Before the Fairy-tale

*I was asked to do this review via bookblogs.com 

Book: Before the Fairy-tale 
Author: Iscah
Pages: 125

Blurb: "Banished from her village, a young shape shifter sets out on a journey to find her place in the world...

The first of four "Before the Fairytale" stories, "The Girl With No Name" is told in a deceptively simple storybook style with the flavor of an original Grimm's fable, but don't expect your typical once upon a time scenario. This is a coming of age tale humorously interwoven with social commentary."

 - from amazon.com

Rachael's Recap

Book Rating: 3.5 chocolate bars

Cover Rating: 2 chocolate bars 

What do you do when you have no name? This is a story of a young girl, who starts her journey searching for her father. She goes through many parts of her world, and experiences many things. This book, for me, was a nice light read. The characters were nice, but nothing too deep. Almost all of the characters were likable, but you never got to know them. The Girl was kind and caring, but never let anyone push her around, especially the prince. It was a fun story to read and at the end left me with questions and also left me wanting to read more.
What I loved

• It was a fun light story
• Different than most things I have read

What I wished were different 

• I wished the ending was stronger
• It did not have a climax or clearly state what happened to her father
• Ended too soon

If you are looking for a light fun story I suggest you go to amazon and get a copy of Before the Fairy-Tale!

Shatter Me

   

Book: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pages: 338

Blurb: "Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior."

Rachael's Recap

Book Rating: 3.7 chocolate bars 

Cover Rating: 2  chocolate bars (the original cover I liked much more. This one kinda creeped me out)

This book was, honestly, not what I was expecting. I was expecting the whole "Poor me. I wish my life was normal," then que sobs. But, no way was that this book. The main character Juliette cannot touch anyone without hurting them, or even killing them, but she still kicks butt. She does not let anyone push her around , especially Warner, the man who is keeping her captive. Everyone has called her a monster or  a freak, except Adam. This story was something new and fresh that I loved. I loved the way the writing in the story had Julliet fighting with herself, trying to figure out who she really was, if she was really the freak everyone had said she was. In the beginning of the book it starts with Juliette talking and describing things. At first I was terrified it was going to be the type of book that goes on and on with boring descriptions that make you want to pull your eyes out. It wasn't quite at the eye pulling out phase but I found myself looking ahead waiting for the dialogue to start again. One other thing was that Juliette and Adam had not seen each other in years and then BAM they are in love. It was kind of annoying. I mean it's ok to go on a little about their feelings but then Julliet started up with the metaphors again and it made me look around for something to poke my eyes out with. I think this book is either a book you love or you hate. Personally, I thought it was pretty good.

What I loved:

• Juliette was a very strong character
• I totally did not see the ending coming

What I wished were different:

• A little too many metaphors 
• Adam and Juliet are a little intense with their feelings