Scythe by Neal Shusterman REVIEW

Summary:

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life--and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe--a role that neither wants. These teens must master the "art" of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

My Thoughts:

For some reason, I have a fascination with books like this. I'm actually really glad I picked this one up, because although it's very different than some other books with similar concepts, it's still very good. 

It seems as if Citra and Rowan are living normal lives for that time, until they are taken to be trained by a scythe. No one really wants to be "gleaned" (what they call taking lives), however if the person resists their family is in danger, which is kind of sad. People who have never known death being forced to face it. The kids' trainer dies (SPOILER) not really though. And because some scythes took up their apprenticeship, they still must be forced to dual to the death once the training is complete.

I honestly really loved this book and would really recommend it.

My Rating: 5 stars

Ahsoka by E. K. Johnston REVIEW

Summary:

Ahsoka Tano, once a loyal Jedi apprentice to Anakin Skywalker, planned to spend her life serving the Jedi order. But after a heartbreaking betrayal, she turned her back on the Order to forge her own path, knowing Anakin and the other Jedi would still be there for her should she ever need them.

Then the Emperor took over the galaxy, and the Jedi were ruthlessly murdered. Burdened with grief and guilt, Ahsoka is now truly on her own, unsure she can be a part of something larger ever again. She takes refuge on the remote farming moon Raada, where she befriends a young woman named Kaeden and begins to carve out a life for herself. But Ahsoka cannot escape her past or the reach of the Empire. When Imperial forces occupy Raada, she must decide whether to become involved--even if it means exposing her Jedi past. Her choices will have devastating effects for those around her . . . and lead her to a new hope for the galaxy.

My Thoughts:

I honestly wasn't sure what I would think about this book. I have never read a Star Wars novel that happened in between the third and fourth movie that had a "not made up character" as the main person in the book. I've honestly never read anything like it before, and I doubt I'll ever find one again. This book turned out to be very good. It showed how Ahsoka's been living on her own hiding from the Empire, and showed some flashbacks to some events that happened before the Empire came to power. She doesn't seem to know what had happened to Anakin or Padme. The story was good and fresh from other Star Wars EU books I've read. 

I would really recommend this to any Star Wars fan.

My Rating: 5 stars

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Six

Summary:

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion of the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris--but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee--even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned . . .

My Thoughts:

I actually really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if I would, since most final books in most series end horribly or just end with you wanting more, but the end of this one was well written. I still wanted more, but that's just me lol. 

Sebastian turns Shadowhunters into his own army by forcing them to drink from the Infernal Cup, which makes them turn against fellow Shadowhunters who have not been turned.

Rafael, Magnus, Luke, and Jocelyn try to form an alliance with faeries, but they are betrayed and handed over to Sebastian as hostages to force Clary and Jace to come to him.

Clary then saves her friend's lives by pretending to go along with Sebastian's plan, but then kills him with her sword that has heavenly fire in it; the only thing that can kill him. To get home, they must make a deal with Magnus' father, and the price is Simon's immortality and knowledge of his friends' world. But later on Magnus goes against the rules to help him regain the memories Simon lost. And he gets back together with Alec, which I was so happy about.

My Rating: 5 stars

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Five

Summary:

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought--Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.

Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell--a risk that could claim their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She;s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

My Thoughts:

I liked this book, however it paled in comparison to the previous two books, which are still my favorites. Jace is alternating between himself and the self that Sebastian is controlling while Clary is trying to figure out Sebastian's plan and stop him. Simon, Isabelle, Alec, and Magnus are trying to find a way to kill Sebastian without harming Jace, and Camille is killed by Maureen, the child Simon unintentionally bit. And Alec and Magnus aren't a thing anymore (I figured it would happen since Magnus would have found out what Alec was trying to do, but I'm still kinda depressed on this. I probably ship them more than I should, lol).

Overall, the writing and story were very well done.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Heartless by Marissa Meyer REVIEW

Summary:

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King's marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I wasn't really sure what to expect, as I had never read anything similar to the plot.

Cath just wants to be a baker, and her parents won't let her. They want her to marry the King, although I'm not quite sure if they wanted her to have a safe future or increase their rank in society . . .She falls in love with Jest; however, later on in the book, a prophecy is told that he will die, she will be queen, the hatter will go mad, and Peter will die. She tries to stop it from happening, however she decides to save her maid from being fed to a monster, the maid who used to be her friend and betrayed her. Peter ends up killing Jest, she kills the monster (who used to be Peter's wife), the hatter goes mad, and she accepts the King's proposal then gives up her heart to see Peter dead with the Red Queen's famous line "Off with his head!"

This book was very well written and hard to put down.

My Rating: 5 stars