Tiger's Curse By: Colleen Houck (Tiger Saga #1)

Tiger's Curse By: Colleen Houck (Tiger Saga #1)

✮✮✮

Synposis

Tiger's Curse follows 18 year old Kelsey Hayes - an ordinary girl trenching through her summer. She teams up with a mysterious white tiger named Ren heading face to face with dark forces in a mystical world to piece together a prophecy in order to break an ancient curse forever.

Thoughts

If you own the physical book then you'll know how gorgeous this cover. It has a beautiful metallic sheen to it. I honestly want all of the books in the series because of how beautiful they are lined up together. But any who, back to the story.

When you read the beginning the pacing is good. It did have the cliche introduction of characters. You have the heroine who is "chosen" to fulfill a prophecy/find their destiny. And you have the hot shot handsome love interest that is the finest of the land. When it comes to the dynamic and dialogue between the characters specifically Kelsey and Ren - just .. what. Pure awkwardness. I don't know if the aim was supposed to be quirky and adorable but the vibe I got was awkwardness:

“But it won’t work out.” I finished. There, it was out.

Ren looked confused. “Why not?”

“Because I’m too attracted to you.”

“I don’t understand what you are saying. How can your being attracted to me be a problem? I would think that’s a good thing.”

“For normal people… it is,” I stated.

“So I’m not normal?”

“No. Let me explain it this way. It’s like this… a starving man would gladly eat a radish, right? In fact, a radish would be a feast if that’s all he had. But if he had a buffet in front of him, the radish would never be chosen.”

Ren paused for a moment. “I don’t get it. What are you saying?”

“I’m saying…I’m the radish.”

“And what am I? The buffet?”

I tried to explain it further. “No…you’re the man. Now…I don’t really want to be the radish. I mean, who does? But I’m grounded enough to know what I am, and I am not a buffet. I mean, you could be having chocolate éclairs for heaven’s sake.”

“But not radishes.”

“No.” 

____________________

What initially drew my attention was the unique background - Indian folklore entwined with fantasy. As the story progressed the story itself started to go downhill. The story really had potential and I have to admit I had moments where I was like:

But that slowly dissipated halfway through the book. It seemed like there were just too many unnecessary details that weighed down the story, which I ended up pulling myself through the book to finish it.

I really wanted to love this book but it fell short. I may give the second book a chance, but I have a feeling I might not be able to pick it up anytime soon.

Overall,  If you don't mind a story with very many details and cheesy eye-rolling scenes  but also an unique concept involving indian culture, a mystical world, and adventure then this is a read for you.

“I wrapped the unyielding woman I loved in my arms & kissed her slowly, hoping that some part of her would sense my absolute devotion.” 

Reading Slump!!

Hello world! Yes it has been half a year since I have been on and blogging. I am in dire need of help! I am in the biggest reading slump ever. I stopped by the bookstore 2 days ago and I'm hoping this will help me out of it. Anybody have any suggestions on how to get out of oh so dreadful slump?

Anna and the French Kiss By: Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss By: Stephanie Perkins

✮✮✮✮✮

Synposis

This YA contemporary piece of work starts off with a girl in her Senior year named Anna who is completely happy with where she is. Until she is set off to a boarding school in Paris, where she meets the humorous charming Étienne St. Clair. Étienne has it all - including a serious girlfriend. 

Anna and the French Kiss will leave you laughing, smiling, and aching. 

Thoughts

First of all, there was a HUGE hype when this book debut. As per usual, whenever there is a huge hype on a book. I tend to avoid to read the novel until eventually i'll pick it up. But because I heard a bunch of amazing reviews on Anna and the French Kiss - I thought why not?

Every contemporary book i've read is completely cheesy, but when it comes to Anna and the French Kiss ... oh my goodness - I couldn't help but swoon over Étienne St. Clair. What I love about this novel is despite it being a contemporary read, Anna and the French Kiss wasn't completely revolved around the romance. There were interesting, humorous, unforgettable characters. This book was a mash up of everything. There are certain moments in the book between Anna and St. Clair that just make you think about yourself. Things happen, whirlwind of drama, tension outbreaks, adventures of discovery and then ... well you'll have to read to find out.

Overall, I believe that this is a perfect spring/summer read. I felt like I was in a movie!

“For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.” 

The Maze Runner Trilogy

The Maze Runner (Trilogy) By: James Dashner

✮✮✮✮

Synopsis

The series starts off with a boy named Thomas who is sent up the "lift". He's brought into a new world called the Glade. 

In the Glade, there are only boys - boys with no memory except their own names. What keeps the Gladers inside are colossal stone walls and what's behind the walls is an inescapable wavering maze. Members of the Glade have sent "runners" to find an escape through the maze, but no one has made it out of the maze alive. 

But then everything changes when a girl is brought up the lift. The first girl ever. And the chase officially begins.

Thoughts

Let's start from the first book, shall we? I honestly thought that "The Maze Runner" was amazing! I couldn't put the book down, it was an absolute page turner. I personally enjoy books that are told in third person and when the story follows a male protagonist. 

Just the whole idea of "The Maze Runner" is so creative and imaginative, plus I couldn't help but laugh throughout the book. All of the characters are so enjoyable; you really get attached to them. There are twists and cliffhangers that make your jaw drop to the floor, but there are also moments where you want to chuck the book across the room. At one point, I actually enjoyed this series more than the Hunger Games. But, that's when I only read the first book. 

Onto the second and third book, the only thing that I have to say is. It dragged on unnecessarily. I thought it was just fillers on top of fillers on top of fillers. Once I reached the end, I told myself "Wow, that was it. After all of that." From the beginning, I was completely head over heels over this series. But by the time I reached the end of the Death Cure, I lost the WOW factor.

Overall, I loved The Maze Runner it's a great story. But personally, I think that this series could've been written into one book.

Splintered by: A.G Howard

Splintered (Splintered #1) by: A.G Howard
✮✮

Synposis

Splintered is a rendition of the classic Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Splintered follows the original descendant of Alice Liddell, Alyssa Gardner - a girl who seems to hear the voices from flowers and bugs. A family curse has been passed down from generation to generation all leading to ancestor Alice Liddell.

Alyssa must find a way back into Wonderland, which is much more disturbing and twisted then what the classic tale seems to be. She must face different tasks, in order to break the family curse. Which was created from the mistakes Alice Liddell had made during her last trip to Wonderland.

Thoughts

First off, the cover of this book ... BEAUTIFUL! I definitely bought this book because of the cover. The bold red of her lips and of the title, just soars off the page. I couldn't take my eyes off this book every time I walked past the shelves.

As I read the synopsis, my initial thought was "A twist on Alice in Wonderland? This has got to be interesting." After reading the book, it was indeed quite interesting.

What I liked about the book was the plot, I loved the fact that Howard uses Alice from the classic story we all love and continue on from it. I honestly believe that the storyline of Splintered is an amazing concept.

The creatures that Alyssa encountered along her journey were quite crooked, compared to the latest film of Alice directed by Tim Burton, his creatures had nothing compared to the beasts in this novel. Throughout the book, Howard connects scenes that we all love in Alice in Wonderland and takes it to another level.

What I disliked was the characterization, specifically Jeb. Jeb is the main love interest, and how I wish he weren't. His character development was a roller coaster ride that just went downhill. I tried to understand and love his character and failed. But as for Alyssa, I actually saw her characterization pick up and develop quite nicely once she entered Wonderland. Although there wasn't a significant amount of character develop where I was left there like, "That's my girl! DAMN JEB!".

I honestly believe that the book would've gone a better path if there was no love connection between Alyssa and Jeb. Their chemistry felt like it was a forced and an unnatural romance, which didn't make me hope onto their love boat.

I would even have to say there was just a bit too much description, so much description I didn't know how to piece the imagery together anymore.

Overall, Splintered will definitely keep your imagination going. If you can overcome a bad romance for a twisted eminent universe of a classic tale, a tale that will have Wonderland leaping off the pages, by all means go for it. But sadly, this book just wasn't my cup of tea.