When we wake by Karen Healey

Sypnosis: 

Sixteen-year-old Tegan is just like every other girl living in 2027—she's happiest when playing the guitar, she's falling in love for the first time, and she's joining her friends to protest the wrongs of the world: environmental collapse, social discrimination, and political injustice.

But on what should have been the best day of Tegan's life, she dies—and wakes up a hundred years later, locked in a government facility with no idea what happened.

The future isn't all she had hoped it would be, and when appalling secrets come to light, Tegan must make a choice: Does she keep her head down and survive, or fight for a better world?

Award-winning author Karen Healey has created a haunting, cautionary tale of an inspiring protagonist living in a not-so-distant future that could easily be our own.

My Review -- 5/5 stars!

This book took me a while to read but it was totally worth it. This novel is fast-pacing at times but the author makes it go slow at the right amount of time.

The plot of this book is so unique that I loved the whole book and couldn't even think how would someone would come up with this creativity. 

There are a lot of characters that I loved in this book, but more specifically I loved Abdi. He is the boyfriend that is from the future. Hence named 'the future boyfriend Abdi'. I wish there was more of her previous boyfriend, Dalmar. The few pages that the relationship was shown was really cute.

The biggest thing was the plot. The plot twist in this book to me was....shocking. It wasn't exactly my 'most shaking' plot twist but its worth the wait for the plot twist. I actually suspected one of the characters (Don't worry I'm not to say who), to be the villain so I kind of spoiled myself.

Overall, this book was a perfect dystopian. Loved it. I can't wait to pick up the next book.

Darkest Fear by Cate Tiernan

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

Vivi’s animal instincts are her legacy—and maybe her downfall—in this start to a romantic fantasy series that will appeal to fans of The Nine Lives of Chloe King.

Vivi has known the truth about her family—and herself—since she was thirteen. But that doesn’t mean she’s accepted it. Being Haguari isn’t something she feels she’ll ever accept. How can she feel like anything but a freak knowing that it’s in her genes to turn into a jaguar?

Now eighteen, Vivi’s ready to break away from the traditions of her heritage. But all of that changes with the shocking, devastating deaths of her parents and the mysteries left behind. Vivi discovers family she never even knew she had, and a life open with possibility. New friends, new loyalties, and even romance all lay ahead—but so do dangers unlike anything Vivi ever could have imagined.

My Review -- 1/5 stars

I don't even know how to start this review. I think I bought this book from a library sale -- I'm not sure. I did not like this book at all. The world building was just fine, but the characters were too weird to read. I will still not post any spoilers over here.

At times I completely understood Vivi's character but most of the time, I was saying to myself that why I was still continuing this book since it is going horrible. I was having a hard time actually picturing the situation of her's, which is one of the reasons why I did not like this book. I feel like 'hate' is a too strong word to use just in general, so I'm not going to say that I hated it, just strongly disliked it.

The second reason was the romance in this book. The romance was pathetic. I know some books have 'love at first sight' or something equivalent to that but that also goes in style. These characters had no sense of humour. It was like 'Omg, I saw that person in the store, I think I'm in love with him/her'. Vivi and the guy (can't seem to recall his name) seemed to have no connection at all. 

The third reason was the ending of this book. I feel like the others reasons present, if the ending would have been better, it would be a 3 star rating book, but sadly it wasn't. The ending indeed was shocking to me, but on the other side I was 10 times more disappointed by this book.

Just to make it clear, I am not in anyway indicating that Cate's writing is bad. I've heard great reviews about her other works and I can't wait to get into it, it was just this one that had me. 

Genre: Fantasy

If you must know, I absolutely love reading fantasy books. My favourite genre is fantasy. Most of my books are that category but I am trying to read other genre's now-a-days. So without further due, here are my Top 5 Recommendations for Fantasy lovers. 

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

This series is my favourite series of all time. I fell in love with Sarah's writing style. I will probably recommend this book first to anyone if they ask me for recommendations. 

Description: After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

2. Daughters of Ruin by K.D. Castner

When I first received the ARC of this copy through Goodreads, I thought it would be a boring story but turns out it's a perfect easy fantasy read. I hope Castner publishes another  book because I want to know what happens next, which I'm super excited about.

Description: Rhea, Cadis, Suki, and Iren have lived together since they were children. They are called sisters. They are not. They are called equals. They are not. They are princesses…and they are enemies.

Not long ago, a brutal war ravaged their kingdoms, and Rhea’s father was the victor. As a gesture of peace, King Declan brought the daughters of his rivals to live under his protection—and his ever-watchful eye. For ten years the girls have trained together as diplomats and warriors, raised to accept their thrones and unite their kingdoms in peace.

But there is rarely peace among sisters. Sheltered Rhea was raised to rule everyone—including her “sisters”—but she’s cracking under pressure. The charismatic Cadis is desperately trying to redeem her people from their actions during the war. Suki guards deep family secrets that isolate her, and quiet Iren’s meekness is not what it seems.

All plans for peace are shattered when the palace is attacked. As their intended futures lie in ashes, Rhea, Cadis, Suki, and Iren must decide where their loyalties lie: to their nations, or to each other.

3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I opened the book and started reading it and love it from chapter 1. This is a fantastic read for people who liked/loved Leigh's Shadow and Bone series. No, you don't have to read the shadow and bone series to read this one. It is set in the same settings but the story is completely different (I haven't read the shadow and bone yet). I cannot wait to buy Crooked Kingdom and get started on it right away.

Description: Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

4. The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Even though I read this awhile back, I still remember it being Fantastic. That plot twist blew me away completely. I did read the second book, The hear of betrayal, it was more gripping and as amazing as the first one.

Description: A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

5. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I picked up this one really randomly from the library and ended up staying late up at night trying to focus on how this plot twist shattered my heart into a million different pieces.

Description: This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart ...

That's all for my recommendations. Tell me how I did in the comments below. Thank you for reading!

March Wrap up, April TBR

This month for my reading was really slow. I expected it to be longer but school got in the way. I read 2 books and 2 short stories. I am not particularly proud of this month's.

March Haul

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell 

Love and other foreign languages by Erin McCahan

Short stories: The Nose by Nikolai Gogol (for school)

The Yellow Wallpaper (for school)

 April TBR.

I'm hoping to read at least 4 books this month, which will include books I'm reading from school.

Emma by Jane Austen (for school)

This book I have read only 20 pages. I have to take notes (which I hate doing) with it so that's why I'm so slow at it. I will post a review on it.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (For school)

This book is for school too. I have to do a presentation on it soon. 

This is not for school, This is for myself :)

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakely

I'm excited to read this re-telling. I don't exactly know the description of it but the cover is so amazing that I want to read it (i know your not suppose to judge a book by its cover)

Revenants: The Odessey Home

I received this book from Good reads and I thought I read it and review it. I was so happy when the book came out to be a signed copy!

That's it for my April TBR and March haul. 

Love and other foreign languages by Erin McCahan

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

Can anyone be truly herself--or truly in love--in a language that's not her own?

Sixteen-year-old Josie lives her life in translation. She speaks High School, College, Friends, Boyfriends, Break-ups, and even the language of Beautiful Girls. But none of these is her native tongue -- the only people who speak that are her best friend Stu and her sister Kate. So when Kate gets engaged to an epically insufferable guy, how can Josie see it as anything but the mistake of a lifetime? Kate is determined to bend Josie to her will for the wedding; Josie is determined to break Kate and her fiancé up. As battles are waged over secrets and semantics, Josie is forced to examine her feelings for the boyfriend who says he loves her, the sister she loves but doesn't always like, and the best friend who hasn't said a word -- at least not in a language Josie understands. 

My Review -- 4.2/5 stars!:

You know when you what to read a love story but with a nerdy touch? Well this book is for you. This contemporary is perfect to fit that category. Josie is nerdy. She speaks every language -- fashion, school, boyfriends, break ups, but the only language that she does not speak is Love. The battle is real. This novel is told in the perspective of Josie. I think most people could relate to this story. Being in love at the age of 16. I love this story. I liked there were so many clues on how he likes her and I couldn't catch it.

She confused a crush with love. She did not realize what she was falling for until her sister told her to stop. I loved Stu's character. He's like my favourite fictional character at the moment.

I did not like how she was so disgusted in a way with Geoff. Certain times in the book, I would stop and say, "Give the guy a chance". Geoff is Katie's (her sister) finance. Her sister is so nice and calm and trying to get Josie to understand why Geoff is a good guy for her.

I also did not like how sometimes, like one or two times, she was self-centred. She would say that she is the one that needs to decide for the love life of her sister's. It was little things like that, that kind of made her character annoying and that's why I gave it a 4.2 stars.

In the end, it was a happy ending. I was really happy with the end. My heart melted when I saw who she actually ended up with.

Leave a comment below if you will pick up this book or if you liked my review.

Daughters of Ruin by K.D Castner

I received this book through Good reads, in exchange for an honest review.

Sypnosis: (from Goodreads)

Rhea, Cadis, Suki, and Iren have lived together since they were children. They are called sisters. They are not. They are called equals. They are not. They are princesses…and they are enemies.

Not long ago, a brutal war ravaged their kingdoms, and Rhea’s father was the victor. As a gesture of peace, King Declan brought the daughters of his rivals to live under his protection—and his ever-watchful eye. For ten years the girls have trained together as diplomats and warriors, raised to accept their thrones and unite their kingdoms in peace.

But there is rarely peace among sisters. Sheltered Rhea was raised to rule everyone—including her “sisters”—but she’s cracking under pressure. The charismatic Cadis is desperately trying to redeem her people from their actions during the war. Suki guards deep family secrets that isolate her, and quiet Iren’s meekness is not what it seems.

All plans for peace are shattered when the palace is attacked. As their intended futures lie in ashes, Rhea, Cadis, Suki, and Iren must decide where their loyalties lie: to their nations, or to each other.

My Review (4.5/5 stars!):

So as said, Rhea, Cadis, Suki and Iren are sisters. But to point out they are not blood sisters. They are sisters brought from 3 different kingdoms into one. Rhea, is the daughter of the kingdom that they all are currently living in. All three of them are brought into one place to train as diplomats and warriors so that they could go back and rule their own kingdoms. 

When I first received this book I didn't even know that it was coming out in April (which is soon) My first thought was that it would be a good read since its not released yet and this is the author's first book. I actually ended up really liking the book.

The world that Castner created is interesting. All of the characters are really likeable, from the start. 

When I read the plot twist I was blown away. I haven't experienced this shocking of a plot twist since I read Red Queen (my mind is still blown away). The plot twist and the characters make up this whole story about freedom and survival.

This story is told by the POV of the four sisters. Each of the Characters POV's were really enjoyable to read. I loved Cadis's judgements, Suki's childish way of speaking, Iren being the quick one. I felt bad for Rhea because everyone seems to hate on her and I don't think it was her fault but rather the circumstances.

If I compared two characters from two different books, I would say that Iren would be like the twin sister of Inej (Six of Crows) Inez was sneaky and would overhear people's whole conversation without them knowing that she was there. The sneakiness was all that Iren was about.

And how could I forget one of the most important characters in the story: Taylin. He was the one that everyone was friends with but was also got pushed around as much.

In this story, Suki is 15, Rhea is 16 and Cadis, Iren are 17 years old.

All together, I absolutely adored this book. Can't wait till the next book comes out because I want to know what happens next. 

The release date for this book is: April 5th, 2016 -- so mark your calendars!

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

Two misfits.

One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

My Review(5/5 stars):

This Novel is set over the course of one school year. Now-a-days we see people or characters falling in love so quickly that someone doesn't even know when it happened. This story is different. It goes slow, and not like in a bad way slow, nicely slow. I started reading it and half-way through, and I didn't want to stop reading it but my eyes got tired. But then I woke up in the middle of the night and finished it.

This extraordinary love was cute, heart-breaking, breath-taking, and many other words that I can not describe because it was truly that amazing.

I loved how the perspectives changed too. It was amazing to see how both of could think so alike. It was good to see that what happened in Eleanor's and Park's life whenever they were not together (outside of school).

Characters:

- Eleanor + Park = Lovers (Protagonist)

Eleanor and Park were both 16 when they fell in love with each other. As I said before it went slow. I loved reading it like that.

- Sabrina (Eleanor's mom)

She is described as a beautiful mom who is divorced and then remarried. She is mentioned throughout the whole book, but not necessarily the main characters.

-Richie (Step-dad--Antagonist)

He is described as the evil step-dad. Everything that happens in Eleanor's life is because of Richie.

- Mindy and Jamie (Park's parents)

They are described as the people who were in love and got married. Their role in this book was not like a major role but they played an important part just to keep the story going.

- Tina and Steve (Spoiler)

They were the "friends" of Eleanor and Park in this story. The reason I put Friends in quotation marks is because sometimes they were, in terms of helping Eleanor from the dangers that she faces.

Overall, I enjoyed every bit of it. I also cried at the end because of the ending (if that makes sense)

Well there you have it! My first review on my blog

Tell me in the comments how I did. You can also comment if I need to improve on some stuff. Thanks.

Introduction

Hi, I'm Baria. You can probably identify that by the name of the blog (lol). I'm 16, still in high school. I live in Canada, land of different cultures. I'm a book reviewer. I mostly like YA books, specifically fantasy books. I am in a major hang over from my previous read, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowel, and I was devastated from that ending. I will (hopefully) do a review on all the books I've read so far in my reading career.
Instagram: barias.reading.corner
Goodreads: Baria Imtiaz

I hope to make friends and start posting as soon as possible :)