Book Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver. (Delirium Trilogy, #3)

 Requiem by Lauren Oliver.
(Delirium Trilogy #3)
Book Summary: They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. 
Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.
Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

Liana's Summary: Lena's different now. She's not the girl that she was before. She won't be. She wanted freedom, freedom in the Wilds, freedom with her one true love (whoever that is). She doesn't want anything to remind her of what she had-- or didn't have in the past. War. Fighting. People dying. This isn't what she wanted. She's going to play her part in this war-- and everything will be fine in the end.. right?

Lauren Oliver takes you on one hell of a ride through this amazing and long-anticipated conclusion to the Delirium trilogy.

Rate(1-10): 10!!!

Oh my. My exceeding use of exclamation marks. Ha. Anyways, if you haven't read Delirium or Pandemonium yet just go ahead and read my reviews on both. (If you're not familiar with the Delirium world at all, this review probably won't make sense.. Also, if you haven't read Pandemonium, then don't read this review. Please. Or just read it, at your own risk.) Because this is one RIDICULOUSLY OVERLY FABULOUS series to read. Not to mention it's high on my Top 10's list. 

Well. All of you know that out of my highly-anticipated-reads list, this was on the very top. Requiem. I've been waiting for about 8-9 months for this book. In that period of time, I have passed this book on to friends and fellow bloggers, insisting that they HAD to read it. As of right now, I'm still pestering people to read it. For those of you who've read Pandemonium, and suffered that cliffhanger ending, you understand how painful that must have been. Requiem was even higher on my anticipated-reads list than Cassie Clare's Clockwork Princess. (Which, I am happy to say, is already preordered and will arrive soon enough. EEEEEP) Okay, long story short: Requiem was THE book that I NEEDED for this whole entire year. If I had to choose just one book to get this year (ouch, the pain of this negative speculation) it would be REQUIEM. 

Well, let's get on to actually discussing this story. LOL. Before I start babbling about buying this book and how I waited for a thousand years for its arrival

So basically, I hated everyone in this book.

But this book was so good.

I had this love-hate thing going on this whole entire time. I'm just like DAMMIT IF YOU DIDN'T DO THIS THEN THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED and then I would start bawling my eyes out and throwing tantrums. I know, scary. But that's what Lauren Oliver does to people with her too-amazing writing.

Let's see. (Btw, if you dislike curse words and really passionate voices and caps lock, please skip the next paragraph. Will probably contain spoilers for people who have not read Delirium or Pandemonium.)

Let's start with Lena. THIS STUPID BITCH. SHE'S A GREAT PROTAGONIST BUT A STUPID BITCH. If she weren't so selfish and indecisive nothing would have happened!! And then there's Hana, her stupid hoe of a best friend who HAD to betray her and Alex and betray everybody! Because she was fucking jealous! If it weren't for her then Lena and Alex would still be happy and Lena would have never met Julian! And so there's Alex. If he never sashayed into her life then EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE AND THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN NORMAL. And then there's that fucking shithead Julian. Why did he even have to come into this story? Lena and Alex could have been happy!! DAMMIT. 

I think I'm done. (Sike.) I'll just rave about it in my head some more, but there you go. My thoughts and feelings in that one paragraph above..

What I love about Lauren Oliver and her series is that she made everything work out in the end.

Let me just do character discussions.. May contain spoilers. Man, everything contains spoilers, doesn't it?

Lena- Lena. She's really complicated, actually. She's definitely not the girl that she was in the very beginning of the first book. She's a great protagonist and realistic too, with realistic qualities that make her so annoying in some ways and just a really brave role model and heroine in other ways. She's been through a lot of character development, which is just amazing.

Alex- He's changed as well. But no matter how much he tries to hide his sadness and bitterness and regret, I still see the old Alex, caring for her. No matter how hard he tries, he still loves her.

Julian- In book 2, I thought he was pathetic. Right now, I still think he's pathetic. LOL. But, still. Now that I've gotten to know him, he's not bad. I actually like him now. He was there for Lena to give her support, to make sure that she didn't fall and break into a million pieces. His patience is remarkable.

Hana- Loyalty over everything else. At first, when I read the synopsis before this book actually came out, I was dismayed that Hana had a PoV in this story, because, well. AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FO' HANA OK. That's what I thought at first. But she's actually really important and a very interesting character. She was the escape that all readers needed whenever they became so sick and tired of Lena's romance drama, which I admit that I became more than once. Hana is an insight of not only what happens in the 'orderly' world, how life would be if they followed the law, but also a view of what being cured seems like. No matter what the cure is, no matter how many chemicals they use, they won't get rid of all the human emotions that make a person human. What I admire about Hana is that she was always so smart about everything, that loyalty and friendship came to be the most important in the end. She shows us that if you make mistakes, you can still redeem yourself.

Raven- She was always there, always a leader. The romance between her and Tack is just too cute. Oh my lord. I love Raven, and she will always have a place in my book-loving heart. Such an amazing character! (I'm using the word amazing too much)

Coral- At first, I thought she was just there to cause trouble and mayhem and to just slow them down. But boy, was I wrong. Coral's coolio. Although she was a bit of a bitchy girl in the beginning. LOL.

Fred- Someone sing I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE right now

Lauren Oliver's writing is truly remarkable.. have I said that? Between the time I finished Pandemonium and now, I've read BEFORE I FALL, and LIESEL & PO among many other books that I read to keep me distracted. I just couldn't get enough. She writes with this amazing grace that's quiet even in the most violent scenes and authentic, too. A voice. WELL. IT'S LAUREN OLIVER. DUH. LOL.

The ending. It was a classic Lauren Oliver ending. It reminded me of the ending of Patrick Ness's MONSTERS OF MEN. A ghost ending, but an ending. It was perfect. I bawled. Tears of joy.

I can't believe it's over, it's done. I can't believe I'll be saying goodbye to this series, although they still have a place in my desk drawers and my future shelf and in my heart. So it's never gonna be goodbye. Ever. (': 

I can't wait for the Delirium TV show.

A lot of my questions were answered. Loved this book so much. Didn't want to finish it but wanted to finish it at the same time. AND THE ALEX NOVELLA AT THE END OMG I LOOKED INTO THE DEPTHS OF HIS SOUL. :D I'm just glad I preordered gosh

Quotes!

"Julian has his own tent for now."

"Remember when we first met?"

Noooooo no one wants to remember ugh

"It's because of him, isn't it?"

yes yes it is

"There's nothing between us anymore."






"Look, what I'm saying is that you're my caddy."



D'aaaaaw. That's cute. I think.

"Because if it weren't for me, Lena and Alex would never have been caught at all."





"This is crazy,"



No, you're crazy you stupid bitch!

"I'm sorry for everything."




"Forgive me."

"He was still in love with you, anyway."




"He told me so."

"Alex sacrificed himself once so that I could live and be happy."




"I am still in love with him."




"Pop."

"It's true."





"Do you love me?"

-----

This series has taught me and undoubtedly many others a lot of things. About loyalty, about friendship, how to survive out there, trust, and love. And not to wipe yo' ass with poison ivy.

It's either my foreshadowing skills giving me foresight or Lauren Oliver's amazing writing that allows a reader to foreshadow. I highly think it's the latter, LOL.

Throughout most of the book, I said to myself: TEAM JULIAN. But still, inside, that small part of me was indignant for Alex. Alena all the way.

---
That's that.
What did you think of this review?(':

Book Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.

 Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.
Book Summary: Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours.

But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Liana's Summary: Evie has always wanted to be normal. She tries to consider herself normal. But she's surrounded by paranormal creatures. And she can see through glamours. Her best friend is a mermaid, and her one true love is a shape-shifter. Her ex is a faerie. When things get as normal as they can get, they start to backtrack and things become weird, and scary. What should she do about it?

Rate(1-10): 8.5

So yeah, I was planning to save this book for later but since I had an ARC of the third book lying around, I decided, hey, maybe I should read the first book.. now. And so I read it.

So, this book. I've been wanting to read this for quite a while, although I didn't know what to expect just by looking at the title and the cover. About paranormal creatures? A girl that's a paranormal creature? Fair enough. What I mainly care about is:

-Captivating synopsis
-pretty cover (I know I know gosh)
-Interesting title
-ROMANCE.

And let's just say this book had them all.

What I didn't like was the main character. Evie's great and all but I just can't stand her. Mainly because she reminds me of myself. Naive, indecisive, and some other traits that I'm not proud of possessing. 

Let's say that the romance is perfect, and Lend is so hot?

So she's sorta like a cop (not really) that works for the IPCA, an industry or company or whatever they are that keeps paranormals in control. I like how Evie's a tough girl and all, but I dislike the fact that vampires aren't dangerous bloodsuckers but easy conversationalists and portrayed to be a bit too weak in my point of view (maybe I watch too much Vampire Diaries) and I also dislike the fact that there are paranormals EVERYWHERE. Because I don't really like the paranormal genre too much. 

But yeah, it was good. I liked it. 

Quotes.

"...cute even,"

I smell anticipation and foreshadowing reading these two words

"...he liked me, too!"

Paranormals are dying and she's seeing creepy things in her dreams and Reth is still chasing her and oh hey HE LIKED ME, TOO!

"And I want to show that world to you."

I CAN SHOW YOU THE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORLD

"Evelyn is mine. You are irrelevant."

Reth's arrogance is annoying

this is bad

really bad

really really bad

"I really, really, really liked the feeling of my hand in his."

We get it.

"You should leave, though."

Let me guess, I WON'T LEAVE WITHOUT YOU? LOL.

-----------------------

That's that.

What did you think of this review?(:

Book Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood.

 Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood.
(Cahill Witch Chronicles Book 1)
Book Summary: Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other. 

Liana's Summary: Cate is left with the responsibility of taking care of her sisters. That's what her mother made her promise. The burden of taking care of her sisters is already overwhelming, and even worse? She has to make sure they're safe. Safe from the Brothers and safe for the rest of the society that hates them. They're witches. Cate is faced with difficult decisions that she has to make and there has to be sacrifices.

Rate(1-10): 9

This book was fabulous. I loved it. Honestly, the only reason I wanted to read this book was because I heard that the guy character was some sexy beast. LOL. Well, I wasn't disappointed. HE WAS SO FREAKIN' GORGEOUS HOLY SHIT. Well, he's not really my type of guy, but what I like about him is that he's so kind and caring and he's a MUSCLY GARDENER. How hot is that? He's hot in a realistic type of way.

Anyways, along with hot-guy-gardener Finn Belastra, I liked this whole entire plot as well. Usually, I don't like witches because judgmental guys are so sexist, back then. I think it's set in 1896. Well. Sexist men and burning witches. It's that time.. back then.

Anyways, character discussions.

Cate- Cate seems too old for her age. Especially since her mother has burdened her with so much, although intentionally. Reading this, you can't help but think, poor Cate. She gets frustrated easily and what annoys me about her is that she treats her younger sisters like babies and like they can't handle even the smallest detail. And she's also very indecisive. What I like about her are her abilities and powers and her maturity-- wait, I don't really like that she seems like an old boor. LOL.
Maura- Maura is just seriously so annoying. Her and Cate get into the most fights and Maura is like, I'M OLD ENOUGH NOW BLAH BLAH BLAH and she's so naive it just gets freaking annoying. But in the end, I hope she'll realize that Cate was right.
Tess- Tess, the youngest out of the three sisters, is too mature for her own age as well. She's quiet and polite and she'll never lose her temper. When Cate is distressed with Maura she can always go to Tess, because Tess is very understanding. I think out of the three sisters I like her the most.
Paul- When Paul first came in I'm just like.. wait. Is this the hot guy that everyone's been rambling about? Apparently not. He just seems so annoying. (Everyone seems annoying LOLOL) He flirts with Cate relentlessly as though he can't see her hesitance. And before he even proposed he acts like she's his fiance already..
Finn- Finn. The nerd with glasses that loves to read books. Finn, with cherry red lips and crazy messy hair and freckles that seem to cover every inch of his muscly body. The sexy gardener. Yep, that's him. He kinda sorta reminds me of Jem Carstairs from TID by Cassandra Clare, and most of you know that I'm crazy over Jem and infatuated with him to a crazy level. He's basically my fictional boyfriend. HA! Anyways, Finn reminds me of Jem because he's way too kind for his own good and he loves the girl truly and innocently. Their hearts are both pure and kind and omg I'll just stop now. I think y'all get the point that Finn is a true gentleman
Elena- I dislike her, period. At first I thought she would have been like the evil stepmother type, but even worse, she ended up being nice. And full of secrets.

Quotes.

"If I didn't have my novels, I'd throw myself right in the river."



That's my motto

"..I smack into someone."



I think it's time for the sexy guy character to come into the story


"I'm your new gardener."



Sexy.. muscly.. gardener boy!


"..the most insufferable know-it-all.."



Don't we all know at least one insufferable know-it-all?


"....his forearms are all lean, wiry muscle."




hehehe


"...he's gotten awfully handsome.."






"I wouldn't marry a member of the Brotherhood..."



This is foreshadowing I smell, I know it! EAT YER WORDS


"I had a mad crush on her."



Fictional crushes ftw

"I'm going to marry my cousin.."




"You'd make a very fetching mermaid."





"..one ankle crumpled beneath him."




"I wonder how many freckles he's got."




Ooooooooooooh she's wondering that


"..to my favorite girl."



He makes himself sound like such a playboy. 

"..it's not because of Belastra, is it?"



HAHA HOW DOES PAUL KNOW THIS STUFF


"She wants me to join the Brothers."





"...lingering on my bosom,"



Ew perv


".. I offer myself to the Sisterhood."

-----------
Overall, I liked this book lots. Jeez, did the ending have to be such a cliffhanger? I'm eager for the next book!
What did you guys think of this review?(:

Follow Friday #18!

 Follow Friday #18~
This is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. This week's features are Readiculously-Peachy and Gone Bookserk.

Q: What is a book you didn’t like that all your friends raved about or what book did you love that wasn’t popular?

Well.  I'll just do both, LOL. So not exactly my friends-- but the majority of the book-reading community, loved Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. I didn't like it at all, in fact, I didn't know what was even happening. Ugh. I felt so bad giving it a low rating since everyone else seemed to love it, I don't know why I didn't. It probably had to do with the fact that I was so tired LOL. I might give it another try in the future.

So a book that I actually liked that's not well known? LITTLE SISTER by Kara Dalkey. I'm serious, if I want to fangirl with someone about it (yes it is so worth the fangirl) I can't find anyone to fangirl with because no one I know read this book! And if I actually recommend it to someone they just dismiss it like whatever

But honestly, it's really good. It's a Japanese mythology adventure story and it's sooooo romantic. Sort of like the beauty and the beast concept! In its own.. Japanese way! More people should read it but they don't bother to which is really sad because it's so good.

Anyways, if you follow me, guys, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll be more than glad to follow back. Happy Friday!