Stung by Bethany Wiggins Review

   My review of Bethany Wiggins' Stung. These are all just my opinions so don't hesitate to share your own below. :)

Rating: 

   2/5 – This book has an exciting world premise and started off well, but I can’t give it more than two because I feel the plot was too fast, leaving me confused and the parts of the story not fully developed.

Who I think it's for:

   This contains a lot of violence with some reference to mature issues as well as being a young adult novel, so overall I think it’s aimed at 13 – 21 year olds. I wouldn’t let anyone younger read it because of the blood and references. This is a sci-fi novel and if you like the Hunger Games, which Stung is compared to, it is along those sorts of dystopian lines.

"There’s no cure for being Stung.”

Plot Summary: 

   Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. She has awakened to her house being abandoned, her neighbourhood being dead and her brother being changed into a beast. After running into the new, chaotic world, the strange tattoo on her hand makes her dangerous, so she is detained by soldiers dedicated to protecting the ‘uninfected’ inside the recently built wall from those branded as monsters. At any second, she could change into a mindless zombie, but how does the apocalypse all come down to something as small as bees?

The Characters:

  I found the main character, Fiona, very whiny and had to have men protect her and tell her what to do all the time. But, if you had just been flung into a world with no memory of how you got there or how it became so full of chaos, she seemed quite realistic and her reactions to her situation were too.

   Bowen was the character who struck me the most because he is strong and determined but has a softer side. He seems to be the traditional cliché hero but he starts off as on the side of the “bad guys” but changes after taking matters into his own hands, trying to make out that he’s doing it to save himself but really isn’t as inhumane as we first thought.

  Sadly, I did not like the romance between Fiona and Bowen. The story is quite fast-paced (which is a highlight) but sometimes leaves parts behind to catch up so the love appears very rushed and unnatural. I wasn’t really expecting them to become lovers, but it rather felt like they were friends trying to survive in the apocalypse.

Why I read it:

   This was on the top books shelf in the library and claimed to be the next Hunger Games, which I really enjoyed reading, so obviously Stung caught my attention. The blurb was interesting, the idea was original. However, the way the story was carried out was disappointing slightly, with a beginning that kept me going for a while but few holes were filled in my knowledge and I felt like the story could have slowed down a little at the end and let us give more. The main story line felt undeveloped and as if nothing had really happened. I forced myself not to abandon this book to see whether it got better by the end, but I was left confused with still many questions left unresolved. I don’t think I’ll be carrying on to read the sequel.

 

Why you should read it:

    It’s a very interesting concept, though I wouldn’t jump to recommending it to anyone. This is all just my opinion though, so if you like dystopian novels with a fast-pace leaving you behind, you might want to give this a try.


The sequel to Stung, Cured, is planned for release in 2014.

 

~White Ravens~ http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

I'm Back Again XD

   The holidays have been jammed pack this year and I haven't found a lot of time to write in the past couple of weeks. I've recently returned from Wales, which was fab, and my whole family's been off work a lot lately so we've been adventuring :) Nevertheless, I have done a lot of story brainstorming and have started reading some new books so, eventually, there will be some new material on this blog :S

  So I must apologise again for the lack of activity but I will have some new things to share soon :) I'm beginning another review now :)

 TTFN!

~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo Review

My review of Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo; an award-winning children's book of war and innocence.

Rating: 

 

   5/5  

  My first 5/5 rating :) I really, really, really love this book and I’d recommend it to anyone.

Who I think it's for:

 

 Michael Morpurgo is a children’s author and this book is aimed at around 10 years + but I’m 16 and enjoyed it so much and I know adults will like it too. I would probably not recommend this book to those younger than 8-9 because it is a story about war and a tear-jerker so might upset more sensitive readers

  This is a historical fiction novel but I think no matter what genre you normally go for that you’ll like reading this book. I normally go for fantasy and there were no fairies or dragons in sight in this story but it’s now become one of my favourites :)

"I had to prove myself. I had to prove myself to myself.”

Plot Summary: 

 

 This story is told from the point of view of Private Thomas ‘Tommo’ Peaceful as he relives his life through memories of from his quiet village to the World War I battlefields. He remembers his childhood friendships, love, fears, innocence, and growing up when the war was just a distant fight. Brotherly love triumphs in many ways, but it won’t be enough to stand against the incoming military justice.

The Character that stood out most:

 

  Although each of the main characters in our hero’s family stands out with their lovable qualities, the main character Tommo was my favourite. When he retells his childhood, you feel so much for him when he laughs or cries or falls in love. Then, when the war hits his village, he goes to protect his brother despite being under-aged and his mother and best friend not wanting him to leave. He looks up to his brother so much but still had his own spotlight. I admire the love these two brothers, Tommo and Charlie, have and the war just strengthens their bond whilst trying to tear it apart.
  He shows many acts of bravery throughout the story that really makes him stand out as someone who would do anything for the ones he loves.  Such empathy was created with this character but he pulls through everything. I loved him so much that, although I was hooked, I didn’t want his story to finish and meet its inevitable unhappy end.

Why I read it:

 

  This is a very popular story that a lot of people I knew had read and recommended it so I asked for it as a present last Christmas and just got round to reading it. As I’ve said before, Michael Morpurgo is one of my favourite authors so I really wanted to read this book for many reasons. I enjoyed it so much that I’m re-reading it now.

 

Why you should read it:

 

  It really hooked me and I didn’t want the story to end because I loved the characters and their life stories and I’m sure that you’ll feel the same way about it too. This book is really popular with kids and adults alike so anyone will enjoy it. Also, the story really gives an insight into the lives of innocent but courageous men being pushed into war and having to go through so much. It shows the horrors of the battlefield but also the importance of love and friendship so you’ll learn a lot from this book as well as enjoy it.



   Well, as promised another book review with more to come soon :)


~White Ravens~
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10321725/white-ravens-writing

I'm Backkkk!

   Hello everyone :) Sorry for the lack of posting but I have just come back off of my holiday in Scotland - so beautiful! I enjoyed it so much, despite the rain, and loved visiting it's forests, lochs, islands and castles! If you ever get a chance to go, do it!

   As always, I carried around my trusty pens and notebook (or notebooks in my case! Seriously, my bag was full of them!) along with my camera so the beauty was captured in creativity to share. It'sone of the best holidays I have ever had and I'd love to return one day! :D

   Oh, and I also found my new favourite book; Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo. I have always loved the author and I have been meaning to read it since Christmas and I'm so glad I did. But more on that later.

   Anyway, as an apology for my absence, I shall have some book reviews for you to read soon :)


   Hope you're all enjoying your holiberries wherever you are in the universe!

~White Ravens~

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I have joined Bloglovin' - Follow me there :)

Bloglovin is an online website (accompanied by an iPhone app too!) where you can find lots of different blogs to follow for anything that interests you. It's simple and easy to use with lots of variety and bloggers can find more readers there too. You can find similar blogs to those you already follow and heart posts you like so that is why I decided to join it :)

I will put a button for you to follow me on there on my blog :)

Have a nice rest of the evening/day/afternoon :D

~White Ravens~