Book Review #669 - The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

The Selection began with thirty-five girls.

Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

My Rating: 3.5/5

America was a fun, witty character in the first book however her indecisiveness in this book made her lose most of her charm. 

She took her time choosing between Maxon and Aspen and now it appears that the love triangle has developed to a square. 

The only thing that happens in this book that advanced the overall plot at all was that there was a hint at political unrest in the country and the corrupt nature of the caste system. 

America's family made an appearance, but her father was rather suspicious and I think he is likely hiding something. 

The amount of attacks the rebels made on the palace increased so much in this book that I feel like it's building to something major - like with the first book I was hoping that Aspen would get killed as that would solve so many issues. 

It seemed like America had only just now worked out that the other girls in The Selection are there for the same reason she is and the other girls were were given some attention accordingly. 

The Selection part of the story is moving slower than I thought it would. I mean only 2 more girls were eliminated in this book - as much of an antagonist Celeste is, I hope she stays around longer as she causes all the drama. 

The king is building to be the major villain of the story, which might mean that America potentially could end up on the rebels side of the impending conflict. 

Overall, whilst America annoyed me endlessly, I developed so many theories of where the story is going that I desperately need book 3 as soon as possible. 

Book Review #668 - Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined (Twilight #1.75) by Stephenie Meyer

My Rating: 3.5/5

I went into this book really, really skeptical. I was a huge Twilight fan back in the day and it is the book series I 100% accredit to reestablishing my love for reading and introducing me to the YA genre, however, it has been years since I have last picked up a Twilight book. I actually tried to reread Twilight a few months ago and couldn't get myself to read more than a few chapters. 

First of all, I found it difficult to take this book seriously. I felt like it was hastily written to be a part of the 10th anniversary edition of Twilight. The names of the characters did not help at all with this as it was very hard to take the name Beaufort or the spelling of Edythe seriously at all. 

Plot wise, I was a little surprised how much of the original story and dialogue stayed the same. This made Beau sound very feminine and I had to keep reminding myself that he wasn't Bella. 

Once I realised I shouldn't take the book as seriously as I was I actually really started to enjoy it and even though there were some plot holes in the way it finished, I was surprised with the alternate ending and it was obvious the ending was a what if scenario that the author had been thinking for a while.  

Book Review #667 - Library of Souls (Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children #3) by Ransom Riggs

The adventures that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued with Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls.

As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.

They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all. 

Like its predecessors, Library of Souls blends thrilling fantasy with never-before-published vintage photography.

My Rating: 4/5

Given the way Hollow City ended, I can't believe I managed to wait a week before picking up the third and final book in this exhilarating trilogy. 

This book wasn't as action packed as Hollow City nor did it have the tone I loved so much in the first book, but I think that this book is probably my favourite in the series just because of the serious plot developments. 

Addison the talking dog plays a bigger role in this book which I loved because who doesn't want an incredibly brave, talking dog constantly saving the day? (better than a cat anyway). 

I still had issues with the romance in that I still don't feel the connection between Jacob and Emma. I think that maybe this is because Emma used to be Jacob's grandfathers girlfriend and that creeps me out a little. 

I loved the way all the peculiar children worked together in Hollow City and so I was a little disappointed that they were all separated for the large majority of this installment.

The ending was completely unexpected (in a good way) and I think this series could not possibly have ended in a better way. The only question that I have now is what really happened to Fiona?    

Book Review #666 - This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

This is a collection of the journals, fiction, letters, and sketches of the late Esther Grace Earl, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 16. Photographs and essays by family and friends help to tell Esther's story, along with an introduction by award-winning author John Green who dedicated his number 1 bestselling novel The Fault in Our Stars to her.

My Rating: 3.5/5

This is a very hard book to review as it is so much more than just a book - it is a life, a life that is very much alive in every single page. 

The book is told through Esther's own personal journal entries, her long detailed letters to family members which helped portray not only what an awesome person Esther was but also how talented she was with her writing. 

The love and support that Ether had with her family and that her family had for her was evident in every page. 

Because of the amount of photos and the glossy pages used in the book, it made the pages quite thick and in turn made the book really heavy. I found because of this I couldn't really read this book for long periods of time as it hurt my wrists. 

Through her father's words and the Earl family's work through their foundation they have ensured that Esther will live on and her star won't go out. 

Book Review #665 - The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Rating: 4/5

I had been putting off reading this book ever since it was first released because, I admit, I judged it by its cover. A girl in a fancy dress is not really my thing. 

I'm not sure what ultimately made me decide to give it a try, but I am glad I did as not only did I enjoy it, I completely devoured it. 

I loved all the unique names used throughout the book and how the surname ties in with with the occupation they are destined to have. 

When I first discovered the plot was basically The Bachelor, I seriously considered not finishing it as I absolutely despise all form of reality television. 

I loved the idea of ranking society and the fact that America went from a 5 to a 3 gave great insight into how both ends of the spectrum work. 

I loved the rivalry and camaraderie between the girls although it was a little overwhelming as most of them only existed in the background. I'm looking forward to The Elite as now there are fewer girls it will be easier for them to develop.

The only issue I had with this book was the world building. The explanation given for how Illea came to exist left me rather confused and there were numerous holes in the explanation. 

The romance in this book was a lot tamer than I thought it would be considering the plot which I loved and it enabled America and Maxon to develop a strong friendship. 

As for Aspen, I found myself hoping that he would have died in one of the rebels raids as I am not that fond of him or love triangles which I can see developing if Aspen doesn't disappear. 

I loved America's family especially May who reminded me of Primrose Everdeen and I really hope we get to see more of them in future books. 

The whole aspect with the rebels was interesting but I just wished there was more depth in this area.   

Book Review #664 - The Storm (The Rain #2) by Virginia Bergin

"I'll tell you a weird thing about apocalypses - a thing I didn't even know until I was in one: they seem pretty bad, don't they? Well, take it from me: they can always get worse."

Three months after the killer rain first fell, Ruby is beginning to realise her father might be dead . . . and that she cannot survive alone. When a chance encounter lands her back in the army camp, Ruby thinks she is safe - at a price. Being forced to live with Darius Spratt is bad enough, but if Ruby wants to stay she must keep her eyes - and her mouth - shut. It's not going to happen. When she realizes what is going on - the army is trying to find a cure by experimenting on human subjects - Ruby flips out . . . and makes an even more shocking discovery: she's not useless at all. The Storm begins . . . 

My Rating: 3.5/5

Given the way The Rain ended I was really interested to see where the story would go from there. 

The huge buildup in the first book was Ruby being reunited with her father and half-brother Dan. This happened late in the book and was a MASSIVE disappointment for both Ruby and the reader for reasons I can't mention for the sake of spoilers. 

Ruby's behaviour in this book was even more reckless than in the first book. 

In The Rain, Ruby cared about her appearance way too much whereas in this book she didn't care about her appearance at all. It was an interesting way to show Ruby's mental stability. 

The book is made up of largely Ruby's inner monologue and as she doesn't have a filter she is very honest. She can get rather annoying at times, usually when she goes off on useless tangents. 

The romance between Ruby and Darius again felt rather out of place as it did in the first book so thankfully it was not that big of an issue in this book. 

When Ruby went to the army base about half way through the book, I found this portion rather boring and this was largely because Ruby's inner monologue stalls and she is is not at her witty and humerous self. 

There were also numerous plot twists around this time that were never fully answered or developed.

The book ended rather open ended, possibly leaving the door open for a sequel.  

Book Review #663 - Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades of Grey #3) by E.L. James

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees.

Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

My Rating: 3/5

I didn't find this book as captivating as the first two, maybe because I read them all back to back and was growing tired of them or simply because it was the last book and I was reluctant to finish the series. 

Christian Grey is such an intriguing, complex character and I loved how much he started opening up throughout the book, especially towards his family. 

There were parts of the plot that I thought were a little over the top but it didn't seem out of place in this series considering what has previously happened. 

The ending tied up all loose ends and gave the characters the ending they deserved. 

Overall, I went into this series with really low expectations and I honestly did not think I would finish the first book let alone the whole trilogy in 3 days. 

Whilst the sex scenes got rather tedious towards the end, it was more so my fascination with Christian and my need to know why he is the way he is that ultimately enabled me to devour this series like I did. 

Book Review #662 - The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle

It's the accident season, the same time every year. Bones break, skin tears, bruises bloom.

The accident season has been part of seventeen-year-old Cara's life for as long as she can remember. Towards the end of October, foreshadowed by the deaths of many relatives before them, Cara's family becomes inexplicably accident-prone. They banish knives to locked drawers, cover sharp table edges with padding, switch off electrical items - but injuries follow wherever they go, and the accident season becomes an ever-growing obsession and fear.

But why are they so cursed? And how can they break free?

My Rating: 3/5

From the very first sentence of this book I was compelled to find out why Cara (the protagonist) and her family are cursed with accidents around the same time each year. The mystery surrounding this wasn't revealed until the end though which made the rest of the story rather confusing. 

There was too much magical realism aspects to this story like constant mentions of mermaids, werewolves, witches, ghosts and even changellings. For the book to take such a serious, realism twist at the conclusion just didn't fit in with the overall tone of the book. 

Sam was a very enigmatic character and I wish he had more character development. 

This book had a We Were Liars vibe about it in that you have no idea what is going on until the last few pages. 

The book is set in Ireland which as far as I know is the first book I have read that has been set there. In that aspect I would have liked there to have been more of a stronger cultural depth to it as apart from a few casual Irish city name droppings, the book really could have been set anywhere. 

Overall, this is one of those books that I have confused mixed feelings about.  

Book Review #661 - Hollow City (Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children #2) by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was the surprise best seller of 2011—an unprecedented mix of YA fantasy and vintage photography that enthralled readers and critics alike. Publishers Weekly called it “an enjoyable, eccentric read, distinguished by well-developed characters, a believable Welsh setting, and some very creepy monsters.”

This second novel begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended. Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs, this new adventure will delight readers of all ages.

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book follows on straight from where the first book ended and wastes no time before setting forth with Jacob and the peculiars on the next exciting adventure. 

I loved the idea of a book within a book - The Tales of the Peculiar and the stories within.

The character development in this book was substantial with not only the the characters themselves but their peculiar abilities. 

The pictures in this book were always included in the most perfect moments and really complimented the story. I didn't like the pictures as much as the ones in the first book though. 

There were also numerous plot twists late in the book that I never saw coming and now I can't wait to read book 3. 

Book Review #660 - A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J Maas

Feyre is a huntress.

She thinks nothing of slaughtering a wolf to capture its prey. But, like all mortals, she fears what lingers mercilessly beyond the forest. And she will learn that taking the life of a magical creature comes at a high price...

Imprisoned in an enchanted court in her enemy's kingdom, Feyre is free to roam but forbidden to escape. Her captor's body bears the scars of fighting, and his face is always masked - but his piercing stare draws her ever closer. As Feyre's feeling for Tamlin begin to burn through every warning she's been told about his kind, an ancient, wicked shadow grows.

Feyre must find a way to break a spell, or lose her heart forever.

My Rating: 4.5/5

After reading and loving Throne of Glass I had extremely high expectations for this book. 

The protagonist in this book Feyre was very reminiscent of Katniss in the way she looked after her family and just how generally strong she was. 

The world building in this book was intricate and amazingly imaginative. 

I have not really enjoyed faerie books in the past (it's probably my least favourite in the fantasy genre) and so it surprised me how much I enjoyed that aspect of it.

I loved how the history between the humans and faes was mentioned throughout and I am looking forward to this being expanded upon further into the series.

Tamlin was a complex character and I am looking forward to his development over future books. I loved how reserved and mysterious he was. 

I feel like there is a potential developing love triangle between Feyre, Tamlin and Rhysand which I am not sure how I feel about because love triangles seem to rarely work. 

Lucien was a character that was mysterious and at first I couldn't figure out if he was on Feyre's side or not. Lucien being present in a lot of scenes with Feyre and Tamlin and occasionally adding witty commentary made the tone lighter and also prevented the story from getting sappy. 

I am not completely sure what I feel about Rhysand. I feel like he wasn't developed adequately enough to formulate a real opinion about. 

The plot was based on a number of fairy tales, but builds so much onto them that it is easy to forget its a retelling. 

The ending was unexpected and left me wanting to read the sequel straight away. 

Book Review #659 - Article 5 (Article 5 #1) by Kristen Simmons

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

My Rating: 3/5

Dystopia is one of my favourite genres though this one fell a little flat for me.

Like with most dystopians this book takes place after a world changing war. I would have liked the reason or cause of the war to have been expanded upon as there was absolutely no depth in this area. 

Ember, the protagonist was frustrating at times but I mostly enjoyed her unique voice. 

The book bills itself, and actually sets off as a story about an ultra strict government when in fact it is more a roadtrip book with a dystopian backdrop. 

I didn't particularly like Chase - the male love interest and I think this was because there was so much history between he and Ember before the book starts and so I felt rather distanced from not only him, but his relationship with Ember. 

Book Review #658 - Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades of Grey #2) by E.L. James

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven, and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront her anger and envy of the women who came before her and make the most important decision of her life.

My Rating: 3.5/5

This book had so much more depth to it than the first one and the insight into Christian's past made me love this book more than the first. 

I read this book in under 24 hours and as I have been in a massive reading slump for a number of months this was a huge achievement for me. 

I started liking Anastasia a little in this book when especially when she stood up for herself against Christian when he was being completely overprotective and stubbornly unreasonable. 

Like with the first book I found the repetitiveness in the language extremely annoying. In this book it was the constant mention of holding her breath. 

The plot in this book was rather intense at times although the majority of the drama was late in the book. 

With Christian finally starting to open up more I am definitely interested in what book 3 brings. 

I feel like this is one of those books series that whilst you're reading it, you find yourself completely immersed in the story but as soon as you take a step away from it, you start questioning things. 

Overall, this book was much better than book 1 and I am hoping that book 3 will be even better. 

Book Review #657 - Passenger (Passenger #1) by Alexandra Bracken

This journey is only the beginning...

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Pulled back through time to 1776 in the midst of a fierce sea battle, she has travelled not only miles, but years from home. 

With the arrival of this unusual passenger on his ship, privateer Nicholas Carter has to confront a past that he can't escape and the powerful Ironwood family who won't let him go without a fight. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value; one they believe only Etta can find. 

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by an enigmatic traveler. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta from Nicholas, and her way home, forever.

My Rating: 4/5

This was my first Alexandra Bracken book and given how much I have heard about her books, and Passenger in particular, I had relatively high expectations for it. 

For a book that is almost 500 pages, Passenger was rather overly detailed and very slow to get moving. 

There was so much back story in this book regarding the families and their abilities to transport through time. Arguably, that amount of depth was needed to make the story coherent, but it really did slow down the pacing of the book immensely. 

It was refreshing to have an African American as the love interest as YA literature seriously lacks cultural and racial diversity. 

This book over its journey is set in a lot of different countries in a lot of different eras. My favourite of these was war time London as it seemed like a very terrifying yet intriguing time. 

Book Review #656 - 1914 (Australia's Great War #1) by Sophie Masson

A small black bottle or a torch came sailing through the air, and landed on the side of the car, close to the Archduke. An instant later came a terrific bang, the road exploded in a shower of dust and stones, and tiny sharp things went flying through the air like angry bees.

In June 1914, Louis and his brother Thomas are enjoying the European summer in a small town near Sarajevo. In the shadow of the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne, the world erupts into war and Louis' life changes forever. Old Europe is torn apart and Louis finds himself in the midst of his own battle - and fighting for the truth in war means that sometimes even your own side is against you. 

My Rating: 5/5

World War One has become a really fascinating topic for me over the last year or so and so I was really fascinated to read this book. 

What I loved most about this book was how well it blended fiction with fact. There were strong, interesting, fictional characters put into real historical settings. 

I loved the whole journalism aspect - it enabled the story to delve into the true horrific nature of the war without going too deeply (it is a children's book after all). 

A distant cousin of mine died at Polygon Wood and it is very rarely mentioned in any history books so I was really impressed that it got a mention in this book. 

Overall, this was a very compelling and emotional read and I can't wait to read the sequels. 

Book Review #655- The Hounded by Simon Butters

On his fifteenth birthday, Monty is at rock bottom. Ignored by his parents, bullied at school, and with a brain that’s prone to going walkabout, he’s all by himself.

Until he meets the black dog for the first time.

It’s just like any other dog, except that only Monty can see it. And it talks. And Monty’s not sure whether it’s a friend – or a foe.

The black dog gets him talking to pretty, popular Eliza Robertson for the first time. It takes him to places he’s never been.

Eventually it will take Monty, and the people around him, to the very edge.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I received this book for review from Wakefield Press.

There are so many YA novels out there right now dealing with mental illness, with The Hounded being one of them.

The Hounded, however in my opinion did enough to set itself apart from the others. 

Montgomery Ulysses Ferguson aka Monty was such an unique and charismatic character and I loved his voice throughout. 

Monty was rather emotionally immature and this was obvious in the way he communicated with the much more mature Eliza.

The plot twist at the end was sudden and abrupt with no real set up for it like you would usually see. 

There were a number of metaphors used throughout and this seems to be something the author uses really well to convey certain aspects of his story. The obvious ones were the black dog and the family home. 

I would recommend this book to fans of Wonder and this book has a somewhat similar tone.   

Book Review #654 - Rebellious Daughters by Various Authors

Good daughters hold their tongues, obey their elders and let their families determine their destiny. Rebellious daughters are just the opposite. 

In Rebellious Daughters, some of Australia’s most talented female writers share intimate and touching stories of rebellion and independence as they defy the expectations of parents and society to find their place in the world.

Powerful, funny and poignant, these stories explore everything from getting caught in seedy nightclubs to lifelong family conflicts and marrying too young. Beautifully written, profoundly honest and always relatable, every story is a unique retelling that celebrates the rebellious daughter within us all.

Not every woman is a mother, grandmother, aunty or sister – but all women are daughters.

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from Ventura Press.

This book is a compilation memoir pieces depicting daughters rebelling against their parents mostly because of cultural divide. 

Given that I am 5th generation Australian I found this aspect really interesting as it is something I know nothing about. 

There are 17 stories in this book, all told by authors that I had no prior knowledge of. I found them all very easy and fast to read.

I am not really that much of a non-fiction reader (although it is a genre I want to read more of) and so the fact each story was only around 15-20 pages long really helped.

I loved how diverse each story was and yet they all conveyed such a strong sense of family and the complexities that come with that. 

Reading this book also opened my eyes to how easy I have it with my family and how I have never had to rebel against them in any serious way. 

All the authors are strong, independent women who show tremendous courage to share their personal stories of forging their own way in life. 

It is also worth noting that a percentage of sales of this book goes to Women's Legal Service Victoria. 

Book Review #653 - Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades of Grey #1) by E.L. James

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

 

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

My Rating: 3/5

I swore I would never, never ever read this book (I think I may have even made that statement here on my blog at some stage), however, after I had the flu I wanted something rather light to ease me back into reading and I saw this book on my shelf and I though why not, even your grandfather has read it (true story). 

First of all, I went into this book with absolutely no expectations. I'd obviously heard a lot about it but I like to form my own opinions about books. 

The book was first written as Twilight fanfiction and at first I was over aware of the similarities between the two (for example both are set in Washington state). It didn't take me long however just to ignore that part. 

The sex scenes is what made me most hesitant to read this book/series because I have never read erotica before, however I think watching/reading Game of Thrones has desensitized me more than I thought as I had no issues with them. 

The main thing that bothered me with this book was how repetitive some of the language was. For example the number of times Christian told Ana not to bite her lip. Also the amount of times Ana referred to her 'inner goddess' was really annoying. 

Christian was a very intense and intimidating character. He obviously has a very troubled past which I am interested to learn more about. 

Anastasia in comparison was rather plain and I am not sure if it is because the book is told through her or not but I found her rather predictable. 

Overall, I am really surprised by how much this book compelled me and if I hadn't started it over the weekend I probably would have finished it in one sitting. 

The ending was rather abrupt, almost like the author decided to add a little cliff hanger in at the last second.