08 | January | 2012 | reading is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

RATING:

Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal | Fantasy

(Witch & Wizard #3)

Whit and Wisty Allgood have sacrificed everything to lead the resistance against the merciless totalitarian regime that governs their world. Its supreme leader, The One Who Is The One, has banned everything they hold dear: books, music, art, and imagination. But the growing strength of the siblings’ magic hasn’t been enough to stop the One’s evil rampage, and now he’s executed the only family they had left.

Wisty knows that the time has finally come for her to face The One. But her fight and her fire only channel more power to this already invincible being. How can she and Whit possibly prepare for their imminent showdown with the ruthless villain that devastated their world-before he can truly become all-powerful?

In this stunning third installment of the epic Witch & Wizard series, the stakes have never been higher–and the consequences will changee verything.

Literary Awards: A Children’s Choice Author of the Year, Nominated for the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (2011)

*****

James Patterson ran out of fuel. The Fire started out great, but Whit & Wisty STILL could not figure out their Magic. For goodness sake, it’s the third book already! Surely, they thought of something by now on how to defeat The One Who Is The One. *sigh* No. still not there… until the last few pages. What a disappointing final book (i hope it’s the last one) for one of my fave series.

Whit was so indecisive. A lot of things he wanted to do. Kiss Janine (the cute revolutionary)? Save Celia (his dead girlfriend)? Save Wisty? Save his parents? It was very tiring. Wisty is hot and cold all time. Kill The One Who Is The One. But I’m afraid. Kill The One Who Is The One. But I’m terrified. Kill The One Who Is The One. But I don’t know how to use my Gift! Wait, what is my Gift again??? Sheesh. My head ached for the all the going in circles of the story.

I really liked Witch & Wizard and The Gift. Unfortunately, The Fire is a failure in so many ways. The only thing i liked about it is Byron. Hey, Weasel!

Have you started this series yet? If yes, then don’t bother reading The Fire. Leave me a message, then I will summarize it up for you. I want to spare you the burden, that’s all. 😉

.: maria :.

“giving up is the ultimate tragedy.”

RATING:

Genre: Young Adult > Dystopia | Fantasy

(The Pledge #1)

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It’s there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she’s never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

*****

Now I get what my Goodreads friends are talking about: a lot of YA books nowadays, especially tagged as dystopian, are just romance books in disguise. I actually did not mind Charlie’s and Max blossoming love affair, but it did plant a seed in my head that yes, YA dystopia genre is teeming with more romance and less dystopia. What i did mind though, was that The Pledge is more fantasy than dystopia. I was geared up for dystopia before reading this, so imagine my disappointment when i encountered magical queens and a princess with a knack for healing. *sigh*

At first, i thought the class system (serving class for servants, vendor class for merchants, council class for politicians) was a shallow reason to build a dystopian future. but when the history on how the class system came about, it made sense. It actually reminded me a little of the Tower of Babel story from the Bible. Anyway, it became a qualified plot for me… until the fantasy elements start showing up. Man, that really destroyed my reading enjoyment. Was Charlie a strong heroine? i don’t think so. although i have to note her winsome trait of unconditional love for her sister. Was Max a formidable hero? A little too perfect, but yes.

Do you want your romance cloaked in a dystopian novel? If yes, then The Pledge might work for you. I loved the Body Finder, but The Pledge fell short on my Derting’s standards. Even if i’m a little disappointed with this book, Derting still got my attention with her storytelling. Too bad it didn’t fit the bill of my dystopia taste.

.: maria :.

“giving up is the ultimate tragedy.”