Wishlist Wednesday #1

Hi! Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Pen To paper. This weekly meme features a book that you are dying to add to your shelves. This week my pick is:

The 5th wave - Rick Yancey

Published: May 7th, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
457 pages
Goodreads page

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

This book sounds like its right up my alley and it has had quite a bit of hype in the book community so im looking forward to hopefully picking it up sometime soon!

Perfect Chemistry- Simone Elkeles

Publisher: Walker Books
Published: Dec 23, 2008
359 pages
Goodreads page

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. 

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

This story is told from two points of view, Brittany's and Alex's. It gives a view into both their worlds which are completely different. Alex is the rebel gang member and Brittany is the perfect princess. We follow their stories as they fall in love, and see how two different worlds can come together.

I'm not really sure how to describe my opinion on this. I didn't really think it was that great but i didn't completely hate it. It kind of just felt like any other contemporary and there was nothing that really set it apart.
I liked the way it was told from both points of view but i felt the characters didn't have as much depth as they could have had. They each had their own personalities but they weren't anything really that interesting. The life Alex leads is interesting but him as a person, not so much and Brittany is just like every other rich 'perfect' girl you read about.
I felt that love story was pretty predictable and you could pretty much pick everything that happened.

It could be just that i think i am a little over YA contemporary at the moment but this book was just kind of meh for me.
I would recommend it for anyone who IS a fan of YA contemporary but if your not then i would say to give it a miss.

***
Three stars

The Death Cure- James Dashner

Publisher: Delacorte Books
Published: Oct 11, 2011
325 Pages
Goodreads page

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

This is the final installment in the Maze Runner trilogy so i wont spoil it by going into details. 
I had heard a lot of bad things about this one and a lot of people thought it hadn't been a good end to the series, but i actually thought it ended really well.
All our questions weren't exactly answered but i think its good to leave a little to the imagination. I liked the way it wrapped up and really enjoyed the series overall.
The only thing i can really complain about is that there were a few times when Thomas just did really stupid things. It bugged me because it seemed obvious a few of his choices were stupid but not enough for it to effect the book as a whole.
I loved seeing what happened to all the gladers and getting the few answers that were given about certain things.
I found with this trilogy that the first book was very different to the last two and i can see why a lot of people had issues with the last two. To go from reading the first which was a very different kind of world and story to the world that is introduced in the second two is a bit of a shock but i understand why the story went the way it did and was still happy to follow the characters on their journeyy.

Really great trilogy and i recommend it for any dystopian lovers, or someone wanting an action packed read.
****
Four stars

May wrap up

I just realized i haven't done a wrap up in quite a while, i think the last one i did was like August last year or something. Whoops!

I didn't read a whole heap this month but still pretty happy with what i got done. Hopefully i get in a few more next month because im a little behind on my reading challenge, but we shall see!

Cinder- Marissa Meyer

****

Goodreads page

Eleanor & Park- Rainbow Rowell
*****
Goodreads page

The lady of the rivers- Philippa Gregory
*****
Goodreads page

City of bones- Cassandra Clare
****
Goodreads page

The Death Cure- James Dashner
****
Goodreads page

City of Bones- Cassandra Clare (Mortal instruments #1)

Publisher: McElderry books
Published: March 27, 2007
442 Pages
Goodreads page

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . . 
Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

I think I'm actually the last person in the world to read this but i finally got there, I'm just a little behind.

This book as most people probably know is an urban fantasy following a girl named Clary who finds out about this world involving shadow hunters and demons and all other mythical creatures that exists alongside regular people going about their everyday life. She finds out she is more involved in this world than she could have imagined and after meeting Jace her world is completely flipped upside down.

At first when i started reading this i had an issue with the dialogue. It seemed really forced and awkward, especially between Simon and Clary and it kind of annoyed me. I don't know if it was intentional or not but it eventually went away or i just got used to the style of writing, either way it didn't bother me so much after a while.
I didn't think too much of Clary as a character overall but i did really enjoy Jace's character a lot. He just has so much personality and i think hes really great to read. Simon reminded me of someone i used to know and i wasn't really into that but that of course is a personal thing.
I love the fantastical elements of the story and the way they are so well written. The story line had a few slow spots where i kind of had to push myself to get through, but overall i think its definitely a solid story line and has set up well for the books that come.
The biggest thing i want to mention is the ending but unfortunately i cant without ruining the book but god i was so disappointed about two of the characters (for the who have read it you will probably know what I'm talking about). I was kind of hoping for a different outcome. 
I've heard that it only gets better from here so I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes. 

Overall i enjoyed this book and loved all the action it offered. Any fantasy lover would devour this.

****
Four stars

The lady of the rivers- Philippa Gregory

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: Sep 15, 2011
502 pages
Goodreads page

#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory weaves witchcraft, passion, and adventure into the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the War of the Roses.

Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta has always had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she meets his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and recognizes her own power in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the “wheel of fortune” before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream.

Married to the Duke of Bedford, English Regent of France, Jacquetta is introduced by him to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the Duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the Duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

Drawing on years of research, Philippa Gregory tells the story of the Woodvilles who achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the threat from the people of England and the danger of royal rivals. Not even their courage and loyalty can keep the House of Lancaster on the throne. Henry the king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret the queen turns to untrustworthy favourites for help; and Richard, Duke of York threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty of the House of York.

Jacquetta fights for her King, her Queen, and for her daughter Elizabeth Woodville, a young woman married to a neighbour for whom Jacquetta can sense an extraordinary and unexpected future: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York.

A sweeping, powerful story based on history and rich in passion and legend, The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of the real-life mother to the White Queen. Philippa Gregory is writing at the height of her talent.

This is book #3 in the Cousins war series (the first is The white queen and the second is The red queen) and it follows the mother of the white queen from book one. Jacquetta is the duchess of Bedford and one of the queens closest friends and its pretty much just the story of her life and all that goes with it.

I love reading about what kind of life women had to live back in those days. They really had it tough and it makes me appreciate what we have now. Its really interesting looking at life through these women's eyes and i have really come to love this series.
You can really see how much work and research Philippa put into writing these stories and they really put you into this place and time so well.

This book was probably my favourite so far of the series, I just really loved Jacquetta as a character and her story really fascinated me.

When i first started reading this series it was quite hard to keep up with dates and who was who but by this book I'm more familiar with names and places and events so it was much easier for me to follow the story and what was going on.

I really recommend this series for anyone interested in history or even just a really well told story from a more medieval time. I am definitely looking forward to continuing reading this series (I'm not sure how many books are planned for the series but there is one more that is already out called The Kingmakers Daughter and one due to come out called The White Princess).

*****
Five stars

Where have i been?

So unfortunately i have been MIA for the last few months because my laptop was in an unfortunate accident (my partner stood on it :/) and so i have had no computer to this whole time.

I also moved and fell pregnant and have had the usual life stuff going on.

There was also a reading slump in February, which sucked.

I am really hoping i can get back into posting because i really miss it.

I have still however been reading (except for Feb) so i thought i would catch you up on what i have read the past few months..

So far this month:

Eleanor & Park- Rainbow Rowell
*****
Five stars

Cinder- Marissa Meyer
****
Four stars









April:

The Duff- Kody Keplinger
****
Four stars

Glow- Amy Kathleen Ryan
****
Four stars

Anna dressed in blood- Kendare Blake
****
Four stars

Requiem- Lauren Oliver
****
Four stars

Along for the ride- Sarah Dessen
****
Four stars









March:

Bali Raw- Malcom Scott
***
Three stars

Unwind- Neil Shusterman
****
Four stars

Hotel Kerobokan-Kathryn Bonella
****
Four stars









January

Before i fall-Lauren Oliver
****
Four stars

So now that we are all caught up hopefully i can get back into the swing of things. :)

Happy reading!