Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

It's the hypervigilance and watching people and reading their emotions for me.
Also...like...Pop star who's a spy.
Bro it's Agent Cody Banks, but different.
I love it.

 336 Pages

Steelstriker by Marie Lu

Did I completely forget what happened in the first book. Yes
If Marie Lu hurts me again like last time...like I'll be ok with it, but also
I'm screeching for many reasons
I love my children and the yearning
416 Pages

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

I'm getting some Carve the Mark vibes.
The mouse. I love the mouse. I've only had it for three seconds, and I love it. 
OH. THERE'S THE TITLE.
Oh my gosh he's the one with the.....
Can we just make all the ships canon please.
Help me I'm feeling things and I need the next book.
384 Pages

Wildcard by Marie Lu

ALL OF THE CRIMINAL MINDS VIBES SO MANY
aaaaand now I'm thinking of Hawks from BHNA
oh gosh I'm feeling.... nope nope nope. put those feelings back in the box. get back in the box
So many BHNA vibes.
Hey look it's Alphonse and Edward Elric from FMA.... fdjklsjklsfd.
All of the Edward and Alphonse Elric vibes.
End credits play: Alexa play Immortals by FOB.
368 Pages

Warcross by Marie Lu

Sword Art Online vibes.
.....did they just...throw the name Daniel Wing in there... Asher...what...
CORGI THERE'S A CORGI
Ok, my love of Criminal Minds is popping up with this analysis of Zero...
And I have a crack theory of who Zero is...
...and the Agent Cody Banks vibes....
;fklesd;klfs;klaksfd;klsfd;kl;sfd;klsfd;klsfd';klsdf;kl
Ahhh morality and free will.. who needs 'em.
 Cross out murder and put illegal.
416 Pages

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

I didn't want to get attached to him, but I love Magiano.
Magiano and Raffaele, the cuties.
Violetta. sigh.
HELP ME I'M FEEEELING.
REDEMPTION YALL.
'SFDJKLSFD;JKLSFD;JKL;SFDA
368 Pages

The Rose Society by Marie Lu

I don't know who to root for....like... ugh.
Bro. Bro.
Someone protect Raffaele. A slytherpuff if there ever was one (although honestly there's ravenclaw too)
These kids need therapy.... a lot of therapy.
448 Pages

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

So I have to reread this because I want to finish the series....and I can't remember what happened besides part of the end....
Ah yeah now I remember....

.....I love Raffaele. Someone protect him.
355 Pages

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

Sibling relationships. All of the feels. Help me.
I love Marie Lu's writing.
Somebody protect baby brother. fadsklfdsaj
I just want so much fanart of little baby Wolfgang.
336 Pages

Rebel by Marie Lu

...So I have lots of feelings, as usual. And last chapter--I am thriving.

Human rights! Yes. Quality of life and equal rights for the homeless and under-privileged. I have such a heart for the homeless and seeing them as human...Because everyone is human and deserves to be treated with human dignity.Call out society! Preach. I am living. I will rail against the machine, so help me.
Commentary on technology. Chef kiss.

"UN-Limit-ed. Together we're unLIMITed".... does my brain default to musicals... Yes it does.
It also defaults to Disney (Lion King and Oliver and Co....and there's more, but that's just me), Star Wars (...because you can't forget the first one no matter how much you bleach your brain), and How to Train Your Dragon....Because I picture fight scenes in animated form....

I love Eden. The cute little nerd brain with a heart of gold.
Protective siblings. I love getting back into Daniel's head...but I had so much anxiety for some of this because I had no fear and then I had one fear. Sibling bonding time with "Stranger Like Me" in the background.

Daniel you cute little romantic. Marry me. You are a ball of anxiety you little kitten. I must protect.

June. Heart eyes... My sunshine. I love her. Encouraging clear communication and working on relationships. She is a goddess; we all know.

384 Pages

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a solid story with an interesting premise (a plague results in teens developing special abilities, which they do not always use for good, which lead to an Inquisition, and to protest the government's genocide, a group of the powered teens forms to fight back), but something's off for me. I delayed in writing the review, because I thought I liked the story, on the whole, but now feel standoffish.

The more time that passes, the less I feel inclined to pick up book two, which has surprised me. It's been almost 2 weeks, and I have book 2 handy but have read 6 other books, rather than starting it.

There's something about this world that has kept me from being as excited as I wanted to be about this book. It's one of those that instead of wanting to hold it close, I'm holding it out at arm's length, and I can't decide if I want to be drawn in. I'd like to provide some logical explanation for what it is exactly that has caused me to step back, but I'm confused.

It might have something to do with the fact that I can't find a side I want to be on. I think each side is wrong and chooses to do terrible things, so I have no idea who I should be routing for. I'm disappointed in everyone's behaviors, not that I expect any of them to be perfect. Mistakes happen. I just find all the actions to be upsetting and depressing, so I can't root for anyone to win, as I don't trust anyone to do better in this screwed up world.

Also, while I find some of the characters fascinating, I don't really love any of them, so maybe that's why I am not anxious to continue reading their story. I can't seem to emotionally invest.

3.5 stars, but I've rounded up as it held my attention and had potential.

Pages: 384

View all my reviews