Review: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Stolen by Lucy Christopher 

Synopsis:
It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere. 

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

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I'll start off by saying that when I first picked up this book, I really, really, honestly didn't think I was going to like it but boy was I wrong - it was beautifully written, it really connected with me as a reader and the ending just broke my heart. I'm usually not one for kidnapping books, just because I've never seen of the appeal about them but for some reason I decided to pick up this book and I can't be more happy that I did. The first time I read it, I honestly didn't know what to think ; I was equally parts horrified and amazed, I think from the book? Till now I'm not quite sure how to describe it, it's a reading experience that is singularly exceptional.

I'll delve right into the plot. So basically the book starts off with the main character, Gemma. She's a sixteen year old English girl who's in the airport, and gets kidnapped by Ty (I'll get to him in just a second) Initially I didn't like Gemma, she seemed like a very flat character with just nothing that really jumped out at you but as the book went further and further on, she became more and more relatable to me and I think that's what really drew me in the second time I read it. She's a fantastically well-developed character, with every bit of the struggles a sixteen- year old teenager faces.

Then comes in Ty. I'd say out of the two characters, Ty would have to be my favourite. I love that he's conflicted with himself and struggles to find himself, yet is so sure in the fact that he loves Gemma and would even go so far as to kidnap her. The book is centered around the idea of Stockholm Syndrome, and if you looked at it on the surface, it would look like the story of Gemma falling in love with her captor, Ty as time goes on. But if you look deeper, you'd see it is more than that - it's not just about how she falls in love with Ty, but it's about her struggle to understand him, about how she starts to question her life before Ty took her away, struggling with herself because in the end, she loves him even though she knows he was wrong.

The lines blur between the relationship of a captor and a victim to the one between two people who love each other. She loves him, yet struggles with herself because she knows it's wrong to love him, that she should be disgusted, but she can't help herself. I think that's my favourite part of the novel - the way she struggles with herself, trying to reason with the wrongness that she feels about loving Ty, yet is helpless to change her feelings otherwise.

This book was written in the form of a letter and a recount, which I have to say isn't really the usual type of style that I prefer but it surprised me how much the writing style of the book added to the structure. It wouldn't have been the same if it were in first person, because you really get to see the essence of the book; Gemma's struggle with her inner emotions, her initial desperation to run away from Ty to how she gradually accepts him.

That brings me back to the ending, which basically broke my heart in seventeen thousand ways in every direction, simply put. Let's take this step by step.  (Spoiler Alert! If you haven't read the book yet, don't read this part. Skip to the next paragraph. Trust me on this one :)) Gemma gets bitten by a poisonous snake, and Ty tries to save her with some anti-venom he stored away but it ends up not working, leaving him with a dilemma: give her more anti-venom and wait it out, or bring her to the nearby mining community so that she can get help, effectively giving her up. Basically, he decides to bring her back to civilisation to save her, and towards the end when they're rolling her into the hospital and he has the chance to escape but Gemma reaches out for his hand and he still stays, despite knowing what consequence it will have for him.

The book draws to a close with Gemma explaining that it was the day before his trial, and was sort of trying to find closure to the incident. And in a way she did, and it was so real, and so relatable that I absolutely loved it. It's one of those books that really messes up your brains and makes it go left right and center thinking about it, and in the end you're still not completely sure what just went on but you know that you loved it anyway.

It was definitely a very complex and intense read and while it may be hard to take the first time round, just stick with it. Read it once, twice more times and it'll grow on you. It's not one of those with a clearly happily ever after fairytale ending, nor is it one of those that answers all your questions about the book at the very end. But I promise - it's worth it!

Waiting On A Wednesday: An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Book 1 of the An Ember In The Ashes series

Synopsis: 

Laia is a slave.

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.
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I read this book a while book and absolutely loved it- it's definitely a must read. It's full of suspense, drama and the plot is incredible, not to mention the great character development and each and every word written was perfect and fit in beautifully and the way the dystopian world is set up is incredible. The story alternates from different POV's, which I really like and there's a good dense of action with just the right touch of romance to tone it down. Review soon to come, but in the mean time here are some of my favourite quotes: 

“There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that's a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be your fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It's damaged but it's there. Don't let them take it from you.”

“You are an ember in the ashes, Elias Veturius. You will spark and burn, ravage and destroy. You cannot change it. You cannot stop it.” 

Waiting On A Wednesday: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand 

Book 1 of the Unearthly series/trilogy

Synopsis: 
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees...
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.
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Unearthly is one of the best angel books I've read so far - the plot is amazing and well-written, not to mention the characters and the gripping romance in the book! Clara, the main character, is a very likable heroine, not one that makes you want to rip out your hair. You know the type : whiny, helpless and overall very useless until saviour(normally in the form of a dashing, young and hot guy) comes and boom, whiny heroine becomes supergirl and rides off into the sunset with said saviour. No, this book is nothing like that. The plot has twists and turns, and Clara is the perfect heroine in my opinion and there's a bit of a love triangle, as well as a kind of forbidden romance, which makes the book that much interesting. Full review soon to come!

Some of my favourite quotes so far:

"But she gave me the perfect gift."

"What?"

"You."

"Are you any good at it?"

"Pulling idiots out of the snow? I'm the best" 

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About The Author: 

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare 

Book 2 of the Infernal Devices Series


Synopsis: 
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.
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 I hope you're ready for some serious fangirling because I am about 10 seconds away from full-out squealing. This book was beyond amazing, and I loved every single word from it.

My favourite part about the book is probably the 3 main characters: Tessa, Will and Jem. 
Tessa is a 16 year old girl who is shapeshifting shadowhunter, or a warlock, and due to a number of situations and circumstances she ends up in the London Institute, following the events of the first book of the series, Clockwork Angel. So in this second book, Tessa explores her shapeshifting powers and her ability to transform into someone else, and becomes more sure of her power. Her relationships with the two boys also change dramatically, with Jem from friendship to something much more (I won't spoil it for you if you haven't read this book yet - but if you haven't read this book you have to read it right now!) and with Will as well, with a bit of this "forbidden romance" thing, due to a  so called 'curse' placed on Will. But we'll talk about that later.

Being the complete sucker for romances that I am, I focused on more of the romance aspect of this book , particularly the relationship between each of the main characters,

1. Jem and Tessa 
So in this second book, a very different side of Jem is revealed, that makes him seem incredibly alluring. Jem stole my heart in this book and I completely fell in love with him. About a quarter way into the book, we slowly begin to see how Jem has feelings for Tessa, and really, it's the most adorable thing in the world. Sweet, beautiful, charming Jem. He's so gentle and calm, and the way he speaks to Tessa just melts your heart!

"I only regret that it came too soon. I-I would have wanted to-to court you first. To take you driving, with a chaperon." 
     "A chaperon?" Tessa laughed despite herself. 
     He went on determinedly. "To tell you of my feelings first, before I showed them. To write poetry for you-"
     You don't even like poetry," Tessa said, her voice catching on a half laugh of relief.
    "No. But you make me want to write it. Does that not count for anything?"

Oh Jem. Sweet, sweet Jem. You've just stolen my heart and I don't think I'm ever going to get it back *swoon*

2. Jem and Will 
In case you haven't read the first book, Jem and Will are parabati, which means they are like brothers and are bound to protect each other. I love their relationship because they fit so well together ; Will, who is sometimes cruel and rough at the edges but Jem, the calm and gentle one, softens the rough edges of Will and is really the only person that Will fiercely cares about until Tessa comes along.

"I though you needed me," Jem said. "There is a wall you have built about yourself, Will, and I have never asked you why. But no one should shoulder every burden alone. I though you would let me inside if I became your parabati, and then you would have at least someone to lean upon. I did wonder what my death would mean for you. I used to fear it, for your sake. I feared you would be left alone inside that wall. But now... something has changed. I do not know why. But I know that is true." 
    "That what is true?" Will's fingers were still digging into Jem's wrist. 
     "That the wall is coming down." 

The language in this book is just amazing and I love every sentence of it - it's not the modern way of speaking but rather the old, kind of formal way which I absolutely love and I think that's what makes the book really interesting too.

3. Will and Tessa
These two kind of have a love-hate relationship from where we left of in Clockwork Angel, where Will said to Tessa "There is no future for a shadowhunter who dallies with warlocks" Major ouch. But still, Tessa can't help herself as she falls for Will, and secretly he loves her too but won't let himself get close to her due to a curse placed on him from a demon, which caused him to leave his home when he was young - I won't say anymore in case you haven't read the book! So throughout this book, Tessa and Will have this love-hate relationship, and at some parts it's actually quite hilarious, and also quite sweet. I actually really love Will though, for all his rough exterior and seemingly cruel attitude, he's actually very soft and gentle on the inside, which made me fall for him completely.

“They’re not hideous,” said Tessa.
Will blinked at her. “What?”
“Gideon and Gabriel,” said Tessa. “They’re really quite good-looking, not hideous at all.”
“I spoke,” said Will, in sepulchral tones, “of the pitch-black inner depths of their souls.”
Tessa snorted. “And what color do you suppose the inner depths of your soul are, Will Herondale?”
“Mauve,” said Will.”

I also really love that sense of dry-ish humour that's present throughout the whole book, making me smile and giggle at some parts. And right at the end of the book, Will  (spoiler alert!) realises that his so called "curse" was actually fake, and goes after Tessa, rejoiced in the fact that he can finally be with the girl he loves, when he finds out that she is now engaged to Jem. And so Will leaves, his heart broken to pieces and Tessa also realises that she can never be with Will too, who she loves deeply as well, and the way Cassandra Clare describes it is so perfectly heartbreaking that it makes you want to cry. I'm pretty sure I shed a tear or two- or a thousand - while reading this part. 

"You can never love me," He said flatly, and when he did not respond, when she said nothing, he shuddered - a shudder that ran through his whole body - and pushed away from the armchair without looking at her.  ........

For a moment she felt absolutely nothing. And then, as if from a very great distance, she heard herself cry out, and it was like a key turned inside her heart, freeing the tears at last. The poker clattered to the ground.

When Sophie came dashing in, having heard her scream, she found Tessa on her knees by the fire, her burned hand pressed to her chest, sobbing as if her heart would break. 


And lastly, another thing I loved from this book was the constant referring to books and really, the love of literature. 
I really love the constant quoting of books like A Tale of Two City's, or the characters ability to make a little rhyme on the spot. 

For Tessa Gray, on the occasion of being given a copy of Vathek to read: 

Caliph Vathek and his dark horde

Are bound for Hell, you won't be bored!

Your faith in me will be restored-

Unless this token you find untoward

And my poor gift you have ignored

-Will 

Oh Will , you never cease to make me laugh. And this particular part also made me smile and really fall in love with the 2 male main characters: 

Will set his fork down and began cheerfully, in the manner of Edward Lear's book of Nonsense: 

"There once was a lass from New York

Who found herself hungry in York. 

But the bread was like rocks,

The parsnips shaped like-"

"You can't rhyme 'York' with 'York', " interrupted Tessa. "It's cheating." 

"She's right, you know," said Jem, his delicate fingers playing with the stem of his wineglass. "Especially with 'fork' being so obviously the correct choice-" 

I can go on and on talking about this book, quoting bits here and there that I really loved but really, this could go on forever. If I could, I would quote the whole book because there's not one part that I didn't absolutely love and fall in love with. This book was utterly amazing and I fell in love head-over-heels with it. And I'm sure you've realised by now that this review has been nothing but me fangirling and sqeualing over the main characters and the romance but oh well....what can be done? 

If you haven't read it, I highly suggest you go and read it now! And with that, I'll leave you with a little rhyme by my dear Will.....( You'll only get it if you've read the book!) 

"Demon pox, oh, demon pox,

Just how is it acquired?

One must go down to the bad part of town

Until one is very tired.

Demon pox, oh, demon pox

I had it all along-

No, not the pox, you foolish blocks, 

I mean this very song-

For I was right, and you were wrong!"