Feminista

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.Melina Marchetta and I go way back. I have always loved the way she has written and the world she creates. It was true for this book as well.However, the characters and their relationships just did not do it for me in this book. Maybe if I were to read it again, some other time, I might enjoy it more. But there was one thing that stood out starkly while I read this, and I kept on reflecting on this all the way throughout the novel. But it was that in all the books I have read by Melina Marchetta, the heroines are virgin...Yes, it sounds like something really little, and it is, if it is just the one book. But except for one book (which I am pretty uncertain about anyway), her heroes tend not to be virgins. As 3 out of 4 of the books I have read of hers, they were set in the Australian high schools, I can tell you that it is VERY common to have virgin male students. It might be unusual in America, but here, the sex culture is a bit more subdued. So the fact that she is portraying this standard differently for boys and girls, whether intentionally or unintentionally, did not sit well with me.I will freely say that I am a feminist, but for me it's not just the superficial existence or non existence of virginity, it goes beyond that. To me it demonstrates (and maybe even permits) differing standards for boys and girls, and that was not okay for me.I think I am more disappointed because I well and truly respect Melina Marchetta and like her novels, so maybe my standard is a bit too high for her. Maybe if I reflect back on it, it might rate higher. But right now, I can't give this book anything more than 3.5.

Reading this book was like getting a heart burn. All the way through it...Gah... Life can be so cruel...

Rating: 5 out of 5.I love this second and last book to the Arquitaine series. With the ending of book 1 and an epic teaser of this book, I was more than eager to start reading this.This story is told from Tristan's point of view. And wow, the extent that Tristan is obsessed with/loves Vianne is unbelievably crazy.There is a big spoiler here, but almost EVERYTHING he does at the court is for Vianne. His obsession/love for Vianne gets to be a bit too much at times, but Vianne is equally smart, evading him and setting plans ahead for their whole country. As a queen, she does a beautiful job. But it felt like Tristan and Vianne exchanged their intelligence/cunningness. Because in the last book it was Tristan in the lead, directing their escape and so on. This changed to Vianne taking the lead in this one, and Tristan in pursuit...I only wished that Vianne saw just how much in love with her Tristan was, before the ending.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.I was pretty disappointed with the first three-quarters of this book.It started slow, well as slow as it can be amidst the constant action and plots to uncover. But in terms of character development, it was pretty slow.It annoyed me how quick Wyatt and Evy were willing to take a break from their relationship for reasons that I didn't really understand, especially when you compare it to the way they both moved through hell to get to one another in the last three books. They just gave up and it was so damn frustrating.Having said that, I really really liked the last quarter of the book. I liked the new change in Wyatt, and I think it says something about him that I didn't like him very much when he was himself, but after the transformation, he was more loveable, had his priorities straight and many other attributes that I can't list without giving out big spoilers!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.Lilith Saintcrow’s character and world building has always been my favourite. From my first read of Dante Valentine and the UF world she created to this fantasy duology, I am still quite impressed by her. She creates not only the worlds, but also other little nuances (such as new words, different countries, new objects and so forth) that make for a richer setting but that many authors do not employ.So in this novel, I was equally if not more impressed with her setting and description, than I was at first.Now for the characters. It is a beautiful love story. The story of a lady waiting on the Princess’s and the King’s Left Hand, Assasin, you name it. Add in a conspiracy that wreathes through several layers, whose mystery is not even fully founded by the end of the book.Having said that, I think I got too used to this author’s naturally born strong heroines, because Vianne was in the beginning a bit too weak for my tastes. She was brave but she thought too much and twisted herself in circles. Nevertheless, Lilith Saintcrow does a great job of transforming a court lady interested only in books and hedge-witchery to a strong, independent, regal Queen by the end of the book. I couldn’t explain how proud I was of Vianne by the end of the book. She is exactly as a leader should be, strong when needed, but also loving.Anyway, the ending blew me away. No not the ending even, but the glimpse of the first two pages of the next book: The Bandit King… I am so glad I already have the next book purchased and waiting for me on my kindle. So now I shall be off to read it!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.For those who read and loved Mira Grant's Newsflesh Trilogy, this first mention of this novella will probably come with a lot of excitement. At least, that was how it was for me.Mira Grant definitely maintained her beautifully terrible setting. A zombie apocalypse. A virus that threatens to wipe out the human population and the human population which seeks to reassert itself in civilisation.This novella is based on Mahir's visit to Australia. Like with almost any foreign portrayal of Australia, there are parts where I was nodding and agreeing and parts where I was wondering whether to laugh or cry. But Mira Grant was definitely better than most. She had researched our history from the rigorous treatment when it comes to conserving our natural wildlife, to mentions of our historical treatment of the Indigenous population and the rabbit proof-fence. However there was also some sweeping judgements that grated slightly on my nerves.But worst of all was that there was no Georgia and Shaun. Yes I knew that going in, but I didn't realise until now just how much I enjoyed the Newsflesh series because of those two. Of course they were mentioned, but nothing more than that.If there is to be another novella, I wish it would be of Georgia and Shaun in Canadian wilderness. Please Mira Grant, I beg you!Buddy read with KRIS :)

Promiscuous hero...

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.I finally got around to reading this lovely conclusion to the Island series. We finally find out what happened to the last inhabitants of the Island.Owen comes to T.J. and Anna's house to tell them the unlikeliest of stories, that shaped their path on the island. So many maybe's and if's could have happened, but no body can change what's really happened.Buddy read with Kris, Pavlina, Basuhi, Jerry and Monisha.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.The novel has a great heroine and a good plot. But I was really really disappointed with the hero. What started off as a sexy brooding man, he turned out to be the biggest user and whiner. What’s worse is that he always played the victim. With his sister, with the heroine, you name it. If something went wrong, I’ll play the victim. Also, I did not think it was cool how he treated the heroine. Ever since the first night he met her, he has been insulting and hurting her, and then turning around to apologise. What’s worse was that the heroine keeps on accepting his apologies. We are not in secondary school any more, it’s not okay to say hurtful things and then think that a mere sorry will help you own up to it.I’ll give you an example. There is this one part, where this infamous wild child opens up to this undeserving man and tells him that she keeps herself distant from everyone like an island. This so called hero throws that back in her face, not once, but twice! He says something along the lines of: oh, how would you know, being an island and all. He was such a child! Seriously, he had some growing up to do, and the heroine needed someone better.Having said that, the rest of the novel was good, which is why I am giving it such a rating.ARC Courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing.

Rating: 4 out of 5.This new-adult novel is beautifully different from other NA’s out there. A republican and a conservative, Trey has grown up believing and supporting his father’s strong conservative views. Monica had a bad brush with Trey’s father’s (the governor’s) anti-emergency contraception laws. However these two are thrown together at every instance, from living in the same building to being enrolled in the same course: Political Science. Not to mention how the hero is sweetly and unrelentingly in pursuit of the heroine since Day 1, Hour 1, Minute 1, hell even Second 1… I kid you not, if there is a picture next to the words: hero in pursuit, it would be of this guy. Soon Monica finds herself saying yes to a study meeting, then to a date, and well, their relationship starts from there. What is very refreshing is that Trey is not like other YA-NA heroes, he is not a jerk or a womaniser. What’s even more of a surprise is that: he is a freaking virgin :O . And before you say it, I don’t think it was unrealistic. It would have been unrealistic if he wasn’t as he is so pro about his father’s conservative views, especially on contraception. This guy puts his money where his mouth is. That is to say, he would have looked like a hypocrite if on one hand he spewed forth his conservative opinions and with the other went against it. Although there was a hypocritical moment (or several) in the second half of the book.When I started this book, I was genuinely curious, wanting to see how the author would reconcile the Republican’s conservative contraception views with liberal ones. For me, this part was not well done. There was one argument with Trey that ended with him saying that she was being unreasonable. I never really understood where he was coming from, on his stricter contraceptive views. I got that he didn’t want people to use contraception to have lots of sex or whatever. But how does he justify having opinions on what other citizens can or cannot do. I mean, I get that he believes that there is an exception for rape victims, but those are not the only people who need it, what about others who honestly make a mistake, should they be pregnant at 15, and at that age be unable to give the child a good life? There was also a contradiction considering how his second brother is with a different girlfriend every weekend, unless he is keeping it PG rated with them too… So that part wasn’t really addressed, at least not to the standard I wanted it to be. Nevertheless, it was a good NA read, different from other novels. And, I am glad I requested this ARC!ARC Courtesy of NetGalley and All Night Reads.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.I was a bit wary of reading this book as only ONE of my "friends" marked it as to-read, and no one else from my friends list knows about this book.So with great trepidation I started this book.I was pleasantly surprised.In a dystopian future, the world has been taken over by the Greens. Obsessed with energy and animal cruelty, they have taken over people's lives. Away from this world is the Amish community that thrives on farming and the simple way of life. Refusing to give into the Greens' command, they live separated by a wall...Lydia is the result of an experiment. Secluded in the Amish community, the Greens don't know about her, until one day they do.This book had tasteful dystopia setting, a love triangle and a good action plot. And the best thing is that it is a stand-alone. I can't remember the last time I read a standalone dystopian YA.ARC Courtesy of NetGalley and All Night Reads.

Rating: 3 out of 5.This was a lovely book that I would recommend to people who love romantic suspense novels and alpha heroes.I wish I liked it more, but don't let my rating prevent you from reading this book.Thank you Jill for lending it to me!

Rating: 4 out of 5.In the real world, their love story would have been unlikely.On the Island, their love story is one of survival. The unlikeliest pair, thought dead by their families, embark on a forbidden love story.A tutor and her student.This book delivered well on its forbidden content. It was tasteful and developed slowly.What I didn't enjoy as much, however, was their predictable problems real-world and how they were solved.I can't say much more without giving out big spoilers, but I would have enjoyed it better if they had coped differently to the real world.Read the reviews of my fellow buddy-readers:Kristalia Basuhi Pavlina Monisha Jerry

Rating 4.5 out of 5.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.Before I write this review, I want to advise readers that I am not well-versed in American history. I simply know the gist of what happened in the war between the North and South. I however know that slavery is WRONG.So I was understandably appalled when the hero, Daniel Cameron, a Southerner, tries justifying slavery, by saying that so many former slaves would be unemployed, that because the southerners can't afford to pay workers, slavery is an answer to that? He also says that he wishes that it was left to the states to weed out slavery state by state, that it would have happened gradually. Umm, gradually isn't good enough. Even then, when generations of lifestyle involves using slaves, how easily will people be willing to give up that lifestyle? It was just really appalling and shocking.What I respected, however, was how Heather Graham tries to show the less popular side of this war. There was another author, who shall not be named, who wrote a historical romance during this war, and the novel was based in the southern states. Anyway, there was no mention of slaves or slavery. I think part of the reason is because this is such a sensitive topic. But while I respected Heather Graham's story-telling, I wished she had made the heroine more assertive. Hell even a little bit aggressive? I think this situation calls for a bit of aggression. I am not saying I wanted the heroine to be violent, but that I wished she was more passionate about HER Yankee views. That is not to say that she was completely passive, she was not, I just wanted a bit more action/words on her part.But other than that, everything else was lovely. I loved how the author nurtured a beautiful love story between two enemies. The distrust, suspicion and so many other emotions standing between these two people.ARC Courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing.