Book Review:Cinder

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Penguin
Rating: 4 stars

Brief description: In a futuristic world Cinder(ella) fights against an oppressing society for freedom. She is a cyborg living in a humans world and is not given the same rights. Working in a mechanics shop she encounters the prince of New Beijing who captures her heart. How much is she willing to tell him about her real identity? And does she even fully know her own identity?

Thoughts in a sentence
Bee: This is one of my favourite books. I love the unique twist on a classic fairytale.
Kathy: Funny, romantic and clever. This book has you enraptured until the very end.

Review:
This novel is set in New Beijing, a futuristic city full of cyborgs, androids and portscreens. I was very intrigued to read a novel set in an Asian country as there are few YA books set in this continent.  I think Meyer chose to  set her novel here because it is busy, hot and ultimatley a huge machine.  A city has so many wires and connections that it is all a big circuit. This is ironic as cyborgs are discriminated against in New Beijing yet the people will happily live off of a machine city. I think Meyer is trying to reflect our society in this instance as we discrimate people for their appearance and differences yet in the end we rely on them as they are working citizens of our country and world. Cinder takes the reader on her journey and we get to see first hand the kind of hurt she recieves. This can range from just a disapproving glance to not having the rights over her own body.
I really liked the relationship between Cinder and Kai. I really hope they end up together as they've been through too much to not get a shot at happiness. The ending was very tense and shocking. Having read the other novels in the series so far I know more about who Cinder is and what powers she can posses. However from the view of only this book I think Meyer revealled Cinders identity in a spectacular way and left us heartbroken.
I have found  parallels between Cinder and Kai. For instance they do not both possess complete freedom. Kai is restricted becaus of his status as King and Cinder can never be free because of her lower cyborg class. Maybe they find a sense of freedom in each other and a glimpse of what life is like when you're reckless. There are many questions to be held over Levana and the disease letumosis. Levana, representing the evil witch who disguises herself to trick cinderella, is a cunning and malicious character. She appears to have no pity or even a sense of humainity, maybe because she isn't human. I am interested to see how Levana will be otherthrown and for Cinder to recognise her true power.
Finally I want to say how this is a very quick, fun read that makes you feel good. I would compare it to Anna and the french kiss, because they both have a lovable quality to them.

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Love Bathy
Twitter: @BathyBooks
And may the odds be ever in your favour.

Book Review: A Monster Calls

Title: A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness
Publisher: Walker Books
Rating: 3 stars

Brief Summary: Conor has been having the same nightmare ever since his ill mother started her treatment. Conor loves his mother so much and will do anything for her. One day when Conor cannot sleep a monster visits him. But this isn't your average scary monster. Who is this monster, and why does he keep appearing to Conor? Conor must face the reality of his life and stand up to his monsters.

Thoughts in a sentence:
Kathy: A beautifully moving story showing us a different side to tragedy and how people's minds cope with such difficult situations.
Bee: TBR

Review: At first when I started reading this book, I thought it was a childrens book because of the easy to read writing style. However upon finishing it I really appreciate how it was written because the whole book is about Conor, the young boy, so I think the writing syle reflects him and gives us a better insight to HIS life and not just the things going on in it, but how he feels. I think it's so interesting to have this story told from a childs point of view because this is the hardest situation he will ever have to face in his life, and he has to somehow deal with it at such a young age. I think the whole idea of nightmares and monsters was used becuase it's the only thing Conor can relate bad things with. They haunt him wherever he goes and he has a cloud hanging over his head. In the book Conor has to face the scary reality happening in his life, as well as the own battle he's having in his mind. He is two different people trying to live in the same body. He wants to be the son his mother has brought him up to be and love, but inside he wants to cry and scream and destroy everything, becuase how can he ever be happy with so much pain and sadness in his life. This book contains so many interesting parallels that show the struggles lots of people have to face  on their own. The monster and the nightmares are Conors way of relieving himself from reality.
The ending to this book was outstanding. The reader finally understands what is going on in Conors mind and the truth couldn't be less painful for Conor and the reader. This book makes you realise that sometimes we must let go of even the things we love the dearest in life becuase they can hold us back. For as long as you hold onto something of the past, you can never move forward. Conor has his whole life to lead and he learnt so much from such a young age.
The final thing I wanted to mention about this book is the whole presence of the monster. Who is he? Was he just a figment of Conors imagination or was he something more? At first I thought maybe he could be a version of God, who has come to save Conor. However this monster was not the loving kind. Nearer the end of the book, Conor almost became the monster, and this leads me to believe that the monster was what Conor needed to see to get through this time in his life. Maybe it was God who created this monster for Conor, the monster being the bad things and thoughts inside of Conor. Conor had to face his own evil to accept the truth he needed to feel.
This book has still left me with so many questions but its a tale I will read again and again when I'm looking for an answer in my life. Thank you Patrick Ness for doing such a great justice to Siobhan Dowd.

You can tell us what you thought of this book in the comments below or on our twitter page @BathyBooks
May the odds be ever in your favour
Love Bathy <3

Book Review: Endgame the Calling

Title: Endgame the Calling
Author: James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton
Publisher: Harper Collins
Rating: 4 stars

Brief summary: The end of the world was planned even before life began. Now the end is here, it is time for endgame to begin. There are twelve players and one prize: to live. Endgame is the game that decides who survives the end of the world. Endgame is real. Endgame is now. What will be will be.

Thoughts in a sentance:
Kathy: I think the premise of this book was so exciting and just the idea of it will keep me reading the rest of the series, however I think the book could have played out better.
Bee: (To be read)

Review: Endgame is a thrilling rollercoaster you don't want to miss, read it now and feel the thrill. One thing I loved about this book was that it's told from nearly every players perspective meaning you can see how they individually interpret the game and you can also experience the way the players were prepared for endgame. We see that they have been trained in different ways and you see how that has shaped their character.  I also loved how this book takes us to different countries such as China and Turkey.  We go to famous land marks such as the Big wild goose pagoda and stone henge, which I really enjoyed because we gain knowlege about these interesting sites as well as enjoying the story. I ended up doing my own research on some of the sites because I wanted to get a better picture of what it looked like in my mind, for example if you don't know what the big wild goose pagoda is you should defiantly look it up because it's probably not what you think it is. The fact that this book adds a supernatural element to famous sites that everybody knows of, made this book even more interesting for me because it made it seem more real.

If you didn't already know this book has a lot of hype about it beacuse it is being made into a film, there will soon be an app that allows you to play your own endgame and you can win half a million dollars with this book. Inside the book are lots of odd pictures and words that will help you solve the puzzle and unlock the money being held at ceasers palace in las vegas.

My only criticisms about this book is that at first it is hard to keep up with whose story you are following because there are so many players and the names are hard to match to characters. However it soon becomes clear who each person is beacuse they all have something memorable about them and are all very different. I also kept expecting something big to happen because it's such a big book you expect a huge climax and a shocking surprise (which I definitely got) but the ending wasn't as good as I was expecting compared to the rest of the book. I feel it could have been more dramatic and I was confused with the ending and couldn't imagine what was going on. The ending had some heart breaking scenes that I couldn't believe happened because it was so unexpected.

I know the next books will definatly have us holding onto our chairs and to be honest I can't wait. This story can go in a lot of directions and I'm hoping that the players will be able to work togather and find a better solution to endgame however what will be will be.

You can tell us what you thought on our twitter page @Bathybooks

May the odds be ever in you favour 
Love Bathy 
xxx
P.S. Comment with your opinion I'd love to talk to someone about this book :)