The One by Kiera Cass

   BOOK THREE OF "THE SELECTION"

  This is probably the prettiest of the three dresses on the covers till now. This white thing is totally gorgeous! Really maybe most glad I own this exact book in my library of the whole series, but anyway I got each of the books and I don't mind it at all even if I wonder where to put them as I don't have a great place for books.

  All this time I was trembling in anticipation to know what's going to happen, and adding that I was in school, and I didn't have enough time to read, I almost got anxious to finish it. I read it the very first moment I had the chance to. 

  Here was already something of a connection, but also a culmination of the history of America singer. I have no words to describe my impression and the thrill of the last to know what will happen, especially after those rebel attacks that led me to negative thoughts on the very end.

  The One is a really fascinating and captivating book! Maybe for a finale is really great, at least a final to America’s story. I couldn't have imagined it this way, but... This also doesn't fall much below my expectations.

  To be honest, I liked more Maxon from the very beginning, not only because he was a prince, although that was not a reason to throw away, but somehow, America and Maxon were so much alike. Ever since their first meeting, where things have evolved not very friendly, as America was not very polite, but when I think of what else she has done, it was the least of it.

  A truly unique story and a proper ending! As it’s written on the cover of the book, “Only one can win!” I recommend it along with the previous two, of course, I can't miss them. It is worth reading all the books since they are not that long and you will even be amazed at how quickly the time has passed by reading these amazing works!

“Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.” 

“This isn’t happily ever after. It’s so much more than that.”

The Elite by Kiera Cass

  BOOK TWO OF "THE SELECTION"

  The cover of this book is more challenging and bolder, which reveals by itself that its content is quite different from the previous one. Maybe red comes perhaps a little too much for me because I'm not a big fan of this colour. But red is usually the aggressive, challenging, vicious colour and it's very appropriate.

  The second book was no less good than The Selection. There are only six left in the competition, which is written even at the top of the front cover. It is precisely under this that they are subordinate and are a sort of "sludge" of all thirty-five girls. It's obvious that the battle for the prince and the throne becomes much more fierce. America does not know who really likes and what she wants. Perhaps this is the biggest conflict in the whole book, it all comes down to her choice, not to all these dangers to society. To the very end, she is uncertain and confused, even for a while to drop out. When this happened I was shocked: what would happen if America dropped before the end of the selection? It wasn't going to be something interesting and maybe the series itself would have lost its meaning.

  Because of my very big curiosity sometimes I glance at the last pages only to take an eye on whether there will be a hit, I just prefer to be prepared in advance so that the shock wouldn't be too big. I did it this time, of course, but I did not understand what was going on, yet I had not read a page from the whole book, how do I expect to know what might have happened to provoke it? That's why it's not good to cheat and look at the end - too much of a spoiler and no understanding at all.

  I read it on the road we I went to Burgas(a city on the seaside of Bulgaria) and I took the two/three hours of going back and forth to read the book. I had reached half the previous day and I finished it. I really liked it, and I know the third one was coming out until September*, and I just did not have the least patience to come out to read it because at the end of The Elite it was really interesting!

  *The review is old, I've read the series when they've been published.

Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo

  The Hunchback of Notre-Dame or its original title Notre-Dame de Paris. Actually, I speak French so that's why I prefer the original title. The first reminds me of the animated film which is too far from the reality. It's made for children so it's rather false because... well, death's not a good thing for little kids to watch. However, a Victor Hugo novel isn't appropriate for young at all. His style of writing is very... complicated and hard to perceive. Maybe his books are difficult even for adults, what about young people. Well, I've read this book as a teen at the age of 15 maybe? Because I wanted to and I've always been strong mentally and I love to challenge myself. And Hugo's books are really a challenge.

  I can say no bad thing about one of the best authors of all time. I think his works are much better than those in the 10th Grade Literature classes that corresponds to the age in which he lived. That's the 10th grade in Bulgaria and we have to learn some very stupid things, well even the fact saying they're obligatory makes me sick and I'd hardly ever read anything at school. Because 1) boring and 2) I hate making me do something that's equal to the opposite, aka not doing it at all. That's the thing with me. In fact, this book has been featured in the program, but apparently, it has been dropped, which is a shame. Victor Hugo is truly a classic and absolutely professional. It is no coincidence that he is one of my favourite authors.

  From the beginning, I knew that this story was familiar to me. And I remembered that as a kid I've watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame, an adapted version for children. In the course of the novel, it became clear how much adapted, because a lot of things do not match, but Andersen's Little Mermaid in the original is far from being Disney's (and most of the fairy tales if one thinks). There was, however, a reason to cut out or change some things, but basically, the main characters are the same - the gipsy Esmeralda, Quasimodo, Abbath Faria and other characters from the novel. All the while, however, I associated the images of Quasimodo and Esmeralda with those of the film, because that was how it came to me from inside and I just did not know how to imagine them any other way.

  I think the book deserves its attention and its style of writing is at a totally different level. Somewhat difficult for me to read those parts in Latin because I have no idea of it, even I could not read the Old French, it is completely different from modern French which we know today. The whole story and everything in the book is at a completely different level, clearly showing that it is not a reading for a child. It is written quite well and everything is described in the smallest detail, for which I can only admire this incredible author.

  In a typical Hugo style, he seems to condemn his characters to a tough fate. But there seems to be something beautiful about it, and even the sad end seems wonderful in his novels. His characters are doomed to their destiny even before life has swallowed them. It affects the poor circles and the action develops around such people, especially in Paris at the time. His books are undoubtedly related to the historical period in which they were created in the 19th century, which couldn't be otherwise, but so characteristic of Romanticism. Particularly Notre-Dame de Paris, which tells not one story and a terrible fate. That's what impresses me in classical books, and it has attracted me the most to read them. And Victor Hugo became one of my favorite authors because of our similar styles and ... the tendency to the sad end (I definitely have one). It may not be half as much as Les Miserables, but the Notre-Dame de Paris is no less good. I read it first and I can say that I am extremely glad to have both of them paperback.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Yeah, I've been away for two months or three? That's not good for my blog, not at all. But I'd had exams and coursework to do, and going home... I was very busy. Well, it's the new year so new beginning and I'll do my best to be at least regular and have several posts monthly. It's a shame to abandon my blog in such a way! Okay, now about the review.

  The book captivated me from the very beginning. First, I had seen the movie and I've never actually watched it, but it was enough for me to read the book. It is really small and is read extremely fast but is meaningful and captivating enough.

I chose this cover because it's so... nice and simple. The Bulgarian is the same and I just love it.

  Nicholas Sparks is another favourite author of mine. He's a real classic, and a lot of his books are screened and that's just commendable. I can think of a dozen names that have movies and it's always with famous actors such as Shane West, Miley Cyrus, Zack Efron and others. I have the desire to read other books by Sparks, but I haven't done it yet.

  The story of Jamie and Landon is beautiful and sad at the same time. The nasty thing is the end because she's ill and maybe that sound a bit like The Fault in Our Stars. However, I do not like John Green's books, they are not my cup of tea and Sparks is quite different and in my opinion better author. I am amazed at the fact that at the very beginning of their dating Jamie knew that he would fall in love with her, she was just wondering what would happen.

  This book is so sad and so beautiful. It made me cry. I feel so sorry for Landon and I wished the ending was different because hey, it's just not fair but I think many things in real life are not fair at all. Overall, that's a small but very meaningful book indeed.

  I recommend it to anyone who likes romance because it is unique and it is worth spending a little of your time on something like this. It will not take more than a few hours, I guarantee it. And then it will make you feel satisfied that you read it and that you were part of this walk to remember...

“Love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it.”

- Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

 That's a very, very favourite quote of mine.

The Mozart Conspiracy by Scott Mariani

  BOOK TWO OF "BEN HOPE"

  Absolutely in the spirit of the first book. Scott Mariani dives us in another death hunt where a secret society rules underhand and doesn't like... obstacles. That usually means an intruder or witness who must be taken care of(and we all know how this kind of people deal with "obstacles").
  There're at least three different covers! But I think this one is the best, it suits the series. I like the idea of the partly transparent background, it's light and nice. Besides, there'are different elements in the whole image as the running man, the eye, the cloaked figure. It makes sense and it looks good - what else can I want?
It looks like there's a new mystery for Ben Hope to solve but this time is the death of a close friend. Oliver Llewellyn has died in a very ridiculous incident back in January. Yet, neither detective Marcus Kinski nor Ben Hope thinks it's an incident at all.
I'm always impressed how the author combines the characteristics of this type of thrillers I've read and the reality at the same time. There's none of the almost fantasy stuff which I've read in some books, the subjects are pretty real and possible as well as the explanations. It may seem almost extraordinary and ancient but they're more like the conspiracy theories(well, I don't find it hard to believe them, why don't imagine that there exist some supernatural things, etc?).
  I've already read a book about another famous composer - Vivaldi. The book was called The Violinist of Venice by Alyssa Palombo and it was a historical romance. This one is more like a mystery and investigation about Mozart's death. And Oliver's death has much to do with it, too. I hardly ever find anything more amusing than a well-written crime to be uncovered.
  Am I the only one who thinks freemasons are too suspicious? I just can't believe they're so innocent. I've watched a reality of TLC and it was pretty real - a few teenagers were escaping the so-called freemasons because they're too isolated from the outside world as if everything was bad and they shouldn't allow anything in their closed society. So the teens wanted to live a normal life outside their underdeveloped small town in the US(yeah, it was in the USA). I can't believe how such narrow-minded people still exist in the 21st century! Well, it's not so hard to believe it, look at the Middle East - it's pretty real. I hate narrow-minded people because they're so absorbed in something so stupid. So, it was a little deviation from the topic but I just wanted to give reasons why I don't think this... group of people isn't as innocent at all and I trust some of the books I've read - they do have interfered in the political world, I don't think otherwise. So enough of Freemasons, that's a topic which annoys me a lot.
  I came to the conclusion that Ben isn't going to make some huge historical discovery as Atlantis or Excalibur, or something else. In fact, there's always some pretty rich and authoritative people who want power using something supposed to be unreal or mythic. Here Ben comes, the smart handsome badass who kicks the bad guys and has a pretty good sense of humour. And I like Scott Mariani's books, it's another type of thrillers and I find myself to like it pretty much.

  P.S. Highly recommended reading Ben Hope series.

  - Melly

October Wrap Up

Well, yeah, that's a bit of a late wrap up set with a previous date(oops). I just realised this is my first wrap up in this blog, wow. And 10 reviews, that's cool. So, let's get to the point.


1. The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter

 Reyes, however strange he sounds to me (I prefer Race), has the Pain. In order not to weaken his power, he constantly has to "feed" his demon through pain - on himself or... Read More

2. The Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter

This book ranks second in attracting my interest in the series. It is about Sabin, the Doubt warrior. He can... Read More

3. The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter

The fifth book is about Aeron. He has the Wrath, which is totally uncontrollable if left to act. That's why I... Read More

4. The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter

Gideon can say nothing but a lie because he is cursed to have the demon of Lies. That's why I'm really... Read More

5. The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter

The eighth book is about Amun, who holds the demon of Secrets. He can't say absolutely anything because as he speaks... Read More

6. The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter

Strider cannot lose a challenge without experiencing inhumane pain because he has the Demon of... Read More

7. The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani

After a whole month without reading a single book, I've decided to start reading on the bus... The Alchemist's Secret wasn't like anything I've read before. It's pretty different and... Read More

8. The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

At first, I liked Paris quite a lot, but then I lost interest in him. He was a playboy and a female man, and I loved him much until he... Read More

9. The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

Kane may have one of the most terrible demons - Disaster. With him, he has no contact, and he is more than evil, he is a monster. It can cause any... Read More

10. The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter

Torin's demon for him is like a curse because he has the worst of all others - Disease. Every time he touches someone, he causes... Read More

~~~

Btw, Halloween's over - it's packed and gone on a cruise till the next year. So, let's talk about Christmas(if I had any Christmas decorations, I'd put them but unfortunately, I'm a poor student on accommodation and I have any -_-). Someone as excited as me about Christmas?? #Christmasholic & #Christmaslover   ❤️

- Melly

The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter

  BOOK ELEVEN OF "LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD"

“What’s my sign? Cancer.”
- Torin, Lord of the Underworld

  Torin's demon for him is like a curse because he has the worst of all others - Disease. Every time he touches someone, he causes illness and death, there may even be a world outbreak. He was the cause of the Black Death * in the Middle Ages because he touched a peasant girl.
  Now, I really like this cover. Gray is very good for the background, and the man looks great. Also made with white hair because Torin itself has white hair and green eyes, a very interesting combination in my opinion. And the gloves in the hand are also in full resemblance to those he usually wear to not touch anyone.
  Before I read the book about him, he was one of my favourites because of his unusual appearance, but after that I lost interest in him. He can't fight or touch his friends in order not to cause them any disease. He is the most unhappy of all because he is lonely and looking at all his friends with their loved ones hurts him even more. He stays home all day at his computers and about the technology he's a real genius. When he meets Scarlett, the Red Queen, his control and his fleshly desire erupt. But every touch of him causes sickness to her.
  Scarlett is an interesting character, but there's something I don't like about her, maybe because she reminds me of Anya. In fact, they both know each other and can't stand each other, which has been quite fun for their cohabitation in the house.
   And finally, Torin has to face his worst battle so far - and the one who feels he can not win. In fact, the book is not that bad and I really liked it, but I decided in my assessment to be neutral.

  * Black Death - The biggest plague epidemic passed across almost all of Europe between 1347 and 1353. Then more than a third of the population died. Black Death is the most devastating pandemic in human history. [Open Wikipedia for more information and see the gizmo, which is eloquent enough.]