I kinda thought it ended well last book but this is the actual final book in the series. Let’s see how these games play out.
What I’m Reading Now: The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Tag Archives: YA
Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
I loved the Hunger Games series but I didn’t rush to read the prequel because I could have cared less about Snow. Before it came out, there were all these rumors about which Hunger Games it would be about and what a disappointment when it turned out to be Snow. There was a time, not so long ago, there was this moment of trying to humanize villains and I didn’t really care to find out what terrible things happen to Snow to turn him evil. An for most of the book, that’s kind of what it was. We met teenage Snow who has been picked to be a Mentor in the 10th Hunger Games. The Capital is still recovering from the war and the Hunger Games hasn’t really caught on with the people. This year, having students be mentor is just one way, they are trying to get people more engaged and make it into what we say 65 years later with Katniss. The Snow family were once a powerful family but lost all of their money when District 13 was destroyed. They only have their name but that might not be enough anymore. His one chance to change their fortunes is to mentor his tribute to win. He is partnered with Lucy Gray Baird from District 12. Lucy Gray is a charismatic singer and makes quite an entrance and soon the people of the Capital are rooting for her and Snow is in love. More appropriately obsessed. Long story short, he cheats to help her win and for punishment he’s forced to join the Peacekeepers and sent to the District 12 to be with Lucy Gray. Seeing how things are in the districts should have open his eyes to the injustice but instead it only makes him more Capital. I guess that is the point of the book. It’s not to humanize him but to explain why and how the Hunger Games became to be and how they came more vicious over time. Snow was truly traumatized by the war but instead of working on his own trauma but puts it onto others. LIke Lucy Gray. He doesn’t truly love her. He is jealous anytime someone else talks to her or about her. He becomes angry at the thought of past lovers. He wants to control her like he ends up wanted to control all of Panem. He is a prime example of the worst of Humanity. He comes off looking normal and reasonable but it only covers up their true nature. This wasn’t as compelling as the original series but wasn’t as disappointing as I originally thought it would be.
What I’m Reading Now: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
I figured with the movie coming out it’s about time to read it. I’m not thrilled that Snow got his own book but I’ll give it a try.
Review: Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu
This was a fun book. Winter is the biggest pop star in the world. He also happens to be the favorite singer of the daughter of one of the most dangerous men in the world. So when Winter gets invited to play her birthday party it is the opening that Sydney, a covert operative for an agency that does what the CIA won’t. Which if you know the CIA’s history that’s some real shit. Sydney poses as Winter’s bodyguard as they try to infiltrate the bad guys inter-circle to get the evidence needed to finally take him down. One problem. Sydney and Winter don’t really like each other. Well mostly Sydney doesn’t like Winter. She just thinks he’s just another spoiled rich, famous person and she doesn’t like being saddled with him on this mission. Of course the more time they spend with each the more they start to find they like each other. Maybe even love each other. The mission gets complicated and the must work together to survive. Everything you need in a spy romance novel. I loved it and I can’t wait for when they make the movie and cast a real C-Pop star. I could also see them trying to tap the Hallyu wave and change Winter to Korean and cast a K-Pop or Korean actor because why not. I don’t even know if there is a movie or TV show in the works but this would make a great one and with sequels on the way. It will have more material to work with.
What I’m Reading Now: Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu
I love Marie Lu’s books so I’m super excited for this one. Also enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes.
Quick Review: Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
I don’t know where to begin with this one because it’s not easy to describe it. It says it’s based on Antony and Cleopatra, which is not a Shakespeare play I am familiar with. We have 3 main characters. Princess Calla who is in hiding, Prince August who is the heir to the throne and Anton, a former quartier who has been exiled. Once a year, the Kingdom of Talin sponsors a hunger games style competition that the winner wins money and an audience with the king. Calla and Anton both enter for different reasons and August makes it possible for them to compete for his own reasons. Basically everyone wants to get rid of the King.
This book was a little hard for me to get into. Some people have the ability to transfer their consciousness into other people’s bodies and while many people can do it, it’s also kinda illegal? The whole concept I found to be confusing and after awhile I just kinda just went with it because while it was important to the stories, it is a small part to the story. I liked the characters and they all have valid reasons for doing what they are doing. I immediately picked up on the twist ending and I’m intrigued as to how this play out in the next book.
Quick Review: Theonite: Planet Adyn by M.L. Wang
This was a fun book. Joan is a little 13 year old She has powers that no one else has and no one really to talk to about it or would understand. Daniel comes from an alternate universe and does have powers but is new to Joan’s world. Joan is excited to meet Daniel because she finally has someone to ask questions to and maybe get some answers to why she has these powers but it can’t be that simple. Daniel and his father are there to track down a dangerous person and that threat has come for Joan too. Will they escape in time?
Reading about Joan’s life was definitely heartbreaking. Here is a smart girl who feels that she has to hide herself away because no one understands her and will only dismiss her. Her parents are more concerned with their own troubles to really pay attention to her. She has mastered the skill of being invisible. The way she lights up when she discovers that Daniel might have similar powers and finally some answers is so pure and just shows how lonely she has been. I can only hope that she finds what she needs in the sequel.
What I’m Reading Now: Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
Chloe Gong’s last series was a reworking of Romeo and Juliet. This time she takes on Shakespeare Cleopatra and Antony. Now I am not as familiar with this play but I’m willing to give it a shot.
What I’m listening to now: The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud
What are your comfort reads?
Do you have that go to book that when you just need something to read but you don’t have something lined up? For me that is the Unearthly series. I was on my commute to work earlier this week and I had about 15 minutes left and I had just finished The League of Gentewoman Witches and nothing new downloaded to my Nook. So I do what I always do when I’m in the situation. I open up Unearthly. It’s definitely a comfort read. It’s a simple romance about a girl who is part angel who is balancing her purpose with high school and college. It also has the best book boyfriend of all time, Tucker Avery and it bothers me that not enough people know about him
This made me wonder. What are your go to books when you are in between books? And why do you always go back to it?
2 Women, So Many Books 