Rathi Venkateshan - June Book Reviews

The Selection This book is #1 in the Selection series. The Selection is the chance of a lifetime for thirty-five girls. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be caught up in a world of polished crowns and priceless jewels. They are given a chance to live in a palace and compete for the heart of Prince Maxon and become the next queen of Illéa. But for America Singer, being selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want, living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks, and many other extremely competitive girls, is not easy for America. Soon, America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself. She also realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she’s never imagined. I would rate this book a 7/10. Land of Stories: The Wishing Well This book is #1 in the Land of Stories series. The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought. I would rate this book a 8/10. Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns This book is #2 in the Land of Stories series. The twins Alex and Conner Bailey haven't returned to the Land of Stories for a year now. At home, they find out their mum's supposed 'friend' has something to say and their house becomes overrun with fairies and soldiers alike. Mother Goose comes to babysit them, and Alex gets a terrible secret out of her which is the reason for the mayhem. The Enchantress has returned. They find out that the Eastern Kingdom has been taken over by dark magic and thorns have magically spread across the kingdom. Their mother has gone missing and all signs point to the Enchantress as the reason behind it. Soon enough, the twins escape to the Land of Stories once more through a portal that sinks their grandma's cottage. but house insurance isn't their biggest worry. The Land of Stories is not as safe as before, and the Enchantress must be stopped before she takes over the land. The twins find out about the wand of wonderment which, when successfully made, allows the user to be invincible. Alex and Conner know that no fairy magic can match the Enchantress, so they seek help from some old friends to collect the items to build the wand. I would rate this book a 9/10 Whisper This book is #1 in the Whisper series. For more than two years, Jane Doe, AKA subject Six-Eight-Four, has been subjected to daily interrogation and painful medical experiments in a secret government laboratory. Lengard, the underground facility where she’s incarcerated, has Jane living with no comforts except the invigorating combat training sessions with Enzo, her trainer. She remains silent for the authorities’ protection as well as her own, knowing that her voice possesses dangerous powers. Perpetual harsh treatment has made it easy to keep her guard up until she is assigned a new therapist. Landon Ward, blonde, green-eyed, and close in age to 18-year-old Jane, is assigned to break through her defenses using kindness and patience. He arranges for Jane to move into his sister’s comfortable apartment in the facility and even takes her on an excursion aboveground with his young cousins. Pale-skinned, blue-eyed Jane is shocked to learn she’s been held in the heart of downtown Sydney, Australia. In a dramatic incident on a bustling street, she saves the life of Ward’s niece, but this changes their lives in unexpected ways. I would rate this book a 10/10. Weapon This book is #2 in the Whisper series. In Weapon, Alyssa Scott, a powerful Speaker, has now escaped from Lengard, the place where she was kept for the past two and a half years. She has joined the Remnants and wants to save those she has left behind. Standing in her way is Vanik, the evil scientist who was responsible for most of her torture. He is still experimenting on other Speakers and using mind control to get them to do his bidding. Alyssa struggles with remembering her past and as her memories begin to resurface, she finds she has more questions than answers. Not everything is as it seems, and she begins to question what she has been told. Along her journey, she has been lied to and betrayed several times. At this point, who can she believe? I rate this book a 10/10