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General Recommendations
@El!zabeth811 of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board
By:
t
TEENREVIEWCREW
Hamilton Public Library
Community-created list
Check out items reviewed by @El!zabeth811, a volunteer with the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board.
By:
t
TEENREVIEWCREW
Hamilton Public Library
Book - 2012
With all honesty, this was the first book that really got me into reading. The concept of the story was fantastic, and the plot was interesting and unexpe...Show more
With all honesty, this was the first book that really got me into reading. The concept of the story was fantastic, and the plot was interesting and unexpected. I absolutely loved it. As we follow Alina’s story, we start to understand that she is someone who never quite fit in, besides with Mal. This detail in the book was touching because she had learned to find her calling and stand out. As someone who has struggled to fit in, let alone find a voice, this specific aspect of the story was diverting and somewhat rousing. Furthermore, I personally adored this book because it drew me in, in the best way possible. The relationship Alina had with the Darkling was something I had not read before; to fear the person you were starting to love, only to find out every move of theirs was calculated. It was heartbreaking yet beyond thrilling. Overall, this book had some great plot twists and an even greater climax. I would recommend this book to anyone who is just getting into reading young adult novels, simply because although the storyline was great, the book was a bit slow in the beginning and a touch prolonging. 4.5/5
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With all honesty, this was the first book that really got me into reading. The concept of the story was fantastic, and the plot was interesting and unexpe...Show more
With all honesty, this was the first book that really got me into reading. The concept of the story was fantastic, and the plot was interesting and unexpected. I absolutely loved it. As we follow Alina’s story, we start to understand that she is someone who never quite fit in, besides with Mal. This detail in the book was touching because she had learned to find her calling and stand out. As someone who has struggled to fit in, let alone find a voice, this specific aspect of the story was diverting and somewhat rousing. Furthermore, I personally adored this book because it drew me in, in the best way possible. The relationship Alina had with the Darkling was something I had not read before; to fear the person you were starting to love, only to find out every move of theirs was calculated. It was heartbreaking yet beyond thrilling. Overall, this book had some great plot twists and an even greater climax. I would recommend this book to anyone who is just getting into reading young adult novels, simply because although the storyline was great, the book was a bit slow in the beginning and a touch prolonging. 4.5/5
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Book - 2013
This book had its ups and downs, but in the end, it turned out to be an exciting and thrilling novel. Many parts kept me from putting the book down. Certa...Show more
This book had its ups and downs, but in the end, it turned out to be an exciting and thrilling novel. Many parts kept me from putting the book down. Certain parts such as Nikolai Lantsov. The entire book seemed to give us a deep insight into his character, and there are no complaints about that. Nikolai was certainly one of the best characters I’ve ever read, especially with his resemblance to Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. The ending of the book was, without a doubt, the most thrilling and exciting part. However, with very little action or conflict in the middle, it proved to be rather slow. There were parts in the book that almost seemed “boring,” especially when I had to read the constant bickering between Mal and Alina. It almost seemed as though Leigh Bardugo reserved the action for the end. Overall, I would have liked to see more of the climax throughout the book and wished that the conflict between Mal and Alina wasn’t so repetitive. Nonetheless, this surely was an excellent novel that I’ll recommend to others and makes me excited to read the last book in the series. 3.5/5
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This book had its ups and downs, but in the end, it turned out to be an exciting and thrilling novel. Many parts kept me from putting the book down. Certa...Show more
This book had its ups and downs, but in the end, it turned out to be an exciting and thrilling novel. Many parts kept me from putting the book down. Certain parts such as Nikolai Lantsov. The entire book seemed to give us a deep insight into his character, and there are no complaints about that. Nikolai was certainly one of the best characters I’ve ever read, especially with his resemblance to Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. The ending of the book was, without a doubt, the most thrilling and exciting part. However, with very little action or conflict in the middle, it proved to be rather slow. There were parts in the book that almost seemed “boring,” especially when I had to read the constant bickering between Mal and Alina. It almost seemed as though Leigh Bardugo reserved the action for the end. Overall, I would have liked to see more of the climax throughout the book and wished that the conflict between Mal and Alina wasn’t so repetitive. Nonetheless, this surely was an excellent novel that I’ll recommend to others and makes me excited to read the last book in the series. 3.5/5
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Book - 2014
To cut straight to the chase, this novel brought on a whirl of emotions. It was action-packed, and honestly, I loved it. One thing about this book that I ...Show more
To cut straight to the chase, this novel brought on a whirl of emotions. It was action-packed, and honestly, I loved it. One thing about this book that I really enjoyed was that it started with conflict. As Alina and her companions escaped the underground sanctuary, we were met with a thrilling sequence of stunts that made the book hard to put down. It was beyond exciting when all their backstories, ancestry, and purposes were revealed. However, this book truly did put me in some uncomfortable states of mind. While reading, I felt as though some of the characters seemed to “end” unfulfilled or unjustly. For instance, Nikolai did not deserve his ending. For such a strong and developed character to be simply “thrown away,” was unnecessary and offered nothing to the story other than dissatisfaction. I also felt the same with Alina and Mal. For their stories to end in such a way that they become less than what they worked so hard to become, was a big disappointment. Regardless, this book kept me clinging on to the pages with the battles on the fold, the strong quotes, and the final defeat of the Darkling. 4/5
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To cut straight to the chase, this novel brought on a whirl of emotions. It was action-packed, and honestly, I loved it. One thing about this book that I ...Show more
To cut straight to the chase, this novel brought on a whirl of emotions. It was action-packed, and honestly, I loved it. One thing about this book that I really enjoyed was that it started with conflict. As Alina and her companions escaped the underground sanctuary, we were met with a thrilling sequence of stunts that made the book hard to put down. It was beyond exciting when all their backstories, ancestry, and purposes were revealed. However, this book truly did put me in some uncomfortable states of mind. While reading, I felt as though some of the characters seemed to “end” unfulfilled or unjustly. For instance, Nikolai did not deserve his ending. For such a strong and developed character to be simply “thrown away,” was unnecessary and offered nothing to the story other than dissatisfaction. I also felt the same with Alina and Mal. For their stories to end in such a way that they become less than what they worked so hard to become, was a big disappointment. Regardless, this book kept me clinging on to the pages with the battles on the fold, the strong quotes, and the final defeat of the Darkling. 4/5
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Book - 2015
Six of crows has been one of the greatest books I have ever read. The plot twists, the constant action, and the development of each character were truly a...Show more
Six of crows has been one of the greatest books I have ever read. The plot twists, the constant action, and the development of each character were truly amazing. One of the most memorable things in this book was the introduction to Kaz Brekker. It was one of the best introductions to a character I have ever read. While reading the book, something I adored was that each character seemed to have their own antagonist. Through the point of view of each character, I was able to understand each of their motives to a deeper level, and even understand how other characters acted through the view of someone else. I really enjoyed this form of writing because it helped you see past the characters outside and understand that they had good in them although they were wanted criminals. The constant plot twists were stimulating, and it left me clinging to the pages for more. It surely is incomparable to the first book Leigh Bardugo wrote, Shadow and Bone. I would recommend this book to people who like a series that is a little darker and more intense. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend it to anyone I see. 5/5
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Six of crows has been one of the greatest books I have ever read. The plot twists, the constant action, and the development of each character were truly a...Show more
Six of crows has been one of the greatest books I have ever read. The plot twists, the constant action, and the development of each character were truly amazing. One of the most memorable things in this book was the introduction to Kaz Brekker. It was one of the best introductions to a character I have ever read. While reading the book, something I adored was that each character seemed to have their own antagonist. Through the point of view of each character, I was able to understand each of their motives to a deeper level, and even understand how other characters acted through the view of someone else. I really enjoyed this form of writing because it helped you see past the characters outside and understand that they had good in them although they were wanted criminals. The constant plot twists were stimulating, and it left me clinging to the pages for more. It surely is incomparable to the first book Leigh Bardugo wrote, Shadow and Bone. I would recommend this book to people who like a series that is a little darker and more intense. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend it to anyone I see. 5/5
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Book - 2016
This book was the perfect ending to the first book in the series, Six of Crows. In my opinion, what really made this book stand out was the character deve...Show more
This book was the perfect ending to the first book in the series, Six of Crows. In my opinion, what really made this book stand out was the character development throughout the book. As we read, we are given insight into each of the character’s backstories in depth. We learned how they were raised, what brought them to Ketterdam, and why they were so driven to do the things they do. This made the characters very likeable, and you found yourself connecting to them. Furthermore, I loved how this book was connected and everything made sense in the end. Although some parts of the book like Matthias' ending was not expected, I loved how the book played as all ties were made, revenge was sought, and families were reunited. This book reminded me of The Shadow Game Series, but only because of the strong impact of gangs, deadly drugs, and the main character being a gang leader. I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 13. Although this book was filled with action and conflict, it did revolve heavily on drugs, murder, and revenge and so if you're comfortable with that, this book is definitely for you. 5/5
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This book was the perfect ending to the first book in the series, Six of Crows. In my opinion, what really made this book stand out was the character deve...Show more
This book was the perfect ending to the first book in the series, Six of Crows. In my opinion, what really made this book stand out was the character development throughout the book. As we read, we are given insight into each of the character’s backstories in depth. We learned how they were raised, what brought them to Ketterdam, and why they were so driven to do the things they do. This made the characters very likeable, and you found yourself connecting to them. Furthermore, I loved how this book was connected and everything made sense in the end. Although some parts of the book like Matthias' ending was not expected, I loved how the book played as all ties were made, revenge was sought, and families were reunited. This book reminded me of The Shadow Game Series, but only because of the strong impact of gangs, deadly drugs, and the main character being a gang leader. I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 13. Although this book was filled with action and conflict, it did revolve heavily on drugs, murder, and revenge and so if you're comfortable with that, this book is definitely for you. 5/5
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Shadow Falls Series, Book 1
eBook - 2011
There was never a dull moment in this book! Born at Midnight is great for those looking for a book that is not heavy or overwhelming. As we follow Kylie G...Show more
There was never a dull moment in this book! Born at Midnight is great for those looking for a book that is not heavy or overwhelming. As we follow Kylie Galen’s journey through Shadow Falls, we see her adapt to the new supernatural world she has been introduced to. Not only that, but we also get to see her make friends despite them being vampires and witches. As a reader, I was concerned this book was going to be a bit too cliché with the supernatural concept and all. However, I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t. The storyline was very interesting, and despite the classic love triangle many people despise, I believe the author was able to incorporate it well into the book. Lucas and Derek were both extremely likeable characters, and the relationship between Della, Miranda, and Kylie is interesting to read as well since they struggled to get along in the beginning. I’d recommend this book to anyone above the age of thirteen since some of the concepts are a bit more mature. However, this book definitely deserves more recognition! 4.5/5
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There was never a dull moment in this book! Born at Midnight is great for those looking for a book that is not heavy or overwhelming. As we follow Kylie G...Show more
There was never a dull moment in this book! Born at Midnight is great for those looking for a book that is not heavy or overwhelming. As we follow Kylie Galen’s journey through Shadow Falls, we see her adapt to the new supernatural world she has been introduced to. Not only that, but we also get to see her make friends despite them being vampires and witches. As a reader, I was concerned this book was going to be a bit too cliché with the supernatural concept and all. However, I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t. The storyline was very interesting, and despite the classic love triangle many people despise, I believe the author was able to incorporate it well into the book. Lucas and Derek were both extremely likeable characters, and the relationship between Della, Miranda, and Kylie is interesting to read as well since they struggled to get along in the beginning. I’d recommend this book to anyone above the age of thirteen since some of the concepts are a bit more mature. However, this book definitely deserves more recognition! 4.5/5
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A Shadow Falls Novel
Book - 2012
Taken at Dusk was a good novel that was very exciting overall. In this book, we finally figure out what sort of supernatural Kylie is! However, it is cert...Show more
Taken at Dusk was a good novel that was very exciting overall. In this book, we finally figure out what sort of supernatural Kylie is! However, it is certainly not what I expected. Hopefully, in the fourth book, we can further understand what exactly it means, and how being a “chameleon” will affect her relationships. There were mysteries throughout the novel that kept building up, making the book a real page-turner. Something I liked about this book was that Kylie finally had someone to answer her questions, her real grandparents. Something I didn’t like in this book was Kylie’s constant bickering that Derek had left her. I was a fan of Derek, and I disliked how Kylie was showing bits of jealousy seeing he with someone else. Being the one who left him and couldn’t get their mind off of someone else, it was quite irritating to read. Overall, we can see Kylie’s flaws in this book which, in my opinion, make the book better. We understand that she is just a girl struggling to get bearings on what she is, who she is, etc. This book is a must-read for those who enjoyed the first two books! 4/5
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Taken at Dusk was a good novel that was very exciting overall. In this book, we finally figure out what sort of supernatural Kylie is! However, it is cert...Show more
Taken at Dusk was a good novel that was very exciting overall. In this book, we finally figure out what sort of supernatural Kylie is! However, it is certainly not what I expected. Hopefully, in the fourth book, we can further understand what exactly it means, and how being a “chameleon” will affect her relationships. There were mysteries throughout the novel that kept building up, making the book a real page-turner. Something I liked about this book was that Kylie finally had someone to answer her questions, her real grandparents. Something I didn’t like in this book was Kylie’s constant bickering that Derek had left her. I was a fan of Derek, and I disliked how Kylie was showing bits of jealousy seeing he with someone else. Being the one who left him and couldn’t get their mind off of someone else, it was quite irritating to read. Overall, we can see Kylie’s flaws in this book which, in my opinion, make the book better. We understand that she is just a girl struggling to get bearings on what she is, who she is, etc. This book is a must-read for those who enjoyed the first two books! 4/5
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A Shadow Falls Novel
Book - 2013
This book was alright, and I did enjoy it. However, it didn't live up to the standards of the first couple of books in the series. The main plot, which wa...Show more
This book was alright, and I did enjoy it. However, it didn't live up to the standards of the first couple of books in the series. The main plot, which was to defeat Mario, was very underwhelming. C.C Hunter fit the entire scene into a mere couple of pages when the plot had been building up for several books. I felt as though we deserved something with more action, more intensity, not something that only lasted five pages. However, there were parts of this book that I enjoyed. I loved the relationship Kylie and Lucas were able to develop by the end of the series. They were able to accept each other freely, and they had some very memorable moments together throughout the book. I was a bit upset at first when Kylie and Derek never sought to fix things out, but I believe Hunter was able to explain that they wouldn’t have been well together. She did a great job giving each character a set role in this story, and I enjoyed how the characters had their own storyline they wanted to follow. Overall, this series is great for people who are just getting into reading, and I would definitely recommend it to others! 3.5/5
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This book was alright, and I did enjoy it. However, it didn't live up to the standards of the first couple of books in the series. The main plot, which wa...Show more
This book was alright, and I did enjoy it. However, it didn't live up to the standards of the first couple of books in the series. The main plot, which was to defeat Mario, was very underwhelming. C.C Hunter fit the entire scene into a mere couple of pages when the plot had been building up for several books. I felt as though we deserved something with more action, more intensity, not something that only lasted five pages. However, there were parts of this book that I enjoyed. I loved the relationship Kylie and Lucas were able to develop by the end of the series. They were able to accept each other freely, and they had some very memorable moments together throughout the book. I was a bit upset at first when Kylie and Derek never sought to fix things out, but I believe Hunter was able to explain that they wouldn’t have been well together. She did a great job giving each character a set role in this story, and I enjoyed how the characters had their own storyline they wanted to follow. Overall, this series is great for people who are just getting into reading, and I would definitely recommend it to others! 3.5/5
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Book - 2018
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and had a lot of action. I loved Enne and Levi’s relationship, how they were able to co...Show more
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and had a lot of action. I loved Enne and Levi’s relationship, how they were able to come close in such a short amount of time and learn to rely on each other. This book had an amazing world set up, that was not like any other book I’ve read, and I enjoyed that. However, some things set the book off. The first being its similarity to Six of Crows. I found myself comparing the characters to those of Six of Crows and I would get disappointed when they weren’t like them. For instance, Levi is a gang leader who is only 17 like Kaz Brekker. Comparing the two books led me to be quite disappointed with Ace of Shades at times. However, despite the heavy similarities in the books, this book excelled on its own. The plot twist was great and truly unexpected. Furthermore, despite the crazy world and powers that Foody had thrown on us at the beginning, she was able to make the reader understand how the world worked as you read along. I'd recommend this book to anyone, however, remember not to compare it to Six of Crows when you read, or you may get disappointed. 4/5
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Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and had a lot of action. I loved Enne and Levi’s relationship, how they were able to co...Show more
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and had a lot of action. I loved Enne and Levi’s relationship, how they were able to come close in such a short amount of time and learn to rely on each other. This book had an amazing world set up, that was not like any other book I’ve read, and I enjoyed that. However, some things set the book off. The first being its similarity to Six of Crows. I found myself comparing the characters to those of Six of Crows and I would get disappointed when they weren’t like them. For instance, Levi is a gang leader who is only 17 like Kaz Brekker. Comparing the two books led me to be quite disappointed with Ace of Shades at times. However, despite the heavy similarities in the books, this book excelled on its own. The plot twist was great and truly unexpected. Furthermore, despite the crazy world and powers that Foody had thrown on us at the beginning, she was able to make the reader understand how the world worked as you read along. I'd recommend this book to anyone, however, remember not to compare it to Six of Crows when you read, or you may get disappointed. 4/5
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Book - 2019
This book was chaotic, and I honestly do not know if it's in a good way. In this book, we follow Enne’s journey as she discovers she's a Mizer, tries to b...Show more
This book was chaotic, and I honestly do not know if it's in a good way. In this book, we follow Enne’s journey as she discovers she's a Mizer, tries to build up a stock market, and attempts to defeat Vianca Augustine. This book had tons of action, heartbreak, and was thrilling to read. However, some parts of this book left me without words. In this series, Jac fights for his own story and not a character in someone else’s. I feel as though Amanda Foody threw in his death for some sort of tragedy because it was too abrupt, too quick. Jac had been such a strong comfort character, and so I don’t believe Foody did him justice with the way he died. Furthermore, by the end of the book, Enne starts to become a character that’s hard to like. She becomes “corrupt” and she loses all the morals she had grown up with. This was quite upsetting when reading, and I hoped she would become good again. Despite the small faults, this book had its ups. Levi and Enne had made up for the good part of the book, and they had learned to work together despite some barriers. Overall, King of Fools was certainly entertaining to read, and I would recommend it to others. 3.5/5
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This book was chaotic, and I honestly do not know if it's in a good way. In this book, we follow Enne’s journey as she discovers she's a Mizer, tries to b...Show more
This book was chaotic, and I honestly do not know if it's in a good way. In this book, we follow Enne’s journey as she discovers she's a Mizer, tries to build up a stock market, and attempts to defeat Vianca Augustine. This book had tons of action, heartbreak, and was thrilling to read. However, some parts of this book left me without words. In this series, Jac fights for his own story and not a character in someone else’s. I feel as though Amanda Foody threw in his death for some sort of tragedy because it was too abrupt, too quick. Jac had been such a strong comfort character, and so I don’t believe Foody did him justice with the way he died. Furthermore, by the end of the book, Enne starts to become a character that’s hard to like. She becomes “corrupt” and she loses all the morals she had grown up with. This was quite upsetting when reading, and I hoped she would become good again. Despite the small faults, this book had its ups. Levi and Enne had made up for the good part of the book, and they had learned to work together despite some barriers. Overall, King of Fools was certainly entertaining to read, and I would recommend it to others. 3.5/5
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Book - 2020
This book was amazing. The plot, the action, the romance, the conflict, it was all there. And it was thrilling to read. As the last book in the series, I ...Show more
This book was amazing. The plot, the action, the romance, the conflict, it was all there. And it was thrilling to read. As the last book in the series, I was worried this book was not going to meet the standards of the first book. However, this book was probably the best in the series. I loved how Levi and Enne had struggled so much to face each other at the beginning of the book, with Jac’s death and all, but they were able to see past the death and losses and give in to each other. It was exciting to read and because of the different points of view, you were able to understand how hard things were for each of the characters. Furthermore, the overall plot of this book was phenomenal. As we discovered how big of a role Bryce played in the entire series, it was truly unexpected and certainly jaw-dropping. Something I loved about this book was the different characters Foody decided to focus on. She gave us points of view from different characters that she hadn’t focused on before, and I enjoyed reading their role in the story. One thing that was quite disappointing when reading was the representation of the Bargainer. Foody had spent so much time building up her legend, and for her to be a simple girl with faded hair was quite disappointing. However, this book was beyond great and certainly ended the series nicely. I would definitely recommend this series to others! 4.5/5
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This book was amazing. The plot, the action, the romance, the conflict, it was all there. And it was thrilling to read. As the last book in the series, I ...Show more
This book was amazing. The plot, the action, the romance, the conflict, it was all there. And it was thrilling to read. As the last book in the series, I was worried this book was not going to meet the standards of the first book. However, this book was probably the best in the series. I loved how Levi and Enne had struggled so much to face each other at the beginning of the book, with Jac’s death and all, but they were able to see past the death and losses and give in to each other. It was exciting to read and because of the different points of view, you were able to understand how hard things were for each of the characters. Furthermore, the overall plot of this book was phenomenal. As we discovered how big of a role Bryce played in the entire series, it was truly unexpected and certainly jaw-dropping. Something I loved about this book was the different characters Foody decided to focus on. She gave us points of view from different characters that she hadn’t focused on before, and I enjoyed reading their role in the story. One thing that was quite disappointing when reading was the representation of the Bargainer. Foody had spent so much time building up her legend, and for her to be a simple girl with faded hair was quite disappointing. However, this book was beyond great and certainly ended the series nicely. I would definitely recommend this series to others! 4.5/5
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Book - 2012
This book was fantastic. Absolutely riveting. It was fast-paced, easy to understand, and quick to make you engaged. I couldn’t put the book down. Cinder i...Show more
This book was fantastic. Absolutely riveting. It was fast-paced, easy to understand, and quick to make you engaged. I couldn’t put the book down. Cinder is such a strong female lead in this book, and we can see that throughout the story. I loved reading from her point of view, as the way she viewed the world was truly admiring. Marissa Meyer did a great job at creating a world that wasn’t overwhelming. The whole concept of living in a world where “aliens” exist is a bit cliché, and so I had my concerns at first. However, Meyer did a phenomenal job creating this universe. The information was never thrown at you and it made sense as you read along. I loved the plot twists in this book as well as it was truly unexpected. One thing I absolutely enjoyed about this book was the fairy tale theme. It was certainly nothing like Cinderella, but the story followed some of the same concepts of Cinderella and I found it rather thrilling instead of predictable. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced and quick read because you won’t be able to put it down! 5/5
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This book was fantastic. Absolutely riveting. It was fast-paced, easy to understand, and quick to make you engaged. I couldn’t put the book down. Cinder i...Show more
This book was fantastic. Absolutely riveting. It was fast-paced, easy to understand, and quick to make you engaged. I couldn’t put the book down. Cinder is such a strong female lead in this book, and we can see that throughout the story. I loved reading from her point of view, as the way she viewed the world was truly admiring. Marissa Meyer did a great job at creating a world that wasn’t overwhelming. The whole concept of living in a world where “aliens” exist is a bit cliché, and so I had my concerns at first. However, Meyer did a phenomenal job creating this universe. The information was never thrown at you and it made sense as you read along. I loved the plot twists in this book as well as it was truly unexpected. One thing I absolutely enjoyed about this book was the fairy tale theme. It was certainly nothing like Cinderella, but the story followed some of the same concepts of Cinderella and I found it rather thrilling instead of predictable. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced and quick read because you won’t be able to put it down! 5/5
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Book - 2013
This was amazing. The intensity, the plot, the romance, the connections, it was all there. I absolutely loved this book. Since this book was written from ...Show more
This was amazing. The intensity, the plot, the romance, the connections, it was all there. I absolutely loved this book. Since this book was written from the perspective of an additional character in the universe, I was concerned it would be too overwhelming and the stories would be too similar. However, Meyer did a phenomenal job on this book as well as the first one. Scarlet was an amazing character to read. She was strong-minded, passionate, and such an inspiring female lead. I loved the relationship between Wolf and Scarlet, and how they went through so much together. From practically hating him to realizing they needed each other, it was thrilling. This book definitely gave off Little Red Riding Hood vibes when reading, Wolf being the “big bad wolf.” However, I loved the spin on the original fairy tale Meyer did in this book because it wasn’t anything like the fairy tale at all. I also enjoyed how we were able to read through the P.O.V of Cinder as well throughout the book. It made it even more exciting. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone who loved the first book! 5/5
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This was amazing. The intensity, the plot, the romance, the connections, it was all there. I absolutely loved this book. Since this book was written from ...Show more
This was amazing. The intensity, the plot, the romance, the connections, it was all there. I absolutely loved this book. Since this book was written from the perspective of an additional character in the universe, I was concerned it would be too overwhelming and the stories would be too similar. However, Meyer did a phenomenal job on this book as well as the first one. Scarlet was an amazing character to read. She was strong-minded, passionate, and such an inspiring female lead. I loved the relationship between Wolf and Scarlet, and how they went through so much together. From practically hating him to realizing they needed each other, it was thrilling. This book definitely gave off Little Red Riding Hood vibes when reading, Wolf being the “big bad wolf.” However, I loved the spin on the original fairy tale Meyer did in this book because it wasn’t anything like the fairy tale at all. I also enjoyed how we were able to read through the P.O.V of Cinder as well throughout the book. It made it even more exciting. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone who loved the first book! 5/5
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Book - 2014
This book was great, and I’d definitely read it again. I loved being introduced to Cress in this novel, and really understanding what role she played in t...Show more
This book was great, and I’d definitely read it again. I loved being introduced to Cress in this novel, and really understanding what role she played in the series. Meyer did an amazing job creating her character since she takes on the role of Rapunzel in the series. Cress is a bit awkward, shy, and almost “fangirly,” but she was still an extremely likeable character. One thing I loved about this book was that we were able to see more into Thorne’s character and definitely carried the book. Seeing his character develop so much throughout this book was really interesting and fun to read. However, not all the characters lived up to the standards of the last book. I felt as though Meyer didn’t put any effort into developing Wolf’s character throughout this book. He turned into a pathetic and sad boy wherein Scarlet was strong and unbreakable. Overall, the plot and conflict in this book were interesting, and I loved how we got to see more of the original characters whilst reading about the new ones. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! 5/5
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This book was great, and I’d definitely read it again. I loved being introduced to Cress in this novel, and really understanding what role she played in t...Show more
This book was great, and I’d definitely read it again. I loved being introduced to Cress in this novel, and really understanding what role she played in the series. Meyer did an amazing job creating her character since she takes on the role of Rapunzel in the series. Cress is a bit awkward, shy, and almost “fangirly,” but she was still an extremely likeable character. One thing I loved about this book was that we were able to see more into Thorne’s character and definitely carried the book. Seeing his character develop so much throughout this book was really interesting and fun to read. However, not all the characters lived up to the standards of the last book. I felt as though Meyer didn’t put any effort into developing Wolf’s character throughout this book. He turned into a pathetic and sad boy wherein Scarlet was strong and unbreakable. Overall, the plot and conflict in this book were interesting, and I loved how we got to see more of the original characters whilst reading about the new ones. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! 5/5
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Book - 2015
This book was the perfect ending to the series. The book tied up nicely, the relationships were intense, and it ended with a dramatic and fiery climax. I ...Show more
This book was the perfect ending to the series. The book tied up nicely, the relationships were intense, and it ended with a dramatic and fiery climax. I loved the character Winter was made out to be. She was beautiful yet crazy, and I loved that. Meyer did a great job at portraying her feelings and how although she was the most beautiful person to exist, she didn’t fit in. And she never would. Winter and Jacin’s relationship was thrilling to read because Jacin seemed to be the only one to not love her for her beauty, but for the crazy part about her. Although we never read through his perspective, Meyer did a great job at portraying this. I loved the team that the author was able to build in the end. With brave and strong-minded Cinder, feisty Scarlet, shy Cress, and passionate Winter, this book carried the strongest team of female leads I’ve ever read. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a quick and action-filled series. To people who love young adult fantasy, some romance, action, and a bit of science fiction, this book is definitely for you! 5/5
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This book was the perfect ending to the series. The book tied up nicely, the relationships were intense, and it ended with a dramatic and fiery climax. I ...Show more
This book was the perfect ending to the series. The book tied up nicely, the relationships were intense, and it ended with a dramatic and fiery climax. I loved the character Winter was made out to be. She was beautiful yet crazy, and I loved that. Meyer did a great job at portraying her feelings and how although she was the most beautiful person to exist, she didn’t fit in. And she never would. Winter and Jacin’s relationship was thrilling to read because Jacin seemed to be the only one to not love her for her beauty, but for the crazy part about her. Although we never read through his perspective, Meyer did a great job at portraying this. I loved the team that the author was able to build in the end. With brave and strong-minded Cinder, feisty Scarlet, shy Cress, and passionate Winter, this book carried the strongest team of female leads I’ve ever read. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a quick and action-filled series. To people who love young adult fantasy, some romance, action, and a bit of science fiction, this book is definitely for you! 5/5
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Levana's Story
Book - 2015
This book gave the backstory of the villain in the Lunar Chronicles and it was absolutely amazing. At first, I was concerned the book was going to be hard...Show more
This book gave the backstory of the villain in the Lunar Chronicles and it was absolutely amazing. At first, I was concerned the book was going to be hard to read seeing as though Levana was such an unlikable character throughout the series. However, although surprising, I felt for Levana in this book. She was neglected as a child, tormented even, and stolen of her beauty and pride. She was taught hatred and abuse at a young age, and she carried it with her to the end of her life. This book was beyond thrilling to read and some parts of Levana made her enraging, but that’s her story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her life before Cinder, and it made me really understand her motives throughout the series. Some of Levana’s motives and actions were truly corrupted, but it made me feel bad for her. All in all, this book is a definite must-read for fans of the series. Although some of the concepts are mature, this book was truly out of this world. 5/5
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This book gave the backstory of the villain in the Lunar Chronicles and it was absolutely amazing. At first, I was concerned the book was going to be hard...Show more
This book gave the backstory of the villain in the Lunar Chronicles and it was absolutely amazing. At first, I was concerned the book was going to be hard to read seeing as though Levana was such an unlikable character throughout the series. However, although surprising, I felt for Levana in this book. She was neglected as a child, tormented even, and stolen of her beauty and pride. She was taught hatred and abuse at a young age, and she carried it with her to the end of her life. This book was beyond thrilling to read and some parts of Levana made her enraging, but that’s her story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her life before Cinder, and it made me really understand her motives throughout the series. Some of Levana’s motives and actions were truly corrupted, but it made me feel bad for her. All in all, this book is a definite must-read for fans of the series. Although some of the concepts are mature, this book was truly out of this world. 5/5
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by Lowry, Lois
Book - 2002
The Giver is the type of book that makes you think and gives you a whole new perspective on life. This book was phenomenal. It was short, but it was easy ...Show more
The Giver is the type of book that makes you think and gives you a whole new perspective on life. This book was phenomenal. It was short, but it was easy to understand and get hooked to. I loved the world Lois Lowry was able to create in such a novel. Jonas was an extremely likeable character and the way he thought about the world was intriguing to read since his world was far different than ours. All in all, the book was great, however, I didn’t like the ending. It left me wanting more, and in all honesty, left me quite sad. I didn’t know if Jonas and Gabriel made it out alive or not, and that concerned me. Also, the fact that the world was set in such a place where they experienced injustice and a controlling government without knowing left me sad when reading as well. However, I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read or anyone who enjoys a good science fiction book. 4/5
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The Giver is the type of book that makes you think and gives you a whole new perspective on life. This book was phenomenal. It was short, but it was easy ...Show more
The Giver is the type of book that makes you think and gives you a whole new perspective on life. This book was phenomenal. It was short, but it was easy to understand and get hooked to. I loved the world Lois Lowry was able to create in such a novel. Jonas was an extremely likeable character and the way he thought about the world was intriguing to read since his world was far different than ours. All in all, the book was great, however, I didn’t like the ending. It left me wanting more, and in all honesty, left me quite sad. I didn’t know if Jonas and Gabriel made it out alive or not, and that concerned me. Also, the fact that the world was set in such a place where they experienced injustice and a controlling government without knowing left me sad when reading as well. However, I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read or anyone who enjoys a good science fiction book. 4/5
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Book - 2019
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was an interesting book. This novel contained a lot of content about drugs, sex, mental disorders, and high school traumas...Show more
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was an interesting book. This novel contained a lot of content about drugs, sex, mental disorders, and high school traumas. It was fun to read about Charlie’s life, especially through the form of letters to someone who he thought could help him. It gave a positive message to the readers, that whoever you are and whatever you are struggling with, you are not alone. This book was good, however, there were some things that I found disturbing in this book. Something about the illness Charlie was struggling with was very off-putting, and for some readers can be quite triggering. It was an alright book, however, without the message from the author at the end of the book the meaning was quite hard to understand. Because this book does contain a lot of mature content, I’d recommend this to anyone over 15. 3.5/5
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower was an interesting book. This novel contained a lot of content about drugs, sex, mental disorders, and high school traumas...Show more
The Perks of Being a Wallflower was an interesting book. This novel contained a lot of content about drugs, sex, mental disorders, and high school traumas. It was fun to read about Charlie’s life, especially through the form of letters to someone who he thought could help him. It gave a positive message to the readers, that whoever you are and whatever you are struggling with, you are not alone. This book was good, however, there were some things that I found disturbing in this book. Something about the illness Charlie was struggling with was very off-putting, and for some readers can be quite triggering. It was an alright book, however, without the message from the author at the end of the book the meaning was quite hard to understand. Because this book does contain a lot of mature content, I’d recommend this to anyone over 15. 3.5/5
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by Kaur, Rupi
Book - 2015
This book had an incredibly strong story and message. It was enjoyable to read, despite its controversy. Milk and Honey covered a lot of heavy topics, how...Show more
This book had an incredibly strong story and message. It was enjoyable to read, despite its controversy. Milk and Honey covered a lot of heavy topics, however, I loved how the book was structured. This poem collection covered the different stages of relationships and emotions we humans experience, and how it makes us feel and change. Rupi Kaur addresses feminism in our lives and through her poetry, which inspired me to act upon it. Each page was stunning to read, and I finished it in hours. I’d recommend this to any girl looking for something truly inspiring. However, since this book does touch a lot of sensitive topics, it may be triggering for some readers. Overall, this collection of poems was a phenomenal piece of literature, and it was truly inspirational. I’d definitely recommend this! 4/5
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This book had an incredibly strong story and message. It was enjoyable to read, despite its controversy. Milk and Honey covered a lot of heavy topics, how...Show more
This book had an incredibly strong story and message. It was enjoyable to read, despite its controversy. Milk and Honey covered a lot of heavy topics, however, I loved how the book was structured. This poem collection covered the different stages of relationships and emotions we humans experience, and how it makes us feel and change. Rupi Kaur addresses feminism in our lives and through her poetry, which inspired me to act upon it. Each page was stunning to read, and I finished it in hours. I’d recommend this to any girl looking for something truly inspiring. However, since this book does touch a lot of sensitive topics, it may be triggering for some readers. Overall, this collection of poems was a phenomenal piece of literature, and it was truly inspirational. I’d definitely recommend this! 4/5
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by Shull, Megan
Book - 2016
This book is great for those just starting to get into reading, and for younger kids who are discovering the wonderful world of fictional fantasy. As we f...Show more
This book is great for those just starting to get into reading, and for younger kids who are discovering the wonderful world of fictional fantasy. As we follow Frannie Hudson’s journey through her life, we see her wish for a new family and life because she’s tired of her own; and her wish gets granted. Throughout this book, we see her become more and more grateful for the life she had, and eventually, learns to appreciate her family. This book is a thrilling book for anyone in elementary school, and certainly has the substance to keep you from putting the book down. Overall, Megan Shull did an amazing job creating a book that was exciting to read for young readers, and relatable as well. 3.5/5
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This book is great for those just starting to get into reading, and for younger kids who are discovering the wonderful world of fictional fantasy. As we f...Show more
This book is great for those just starting to get into reading, and for younger kids who are discovering the wonderful world of fictional fantasy. As we follow Frannie Hudson’s journey through her life, we see her wish for a new family and life because she’s tired of her own; and her wish gets granted. Throughout this book, we see her become more and more grateful for the life she had, and eventually, learns to appreciate her family. This book is a thrilling book for anyone in elementary school, and certainly has the substance to keep you from putting the book down. Overall, Megan Shull did an amazing job creating a book that was exciting to read for young readers, and relatable as well. 3.5/5
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Book - 2014
This book was absolutely amazing, and certainly a step up from the first series following Kylie’s journey. Della Tsang has always been one of the favoured...Show more
This book was absolutely amazing, and certainly a step up from the first series following Kylie’s journey. Della Tsang has always been one of the favoured characters in the Shadow Falls series. Being able to read about her journey to becoming a vampire, fitting in, and meeting the right guy was certainly thrilling. C.C Hunter did an amazing job at creating Della’s character and developing her morals throughout. Della, being mixed race, had always felt like she did not belong anywhere. Della felt like she could not prove herself to her father, and that was her biggest challenge she had to overcome. C.C Hunter did a perfect job at portraying the way Della felt and the challenges she had to overcome; it was a thrilling piece to the novel that was entertaining to read. Overall, Della is an extremely likeable character in the first series, so if you like reading about a strong-minded woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, this book is for you! 4.5/5
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This book was absolutely amazing, and certainly a step up from the first series following Kylie’s journey. Della Tsang has always been one of the favoured...Show more
This book was absolutely amazing, and certainly a step up from the first series following Kylie’s journey. Della Tsang has always been one of the favoured characters in the Shadow Falls series. Being able to read about her journey to becoming a vampire, fitting in, and meeting the right guy was certainly thrilling. C.C Hunter did an amazing job at creating Della’s character and developing her morals throughout. Della, being mixed race, had always felt like she did not belong anywhere. Della felt like she could not prove herself to her father, and that was her biggest challenge she had to overcome. C.C Hunter did a perfect job at portraying the way Della felt and the challenges she had to overcome; it was a thrilling piece to the novel that was entertaining to read. Overall, Della is an extremely likeable character in the first series, so if you like reading about a strong-minded woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, this book is for you! 4.5/5
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Book - 2014
For any fans of the Shadow Falls series or Reborn, this book is definitely for you! I absolutely loved this book. It had the right amount of tension, sus...Show more
For any fans of the Shadow Falls series or Reborn, this book is definitely for you! I absolutely loved this book. It had the right amount of tension, suspense, mystery, and so much more. With the whole concept of being reborn, I was concerned C.C. Hunter wasn’t going to be able to execute the idea since it seemed confusing at first. However, she was able to explain the concept well, and it tied well with the original series also. Furthermore, I loved the relationship between Chase and Della, and although some people were sad to see Steve out of the picture, I believe that they truly were the better pair because they challenged each other and weren’t afraid to speak their minds. The resolution of the plot was certainly long-awaited in the book, but I felt it was worth it because throughout the novel we were able to see how each character developed as certain clues were given to us. Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of action, romance, and mystery! 4/5
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For any fans of the Shadow Falls series or Reborn, this book is definitely for you! I absolutely loved this book. It had the right amount of tension, sus...Show more
For any fans of the Shadow Falls series or Reborn, this book is definitely for you! I absolutely loved this book. It had the right amount of tension, suspense, mystery, and so much more. With the whole concept of being reborn, I was concerned C.C. Hunter wasn’t going to be able to execute the idea since it seemed confusing at first. However, she was able to explain the concept well, and it tied well with the original series also. Furthermore, I loved the relationship between Chase and Della, and although some people were sad to see Steve out of the picture, I believe that they truly were the better pair because they challenged each other and weren’t afraid to speak their minds. The resolution of the plot was certainly long-awaited in the book, but I felt it was worth it because throughout the novel we were able to see how each character developed as certain clues were given to us. Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of action, romance, and mystery! 4/5
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Book - 2015
This book was the perfect ending to the series. For those who enjoyed the first two books or the original series, you’ll absolutely love this book. The en...Show more
This book was the perfect ending to the series. For those who enjoyed the first two books or the original series, you’ll absolutely love this book. The ending was satisfying to read, although long-awaited. I loved the dynamic of conflicts this book brought to the reader. The unstable relationship between Della and her father, the self-doubt, Della’s concerns about her relationship with Chase, etc. This book was thrilling to read, and following along with Della, a strong female lead who’s a bit too brave, we were able to connect to someone who struggled with some of the same things many of us do. I’d recommend this series to anyone young looking for a quick, short read. The books were action and tension-packed, but it did seem like a book that may be more enjoyed for a younger audience. 4.5/5
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This book was the perfect ending to the series. For those who enjoyed the first two books or the original series, you’ll absolutely love this book. The en...Show more
This book was the perfect ending to the series. For those who enjoyed the first two books or the original series, you’ll absolutely love this book. The ending was satisfying to read, although long-awaited. I loved the dynamic of conflicts this book brought to the reader. The unstable relationship between Della and her father, the self-doubt, Della’s concerns about her relationship with Chase, etc. This book was thrilling to read, and following along with Della, a strong female lead who’s a bit too brave, we were able to connect to someone who struggled with some of the same things many of us do. I’d recommend this series to anyone young looking for a quick, short read. The books were action and tension-packed, but it did seem like a book that may be more enjoyed for a younger audience. 4.5/5
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by Black, Holly
Book - 2018
Being such a popular book among teens, I had high expectations when I was reading this book. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. This book was absolutely ...Show more
Being such a popular book among teens, I had high expectations when I was reading this book. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. This book was absolutely amazing and fun to read. It was filled with action, constant rivalry, betrayal, and revenge. It’s the perfect book for those looking for an exciting and thrilling novel. At the beginning of the book, I have to admit I was a bit confused. The world didn’t seem to make sense at first, only because there were so many questions unanswered. However, Holly Black did an outstanding job at creating a world based on everything we already know. The concept of faeries wasn’t “childish,” instead, it was intriguing. The powers they had were easy to understand, and the world was beautifully created. I loved reading about Jude as she struggled with proving herself and not fitting in with the faeries, being mortal. Cardon, although he was a despicable character in the begging, was someone I started to like in the end because his motives and actions were explained through his trauma. The plot twists were thrilling to read, and everything was fast-paced but never overwhelming. I couldn’t put this book down, and I’d recommend this to anyone! 5/5
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Being such a popular book among teens, I had high expectations when I was reading this book. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. This book was absolutely ...Show more
Being such a popular book among teens, I had high expectations when I was reading this book. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. This book was absolutely amazing and fun to read. It was filled with action, constant rivalry, betrayal, and revenge. It’s the perfect book for those looking for an exciting and thrilling novel. At the beginning of the book, I have to admit I was a bit confused. The world didn’t seem to make sense at first, only because there were so many questions unanswered. However, Holly Black did an outstanding job at creating a world based on everything we already know. The concept of faeries wasn’t “childish,” instead, it was intriguing. The powers they had were easy to understand, and the world was beautifully created. I loved reading about Jude as she struggled with proving herself and not fitting in with the faeries, being mortal. Cardon, although he was a despicable character in the begging, was someone I started to like in the end because his motives and actions were explained through his trauma. The plot twists were thrilling to read, and everything was fast-paced but never overwhelming. I couldn’t put this book down, and I’d recommend this to anyone! 5/5
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Book - 2015
Red Queen was the type of book that made you excited for each new page. This book is definitely one of my favourites! Mare Barrow was a strong female lead...Show more
Red Queen was the type of book that made you excited for each new page. This book is definitely one of my favourites! Mare Barrow was a strong female lead that I absolutely loved reading about. I adored each of the characters in this book, and I felt like Victoria Aveyard did an amazing job at giving them each an important role in the story. This book is filled with so much action, heartbreak, betrayal, and murder, that you can’t put it down. Furthermore, I loved the world that Aveyard created in this book. As the world is divided into two types of blood, silver or red, we see Mare. As she’s different, we can understand how she feels. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and adventurous series. This book is certainly addicting, so make sure you are prepared for epic plot twists and heartbreaks because you won’t be able to put the book down! 4.5/5
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Red Queen was the type of book that made you excited for each new page. This book is definitely one of my favourites! Mare Barrow was a strong female lead...Show more
Red Queen was the type of book that made you excited for each new page. This book is definitely one of my favourites! Mare Barrow was a strong female lead that I absolutely loved reading about. I adored each of the characters in this book, and I felt like Victoria Aveyard did an amazing job at giving them each an important role in the story. This book is filled with so much action, heartbreak, betrayal, and murder, that you can’t put it down. Furthermore, I loved the world that Aveyard created in this book. As the world is divided into two types of blood, silver or red, we see Mare. As she’s different, we can understand how she feels. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and adventurous series. This book is certainly addicting, so make sure you are prepared for epic plot twists and heartbreaks because you won’t be able to put the book down! 4.5/5
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