The Latest Three

Somehow,

only don't ask how,

I managed to get a lot more great reading done in these last few weeks before finals

--these last crucial weeks, that is--

and manage to still not be failing any of my classes.

Like I said, don't ask how.

So I mentioned I had some big new YA releases coming up in the next Latest Three

and that is definitely still the case.

So without further ado,

here's the latest three!

(These are all sequels in trilogies so if you haven't read, though I try to stay as spoiler free as possible, well, sort of, you might not want to read this post. You have been warned.)

Insurgent, by Veronica Roth

I highly enjoyed this second installment in Roth's debut trilogy. One thing that stood out to me while reading it was that for most of the time I didn't really know where it was going. I knew Tris and Tobias were on the run and I knew the bad guys had a colossal, evil plan (and I also guessed that the Factionless were going to play a pivotal role in the story too), but other than that I was just along for the ride. And I thought that was really cool!

I also want to say that I liked the romance in this book better than I did in the last one, which is saying something because I really liked the last one. It's just that when there's tension in a romance it can be hard for me to like and, for the most part, this tension felt real and earned to me.

Of course, yet again, we are left with no ending, but boy, what an ending!

Scarlet, Marissa Meyer

Not to pick favorites, but if I had to pick a favorite between all of these it would be this one, but I also just think that's indicative of the kind of reader I am. What I love about this series is that it manages to read like a classic fairy tail (thank you, third person narrative), while still touching on deeper subjects like the plague, not fitting in with society, the power of oppression, the power of fear in general. I also love the way technology is portrayed in this world and the ways it works perfectly with these "fairy tail inspired" characters. It's a fast, enjoyable read that reads just the way it should. Loved it!

Oh and Wolf, can you please have a long lost brother that is not your psychopathic alter-ego and that is just as gruff and vulnerable as you? K, thanks!

Prodigy, by Marie Lu

I was super excited to read this one because I loved Legend! Well, I loved this one even more! Whoa guys, that climax was without question the best one I've read this year. Fighter jets. Oh yes, my style. :D

I do have to say that the romance I liked better in the first one. I'm interested to hear what you have to say, but I felt some aspects weren't quite necessary. Either way, it was only a section of the book that wasn't working for me, the rest was action packed and some scenes were gritty and engrossing and had me way hooked. I think Marie Lu is a fantastic writer. I love spending time in her world. Ooh! And that's one other thing I like about it. The stuff we get to learn about this world is awesome. Totally believable and not far from the truth, in fact. It was an interesting eye-opening experience, how we got to learn so much and see it through Day and June's experience. Stellar.

Here's to almost finals!

Here's to the fact that I will soon be saying "Here's to after finals!'!!!

Here's to the summer smell that's in the air, can you smell it too? Smells like a fresh stack of TBR pile!!!