Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison 3.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! Song of Solomon was a book that I had to read in my English class this year. I didn't hate it but definitely disliked certain elements.

The Cover:

The Cover:

It only shows the title and author. It's really not an eye-catching or flashy cover but neither is this book so at least it's fitting. C cover.

Official Description:

Milkman Dead was born shortly after a neighborhood eccentric hurled himself off a rooftop in a vain attempt at flight. For the rest of his life he, too, will be trying to fly. With this brilliantly imagined novel, Toni Morrison transfigures the coming-of-age story as audaciously as Saul Bellow or Gabriel García Márquez. As she follows Milkman from his rustbelt city to the place of his family’s origins, Morrison introduces an entire cast of strivers and seeresses, liars and assassins, the inhabitants of a fully realized black world. 

My Review:
This book was mostly unremarkable. It's a coming-of-age tale of Milkman as he grows into an unhappy man and tries to find himself. It's a coming-of-age story less in the Perks of Being a Wallflower and more of a Their Eyes Are Watching God variety. 

The plot was mostly non-existent until the last fifty pages or so, when the unrelated pieces were "tied-together" in order to make a semblance of an ending. It was interesting to read, if a bit slow, but the storyline didn't appear to go anywhere. 

The characters were all terribly people. I couldn't support a single one. Most were murderers or rude. Also, a common theme was incest, which I found off-putting. All the major characters engaged in a form of incest. Why it was important to the story/plot I'm not sure, but I probably would have rated this book higher if not for the constant discussions of incest!

Overall, I wouldn't recommend reading Song of Solomon. It was well written but didn't have a compelling story or characters. I didn't hate reading it, but I also didn't entirely enjoy it. This book was unremarkable and mostly unmemorable. If you do decide to read it, be aware that it does have a few adult themes.

Phrase:
Not Doctor Street

If You Liked This Book, You Would Also Like:
Their Eyes Are Watching God

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Firefight (Reckoners #2) by Brandon Sanderson 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I finally decided to pick up Firefight, the sequel to Steelheart. It's been on my to-read list for about a year, and I was finally able to read it. I'm glad I did; I really enjoyed it!

The Cover:

The Cover:

It doesn't show a particular scene, but it stays with the theme of the Steelheart cover of a circle of destruction. It also has the New Babylon skyline underneath, showing the change in location in this book in the series. It's a cool cover but to be honest, Firefight is more about water than fire so it's not entirely relevant. B- cover.

Official Description:

They told David it was impossible—that even the Reckoners had never killed a High Epic. Yet, Steelheart—invincible, immortal, unconquerable—is dead. And he died by David's hand. 

Eliminating Steelheart was supposed to make life more simple. Instead, it only made David realize he has questions. Big ones. And there's no one in Newcago who can give him the answers he needs. 
Babylon Restored, the old borough of Manhattan, has possibilities, though. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic, Regalia, David is sure Babylon Restored will lead him to what he needs to find. And while entering another city oppressed by a High Epic despot is a gamble, David's willing to risk it. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David's heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic—Firefight. And he's willing to go on a quest darker, and more dangerous even, than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers.

My Review:
I enjoyed Firefight even more than Steelheart. It doesn't spend as much effort building the world, and, instead, focuses on mysteries and relationships. This caused the book to move much faster and builds a sense of urgency.

The characters were also developed much more in this instalment. Their personalities and secrets were brought into light, which was fascinating to witness. David and the characters from the first book were expanded upon in a way that made the content of the book really resonate. 

The story was full of mysteries and plot twists. I was constantly surprised by this book. The plot twists were really well crafted and always caught me off guard. Much more unexpected than the plot twists of Steelheart!

Overall, I loved reading Firefight and would definitely recommend it! It's a fun twist on superhero stories that is well-written and has great characters.

Phrase:
Indoor jungles

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Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer 4/4 stars

Hey, guys! I finally finished the Lunar Chronicles series! Like all the books in this series, I started off disliking it, but it grew on me as the book went on.

Reviews of the previous books in the series:
Cinder
Scarlet
Cress

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows a poisoned candy apple, an important element of Winter which mirrors the poisoned apple in the Snow White fairytale. It's a neat cover that looks nice and is relevant. A+ cover

Official Description:
Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.
Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.
Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.

My Review:
I originally didn't want to read this book. A new perspective? Again? There were just too many characters and the story was becoming muddled. Also, what I had seen of Winter, the new character, didn't impress me. 

While, I still think it would have been better off without adding more characters, I ended up liked both Winter the character and the book much more than I expected to.

The characters and their interactions were very interesting, especially with all the relationship drama between the various characters. 

The plot was also fun. It was fairly fast-paced and had an obvious direction to it. However, I found that it became repetitive. I think this might have been due to an abundance of characters, but the same scenario would play out multiple things, just with a different set of characters. Winter was the longest book in this series by almost 300 pages, all of which probably could have been cut down. The story was fast-moving and interesting but could have done without the repetition. 

Overall, I'd recommend reading Winter if you liked the other books. I think it was my least-favorite in the series, but it does a good job wrapping the story together in the end. It has a satisfactory ending, even if it is a bit long.

Phrase:
New strain of the plague

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Young Elites / The Rose Society
The Selection

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The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I decided to read The Picture of Dorian Gray partially because it is a classic and sounded interesting and partially because I had loved The Importance of Being Earnest, a play also by Oscar Wilde.

The Cover:

The Cover:
There are a variety of different covers. Most of them just show Dorian's face. The covers are fine but nothing extraordinary. B- cover

Official Description:
Oscar Wilde brings his enormous gifts for astute social observation and sparkling prose to The Picture of Dorian Gray, his dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. This dandy, who remains forever unchanged; petulant, hedonistic, vain, and amoral; while a painting of him ages and grows increasingly hideous with the years, has been horrifying, enchanting, obsessing, even corrupting readers for more than a hundred years.

My Review:
I loved The Picture of Dorian Gray. If you want to read a classic, this book is written in mostly modern English and is just plain witty. The phrases and ideas that Oscar Wilde creates are sometimes so interesting that I'm jealous that I didn't come up with them.

The storyline was compelling, full of betrayal, manipulation, and vanity. It keeps you riveted. The characters are also interesting. They are mostly two-dimensional (which is the whole point of the book), but when the novel examines them deeper, they are wonderfully complex.

It is also both a very quotable book and has complex themes. It isn't the type of book that is so full of symbolism that it is unenjoyable to read. It's a fun read, and if you want to look further in depth, you can choose to do so (or not).

I would definitely recommend reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. It is incredibly witty and interesting. It is one of my favorite "classics" of all time.

Phrase:
Dorian's beauty

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Importance of Being Earnest

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Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! I've heard so much about Throne of Glass and have been meaning to read it for years. I finally did it, and I really enjoyed it!

The Cover:

The Cover:
There are two different covers that commonly circulate for Throne of Glass. I don't think I really like either. The one on the right seems more like a princess story than a book about an assassin, while the one on the left looks like an alien and doesn't fit the feel of this book. They could've done better. C+ covers

Official 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 exhilarating. 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.


My Review:
I have mixed feelings about Throne of Glass. It was a fairly simple book, but I did enjoy reading it. 

The world building was well put together. It didn't feel like an info dump, yet it also doesn't leave you confused. It was presented well and was also an interesting world. It was unique without being over-the-top strange. 

The plot was action-packed and fast-paced. It kept me interested. However, the direction of the story was very predictable. Quite a few times, there would be a dramatic reveal that I assumed had been revealed thirty pages before. 

The action, however, sometimes became a bit much. It got to the point where the action was unrealistic. The last major scene in Throne of Glass was the main battle. The battle lasted an incredible length of time and only succeeded in being a bit confusing and cheesy.

One of the best parts of Throne of Glass was the characters. They were fun to read about. Celaena was a smart, powerful female character. She stands up for herself but still is likable. The supporting characters were also interesting. The interactions between characters felt completely organic. However, most of the supporting characters felt very two-dimensional as far as their motivations and thoughts.

This book does include a love triangle, but it is done well. A few guys are pursuing Celaena, but she doesn't care. She completely ignores the building love triangle and does not complain about who to choose. It adds some drama without adding whining to the book. 

Overall, I would neither recommend, nor not recommend Throne of Glass. It was pretty good but not memorable. I might read the sequel but only if I am bored and can't find anything else.

Phrase:
Word marks

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
A World Without Heroes
Five Kingdoms series
Red Queen

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Equinox by Melissa Silvey 3/5 stars

Hey, guys! I just finished Equinox by Melissa Silvey, and I enjoyed it!

*Note: The author was kind enough to send me a copy of Equinox in exchange for an honest review.*

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows the moon during an equinox. It's simple but does relate to the book, which is nice. It is a bit lackluster though, not very eye-catching. A B- cover

Official Description:
After losing her grandmother Holly is left alone to face the most powerful and evil druidess in their line; her mother Rose. She must find a way to destroy her mother's powers and find another druidess to perform the ritual before the Equinox. Holly knows she can't do it alone. But can she trust the handsome stranger who was sent to find her for reasons he can't admit. Will it all work out, or will Holly's powers fade away as her mother's grow stronger?

My Review:
Equinox is a character driven story. The focus is on Holly and Rhys (the "handsome stranger") and the plotline about Holly's mother is more of a subplot. This results in a lot of character development, especially for Holly, and an in depth look into Holly and Rhys's relationship. It also causes a feeling of a lack of urgency involving the magical storyline. The characters would go shopping for elaborate clothes while they had an urgent deadline.

This would have been perfectly fine, but I had trouble completely supporting Holly and Rhys's relationship. While it was definitely cute and fluffy most of the time, I felt like Rhys might have been acting a little abusive at certain moments. Also, one of the main plot points is that Holly can continue to be a powerful druidess or she can date Rhys, who she's only known for a short time, yet she seems to choose the boy. I was a bit disappointed because of how strong Holly's character could have been. That being said, most of the relationship was sweet, but I had trouble getting incredibly into it.

I loved Melissa Silvey's theme of a rivalry/ conflict between druidesses and alchemists. It made each of the plot developments more intense and added another layer onto the storyline.

Fflur, Holly's great-grandmother, also had a rich backstory which added some context and content to the story. I loved to see her story and how it compared to Holly's.

However, I think that Equinox ended in a bit of a rush. It spent a lot of time on plot points which became irrelevant, but ended the great battle that it had been leading up to all book in a rush. It left me a bit dissatisfied.

Overall, I enjoyed Equinox, but it was not without its issues. None of the issues were very pressing, however, and it is easy to read and enjoy Equinox. 

Phrase:
Dragon pendant

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Hamlet by William Shakespeare 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! In my english class for the past week or so, we have been reading Hamlet. This will just be a very quick review, but I wanted to mention it to you all.

Official Description:

Hamlet is the story of the Prince of Denmark who learns of the death of his father at the hands of his uncle, Claudius. Claudius murders Hamlet's father, his own brother, to take the throne of Denmark and to marry Hamlet's widowed mother. Hamlet is sunk into a state of great despair as a result of discovering the murder of his father and the infidelity of his mother. Hamlet is torn between his great sadness and his desire for the revenge of his father's murder.

My Review:

I loved Hamlet. It was definitely very interesting. I think it is my favorite Shakespeare book to date. (If you've read Shakespeare in the past, Hamlet is more on the Macbeth side than the Twelfth Night side.)

Hamlet has a very compelling plot full of betrayal, love, and hate. It also includes most of the quotes that are iconically Shakespeare. (For example, "to be or not to be")

It is a bit ridiculous at moments and incredibly serious at others, but it was fun to read. Despite being a tragedy, its mood was not too heavy. In fact, it had a few of my new favorite insults/ comebacks in it, which is always enjoyable.

I'm not going to lie and say that it is easy to understand, but it is worthwhile if you want to give it a try! I would recommend that you read or at least watch a production of Hamlet.

Phrase:
"Oh! I am slain" - Hamlet

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
Twelfth Night

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The Dark Talent (Alcatraz #5) by Brandon Sanderson 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! The last Alcatraz vs. The Evil Librarians book has finally come out. (If you haven't read the series, click here.) I read the previous four book in sixth grade. That was six years ago! On top of the insanely long wait time, the four book ended on a cliff hanger. I have been wondering about how this children's series would end for years and, in the meantime, built my expectations too high. The series is still wonderful, quirky, and fun, but it did not meet my unrealistically high expectations.

The Cover:

The Cover:
I hate the new covers. Sometime in the period between book four and book five, the series changed publishers. The new publishers decided to give them all new covers, all of which are like this one. It is just terribly designed. Half of the images in the cover do not even relate to this book, and it looks incredibly corny. I was trying to read it on a plane and kept it flat the entire time, as it embarrassed me. F cover

Official Description:

Alcatraz Smedry has successfully defeated the army of Evil Librarians and saved the kingdom of Mokia. Too bad he managed to break the Smedry Talents in the process. Even worse, his father is trying to enact a scheme that could ruin the world, and his friend, Bastille, is in a coma. To revive her, Alcatraz must infiltrate the Highbrary–known as The Library of Congress to Hushlanders–the seat of Evil Librarian power. Without his Talent to draw upon, can Alcatraz figure out a way to save Bastille and defeat the Evil Librarians once and for all?

My Review:

This latest Alcatraz book had everything that I've learned to love about this series. It's bizarre sense of humor and flawed/relatable characters. 

The plot was fast-paced and the book only 300 pages, so it is a quick read. As the characters plan their overthrown of the Library headquarters, the action gets more intense. One of the things about this series is that while the majority of the scenes are of the action and adventure variety, there is an element of silliness. The Dark Talent doesn't take itself seriously, which is what makes this series so enjoyable.

The characters remained great. One of my favorite characters wasn't really in this book (Spoiler: Bastille was in a coma for 95% of The Dark Talent), but the other characters were enjoyable. I always love Alcatraz's self-deprecating remarks throughout the story, and this book was no different.

My only problem with this series was the ending. Everything happened at once, and it felt incredibly rushed. Also, the conclusion to the continued cliff hanger (the altar of encyclopedias) was a bit disappointing. It is slightly redeemed by a fold-out note at the very end of the book, which I won't spoil, but that note is the true ending. 

The Dark Talent was a mixed bag. I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read it a few years ago, but it was still fun to read. The ending was a bit disappointing, but the note makes it much better. I'd recommend reading The Dark Talent if you enjoyed the other Alcatraz books, and I'd recommend the entire series if you have not.

Phrase:
An altar of encyclopedias

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
A World Without Heroes
Five Kingdoms series

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Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! This will be a pretty short review, but in my English class, we just finished Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It was good and makes you think, but it was probably a hundred pages too long. The same point was repeated a few times too many, in my opinion, but it was still a great and notable book in American history.

The Cover(s):

The Cover(s):
There are many, many covers for Invisible Man (not to be confused with H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man). These are the two that I think are most prevalent. Neither is very interesting, but Invisible Man is not the type of book that fits a "busy" cover. A- cover

Official Description:
First published in 1952 and immediately hailed as a masterpiece, Invisible Man is one of those rare novels that have changed the shape of American literature. For not only does Ralph Ellison's nightmare journey across the racial divide tell unparalleled truths about the nature of bigotry and its effects on the minds of both victims and perpetrators, it gives us an entirely new model of what a novel can be.
As he journeys from the Deep South to the streets and basements of Harlem, from a horrifying "battle royal" where black men are reduced to fighting animals, to a Communist rally where they are elevated to the status of trophies, Ralph Ellison's nameless protagonist ushers readers into a parallel universe that throws our own into harsh and even hilarious relief. Suspenseful and sardonic, narrated in a voice that takes in the symphonic range of the American language, black and white, Invisible Man is one of the most audacious and dazzling novels of our century.

My Review:
Invisible Man was a very thought-provoking novel. It is about identity and racism and how the two relate. It offers a sense of the ideologies circling in the 1950s and even, in a lesser sense, today. Whether you are thinking of the '50s or 2016, Invisible Man will make you ponder the current situation regarding race, identity, and culture. In that regard, it is definitely worth reading.

However, while Invisible Man makes many good points, there are only a few core points. Ralph Ellison conveys his same point many times within three or four similar situations. While I appreciate the validity of his thoughts, it became repetitive after the second repetition. I feel as though a hundred pages could have been shaved off without any change in the story or its purpose. 

Then, there is the narrator. He is a very compelling character, but he does not have a name. This is very frustrating as you read the book. Even when the main character changes his name, his new name nor his old name are announced. I found this to be irritating as I read, but I am sure that the nameless narrator has significance. I know that my English class found multiple possible reasons, and I can respect its symbolism but would have preferred from him to have a name.

Invisible Man was pretty easy to read though. The material is heavy, but the language, while not modern, was similar enough to not create problems.

I would recommend Invisible Man if you want to read about race and theories on identity. An important note is that it is intended for mature audiences. (There is a mildly detailed scene describing incenst, among other things.) So, be cautious if you do not think you can handle that.

Phrase: Optic White

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Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After reading, Cinder and Scarlet, I had to read the next book in the series. Cress was very similar to Scarlet. If you liked Scarlet, chances are that you'll like Cress, too, so this review will be fairly brief.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Cress (AKA Rapunzel) with her long hair as she is trapped in her satellite. The cover fits this book, but I strongly dislike it. This is the kind of book that you hold flat while reading so no one sees the cover. C- cover.

Official Description:
Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.
Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she's just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.
When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is splintered. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price than she'd ever expected. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai, especially the cyborg mechanic. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

My Review:
Cress picks up right where Scarlet leaves off. However, in this book, there is the added perspective of Cress. In the beginning, I hated this addition. It felt like there were too many characters that each required a unique point of view. However, as the book went on, I started to like her character. Overall, I still think that Marissa Meyer would have been better off sticking to one main character (Cinder), but it ends up working alright, anyway.

As far as characters go, the relationships between characters became much more complex. These relationships were by far the most compelling piece of Cress's story. Even the new relationships, such as Cress's interactions with Thorn, were interesting and fun to read.

The plot was fast-paced and definitely kept me interested. While predictable, it was light, fun, and full of action.

Overall, I would recommend reading Cress if you enjoyed Scarlet. They were very similar in most regards. Cress has a bit more action and some new characters, but it simply continues the story. Cress wasn't perfect. The idea of the story itself feels a little pushed, but it is still enjoyable and well-written.

Phrase:
On the earth dramas...

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Young Elites / The Rose Society
The Selection

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