SCARLET// BY: MARISSA MEYER

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is the second book to this New York Times Bestseller series, and just like Cinder it has a little twist to the fairy tales we know all so well. So you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Think again. Meyer has a way of shedding new light on these stories as their taken from a futuristic viewpoint. 

The character Scarlet—who the book is named after—goes on a desperate search for her grandmother who has been taken by some gang. On her journey she meets a handsome young fellow named Wolf. Together they head of to Paris with time quickly dwindling down in the hopes that Scarlet's grandmother is still alive. On their journey Scarlet discovers secrets about her grandmother's past, and that she might just be falling for the boy she calls Wolf. Though when you give your heart to someone there is always room for betrayal.

The book is also taken from the perspective of Cinder, as she escapes the jail that has imprisoned her, in hopes to escape Queen's Levana's ruthless rule. At the new knowledge of Cinder being the true heir to the throne the Queen will stop at nothing to make sure she does not lose her crown. As the entire Commonwealth searches for her under the Queen's orders, Cinder is traveling the world in search for Michelle Benoit (Scarlet's Grandmother), who might just hold the answer to how Cinder got to earth.

 Both Cinder's and Scarlet's paths have to cross to figure out the truth behind Cinder's mysterious past.

Over all I would give this book a 3/5 stars or a 75%. After reading Cinder, I was excited for Scarlet but I felt it did not live up to the first book. Some of this I believe is due to all the perspectives this book is taken from. The book is viewed in an overall six perspectives with major emphasis on Scarlet's and Cinder's. Though to begin with I'm not a huge fan of multiple perspectives in books for I believe it just drags the story one. For example, Scarlet starts off with the perspective of Scarlet. I would read a few chapters in this perspective before it would switch into Cinder's. I would then get caught up in Cinder's story when then it will switch back to Scarlet's. Then it would take me awhile to get caught back up in Scarlet's when it will change again. My point is that once I started to get into a certain characters story it would change perspectives on me.

 Now enough ranting and let’s talk about the good. Meyer's books will always keep you guessing as unexpected turns happen periodically throughout the book. Meyer has a way to bring her characters to life. The thoughts and characteristics she gives them are life like and make you feel as if you are actually in the story.

Cinder's character in this book is majorly improved as the story progresses. Cinder grows to be more confidant and a pretty awesome fighter. She now realizes the fate of the earth rest in her hands, and instead of hiding like she been doing, she decides to face Queen Levana in order to save the Commonwealth.

     

EMERALD GREEN // KERSTIN GIER

In this beautiful and shocking conclusion to the most beloved Ruby Red Trilogy, Kerstin Gier waste no time fitting all the pieces together in this wonderfully written book. The order of The Ruby Red Trilogy (also known as The Precious Gems Series) starts off with the first book, Ruby Red. Where our main character Gwen, discovers she has the ability to time travel. Next, follows Sapphire Blue, which is on of my favorites in the series. These two books all add up to the conclusion of the final book, Emerald Green. Though if you are looking for a fast past novel that seems impossible to put down, then these books are just right for you.

THE NEXT PART OF THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

When reading Emerald Green, I fully enjoyed myself, but I felt it lacked much needed details. The book is written in a style where by the last fifty pages I had no idea how this all was going to be wrapped up to a satisfying conclusion. What I found the author doing was that, the characters would think back on a situation while another one was occurring. For example, when Gwyneth is visiting the Count Saint-German, she is thinking back to a meeting she had with Lucy and Paul that were not able to read about. This is what was a shame about it because, I would of loved to read about how Gwen told Lucy and Paul, that she knows their her parents. Or how they set up a plain to cheat out the Count in order to save Gwyneth. For we hear about this plan but never really know how it plays out. It was as if Kerstin Gier had a limit to as many pages she was allowed to write.
I felt their were some loose ends in this book. For instance, we never really find out whether or not Gideon can actually read minds. Unless that was a decoy to throw us off.
Though enough ranting about the parts I disagreed with and lets start talking about the good. First off, some of the events that occurred in the other two books without any explanation, it all makes sense in Emerald Green. We begin to find out members of the Lodge have their own doubts behind the truth in which the Count plans to use the secret that is unlocked once all the gems are powered. At first I was confused on the whole immortality theory, or how the count could still be alive. Its expressed many times that for immortality to be reached Gwen has to die. Though in the final pages of the book I understood it. The Count had lost his immortality when Gwen was born and the only way to retrieve it back was to kill her. Which we find out later is impossible.
Gideon in this book kind of reminded me of William Herondale. After reading those papers he discovers Gwen needs to die in order for the secret to work. Though it states that she dies out of love, so its assumed that Gwyneth saves Gideon at the cost of her own life. Gideon then knows he has to do everything he can in order for Gwen to hate him.
Gideon's character was the most frustrating character in this book. Though once we found out why he was so cold it was easy to fall in love with him. Once we see the real Gideon, a huge wall is knocked down and he is easier to understand.
Its also a coincidence that Cynthia has a part where the theme is green and, the cover of the book just happens to be green.
Though in the end I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I feel their could of been more books written in the series but, for now I have to deal with that their will only be three. Over all I rate this book a 4/5 stars and still highly recommend this book to anyone searching for a sense of adventure and mystery.

Click on the video for a more in-depth discussion on this amazing book!

PANIC//BY: LAUREN OLIVER

 

Panic by Lauren Oliver is a contemporary novel that takes place at the beginning of summer, where that  year's Senior Class all gather to complete in an intense game called Panic. Each contestant has a different motivation behind why they agreed to play this daunting game. That we find out as the book progresses.
This book is written in two different perspectives, Heather and Dodge. It was nice for once to not have the two man characters-whose point of view the book is taken from-fall in love. In fact, Heather and Dodge hardly know each other and barely interact in the book till the vary end.
Panic was not what I expected it to be. Though it did not disappoint me one bit. Normally, I try to  avoid contemporary novels, because I find myself bored in the plot. Though Panic held my interest to what I believe, had a different element to it that set it apart from all other contemporary works. 
Panic, in short, is basically one big game of Russian Roulette. Contestants face off in fearful situations as they try to outlast each other in hopes to win the grand prize of 67,000 dollars. As competition thins out, the remaining contestants are then forced to face their biggest fears. Many of their fears they have to face can result in death, which emphasizes the fear the game Panic brings. It defies the danger this game possesses ,and the level the characters are willing to go through in order to achieve their goal. For example, one contestant was faced with an actual game of Russian Roulette. Life or death are the possible options in this game. Your really have to be dauntless to play.
This book I found I was able to relate to in the sense of it being a small town, and wanting nothing more than to escape and start your own life. Most of the characters in this book use Panic as a gateway to lead them to their ultimate destination. 
Heather plays in hopes for her and her sister to escape their home lives. Dodge plays in hopes to help his sister-who was paralyzed playing panic. And Heather's best friend Natalie, hopes to use the money to move to California to start a modeling/acting career. This goes to show that when we humans desperately want something, we are willing to put everything on the line if it means it will give us a  route of escape. 
I highly recommend Panic to anyone looking for a good contemporary read. That is why I will give it its deserved 5/5 stars. For this book is filled with fast turns and shocking events, which makes it a perfect summer read. 
Panic is a fast past novel that will leave you speechless to the vary end. It will keep you on the edge of your seat to the vary last page, and even after that it will leave you hungry for more.



For a more in-depth review:

FOUR: A DIVERGENT COLLECTION//BY:VERONICA ROTH

Having read Divergent and Insurgent two years ago and recently reading Allegiant in November, it was nice to once again emerge myself into the Divergent world. Four is a series of short stories told from the perspective of Tobias (Four).

As much as I disliked Four's perspective in Allegiant, I loved finding out more about the personality behind the character Tobias in Four. It was able to give me a new understanding of him and show me his motives behind what he says and does in Divergent. In Four we really get backstage in the events occurring in Divergent. We were able to see how this dystopian world has been falling apart for years and not just when Divergent takes place. 

The first story: The Transfer, shows Tobias as he chooses Dauntless and his motives behind why. 

The second one is called: The Initiate, this one shows us the initiation program Four had to go through in order to achieve Dauntless statues. In this story it was interesting to compare Tobias's and Tris's  initiation. In Divergent we hear Tobias say that the Dauntless Initiations were never like this, and in this story we are able to see why. 

The third story in this collection is: The Son. In this story we get a turn of events. We begin to see the influence the Erudite are bestowing onto Dauntless and their ruthless plan on Abnegation. We see the reason why Tobias turned down the position of a Dauntless leader even if he was number one in his class. Truths become lies as we discover the Abnegation are not all that innocent, and has their secrets to. The truth reveled in this story that will set up the plot for Divergent. 

Then the final story: The Traitor. This is actually a selection from Divergent beginning at Visiting Day. We see it in the perspective of Tobias and it's interesting to see the same story but in two different views. In Divergent we see how Tris thought in these events. Now we get to see what Tobias saw and thought of these same events. We were able to relies why he acted like he did and why he said the things he did. 

WARNING IF YOU HAVE NOT READ ALLEGIANT SKIP TO THE END!!!!!!

It was also bittersweet to see Tris still alive and breathing and I had to continue to remind my self the ending to Allegiant actually happened. 

Which quickly I am going to shed some light on. 

Tris is considered a tragic hero. And she much reminds me of John Proctor from The Crucible. Now before you call me crazy let me explain. In Divergent Tris asks herself if she can be forgiven. Then in Allegiant one of her last thoughts are: I think I can. 

I feel this was a way she found redemption and her Abnegation self comes back as she takes the place of her brother. 

Tris feels that giving herself up is the best way and in that, she feels she will earn herself freedom and forgiveness. 

In The Crucible John Procter has a guilty conscience of committing adultery and through out the play is unable to forgive himself. When he is accused of witchcraft he is scheduled to hang. Though if he states a false confession he will be freed. By now everyone knows he is innocent but due to the amounts of victims before hand it is fitting to carry on. He feels that going through with the hanging is a way for him to feel he can finally forgive himself for all the wrong he has done. He will go like all the good people who had gone before him. One line in the play is by Elisabeth Proctor (who is  his wife) who states, "He has his goodness now." 

Now back to Allegiant. As I stated before, I feel this gave Tris a window to forgive herself and sacrifice herself like how her family gave their lives for her. She too would fall do to the corruption of this series world. And doing so she earned her goodness for she felt she could redeem herself and die for something she believes in like all the people before her did. It was the only way she truly thought she could be forgiven.

I would give Four a 4/5 stars. It was a great way to see this world in a different light and I especially enjoyed the three bonus scenes. This story is a must add item to your Divergent Series collection, where it can proudly find a home on your shelf next to other wonderful masterpieces of literature.