you to see the cracks forming in the 'perfect' Society - yes, they may have a longer life-expectancy, yes, they may have banished Cancer, but who can make the decision of when you die? Who can just accept that?

 

Matched is a heart-racing and gripping read that I couldn't put down. It has various sub-plots , but you're never confused or thinking about something going on elsewhere. Cassia's personality captures your attention while her questions about who she loves keeps it there - there is a simplicity to the friendship that Cassia and Xander have always have, and how suddenly things change because of one decision, while there is a complexity to Ky that Cassia notices, and that intrigues the reader. The two love-interests are not just that, they have interesting personalities, and different feelings. As you may know, I'm not normally a fan of love-triangles, but I applaud the author for executing this with the right balance of romance and love, with a gritty, captivating plot to co-exist with that!

 

Cassia is one of my new favourite fictional females because of the way you see her, through the course of the novel, not instantly rebelling because she 'just wants to be with another boy.' Instead, she realises she should be able to make her own choices, and she slowly moves against the Society as she unravels the truth about the world she's trapped in but, has tried to fit into to. You are angry at the way someone has already predicted what Cassia will achieve, the way she has a certain amount of time in which she can socialise and the way there is always someone watching. Our protagonist doesn't start rebelling or becoming reckless, instead, it always comes back to protecting others.

 

The detail and thought that has gone into writing this novel is clear as it comes to it's climax, and that's both shocking and surreal. The only reason this is not a five-star is because of one slightly confusing plot-line that saw me have to flick back to re-read a few pages.  This novel is a must-read - and almost an insight to our future where we will have no choices of our own. I finished this book at 1am, and if that is not incentive to go and get yourself a copy, I don't know what is!

 

 

Ages 12+

I'm currently reading 'Crossed' and I think I can honestly say, this is one of my favourite series' out there!
By the way, I just noticed I have reached 40,000 PAGEVIEWS! This is such a surreal achievement for me, and I can't think you enough for reading my blog! :D

Book Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth(No Spoilers)

Allegiant; what can I say about you? The final instalment of Veronica Roth's Divergent trilogy was a reading-experience I won't be forgetting for a while. I went into this book after reading awful reviews, and knowing that there would be an ending I would either love, or more likely hate, but I really enjoyed the conclusion! I will admit that there were problems within this novel, including the fact that Tobias' point-of-view was too similar to that of our main protagonist Tris to sink into the story, but I couldn't help but continue to turn-the-pages. This review will be made up of nothing more than incoherent thoughts.

 

She must make her final choice...

 

The faction-based society that Tris Power once believe in is shattered - fractured by violence and power-struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world outside the limits she's known, Tris is reading. 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.

Synopsis from: Goodreads

 

As I mentioned above, I went into this book knowing that it would most likely be a complete disappointment, and the ending I have been waiting for since I first picked up Divergent over a year ago would end up in shards - unable to pick up the pieces. This means that I began Allegiant with low expectations, all of which disappeared as I got deeper and deeper into the intricate and detailed plot and premise that Veronica Roth had set up, and the truth about dystopian Chicago was found-out. Personally, for someone who loves knowing every-little-detail, this was a perfect choice by Roth, as not only did shock-revelations(and I promise you, these were certainly not what I was expected) make you gasp, but you were left with no questions. I put this book down content with how it ended - and trying to come to terms with what I'd just read.

 

This certainly though, was an emotional and heart-wrenching story, that will at times have you at the edge of your seat and when the climax comes, make tears - a lot of them - run down your face. I'll admit the writing was not the best I have ever read, especially when reading from Four's perspective, and even though the dual narrative did work to widen the world, I always wanted to go back to Tris' point-of-view. Tris is always going to be - despite the series finishing - one of my favourite heroines, as Roth created this character who never let anything get in her way. She was reckless in Insurgent, something I didn't necessarily like, but in Allegiant you could see she had grown up so much since the first time we met her, and the transaction made a person full of wisdom and courage, who thought about the consequences.  I'm sure that, what makes a reader admire Tris, is that she feels guilty for her actions, she feels grief and most of all, she feels upset and insecure, like she is too small for the world around her but has to step-up.

Four's perspective being included also allowed you to see more of his personality but, I didn't feel like the characterisation was as strong as it could have been or that Tobias had developed his own voice; it came across as feminine, and too similar to Tris'. Even so, I think it helped the progression and pace a lot; the romance between the pair was also tested, and was interesting to see from two perspectives. The romance was slightly 'sickly-sweet', for lack of a better word, during a large part of this novel. I'm really glad it did pick up - and just at the right point.

I loved the development of this story and world, and to talk about it is a struggle without revealing anything that could be seen as a spoiler. Characters that you don't know much about from the first books are looked at more in-depth, and you really get a sense of who they are. Christina became a loyal best-friend, and I think her and Tris' friendship was executed brilliantly; not cheesy or over-done, it was the small things and the forgiveness after Tris killed Will at the end of Divergent. Other secondary characters that I began to learn more about - not necessarily care about, you'll find out when you read some of the names - were: Marcus, Evelyn, Caleb and of course, Cara. The new additions were mostly great, although there were quite a few of them and I did find myself confused. One thing I don't like to do while I'm reading is have to turn back and hunt down where the characters are introduced again, and then doubt myself for the rest of the book.

On this note, the plot was planned-perfectly, having enough to constantly keep me entertained and wanting to know more. There was always something going on - along with twists and turns in fast-paced plot, where readers will not be able to see where it is going to go, and even when the ending is revealed, they will not believe it. It deals with so many important factors: self-sacrifice, most prominently, love and loss, all stood out for me, as well as dealing with grief and relationships. Everything made sense and what had been said previously by the characters worked toward an ending that stuck to their word completely.
 

Now, I think I should take about the ending, which is still indescribable a week after I finished the novel. I could never describe my thoughts for you, but I applaud Roth for ending the series the way she wanted to, and for writing it beautifully, while also breaking my heart. For an author to make someone feel so much emotion - it's incredible, as it shows she, over the course of the series, made me connect with her characters and their flaws. It's raw and real - and did not disappoint, it's reckless too, but well-justified and means the story made a lot more sense. My emotions scattered everywhere but, Veronica Roth, it was one of the most powerful endings I have ever read. Finally, there was an epilogue I adored! This was amazing!

 

Have you read Allegiant yet? What did you think of the ending?
How many tissues did you need? Would you like to see a spoiler-filled reaction?

I found myself crying in a maths exam, as I started day-dreaming mid-question and came back to Allegiant. Oops! I did pass though, so it's not too bad.

Please avoid spoiling the ending in the comments for people who haven't yet read the book.

Book Review: 'The Bone Season' by Samantha Shannon

The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people's minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.

It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, kidnapped and drugged, Paige is transported to Oxford - a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite creature with dark honey skin and heavy-lidded yellow eyes. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But, f Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.

 

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There is no doubt that the imagination in this book is incredible. It's detailed, descriptive and highly-ambitious - but it all works. For the most part of the book, I was in awe of the world-building and how it was all woven together. Although, at the beginning it did feel like it was all being thrown at me which made it hard to initially get into.

 

There is a huge amount happening in this book - along with quite a wide(and definitely varied) cast of characters and clairvoyants. Paige commits treason just by breathing: working in the London Syndicate under another clairvoyant, Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for other dreamscapes as a rare type of clairvoyant. Paige was a strong, feisty and fiery female-heroine I was rooting for throughout the whole book and couldn't get enough of reading about. She is definitely one of my top fictional heroines - with a realistic love for coffee despite being clairvoyant. I think in many ways this one idea makes her much more relatable mixed in with her loyalty to the Seven Seals(the seven rare clairvoyants under Jaxon Hall) and the guilt she does feel when she does something wrong. 

 

When Paige reaches Sheol 1, it is discovered that she will be part of Bone Season XX and instead of her name, is now branded as: XX-59-40. A Bone Season is a time where more clairvoyants are brought into the city of Oxford - some after being held in the Tower for up to ten years. Paige is a rare type of Clairvoyant and unlike the others she is chosen as Warden's only-human. At first, Warden resembles an intimidating school-teacher on the first day. He is strict, un-moving and shows no sign of emotion. Although, I definitely grew to love Warden. As we got deeper into the novel and his past was revealed, Shannon keeps you guessing about his motives and actions. He was so complicated but I wanted to learn more about him.

 

Along with Warden there came his relationship with Nashira, which I found so exciting. It's hard to write this review without giving away too much of the plot: how Paige's relationship with Jaxon works, and her relationship with another voyant called Nick. There are also humans living amongst them - used as slaves to the Rephaim. There is mix of fantasy and dystopia in this novel and creatures like the Rephaim and the Emim are used to build up that element. I loved how far Shannon's imagination could take us: not only building a world that works but creating creatures to threaten it.

 

One of my favourite parts of this novel are types of 'flashbacks': through these you get to know more about Paige's history and the world she grew up in. The way voyants are hidden away and feared, along with how she dealt with other girls at her school.

 

When I got into this book there was a lot of action and the tension was built up throughout. I enjoyed it, and the world but I felt this book was too long. There were some thrown-in side-plots that I feel weren't necessary and didn't make much of an impact so, I wished they would have been cut so I could move back to the relationship between Paige and Warden. Their relationship was so intriguing - I couldn't help but love the way it worked(or came to).

 

Rating - 4 Stars

I really enjoyed this novel but the size was slightly intimidating. The imagination was fantastic though so, this is a book you should definitely give a try.

Review: Shadows of the Silver Screen by Christopher Edge

Shadows of the Silver Screen has been a review I have been trying to write for a few days now, but it's been difficult to choose a rating.

It's 1900. The era of the silent movie has begun and the silver screen is casting it's hypnotic shadows over audiences everywhere. Penelope Tredwell, thirteen-year-old owner of The Penny Dreadful and celebrated writer under the name of Montgomery Flinch, has had a film offer. The Daughter of Darkness, penned by 'Montgomery Flinch' is being optioned as a film and after seeing what the Veritescope can do, she can't wait to see one's of the magazine's spine-tingling tale of terror brought to life by the camera. When filming starts on a remote manor house on Dartmoor, everything goes well at dirst. But as fiction bleed into fact, the actors don't seem to be playing just parts any more. The characters have taken them over and the sinister story is becoming reality.

The end of the story is dark and dangerous. Is that how her own will end too?

In this second instalment of thirteen-year-old Penelope Tredwell's gothic London life, one of the stories she pens under the name of Montgomery Flinch is being brought to life on camera. I thought this was a great route to take the plot, Penny and the other main characters as well as some new additions forward and into yet another sinister tale. From the first page, you are taken to Victorian London with elegant descriptions and gothic writing. Christopher Edge is one of my personal favourite authors because of his rich writing. He pens his work so realistically and brings the 1900 streets of London to life. As well as creating daring characters and detailed descriptions from fairgrounds to Manor houses and an interesting new 'gadget'.

Penny Tredwell, our main protagonist here, is one of the most refreshing heroines that I have read about. She's not the likely heroine, she doesn't hold a bow and arrow or jump from trains, but I find her so relatable. Penny is wise, interesting and unflinching, as well as being completely loveable. The way she works is that she out-wits the villains and sometimes feisty personality definitely plays a part. Another personal favourite character is Alfie and I'm hoping, in another book, that this character will be explored more. As Penny's best friend, side-kick and close confidant, I'm really wondering where this relationship could go. There was also a third-person narrative which I think really fits this  novel. You could escape from Penny at times when filming in Dartmoor and cut to London, where a different part of the plot is playing out. Alfie is certainly the charming-prince!

When Penny and Monty, the actor hired to take on the role of Montgomery Flinch at public appearances arrive at the filming location, the whole plot takes a deadly side. With myths, ghosts and spirits, this book is a gripping read. The climax of the novel is fast-paced and exciting and there are also some suspenseful twists and turns in the plot that I really enjoyed getting through. I think the worst thing for a book is to be predictable, and there were no times where it let your hand slip from turning the pages.

After reading Twelve Minutes to Midnight, there were a few things that could have been better about the sequels plot. The writing will always have the highest of ratings but I felt the actual plot was confusing at times, and I found myself having to turn back the pages to see what had happened, to work out how the present had happened-and sadly I found that a pain as I love to be able to know everything.  There was quiet a huge cast of characters, and with ghosts and spine-tingling illusions, it could also be difficult to understand some parts of the book. I also felt the age on this book should be higher, definitely not a read for children. It's not too scary but there's a few scenes in there that have you looking over your shoulder!

For people who love historical fiction and exciting mysteries, this is one for you! For ages 12+.

 Goodreads

3. 5 Stars

Favourite Fictional Females

I closed my latest poll a few hours earlier to be able to write this post. The Poll asked "From which point of view do you prefer to read a book?". I prefer to read from a Female Perspective and that's what you seemed to enjoy most because it took the poll with 84%(11 votes). Which brings me onto my favourite fictional females(where the book Is told from their view).

Tris- Divergent/Insurgent(Veronica Roth)

I like her because...Tris is a feisty heroine but also has a more girly, honest side. I loved how she grew throughout Divergent but had to face consequences and keep secrets. Her world was also so detailed, it made her very realistic, so I was constantly rooting her on and still am.

Lena-Beautiful Creatures(Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl)

I like her because...Although there Is only a page and a half in Beautiful Creatures that is told from her point of view, she is still one of my favourite fictional characters. It was her fight to choose her own fate that I loved and how she was different from everybody else in Gatlin. Lena Duchannes is a character you will remember-not only for her gothic style, but how she may be non-mortal and wants to fit-in.

Alice - Alice Bliss(Laura Harrington)

I like her because... Alice Bliss, when I read it, was a coming-of-age story about fifteen-year-old Alice who's father decides to fight in a war she disagrees with. Alice herself is everything: funny, strong, emotional and alive. There was everything in Alice Bliss, including romance which brought Alice's character to the height of the novel but it was the way Alice acted that made me want to read on, like a never-ending diary.

Hetty - Hetter Feather Trilogy(Jacqueline Wilson)

I like her because... She's the fiery red-haired foundling that I grew up reading about. It's so simple to love Hetty not only because of her un-forgettable personality but her strength throughout the novels to leave the foundling hospital. She will not stop or just give up, that's what adds her to this list.

Bea and Alina - Breathe(Sarah Crossan)

I like them because... I'm reading Breathe at the moment and can't put it down. The way it is told from three young people's perspective is such a refreshing change, and I love getting such an insight into what is happening in different parts of the novel. Bea and Alina are very different. Bea is caring, insightful, bright-which makes me want her to succeed. Her way with people is what draws me to want to read about her where Alina is bold and to not ruin the book, a fighter.

Harriet - Geek Girl(Holly Smale)

I like her because...she is a Geek, and is going through her own 'metamorphosis'. Harriet is honest, smart but also full of personality. Her story was fun, quirky but also hard to read when you love a character so much. Harriet was so realistic and a lot of her experiences were similar to mine. A main reason is who can't help loving the facts dropped in at random intervals and her weird and wonderful friends?

Hazel - The Fault in Our Stars(John Green)

I like her because...she is  smart and intelligent but also funny and relatable. Her romance with Augustus is alive and her final chapter is completely written. Hazel is such a beautiful character that opens your eyes to the tragedy of illness.

Katniss- The Hunger Games Trilogy

I like her because... she is a female heroine who fights for what she loves. Her love for her sister and want to get back home is the one thing that gets her through the 74th Annual Hunger Games. When she volunteers, it's clear that she will do anything for the one's she loves even if it means risking her own life. Her emotions were always so true and honest and she took you on a journey. Her personality is also fiery at times and to be able to read a book from her point of view is so clear and bold. She stays strong in times none of us would be able to.

Who are your top YA Female Characters?
Would you like to see a Top YA Couples Post?

Female Heroines

2012 especially was such a strong year for female book characters with The Hunger Games being released and this year it is going to continue in an extremely high standard. Beautiful Creatures, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia is out very soon(As a side note, it is a fantastic book if you are yet to read it) which, although told from the perspective of Ethan Wate, the story really centres around Lena Duchannes, a Caster who on her sixteenth birthday will have her powers claimed by either the Light or the Dark. So, of course this is a strong female character with some power. Another powerful female role model.  At the near end of the year Catching Fire is released, another huge boost for feminism because of the strong heroine Katniss Everdeen, who in the first book volunteers for her sister Primrose and takes her place in a yearly fight-to-the-death to save her younger sister's life. How about Tris in Divergent? The third book is set to be released in the Autumn and she has already made a big impact- yet again, we have the strong female heroine controlling the story. Books that are centered around strong female characters, after decades of male leads dominating, it shows that despite being lower-ranked in the past and still being underestimated today, females should be treated as equal. This is why books are really important because they teach us something about society. I may be just focusing on female heroines today but they really connect with us. Some are like looking into the future, looking at what our children or grandchildren could be facing. 

Why are Female Heroines so important? It's because, for a long time and especially in the past, Females have been at a lower-rank. What is really shown in female-driven books is that they are just as strong as the men, maybe even more. That we deserve to be treated the same, and now we have books to show this. And so many people read books, love books so what is better than having authors write about female protagonists.  Books are really building something more for females. By the time we have to go into the world and find jobs where, just because we are females we won't be judged. Strong characters who make a difference-who do something and make a new change, have powers, or who are just ordinary girls but do something beyond what they think they can do. Books are really making a change in our societies. I mean, seeing a strong female character leading something really puts you in a good mid-set. If men can do something, women can do exactly the same!

They are also role models to us as young girls. Seeing their strength, their power and following their journey it gives us something to aim for. These heroines are always people we can relate too, who are doing things that they never believe they will be able too or need to fight for. They are role-models to us because what says that we, just because we live where we are at, can't fight for what we believe in? It teaches us to really be  ourselves and I think in the 21st Century where there is so much in the magazines we read about how a size 16 is too fat, we need these fictional characters to look too. It's more the strength they have that inspires me-it makes me see that whatever situation you find yourself there is always hope.

Who is your favourite Heroine?

THE HUNGER GAMES MOCKINGJAY REVIEW!

I have now finished The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and can't find the words to describe how amazing it is! It's exhilarating, exciting, gets your heart racing and leaves you in constant suspense! This is my review on the final book in this fantastic series:


Mockingjay starts when Katniss is standing in the remains of her old house, in the Seam. Within 15 minutes of Katniss blowing the force field in the Quarter Quell there were planes in the sky and bombs were raining down on District 12. It was Gale, Katniss' best friend and hunting partner, who saved over 800 residents, including Prim and her mother by leading them to the Meadow. They managed until the hovercraft from District 13 arrived. They know are all residents of District 13, each given a compartment underground. It was a shock saying no one knew District 13 even existed, instead it was all underground. As she walks back to Victors Village and goes into the house belonging to her she finds Buttercup Prim's pet cat. All she can think is how he survived but thousands of people didn't? But then she notices a sent from upstairs and goes to find out what it is. On her dresser she finds a white single rose and knows immediately who it's from-President Snow.


When they get back to District 13 both Katniss and Gale are needed in Command. When Katniss notices the screen she see's Caesar Flickerman and Peeta and is shocked to see that he is still alive and looking healthy!. Peeta was captured by the Capitol when District 13 picked up Katniss in the Quarter Quell. When he calls for a Ceasefire Katniss makes a decision. She decides to agree to become the Mockingjay, the symbol of Rebellion. What everyone has been trying to persuade her to become since she arrived and why the rebels saved her instead of Peeta. She makes Coin agree that if she becomes the Mockingjay her family will get to keep Buttercup, that she will be allowed to go out and hunt with Gale, Peeta, Annie and the other captured victors will be granted immunity, it will be announced in Public and she will KILL SNOW!


As tensions rise and battles commence will the rebels win? Will Katniss and Peeta ever see each other again? Who will be killed in the war? What will happen to Katniss if the rebels lose? Will Katniss kill snow? What twists and turns are too come?


SPOILER ALERT!


The last few chapters kept my heart racing and I couldn't work out what would happen next! When I thought I knew, there was another twist and the whole story changed! I wasn't expecting Prim's death but then I was completely shocked when Katniss saw President Coin's true colors and killed her instead of President Snow(Even though he ended up dying). I was also shocked when Katniss' mother went to District 2 to start up a new hospital instead of going back to District 12 to be with Katniss but I can see the reasons why she couldn't come back.


The thing everyone wants to find out is who Katniss ends up marrying! I did want her to end up with Gale up until the final few chapters and I realized that Peeta truly loves her and would die for her(as we all saw from the first two books) I also realized, like Katniss, that Peeta is the one she needs most. She struggled when Peeta was captured by the Capitol and when he arrived back with his head messed up with Tracker Jacker Venom but while in the arena she didn't seem to miss Gale as much. So, when Peeta returned to District 12 and they made the book full of all the things they should never forget It really touched me. The final few lines left me in tears when Peeta asks Katniss 'You love me, real or not real?' and she answers 'Real' especially because this line was used earlier in the book and helped to build back up Peeta's proper memories.


The Epilogue for me didn't answer enough questions. I would have loved to have found out:
-What happened to Gale?
-Did Katniss' mother ever come back?
-What were her two children called?
-What happened to Finnick and Annie's child?
-Did Plutarch stay as President?
-The main one for me was what happened to Haymitch?


Even though it didn't answer those questions the ending for Katniss and Peeta was perfect! I loved the way Suzanne Collins wrote the epilogue explaining how Katniss said there are no more Hunger Games and the memorials have been built but saying that the questions are only just beginning for them. How her children take the words for the song she sang to Rue for advantage and how they don't know they play on a graveyard. The part I LOVED was the way she ended the whole series with Katniss is explaining how she plays a game in her head on the bad mornings about all the good things she's seen even though it's repetitive after all these years then, Katniss ends on-"But there are worst games to play"  This was an ending that left you wanting more but had a point behind it!


SPOILER OVER!


I would rate this book a 10/10(without the epilogue) because you can't work out what will happen next and when something does happen it changes the story! Also, it kept my heart racing! The battle scenes were so realistic and I could picture every scene in my head. It made me feel every emotion possible from hating Snow to feeling like you know each and every character like there your own best friend/sister/lover! I would recommend this book for ages 12+ because it is violent(as there is a rebellion) and it can be hard to understand at a young age as it tackles grown up topics like war, death and murder. The only part that disappointed me slightly was the epilogue because even though it gave the end for Katniss and 'her lover' I would have loved to find out the ending for the other main characters!!


You have to put this series on the top of your 'MUST BUY!' list! I'm sad to see it all end but what a FANTASTIC series! The ending leaves you wanting more from Katniss' story. I can't wait to see it all come alive on the big screen over the next few years!


Keep Day Dreaming & Read The Hunger Games Trilogy!
Sophie:D

THE HUNGER GAMES CATCHING FIRE REVIEW!!

Another exhilarating book from The Hunger Games series! I really don't know how Suzanne Collins does it!

This book continues a few months after the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta are back home and it's the morning of the Victory Tour where they will travel to all the districts including the Capitol. Katniss gets a visit from President Snow who warns her that after her episode with the berries when she was in the arena the districts are on the brink of an uprising. He also warns her that she knows about her kiss with Gale and she will have to prove too a lot of people including himself that her relationship with Peeta is real, or the president will make Gale pay for it! With the warning in her head she heads off on the Victory Tour with Peeta(her fellow victor) Effie(the person that keeps them in charge) and Haymitch(their mentor). When they arrive at their first stop District 11(the district Rue was from)  all goes well until the end of their speeches where them and the district makes a big mistake that leaves a shocking consequence. Katniss and Peeta continue with their tour and when they get too the Capitol Katniss realises  all they have done so far is not enough so at their interview Peeta gets down on one knee and proposes but is this really happily ever after? As they arrive back from the tour things go from bad to worse, with rebellion brewing in the districts and the MockingJay pin Katniss wore in the arena a symbol of rebellion a BIG bombshell is dropped, that nobody see's coming: for the Hunger Games 'Quarter Quell' which is celebrated every 25 years.

This book continues the series with a BANG! Exhilarating, exciting and leaving you in even more suspense than the first part of the trilogy. I would rate this book another BIG 10/10 as you don't see anything coming and you can't put it down. I would again recommend this book for ages 12+ because again it is the Hunger Games so there are deaths and murders(which is a more grown up topic) and it can be hard to understand for the younger readers. I would just like to add that the ending is unbelievable and you need the second book on hand because of the way it leaves you in such, shocking suspense. This book and series is a MUST READ there is only one word to describe it all WOW!!!!

THE HUNGER GAMES BY SUZANNE COLLINS REVIEW!!

WOW, that's all I can say! This book is exhilarating, exciting and forever leaving you in complete suspense. 

This book tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, who lives in District 12 in the nation of Panem(Once know as North America). Katniss steps forward to take her sister Prim's place in the annual 'Hunger Games' when she gets chosen in a 1 in 8000 chance! The Hunger Games is a fight to the death where only 1 tribute is left standing. There are 12 districts in Panem and each district has to send 1 boy and 1 girl(Tributes) to the brutal games, making 24 tributes. In the games there is only 1 rule-Kill or be Killed. Along with her is the boy tribute from her district Peeta Mellark, her mentor Haymitch who is the only former winner of the Hunger Games from her district and Effie Trinket who prepares them for their death. As they get ready to prepare from the games all of the districts and the Capitol are watching, if they want to survive they will need good sponsors so they will have to get noticed. On the night before the games Peeta annouces his love for Katniss at the interviews in front of the nation, but what will this bring for them. This is a story where to win you will have to kill and be ready to put up a fight. 

There are LOADS more twists and turns but I will ruin the whole story if I give it away and I don't want to do that because it's what makes the story SO GREAT!. Lets just say you won't see any of it coming. I HAVE to give this book a VERY big 10/10 because as I said at the beginning it keeps you in complete suspense, there is so much action and excitement, you just can't put it down.  The ending is such a cliffhanger I would suggest having the second book on hand(Unlike me). I would recommend this book for ages 12+ because it is violent as it is a fight to the death but still a MUST READ!.Just I am now TOTALLY OBSESSED with 'The Hunger Games' you have got to read it. I don't know how Suzanne Collins did it but it seems impossible to write such a FANTASTIC book! I payed £3.99 for this book(as it was on offer) and what a BARGAIN! It has 458 pages of complete exhilaration and is know my favorite book of ALL TIME!! I would also like to add it has recently been made into a film and is know the top film in the WORLD!
I LOVE IT!

I am now on the second book in the trilogy 'Catching Fire' which is also AMAZING and has SO many surprises you really don't see any of them coming! You really can't describe how great this series is in words!

Keep Day Dreaming & BUY THE HUNGER GAMES!
Sophie :D

P.S There are quite a few different covers to this book so, they may not be all the same as this one.