Book Review: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Title: My Lady Jane

Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Harper Teens

Format: Kindle

Source: Bought

Publication Date: June 7th, 2016

Synopsis: 

The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.

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“Dedication:

For everyone who knows there was enough room for Leonardo DiCaprio on that door.

And for England. We’re really sorry for what we’re about to do to your history.”
― Cynthia Hand

I wasn’t planning to read this book initially and I am so glad I did! This book is so hilarious and super fast to read.

PLOT

The story is loosely based on Jane Grey and King Edward Tudor VI. What the synopsis doesn’t mention is the magic in this book! This historical fiction has shapeshifters. They are called Eðians (pronounced as eth-y-uns) and they shapeshift into animals that coincide with an individual’s characteristics. They are also generally oppressed by those who can’t shapeshift. What I loved about this book is how beautifully the authors took real historical elements and integrated them into their magical world.

Pace

The pace was a little out of it sometimes yet it didn’t deter me from reading.  What I didn’t like in the beginning but loved by the end was how the authors broke the fifth wall and often spoke directly to me.

Characters

I absolutely loved all the characters in this book! Don’t expect to make deep connections with the characters because that is not what the book is meant for. Instead be ready to find the characters charming, funny, and adorable. I especially loved Jane – she is bookish, smart and a strong willed girl. The book also covers female empowerment and I loved that too.

Overall, I was surprised I loved this book so much. This is something you should read when you want a good laugh. This is a perfect summer book – light and enjoyable.

Do I recommend this book? Hell yeah!

Plot : 4/5

Pace: 3.5/5

Characters: 4.5/5 

Overall: 5/5

Have you read the book? 

Did you like it? 

Let me know in the comment below!

You know I love talking to you guys ❤

 

 

Book Review: The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Title: The School for Good and Evil

Author: Soman Chainani

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fairytale

Series: The School for Good and Evil #1

Publisher: HarperCollins

Format: Physical Copy

Source: Bought

Publication Date: May 14th, 2013

 

 

Synopsis: 

The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first, the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair plucked from youth and spirited away.

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“In the forest of primeval
A school for Good and Evil
Twin towers like two heads
One for the pure
And one for the wicked
Try to escape you’ll always fail,
The only way out is
Through a fairytale.”

My Review:

This book was perfect! I couldn’t put it down at all. It has everything from fairytale to friendship. It even makes you think twice about your favorite fairy tales! Oh! and it also makes you laugh at the idiocracy of everything.

PLOT

The plot was really interesting and fast paced through most of the book. When I say interesting, I mean REALLY interesting. You see, in the School Of Good, you will find princesses who can’t stop thinking about their beauty and princes who think only about their macho-ness and their princesses.Apart from that, these students will be learning this like Animal Communication, Chivalry, Beautification and various other such topics.

In the School Of Evil, on the other hand, you will find children of the ‘bad guys’ who are ugly and love the negativity of everything. These students would be learning Uglification, Henchmen Training, Curses and Death Traps and the likes. Oh and a wart on your face makes you fearsome!

This book made me laugh out loud at times because of how true these seem in the fairytales we have read! At the same time, it made me realise how society at large is sending out all kinds of wrong messages to children these days.

PACE

The pace was perfect! I finished this book in a day and never once felt like putting it down. The pace stays kinda consistent throughout, but if it does slow down it won’t make the book boring.

CHARACTERS

There are many characters in this book that I love so very much but I will only talk about these two:

Sophie

Holy Moly! She has one of the BEST character developments I have seen in a while. She is evil yes, I didn’t particularly like her throughout the book, but gosh her development was done with such perfection ❤

Throughout the book, my adoration for the development and utter hatred for the character just kept increasing! She was so unbearably, horribly annoying! Yet, I felt very sorry for her. She did what she did simply because she was misguided. Did that make her a bearable character? NO! But I understood where she was coming from.

Agatha 

I freaking LOVED her! Her dry wit and humor were such a treat to read! She was snarky, sarcastic and hated everything girly. She liked a lot of dark things but she was more “Good” that anyone else in that book! Unlike the rest, she wasn’t shallow or snobby. Which was beautiful to read. Her character development was also done beautifully but was overshadowed by Sophie’s.

Overall, this book will make you laugh, cry, piss you off and make you think! 

Do I recommend it? Hell yeah!

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 4.5/5

Pace: 4.5/5

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

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About The Author

He is a writer, film director, and a die-hard tennis player!

The School For Good and Evil debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, has been translated into 26 languages across six continents, and will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Studios.

Twitter

Website

Goodreads

 

 

Have you read the book? 

What did you think about it?

Do you like the cover? I loved it! 

Let me know in the comments below! 😀

May Wrap Up + Book Haul

May was a bad month for me personally speaking! Blogging last week was tough, if you guys noticed I wasn’t around much. I am also drowned in work and get so tired at the end of the day, writing for the blog becomes difficult. Though, I have read a lot of books.

I am hoping that June is much better. So I am hoping to get some more posts up and work some ideas I have for the blog. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Books Read

 

Book Haul

ARC’s

 

Bought

 

Giveaway Win

I won this book from Armchair BEA

Phew! Those are a lot of books! And all I read were four book! :p

Harry Potter is mine!!! Yaay! I have been saving up for the book set since ages!

Personal 

I am starting Uni again in the month of August and I have made up my mind to enjoy as much as I can with my friends and family. With that in mind, I went to Lonavala for a trip with a few friends to celebrate a birthday! I don’t have a lot of pictures since I was so busy enjoying myself. Next time, I promise I will!

We stayed for 3 days in this huge farmhouse with lots of food, games and dancing! It was a lot of fun.

 

How many books did you buy/get in May?

Have you read any of them above?

Let me know in the comments below. 😀

Book Review: The Big Interview by Libby Kirsch

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To read the review please click here

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

I have decided to change the way I review. I like how this format gives me more room to talk about the book. I will try my best to leave the reviews spoiler-less. If there are spoilers, I will make sure to mention that. 

Title: The Selection

Author: Kiera Cass

Genre: Fantasy, Young-adult fiction

Series: Book 1 in a series

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: April 24, 2012

 

Synopsis:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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How did I get this book: Bought

Format: Kindle Edition

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My Review:

I know I am far too late to when it comes to this book or series for that matter. I read mixed reviews about it when I first came into the market. Yet, it never made me want to read it. With the recent release of The Crown, I was intrigued enough to read the series. Thank god I did, I didn’t know what I was missing out on!

Plot

The plot was really addictive. I finished the book in a day and a half! I kept looking for a place to stop but that never happened. Every chapter left me wanting more. Everything from America’s life before The Selection, to her life in the palace, her relationship with Prince Maxon, the other girls, her state of mind with both men in her life (Prince Maxon and Aspen); everything led to my need to know more.

I did see a lot of similarities with The Hunger Games.

• America choosing to be a part of The Selection for the people she loves, just like Katniss.
• Two men fighting for her love similar to Gale and Peeta.
• A group of girls fighting for a guy without all the bloodshed of course.
• Even the maids reminded me of the makeup and hair crew Katniss had.

I still loved the plot though because I realize a lot of books are similar. Ideas are bound to overlap at some point.

Pace

The book started off a little slow but the excitement and the pace increased as America started competing in The Selection. The slow pace, in the beginning, wasn’t off-putting and I really loved all the background that was explained in the first few chapters. The reason for why she didn’t want to be a part of The Selection was something I could relate to. Not because I became a Princess or anything (I wish I was, though) but because I understand the uncertainty and fear of leaving a loved one behind ( with me leaving the love of my life behind and all).

Characters

America Singer

Initially, I found the name America Singer really strange but grew to love it over time. Her character was well written and I fell in love with her as the book progressed. There were times I wanted to shake her because he annoyed me so much. But I realized she is a teenager and she was thrown into a world she never wanted to be a part of. Her confusion and indecisiveness were something I grew to understand.

Prince Maxon

This guy is my new boyfriend! I fell in love with him immediately. My love for him has nothing to do with him being a prince or being handsome but because he just so imperfectly perfect! His awkwardness was so refreshing and His elegance was so down to earth! This character was written beautifully, the mix of awkwardness and elegance was so lovely to read. The friendship between him and America and the way they slowly fell in love with each other was so different from what I usually read.

Aspen

Well, what do I say about this guy? He was an equally well-written character. The love he has for America and the way he kisses her are what I want for myself. What I didn’t like, yet still understand is how he pushed America into The Selection but didn’t like when she did start falling for Maxon. Even with that element, I am so glad the author didn’t push the same old “love triangle”. My patience for love triangles is wearing thin.

Overall, this is one of those ‘feel-good’ books.

Do I recommend it? Hell yeah!

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Pace: 3.5/5

Overall Rating: 4/5

 

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About The Author

Kiera Cass graduated from Radford University with a B.S. in History. She grew up in South Carolina and lives with her husband and two kids in Christiansburg, Virginia. She is also a #1 New York Times bestseller.

Just like me, she loves office supplies and desserts!

 

 

Have you read the book?

What are your thoughts?

Do you like this new review style?

Let me know in the comments below!

I love talking to you guys 😀

 

Mini Book Review: The Testing Trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau

Recently I have been obsessed with dystopian books and in my hunt for more hunger games and divergent, I came across this series. This series is perfect for dystopian lovers, it has everything we could ask for. A bad government, a ‘chosen few’, deadly challenges to prove yourself and of course a love story!

Book Haul (April)

I haven’t been around for quite some time now. Life kept me busy and I never really had a chance to read at all. But the reader in me is back and with tons of books to read! Some of the books I mention below I bought, some I borrowed. Either way, they will be devoured soon!

Mini Book Review: Eleanor And Park And Saint Anything

I haven’t posted anything for a while but that does not mean i haven’t been reading. In fact I have been reading a lot. Work this week was very crazy and I just could not write anything. I had a Top Ten Tuesday post ready but when I posted it the formatting was terrible, so I had to take it down.

Anyways, I am doing a mini review of all the books I read this week. I am trying something different so let me know if you like it.

Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Book Review Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Title: Red Queen

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian YA

Series: First in a new series

Publisher: Harper Teen / Orion

Publication Date: February 10 2015

Hardcover: 320 pages

Rating: 1/5 DNF

Synopsis:  The poverty-stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the center of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

The Ultimate Book Tag

So I came across this tag on Kath’s blog The Last Reader and loved with the questions. I couldn’t wait for anyone to tag me so here I am doing the tag even though no one has asked me to.

Do you get sick while reading in the car?

Not sick but I do have headaches. Not always though.

Which author’s writing style is completely unique to you and why?

I’d have to say Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz. It’s an autobiography but the way he has written it is so beautiful. He described the thug life in a way that it kept me interested and yet scared me a little.