Review: The Fall of Five - Pittacus Lore

The Fall of Five

Pittacus Lore

Series: Lorien Legacies, #4

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Word Rating: Connective
On Goodreads

WOO!
Can you hear the excited fangirl squeaks coming from the depths of my inner self?
I've been waiting to read this for a while, and though school got in the way, I've finally got my hands on a copy. Let's do this.

Almost spot on perfect. So close. It seems like the new ghostwriter has settled in and that gives me hope. (Slight background, the original ideas stemmed from James Frey, who is of questionable morals, but like Ender's Game, judge the work). Though The Rise of Nine was stunningly written and constructed, at times it felt as if the new author was trying just a bit too hard to emulate the thought's and personalities of already-established characters. This quality was considerably diminished in The Fall of Five. I only caught a few times where I felt as if there was a disconnect:

Tell me everything, Sam. I feel like I've missed so much. (Lore, 19)

Spoiler: Sam meets his dad! Anyway, in the scene around the above quote, the author could have done so much, even with simple physical gestures (but maybe I was spoiled by the first two books, which made good use of that technique). By itself, it seems tacky and almost cliché, and that's enough to knock a bit of hydrogen out of my five stars.

However, that disconnect is slight and soon is totally forgotten as the book begins to unfold. It begins forward and dramatic in a dank Mogadorian prison, with Sam as our deprived and delirious narrator. His mindset is absolutely "grungy" and he introduces us to the story as only he can: fantasizing about Six rescuing him from his deadly prison, killing off a horde of Mogs in the process.

This novel is fast-paced, and almost never lets go. There are a few huge spoilers that I want so badly to share because they are gripping. However, I cannot, because plot construction is what makes these novels so bloody good. You've got your typical heroes and antiheroes and romances and jokers and completely evil villains, but the manner in which it is presented and how slowly but surely the whole history and plot is revealed, and the secrets therein that always seem to change everything, are what keep me reading. I will say that, unlike some novels these days, it is somewhat difficult to trust any predictions towards the end of the plot, or even the middle. I'll admit, I did not expect the twists on the characters that unravel and unwind in the end, but these, two lines taken from around the end, basically resound what I mean:

It all happens so fast. (207)

And then:

How did I get here? (208) 

This novel is built around a sinuous plot (spanning Nine's amazing Penthouse to the humid Everglades), with intermittent stresses on the elements of romance (who doesn't ship Marina and Eight?). Though only stressed as a secondary element, romance (and to a greater extent, trust, appreciation, compassion, and love) is a primary drive for many of our characters, especially for John. First of all, it keeps Sarah relevant and meaningful instead of just a goal or a dream to pursue, and secondly, it challenges him: despite the world on the brink of war, he is stuck between his Earthly girlfriend and his duties to another planet.

Development also brings depth to the story, because most of the characters are fairly dynamic whilst still keeping strong core aspects. For example, Nine is still a jerk, however, this

"Seriously, bro, sorry about leaving you in the cave. That was sort of my fault." 

. . . "So they put you through it, huh?" he solemnly asks. (96)

Would have been a hilarious spectacle in The Rise of Nine. Nine does not get apologetic, and does not feel connections with people other than when he plants his fist in their faces. He's one of my favorite characters because he has so much depth even though he seems like he has no depth at all. Unfortunately for him, though, his stubbornness and provocative nature do not bode well for our cast. I won't tell you why, it's a tear you must shed alone.

Another huge element is the humor. It varies from light to just plain sassy (usually brought to you from the glorious mouth of Nine . . . ) and is almost always circumstantial.

"If you're wondering what the horrible smell is, it's the vegetarian food Marina's cooking for dinner," says Nine. 

This acts as an effortless transition from the end of an empowering, yet tiring, mission, to the start of an expository scene. In that same manner, much of the book seems effortless, fluidly transforming itself from action to moral discussion to exposition, all through a plot that upholds suspense and mystery almost like it has no other function. It is for this reason and plenty more nuances that I won't waste your time with because that would make this review pages long, that The Fall of Five is a top-notch novel in my opinion.

- Marlon

Would you take the fear and anxiety and torture of being a hero if it meant you held the security of a universe on your shoulders?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Brilliant
On Goodreads

The Night Circus was an impulse buy, so I was expecting anything between Twilight and Cirque Du Freak. And honestly by the cover I wasn't lead to believe anything different. If this was some softcore erotica, I wouldn't have been surprised. I'd never even heard of Erin Morgenstern, nor did I like circuses.

And then, of course, I peeled open the beautifully made cover and I met the introduction. Like a particularly rusty nail meets a sledgehammer.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices on downtown posts and billboards, no mentions or advertisements in local newspapers. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The towering tents are striped in white and black, no golds and crimsons to be seen. No color at all, save for the neighboring trees and the grass of the surrounding fields. Black-and-white stripes on grey sky . . . with an elaborate wrought iron fence encasing them in a colorless world. (Morgenstern, 3)

The diction is and proceeds to be deceptive. Deceptive, because it is so simply written you could hear it being said, yet so vivid you sometimes can't wrap yourself around it. I find the introduction does well to describe the basic structure for the novel.

First, the circus is not there. Everything you are introduced to for a few pages seems utterly inconsequential. Here's a little girl, there are some magicians . . . you almost expect something to jump out at you. It's interesting, but only because of the subtle dialogue and the curiosity it leaves you with. But the diction is so addicting. I couldn't help but fall in love with Erin Morgenstern's voice from page one, and it lit up her first scenes like candlelight.

Second, the circus is alive. And it lights up the night in its monochromatic wonder. Morgenstern's description of the circus and all of its workings alone are the second best bit of this novel for me. The circus itself is as much a part of the show as the performers. For instance:

The edges are metal, oxidized to a blackish tinge, but the side panels and the lid are clear glass, so [the contortionist] is visible the entire time as she bends and twists and folds herself into the tiny space. She does it slowly . . . And then the glass box with the woman trapped inside slowly fills with white smoke. It curls through the tiny cracks and spaces . . . The smoke thickens . . . (140, 141)

Fourth, that number quickly changes.

Third, the circus has no followers.

Oh, yes, did I mention the novel is told in a few different perspectives from varying timelines? No? Well it's quite important. Because it's something else that seems so utterly inconsequential. I could hear myself think "I absolutely don't care about these little kids get back to Chandresh, please" the first time the narration was interrupted in this manner, even though I was utterly lost in the beautiful descriptions of the circus when it was completed.

But that's the thing about this novel. It's slow. If you like action, and plots the speed of light then this novel is not for you. No, this novel is like baking a cake and eating it. It is a time-consuming, careful process. And it becomes delicious. Scratch the cake, you're building the circus a piece at a time and you can't spare a second to look at the whole thing because the individual pieces are crafted so beautifully.

So like that little splotch of color in the black and white circus, there is a romance. And a fair warning: much of it is very underplayed. This is where the book seems dialogue heavy, and where narration seems spared for the vivid and beautiful words. The two main love interests are kind of thrown together. Their love, as I see it, is almost a necessity. They have days together where they craft it like one of their exhibitions, long days that you lose yourself in. No one else could hope to understand them but each other. Their creations are the most exposition we are allowed of them. It is how we infer on their growth when they're apart. And like everything, this romance a slow process with twists and turns, scrapes and bruises but beautiful nonetheless. A full appreciation for the romance can only be felt at the end of the novel . . . that's all I can say.

I don't think you're meant to be imagining how to please your opponent. (344)

The only ship I'll ever ship though is Poppet and Baily <3

And finally, my absolute, achingly favorite favorite part of this novel: the secondary characters. They have so much depth it actually hurts to call them secondary characters. They have the best lines, the saddest smiles, the coolest quirks, the most heartbreaking hearts, and the darkest secrets. But as usual, check them out for yourself! Especially the twins, Poppet and Widget.

The past says on you the way powdered sugar stays on your fingers. (263)

As a side note, I see quite a bit of hate on the character development and exposition of the characters by other reviewers. In reply, I would like to point out my favorite character: Chandresh. If his isn't a magnificent dynamic that serves to twine the whole of the plot and countless amounts of characters together, then I honestly don't know what is. I do agree that Marco and Celia could have grown considerably more as lovers and even as competitors. Not only did I long for moments when their love could flourish around the middle of the novel, I also saw myself wanting more and more of their game. I wanted it to become a terrible, horrible, tragic thing. But that's not what this book is about. So though I agree, I disagree. Hence the .25 star reduction. Sue me.

- Swordfish

What's your favorite circus act?
Let us know in the comments!

Triple Review: The Sweetest Dark - Shana Abé

The Sweetest Dark
Shana Abé
Series: The Sweetest Dark, #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Beautiful Perfection
On Goodreads

I won an Advanced Reader's Edition of this book through Goodreads First Reads (although I probably would have bought it anyway) and it is now one of my favorite books I've ever read. There is something so exquisite and eloquent about the way Shana Abe writes - some of the imagery doesn't necessarily seem realistic coming from a 16-year-old, but I was too caught up in the beauty to really notice or care.

Beyond the glass of my window the night was now amethyst. Infinite amethyst, deep and dark with a ripple of stars winking over the obsidian break of the forest paralleling the tracks. I found that depth of purple sky mesmerizing. Nights in the city were always gray or black or the color of the streetlights. Always. So I wasn't sure why this particular hue—those stars, the jagged line of trees—was so familiar. I must have imagined it this way, I decided. I read so much. I must have read of amethyst nights and imagined it.

Ugh, why is that so beautiful?! This is the first I've read of Abe, but I'm definitely going to be reading her Drákon series in the near future, as well as The Deepest Night when that is released.

The Sweetest Dark takes place in World War I England at Iverson, a prep school for daughters of wealthy families. Lora, our heroine, is an orphan who doesn't remember her past and is thought to be crazy by the people at her orphanage. At the beginning of the book, Lora finds out that she has been given a scholarship to attend Iverson. Throughout the story, she gradually finds out who she is and tries to uncover her past while also falling in love.

Lora is probably the greatest heroine I have ever read. Not only is she strong, determined, and headstrong like most heroines, but she also has this nefarious side to her - she is not afraid of what people think of her and couldn't care less about how she is "supposed" to act. And she is so sassy. She pretty much always has a witty reply to anyone's attitude or rudeness. Even when she's outnumbered by all those rich girls at Iverson, she still tells them off regardless of the consequences.

"Call me anything you like," I answered, pulling out my chair. "I certainly understand how someone with such an abnormally tiny head would struggle to remember even the most undemanding facts. It must be quite a burden for you."

I just... I love Lora so much. She is perfection.

Of course, one cannot forget the two love interests: Jesse and Armand. Oh, Jesse. He is a dreamboat. He is compassionate, understanding, loving, handsome, sweet... I could probably go on all day. Jesse is the one who helps Lora figure out who she is and acts as her guide throughout the book. Armand, on the other hand, is brooding and snarky. A lot of Lora and Armand's interactions in the story are through witty banter, which both adds to their personas and gives a bit of humor to the story. When Armand and Jesse interact, it is especially intriguing because the two couldn't be more different.

So, basically, this book is awesome. The characters and the relationships are so well developed, and the plot will keep you engrossed all the way to the end. Although the ending was bittersweet (and I may have bawled my eyes out), the story was absolutely captivating and I cannot wait to get my hands on The Deepest Night.

- Kiersten

Marlon's The Sweetest Dark Review
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Enchanting

Okay so I'm not going to as fancy as the White Queen over here with her quotations (mainly because I have no copy of the book to call my own because I'm lazy) and pretty formatting, BUT, I love this novel.

I fell absolutely for the romance and got swept away by the action, held in abrupt, rapt abeyance from the suspense, and . . . well, you get the point.

The Sweetest Dark is enrapturing mainly because of the rich story-line and deep romance, delivered constantly with beautiful (I am at odds for a word more precise than this), near lyrical description.

The depths this book penetrates into its characters you will find in yourself. Like, damn, I didn't know I could feel so bloody much for a character until Jesse . . . Anyway.

Some books are engineered meticulously and the result is fascinating; The Sweetest Dark feels crafted from starlight.

- Marlon

Noor's The Sweetest Dark Review
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Word rating: Flows more than a river

So my review has the added bonus of no fancy quotations and pretty words like "crafted from starlight." Okay? Okay. Let's get down to business.

Putting it simply, I fell in love with this book from the first page. I'll admit, I wasn't expecting it to be anything special, just the same old love triangle based story I've read a thousand times. Boy, was I wrong with a capital W.

Shane Abé writes with this beautiful eloquence that makes her words seem like they're melting into one another. Her writing is, for me at least, impossible to put into words. You have to read it yourself to understand just how her words feel like ribbons of melodic magic, surrounding you as you read. Honestly, I could read a story about paint drying and thoroughly enjoy it if it was written by Shana Abé.

The Sweetest Dark is, however, not about paint drying. The storyline is just as fascinating as the writing style. Abé finds the perfect balance between focusing on the romance and on Lora's own personal journey. As the plot advances, she keeps the mystery up, revealing plot twists that you might never have expected. As the action progresses and we learn more about the characters, the romance progresses too. It isn't abrupt and out of nowhere, and Lora isn't a vapid "Oh my goodness, I love two boys, what on earth shall I do" type of character. Every moment is filled with passion and wonder, and you realize you've formed such close attachments with these characters that you can't bear to close the book once you're done reading it.

The Sweetest Dark is definitely a book I'd recommend to everyone. I laughed so hard I cried at some of Lora's witty comments and I cried to no end at the bittersweet ending. Shana Abé did not fail, for a single moment, to deliver an entrancing and alluring story that leaves me craving more.

- Noor

How would you feel if you woke up one day and didn't remember anything about your past?

Let us know in the comments!