2.5 stars

Review: Bloodlines

08:00

Bloodlines
By Richelle Mead

 Source: Library, paperback
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampires

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive--this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.


After reading really enjoying the Vampire Academy series last summer, I was really excited to carry on with the world, and dive into Bloodlines. VA became one of my favourite series, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I expected this to be great. Though sadly, I was so disappointed. It really wasn’t as good as I hoped it to be, and to be honest, I wish I didn’t expect so much, so I wouldn’t feel as let down as I do now.

My main problem was Sydney. We were introduced to her in Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4), and I didn’t really mind her then (she didn’t have a massive storyline) - in Bloodlines though, I could barely stand her. She really let the book down for me, because the thing about her ‘not having any social skills’ just became boring, really quickly. It was cringe-worthy, and I just didn’t want to read about a bland character embarrassing herself!

Another thing I disliked about this book was that it seemed very similar to VA. It was set in a high school, though this time it was a normal, human high school. I felt like this could have been avoided (the reason for this setting was questionable anyway), and it just set the book up to be something that’s not a series in its own. I liked the vampire highschool, but a human highschool got a bit boring for me, because that's not what I came to read!

Though as the book progressed, I began to realise that I was enjoying it a lot more. After my original skepticism on the direction of the book (and this series), I was really happy to find that it was very different to what I expected. I didn’t like the continual focus on Sydney’s life at school, but I liked the mystery plot lines, and I enjoyed the way Sydney took things into her own hands. She showed her strengths in these bits, and although she is no Rose, I liked how she was independent and actually got stuff done!

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series, because I’m excited to see the direction it will go in. I don’t think I will enjoy it as much as VA, but I’d like to get into this world even more. I think it would be really interesting to find out more about the alchemists, so I look forward to reading more of it!

2.5 stars

Review: The Program

09:00

The Program
By Suzanne Young

 Source: Personal purchase, e-book
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction, Mental Illness, 

 Goodreads Synopsis:

 Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

 My review:
I expected this book to be amazing. The concept was really promising for a heart-breaking and gritty dystopian, that could have been painfully relatable to today’s society. Although it was scarily similar to today, I was disappointed. It was a love story first, dystopian second. Some may find it beautiful and heart-wrenching, but I just got a bit fed up with the book. It was a bit repetitive, and I thought it had the potential to be so much better.

My main problem with the book was the focus on romance. I was disappointed with the lack of world building and the description of the dystopian setting. I know some will really enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t for me at all.

It got a little repetitive and slow moving towards the middle too. Sloane was a very annoying lead, so I got tired of her ‘mourning’. I feel like she could have done more to change her situation (because she obviously wasn’t happy with it), instead of just thinking about herself, and how she was feeling at the time.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I feel it has too many flaws for me to continue with the rest of the series. The ending was very inconclusive, but not much was left to happen, so I think this would have worked as a stand-alone too. I know that fans of romance will really enjoy this, so I would recommend it to fans of Shatter Me, though the writing style isn’t as poetic or beautiful.

Rating:

2.5 stars

Review: The Winner's Curse

18:21

The Winner's Curse
By Marie Rutkoski

 Source: Personal purchase, paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopia, Historical

 Goodreads Synopsis:
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love... 
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. 
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.


 I was attempting to say positive things about this book, but I realised that my feelings throughout the entire book were:

This book was definitely a cover buy, and one that - after reading the book - I kind of regret. There were elements I liked, but I feel like the bits I really disliked overshadowed them. My main problem with the book was that it was boring. It felt like nothing happened.

The problem was, for the main part of the book, there was no goal. There wasn’t a journey to get somewhere. Nothing was happening! It made me lose interest in the characters and the plot. The ‘plot twists’ were underwhelming, and there was no tension at all. It was so tame in parts that I actually considered giving up.

My favourite thing about the book was Kestrel. She was really strong-willed and interesting to read about because she was so original. She was clever, cunning and crafty, which is unusual in YA books. At some points, she reminded me of myself greatly.

Another thing I didn’t like was the ending. It was meant to be the exciting part, but because I’d already lost interest, I didn’t find it exciting at all. At parts it was confusing, and I really had to force myself to finish the book.

Overall, I didn’t enjoy the book. Although it was really well written and had complex characters, I found it dragged and made me lose interest. I probably won’t be picking up the next book, and would recommend it to fans of Red Queen, because they have similar settings, and are both quite tame. Also, if you’re not a massive fan of fantasy but want the slow burning romance, or want to get into the genre, I would recommend this book.

My reaction:

My rating:


Favourite quotes:

“Isn't that what stories do, make real things fake, and fake things real?”

“Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous.”