The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

 
 
 
 
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

published by Simon & Schuster

pages 546

genre unreliable narrator/ psychological thriller.

 

 

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What i thought

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm really sorry, but this review will contain a lot and a lot of spoilers. Please read the book first, all I can say is that this series is definitely one of my favourites and I would highly recommend it. Also, please be warned that this book << the evolution of mara dyer>> is the second book in the trilogy.

So let's get started with the review. <<Contains spoilers>>

 

 

I have just finished this book and my mind is so blown right now. I'm sure all of you will know, as the ending was just so epic. And definitely the most epic cliffhanger I ever read.

 So first of all, I really couldn't believe that Noah and Mara were the only ones who believed Jude was still out there. I mean, all the circumstances Mara's family had to go through. It definitely could not only have been Mara. And even though Mara may have killed Claire, how would she possibly be able to bring her back. It's not as if Mara isn't sad about the loss of her friend and killed claire on purpose.

The only thing I really need to talk about is the ending. Noah dead? Please for god's sake don't let Noah be dead, his character was absolutely my favourite! Dr. Kells part of some sort of complot starring Jude against Mara? What! From the beginning I knew Mara was right, even though this book is written from an unreliable narrator's point of view. I just couldn't believe that Mara wasn't truthful. And I just didn't trust Dr. Kells' character. But the fact that Dr. Kells knew everything about Mara and Jude, and she even monitored Mara's house, was just an awfully good plot twist I definitely was not expecting.

 I'm going to keep this review short and sweet, as it is almost midnight right now, and the only thing that is on my mind is the "death" of Noah. I definitely need the 3th part of the series right now! It is absolutely ridiculous how addicting this series is. Perfect for binge reading

 

What did you think about the ending?

Let me know, in the comments down below.  

xxxx Zoë

 

BTW : please don't finish this book before you go to bed because it will get you so pumped and excited for the next book ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Diviners by Libba Bray

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Published by little,brown books

Pages 578

Genre YA Horror

 

 

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.
Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.
As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

 

 

 

 

 

What I thought

 

"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on. Cuts your throat and takes your bones, sells 'em off for a coupla stones."

 

Since I have been so busy with school lately, I'm really glad to have finally finished this book.  Because this book was absolutely amazing, therefor I gave it a five out of five stars. Obviously it wasn't perfect, but I didn't think the little things that weren't really right, were a reason to take of points.

This book is set in the roaring twenties in New York. Speakeasies, theathers and lively clubs with flapper girls. I absolutely loved to read about the history and the culture of the times.  and also, the spiritual elements. One thing that I did notice was the over excessiveness of the book. A lot of little fragments - meaning certain chapters- were really unuseful and weren't really interesting to read. However, the parts that were important to the story were incredibly fast paced and captivating. The excitement and thrill in certain chapters kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing was wonderful and the characters were really intruguing.

 

One of the main characters was Evie O'Neill. A lovely seventeen-year old girl who loves to enjoy life to the fullest. However much I liked her, there were times were she really annoyed me. Sometimes her extravagent personality was to much for me. I thought she was a little to hectic and utterly girl like.  Don't get me wrong here, but I did really love the characters, even Evie.

 

Now this book is mainly about the Diviners that are awakened and obviously about the murders and the ghostmurderer. But between these stories about the humans with impacable powers and trying to unravel the mysteries of the murders, there was an amazingly sweet love story between Evie and a certain fella. Now I'm not going to spoil anything in this review, I'd say give this lovely book a try to find it out ^-^

 

If you are easily scared, this book will give you goosebumps and keep you up at night. If you aren't really scared of ghost and murderes, this book will be even creepy for you. I did really enjoy the "horror" in this book, but I didn't think it was extremely scary. So even for the lovers of horror, I'd still recommand this book, because it was just really captivating and amazingly written.

 

As I read through my review, I think I will have to change my ratings. Thinking more about the book, and the things that really bugged me.  I believe a rating of four and halve stars will suit this book better. I really recommand this one, and I am really looking forward for the next books to come. Even if you don't like "horror" that much, this book was really really good and I still recommand it to you guys.

 

Have you read this book,

what were your thoughts?

xxx Zoë

 

P.s.: Can we talk about Jericho, I mean what the fudge happened there? I still can't get over it, it was an amazing twist and I definitely didn't see that coming. I still love Jericho though, his character is so interesting.

And also, the cover! If you have bought this book in the hardcover edition you will know what I am talking about. The cover, the dustjacket and the inside make this book really stunning. And I'm definitely putting it on my selves for display.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda

Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda

published by De Bezige Bij

Pages 544

Siem Sigerius is a beloved, brilliant professor of mathematics with a promising future in politics. His family—including a loving wife, two gorgeous, intelligent stepdaughters and a successful future son-in-law—and carefully appointed home in the bucolic countryside complete the portrait of a comfortable, morally upright household. But there are elements of Siem's past that threaten to upend the peace and stability that he has achieved, and when he stumbles upon a deception that’s painfully close to home, things begin to fall apart. A cataclysmic explosion in a fireworks factory, the advent of internet pornography, and the reappearances of a discarded, dangerous son all play a terrible role in the spectacular fragmentation of the Sigerius clan.
         

What i thought

If I did not have to read this for school I would never have read it anyway. But I'm really glad that I have actually read it. Before I get into the review I wanted to mention that I have read it in Dutch, so I have no clue about the language that is used in the English translation and I will base my review around the Dutch book. 

I didn't know what I was expecting from this book, but it was nothing near what this book actually was about. I didn't expect it to be so vulgar and explicit. One thing that was absolutely amazing about this book was the writing. Peter Buwalda's writing is really intriguing, interesting and different from other writers I have read. I enjoyed this book as much as I hated this book. So let me explain...

The main event in this book is the fireworks catastrophe in Enschede in the year 2000. After this has taken place, everything starts going down hill for family Sigerius. Siem Sigerius discovers the porn site of his eldest stepdaughter Joni, leading up to his death in the same year. His curiosity and self-hatred has taken the better hand over him.  

There are three characters in this book, whom all get an evenly divided part. Joni and Aaron look back from the future to the past ( the year 2000) and explain what has happened in that year. Whereas Siem Sigerius tells about his life sofar and eventually ends with his dead. He obviously can't look back upon the past, since he has died in 2000. 

//Spoiler alert, this part of the review can contain spoilery thought and will take up two paragraphs//

One this I absolutely couldn't get my head around was the fact that Peter Buwalda could actually think of such a vulgair and explicit story. The way it was written and the way all the chapters lead up to the grand finale was absolutely stunning. But what really shocked me was Siem Sigerius. First of all, he didn't regconise his stepdaughter one the pornphoto's in the first place and once he discovers the secrets. He decides to take a look at Aaron's house, examining all the little hooks and crannies. He eventually ends up in the attic, finding all the panties and stilettos his stepdaughter has been wearing on the photos. For some sick reason he decides to put on one of his daughter's panties. Who would do such a thing! 

And then there is the scene that takes place at the house of family Sigerius. Tineke and Janis have left for their winter holiday in France, leaving the whole house of Siem alone. He had to finish his work before he went to France. But, the day before he had to leave, his biological son Wilbert breaks into his house to kill Siem Sigerius. Siem isn't the weak, old father Wilbert had expected him to be. Siem tackles him and deliberately breaks his arm. Wilbert flees from the house. The next day Siem finds his son laying in the backyard, freezed to death by the snow. Now, I have no idea how to handle this situation, but what Siem did was absolutely sick. He decides to chop up his son, to drive to France, drop a bag filled with the chopped up son and - because he can't handle the situation, I suppose- he kills himself in a boat that is actually from his stepdaughter Joni and her boyfriend Aaron. What? 

//Spoiler part is done ^^//

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did really like it, but some parts were to vulgar and explicit for my liking.  I would recommend it, if you are really interested in reading literature from all around the world. However I don't think that this is Holland's best literature. 

Have you read this book,

what did you think of it? 

xx Zoë. 

The Bedtime Book Tag

First of all, my lovely readers, I'm so sorry for my lack of posting. I have been super busy with school. I haven't had anytime to read books, other than schoolbooks. The past couple of weeks have been extremely stressfull, but it will be worth it in the end. Today I wanted to post a little something for you. I haven't been tagged by anyone in particular, as far as I know. But I still wanted to do this, so let's get started (:


 

The bedtime book tag

A book that kept you reading all night. 

I have read a lot of books during the night, not necessarily because I was so intrigued by a story, but just because I'm the type of person who can't sleep that easily. So when I can't sleep I read the book that I'm currently reading. But a story that did really intrigue me and kept me reading was Alice in zombieland, I read it in one sitting - read from 6 pm till 3 am- 

A book that made you scared to go to sleep. 

One of the books that I'm currently reading is The Diviners by Libba Bray. This is one of the first ever "spooky" books I have read, that actually is really ghostly and haunting. Now yes you may know already, I'm really fond of thrillers and horrors, and I don't really get scared by books. But this book is really really angsty and haunting.  And oh my god, the hardcover version of this book is absolutely stunning!

a book that left you tossing and turning all night in anticipation of its release. 

I have absolutely no idea. If I read a book that is so intruiging to me, I just have to read it all at once. But if I had to choose, I think I would go for - I actually want to say the diviners again, but I already chose this for the second question- Unravel me. 

A book that has your dream boyfriend. 

Aaah, this question is hard. I have no idea. Absolutely no idea. I really like Noah in the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer series, but the mortal instruments series has so many lovely characters. I think I would have to go with Jace from the Mortal Instruments series. 

a book that would be your worst nightmare to be in. 

I'm torn on this one. I would not like to be in the Hunger games, but I would also love to kick some ass - Mockingjay was absolutely amazing- I would hate to have to survive in the Hunger Games, being captivated, brainwashed and suppressed by the Capitol and president Snow. 

A book that reminds you of the night time. 

These questions are hard. Damn, how am I supposed to choose. I don't really own any blue books that would remind me of the night, but I think I'm going with Beautiful Creatures.  A lot of events that happen during the story take place at night time. I absolutely adored this series. I have read it a long time ago though, so I wouldn't be able to really tell what it all is about ^^

A book that you actually dreamed about.

To be honest? All of them. I read before I go to bed, so a lot of the stories stay in my head. 

A book monster that you would not want to find under your bed.

  Anything but spiders or bugs. I have a phobia of spiders and bugs, they scare me the most. So I will have to go for a book that contains spiders. One of the bookseries that pops in my mind would definitely have to be Harry Potter. 

What are your favorite books to read before going to bed? 

Thank you for reading as always. 

XXX Zoë. 

Announcement

Hey readers,

First of all, I'm really sorry for the lack of posts on my blog. I'm super busy with school work. My testweek is coming soon and ugh, so much stress. Just wanted to let you guys know that I will continue not posting so much. I really need to get good grades, so I can't let anything distract me * believe me, I'll probably end up watching videos on YouTube*

Second, please let me know in the comments down below what you would like to see next. I promise I will put up a review of The Diviners by Libba Bray as soon as I can /I still need to finish it/ and I would like to do some more tags, because they're just so much fun to do.


Hopefully you don't mind the lack of posts and you'll bear with me. I appreciate it ^^

Bye guys :D xxx

The seven deadly sins tag

Hi lovely readers. Can you already tell that I'm in the mood for Halloween? Today I really wanted to do the seven deadly sins tag. Now I'm not really tagged by anyone in particular but I saw this tag over on Izzy's bookblog and I was totally into it. So here it goes (: 

Greed: What is the most expensive book in your library and what is the least expensive? 

One of the most "expensive" books on my bookshelves will have to be Alice's adventures in Wonderland and other stories by Lewis Carroll and John Tenniel. The book was not too expensive, because the cover and artwork are just so amazingly beautiful. Totally worth the money! As for my least expensive book, it is yet again a Alice in "wonderland" kind of book. Through the zombie glass by Gena Showalter. I bought the E-book, which was so inexpensive - maybe also because it's not really a popular book- but I was really happy with the deal (:

Wrath: Which author do you have a love/hate relationship with? 

No idea at all! Uhm. /stares at her bookshelf/ Probably Marissa Meyer. I love the idea of fairytale retellings, but I just couldn't get into the book. I only have read Cinder and I have heard a lot of good stories about the other books in the serie. But I just can't really get myself to read these books. I just didn't really enjoy the writing of the first book, or I just wasn't really attached to the main character. 

Gluttony: What book have you deliciously devoured over and over again, with no remorse whatsoever? 

 The Hunger games, Harry Potter and The Fault in our stars. I don't really reread books that often. Since I already know what will happen, I don't like to read it again. The thrilling aspects of the book have lost its power. Yet the only reason why I like to reread books is for school assignments. Which I unfortunately get way too often. 

Sloth: What book have you neglected reading due to laziness? 

I did not neglect this book because of laziness, not at all. But because I just really didn't enjoy the story nor the writing of the book. For this question I'll have to go with Brazen by Katherine Longshore. I really wanted to like this book, since I heard a lot of great things about it. But it just didn't fully grab my attention and just was not what I expected at all. I will read it sometime, but I think I will let it rest on my shelf for some time to be entirely honest. 

Pride: What book do you most talk about in order to sound like a very intellectual reader.

I have not read any book that would make me an intellectual reader, for as far as I'm concerned. But I have read Atonement by Ian McEwan and Pride and Prejudice  by Jane Austen. So I guess books that make you feel really intellectual for me are classics, writers like Jane Austen and Shakespeare. And a lot of boring, Dutch books I had to read for school on which I had to write papers. 

Lust: What attributes do you find most attractive in male or female characters? 

I know almost everybody says this. But for female characters I like the bad-ass, independent type. One thing that really annoys me, is when the main, female character is weak and emotional. As for the male characters: Cole Holland in the White rabbit chronicles, Noah Shaw in the Mara Dyer trilogy, Boys who are really mysterious but yet caring, who are funny and responsible. ^-^

Envy: What books would you most like to receive as a gift? 

Any book will do really. But if I really have to choose I would pick some horror/thriller books. I'm always up for a thrill. As for Christmas/birthday gifts I like to receive box sets. I'm still eying the special edition Harry Potter box set. /puppy eyes/ 

I tag everybody who would love to awnser these questions. 

I had a lot of fun doing this tag. 

Hope you enjoyed reading this. 

Have a great day 

xx Zoë

All the truth that's in me by Julie Berry

All the truth that's in me by Julie Berry 

Published by Viking Juvenile

Genre YA fiction

Pages 274

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home, silently pouring out her thoughts to the boy who’s owned her heart as long as she can remember—even if he doesn’t know it—her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever. This startlingly original novel will shock and disturb you; it will fill you with Judith’s passion and longing; and its mysteries will keep you feverishly turning the pages until the very last. 

What I thought 

Even though I have read this quite a long time ago, the story is still wondering in my mind. It was absolutely amazing! Finding this book on goodreads with many mixed reviews, I became really curious about this novel. So I gave it a try. And I'm so glad I did! 

One thing about this book that absolutely blew my mind was the amazing depicture of the ages the story took place. Now the time period is actually never really revealed, but the very religious town, for me, hints at Colonial America.  Which was so interesting since this is not a common time period for YA, at least I haven't really read anything like this. The time period is very important to this story. Judith was treated so terribly, as if she were to blame for what happened to her. Due to the religious and superstitious town. If this had happened in the 21ste century I think this story would have gone differently. Everybody either ignored her or despised her. I found myself sympathize with her, since we get to know all the secrets about the crime, I just didn't understand how those blind people didn't see what actually happened. For example, I was so mad at her mother. Who had grown cold hearted towards her own daughter! Ok, Judith's father died while she was missing and her mother blames Judith for this. But that's not a reason to treat your own daughter so miserably 

I see why people don't like this book or can't really get themselves to read it. In the beginning of the book, we as readers don't really know what is going on. But Julie Berry drops subtle and sudden clues to what actually happened and what the book actually is about. I actually didn't read the back, only some reviews, so I was absolutely clueless when first reading this book. But I found that rather amusing and thrilling. 

This book was so beautifully written and the story was really amusing. This book is as thrilling in finding out what happened, as it is a beautiful and sweet love story unlike any other romance we find in YA these days. 

If you haven't read this book yet, I can definitely recommend this. Not able to put the book down at any time, I read this in literally one sitting. And I regret nothing. Absolutely an amazing book! 

Have you read this book? 

What did you think of it? 

Let me know in the comments down below 

xx Zoë 

The fall book tag

Hi guys. During this week the weather has started to cool down, rain is pouring and the wind is blowing like crazy. It is definitely autumn in the Netherlands. Which means chai teas and cozy sweaters. And...Halloween! October is going to be an amazing month, and eventhough the month has already started and we're already 9 days into this month, I still wanted to kick of with a book tag. I haven't been tagged by anyone in particular, but I still wanted to do it because I thought it was a lot of fun. I hope you'll enjoy (:

The questions

1. Crunching leaves: Choose a book you have read that has a red/orange/yellow cover. 






For this question I have chosen Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver. Now it has been a while since I have read this book, but for what I can remember I really enjoyed it. It is de sequel to Delirium. The story follows Lena, who lives in a world where people believe love to be the deadliest disease. Love is a curse and needs to be cured. Luckily for Lena she will be cured relatively soon. But during that time, she falls in love. I absolutely loved the first book and I thought the second one was good too, but the first one was definitely better in my opinion.










2. Sweater weather: What book keeps you warm? 








A book that I have totally devoured was The fifth wave by Rick Yancey. I have read this book in one sitting. The story, the characters, I found this book to be really clever and captivating. I absolutely loved this and it kept me thinking about it for a long time. I couldn't put it down before I had finished the entire book. This book is definitely up there, and I'm actually kind of scared to read the sequel since I'm afraid it won't be as good as the first book. 











3. Fall storm: Choose your favorite book or genre that you like to read during the colder months. 
You probably already see this coming, but my favorite genre is horror or thriller/suspense. No matter if it is the classig Dracula or Frankenstein, or a more recent YA horror or thriller book. I'm always up for a little scare. The colder months are the best for reading steampunk/horror/thriller and puts me in a great mood. Now a bit of vampires and blood is also appriciated. So definitely the more angsty books. 




4. Cool crisp air: Who is the coolest character you'd want to trade places with? 
A bad-ass character I always wanted to be is actually really difficult for me to choose, since there are quite many. Katniss Everdeen or Alice Bell for instance are characters I loved. They kicked some ass and where strong and indipendant. I didn't find them really annoying. So I'd like to one of them. 






5. Hot apple cider: What under hyped book do you want to see become the next biggest, hottest book? 





All the truth that's in me by Julie Berry. I haven't heard anything about this book and that's sad. This book is absolutely beautifully written and the plot was really interesting. I really enjoyed this book, it was really good and kept me thinking. Sometimes I didn't follow the story that well, I was pretty thrown offguared but it was a great book. Also the main character was amazing and strong. Definitely recommend this book! 












6. Warm,cozy bonfire: What book did you think you didn't like but fell in love with? 






Yet again a hard question. My friend told me about the Vampire acedamy series by Michelle Read. I was really sceptical at first, because not having finished the Twilights series because of the annoying main character, I wasn't really looking forward to read yet another vampire story. At this point the only good book I had ever read about vampires was Dracula by  Bram Stoker. But it was actually a pretty good series. I have only read the first two books, but already the series is really good. But I have to say the Dutch covers are way more beautiful. 










7. Frigthnening evenings: What book is your favorite scary book/ what scary book would you like to read next? 

I can't wait to finally read either The Merciless by Danielle Vega or Between the devil and the deep blue sea by April Genevieve Tucholke. Both are super promising and supposed to be scary/thrilling. But first I need to finish a book for my upcoming English test. (: 

People I tag. 

Izzy: the reading izzy

Jiha: Jiha's file

Morrighan: Ufbooks

Everyone who would like to do this tag, please feel free to do so. 

Are you excited for fall? 

xx Zoë