[Book Rave] Scarlet

WARNING. There MIGHT be SPOILERS ahead.


Wow, Fantastic Baby!



Definitely the B-E-S-T!



If I am using gifs of my two ultimate favorite KPOP groups, then beware. Extreme spazzing ahead.

Aakjshgyhrtyiruhjhdgagfsrtadurgahgfeiu0uibv!

Lemme breathe in first.




Even without reading what Cinder was all about, the cover itself was enough to captivate me. After reading Cinder, I knew in my heart that I would go through with the whole series until the end.


Scarlet's cover is as beautiful as that of Cinder. Gorgeous, gorgeous covers. See, a good YA series doesn't really need a pretty girl in the cover just to catch people's attention.


New characters. We have been introduced to new characters in this book. The most important were Scarlet and Wolf, and yeah, Thorne. I liked Scarlet, (hey Haf, when did you ever disliked a kick-ass heroine?-t)with her red hood, strong personality, tough determination, and a good heart. Wolf, not much. I think I need to get to know more about him , but I'm warming up on him. It's not like it's his fault that he was like that. Thorne? No confusion on this one. I liked his playful nature. Yeah, I thought he was this happy-go-lucky-kind of guy, which in a way, he was. But let's admit it, without him (and his Rampion, ehem) Cinder wouldn't have survived being a fugitive.

Love angles. Scarlet and Wolf, I felt theirs was too fast. Unlike Cinder and Kai's which is up to now -still- a love story in the making. I wish we could have seen more of Wolf's confusion on his feelings for Scarlet or fulfilling his duties. Or even Scarlet's struggle between her growing feelings for Wolf and her anger for him because of his betrayal. 
Cinder and Kai. Ok, jealous Kai is jealous. One of my favorites from the book. Here's an excerpt:

"Kai neared his desk again, seeing that the fugitive's profile had been transferred to the screen. His frown deepened. Perhaps not dangerous, but young and inarguably good looking. His prison photo showed him flippantly winking at the camera. Kai hated him immediately."

See what I mean? Scenes like this one are to die for. Haha. (says the hopeless romantic in me)

Back to the story. Iko is back too, with a vengeance, if I may say so.
And still, Queen Levana is as hateful as ever, and yeah, Adri made an appearance. What a shame!

Scarlet and Cinder? Honestly, it was love at first sight for me on Cinder, so I really prefer her over Scarlet. But, I love Scarlet as well. Their confrontation on the Rampion was one of the best scenes, EVER. I mean, duh, two kick-ass heroines, arguing, both having a point. Wow-oh-Wow. I don't know which side to choose. Good thing they are both rational human beings and settled it well. 

Yeah, another thing that made me extra-happy. "Manila" was one of the four cities which were attacked during the last few chapters. I don't live in Manila, but hey, it's still part of the Philippines. So nice to read it mentioned in one of my favorite series. It is so easy to make me happy.

Ooh, and BTW, I do have a favorite scene (I have a lot actually, but this one is the most unforgettable):

Thorne coughed. "I'm still confused.
With a sigh, Cinder wilted onto a crate, staring down at her mismatched hands. She scrunched her whole face up, like preparing for a blow, and muttered. "I'm Princess Selene."
Thorne snorted and they all turned to him.
He blinked. "What, really?"
"Really."
The joking smile froze on his lips.
A heavy silence was followed by a vibration beneath their feet and Iko's voice. "I don't compute."
"That makes two of us," said Thorne.

I finished reading it past midnight, but my energy level was so high, like I took 3 cups of coffee. I am so excited for the next book. Aigoo~~~2014, Wae so far? So now I'm....



For 2014. 

On the other hand...

[Book Rave] The Casual Vacancy - JK Rowling

Considered as one of the most anticipated and sought after book of the year, the first adult novel of JK Rowling revolves around a casual vacancy brought about by the death of Parish councilor Barry Fairbrother. The conflicts caused by his demise. To the council. To the community. To the families. To the people. To their selves.

Characters: 5/5

The best part of this novel (for me) is the characters. I have always been amazed by how JK Rowling come up with her characters. Especially in this book. The characters are very--human--there is just no other word to describe them. The characters are the type of people whom you meet on a regular basis. I don't know why, but it was the characters that made me love the book. I enjoyed putting my feet into their shoes...and trying to think the way they do.

Almost all of the characters left a mark on my head. Which doesn't usually happen. I tend to forget most of a book's character the moment I finish reading. But this one, is different. Even Pat, who only made what seemed to me a cameo, was very...uhm, remarkable.

But my most favorite character of them all was Parminder. Maybe because I find her lucky because she was Vikram's wife. No, seriously, I really did admire her...along with Samantha. Samantha may be a bit...I dunno...off, maybe. I like her because I thought she was smart even at the early part of the book.

Story/Plot: 4/5

When JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series, she brought us AWAY from reality. It was a get away for all of us. But when she wrote The Casual Vacancy, she brought REALITY in our door step and slapped us with it.

Truth is, what I liked about the story was that IT was something that could happen to anybody, or it might be even happening to yourself. While reading it, I didn't think that JK Rowling was trying to make a statement, she was simply telling us a story in that detached tone of her. And afterwards, I just realized that she talked about a lot of social, moral, and personal issues we all have.

Another thing I liked about it is the unobvious distinction between the protagonists and the villains. In fact, I don't think there were any good or evil sides at all. Only humans. Humans who are capable of doing good or evil depending on their principle, their belief, their situations. It's up to us, readers, to decide on who's side are we on. I like it that we are given that choice.

Entertainment: 3/5

Wondering why I gave it a 3 when I'm obviously smitten by it? Simply because it's an adult novel and it IS given that in every adult novel there are at least a few parts in it where you find it dragging...quite boring, actually--to read. It's one of those things. Rule of the universe or something. But aside from that, I'm happy with the book. The time spent reading it was definitely worth it.

[Book Rave] Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles 1) – Marissa Meyer

 

The first book in the Lunar Chronicles series is a spin-off from my most favorite fairy tale in the world that goes by the title, Cinderella. It's all about this girl Cinder who lives in New Beijing with her evil step mother and of course the ever present stepsisters (though only one of them is mean). But Cinder is not an ordinary girl, she's a cyborg living in a world where Androids and Humans coexist and where cyborgs are, well, pretty much discriminated. And then there's Prince Kai, the oh-so-charming prince and future emperor of Eastern Commonwealth which Cinder had somehow gotten involved to.

When I first read about the book in Goodreads, I thought that the story has so much promise. You can still see glimpses of the original Cinderella stuff but Meyer twisted some and made the story her own. And let me tell you how much I love the way she wrote her characters.

Cinder; I love every bit of this fantastic girl. Of course I totally adore Cinderella and it's a given that I'd totally like Cinder. As Prince Kai said, she's the best mechanic in New Beijing, isn't that awesome? And then she's kind, brilliant, loving, and even funny. I like it that she's strong and knows when to fight and when to shut up. No doubt Kai totally fell for her (since there were no formal announcement, I’m just assuming here)

Prince Kai; Kai's character reminds me of that Prince Leonard character in one of those Japanese Cinderella anime, especially when he dressed up like a commoner and went to find Cinder and asked her fix his android. That was cute. I like the guy's sense of humor as well, and oh boy, he is the perfect gentleman. He's so noble I swear the Eastern Commonwealth should build him a monument or something. Lol

One of the things I liked about the book is how the attraction between the two unfolds. Really. The chemistry is so obvious I was squirming on my seat when they first met in the market and every other scene involving the two of them gave me maximum level of giddiness. Their interactions were just so cute and light, never overly dramatic...even the ball and stairs scene was just perfect for young readers like me who doesn't really want them heavy dramas.

Oh, and the supporting characters were just great. There's Ike the android, which you can't help but adore, faulty personality and all. Peony, the kind stepsister...I grieved and cried when she died in Cinder's arms. Dr. Erland who was, in a way, became Cinder's godfather. The story wouldn't be the same without these people.

And lastly, the antagonists; I know Adri was supposed to be the evil stepmother, but I can't help it if Queen Levana fitted the bill more perfectly that Adri.  Truth is, I dunno which between the two of them I should hate more since both of them want Cinder dead. But Queen Levana is definitely a scheming, lying, and mind controlling bitch. SHE is THE perfect epitome of the word EVIL. At least Adri is somehow capable of loving.

The ending was a cliff hanger and I honestly can't wait for the next book, and the next, and the next. Seriously, can't 2015 just come in the blink of an eye?