Natália

A friend of mine has been pestering me to read this trilogy because she is obsessed with it. I actually liked it way more than I thought I would and the mix of supernatural elements with Mara's PSTD's symptoms (wich were very accurately described in the book, well done Michelle Hodkin!) got me hooked right away. Mara as a protagonist is a very likable character, and Noah is my type of YA guy. Her relationship with her brothers was another high point for me in the book and the mystery of what happened on the night of the accident, despite a little bit predictable once we realized what Mara could do, was well paced and left me curious to know more. The ending got me like “WTF” and a little bit sad, but I'm here for badass Mara! Can't wait for the second book!

I'm not much into coming of age stories, but I loved Charlie's innocence and his simple view of the world. The ending was a shock, but it made sense. A solid 3.5 stars.

I am absolutely in love with this book. I've never read anything by Philippa Gregory, but I was curious because of the tv series and because I love historical fiction. I'm so glad I finally picked up this book, and I can't wait to read others!

Elizabeth is a charming character and the mixture of romance, politics, plots and the mystical elements (I love how she woven the story itself with the tale of the water goddess, Melusina, who supposedly is Elizabeth's acenstor of some kind, hence her “powers”). For me it was a quick read and a page turner!

I'm intrigued with the mystery surround the disapearance of Elizabeth's sons from the Tower, I wish there was a resolution to that, but since there's no record and no lead at all, I guess we'll never know.

Now, onto “The Red Queen”!

So, this feels more and more like I'm reading a The 100 fanfiction than actually reading the original work. Everything is just a little bit absurd and the relationship are so poorly developed! I mean, one minute the main couples hate each other, the next they are kissing passionately and saying they love each other like nothing happened at all. Just UGH, no. And let's not mention the absurdity of having a prisioner, only to unbound her and lead her through long walks in the woods and even, at some point, hand her a KNIFE. Let's all imediately trust this girl, who was hiding in the woods, spying on us, right after one of our own was killed by the natives! It just makes total sense, because she couldn't be lying her ass off at all!

The only realistic characters are the Blake siblings, and since Octavia was gone for most of the book (ok, all of it, basically), this was slightely worse than the first one. The only thing that will make me read the 3rd book is to see how the author will manage the big secret involving Bellamy, Octavia and Wells and how the 100 will deal with the Colony coming to Earth and how the relationship with the Earthborns will go from there.

As always, another great book by Dame Agatha! This one could be a collection of short stories, but woven through them is the common thread of the Big Four organization, and that's what makes the book so great! You have a dozen cases in one! And Poirot is brilliant in all of them, including the final showdown. I truly dislike Hastings, though. I actually never liked him and the books that were from his POV always were among my least favorites, even though I love Poirot and a lot of the belgian detective's stories feature him, but in this book especially he is more annoying and idiotic than ever.

His hability to get himself into trouble (and consequentially Poirot) just out of sheer stupidity and naivety, his lack of trust in Poirot, despite knowing that even though he is not the conventional detective, he is usually right and has a plan for everything and the fact that he has known Poirot for YEARS and STILL don't get the detective's way....it's just too much for me. I would give this book a 4.5 stars for the presence of Capt. Hastings alone, but since I love Agatha Chtistie too much, I decided to be lenient and to give it a full 5 stars.

I can't believe this is Agatha Christie's first published book. It may as well be her tenth, because it's just as brilliant as any of her books. Even though it's Hercule Poirot first novel ever, the reader follows the events through Captain Hastings POV, so it doesn't properly introduce the Belgian detective, because they both already know each other and Capt. Hastings is very well acquainted with Poirot's brilliance. But, by the end of the book, so do we and we're marvelled by it as much as Japp and Hastings and everyone else and we can understand why they were so eloquent throught the book about how amazing Monsieur Poirot was. As I said before, it doesn't seem at all like an author's first novel, because it follows the exact same style as her posterior books and it's in no way inferior to any one of her other works I've read so far, and I read a LOT of them. She never lets the shoe drop, it's amazing! And that's why she remains my favorite author BY FAR and I keep coming back to her novels after a while without picking up one of them.

I'm finally done with the Curse Workers trilogy and am so sad to leave this world. The series was amazing, start to finish and I really got involved with the characters, especially Cassel. My poor bb can't catch a break, everything is always going wary for him. In this one, especially, till at least halfway through, it seemed impossible for things to work out well in the end! It really was a hell of a way to end a trilogy! I loved everything about this book.

There were a few things that I feel were solved too easily and hastily and there were some things that I wished were better explained or that were never solved and I wanted to know what happened, like what really happened with the Resurrection Stone, if Barron really changed and stuff like that, but overall the book was so amazing that even those things didn't bothered me as would happen in some other books.

The ending was SO SWEET. I was so happy with it I actually squealed while reading it. FINALLY!
The final score was 4.5 stars, but since Goodreads don't accept this kind o rating, I decided to be good and leave it at 5 stars.

When I thought about the “Funny Book” category for the 2015 Reading Challenge, I though of this book because I loved the movie so much and always had a lot of fun watching it (even though I knew the scenes by heart). Marvin and his depressing character and Arthur's clueness were always amusing to me. The book did make me laugh, but only because it was COMPLETELY ABSURD, not because it was truly funny. Nothing made sense in the book. Absolutely nothing. The text is confusing and it keeps going back and forth to try to explain stuff (failing miserably). And the ending was just so poor. It just left the readers hanging, to kind of force us to read the next installment (which I'll do someday just to try to make sense of all this mess). And everything I found endearing about the movie just irritated me in the book. Arthur was not only clueless, but absolutely stupid and just a dead weight. He's just there, doing nothing, the entire book. And Marvin is not only depressing, he is irritating with his snarky comments and superior attitude. He just hates everything and everyone and even though he shows up in less than 30 pages, I was irritated enough to just skim through every part he was in.
Overall, I didn't like it much. Thankfully, it was short and really fast to go through.

When I learned that there was a book for the tv show “The 100”, I wanted to get my hands on it right away because I absolutely love the show. The plots, the way relationships are written, the characters and how they have to adapt to survive had me from the pilot, so I was expecting the same thing from the book. Althought the main plot is basically the same, a 100 criminal kids are sent to Earth hundreds of years after a nuclear war that left the planet devastated to see it it was habitable again, everything else was different. Sure, the main characters are the same, but their personality is just a shadow of their tv counterpart, if not completely different.

Tv!Clarke is portrayed as strong willed, but kind and fair and she's always trying to do what's right and to ensure the other kids survival. And while she's still kinda like that, she comes off more like a lost girl, who is trying to do something but doesn't actually knows what she's doing and it's too focused on her boy trouble (loving Wells, hating him, forgiving him, feeling something for Bellamy and then back to Wells only to hate him again and so on). She lacks the leadership traits and the headstrong personality. Wells, despite being present on the show, is killed very early on, so we don't get to know him much except to know that he was Clarke's best friend but he betrayed her trying to help her because he is in love with her. Well, I'm kinda glad he wasn't around long, if his plot was supposed to follow the book. He is obsessed with Clarke and has this misguided sense of justice and superiority (because even though he says he's not like his father, he kind of is and believes he is supposed to be the leader). He is Finn, but much worse, because Finn was actually well developed and had this good guy personality in season one that was very likable. Octavia in the book is a little bit more like her tv counterpart, except less rebellious and strong. She comes off as sneaky and malicious, even though she puts on a cute and innocent face. I don't see her becoming warrior!Octavia at all. Bellamy is the one who is the most consistent one, just not imposing himself as much as in the tv show and therefore not developing much as a character, at least in this book. I miss Raven, Monty, Jasper and even Murphy (which is Graham in the book and much more obnoxious). I also miss Clarke's relationship with her mother and all that issued but I love Thalia and some of Clarke's backstory in the book (which also diverges from the show, but I actually like the book more in this aspect). I have mixed feelings for Glass. Despite liking to see a secondary character from the show come to life on her own in the book, her chapters were detached from the plot on Earth, it felt like reading a separate book, a YA romance.

Actually, this whole book was kind of an introduction to the main plot, the separate ones and the character's personality and backstory, because not much in terms of plot has happened so far, except in last 40 pages, when things start to move a little only for the book to end. There was more romance in it (poorly developed, I migh add - actually a major part of the relationships in the book are underdeveloped) than actual struggle to survive and to adapt to life on Earth for the 100 and to solve things and the political stuff on the Ark.

I kind of got involved in the book, it's a quick and easy read and I will continue with the series, but I do prefer the tv show and I want season 3 NOW. Well, at least in the books we get a little bit of Bellarke.

I am so glad I finally got around to read this book. That was one of the perks of joining the challenge, to read books I normally wouldn't and to discover new passions. This book definitely fits this category.

I immediately fell in love with the whole southern small town, where everybody knows everybody and the characteristic accent translating amazingly into the pages. The Finches are a captivating family and Scout and Jem's adventure's are a delight to follow. Scout and her childish innocence and her rebellious ways made everything even better, waving through themes like prejudice and justice easily and in a understable and relatable way. I think that if this book was not written from her POV, it wouldn't be half as interesting. It's no wonder it won a Pulitzer.

The ending got me in tears, not only because it was a happy ending (or the best ending possible), but also because it was adorable! It tied all the loose ends in a beautiful way. The last page left me wanting more, but I'm not reading “Go Set a Watchman”, not only because of the whole issue with it being published against Haper Lee's wishes, but also because, according to the reviews, it will basically destroy everything I loved about “To Kill a Mockingbird”, which was basically everything.

While reading this, I felt like I was in one of those indie movies, with rose colored filter in the scenes, giving it an even more unrealistic feel. Because this book was really unrealistic in many, many ways.

First of all, almost all the characters were written to make you like them, therefore they were too perfect: Emi is a sixteen or seventeen year-old girl who just graduated highschool but already has a job in a major movie studio, is a genius production designer, has her life all figured out and has the perfect timing in relationships. Also, despite having just broken with with her on-and-off-and-on-again girlfriend and her first love, they remain friendly, no hurt feelings, and she even indicates Emi for her first big job. Charlotte, Emi's best friend, is also the perfect friend, never complaining, always understanding and knows exactly what Emi needs just by looking at her. Oh, and she also work with Emi and is the perfect student, super organized and able to handle almost anything and has the perfect advice and perfect solution for every situation. Emi's parents are the perfect, smart, caring, loving and understanding parents, her brother is the funny, smart and perfect big brother... you get what I mean. Perfect everywhere. Not even Ava, the supposed runaway, “problematic” girl is problematic at all. If anything, she's just kind of sad (oh, and amazingly talented as an actress, and beautiful and, yes, perfect). The characters are all one dimensioned, there's no depth to them.

Then, the plotline revolved around the movie the characters were working in and the whole mystery of Clyde's letter and Ava's past. Nothing wrong with it, it would be very interesting to follow, if only things wouldn't always go EXACTLY the way the protagonist (Emi) wanted. I mean, there was no setback, no problem, not even an inkling of an issue to make things harder, to make the reader want to know what will happen, if things will work out in the end, because very early into the book we already know they are. Things go way too smoothly, always. Not even Ava's “disappearance” is enough, because that is solved in the same chapter.

So, this is the book for when you don't want to think and just wants to distract yourself with a cute romance. Oh, and to past the time.

I watched the movie first and I loved it, it was that funny and sweet chick flick that you can't help but swoon at the end. When I first started the book, I disliked book!Bianca a lot. She was self entitled, thinking herself above her classmates and even her friends just because she was nerdy and disliked high heels, techno music, talking about boys and going out. Which was totally hypocritical of her. But, along the book, she realized exactly that and her development was really good to see. Also, what I liked about the book far more than the movie was the complexity of the characters. There was so much more going on with them, there was depth. Also, the whole thing with Bianca's mom, her recovering alcoholic dad (which wasn't shown in the movie and it was a great loss, because the whole divorce and her father's relapse was a major turning point in the story and a major wake up call to Bianca) and the issue with Wesley's family added up a lot to the book. The only major complaint I have about it was the ending. I thought everything was solved super quickly! I mean, one minute she was with Toby, the next she got her happily ever after with Wesley. Anyways, I was really happy and surprised with the book! Glad I got around to read it!

This was a short, but sweet and fun read! Gia is a very relatable character and easy to like as a protagonist as well. Her character growth throught the book was also very well written, you could see she was trying to do better, even though she kept the charade about Bradley/fill-in Bradley, afraid of losing her best friends. 
Now let's talk about Hayden. I NEED A HAYDEN IN MY LIFE, OMG HE'S ADORABLE! From the moment he stepped into prom with Gia and gave her his smoky look I was hooked and I immediately wantend them together.
The other characters were very likable as well, except for Jules and Drew, who were MAJOR D-bags (in Jules' case, a major BITCH). Also, Gia's friends were a little bit annoying. I mean, even though they said they didn't, they DID doubted Gia when she told them about Bradley (the real one). And after the whole thing blew up, they choose Jules over their best friend since childhood. I mean, how can you believe someone you met like a year ago and choose them over your best friend, the girl you've been friends with and trusted since you were a child? That makes zero sense to me, but okay. That was one of the reasons this book was not a 5 stars. The second reason was the ending, that I felt was too abrupt. We didn't get closure about some stuff, it was left wide open, like you would turn the page and there would be a new chapter waiting for you. Instead, there was the aknowledgements.
But I liked this well enough and I got so into it that I finished the book in one day. I may read other books by Kasie West.

This book was so addictive, I just had to finish it as soon as possible. The story, the characters, everything was captivating, it hooked me from the start. This is basically Sci-fi meets Titanic, with Jack surviving and he and Rose being stranded in a deserted and forgotten island (or in this case, planet). Throw in the mix a mystery and a good dose of romance and there you have it. The writing style was so good, I liked how it alternated between Lilac's and Tavern's POV, so we could see what they both were thinking and feeling about the same situation, because their chapters would follow one another.

The book it's short, only 390 or so pages, and even though it's fast paced, it doesn't feel rushed. The succession of events feels natural, after all they are fighting to survive. Also, since every book in the trilogy is based on a couple and a different story, this book can work as a standalone, so everything in the plot is closed, without plot holes or loose ends. The romance is a major part of the book (it's a YA book, after all), but it doesn't drown the other plots, like Lilac's and Tavern's development or the mystery surrounding the whispers and the fall of the ‘Icarus'.

Lilac is my favorite character, she is strong willed, smart and though, and even when she's bitchy, she has a reason and a purpose. She's badass and is willing to do everything to save Tavern, and to lead them to safety.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and the only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because the big plot twist is painfully obvious, I could see it coming a mile away. So, when it happened, I was like “oh, of course, so guessed it!”. I recommend it, it's a nice and enjoyable read!

This book was this amazing roller coaster you never want to get off from. At every new page there was a new twist that left you wanting to reading just one more chapter to see what was going to happen. Mare is an engaging protagonist, with her rebellious nature and her sassy personality. I loved her. Also, the writing was spot on in making us feel and think just like Mare at all times, playing us along during the entire book until the ending and the big blow in our faces.

Now, let's talk about the ending. WHAT WAS THAT? That final 5 chapters or so left my mind blank. I couldn't even comprehend what was happening, I was in shock. And then really angry. And then sad. And angry again and desperate because if not for the epilogue I would have thrown the damn book across the room. But I honestly loved every second, because it's been a while since a book left me so involved and emotionally compromised. I think not even Shatter Me, even though I LOVED the trilogy, left me like this. I actually SCREAMED at this book.

Also, this is the first YA book that I don't root for any couple. And there is plenty of options, with the whole love triangle (or square, if you count Kilorn, and I think in the next books we'll have to count him in). But, even though for a while I swayed between Maven and Cal, after everything, I can't bring myself to ship Mare with neither of them. And I never liked Kilorn much. Mare is the kind of YA protagonist that is good and awesome all by herself, and there's plenty going on with her, there's no need to add more drama. There's more about Red Queen than the romance, and I kind of want it to stay that way.

I'll wrap my review with this, because it's already a mess - this book left me a mess, so blame Victoria Aveyard for my incoherence. Also, I regret reading this book so soon, and not postpone it like I did with Cinder, because now I have to wait till 2016 for the next one AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'LL SURVIVE TILL THEN!

I liked The Prince way more then I liked The Guard. It was nice to see Maxon's POV right after the Selection, his previous relationship with Daphne, the French Princess and his first meeting with America. I actually loved his POV and wouldn't mind reading the whole series again from his POV. It would be an interesting take, in my opinion. As for Aspen's POV, I just couldn't stand it. Everything revolved around how he was stupid in letting America go, and how he would win her back and the consequences of the Halloween party. But what I actually wanted to see, which was how he fell in love with Lucy, was almost completely absent from this novella. Ok, we could realize he was starting to care for her, and that he understood her and was able to comfort her in many situations, delivering to the readers sweet moments, but that's not quite what I was hoping for.

Overall, 3 stars, mainly because of Maxon! I can't wait for the Queen and the Favorite, that's the novella I've been waiting for!

At first, I was excited to read this basically because of the Youtube show with the same name, that is a modern retelling of J Sheridan's novel and I am completely obsessed with it. Then, because it was a classic novel that dealed with female protagonists and homoafective relationships. I was completely disappointed in this book.

The story is short,it's a very quick read, and that is part of the problem. I picked it up expecting a classic romance and got a monotonous account of events, almost like reading a testimony. I don't know, it felt detached. Also, as a narrator, Laura was very vague about some things and so unemotional about it all. And what her description of the “horror” she went through and when she described her surprise, her happiness or any other emotion, it sounded kind of fake. And there was barely a hint of romance in it.

The ending was really rushed, everything was resolved in a matter of 10 pages or so. It was so anticlimatic, it annoyed me to no end. This was just a big NO for me, glad I finally got it out of the way.

I actually don't know how I feel about this book. It made me feel a myriad of emotions, and at the end I was left with this weird, squeamish sensation. And I think that is a testimony as to Gillian Flynn's awesome writing, because I believe that was her goal.

At first, I had trouble keeping up with the book. The first part was a little bit slow for me, building up only at the end of the first part and the beginning of the second. Then, I couldn't put it down. I was scared and amazed at Amy, and feeling REALLY sorry for Nick. Reaching the third and final part, I was angry. I wanted Amy to be punished, to pay for being the worst, crazy kind of sociopath ever (and being a Med student and being through Psychiatry already, seeing all kind of psychopaths and sociophats, I can say that with some propriety) and putting innocent people through her shit. And I was so certain that I was going to happen that I actually smiled through her chapters, kinda like ‘ha, wait and see! You'll get what's yours coming to you!'. And then the book ended. The book ended and Amy was smiling back at me with her best psycho smile.

I have mixed feelings about this ending. I liked and I hated it. Hated it because, as I said, I wanted a “happy” ending. The bad bad, delirious girl being punished, and the kinda-good guy being free, finally. But I liked it, because it felt real. I know that most cases don't really end up with the proper closure, a just ending, and that's what happened here.

I have to commend the author, because she made me feel exactly what I believe she wanted her readers to feel: at first distrustful of Nick and sympathetic towards Amy, then amazed and scared of Amy and pitiful of Nick, and finally just angry and vengeful like Nick. This was a dark book, and it made me feel uncomfortable in the best and worst ways. If any of her other books are like that, I don't know if I'll be reading them. Or at least, not for now. I need a little time and a lighter, carefree reading before I can pick up such dark, heavy story like this.

I actually gave it 4.5 stars, but since Goodreads doesn't allow the half star, I ranked it 4 stars.

Marissa Meyer did it again! She got me so hooked on this book that I finished in a night!

So, Fairest is all about the background on the Evil Queen, Levana. I was surprised to feel a little bit sorry for her, at least in the beginning. You could see how traumatized with what her sister did to her, and also how lonely she was. Coming from a unloving family, with a cruel girl for a sister and court who mocked her, it was easy to see why she would be so set on having the happiness that Sir Hayle and Solstice had, and when that failed, the power of being Queen.

But despite understanding what made her the way she was, still it was shocking to see how she did and how she thought her actions to be justified. So, by the end of the book, pitied her and despised her at the same time.

It was a great background story and made a lot of her actions throught the series more understandable. Also, some of the events that led to the entire Lunar Chronicles were a lot more clear after this novella. Now I'm even more excited than ever for Winter!

At first, I was a little disappointed in this book. Despite loving to return to the world of The Selection, there were a lot of things that bothered me. First of all, I knew that Maxon and America would be amazing as King and Queen, and in that I was not disappointed. But knowing them, I found the excuse used for calling Eadlyn's Selection lazy, sloppy. I mean, I don't think they would never put their heir, their beloved daughter, through the process just for the sake of creating a diversion. Also, the fact that neither of them shared any details about their own story, their own Selection, hiding some of the facts, like her mother wasn't interested in going in the first place, Marlee's story and why she remained on the palace and the fact that Aspen once was America's boyfriend and even one of the reasons she joined the process, a little bit disturbing, because knowing the full story would definitely help Eadlyn to understand some things and go through her own Selection. It's just not America and Maxon to hide things, and I certainly wouldn't expect them to hide their own story from their daughter.

Second of all, Eadlyn in the beginning was just annoying. She was bratty, egoistical and so full of herself that I wanted to throw the book across the room. Her attitude towards everyone in general was insufferable, she thought herself too high for anyone. I do believe that she is completely capable of being Queen without a guy, but the fact that she wasn't even willing to try and thoght herself so superior annoyed me to no end. BUT, it got better and her character development was great to see as the Selection started and she started to lower her defenses towards some of the guys. Also, I could understand a little why she acted the way she did - not only her upbringing and her entire education led her to think that she was better and stronger than anyone else, but she also had her doubts and her fears towards being close with others.

As for the guys, I love Hale, Henri and Erik so so much! I like Ean and Kile as well, and I could totally see them happening, especially Ean, with his mysterious proposal. I don't want her to end up with Kile, despite liking him and knowing that this is probably where this is going. I don't know, I just don't like the whole childhood-friends-who-despised-themselves-fall-in-love trope, I see them more like best friends and advisers, like Aspen and America, than lovers. I'm rooting for Erik, he's much more sensible and the way he sees and understands her without even trying is just so perfect! Besides, there's something romantic about them, I don't know. Hale or Henri are my next choices, so if she ends up with either of them, I'll be happy just the same.

The cliffhanger at the ending left me with my heart on my throat. I LOVE America, and I don't think I can stand her dying! She's the reason I fell in love with this series in the first place! I'm anxious for the final book, not only to see if America survives (PLEASE LET HER SURVIVE AND BE HAPPY WITH HER ADORABLE HUSBAND AND HER KIDS!) but to see who Eadlyn will end up with!

I'm actually sad that this trilogy has come to an end, because I loved it so much! I'm glad I actually decided to start this. Gemma is one of my favorite protagonists ever! She's brave, smart, loyal and independent, you just love her! Despite being a little bit insecure and sometimes even stupid and even a little bit selfish during this last one, I could understand her. I mean, it's a lot to take in, having all the power in the Realms and being the one to make the big decisions. I'm glad in the end she found her way.
I'm happy with Felicity and Ann's fate as well, despite not liking them that much. Felicity is absolutely selfish when it comes to power and having the things that she wants, but she proved to be a true friend in the end and to care a lot about Gemma. Also, there was the thing with her father and her little cousin and her love for Pippa. I could understand a lot more about her after knowing her feelings, despite already suspecting them, and you could relate to her in some ways.
I like Ann a little more than I do Felicity, she's kind and gentle, with big dreams, but I always wanted to punch her in the face for not standing up for herself, and instead just follow the same people that bullied her like a lost puppy when they showed a small kindness instead of her friends. But in this last installment, we finally got to see Ann doing things for herself for a change and reaching up to her full potential as a character.

As for Pippa, I'm sad for what happened to her. I understand that she was going a little overboard since she ate the berries, with being trapped in the realms and all, but I hoped that she would change after rescuing the factory girls and asking for Gemma's help to cross over. But she proved to be exactly the kind of girl I always thought her to be since book 1: shallow, selfish and utterly vain. She's just annoying and childish and I disliked her a lot. Still, I was hoping for her to have a happy ending too, like maybe being finally able to cross over, more for Fee's and Gemma's sake than for her.

I also loved that the secondary characters got some development as well! Like Mrs Nightwing, Mr Fowlson and Sahira McCleethy, The Gorgon (MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, SHE'S BADASS AND SO WISE! Warrior!Gorgon is the best, let me just say this), and even utterly annoying Tom, who actually became much more pleasant after finding out Gemma's powers. I almost liked him (ok, so maybe I liked their sibling relationship a little...but just a little!).

And as for Kartik....SO NOT OVER WHAT HAPPENED! I loved GemmaxKartik's little moments, it was sweet and hot at the same time, and they complimented each other really well. I was so upset with his ending! But it definetely served to improve Gemma's development, for she finally lived up to her full potential after his death.

Overall, a good conclusion to a good trilogy, with strong characters and an amazing plot. I loved that Libba Bray breached the subject of women's rights in a society where women we're nothing but mere puppets, also dealing with queerness and different kinds of love and differences of social classes.

I'm not into non-fiction books, so I was avoiding this category like a plague and, when I decided to just be throught with it, I decided to use books that I could see myself having at least a little bit of fun while reading it. I've never seen Hannah Hart's show before this, but a friend of mine is obsessed with it and she's always going on about how funny it is, so I decided to pick this book and give it a try.

Let me start by saying that, despite the name and Hannah's youtube show (which is ACTUALLY super funny, and I laughed a lot watching some of her videos, and she's such a sweetheart), this is by no means a cookbook. Yeah, ok, it has some very quick and even sloppy recipes that are perfect for those times when your hungry but there's nothing to eat, no materials and you have ZERO skills in the kitchen (which was perfect for me, because I find myself in this situation a lot, and even tried a few recipes from the book a couple times already - it saved me from starving). This is actually a motivational book, with some very witty and sarcastic writing and a lot of food punch lines and metaphors. Usually, motivational and self-help books are a no no for me, but I found myself entertained and even laughing with this one (yes, sometimes even by the horrible punch lines, judge me). The language is very easy and it's a super quick read, so I finished the ebook in a day and a half.

I gave it 5 stars because I was truly entertained and it has some truly good advice and somethings I need to hear (or read, in this case). For any adolescent/young adult who's a little bit insecure and it's still struggling with adulthood, this book is definetely for you. Or, if you're look for a quick and fun read, have jackshit skills in the kitchen and might die of starvation someday or just want to get really drunk, this is a good recommendation as well!

I liked this one far better than the first. First of all, things pick up pace from the very begginning, it doesn't drag as much as “A Great and Terrible Beauty” and even the scenes that aren't part of the main plot are interesting and hold you. I loved how Gemma matured through this book, even though she annoyed the hell out of me with her lack of trust in herself, in her instinct (that were mostly right), to listen to others who didn't know a thing about what they were talking about (yes, Felicity, I'm looking at you), only leading to trouble and danger. But, at last, she found her confidence and the ending couldn't left me more satisfied.

I'm a bit sorry for Pippa. She was never my favorite character, but I feel for her, trapped eternally in the Realms (even if by choice), constantly separated from her friends, especially Fee. It's clear as day how much they care about each other and Felicity's anger at Gemma for leaving Pippa and not bringing her back after binding the magic was obvious. I wonder if there's more to it than just friendship. I would love if that was the case! I can totally see it. Ann gaining confidencce, even with the whole ‘I'm a czarina's daughter' deal, was so good to see! And her taking hold of the situation in the lagoon, being powerful and amazing! Loved it. I still have some trouble with her wanting to please everyone and not speaking up for herself most of the time, but that has improved a lot, so I'm mostly happy with Ann.

As for Felicity, I wanted to punch her through the entire book. She was a nuisance to the entire “Find the Temple” mission, only thinking of herself (and Pippa) and doing things her way, with that bold way of hers. She was reckless and it only got Gemma and even Ann into trouble. I can see why she needs the power, the magic, why she's a little bit jealous of Gemma for having all of it and scared of the possibility of never having it again, with the whole deal with her parents, especially her father (I was so shocked when I found out, poor Felicity!), but most of the times she was just annoying and in the way. I didn't like her much in this book. I hope the final installment will change again my view of her.

I liked Simon well enough and even briefly rooted for him and Gemma, but honestly, Kartik won me over from day one. The scene in the stables made me squeal, but also broke my heart a little. And I hope that in the third book, things will work out for them, with Kartik no longer Rakshana and now loyal to Gemma and ther Order (my feels did somersaults when he betrayed his brothers to help Gemma!).

I suspected the grand secret and the true location of the Temple at the beginning, but I never imagined that I could be right, so I dismissed it. Libba Bray did a great job leading us stray, throwing leads here and there that leaded sometimes to Miss Moore, sometimes to Mrs McCleethy, and sometimes makings us trust and doubt Nell and the three girls from the visions. It only added to the surprising ending!

Overall, I liked it a lot and can't wait for the final book to see what the final adventure in the Realms will be!

This books is basically Harry Potter meets Mean Girls meets Pretty Little Liars, set in Victorian England. I like this kind of historical fiction and boarding school kinda thing and I actually liked this book more than I thought. Gemma is good as a lead female, she's smart and brave, and wild for her time. She's not the lady the society expects her to be, she's more than that and that makes her interesting. The whole “especial and powerful” thing was predictable, since every YA book has this troupe, but it didn't bothered me much. I loved the underlying plot about the Order and Mary Dowd, how it connected everything. The true identity of Circe and Mary caught me by surprise, as well as Carolina's fate. That shocked me a little.

I don't know how I feel about the secondary characters. It's a mix between loving them and absolutely despising them, especially Pippa and Felicity. There were times when I could understand and symphatize with them and even when they were being “mean girls” I actually liked them, because I have a thing for mean girls, but there were other times when I just wanted to slap them in the face for being so vain and crazy. Felicity more than Pippa, despite liking her more. Ann was just bleh for me. She was going with the current during the entire book, kissing the feet of the same people who bullied her, so I couldn't quite stand her, despite pitying her a lot.

And Kartik. Oh Kartik, mysterious Kartik! I wanted to know more about him, especially since I feel he'll be the romantic interest for Gemma. But even though he got the whole Rashknak thing going on, we don't see much from him, we don't get enough answers and even his interactions with Gemma are too brief (especially the dreams!). I hope the author fix this in the remaining books!

Overall, I liked this book and the themes it dealt with. It's not about magic as much as it is about the young girls, with their hopes and dreams and a society that wanted them just to be the perfect mannequins. I'm excited to read the other books!

Started out as a Miss Marple/Poirot kinda book and ended up being more of a Tommy&Tuppence mystery, which is perfectly okay with me, because I enjoy both kinds. I loved Anne as a protagonist, she's smart and witty and not afraid of doing things. She's a little bit impulsive and that lands her into trouble throught the book, but she learns a lot from that. I liked her friendship with Suzanne a lot, Mrs Blair is such a interesting and amusing character! Also like the side romance, it only added to the plot. I had an inkling again about the villain before the ending, but I could never imagine that I was right all along! Another masterpiece from Agatha Christie and the lack of her most famous detectives in the story doesn't make it any less brilliant!