Book Review: Carry On

Carry on: written by Rainbow Rowell

Release date: October 6th, 2015

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Format of Novel: Hardcover

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (from good reads): Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

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You guys(sssssss)! I'm fan girling so hard core right now! This book was freakin' amazing! (Course you probably know this by now.) I can't simply put the enjoyment I have for this within flopping my sweatshirt sleeves happily for days. Carry On is the 'fan fic' of Rainbow Rowell's novel Fan girl and to be quite honest, I found this novel to be her best one out of all of the ones she's written thus far. The characters were fantastic and querky (Loved Baz to pieces). Even though they were almost similar to the cast of the Harry Potter series, they held a originally to them that made me wanting so much more. (I finished the book in two days flat.. Sad huh?). They were so real to me as a reader, and they made me feel as so I was a direct witness to the entire adventure the cast had to endure to save their school and the world of magic.

Speaking of the world of magic, the system was interesting as well. While I did laugh at the way they had to say their spells, I thought that this was a very nice way to connect with children and perhaps people that don't normally read books like we do. The system of magic is surprisingly well known to the entire world instead of a secret to the norms.

Another thing that I was really, really in love with was the romance. Rainbow Rowell made it so fucking perfect between Simon and Baz.. It felt so, so natural, yet she took the time to make it slowly develop into something so unique and cry worthy. The passages between the two were beautifully written and ohh my word, I was so excited to read the passages and just smile from ear to ear.

This story guys, please pick up this book if you want to see some real romantic moments. I know the magical system is going to be weird because of the similarity to Harry Potter, but this book develops into something fantastic for readers to enjoy. I know it may not be the best book out there, but its nice and natural.

Book Review: Twixt

Twixt written by Sarah Diemer

Release date: April 16th, 2013 (first published on April 1st, 2013)

Publisher: Self published/Indie

Format of Novel: E-book

Rating: 4.5 out of five stars

Summary (from good reads):

You wake upon the cold ground. As you struggle to rise, as your breath exhales like a ghost, you know only two things: You can’t remember who you are. And you’re being hunted.

No one sleeps in Abeo City. The lost souls gather indoors at night as Snatchers tear through the sky on black-feathered wings, stalking them. But inside the rotting walls of the Safe Houses comes a quieter, creeping danger. The people of Abeo City have forgotten their pasts, and they can trade locks of their hair to sinister women known only as the Sixers for an addictive drug. Nox will give you back a single memory--for a price.

Like the other lost souls, Lottie wakens in this harsh landscape and runs in terror from the Snatchers. But she soon comes to realize that she is not at all like the people of Abeo City. When she takes Nox, her memories remain a mystery, and the monsters who fill the sky at night refuse to snatch her. Trying to understand who she is, and how she ended up in such a hopeless place, Lottie bands together with other outcasts, including a brave and lovely girl named Charlie. In the darkness, and despite the threat of a monstrous end, love begins to grow. But as Lottie and Charlie plot their escape from Abeo City, Lottie’s dark secrets begin to surface, along with the disturbing truth about Twixt: a truth that could cost her everything.

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I've always wanted to read this book, but never could till I finally downloaded it on my nook during the holidays. What got me attached to the story was the plot. As soon you read it, you just feel the chills riding down your spine. Right away, us as the readers get to witness the protagonist waking up in this unknown yet increasingly dark world, filled with mysterious creatures known as the 'snatchers'. Once she arrives at the lone city of Abeo within the world of Twixt, she gets to meets all these new people who are just like her. Alone and without their memories.

I enjoyed the overall concept of the world building, the Sixers, and the snatchers. They brought the creepiness into the plot and I was excited to keep on going with the book. Another thing that I found interesting was Nox. Its this very powerful drug that allows you to see a single memory if you give up a lock of hair. I found this idea to being semi-cliché, but the overall idea seems pretty awesome as a whole.

Sarah Diemer's writing in this book was beautiful and lyrical. It had a flow that was balanced and perfect enough to grasps the eerie tone that evolve throughout the story. I also did love Lottie as a person. Her character reminded me of the main character from the Maze Runners series. Both become overly curious about their past and their surroundings, and apparently putting their new friends in massive amounts of danger. Plus the romance she developed with Charlie is so freaking adorable! (Yes this story is part of the LBGT romance concept). Speaking of Charlie, oh she was a fantastic bonus to the story. She had that 'kick-ass' heroine in her, but unlike a lot of female heroes, she did have a certain venerability that makes you relate to her even more. (Minus the fact she has no memory of her past).

I really wish I can spoil every detail of this wonderful story, but I cannot. Its fast paced, the characters are realistic and the world of Twixt is wonderfully creepy, especially for the upcoming Halloween season.