Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

July 18, 2018July 18, 2018 Luxe8 Comments

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa of Wishful Endings. This allows bloggers, like me, to feature upcoming book releases that we are ecstatic about.

If you’re familiar with the weekly meme Waiting on Wednesday, this one is similar to that. I have joined W.O.W. before but it seems like it isn’t being hosted anymore so I’ve decided to continue on with Can’t-Wait Wednesday!

For this week, I’m featuring The Darkest Legacy. I cannot explain how ecstatic I am about this one. The Darkest Minds series is one of my favorites and with the movie adaptation coming and the release of this, the fourth book in the series, I feel like I’m being blessed by the heavens. Unlike the first three books in the series, this one will be in the perspective of Zu instead of Ruby’s. And can we talk about that gorgeous cover? The 31st of July can’t come any sooner for me and I’m just bubbling with excitement right now, I hope I don’t explode before I get to read this.

Book Title: The Darkest Legacy
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: The Darkest Minds #4
Publication Date: July 31st 2018
Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume “Zu” Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive.

Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she shouldn’t trust, they uncover even darker things roiling beneath the veneer of the country’s recovery. With her future-and the future of all Psi-on the line, Zu must use her powerful voice to fight back against forces that seek to drive the Psi into the shadows and save the friends who were once her protectors.

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a harrowing story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning that will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike.

Are you waiting on this too? Let’s chat in the comments! Also, don’t forget to leave a link to your own Can’t-Wait Wednesday post because I would love to check it out. 😀

Favorite 2016 Reads & Bookish Resolutions for 2017

January 5, 2017June 13, 2020 LuxeLeave a comment

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Cue fireworks displays, popping balloons and Fake Love by Drake blaring in the background. (I am in love with that song at the moment, by the way.) I was supposed to post this on New Year’s Day but I didn’t get the chance to, so here it is 4 days later.

So, another year has ended already. It feels like 2016 came by so quick yet took too long to end at the same time. 2016 definitely wasn’t my year, let’s just leave it at that. Anyway, in this post, I will be sharing with you my favorite books I’ve read in 2016 and my Bookish Resolutions for 2017 ~~which you probably already deduced by reading the title.~~

Favorite Books in 2016

This doesn’t necessarily mean that the books I listed here are published during 2016 only. To be fair, none of these books are published during 2016.

I’ve originally set my Goodreads 2016 Reading Challenge target to 50 books but as the year went on and as school proved to be more of a problem than I’ve expected, I changed my goal to 40 books. And thank heavens, I achieved it ~~and read 3 extra books~~!

So among the 43 books I’ve read, here are my favorites:

I won’t waffle on about them anymore because this will get super long and most probably will end up repeating everything I’ve already said in my reviews. But if you do want to know more about these books and why I loved them so much, check out my reviews listed here in no particular order ( I did not write one for Me Before You but the link will direct you to my Goodreads update about it):

Bookish Resolutions for 2017

I’m not really the best at resolutions. When it’s December already, I always find myself setting goals I want to achieve the following year but he problem is, I NEVER DO THEM. I somehow always forget along the way. But this year, despite of my rubbish memory and lack of self-discipline, I came up with a list of bookish resolutions and hope that I did not set myself up for yet another disappointment.

Buy more physical books

I’m really fond of buying eBooks for the reason that they’re a teeny bit cheaper and are sometimes more convenient compared to physical copies. I’m actually planning on writing a separate post on this so I won’t ramble on much. But basically, I’ve recently just realized that I already spend too much time staring at my phone’s screen and eBooks don’t help when I want to decrease my “screen time”.

Blog more

Some might notice my lack of presence recently in my blog. I’ve posted like, what, 4-5 posts the past few months and that’s HORRIBLE. I normally post that many in 2 weeks last summer. WTF is happening to me?

Have more creative blog posts

This kinda falls under the previous one. I feel like all I post are book reviews and that gets boring.

Read more classics

I have never read a single classic book in my entire life. Why? I’m not exactly sure either. Maybe I’m intimidated by them. But nevertheless, I’m gonna give them a try sometime this year. Hopefully.

And that’s it. I’m kind of thankful for 2016 although it wasn’t really a great year, I learned a lot. But anyway, I’m so excited to see what 2017 has in store for me. Here’s to more memories created and lessons learned!

What are your favorite 2016 reads? Are you as bad as I am when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions? Do you mind sharing a few of your resolutions for this year?

Have a great 2017, everybody! ❤

Book Review: In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

June 11, 2016June 13, 2020 Luxe5 Comments

Book Title: In The Afterlight
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: The Darkest Minds #3
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, YA

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Ruby can’t look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government’s attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds.
They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America’s children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the “rehabilitation camps” housing thousands of other Psi kids.
Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.

In The Afterlight is the third and final book in the series so I suggest reading The Darkest Minds and Never Fade first before reading this review in case I spoil anything for you. You have been warned.

The series is over.

This feels like the last episode of FRIENDS all over again. This feels like parting ways with your high school best friend as you graduate and go to different colleges.

I’m exaggerating, right? Because I don’t know what to feel right now. No more Liam, no more Chubs, Vida, Jude, Zu… no more Ruby.

I have to return all three books to my friend now. But I will buy my own copies, I swear on my life.

The final installment in The Darkest Minds trilogy is just as amazing as the other two books were.

It was a little slow at times, I would’ve liked it if the main characters weren’t in their HQ all the time. But nevertheless, I gave it a 5-star rating because I loved it so much.

This one is more heart-wrenching compared to the other two. I probably cried a lot more in this one.

Now, the plot twists. Oh my goodness! It would be an understatement if I say that I was taken completely off guard.

The ending was perfect, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The series was wrapped up really, really well. Al the questions are answered and I found myself smiling throughout the last chapter.

It’s amazing how Alexandra Bracken developed such beautiful characters and built this world that I was so easily drawn into. I have been so emotionally invested with the characters that it feels really weird not reading about them. I will be on the lookout for the author’s other books.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely! I highly recommend this series if you love reading apocalyptic and/or dystopian books.

Have you read In the Afterlight? Is it on your TBR? Let’s chat!

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Book Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

June 9, 2016June 13, 2020 Luxe2 Comments

Book Title: Never Fade
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: The Darkest Minds #2
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: October 15th 2013
Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, YA

Goodreads Amazon Book Depo Barnes & Noble

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.
When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.
As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

Never Fade is the second book in the series so I suggest reading The Darkest Minds first before reading this review in case I spoil anything for you. You have been warned.

Holy shit.

I’m sorry for my choice of words. But holy shit.

The series just keeps on getting better. If you read my review on The Darkest Minds, you would know how much I adored that book. There was a part of me that thought the sequel wouldn’t be just as good—if not better than the first. Heck, I was wrong!

The story was written so beautifully. It was action-packed but also well-paced and easy to follow. I was stuck in Ruby’s world once I started reading it. I couldn’t get out—I didn’t want to get out.

Ruby’s character was astounding. At the first part of the book, she seems like a cold-hearted person. I don’t see it as her changing, more like it was her own way of surviving the Children’s League. She built a tough and uncaring persona and merely tucked away her fragile side so nobody can see it. But we do see it as the book goes on. I might not be making any sense right now but you have to read it to get what I mean!

Also, I like how Ruby suffered consequences of her own decisions. It shows that she isn’t perfect which made me connect to her even more.

Although it took me a while to get accustomed to the new characters, Jude and Vida, I learned to love them all the same. And is it just me or does Cate seem a bit sketchy?

And that cliffhanger, damn! Note to self: when planning on re-reading Never Fade, keep In The Afterlight (the third and final book in the series) nearby.

Would I recommend this?

Totally! Read the first book first though (duh!)

Have you read Never Fade? Is this on your TBR? Let’s chat!

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Teaser Tuesday: In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

May 31, 2016June 1, 2016 Luxe19 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Books and A Beat.

Teaser

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week’s book:

Book Title: In The Afterlight
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: The Darkest Minds #3
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: October 28th 2014
Genres: Adventure, Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, YA
Age Range: 12-17 years old

Ruby can’t look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government’s attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds.

They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America’s children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the “rehabilitation camps” housing thousands of other Psi kids.

Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.

Teaser:

But the way she cried, the way she wrapped her arms around me and buried her warm, wet face against my neck—that was a kid. That was a kid who’d already lived a hard life and was being asked to take on more.

I’m just a few pages shy in finishing this. This has been spectacular so far, I can’t wait share my thoughts on this (and possibly the whole trilogy).

What did you think? Do you have any teasers to share? Comment them down below, or send me a link to your own Teaser Tuesday post. Thanks for stopping by!

All book cover photos and summaries are taken from Goodreads.