Review: The Guard by Kiera Cass

Review: The Guard by Kiera Cass
Goodreads 
Release date: February 4th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Series: #2.5 in The Selection series
Source: Library
Length: 64 pages
Rating: No, seriously, why do I hate myself?



Before America Singer met Prince Maxon . . .
Before she entered the Selection . . .
She was in love with a boy named Aspen Leger.

Don't miss this digital original novella set in the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection trilogy. This brand new 64-page story begins just after the group of Selected girls is narrowed down to the Elite and is told from Aspen's point of view. The Guard also features a teaser to The One, the thrilling conclusion to The Selection trilogy.

My reviews of  | The Selection | The Prince | The Elite |

Full disclosure: I went into this novella fully expecting to hate it. And... SURPRISE! I hated it! It's nice when the universe makes sense.

Mini Reviews: Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi and Brooke by Veronica Rossi

Review: Roar and Liv by Veronica Rossi
Goodreads 
Release date: October 30, 2012
 Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: Yes, #0.5 in the Under the Never Sky series
Source: Purchased
Length: 68 pages
Rating: ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR.



Before Perry and Aria, there was Roar and Liv.

After a childhood spent wandering the borderlands, Roar finally feels like he has a home with the Tides. His best friend Perry is like a brother to him, and Perry's sister, Liv, is the love of his life. But Perry and Liv's unpredictable older brother, Vale, is the Blood Lord of the Tides, and he has never looked kindly on Roar and Liv's union. Normally, Roar couldn't care less about Vale's opinion. But with food running low and conditions worsening every day, Vale's leadership is more vital—and more brutal—than ever. Desperate to protect his tribe, Vale makes a decision that will shatter the life Roar knew and change the fate of the Tides forever.

Set in the harsh but often beautiful world of Veronica Rossi's "unforgettable" Under the Never Sky (Examiner.com), this captivating prequel novella stands on its own for new readers and offers series fans a fascinating look into the character of Roar. Poignant and powerful, Roar and Liv is a love story that will "capture your imagination and your heart."

My reviews of Under the Never Sky | Through the Ever Night | Into the Still Blue

You may or may not know this, but I binge-read the entire Under the Never Sky trilogy in under five days, novellas included, which was one of my better life decisions. I STRONGLY recommend you ignore that #.05 designation up at the top and read this after you've read Under the Never Sky and before you read Through the Ever Night. I think the reading experience is much enhanced after you know a little bit about the world and have had a chance to become freakingly, unhealthily obsessed with attached to Roar, and so you can fall as deeply in love with this novella as I did.

Mini Review: Fracture Me by Taherah Mafi

Review: Fracture Me by Taherah Mafi
Goodreads 
Release date: December 17th, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: #2.5 in the Shatter Me series
Source: Purchased
Rating: Still Team Warner. Sorry, Adam!



In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.

As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.

On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi's epic dystopian series. It's a novella not to be missed by fans who crave action-packed stories with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu.


Note: this novella shouldn't be read until after you've finished Unravel Me (which obviously shouldn't be read until you finish Shatter Me, because that's how series work and stuff). It contains spoilers for the ending of Unravel Me.

First of all, this is not a novella. It's a short story, and it's certainly no Destroy Me, which might be the best thing Mafi's ever written. This can easily be read in one quick sitting. However, I definitely think it's worth reading whether you're Team Adam or Team Warner. I'll admit to being pretty staunchly Team Warner (yes, I know this is unhealthy, I don't care, Chapter 62 is very persuasive and I find him much more compelling than Adam. SUE ME.). So I liked the chance to go into Adam's head and see what makes him tick. Win me over, Adam! Pull yourself out of the emo coma you were thoroughly entrenched in in Unravel Me and wow me.



While I've still got my Team Warner badge firmly in place, I will say that I understand Adam more now, particularly his intense devotion to his little brother, James. They were toothache sweet together. I've always loved James, and he and Adam (or "Addie", as he calls him, to Adam's horror), are heart-warmingly adorable. The "fracture" in the title comes from Adam's strong emotional commitments to both James and Juliette, and how he feels split between them. When it comes right down to it, which one is the one he'll give everything go? If he can only save one, which will it be?

I loved Adam when he was caught up in the dilemma, with really tough choices to make and a whole lot of heart ache. I did not love him so much when he continually thought of Juliette as a child who needed to be protected. I get it's coming from a place of love, but it's part of why I prefer her interactions with Warner. He, at least, sees her as someone powerful and capable (even if that might be stretching the truth a bit.)

The writing in this one? Not remotely Juliette-esque. Very straightforward and Adam-like. Hardly a metaphor to be found. Well, I'm sure there were metaphors, but you know what I mean. Also, seeing Juliette from Adam's perspective lets you see how truly nuts the girl is. It makes me very fond of her. We also get to see a lot of Kenji (I wanted to smack in the beginning of the story and hug his face off at the end). This is right after he's been nearly mortally wounded by Juliette, so he's kind of a mess, too. The rest of the characters? Eh. I've always thought the background characters in this series (ie, not Juliette, Warner, Adam, Kenji, James, and Anderson) were pretty blank. Also, whenever they talk about Castle, I think of Richard Castle, and that just confuses me.



The ending was funny. I mean, not intentionally. I loved it. it's one of my favorite silly, melodramatic tropes. I AM EXCITED FOR IGNITE ME NOW THOUGH I'M SURE ALL  MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS DIE.

I will not lose her. Um, sorry, buddy, but you kind of did. Quite spectacularly. Didn't you read Unravel Me?

Mini Review: No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige

Review: No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige
Goodreads 
Release date: November 12th, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: #0.5 in the Dorothy Must Die series
Source: purchased
Rating: And my head I'd be scratchin'/While my thoughts were busy hatchin'/If I only had a brain



In this digital original novella, Dorothy travels back to Oz to reunite with old friends, but her story may not have a happy ending. No Place Like Oz is a prequel to the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.

After returning to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don’t compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she’s happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she’s just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same.

Perfect for fans of Alex Flinn, Marissa Meyer, and Gregory Maguire, No Place Like Oz is a dark reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Building off of its rich mythology, Danielle Paige creates an edgy, thrilling story for teens that chronicles the rise and fall of one of the literature’s most beloved characters. This digital original novella is a prequel that sets the stage for the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.


Oh, tiny little book, I have such mixed feelings for you. On the one hand, you were strangely addictive, and I read you straight through in one sitting. But at times, you left a truly bad taste in my mouth that I'm going to try to explain.

No Place Like Oz is the novella prequel to the upcoming title Dorothy Must Die, which is about an Oz in which Dorothy is a supreme and despotic ruler who... well, must die in order for peace and prosperity to return to Oz. NPLO is the story of how Dorothy went bad. It's also a Full Fathom Five production. Full Fathom Five is James Frey's packaging company, and... well... people have thoughts about it.

Anyhoo, onto the novella itself. We open on Dorothy's sixteenth birthday, two years after she returned home from Oz, and Dorothy's having a bit of an identity crisis. How can you return to black and white once you've lived in full color? Dorothy doesn't really know how, and all she wants is to go back to Oz. I had problems. What year is this meant to be? Because The Wonderful Wizard of Oz came out in 1900, and yet there are references to the Great War and all of a sudden Dorothy is name dropping Shirley Temple, and I hate it. I know the movie came out in 1939, but surely that's not the world we've invaded. Right? Right?? Also, Dorothy's voice sounds incredibly modern.

 

The writing is, honestly, no great shakes, but I quite enjoyed watching Dorothy turn wicked. Is there something a bit disturbing and depressing about witnessing a childhood icon turn nasty, petty, and evil? Especially while you're inside their mind while it happens? Yes. Was it twisted in a sort of good way as well? Yes. Evil Dorothy is fun. I am looking forward to watching her die.



I'm mostly "meh" on this novella, to be frank. Evil Dorothy is a DELICIOUS concept, but my problem with reading packaged books like this one is that I'm always wondering whose writing and thoughts and ideas I'm reading. That may not matter to most readers, but it matters to me. Call me old-fashioned and idealistic, but I don't like to read books like they're products. I know they're products, and ought to be marketed and reviewed as such, but when I'm lost in a book I like to think of it as a work of art that fails or succeeds due to the author's skills.

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!

There's no denying that No Place Like Oz and its upcoming novel companion, Dorothy Must Die, are intriguing to the max. DESPOT DOROTHY. I want so badly to read that story, though I feel like I'm destined to be disappointed, just like I was with this novella. I probably won't be able to get past the Full Fathom Five-ness of it or the fact that I don't know if I'm even reading Danielle Paige's writing, really. There were some truly magical moments in No Place Like Oz, though, so not all hope is lost.