Matched and Crossed

Cassia's whole life is controlled by the Society. What to eat, where you work, who you marry, when you die. The Officials decide everything for you, to provide you the best life possible. But when Cassia starts falling in love with Ky other than her designated match, Xander, she starts to wonder if the Society isn't perfect after all.

I thought this book was pretty good. Though a bit slow, it described how the Society worked really well. I liked the conflict between Xander and Ky, and Cassia having to choose one over the other. It was interesting to see how everyone reacted when they found out; her parents, Xander, and her Official. I thought the Society was pretty evil, not only to her, but to everyone. I enjoyed reading it a lot.

Crossed on the other hand, was a lot slower than Matched. Sequels almost never turn out to be as good as the first book. Ky was taken away to the Outer Provinces, and Cassia desperately tries to find him. You meet a lot of new characters, and learn more about Xander, Ky and the Society. Yet it was a touch too slow for me. It only got really interesting towards the end. Crossed by Ally Condie has you almost dangling on a cliff hanger, waiting to find out what happens next in the final book.

My Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Maze Runner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner takes place in a rectangular open expanse called the Glade. The Glade is surrounded by four stone walls, which opens up during the day to reveal an unsolvable maze behind it. Thomas wakes up to find that he can only remember his first name. He is greeted by other boys living in the Glade, the "Gladers", and tries to settle into his new home. But Thomas' arrival seems to have triggered a chain of events that cause the Gladers to wonder why they are here and how to get out.

I heard about this series from many classmates, some saying it was the best series ever. I slightly disagree. Don't get me wrong; it's a great book and I enjoyed it a lot. But I thought it could've been better. I liked the plot, and the suspenseful events kept me reading to the end. But I didn't like the style of writing. It was somehow kind of plain; although it was a fast-paced book, it felt kinda slow. I still had a lot of unanswered questions by the end of the book, which I hope will be answered in the next book. Overall, a pretty decent book, with a suspenseful plot that is brilliant enough for me to be willing to read the rest of the series.

My Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

The Forbidden Game

    The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith is a terrific book, divided into three parts; The Hunter, The Chase, and The Kill. Jenny buys a game from a mysterious boy she encounters for an upcoming party. Turns out that the boy is a Shadow Man and has been in love with Jenny since she was a kid. To take her for himself, he draws Jenny and her friends into three consecutive games in which Jenny and her friends' lives are at stake. If they win, Jenny gets her freedom. But if they lose, Jenny has to commit herself to Julian for the rest of her life.

    This is a book where friendships deepen, and love gets in the way of the game. I loved the unique plot and the different characters. There were surprises at every turn and it's a great story of love, horror and sacrifice. In the end you have to question who's the real enemy, and who you can trust. I have no idea what to categorize this one as. Is it romance? Paranormal? Or both? Either way, I loved it.

My Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Alex Rider Series

    The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz is one of my favorite series. Alex Rider is a fourteen-year-old spy working for MI6. All nine books feature nine different missions he's been given by MI6 and he meets many different people along the way. He proves himself to be a very good spy, however unwilling he is to be one. He is resourceful, a quick thinker, and has a reckless personality.

In the first book, Stormbreaker, Alex is introduced to the spy world when his last living relative, his uncle, dies in a "car crash". Later he finds out that his uncle is really a spy working for MI6 and that he died on one of his missions. MI6 wants to recruit him seeing as a teenage spy would be much more useful than an adult. Though Alex refuses at first, MI6 gives him no choice, and he is sent on his first mission.

About a year later, Alex has been on nine different, successful, missions, and has managed to save the world more than once. His last mission, told in the final book, Scorpia Rising, not only puts a definite end to his spy career, but also changes his life forever.

    Out of all the books in the series, I have to say that Scorpia Rising is my favorite. This final mission has Alex scarred for the rest of his life. I loved the unexpected twists, surprising me more than once. The gadgets, the people, and most of all, the ending. Terrifying and sad, it left me in tears by the time the book was over. It was full of action, and kept me reading all the way to the end. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves a good action-packed spy novel.

My Rating: 10 out of 10 stars

Ender's Game

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite books! It's a mixture of sci-fi, war, and smart kids. I absolutely loved it!

    The earth is under attack once again. The "buggers" final invasion could wipe out the human species. And only one person can defeat them...

    Ender Wiggin is sent to Battleschool for millitary training at age six, where he quickly proves himself to be the best of the best. Smart. Daring. A quick thinker. But how will he do when he's in command of a real fleet? Is he willing to defeat the "buggers" once and for all?

There's also a companion book; Ender's Shadow. It's basically the same time period in which Ender's Game occurs, yet all the events are told from a different point of view, from one of Ender's fellow classmates and friends in Battleschool. I loved them both!

My Rating: 10 out of 10 stars