The Chaos of Stars (Kiersten White)

Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy, is back with The Chaos of Stars—an enchanting novel set in Egypt and San Diego that captures the magic of first love and the eternally complicated truth about family. Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.

I'm starting to realize something. If I stop reading a book in the midst of it, (unless I'm at school, then this doesn't apply) there's probably a reason. I've noticed that. I still haven't finished Revealed of the House of Night series. Oh, I've started it and I've read the end but even now as I try to push myself through it for the second time, I just can't do it.

This beautiful cover got me and the name and time period in which it was published had me confusing it with These Broken Stars. Both have exquisitely made covers. But this book made me realize what guys mean when they complain about push up bras or leggings are false advertisements about some girls bodies. That's what beautiful book covers are when the content inside doesn't live up to the cover.

(BTW: I loved Isadora's name.) She is the mortal daughter born to Egyptian gods, Isis and Osiris in the present day times in Egypt. She is sixteen and hasn't traveled past the Nile. However, her mother has had bad omens that something bad is about to happen to her as well as Isadora in her dreams. Isadora doesn't believe that dreams can be connected to the future so she lies to her mother about\their dreams similarities. Isadora is bitter because as a child she grew up believing she was immortal like her parents and would live forever. However, when a childhood pet dies and her parents tell her it will join her in the afterlife, she realizes that isn't their plan for her. Creepily enough, they've already had her start designing her tomb as a child.

Isadora grow up into a bitter teen who believes her mother only has children (one every 20 years) because  the modern world no longer worships them and lives off her children's worship. She even names her children variations of her and her husbands names (ex. Isadora; Sirus) Isis decides to keep her daughter safe, she'll send her off to San Diego where her second-to-last child, Sirus resides. Isadora is happy about this because her mother has decided to have another baby four years before her typical pattern.

But something has followed Isadora to San Deigo. And it's no Big, Bad, Evil. Instead, it's a bad smell (later followed by a Big, Bad, Evil but not until much, much later).

Anyways, Isis forces Isadora to take a job at a museum full of artifacts she has donated for a brief collection. There Isadora meets a ash-blonde teen girl named Tyler (oh, gosh) who also works at the museum.

Isadora, declares Tyler is the Most Interesting Person ever and decides to make her her San Diego go-to-BFF. Tyler has a boyfriend named Scott (a guy) who has a friend named Ry (also a guy) who is named after Orion. This is relevant because for as long as she can remember, Isadora has had a fixation on the constellation Orion although her mother hates all things Greek for stealing all the God-worshiping mortals from her. Anyway, Ry writes epic poetry and his family is Greek. I knew he especially would be important because during Isadora's Isis rebellion in San Diego, she cuts and dyes her hair. When he sees her, he "stares at me like he's seen a ghost. Even his olive skin has paled" and says, "Your hair. I didn't recognize you before... I didn't recognize you when we met before. But now I do." 

Later, Isadora finds out that she and her family aren't the only gods out there. Orion isn't the original Orion but named after him. He isn't immortal either but the son of Aphrodite and Hephaestus who are happily in love.

Aphrodite who cheats on her ugly, unwanted blacksmith of a husband, Hephaestus for Ares numerous times in mythology. Hephaestus even catches them in old myths! You're trying to tell me they are in love?

But it only gets worse. During the moment where this is revealed to Isadora, Ry also ILY's her. That's right, he tells her he loves her!

That's when I was really done.

Even she says it: dude, you don't even know her! And his explanation that she's been in his dreams for years holds no gravity. He just looked at her as stone, that's it. I really thought this book wasn't going to do that. Ry and Isadora had only spent time together eating and working on her exhibit. He knows she's from Egypt, she has some family issues/problems and she loves interior design. She knows he has Greek heritage, he writes epic poetry (Seriously, what the fuck?) and...that's about it, other then he is homeschooled.

I didn't like Ry as a love interest for a number of reasons. Maybe it wasn't dislike and more that the author didn't convince me. She didn't even fully convince Isadora! Actually, he does know something else about Isadora. Isadora tells him she just wants to be friends. She can't stand commitment because she can barely deal with facing her own eventual death, let alone losing someone else. Initially, Ry agrees with this but like all YA guys, he doesn't know when to stop pushing. He tries to hold Isadora's hand during a movie and she runs away. His excuse is that "friends hold hands."

The fuck they do!

After Isadora runs away from him (specifically his love revelation since she runs away from him a lot), the half-assed Evil plot joins the climax. Other than bad smells, a house break in and a museum guard getting put in the hospital and bad dreams, the Evil barely shows up in the story. Most time is spent doing things to rebell against Isis and fight her attraction towards Ry. When Isadora is running away from Ry's stupid love confession she runs into her creepy half brother/cousin Anubis (his mom and Isis sister got sick of trying to get Set-her hubby-to sleep with her, so she pretended to be Isis and slept with Orsirus. Thus, Anubis is born. He rules the Underworld with their father but wants more out of life. Understandable.) The funky smell we've Isadora's been dealing with all novel is the smell of the liquid Egyptians put their organs and crap in when they are mummified. (Disgusting!) He forces Isadora to read her mothers hand on one of the artifacts that reveals a snake that can poison gods. Isis is the only one who can bring gods back to life, but if she is killed, anyone-even the gods-can be dead for good.

Ry, Ty and Sy Scott save Isadora from Anubis but he already has what he wants. It takes all night and a concussion for Isadora to figure out his plan.

Ry, who doesn't listen to Isadora when she told him she needed space when she went home alone, is outside her house and ready to give her access to his Greek God private plane that takes her to Egypt. Once there, Isadora realizes she was wrong about his accomplice. She was too busy slut-shaming her brother's, Horus' (or Whore-us as she confusingly refers to him) wife Hathor (the goddess of sex and beer), she doesn't realize Anubis' accomplice is his mother/her aunt. Her aunt has been poisoning Isis during her pregnancy and has gotten away with it without Isadora there to realize what's going on.

The demon her aunt leaves to take care of her, very easily lets her pass, and Isadora leaves Ry to deal with Anubis. She bursts into her mothers birthing chamber where her aunt is with the God-killing snake. Her aunt releases the snake and it launches at Isadora...who conveniently is still wearing the gold wristlet/bracelet Ry gave her before his declaration of love. The snake's fangs get stuck in it and she remains safe. She tells her parents all about her aunt's evil plans and her mother decides to forget her name which apparently was the only thing keeping her aunt alive. Cast out, Isadora's mom starts giving birth to a daughter named Dora and she decides to possibly (forget it, you know she is) giving Ry a chance although she doesn't believe in his love-crap baloney.

Sigh. I will never get these hours back. Just think about all that time and beautiful book cover wasted on this book. It could've been so much more.  

The One [The Selection #3]

The Selection changed the lives of thirty-five girls forever. And now, the time has come for one winner to be chosen. America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the competition approaches its end and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants. From the very first page of The Selection, this #1 New York Times bestselling series has captured readers' hearts and swept them away on a captivating journey... Now, in The One, Kiera Cass delivers a satisfying and unforgettable conclusion that will keep readers sighing over this electrifying fairy-tale long after the final page is turned.

I don't know what it was about this book. But it pissed me off so much. And it's not like the author did some huge plot twist or something and I was completely taken off guard. Nope, the book pretty much went the way I thought it would-but more about that later.

Actually, maybe the problem is me. I'm a sophomore-going-on-junior in college; I just declared English as my second major and started studying literature. But the writing in this book pissed me offfff. It was atrocious. When I was reading, I suddenly couldn't remember why I feel in love with the first book of this series anymore. Like I said, maybe it was me. I think I had just graduated high school or was a college freshman when I read The Selection. But either way, I forced myself to power through this book just to close a chapter in my reading.

The book starts off with America trying to seduce Maxon after a rebel attack...literally. Haha, but that is an epic fail. America's is like:

Which Maxon responds to by leaving but not before he's all:

The plot is all bland and stupid. The king is like, "No, Maxon. America=bad." And the Queen's all, "I love all of you girls. I can't get close to you because only one of you will stay. This is just so hard on me." (Um, lady what about your son?). And Aspen's all, "Mer, 

But she doesn't want him anymore. The other four girls fight about Maxon, then decide no matter what happens they will be friends. Interestingly enough, they learn that they all want to marry Maxon for different reasons. As a  model Celeste fears that as she ages, she'll leave the spotlight unless she marries Maxon. Elise (or whatever her name is) was raised to be a perfectionist and if she doesn't win the best hand in marriage her family will consider her a failure. Although Kriss doesn't tell them (but we eventually discover), she is a Northern Rebel and was added to the thrown shamble of a contest to be undercover. 

But during the time America lost Maxon (it's been a while since I read The Selection so I don't remember exactly what she's referring to here) Kriss actually came to love Maxon. I can't decide if this is a cliche or sweet... 

Also, America and Maxon meet two Northern rebel leaders. One is a direct descendant of the first king of...what's the name of this place again? I forget. They tell Maxon to chose America (or Kriss) and he throws a temper tantrum.  Then he and America get into another of their 1,0001 fights in the book.

These two are idiots. They sneak off of castle grounds to the outside world where she picks up a hooker after she has just been shot. I don't know if I should blame America or her creator for this nonsense. First, the way that America handles her gunshot wound is poorly handled. Her shock and surprise make sense in the beginning, but she is still too clear-headed and able-bodied for me. A person who just got shot would not act the way America was. It does not take a genius to know that. 

There was more stuff that pissed me off. America's father dies. (Apparently he has health issues that is never brought up. Oh, and he's a Northern Rebel too. That explains the history book.). And this pissed me off even more. The only reason the author has for killing off America's dad is for a plot device. America goes home which disrupts the king's ultimatum proposal (the king tries to force America to do a propaganda proposal to promote the caste system. If she doesn't do it, the king will kick her out of the competition. At first America refused and she and Maxon got into the fight because if she had said yes to that-or when his dad asked if she loved him-he would've ended the competition. America has until Christmas Day to reconsider.) and forces Maxon and America to spend time apart. But other then that, America doesn't really mourn. She never cries while she's back at home or even throughout the rest of the book.

When she returns to castle, Maxon reveals his love for her and they spend the night together. 

    

However, another reason America's father died comes to play. While America was back home, her stupid brother called Aspen and America out for having a thing. America didn't realize her maid, Lucy had overheard the entire conversation (and was looking mighty-butt-hurt about being the last to know) and decided she needed to tell Maxon. But when she returns Maxon's Declaration of Love distracts her and she forgets. Maxon says that he's ending the competition in the morning and they will elope. That night Maxon sleeps in her room but literally the next morning everything's gone to hell. Maxon leaves and comes back just when America has placed her hand on Aspen's chest.

 I wasn't sure how I felt about this. Sure, the book danced around Maxon's unawareness of their past relationship to lead to this moment, but a hand on the chest should not have resulted in that reaction. Obviously Maxon is insecure. He throws a fit and claims Aspen and America have been having a affair around his back the whole time. He then takes his proposal back from America and gives it to Kriss (lol, who witnesses everything. Haha, she got leftovers!)

The giant "climax" of the book is so stupid. During Maxon's wedding to Kriss (ahahaha, I was dying that he made America still go and smile while she was at it. Hilarious!) the rebels attack. 

Of course it's not the Nice Rebels but the bad ones. They kill Celeste and nearly killed America but in a sequence that still confuses me, Maxon and Aspen saved the day. Yayyy.... 

Also, the king and queen were conveniently killed off during this attack. So America doesn't have to worry about the king thwarting her relationship with Maxon or him beating his ass any anymore. This also allows the kingdom to be saved. Yayyy....

In the crossfire of the battle, Maxon got shot and did a predictable 360 and told America he loved her (who didn't know that?!?). Then he forced Aspen to get her to a safe room where she boo-hooed and cried about Maxon, Maxon, Maxon. Lol, this idiot thought the boy had actually died. 

The best part during the attack was when Aspen bitch-slapped some sense into Kriss. I died!

Stupid-ass America walked around for I don't know how long crying about how Maxon was dead until Aspen got some sense into her. She left him making out with Lucy, one of her maids. It was really weird and random. I don't know where that came from. Apparently, they are in love. Okay...?

In the end, North rebels saved the day. They were all:

to the Southern Rebels and they listened. Lol, just kidding. Okay, what really happened is the Northern Rebels kicked all their asses. And the key to their success? As Apsen put it "They fight differently. They knew what to do."  

Haha, I can't. 

I really can't. 

In result, Maxon becomes king and is all, fuck this bitch, to the caste system and dissolves it. Next, America and Maxon have the Important Declaration of their Love (this always happens after a couple has bypassed the obstacles of the plot) and get married. I actually felt bad for Kriss. She really did care about Maxon and she was sooooo close to actually getting to be with him. I would not have stayed for that wedding if I was her. We get a flash to Maxon and America's wedding day where the author decides to randomly switch into present tense. There really isn't an update on what's been going on in the kingdom, the rebels or the dissolution of the caste system. Obviously, the important part is that Maxon and America did get married. 

Ugh. At least I'm done now. I was really hoping that the author was going to shake things up. She definitely would have surprised a bunch of people if Maxon really had married someone else. And all the plot resolutions were too simply tied up for me. They were literally being held together with a string. I'm not sure if I'll read something else from Kiera Cass. I think my tastes in writing are evolving and her writing style is a little too juvenile for me.

Starglass [Starglass #1]

Terra has never known anything but life aboard the Asherah, a city-within-a-spaceship that left Earth five hundred years ago in search of refuge. At sixteen, working a job that doesn't interest her, and living with a grieving father who only notices her when he's yelling, Terra is sure that there has to be more to life than what she's got. But when she inadvertently witnesses the captain's guard murdering an innocent man, Terra is suddenly thrust into the dark world beneath her ship's idyllic surface. As she's drawn into a secret rebellion determined to restore power to the people, Terra discovers that her choices may determine life or death for the people she cares most about. With mere months to go before landing on the long-promised planet, Terra has to make the decision of a lifetime--one that will determine the fate of her people.

Let me start by saying, what the heck does a "copper-skinned" person look like? Or an amber colored person. Isn't that the stuff that bugs are preserved in?

Ew...so someone's the color of insect preservative.

I loved the multiculturalism in this book I did. I mean, a star-ship with religion? An Earth based, with all it's history based religion? Jews on a star-ship? I'm surprised it took this long for someone to have come up with this idea and run with it. Why wouldn't there be a group of religious people who want a star-ship of their own? Why not? It could totally happen. So from the moment I read that I was like, "okay...okay...okay. Let's see what else there is."

That's a original twist that tosses most of my Across the Universe comparisons aside. But every time someone who wasn't white came into the story, I felt the description of their skin color disrupted the story. At least in this story, being in space they kind of had an excuse for not using "black" or "African-American" but the author could've came up with something.

And it did. It so did. I don't think I've read any book in space or any dystopia story that features homosexuality in it what-so-ever. Let alone as a driving point for freedom that reminded me of current and past Earth times. So I thought that was pretty original too.

Anyway, I really did enjoy this book. Although there were parts of it that reminded me of  Across the Universe and Delirium (the fight for the right to love against the chain of command) it also kind of seemed original too. And I enjoyed that Tessa wanted to mess around later, even if it wasn't sex. That really made me believe that she was a teenage girl. I totally connected with her on that. 

I didn't connect with her so much with the mysterious death of her mother, which her second-fiance's dad apparently orchestrated only we don't really know why. Or if we did, it seemed totally pointless unless we're meant to learn more in the books that follow.

But Tessa could've been fleshed out a bit more. Because how do you say you have a best friend but she doesn't know that you like to draw? Or why is it you claim to love art, but we only witness you doing it once and there's no other sort of interactions with any sort of art later? Stuff like that makes characters seem two-dimensional or less which is badddd in a Main Character/Protagonist.

And a lot of her character seemed kind of cliched. The dead mother and the alcoholic, physically and verbally abusive father. Although when he kills himself in the end, that really did touch me. I had seen it coming for a bit though. He'd made it obvious throughout the book that he didn't want to land on the planet without her mother. And he did everything he could to make sure Tessa wasn't alone. He tried to find her a husband...which became awkward seeing how he got her engaged to his secretly-gay apprentice. And man...the way Tessa found out he was gay was like, 

When I read the scene, this was basically my reaction. My brother kept asking me what was wrong and I kept staring at him like he was crazy. Like this had come out of nowhere. Although there are parts of the book where one of Tessa's ancestors is writing to her daughter, Tessa (who is not the narrator) and she describes her love for a woman named Annie, still. I was just in SHOCK.

I get why some people say Tessa's selfish  She nearly marries the guy that her so-called best friend, Rachel had asked to marry and got viciously rejected by. Like, that's a no-no. That's breaking girl-code and friend-code times a million. I wish she would've hinted or just told Rachel that the rebellion group on the ship was making her kill him. Not to mention the way she viciously outs Koen (her first fiancee, her father's apprentice) to Rachel after her and Rachel's confrontation of her stealing of the boyfriend. That was not cool at all.

But the manipulative woman behind the rebellion group in the first place...she's got...I would say balls but please, having balls does not equal bad-assery. But...if I say she has a va-jay-jay I'm just stating the obvious and that just sounds stupid. The girl has tits (lol). In her quest for power she managed to turn the lower citizens into a rebellion to get rid of her mother (the captain) and her successor? She nearly succeeds. Luckily Tessa realizes in the end but not before the girl kills her own mother in cold blood.

Anyway, my favorite part of the book is the search for Tessa's true love whom she has sexual dreams. She calls him her "bashert" which means soul mate or destiny and the book comes to a dramatic end. Not only has she witnessed a second murder and ran out on her own wedding but Tessa realizes that her soul mate is one of the aliens on the planet that her ship is supposed to colonize and is against their landing.