All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Release Date: September 3rd, 2013

How Many EEP!s do We Give? 4 (out of 5)

Goodreads Summary:

“You have to kill him.” Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside. 

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was. 

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

What We Thought:

Okay. I don’t know what’s with me and time travel books lately. It’s kind of a love/hate relationship. On one hand, it mindfucks the crap out of me and I’m literally left speechless because I don’t know what just happened (like how does time travel even work?! seriously). But on the other, I just can’t get enough. All Our Yesterdays was so original. And it’s hard to say that about a time travel book but what I mean is, she took a “meh” plot and completely twisted it around. Like, would you be able to go back in time to kill your best friend/person you were secretly in love with forever? The answer is probably no. 

I loved the characters. It was told in dual perspective, from Marina and Em, and you find out pretty early on that Em is the 20 year old version of Marina. Though they’re technically the same person, Em’s been through WAY more than Marina. And Marina is a rich, semi-shallow 16 year old girl who’s parents are too busy to care for her, so you can imagine how annoying it was to read her chapters (at first… she grew on me after a while). But Em was this stubborn, been-through-too-much, wise beyond her years, mature woman and I thought Terrill did a wonderful job setting the two character’s voices up. 

What I didn’t like was the fact that Marina’s whole world pretty much revolved around James. Like, I get it, you’re 16, you’re in “love” and you just want him to love you back. But after the 9120338920th time she said it, I was fed up. This ain’t no Twilight novel. Also, I thought the whole cat-and-mouse chase thing went on too long. Of course, that’s the whole premise of the book, but what was accomplished in 40 chapters could’ve been accomplished in 20. 

Anywho, this was overall a light, easy and fun read with a really pretty cover. And apparently there’s a sequel?! What? Okay, um, it ended in a totally complete, yet bittersweet way. Why couldn’t it just stay as a standalone? Why does everyone have to have a sequel? I do not know but I know that I will read this sequel like nobody’s business! Happy reading, everybody! 

bookmad:

kayladaila:

THIS IS HUGE!

For those who don’t know, L. J. Smith was the author of The Vampire Diaries up until the plot line and endgame she had written stopped matching up with that of the popular television incarnation. When she refused to change her story, she was fired from the series. This is possible because though the books were hers, the original idea was not.

Someone else was hired to write the books, and frankly, they were crap. Smith’s really cute, fun story was turned into a clusterfuck.

In the Facebook announcement, she declared she is going to use Amazon Words, a fanfiction forum, to continue to write the story she intended with the endgame she planned.

Whether or not you read or like these books, this is a huge deal. There are so many legality issues behind a book series, especially when it is not the author’s idea. If you think that’s not the case, look into James Frey and I Am Number Four. I have also talked to authors who are contractually barred from reading or writing fanfiction of any kind. For a published author to step back and write purely for the sake of finishing her story, even if it isn’t published organically is so admirable. I can’t even begin to consider what a huge impact this will make.

she’s fantastic.

ohmahogany:

R.I.P Roger Lloyd-Pack.

To you, we raise our wands. You were the perfect Barty Crouch Sr. You will be missed by all fellow Potterheads. Gone, but not forgotten

Roger Lloyd-Pack. 1944 - 2014.

h-quinzel:

favourite book covers:

the juliette chronicles by tahereh mafi

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Release Date: December 10, 2013

How Many EEP!s do We Give? 4 (out of 5)

Goodreads Summary:

It’s a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

What We Thought:

Honestly, how genuine was this book? The writing was enticing, it was a delightful read and I couldn’t put it down. Recently I was in a bit of a reading funk- as I haven’t read anything new since Allegiant came out- and this book totally broke that dry spell. I LOVE Tarver and Lilac. Love love love. They’re relationship was just so nice. And everyone knows I hate insta-love so I was very happy about this book. But I loved their bantering and how natural everything was between them. The characters really made me fall in love with the book, which is pretty rare for me. I also loved the whole world of this book, how it seemed futuristic yet traditional at the same time. They had terraformed planets and corporations that did the terraforming but also stuck with the same military rankings and societal classes. 

Don’t be fooled by the (really really beautiful) cover, this is mostly a survival story. This book definitely went in a direction I did not expect it to go. The whole hallucination thing threw me off; I didn’t realize it was going to be that important. And after I realized it was important, I had completely wrong theories. And to be 100% honest, I was a little confused at the end. Okay, very confused. I just don’t understand the whisper thing. Can someone please read this book and then explain to me? I just felt like it was a little misguided and too different of a path to take. But I’m taking into account that it’s not the book’s fault, but rather mine. 

The only thing I didn’t like about the book (other than the fact that I can’t get used to the name Tarver) was that although the POV’s alternated between the two characters, I felt like I was reading from the same point of view. This surprised me a lot after I found out that there were two authors to this book but whatevs, it was cute. 

I cannot WAIT to read the sequel, although from what the summary sounds like, it might not be about Tarver and Lilac! Which sucks. I’m hoping it’s a Cinder/Scarlet type situation where they just introduce more main characters. Anyways, good book to start off 2014. Happy reading everybody! 

alecwoodlight:

firelordzuko:

it’s funny how the most unappreciated character in harry potter is harry potter

i’ve never heard anyone answer the question ‘who’s your favourite harry potter character’ with ‘harry potter’

vardaesque:

ethan-lawson-wate:

notkatniss:

katniss everdeen, ladies and gentlemen

the YA heroin who literally does not give one single fuck about having a boyfriend

it’s like suzanne collins just went “yes i will write the literal exact opposite of twilight”

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Release Date: October 22, 2013

How Many EEP!s do We Give? 5 (out of 5)

Goodreads Summary: 

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

What We Thought:

Okay. Let me just start by saying I read this book in less than 24 hours. I got it on my Kobo (don’t worry, I’m buying the physical copy soon) at midnight and finished reading at 2 in the morning on October 23rd. Also, the Divergent series is my FAVORITE series (except HP of course, but I mean, that’s a classic childhood novel). I love Divergent so much that I quote lines from the book and dress up like Dauntless one day and Erudite the next. I’m a nerd, believe me, I know. 

Having proclaimed my love for the series, I only have one thing to say without spoiling the book. Here it is:

This book broke my heart. Go read it. Now. 

That is all. Brb, gonna go cry some more now. 

• my favourite subject: books