13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Rating: ***** 

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

I never thought that reading a book about suicide will actually make me get away from the thought. I believe that this book is phenomenal! The way darkness and hope in their symbolic meanings both appear clear in every page in this book. 

It is as if Jay Asher is creating a thick layer of mist and suddenly, just when the end comes, he clears everything in a burst of light. It is so intense the feeling of reading such book; a book that makes you sad and happy and hopeful and full of awareness because you know that suicide is never the solution. It is due to Hannah Baker that the reader might see that facing life is much more important than giving up. It is true that she gave up but it is never inevitable to follow her lead. Her story was a lesson we are all required to comprehend and look into very well. 

Clay was a great character too. He was faint at the beginning, but towards the end, he starts to compel the reader towards him. The characters are all full of flaws which makes the book even more credible. Though Hannah made it very clear that Clay was the perfect guy with a great reputation, the writer in Clay's body opposed that in a spontaneous way giving the reader an image; flawlessness is a portion of perfection and that is not what humans are made for. Humans are made for mistakes - we are made to make Hannah's mistake. The difference is, in her situation, no one helped her but in our, we have her story to make us see the light. 

"It is a twist that talks directly to our souls with a lesson ... so we better hear you, Hannah!" 

PS. You can hear the Hannah Baker tapes over YouTube - Go do that. they're great to hear!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Rating: ****

"Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't."

The book started slow as in details but the pacing was very fast. You'd venture months in few pages or in one day through little chapters. It is very grasping but the suspense comes and goes, makes you hooked at once and then random at others.
I liked the main character but she was so stubborn and fearful at first, I guess that is what made her more credible and down to earth.

Alex, on the other hand, had quite an entrance when the book started. The way both characters advanced is very unique and inspiring. The way he made her curl for him added a little bit of spice to the whole thing especially when the plot was strict about love that was a disease.
This futuristic world-crises Lauren created was unique and intense. The way she made the events flow so quickly at one point and then slow down at other is brilliant.

"One of the best YA books I have read in which love is not allowed but after all, rules are made to be broken!" 

The Infernal Devices

Rating: *****

Clockwork angel

"In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...."

Clockwork Prince 

"In magical Victorian London, orphan Tessa found safety with the Shadowhunters, until traitors betray her to the Magister. He wants to marry her, but so do self-destructive Will and fiercely devoted Jem. Mage Magnus Bane returns to help them. Secrets to her parentage lie with the mist-shrouded Yorkshire Institute's aged manager Alyosius Starkweather." 

 Clockwork Princess

"Tessa Gray should be happy—aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her."

The first book starts with an eerie and maybe somehow confusing way. The first few pages, if you haven't read The Mortal Instruments, would be a little bit strange for you; the demons, the shadow hunters and everything. But little by little, I grew fund with the first book. The fantasy was more than beautiful and the characters were outrageous. They were a mix of near perfection and glory and pride. Every element in these were set in place after numerous considerations. 

The more you get to know about the world they're in, the more you'll see that there is a light of fantasy in this series. It is just more than beautiful. Tessa Gray is one of my most favorite character, Will too. But Jem wasn't a lot. He was the sensitive character, maybe somewhat fragile and all emotions. Will, on the other hand, seems dark and uncaring and mystic; something that added spices to the books. Tessa was all power and weakness in a strong way. 

Also, let's talk Cassandra's style. She is very talented. Her way of giving an accurate description of everything in this fantasy series was great. Her words were carefully chosen and her pages glowed more and more with every book. 

The second one was the least favorite while the last is a perfect finale for a perfect trilogy. The way the end settles and satisfies everyone is well thought of. The course of events and the romance and the action and magic and powers are splendorous. Magnus Bane was splendorous; unlike The Mortal Instruments, in this series, MB was one of the most effective and influential characters, a one with powers and wisdom and affection and care. 

I really loved this series, the most favorite so far!

"A great read in a perfect world of perfect characters by a most perfect author!"

The Kite Runner

Rating: ****

"Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashums. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

A sweeping story of family, love, and friendship told against the devastating backdrop of the history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful novel that has become a beloved, one-of-a-kind classic."

The first thing appealing in this book is the fact that Khaled Hosseini deals with a life problem dominating Afghanistan. It is an experience of how loyal friends can be and how close a family can become. Though destruction and war surge into the world of Afghanistan, the redemption still exists. 

The childish version of the male character was a pain in the butt. His voice was very strong and very reflective of credible life examples but I still didn't like him. And though he was my least favorite character, I thought that his presence was mandatory to differentiate between him and the other young male. 

The time line in this book is very fast and it holds a lot of memories. It is actually based on memories told by the main character while he was being phoned from an old friend. After the young part of his life passed throughout the book, the adult main character - a writer - ventures back into Afghanistan from America. At that point of the book, I was very surprised to be attached to the idea very much! Emotions start to serf and  passionate details overcome the second part. 

We get to know the true loyalty of a friend, the care and tender of a father and the respect and defiance of those you have been deprived of their own country. Thus, the beginning was slow but the end swept my mind away. 

"This is a great novel by Khalid Hosseini, a mixture of hope and envy." 

The Fault in Our Stars

Rating: *****

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten."

This is one of the most brilliant books I have read and you will ever read in your life. It doesn't only contain a romantic concept or just a teen plot that drives you crazy when you read it but it contains a whole new world you never want to wake up from. The world is built from smiles and laughs and expectations and perfection and a fantasized content of our reality that feels like a drug.  

The first thing you notice about the book is how powerfully screaming John Green's style is. His words, long sentences and complex form of structuring is so intense and beautiful you never want to neglect. The first statement starts with an impulsive reaction. "Depression". But if you read what's between the lines, you'd see that this statement is a reflective mirror that makes you happy. It is complicated to explain if you haven't read it. So you should read it. If you have already read it, you'd know that sentimentality and the general mood of this books is just a tsunami of emotions; nothing more, nothing less.  

About the characters, Hazel and August were of the most favorite of all. In other series, like the Mortal Instruments, I liked Clary but not Jace; in the Hunger Games, I liked Gale but not Pitta; in John's Will Grayson Will Grayson, I liked the first one and not the other. But these characters were so near perfection in their flaws and their own ways and their own wisdom. Great things happen when you read this book and bad things happen too. You just have to pursue your journey and venture your way through it - with a bag of tissues (a big one if you are over reactive when it comes to books). 

But it will make you smile - even at the end. 

"This book is a burst of enjoyment, laughs and hope in a route of tragedy and tears. Everything change course and every single thing is meant to mean something but means something else. Brilliant, ecstatic, intelligent!" 

City of Ashes

Rating: ****

"Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, new found brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation"

The second book of The Mortal Instruments, one of the most beloved book series, is much better than the first. Well, it wasn't much much better but so many things have changed and those changes are the reason the series started to sizzle through me and make me like it.  

   The very main reason I didn't like the beginning of this book and the first one is the mere fact that (a) so many details are added though are not necessary and (b) Jace, the male protagonist, is a pain in the butt. I didn't like him as much as William (from the Infernal Devices trilogy) though they both held the same mind and same attitude. What I also wasn't in favor of is the lack of some interesting details at the beginning. Well, the prologue was intriguing but not the first 100 or so pages. 

   Progressing with the book, things changed more than you can imagine. A lot of very intriguing details took course and a lot of twists and mind blowers emerged out of the pages. Along with Cassandra's magnificent sense of description and accurate writing style, the book seemed as though a screamer, letting you never put it down. At the last 200 pages, events flamed and everything started to seem right. Although at first, Clary and Jace said stupid things and demanded stupid demands, they suddenly became mature enough and Jace, who was the baddest character in my opinion, turned a very pleasant young man. 

   As for the relationships, things were shocking in the first book so the romance wasn't as pleasant in this one. All feelings started to cross through all the characters and everything started to slip through the reader's control. Like the writer wanted crazy things to happen, making the reader crazy for a crazy single second. But when you get back on track, you'll smile for what happened - right after the cries and laughs and smiles and the 'Oh La La's.  

   However, Simon, of course, changed in a very very remarkable way and he began to make the story rotate around his own orbit too. He became important along with new characters. Isabelle got more fabulous and Alex more brother-y, if I might say. 

   Valentine, in my opinion, is one of the most beautifully created villain; smart, splendorous and crazy! Oh yes, he is more than just crazy ... though cruel and devious, he is one of the best characters that Cassandra got the chance to fabricate. 

   Lastly, the thing about the book in general is that it slows at the beginning and then gets better at the end so it is indeed very much enjoyable, a book that travels with you into a world of danger, fantasy and forbidden romance. 

"It is indeed beautifully written and greatly stitched with fantasy. As Stephanie Meyers said: 'It is a story world I love!'" 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children,

                                                                               

Rating: *****

" A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows. " 

This book was one of my most anticipated reads since it was published but I hadn't had the chance to read it until this year. It has not just become one of the coziest books I have read but rather the ones that implanted superior ideas of fiction in my little brain.

   When I started reading this beautiful book, the first thing that came to my mind is that it will be a somehow repetitive horror book of fantasy but, surprisingly, it didn't. Ransom Riggs didn't just work on creating a whole new plot line with very unique characters but also a very distinctive environment where supernatural things happen. The story begins with the introduction about the grandfather who - as referred to by the main characters - a very mysterious and slightly crazy old man. He always told the main character, Jacob, of so many tales about different children with super abilities. Of course, Jacob thought they were fairy tales until one day these creatures - monsters to be exact - murder the grandfather. 

   Jacob hallucinates about all the things that he saw in his grandfather's backyard until the day comes for him to know the truth about the school.

   He travels ... He fights ... He unravels the mystery and uncloaks a world full of black beauty! 

   The reason I liked this book, besides its originality, is the factor of seduction. It is not the fastest in its events but the details used are stitched together to let the story flow in a chain of enthusiasm. Once you realize the exquisiteness of it, it will sure call you from above the shelves. 

   For the characters, they were greatly developed as any other fictitious ones, owning the unique elements. They are not a vague collection of emotions but some of them contain one particular thing that would to you: they are old people in the bodies of children! This particular fact made everything seem rearranged in my mind, something I am not very much used to. Like, they are wise and intelligent in a way old people are but in the pictures, they’re kids with permanent smiles.
   The style used wasn't the best. Ransom Riggs, however, is a very talented author. He uses a lot of images and a lot of delicate details and accurate descriptions, which - in my opinion - are very mandatory in a fantasy book with a whole new world to describe for the readers. Along with the pictures the book included, the words made the whole events play inside my mind in full HD ... like a great movie I would watch over and over again just to make sure that I take care of all the details, not wanting to pass the smallest of them. 

   Over all, I can say that all the factors fabricated in this tale are but the best you can ever find in a satisfying fantasy book: beauty, best world, originality and a little spice of romance!

"It is a perfectly built piece of fantasy, woven to attract the reader into a world of splendor, mystery, horror and goosebumps."