Tag Archives: book review

BOOK REVIEW (SPOILERS) – Reverie by Ryan La Sala

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(spoilers!) 

I lost my sense of direction when I read this book. 

3/5 stars from me!

Reading Reverie by Ryan La Sala changed my life — in lovely, strange ways. Reverie, a story about superheroes, amnesia, and a DRAG QUEEN FOR AN ANTAGONIST, wasn’t the worst book I’ve read. 

The story follows Kane Montgomery, an out-and-proud gay teenager who recently lost all his memories. Throughout the story (spoilers), he finds out that he was a superhero… who can shoot rainbows out his hands. I mean, I love the representation, but I guess it feels forced. 

Additionally, there were other things that felt off that are included in this lovely, little list:

  1. The writing style wasn’t great. Many lines from the book were outright cringey, not funny, or just placed really strangely. Hard read.
  2. There was a lack of development both in the plot and characters. The start was long and unnecessarily overdeveloped… the end was bland and just strange (La Sala mentioned someone falling in love… and never brought it back up)… etc. 
  3. The novel felt so very close to an inclusive twist on a children’s superhero show. 
  4. I understand Kane, the main character’s confusion! But let’s not make the reader confused, alright?
  5. Cliffhanger after cliffhanger… and no resolutions.

There were positives from this read, however! Few. 

  1. I have to give props to La Sala for coming up with a wonderfully complicated magic system!! But actually, I really enjoyed the concept of Reveries and dreams, but I feel like it was poorly executed. With a new, broad world of magic, execution is key. The novel lacks development with worldbuilding.
  2. Inclusivity! I enjoyed knowing that Kane was gay every few pages. Overall, Kane is a lovely, somewhat 3D character, but the author was trying so desperately hard to show off this book. Overstating that a character is gay feels like you’re just fishing for money and/or fame. 
  3. The cover and the villain are the best parts of this entire story.

Again, 3/5 stars. The idea is cute, yes. The execution was horrendous, yes. 

Reading this book was like mindlessly wandering through a labyrinth. There was no escape with Reverie.

Reverie by Ryan La Sala is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Martian by Andy Weir

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*this review may contain spoilers

I had to read this book for my English class and I actually enjoyed it which was surprising because I’m rarely interested in anything sci-fi related. However, I would say it is a generally long book, so I would only read it if you are dedicated to the storyline/plot.

Astronaut, Mark Watney and his crew mates travel to Mars but essentially he is abandoned alone on Mars due to his crew mates believing he had died. This book follows his journey of staying alive and the various challenges he faces on Mars. Through log entries, readers are able to encompass his thoughts and feelings and really feel connected to him throughout the book.

The book is mainly written in Mark’s POV but fluctuates between workers at NASA and his fellow crew mates. The structure that Weir presents, makes the book enticing and urges the audience to continue reading to know what happens next. I found myself continually rooting for Mark to survive and his comedic and witty personality makes him relatable amongst readers and build a connection amongst the protagonist (Mark Watney) and the audience.

I would first and foremost recommend this book to any sci-fi enthusiast because the entire book is pretty much set in the lonely Mars atmosphere. Another thing, a movie about this book has been made which I thoroughly enjoyed because it helped me envision the characters a lot better. I would say to read this book if you plan on branching out to new genres or wanting to get into sci-fi readings.

-Madison C.

The Martian by Andy Weir is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

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Tangerine is a young adult novel by Edward Bloor.  The story revolves around a middle school-age boy named Paul Fisher.  Paul has just moved with his family into a spacious home in Tangerine, Florida.  Paul always needs to wear thick glasses because of an eye injury he suffered when he was younger.  The injury is mysterious because Paul cannot remember how it happened.  He has an older brother named Erik, but they do not get along.  Erik is a star high school football player, and he receives most of the attention from their parents.  Paul wants to play on the soccer team, but he does not make the team because of his visual impairment.  To make matters worse, Paul suffers from various strange occurrences and flashbacks. He seems to be haunted by his past.

This book had a much darker tone than I expected.  The story deals with some difficult themes, including the mistreatment of young people.  The modern setting is highly realistic, although some events are quite extreme.  I think many teenagers could relate to the characters on a personal level.  The heavy emphasis on sports would be relatable for anyone involved in athletics, although it may be boring for someone less interested in sports.  The story is very dramatic, with various mysterious subplots.

Paul’s gradual recovery of his memory regarding his eye injury is particularly gripping.  I enjoyed the mystery and suspense of this book, even though the overall tone was quite dark.  The book is surprisingly long for a young adult novel, but the story was engaging enough to keep me interested throughout.  This book might not be appropriate for younger readers because of the difficult themes, but I can see how many teenagers could appreciate it.

Tangerine by Edward Bloor is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

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A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass was a fantastical read. Princess Annika, who is much more than just a pretty face, and closed-off Lennox were an unplanned pair that reminded me of my childhood wonders of princesses and true love. But Annika and Lennox’s story is somewhat different than most fairy-tales.

I appreciated how Annika’s life as a princess did not change her brave, composed character. Throughout the story, Lennox’s softer side comes out when the narrations are told from his perspective.

This fiction novel was unlike the stereotypical fantasy story. Instead, Annika and Lennox almost entirely party ways and were initially unfriendly towards each other. In fact, the two met when Lennox and his band of men kidnapped Annika.

To add to the plot of the story, Cass included Nickolas, a practical man whom Annika’s father has chosen for her to marry for the better of their country. Annika and Lennox’s obvious feelings for each other are prevented by duty, fear, and family.

While Annika and Lennox have their own problems and pains, they both help each other through it all; Annika’s warm light helps the shadow of Lennox’s past fade away and Lennox’s encouragement gives Annika the hope she needs to lead.

In the end of the novel, after having braved many hardships that test their love for each other, Annika and Lennox’s love is sealed. The tender moments and intense times they have had together all come together in a beautiful ending. I especially enjoyed reading the epilogue of A Thousand Heartbeats, where the reader gets a glimpse of Annika and Lennox’s blissful futures.

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

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Warning: This book review may contain spoilers from the prequel to this book, These Violent Delights

The year is 1927. Any time now, a revolution is about to occur and everyone knows it. After sacrificing her relationship with Roma Montagov, Juliette Cai sets on a path to find the five missing insects, the ones Paul left behind for another to make more monsters to their benefit. Seeing Roma angry at her for something she didn’t do saddens her but she knows that what she did was for the best. Her cousin, Tyler Cai, is watching her as closely as ever; with one look of sympathy toward the White Flowers, her role of heir to the Scarlet Gang will be usurped by him.

Roma, on the other hand, is more bitter than ever. Unlike how he used to be, he kills off Scarlets at a rapid pace in the name of his friend who he believed Juliette killed. But reluctantly, he will have to team up with Juliette once again to figure out who controls the five monsters and what they wish to accomplish with the monsters. Shanghai is in chaos, both from the monsters and from the conflict ensuing between the Nationalists and the Communists. It is up to the two heirs to keep Shanghai in as much control as possible.

Usually, in a series, I like the first book more than the second book. But with this duology, that isn’t true. The suspense in this book is astounding. I could barely put it down because I wanted to know what happened next! The only times I would put the book down was to prepare myself for the devastatingly emotional scenes that I knew were coming. I will never forget these beautifully written characters and this amazing plot. I highly, HIGHLY think that everyone should read this book (if you are okay with some gory scenes and emotional damage).

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant

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The Mamba Mentality: How I Play is one of my favorite books and is written by the one-and-only Kobe Bryant. For those who don’t know, Kobe Bryant is a Laker legend and one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played 20 seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring at 37 years old. He unfortunately passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020 when he was 41 years old. 

Before he passed away, he published a book called The Mamba Mentality: How I Play which described his view of the game. In the book, he analyzed players he faced throughout his career and described some experiences he had. He also discussed his preparation and routines that helped him become the player he was throughout his amazing NBA career. The book includes small segments from NBA Legend and Kobe’s Laker teammate Pau Gasol and Kobe’s former head coach Phil Jackson. 

Kobe Bryant was an incredible basketball player who believed in sacrificing everything and exhausting himself to the point of blacking out to reach his goals. He is a great role model for upcoming athletes and has proven that hard work leads to success. His dedication and determination to achieve his potential and be the best version of himself is shown in his book, where he explains his mentality and approach to his basketball career. 

If you are a young athlete interested in achieving your potential in your sport, I suggest studying some of Kobe’s behaviors and words (found in his book) because it was the blueprint to his success. 

Enjoy reading!

The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

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The novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley illustrates the story of a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein, who desires nothing but to create a living being. Frankenstein eventually fulfills his goals, and creates a monster out of dead body parts. However, the creature’s terrifying appearance causes Frankenstein to run away from it. As a result, the monster forges a plan to murder its creator for abandoning him, as it realizes it’s desire for compassion and love.

While reading, I found that the most impactful theme in this novel involves the dangers of too much ambition. Frankenstein had a life-long wish to “play God,” and accomplish something that no other scientist could ever dream of. However, he never considered the consequences of what his actions may bring, and still continued with his plans. One may never consider the negative effects of such lofty goals, yet Shelly was able to perfectly highlight this by causing Frankenstein to gradually lose himself and everything he loves, showing the negative impact just one decision can have when not dealt with carefully.

Overall, through her imaginative novel, Mary Shelly revolutionized science fiction, inspiring generations of authors for years to come. This story also had a great impact on pop culture and science fiction films as well, making it an excellent classic that should be read by everyone at least once in their lives.

-Aysha H.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves Book Review

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Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is an action-packed novel written by Meg Long. It is a rigorating story about survival and friendship.

The book starts out in a cold icy wasteland called Tundra. A lone girl who goes by Sena Korhosen, lives there with her aunt in a small cot. Sena makes a living by picking pockets, and her aunt tries to make money by fixing sleds.

On this planet, there is a very rich and important mineral called exo-carbon. To obtain this useful resource, scientists have modified wild-wolves’ DNA, creating a brand new species of wolf called vonenwolves. This type of wolf is purely meant to pull sleds for scientists with exo-carbon.

One day, Sena was running away from a person she had pickpocketed, but accidentally ran into a wild wolf’s cage. This wolf was owned by a man named Boss Kalba. Kalba made Sena a deal: if she managed to heal her fighting wolf, he would forget about Sena showing up here . So, the rest of the story is about Sena slowly developing and bonding with the wolf.

This book would really be good for kids 13 and up, because the plot-line is kind of twisted. The way Sena bonds with the wolf throughout the story really touches my heart. I loved how Sena, at the beginning of the story, always acted like that tough girl, trying to survive the harsh world of Tundra. But whether she realized it or not, Iska (that’s the wolf’s name) was the type of family she needed all along. This book also gives me a sad sense of reality and the emotion throughout this book pierces through me. One warning: This book may take a while for you to get interested in, but don’t give up! You should keep reading till the end, because the ending almost made me cry! But this book was definitely worth it! Out of 5 stars, I would give it a 4.3.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

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Many people make excuses on a daily basis and procrastinate on their goals. They limit themselves and settle for less. David Goggins is not one of these people. 

He has had every excuse in the world to be a failure. He has suffered from a traumatic childhood, sickle cell, learning disabilities, a congenital heart defect, and many more. Despite this, he has become a top endurance athlete and a successful public speaker. In addition, he is the only person to have completed training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Controller.

This autobiography not only tells his story but provides helpful tips to discipline yourself and begin your own self-improvement journey.

If you have goals, this book is for you. Whether you want to get fit, do better in school, learn an instrument, or land a promotion, you always need hard work and discipline. After every chapter, Goggins gives tips to help keep yourself accountable and “callous your mind”. Some of these include:

  • Journal your “excuses” and view them as things to overcome
  • Use an Accountability Mirror to list goals & insecurities
  • Do things that make you feel uncomfortable
  • Flip the script by working harder and becoming excellent
  • Visualize and meditate
  • Compartmentalize your day creating an optimal schedule

This list may seem intimidating at first. You may think that these methods only work for the best. It may surprise you, but David Goggins was once an overweight failure with a dead-end job. He was discharged from the military for medical reasons, but in reality, he had quit. But no matter how many times he failed, he always came back and pushed through.

The fact that Goggins shows his many highs and lows makes the book much more relatable. He does not always succeed. Every time he makes it over a hill, it seems like a steeper one presents itself. But, even when he achieved greatness, he always strived for more. If he is unable to serve in the army further, why not try becoming a speaker and army recruiter? Why not become an endurance athlete and break the pull-up record? Why stop?

Another one of my favorite ideas presented is the 40% Rule. David Goggins believes that when you feel like you are finished, you are only doing 40% of what you are capable of. Whether it is running farther than usual, working later hours, or going for one more rep, pushing yourself will have results. Breaking these limits is crucial to achieving success.

His personal experience with failure and perseverance make this book that much more effective. Unlike many self-help books that may provide temporary motivation, this autobiography may help you achieve permanent discipline. This book has changed millions of lives, including mine. If you want to achieve a goal, this book will help you.

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins is available to download for free from Libby.

The Tea Dragon Society Series

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The Tea Dragon Society series is a series of graphic novels written by Kay O’Neill. The three-part story is set in a fantasy world in which dragons grow leaves and flowers on their horns, that are able to be brewed into tea. Whoever may drink the tea is able to see the memories of the dragon’s owner. 

The first book, The Tea Dragon Society, follows young Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, as she discovers the art of caring for a Tea Dragon after finding one lost in the marketplace and returning it to its owner. She meets Hesekiel and Erik, the owners of the tea shop that she returns the dragon to. There, she befriends Minette, a shy girl with no memories of her past. We learn that she used to be a prophetess, and in an attempt to see every future possible, lost all of her memories. The book is short, with beautiful calming art and a nice cozy story.

The second book, titles The Tea Dragon Festival, takes a turn to a new character named Rinn, when they find a real dragon in the forest outside of town. The dragon’s name is Aedhan, and it is revealed that he was assigned to look after the village, but fell asleep in the woods eighty years ago. It follows Rinn as they help Aedhan adjust to a new life, solve the mystery of his long slumber, and accept that he can not get back the time he lost.

The last book of the series is titled The Tea Dragon Tapestry, and once again follows Greta and Minette as they face challenges in their lives. Greta is tasked with creating something beautiful to impress a skilled blacksmith, and become their apprentice. All the while, she is learning how to care for a grieving tea dragon after it fell into her care when it’s previous owner died. Minette receives a mysterious gift from the place she once lived, which throws her whole life into questions and confusion. She learns over the course of the story that one must open themselves to those who care about them, to truly understand oneself. 

The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.