Thursday, August 11, 2016

Suicide Reviews: The Last Star (The 5th Wave #3) by Rick Yancey

 The Last Star (The 5th Wave, #3)

Summary: The enemy is Other. The enemy is us. They're down here, they're up there, they're nowhere. They want the Earth, they want us to have it. They came to wipe us out, they came to save us. 

But beneath these riddles lies one truth: Cassie has been betrayed. So has Ringer. Zombie. Nugget. And all 7.5 billion people who used to live on our planet. Betrayed first by the Others, and now by ourselves. In these last days, Earth's remaining survivors will need to decide what's more important: saving themselves...or saving what makes us human.

Date Published: May 24, 2016
Published By: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 338
Rating: 5/5

I'm not sure what I would have done if the conclusion to Rick Yancey's 5TH Wave trilogy was disappointing. The first two books were just so spectacularly mind-blowing that I kind of really needed the final book to be nothing short of transcendent. 

(SPOILER ALERT! It was.)

Something I've loved throughout this series is that each main character has their own agenda and this really comes into play in the final book. It's not as simplistic as 'good guys' versus 'bad guys'. Or rather 'humans' versus 'aliens.' It's a lot more nuanced than that - characters who think they are on the same side have competing interests or goals which makes for some great conflict. 

Along with delivering an epic, action-packed sci-fi series, Yancey provides some astonishing insight into the human condition. There were some lines that gave me goosebumps, they were so accurate and profound. This isn't a book that you forget about the moment you finish reading it - this is a story that will stay with you. Which is a good thing because it's a story that touches on so many important topics - humanity, love, faith, hope, violence, war, religion, education, and environmentalism. (Just to name a few.) This isn't your average alien invasion yarn. 

And, oh my God, the writing is so gorgeous that I want to have the entire text of all three books tattooed on my body. Rick Yancey is a master of evoking an emotion in the reader with just a few well-chosen phrases. 

I'm sure there are some who would disagree with me but, in my opinion, Yancey made a bold choice in how he ended the series and it paid off. It's an ending that won't please everyone, particularly those inclined towards happy endings that tie everything up in a perfect little bow and make you feel all warm and squishy inside. But I've always argued that a fitting ending is better than a happy one, and I think the ending fit perfectly. 


Wednesday, August 10, 2016

T5W: Authors I Am Waiting On Another Book From

 Top 5 Wednesday

We all know the agony of waiting for the next book in one of our favorite series or the new release of our favorite author. What's even more frustrating is when you're waiting on the mere announcement by your favorite author of just when they will decide to hurry up and RELEASE A NEW GODDAMNED BOOK ALREADY! 

*takes deep breath* *thinks happy thoughts*

Here are the authors that I wish would announce a new book...sometime in the near future...if it's not too much trouble...pretty please?


Shana Abe is kind of under-the-radar, despite being a New York Times Bestselling Author. I have read every single one of her books and am blown away by her lyrical writing style. It's been two years since she's released a new novel and I am constantly checking her official Facebook page for updates. What's worse is that the last book she released was the second novel in a planned trilogy and I need to know how the series ends! A few months ago she said she was working on book 3 but we haven't seen any updates since.


Kristin Cashore is the author of the highly-acclaimed Graceling series. The last book in the series, Bitterblue, was released back in 2012 and I am just dying for her to release a new book because she's a BRILLIANT AUTHOR! According to her blog, she is writing a new novel and is currently in the revision stage but so far, we have no title, no cover art, and no release date. 

Marie Rutkoski

Marie Rutkoski is the author of one of my new favorite series, The Winners Trilogy. The third and final book, The Winner's Kiss, was just released a few months ago but I am already craving my next hit from this author. (Is it weird to talk about books as if they're drugs? I don't have a problem, I can quit anytime I want!) She does have previously published books that will tide me over until she releases something else but I just want her to ANNOUNCE SOMETHING ALREADY!

Stephen King

It's a bit odd that we don't have any news about upcoming releases from The King. Okay, never mind, I just checked his Goodreads page and it looks like he'll be releasing a collection of essays in October. But I'm not going to count that one because I desperately want a new novel from him, or a collection of short stories. Hell, I'll take just one short story, even a paragraph...JUST GIVE ME SOMETHING, ANYTHING!

J.K. Rowling

Although us Potterheads did technically get a new Harry Potter story just last week, I'm not going to count that one. (I will not go on a rant about Cursed Child, I will not go on a rant about Cursed Child.) While I will love Harry Potter until the day I die and will consume anything that is even remotely connected to the Wizarding World, I would love to see J.K. Rowling do something different. A new children's book, an adult fantasy series, a fairy tale retelling, hell something that has nothing to do with The Boy Who Lived. I believe J.K. Rowling is a gifted storyteller and I think she could continue to write amazing stories for the rest of her life...if only the world would let her.

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey of gingerreadslainey and is now hosted by Sam of Thoughts on Tomes.

Top 5 Wednesday Goodreads Group.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

TTT: Books I'd Buy Right This Second if Someone Handed Me a Fully Loaded Gift Card

 

Seeing as I have over a 1000 books on my wishlist (I'm not even kidding) it was kind of hard to narrow it down to ten. Somehow I managed by whittling it down to the ten books that are currently at the top of my (very long) wishlist:

In no particular order:

1) The Fireman by Joe Hill
The Fireman

I've yet to read anything by Joe Hill but, considering that he is Stephen King's son, I have a feeling that I'll love his work. I've collected all the books that he's published so far except his latest one, just released this year. It's supposed to be an epic post-apocalyptic novel and I cannot wait to add it to my bookshelf.

2) The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories

I've seen this book several times during my frequent forays into bookstores and I've been tempted to walk out with it every time. Ken Liu has gotten some serious buzz lately and I'm intrigued to read his collection of short stories. Plus, I love the look of the minimalist cover with the adorable origami tiger.

3) Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff VanderMeer
Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction

I'm an aspiring writer of imaginative fiction. I need this book. Why haven't I bought it yet? Get your sh*t together, self!

4) The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood
The Summer Dragon (The Evertide, #1)

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT DRAGONS!

5) Fool's Gold (The Dragon Lords #1) by Jon Hollins
Fool's Gold (The Dragon Lords #1)

SO IS THIS ONE!

6) In the Labyrinth of Drakes (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #4) by Marie Brennan
In the Labyrinth of Drakes (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #4)

ARE YOU NOTICING A CERTAIN THEME YET?

7) The Waking Fire (The Draconis Memoira #1) by Anthony Ryan
The Waking Fire (The Draconis Memoria, #1)

I'M SORRY, I JUST REALLY LOVE DRAGONS!

8) The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley
The Geek Feminist Revolution

This book is not about dragons but it is about geek culture and feminism, two things that I rate almost as high as dragons. Almost.

9) Classic Penguin: Cover to Cover by Paul Buckley
Classic Penguin: Cover to Cover

Any avid book collector knows that no one beats Penguin when it comes to beautifully designed covers. I'm dying to get my hands on this book so I can revel in the glory of beautiful book covers.

10) Harry Potter Scholastic Box Set by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter Boxset (Harry Potter, #1-7)

I've collected several Harry Potter sets over the years but I still haven't gotten my hands on a set of the classic Scholastic hardcovers. (I'm Canadian, so we got the British covers.)

What books are you dying to buy? Tell me in the comments below!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original bookish meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.


Monday, August 1, 2016

New Releases: August 2016

 August 2

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
It Ends with Us

Genre: New Adult Romance

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3) by Mary E. Pearson
The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles, #3)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst by Jeffrey Toobin
American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst

Genre: Nonfiction

An Accident of Stars (The Manifold Worlds #1) by Foz Meadows
An Accident of Stars

Genre: Fantasy

August 9

Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle #1) by Jay Kristoff
Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle, #1)

Genre: Fantasy

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

Genre: Fiction

The Last Days of New Paris by China Mieville
The Last Days of New Paris

Genre: Science Fiction

The Girl Before by Rena Olsen
The Girl Before

Genre: Mystery

Adnan's Story: Murder, Justice, and the Case that Captivated a Nation by Rabia Chaudry
Adnan's Story: Murder, Justice, and the Case that Captivated a Nation

Genre: Nonfiction

Three Years with the Rat by Jay Hosking
Three Years with the Rat

Genre: Fantasy

Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Good Morning, Midnight

Genre: Fiction

August 16

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

Genre: Humor

The Obelisk Gate (The Broken Earth #2) by N.K. Jemisin
The Obelisk Gate (The Broken Earth, #2)

Genre: Fantasy

The Architect of Song (Haunted Hearts Legacy #1) by A.G. Howard
The Architect of Song (Haunted Hearts Legacy, #1)

Genre: New Adult Fantasy

August 23

The Perfect Horse: The Daring American Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts
The Perfect Horse: The Daring American Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis

Genre: Nonfiction

The Rat Prince by Bridget Hodder
The Rat Prince

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Breath of Earth by Beth Cato
Breath of Earth

Genre: Fantasy

August 30

A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir
A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
Furthermore

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West
Kingdom of Ash and Briars

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood
The Darkest Secret

Genre: Mystery

The Thousandth Floor (The Thousandth Floor #1) by Katharine McGee
The Thousandth Floor (The Thousandth Floor, #1)

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary