Tag: super heroes

Firefight, Book Two of The Reckoners, A Review

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The first book took place in what used to be Chicago, now known as Newcago. However, in the sequel, Firefight, David gets to discover a new city and learn about a different way of life in what is left of NYC, also known as New Babylon or Babilar.

In New Babylon, David (also known as Steelslayer), has the opportunity to meet a new group of Reckoners and learn how they cope with their local Epics. He also gets to see how a different population survives. The New Babylonians are incredibly laid back and follow the belief that they should party while they can.

David is also still very much in love with Megan and its really interesting to watch that develop throughout this sequel. He still, unfortunately, really struggles with his metaphors and similes. Often creating such a bad allusion that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

This book had me constantly questioning who I could trust. Are the Epics all bad? Or is there still a chance to turn them around and back into decent human beings? I really liked this book better than the first of the series, Steelheart. Firefight simply is more interesting and seems to be more mature in its content. This series is evolving into something truly unique and yet still has that awesome Brandon Sanderson style.

I highly recommend this series! Next up is Calamity, the third and final book of The Reckoners Trilogy. Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, A Review

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This tale begins with our protagonist, Diana, trying to beat her Amazon sisters at a foot race. She wants to prove she is as strong as them despite her smaller stature and birth place. Everything was going great until she saw a ship explode off shore of her island, Themyscira, and decides to swim past the safe borders to try and search for survivors. This is when we meet Alia, our other protagonist. However, Alia is a human and her presence on the shores of the home of the Amazons creates chaos.

There is punishment for just crossing the border, but to bring in an outsider? That means exile. Diana finds a way to sneak Alia off the Island but winds up somewhere unexpected. This results in many interesting interactions and an interesting view on our world from an outsider. Diana also finds that she has more things in common with humans than she ever considered possible.

“To feel like your crime is just existing.”

– Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Both Diana and Alia know how it feels to live in someone else’s shadow. They both seek to live beyond their overbearing and demanding family. I feel like this too sometimes, and I thought it was a great way to express that we are not other people’s labels or ideas of us. You are you, and that is perfect, that is enough.

Alia and Diana find their strength and powers within themselves. They are stronger and better than they knew and they have more courage than they ever believed.

This was so uplifting! Talk about Leigh Bardugo just making me feel like I can do amazing things too. With the help of good friends and support, anything is possible!

I highly recommend this for fans of Wonder Woman and/or Leigh Bardugo. Okay, I’m going to go learn how to use a lasso now!

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson, A Review

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Spensa and the rest of her homeworld, Detritus, are still fighting the Krell, although on different terms now. There is also now a new name for people like Spensa, who can hear the stars. She is no longer referred to as having a defect, but as being a Cytonic.

This sequel begins six months after the awesome finale of Skyward. The DDF is learning more and more about the Krell guarding the humans on this prison like planet so they dont escape.

So much of this book is about realizing how an “enemy ” is not always an uncontrollable monster, but a real person that has normal emotions just like everyone else. Its important to see both sides of an argument and not to focus on hatred and judgment but to understand that we all really aren’t so different when it comes down to it.

Spensa once again showed me what it means to be a hero. To trust and accept others while staying true to yourself. To do the right thing.

I cannot recommend this series more! Brandon Sanderson is my author hero who just seems to know how to write great books/series that feel like they are speaking directly to me personally. Read this series and love it!

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu, A Review

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This has been a thrilling and heartwrenching series but I am so glad that Marie Lu gave it such a satisfying conclusion.

It has been a year since Enzo’s climatic return, and although the prince is not with Adelina, she is not only ruling as Queen but conquering. Her descent into darkness is becoming more and more apparent and throughout this book I didn’t know if she would ever be able to redeem herself.

Part of the madness that is plaguing Adelina is based on the truth to Rafael’s findings about what is happening to the Elites. Their powers are turning against them all and even effecting the rest of the world in terrible ways.

Adelina may be set on conquering the world with her Elites, The Rose’s, but she has to consider working with the Daggers again to save this world and possibly herself in the process, too.

What a whirlwind of a series! I never expected this much darkness from Marie Lu, but I must say that it was a fun quick read with still enough positivity to keep me going. I highly recommend this for all fans of Marie Lu!

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!

The Young Elites by Marie Lu, A Review

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This first book in the series left me feeling somewhat despondent. I was expecting another one of Marie Lu’s loveable protagonists, but this story focuses on the creation of a villain.

Adelina and her sister, Violetta, survive the Blood Plague at a young age. But while the younger Violetta is left unmarked, Adelina not only loses her left eye but is marked as a malfetto with her now silver hair.

Adelina is one of many “Malfetto’s” with markings, but with her marking came a supernatural power that makes her one of the few, an Elite. Adelina escapes her cruel father one night only to be captured by the inquisition led by the lead inquisitor, Teren. A figure that will become a major part of her life, and not in a good way. She escapes being burned at the stake with the help of The Young Elites, The Dagger Society, led by a young man named Enzo.

This story is thrilling and full of action. Although Adelina is now surrounded by friends, she has hard decisions to make as she is continuously haunted by the ghosts of her past. Everything revolves around the choices she makes, to trust especially. And by the end, I got a glimpse of what she would become.

I highly recommend this series. It is so different from the usual young adult fantasy series’. Instead of focusing on a positive protagonist, I got to witness the creation of an antagonist that somehow I cant help but still love.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu, A Review

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I really enjoy Marie Lu’s writing a lot. It’s always fun and full of non stop action that keeps me turning the pages and wanting more. However, I do not believe this was her best work. I personally feel like she does an amazing job with the characters that she personally creates, and Batman is just such a popular character that has a very long history before Marie Lu became involved with this book. I guess what I’m trying to say, is that her writing and characters that are of her own imagination completely are just more natural.

However, I did enjoy this book. Bruce Wayne is 18 yrs old and is finishing his senior year in high school when, after abruptly leaving a benefit in a sporty, new car, he finds himself involved in a high speed chase trying to stop one of the nefarious members of the Nightwalkers group as he escapes from a crime scene. This lands Bruce in trouble with the law and Detective Draccon decides that 6 weeks of community service at the Arkham Asylum will do the trick.

Believe it or not, Bruce still finds a way to become involved with an interesting case that centers on one of the inmates, Madeleine. A young, beautiful girl who refuses to speak with anyone until Bruce crosses her path.

This story is full of tricks. Some I felt were predictable. But an intense web of cunning schemes that kept me interested until the end. It really is a fun way to think about the beginning of such an iconic hero. And the grand finale of the story is very exciting.

I recommend it if you are looking for a unique look at young batman. This is really before the name “Batman” was even created. If your also a fan of Marie Lu, maybe you too will understand why I dont think this is her best. But honestly I blame that on the fact that these characters weren’t completely sprung from her personal imagination.

Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!