Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
My rating: 5 of 5 moons
Published: January 10, 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Dutton Books
Source: Purchased
Pages: 313
Format: Hardcover
Purchase At: Amazon.com or The Book Depository

Goodreads Summary

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind

My Thoughts

This is the way I look at it:

This whole book deserves to be one giant quote all on its own. I look at it and think how The Fault in our Stars as a work actually proves that literature can touch lives, a complete testament to John Green's brilliance. The Stars have it - 5 out of 5 - and I kind of have no words right now to explain how truly impressed I am with this novel.



But really I do, have words that is, or else this wouldn't be a very good review. The thing is, I don't know what to say of this book that hasn't been said already:

You should read it! It will blow your mind! Read it now smart ass, what are you waiting for!?

See? Everything has been said before. Except maybe that last part, that was all me. In truth, the multiple glowing reviews are largely responsible for why I picked the book up in the first place. It was a case of the whole blogosphere raving like mad about John Green, his books, writing, and me being clueless.

bloggers: This book is fantastic! Whooooooooooooo!
Me: Hm. The Fault in Our Stars, never heard of it before.
bloggers: What rock have you been living under?

And before I answer that question, spilling the beans on the locale of my hermit rock and all, 457 Lives in a Whole, Loner Street Toronto, I trust the majority of you get the point. This was the book everyone was dying a little over and I had to read it. Trust me, I am very glad I did. Everything you've heard? Forget it now if you still haven't read the book; those words of praise cannot possibly live up to the total awesomeness that is The Fault in Our Stars. To be frank, you need to read this book yourself and be blown away like the rest of us.

A Quick Overview.

The writing: Superb. Expect it now that when you start reading you will most definitely NOT want to stop.

The characters: Are heart-wrenching, breath-taking and wholly realistic. All of them, every single one of those people in that book touched me. That lasting effect even after the last page is turned, that is what lets me know a book phenomenal.

The subject matter: Was handled to perfection, John Green engaged the topic of cancer and loss with a wit and cleverness that really makes this book shine. If you couldn't tell before, I totes have a crush on this author!

As for the world he created, I absolutely adored Augustus Waters, his antics as well as his patent over-the-top nature. There was just so much to be sad about, what with death being of primary focus, and having the author utilize humour to make the subject matter more manageable made me digest easier the sadness. Cancer is no joke, but certainly no one writes it, the desease acting as a catalyst for the tender romance, like John Green.

The way he wrote them, Hazel and Augustus were beyond cute, the two being perfect example of soul-mates done right. They didn't NEED each other to survive, rather they were their own people in a lot of ways, but I - and apparently all the other fans of this novel - would much rather see them be together. I never realized the toll cancer takes on not only those infected, but their families also; reading The Fault in Our Stars was a huge eye-opener to the realities and harsh struggle families of cancer victims face. At the end I left with a greater respect of all it is that they go through.

I was so emotionally spent by the time I finished reading...I can guarantee that The Fault in Our Stars will find a way to break your heart, and not only will you enjoy it, but you will want more. This book will make a fractured mess of your heart, and I know this because it completely shattered mine.

Yet... I crave a sequel set in an alternate universe, something that does right by Augustus and Hazel by ridding away with the cancers altogether. Takers anyone?



I thought so. Alas, this is cannot be! We would all like a different ending, but the prevalent sense of reality is a huge factor in the widespread mass adoration of this novel. Nothing would make me happier than to elaborate, and I would be happy to do so with those already closely familiar with the book, but for those who haven't had the chance to meet Augustus, Hazel, their parents or even Van Houten, I dare not ruin it for you.

So hurry up and read it!

5/5 moons: I recommend this book. Hell, I am in love with it! A favourite for sure, I can only hope that you pick it up and enjoy it too. 

********GIVEAWAY*******

Also, check out this giveaway for Shawn Mihalik's The Flute Player and my review too if you haven't. Thanks and take care guys, love you lots!

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The Flute Player: Interview and Giveaway

Shawn Mihalik is the author of the YA novella The Flute Player 

About the Author:

Shawn was born in San-Diego, California, in 1990, where he lived until he was seven.
In high school, he won several awards both as a writer for and editor-in-chief of his student newspaper, The Talon, prompting him to study journalism at Youngstown State University before deciding that his passion for writing was better directed at fiction. He then spent several years in Pittsburgh, learning American Sign Language and working with the deaf and hard of hearing.

Shawn currently lives in Youngstown, Ohio, where he writes novels, poetry, and short stories and explores the characteristics of different varieties of wine. His works include The Final Days of Poetry, a poetry collection; The Flute Player, a novella; and Brand-Changing Day, a novel.
Shawn loves to climb things, especially large things like rocks and cliffs and mountains. He also still reads comic books.

1. The world of Drommar is certainly unique. What childhood stories/fairy tales helped provide inspiration for the creative fantasy land?

To be honest, I'd never read a lot of fantasy when I was younger. I've always been more of a sci-fi and literary fiction fan, but Peter Pan has always been one of my favorite books, and it, along with C.S. Lewis's Narnia series, certainly influenced me when I wrote The Flute Player and created Drommar.

2. Do you see yourself writing more of this genre in future? If so, what might you have in mind? 

Maybe. I don't have any plans to write something else like this—that is to say, of all the things I'm currently writing or have ideas for, nothing is in this genre—but I might, someday. I think there's a lot that can be done with fantasy that hasn't been done before.

3. Name the place you write best in and why. 

Nowhere specific. I've written in basements, and I've written in coffee shops, and I've written on balconies, and I've written on a bench beside the Allegheny River. In fact, I like to be able to write anywhere, because I like to write every day, if I can, and I never know where I'll be. That said, I do write best if I'm alone and it's early in the day.

4. If you could have lunch with any novelist, (dead or alive), who would it be? If they are deceased, kindly explain their significance in your life and the reason for their resurrection.

David Foster Wallace. I started to take my writing seriously when I began reading Infinite Jest, and I can measure a significant portion of my growth as a writer, a reader, and a person by my consumption of that novel (when I started reading it, it took me almost a year to read the first half of Infinite Jest, and then I put it down for about nine months and didn't touch it, and then I came back to it and read the second half in two short weeks).

I'm currently reading Wallace's posthumous unfinished novel, The Pale King. I've delayed reading it for a while because I knew that, once I read it, I'd never again have the privilege of experiencing a new work of Wallace's for the first time. I'd love to tell him that.

5. About Oliver and Alexandria's relationship, is there a future for them? If so, how do you see things progressing? 

While the ending of The Flute Player may come across as ambiguous at first, I think a quick reread (and, if necessary, search about the history of Nantes, France) will show that there decidedly isn't a future for their relationship, although I'm sure Alexandria's influence will show up in Oliver's music for the entirety of his career as the flute player.

6. If a traveling peasant were looking to take up work or residence in Drommar, how might you suggest he go about the task? Would having connections to the renown Flute Player of the village make his case more favourable?

If a traveling peasant managed to find his way into Drommar in the first place, I think the residents of the village would be far too concerned with where he came from to worry about giving him work. Of course, they probably wouldn't be able to see him, so the flute player might be the only hope of connection he would have.

7. Would you be friends with Oliver? In what ways are the two  of you alike, or different?

I would definitely be friends with Oliver. I'm not much like Oliver anymore, but he's probably a pretty close representation of the me that I was five or six years ago when I was his age.

8. What other profession might Oliver assume if he weren't the Flute Player of the village? Following his meeting with Alexandria, do you see him taking on his role better? 

He'll definitely take on the role of the flute player better than he did before meeting Alexandria; in fact, I think he's fully embraces it now because of her. If he weren't the flute player, I'm not sure what he'd be. It's an excellent question, though, and I'd love for the readers to think about it.

9. What changes does Oliver undergo throughout the story, and is he a different person at the end? How so?

This is interesting. Oliver wants to be a different person when the story starts. He wants a different life and more freedom and a different role. But by the end of the story, he's still has that role. The difference is that now Oliver has embraced what he didn't want at the beginning; he's recognized its importance and taken ownership of that, of himself.

10. What do you hope readers take away from The Flute Player?

That life is good. That we can be the person we want to be and that what others want us to be doesn't matter.

Find Shawn: Facebook / Twitter / Google+

Shawn Mihalik is an inspiring author with a unique prose and voice. Find my review of the book here and for your chance to WIN an Ebook of his novella, see the Rafflecopter below! The Giveaway is International and open to anyone with an eReader. At the end of the giveaway, one winner will be chosen. Have fun and enter responsibly!

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Review: The Flute Player by Shawn Mihalik

The Flute Player by Shawn Mihalik 

Rating: 3.5 of 5 moons

Published: March 12, 2013

Genre: Fantasy, YA

Pages: 67
Publisher: Asymmetrical Press

Source: Review Copy

Format: eBook

Purchase At: Amazon.com 

Goodreads Summary 

For nearly ten years, young Oliver has begrudgingly accepted his position as the flute player of the peaceful village of Drommar—a responsibility thrust upon him after the previous flute player, and Oliver's best friend, drowned in a tragic childhood accident. Now on the cusp of adulthood, a mysterious young woman enters Oliver's life, and he begins to question the nature of his world and the importance of his place in it.

The Review

Shawn Mihalik’s The Flute Player has all the makings of a fairy tale classic. His protagonist, Oliver, instantly brings to mind The Pied Piper from days of old and I couldn’t help casting similarities between the two. It was almost as if Oliver was a less grounded Piper before he eventually finds himself and matures; Oliver’s journey could very well have been that ancient flute player’s story. If he lived in Drommar, that is, and this point is exactly where everything alters. In bringing to life the little town, Mihalik does an excellent job of making this story unique and completely engaging. If anything, my linking Oliver to the Piper is further proof of how stunning this little tale truly is. The Flute Player is fast-paced and wonderful, and readers will be happy to know that a great fantasy belies the book’s modest packaging.

To be sure, Oliver was the perfect protagonist for this book. His character is crafted in such a way that the growth and self-discovery he experiences are occurrences celebrated by those invested. By the time the conclusion came, I found myself caring a great deal more for the characters than I initially thought I would. Truthfully I didn’t know what to expect at first. I knew the story centered on a young man being burdened with the task of playing the flute for his village. Having very little choice in the matter, the position was thrust upon him following his childhood friend’s demise. There was mention of a mysterious girl and…a Volkswagen Beetle? Crossing my fingers, I hoped for the best and ended up getting so much more than expected!

For instance, the prologue prose at the beginning provides a whimsically fitting prelude to the story. There are vague instructions of how to get to Drommar and the writing is just so well done, it sucks the reader right in! The actual text reads as if it were extracted from an anthology of Hans Christian Anderson’s collection and the likes. The story itself is not specifically targeted at juvenile readers, yet it appeals to and will attract a wide range of audiences. All that is necessary to appreciate The Flute Player is a respect for honest fiction; this book is poignant and more than meets the eye.

For a book of its length, The Flute Player is rich in story, and Drommar provides a dream-like setting for all that unfolds. The mystery girl, Alexandria, is only visible to Oliver and while he alone can see her, the other characters are at a loss. There is a reason she lands in the village and this by far is one of my favorite aspects of the short novel. She comes seemingly out of nowhere, drawing the recluse Flute Player into the forest, a truly magical place, and you simply have to read the book to learn more; the secret behind her sudden appearance is well worth it.

Moreover, there exists a dualism between Oliver’s world and Alexandria’s; she completely alters the way he sees himself as well as his responsibilities to the rest of Drommar. Due to her influence, Oliver comes to an acceptance of his given role. Their relationship is sweet and tender, romantic, and both characters care deeply about each other. Seeing the depth of their friendship, what they were willing to sacrifice to see the other happy, was touching and you can bet that I was rooting for them. A longer epilogue would have answered many of my longstanding questions and tied everything up in a better way, but the nature of the story is fantasy and not everything has a definite conclusion in such cases. Keeping this in mind, it makes sense why the conclusion was not precise or clear-cut; in this case, some things are left to the imagination.

As a whole, this book struck me as being carefully thought out. I’m not saying it was perfect, there were certain flaws, but the author took care in developing the concept. Mihalik knew where he wanted his story and characters to go, and for the most part, he delivered.

The world building could have been more fleshed out; I would have enjoyed learning more about Drommar. Since Oliver is the main source of information, he is limited in his appraisal of the world and isn’t allowed the freedom to explore or live his life independently. For fear of him perishing like the previous Player, he appears twice daily before the villagers in the morning and evening, and remains for the most part locked away. As you can imagine, with him being so distanced from them, what is learnt of the village from Oliver’s perspective is fairly sparse information. Even though Alexandria helps him break out from his sheltered existence, the town people relying on one individual to get them through the day, their moods and attitudes being interconnected with his and the songs he chose to play, were still a mystery by the end. Ultimately, I found the dynamic between Oliver and the village folk to be quite interesting and not nearly explored enough.

Still, The Flute Player is an engaging, thoughtful piece. At the request of the author and his representative, I was happy to review this book. The read was quick, enjoyable and well worth my time. I liked it, and the minor issues mentioned aside, an opportunity to read The Flute Player should not be missed. A fantasy tale that adds to its genre, this book is recommended!

Will you be reading The Flute Player? What do you think of the book based on the review? Let me know in the comments below!

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Review: The Mackenzie Legacy by Derrolyn Anderson

*A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.*


The Mackenzie Legacy by Derrolyn Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 moons
Published: April 4th, 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Mature YA
Series: The Athena Effect
Pages: 200
Source: Review Copy
Format: eBook
Purchase At: Amazon.com or Smashwords.com

Goodreads Summary

As their story continues, Calvin and Caledonia find themselves madly in love, on the run, and nearly out of money. When Cal stumbles upon a way to cash in on Cali’s powers, their life on the road becomes a life of leisure. Despite the easy money and newfound luxury, Caledonia’s conscience begins to trouble her.

A disturbing warning only serves to confirm her misgivings, making her question her purpose in life. Finally, a shocking discovery about the true nature of her powers points the way forward, sending the two Cals on a dangerous rescue mission.

Caledonia tries her best to right the wrongs of the past, but will she only end up provoking new and even more dangerous enemies?

My Thoughts

This is a very easy book to like, and more so, read and fall into. I liked being effortlessly drawn back into the complexities of Cal and Cali's life. The novel literally picks up where The Athena Effect left off, and while both Cal's are still on the run, they are still very much in love. With the threat of recapture at the hands of Max looming in the backs of their minds, Cal and Cali need to lie low. Initially they stick to camp grounds, distant roads, and avoid drawing attention to themselves by living modestly off the few funds they have left. This doesn't last long however, and as the money quickly disappears, one thing leads to another and the young lovers find themselves on a journey neither could have ever bargained for. Monumental secrets regarding The Athena Effect as well as Cali's heritage are unravelled, and as the long hidden truths come to light, everything changes.

Firstly, let me say that the stressful conditions mentioned above do nothing to disrupt the romance between Cal and Cali, and I loved seeing them grow and really mature as characters. Truthfully I don't see why anyone would want to keep them apart; they fought like hell to be together and they just work. I like their relationship because Cal and Cali are made for each other and you really can't picture them happy and apart. Things like that just shouldn't happen, so you can imagine how beyond pleased I was that Derrolyn kept them together. As is expected, they do fight to a degree, and rather realistically, but the arguments never grow so out of control that there is talk of permanent separation. It was good to see them keeping things in perspective and managing disagreements like the capable adults I knew them to be.

*snaps for Derrolyn*

WOOT.



Yeah, girl!

As a second book in the series, The Mackenzie Legacy adds a substantial amount of detail and revelation to the series overall; it is mind-blowing how much changes and the impact of these developments. Derrolyn carried the story over seamlessly, and The Mackenzie Legacy proves itself a worthwhile sequel because it does help the series progress. There is just so much excellent and right with this book that I was hard pressed to find the bits just short of brilliance.

There is a strong connection felt with almost all the characters. Cali struggles with honing her abilities while still adjusting to the world outside her cabin, coming to terms with the truth of the experiment that ultimately claimed the lives of her parents and still largely governs hers. Cal helps her a lot through these struggles, but battles with his own share of insecurities. Every time he worried that Cali would leave I wanted to shake him a little and be like, she isn't going anywhere! Yet if I had done that, the pleasure of watching him work through it on his own would have been lost. He supports her and accepts everything, even Cali's more dangerous connections, such as her bond with the twins Layla and Michael. He would do anything for her, truly the author is successful in showing much more than telling the lengths each Cal is willing to go for the other.

As a backdrop to the story, the setting is great, and the added tension of characters being on the run made for a suspenseful read. There is a healthy amount of mystery and romance throughout the plot which pretty much guarantees readers will gasp at least once, if not twice. The writing improves in The Mackenzie Legacy, and although some portions of the book felt a bit rushed, and some resolutions hurried, this book ultimately makes for an exciting and rewarding read. I definitely recommend it - reader discretion for the more mature scenes is advised - and I am an even bigger fan of the series than before.

Get your hands on this series now!

3.5/5 moons: A satisfying continuation to a great series, The Mackenzie Legacy isn't a book to miss and fans of the series will be thrilled with startling revelation, touching romance and a suspenseful, rewarding plot.

***GIVEAWAY***

If you haven't already, be sure to enter into The Mackenzie Legacy and The Athena Effect giveaway, you stand a chance to win both books along with a series-inspired bracelet. The giveaway ends soon so enter quick!

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Addicted To You by Krista & Becca Ritchie

**Sharing some stunning covers, one fabulous book at a time!**

Addicted to You by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie

Release Date: June 1st, 2013

Goodreads Summary

Two addictions. One lie.

No one would suspect shy, Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy onboard can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her, can barely help himself.

**This is a New Adult book recommended for readers 18 and up**

How AWESOME is that cover?! Seriously, I am so excited for this book to release come June 1st, that blurb has me wanting Addicted to You NOW. Also, for those of you unaware, Becca and Krista are the lovely bloggers of Nawanda Files, and their debut New Adult novel could not be any more exciting! The cover is excellent - no awkward body positions, grinding or kissing in sight - and  I can't wait for it to come out.

Because they're so incredible, the girls have included a Giveaway with the Cover Reveal, so be sure to enter below and show your support! It's International, as long as the Book Depository ships to you, so almost everyone can enter :)


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