Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

ONE WORD to describe this book: UGH!..

MY REVIEW:

I was leisurely walking inside a books store when my eyes suddenly caught the list top ten fiction for the month. This book made it to the top spot. Shocker.

I thought. “WHY?!!”


Then it all comes back to me.. The feeling I had when reading this. The Red Room of Pain. The Hand Cuffs. Whip. Ugh! The unspeakable things that I never want to relive. But that would have been impossible since this book has been making a huge buzz all over the world. Yup. In fact, it was recently auctioned for movie rights, and all the bigshot productions bid for the movie adaptation. 

CURIOSITY.That’s the reason why I decided to read it. But curiosity killed the cat, right? I read this without reading one of the reviews from my friends. Thinking that my judgment would be clouded if I ever consult their reviews before I even start this one. I never consulted the synopsis! So it will probably be the understatement of the century if I say I was shocked by how the story turned out. It was intense. SHOCK-HORROR intense! I honestly didn’t see that coming!

Fifty Shades of Grey is a real unique love story. Unique because it’s about Dominant-Submissive relationship. Christian has it all, the gorgeous looks, body and the gazillion money. But the only problem is that he has a dark past that made him a perv.. ahem.. no let’s just say.. different. And there is Anastasia who’s immediately captivated by this perfect guy because she consents to an insane contract. 

Honestly, this story started quite great. I was blown away by Christian’s aura the first time they met. But then they talk about the contract and I was like. “You’re kidding right??” No sane girl would agree to this. But nah! Anna just did. I was truly trying hard to like this. I was trying so hard to look for the romance element into it but I can’t. All I saw were two emotionally tortured souls who are frustrating me most of the time. I kept reading because I was actually hoping for the characters to change. It wasn’t bad alright. It’s one of those novels that you either hate or love. I’ve read erotica stories before so this genre is not new to me. But come freaking on!! Why do they have to be so REVOLTING?!! 

If you don't want to read some kind of a psycho freakshow erotica don't read this.  I think I have to disagree with some people who loved this book. Sorry. This book is not really for me. But I might read the next two books because my friends told me it gets better.


MY THOUGHTS POST-FIFTY SHADES FREED:

Yup. Read them all and I have no intention of making my review for the other two books. So I just have to say it here. Here’s what I found out: It wasn’t that bad. 

For what particular reason I really don’t know. But it could be because:

1. It ended quite well. I like HEAs

2. I became used to the constant repulsive scenes. And the character’s occasional sick decisions.

3. I honestly liked reading the emails. Cute.

4. Christian possessive/emotional/generous streak can be overwhelmingly sweet.

5. The characters changed. 

Christian is still fifty shades of fucked up but he’s fighting his demons with Anna by his side. And that’s good enough for me. 

Bottom line: It was okay. It’s different. And really brave to have ventured this kind of story. But still not for me. I still don’t like it. I say it’s a shame to read this story. But I perfectly understand if some girls love the trilogy. **winks**.. Anyway, I stand by my opinion, it isn’t worth all the hype it’s getting.

My Rating: 2 of 5 Stars..

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly undeniably surpassed my very low expectations.


 Being that it is one of those well-known Nephilim/Fallen angels novels like Hush Hush, or Fallen, I really thought my mind is very close to abandoning ship and fluttering away on its own because I'm getting tired of this concept and its popularity, as if it's the replacement to the vampire mania. But surprisingly, it's so much BETTER!




 One distinguishing factor that I like about the story is its originality. I like how the angels radiate their Glory, that they all have to fulfill their one purpose in life. And for the first time, the heroine, Clara becomes the powerful angel, and not some weakling who's only good at pining over a handsome guy. At first, I was frustrated because it's crystal clear that Christian is Clara's loveteam. He's the guy in her vision, the guy she's so obsessed with, and the guy she dreams of. That's why I thought that this would be the first time I would be siding with the other guy who's pathetically loving the girl who doesn't love him back. I was so distraught because Tucker is the right guy, and I can feel it...


 But luckily, I was right all along! Tucker is the one! I wanted to rejoice, to celebrate because he deserved it and he's such a great guy. I knew it, the first time he called her "Carrots," they'd be amazing, romantic, and inseparable! 


This is such a refreshing read that I became so excited for the next book. And I keep my fingers crossed that she still choose Tucker because she's having some issues and kind of getting confused.  


My Rating 4 of 5 stars!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I was so excited to read this one because so many people already told me it's an awesome book. So I'm glad it didn't disappoint me.


 Shatter me, the debut novel of Tahereh Mafi, introduces a dystopian society struggling to survive the brink of destruction until the Reestablishment takes over. However, the poeple found themselves even more doomed because of the wicked treatment of tyrannical leaders. In the midst of this turmoil, Juliette is imprisoned. She's locked up for 3 years without any knowledge or communication from the outside world because she's considered lethal, a threat, an outcaste. For her touch could kill and suck the life out of anyone. This predicament has always been her life. A life devoid of love, acceptance,and happiness. But everything changes when she discovers what she's truly capable of, that it's her choice whether to create life or destruction.


 Undeniably, Tahereh Mafi is the new author to discover. The plot is well-constructed, and the strike through concept is a genius, it contributed a great deal in exploring the depths of Juliette's mind. The romance between David and Juliette feels genuine. And the other characters are great. I don't know why but I like James and kenji, I was entertained with every conversation they have.


Also, I was amazed at how a simple act or event can be made beautiful and believable just by the author's perfectly strunged words. The writing is so poetic that you'll feel the words moving out of the pages into your heart.  It has enough action, romance, and surprises. Although the ending lacks the intense action scenes some are waiting for, it's worth it because it's so cool that it will make you more excited for what's coming in the second book. It will be one of the books I’ll recommend to my friends as well as to those who are a fan of dystopia and superheroes.


My rating: 4 of 5 stars!

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

"A million ways to die. One way to live."


Veronica Rossi's debut novel "Under the Never Sky" is one amazingly exciting dystopian fiction that would surely leave you wanting for more. 


One of the things I love about dystopian novels is the way a whole new world is introduced but at the same time, it does not feel so out-of-reach because yeah! we're  talking about post-apocalyptic time, Hello future! So i'm glad to say that this one is a cool new society. 


From the very beginning, I became so fascinated by the Realm. There's no pain, no risk, no problem in this society. They have their smarteyes that could take them wherever they want whenever they want. Their life is the literal definition of aversion to the dark realities people often face. It may seem like the an incredible utopia, but a closer look would make you see otherwise.


 The heroine, Aria is very likeable as well as Peregrine a.k.a. "Perry." He has this spirit in him that never gives up, fights for what he believes in, and protects the ones he love. The ending, however, was the kind of cliffhanger I didn't want to read about. I was dumbfounded when my eyes caught the acknowledgement part because I was expecting and wanting it to be more. Well, I cannot tell details any more than I want to because that would spoil the story. So let me just tell you that this is a worthwhile read, I enjoyed every bit of it. My eager hands can't wait to grasp the next book!




My Rating: 4 of 5 stars!

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

After reading this book. . . . . 

 My heart is torn, trying to put them back together but it can't be whole again.. not until Will is happy, not until Tessa is freed from the crucial decision she has to make in the end....

I never thought Cassandra Clare is capable of doing something so emotional in a Shadowhunting world. 

Clockwork prince is the second book to the Infernal Devices trilogy I came to love. If you liked the first one, there'll be no frustration in the second book. There are enough surprises, revelations, and betrayals. The ever beautiful Victorian London is perfectly described, and the story brilliantly paced and told. I found their conversation quite wonderful it was like going back in time but still enjoying the company of some interesting people from the past.

You'll see the depths of Will's mysterious personality. Why he has to be so despicable and why he has to push Tessa away. I sincerely felt bad for him. And just thinking of how everything turned out makes me so disappointed. If only he had known it earlier, things would have turned out different for him, for his family, and for Tessa. But it's too late now.

But not Jem, he's one lucky shadowhunter I wanted to make him feel how his parabatai's feeling. I'm not exactly mad at him. I just realized, after reading this, how badly I wanted Tessa and Will to be together. I can't blame Jem either because he's too good, dying and I like his character. Wow, that makes it even more confusing!  

So I'm just hoping against all hope that Tessa makes the right decision in the end. I'm feeling that it'll still be Will though their future together seems dark. Can't bloody wait for the last installment! 

Dear book 3,

PLEASE make it better! 

My Rating:  5 of 5 stars! 

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I finally read Divergent after hearing quite a buzz about it. It was often compared to the Hunger games so I got even more excited. Although I would still consider HG as the best dytopian novel, Divergent missed by a few points.

The society Veronica Roth pictured as dystopia was strange at the same time genius. The atmosphere seem oppressed and dark. The five factions: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless,Erudite and Amity are great representations of what personalities of people in the real world are. I liked the heroine, Tris, because she is fearless and doesn't act like a damsel in distress like someone I know. Four or Tobias( Tobias sounds funny and weak for his personality btw) was cool though he's not even trying to be overly heroic. The other characters have great attributes as well, it's exciting to watch them interact. There are times when it gets too violent you'd think "Was that even necessary?" but Roth  was just probably doing something new that we don't normally read from a YA novel. 

The ending was okay but I wanted more action scenes because that's what I was expecting. I also liked the look of the society.  The way I imagined it is believable, how the dauntless rides their trains and how each person acts according to their chosen faction. Anyway, it's a great book and I can tell why so many people compared this to the Hunger Games. 

I give this 4/5 stars!