Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever...

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5 tips to help you get out of a reading slump

Reading Slumps. We all hate them. They just keep us from reading another book. For some of you who don't know Reading Slumps refer to when you just read a great book and you loved. In fact, you loved it so much that you can't get over it. 

I had a reading slump at least once. It was when I was reading Queen of Shadows and I loved it so much that I couldn't get over it. There are two different types of reading slumps. There's long-term and short-term. Mine was Long-term. Long-term usually last about 1-2 months where as short-term lasts about 2-3 days.

So here are some tips if you are in a reading slump or your not actually in one right now but what to do when you actually have them. These tips are for long-term and short-term reading slumps. Enjoy!

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The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

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.

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The Crown by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

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The Heir by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

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The One by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

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The Elite by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

The Selection began with thirty-five girls.

Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

My Review -- 5/5 stars!

The Selection recap: America is chosen to be one of the 35 girls to compete for Prince Maxon's heart. She meets her best friend Marlee. Maxon eliminates some the girls. The palace gets attacked, and then the girls start panicking. Maxon doesn't know how to handle them so America helps him. After the attack, some of the girls get terrified and leave The Selection. Aspen, America's ex, comes to the palace as a guard and tells America that he wants to get back together. Maxon and America start having a crush on each other. They went on dates through the gardens. America is hated by the King. Maxon fights for her and keeps her in the top 6 girls.

Diving from The Selection into this was a great experience. Wonderful writing. America and Maxon progress their relationship in this book through a lot of twists and turns. 

Friendship's grew and so did enemies. Loved that kind of twist that Kiera put in this book. I could not put this book down and read it in one sitting.

Characters:

America and Maxon (Protagonist)

Their relationship is my favourite in this book. They fight so much in all of the books. Sometimes when they are on the verge of breaking up, something would come along and fix it. Kiera is a genius author.

Marlee (Protagonist):

She is still a best friend of America but one with a lot of secrets. I loved that she was so sweet and kind with everyone.

Aspen (Antagonist):

When he arrives at the palace in the previous book, I was in between shocked and happy. Some people and some of my friends said that they couldn't stand Aspen there but I didn't mind him, as long as he doesn't end up with America it's all good.

Celeste (Antagonist):

She was a pain The Elite but sometimes got better in treating America. I think without her the books would have really boring.

The Plot:

As you all know, the country that they live in Illea. The name itself has a kind of a fantasy thing to it. The plot twist was so tragic that I was almost in tears. The tragedy brought a horror upon The Elites and the whole palace especially America. The views on The Caste's is really high in this book. A five or below are considered nothing which I despised in this book. Why do have to get treated this way in the book? No one should be treated that way.

Favourite quote:

"Don't tug your ear with anyone else. That's mine."

"A lot of things are yours, America."

The Elite

The One (The Selection, #3)

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Sypnosis (from Goodreads):

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.

My Review -- 5/5 stars!

When I first read the book back in 2014, I never thought I would like the book this much and would continue the series. I am so happy I actually went through with it. America's interpretation about love was the most shocking to me. Sometimes I would think that she was actually a narcissistic person because of two guys fighting for her love. 

I don't think this genre has a name but I love it when The stories are about princesses, princes, King and Queens. Reading the selection series brought me more into the genre.

As the book progresses I am more and more into it. Mason is my favourite prince I ever read about. The relationship between America and Maxon gave me giggles and I loved it. I think, personally, everyone deserves to be treated the way Maxon and America treated each other, in real life. I didn't mind having Aspen around but I wanted America to end up with Maxon (I won't tell who she ended up with because I don't to ruin for whoever didn't read the book)

Characters:

America -- one of the selected, a five (Protagonist)

Kind character who was the most noble in the entire book. The perspective is told from her. I loved to experience the romance that she had with Maxon but at certain times in the book I would have LOVED to see Maxon's perspective of them dating.

Maxon -- The prince (Protagonist)

He is my favourite prince. Although, there is no perspective of Maxon at all in this book, he is described as handsome (which I don't mind at all) and a nice person. I wish there were more Maxon's in real life.

Marlee -- Bestfriend of America, a three (Protagonist)

I would love to have her as my best friend because she is so sweet and kind to not only America but also her fellow competitors. 

Aspen -- former lover of America, a six (Antagonist and partly Protagonist)

He left America heartbroken when she saw him with another girl on the day she was leaving to go to the Palace. In this book he is like a enemy to America but not in the other books -- and it gets exciting from there.

Celeste -- one of the selected, a two (Antagonist)

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of her (after reading the first book) is pride. She has this obnoxious feeling to make everyone feel down just because she is a two.

The Plot: The Caste System

The story takes place in the country called Illea. There is a caste system to this story. The levels of classes goes uptil 8. The One's are the Kings and Queens. The two's are just below except that they don't live in a palace. They live with people where their houses are bigger and they are clean. The three's do have bigger houses but less than the two's and just a level down. The four's are still considered "high" in society but there are less opportunities for them. The Five's --America's caste are more poor people where they can not afford some things and have to live in small houses. The six's -- Aspen's caste, are more and more poorer people where they 

work for the caste above to earn money for their families. The seven's almost live on the streets. They are most likely ignored due to them being dirty from hard work. The Eight's are the one's that live on the street's, completely ignored by the people, no opportunities for work given and they either survive from scratch or just survive to death.

The Selection

The Elite (The Selection, 2)

April Wrap up and May TBR

I am so sad that I did not get to read most of the books that I planned to read during the month of April. I'm actually ashamed because you know, education kinda got into the way.

As I said in my previous post, Two of the books included were for school and two of them were for myself. Unfortunately, I did not get to read Emma By Jane Austen, Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakely and The Revenant by Scott Kauffman. 

I am actually really happy and I finished Brave New world By Aldous Huxley. I know this might sound bad for some people but I could not understand this book. But it was sometimes. This book has a purpose on reading it and I don't think that this was the right book for me. But I didn't have a choice because it was school so it's all good now. 

May TBR

I'm actually so excited about the month of May because today I received The Crown by Keira Cass and I am so excited to read it. I can't say good-bye to the series that actually got me into reading.

The Crown By Keira Cass

I'm actually so excited to read this. I was borrowing through the bookstore's websites and found out that new releases were in a cheap price. So I rushed my mom to get me the book and she did! My feelings are mixed in between Excited and scared to death. But we'll see how it goes.

Emma By Jane Austen (for school)

I really have to finish this book for school and It's stressing me out like a lot. So I think I'll count it over on my TBR. 

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakely

I'll try and get through this one. It's because this month is kind of hectic since it's like the second last month of school so teachers are kind of rushing to get things done. 

Revenants: The Odyssey Home by Scott Kauffman

Again, I'll try my best to read it this month but its hectic.

That's it for my April Wrap up and May TBR. A couple of things I want to add. I got twitter so follow @readingcorner_b and give me recommendations and bookish stuff to chat about.