Starflight by Melissa Landers Review

This is a spoiler free review!

Starflight

Written by Melissa Landers

Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Pages: 369

Source:

Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository

Recommended Age: 12 and up!

Summary:

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

Review:

This is definitely a new favorite of mine. I have tried to write this review twice and it didn't work both times because of my fangirling. This book has so many aspects that just make me want to jump for joy. For instance, the science fiction aspect is done so well. This book is like a cross between Star Wars, The Lunar Chronicles and Stitching Snow.

COVER

I find this cover to actually be kind of nice. I like how the starship is flying into the distance.

WORLD-BUILDING

The world-building was done fantastically. I really enjoyed learning the backstories to the characters and the backstory to the whole entire world.

Then there are the characters.

SOLARA

"She'd learned that home was a fluid thing and whether on a planet, a satellite, or a rusted bucket of a ship, this crew was her home."

Solara is such an independent and strong female character. I really enjoyed reading about her. She is also really funny and is not a damsel in distress at all. Her spirit never diminishes despite the trials she has to go through. She has also had a hard life and it was interesting to find out about all that.

DORAN

"What's wrong? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed again?"

Doran is such a charming, sarcastic and cocky male lead. He is hilarious as well and I hated him at the beginning. He was incredibly rude and didn't seem to have sympathy for anyone. But I quickly got over that and obviously fell under his spell.

FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY

The crew was definitely a type of family for Solara. They really got along and laughed and joked like they were family. I think this is a book that has a strong 'family' relationship

PLOT

The plot of Starflight was pretty unique, with twists and turns that shocked me. I really enjoyed following Solara and her friend's adventures and it really felt like I could connect with the story.

ROMANCE

Solara and Doran's relationship slowly develops throughout the story. It is a pretty slow burn romance. But I thought it was very very well done. I thought that Solara and Doran really worked together and were quite cute together.

WRITING

When you are flying through a book, you don't really think about how the writing was. Since, I flew through it, I think it was really well done.

Final Thoughts:

Go read this book! It is so amazing. It has space ships, other planets, pirates and a beautiful romance. This is one of my favorite books of all time.

Quotes from the Book:

“I might have dirt under my fingernails and tattoos across my knuckles,” she told him, “but I can fix that with a hot bath and a visit to the flesh forger. You’re dirty in a place that can’t be washed. You’ll never change, and you’ll never make a difference. When you die, no one will miss you, because your life won’t matter.” She followed him down the stairs until they stood nose-to-nose at the base. “You don’t matter.”

A minute ago she wanted to break his jaw, and now she had to fight the urge to pat him on the head and give him a cookie. That had to be some kind of superpower. She finally understood how he got everything he wanted in life." 

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns


THIS BOOK IN THREE GIFS

Discussion #1: Family Relationships and Why They Are Important in YA Literature

Families aren't often depicted in YA Literature. Is it because they are for teens who want to be independent? Or is it because the parents are always working? Whatever the reason, families aren't a big part of YA Literature. When you find a family, they are usually disconnected, and uncommunicative. The parents don't usually care about the kid's well-being. Or the parents are manipulative. A good, healthy family relationship is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Family relationships are very important to be shown in YA Literature. They help readers, know what is a healthy relationship and it also helps the story be better. YA Literature needs to start to learn that family relationships are important to showcase. 

Let's take Harry Potter for example. The Harry Potter series has tons of family relationships and they are what makes the story a lot better. We are all well aware of the Weasley's. They have been called one of the best families in YA Literature and it's true. The Weasley's maintain a strong relationship which gets them through thick and thin. This is what makes them one of the strongest family relationships and the book is a lot better because of it. 

Now, let's take The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games doesn't have the best family relationships. But Katniss' family is a strong one. Her mom and her sister are always there for her, even though her mom does seem a little out of it in the first book. But they all really care for each other and are determined to see the best in each other and have each other see the best in them. 

Then we have a book on the opposite end of the spectrum: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes. The relationship between Magnus and his parents isn't necessarily an abusive relationship but it is not healthy and they don't seem to care for each other at all. Magnus just seems like another way for Gaius to get what he wants. Gaius doesn't think of him as his son. And then you have the mother who is pretty much out of it much of the time. She doesn't seem to care about her children either which shows that it is an unhealthy relationship. 

Then we have abusive family relationships; The Young Elites and Lock and Mori. In The Young Elites, Adelina's father treats her like dirt. She isn't treated like a person at all, just because she has scars from an illness that she got. It isn't right to treat someone like that, just because they aren't as pretty as someone else. Her father wanted to marry her off, just so he could get money and then when she got sick and emerged with scars, he knew he would never get to marry her off. This family relationship is just plain wrong.  Then there is Lock and Mori. Their father treats them really poorly because he thinks it is their fault that their mother died. This is also a messed up family relationship that isn't right at all. 

So, why are family relationships not treated as something that is necessary to YA Literature? 

It's a serious issue that needs to be fixed. Family relationships are things that should be depicted in a good light, every time they are showcased.  Families are very important. They are something that every kid wants. Every child wants to belong. So, when author's start writing books that don't have healthy relationships, kids will think that abusive families are okay. And they aren't. 

Having a strong family relationship is very important and I believe that they should always be showcased as so. Starting in YA Literature!

The Mark of Noba Blog Tour + Review

The Mark of Noba

Written by G.L. Tomas

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Science Fiction

Publisher: Rebellious Valkyrie Press

Release Date: August 12, 2015

Pages: 334

Source: Provided for Blog Tour

Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository

Recommended Age: 12 and up!

Summary:

Sterling Wayfairer has one goal for his senior year: make his mark. He’s been slipping into the background his whole high school career—distracted by his mother’s mental health, unsettled by the vivid dreams that haunt him at night, and overshadowed by the athletic accomplishments of his popular best friends. But this year is going to be different. He’s going to break a few rules, have some fun, and maybe even work up the nerve to ask his crush out on a date.

But things don’t go exactly as planned. Students are disappearing, Sterling starts losing time, and it all seems to center around Tetra, a girl no one else seems to notice but him. When he finally tracks her down for answers, they aren’t what he expects: He and Tetra hail from a world called Noba, and they’re being hunted by a Naga, a malevolent shapeshifter that’s marked them for destruction.

Tetra and Sterling have distinct abilities that can help them fight back, but their power depends heavily on the strength of their bond, a connection that transcends friendship, transcends romance. Years apart have left their bond weak. Jumpstarting it will require Sterling to open his heart and his mind and put his full trust in the mysterious Tetra.

If he doesn’t, neither of them will survive.

Review:

I received this book for The Mark of Noba blog tour.

I didn't really know what to expect from this but the cover is pretty cool. I like how they are drawn and not real people. I also like how the girl is in front of the boy and not hidden in the background.

This is also a story that doesn't waste too much time on the backstory and it just pulls you in. The world-building was done well. The young people who populate the world, Geo, are no different than real life people and the world is similar. Sterling is a young adult hero that there aren't many of. He's a regular teenage guy and has regular problems.

Then we have the character, Tetra. She also isn't the typical young adult heroine. She is a little patronizing towards Sterling and maddening at times. She's also a girl on a mission and Sterling is her responsibility.

Overall, this was a pretty good book and I recommend it.

4 out of 5 Crowns

Top Ten Tuesday || Top Ten Books I'd Love to see as a Movie or TV Show

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that other bloggers are welcome to join in, to create Top Ten lists on varying topics. This week it's Rewind Week so I am doing Tip Ten Books I'd Love to See as a Movie or TV Show

I love this topic and I have some very good ideas for this. In fact, it was a problem to narrow it down. But here are ten books that I want to see as a movie or tv show.  

1 The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites should totally be made into a movie. Some of the scenes even played out like a movie in my head as I was reading the book. I would love to see how they would show Adelina's powers on the screen. 

2 The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

The Remnant Chronicles are a fantastic book series. I think that this one would work perfectly as a tv series.  I love the banter, the characters and the plot. I would love to see how the whole thing would be done on the screen. They could film it where they filmed movies like The Hobbit. [In wide open spaces].

3 Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Stitching Snow is one of my favorite retelling books and I would love it if it was adapted to be a movie.  

4  Throne of Glass 

I just started this series and have only finished the first book but it is such a wonderful book. I believe that these could be movies. I even have a small fancast for this. I would like to have Claire Holt as Caelena and Jeremy Irvine as Chaol. I don't know for Dorian yet. 

5 The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles would make a perfect TV show. I only hope that they would be able to cast this perfectly and won't mess anything up.  Arden Cho should definitely be Cinder. Just saying. 

6 Keeper of the Lost Cities 

I love this series. It is a middle grade series that would work perfectly as a TV show. Ugh, I need it. 

7 Shatter Me 

Shatter Me is something that should be a movie. It is a very popular series and I am surprised it hasn't been optioned for a movie yet. 

8 The Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes

When I finished this series, all I could think about was, "This would be an amazing tv show for people who don't want to watch Game of Thrones as it is a little too explicit for them." Well, there you go. I would like this to be a tv series. I would be so happy if it became one. 

9 Crossing the Line 

This is an action packed book that is kind of like a female James Bond so I think it would be wonderful as a movie. 

10 A Drop of Night 

This is a horror/thriller type YA book and I think it would be amazing if it was turned into a movie. And it doesn't have romance so that's a plus. 

11 Starflight 

Starflight is a new favorite of mine. It is set in space and has a wonderful cast of characters and I think it would do well as a movie. 

12 The Falconer by Elizabeth May

The Falconer is an amazing book and would do well as either a movie or a tv show. There is a lot of action and sweet romance that would appeal to many. 

Movie Review #5: Zootopia

Finally, I am getting another movie review up. I am such a bad person in terms of promising reviews and then never giving them. Today, I am going to do a review of Zootopia. I loved this movie so much so here are my thoughts. This is also mostly spoiler free.

Title: Zootopia
Director: Bryon Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush
Rating: PG
My Rating: 5 Crowns
Release Date: March 4, 2016

Zootopia isn't the only movie with talking animals that has come out in the last year, but it is one of the only ones that I went to see and seems to stand out. 

PLOT

Zootopia is about a world where all animals, both predator and prey, live together in harmony. In Zootopia, anyone can be anything. Our main protagonist, Judy Hopps believes that because she is the first rabbit police officer on a police force that is made up of much larger animals. She is assigned as the meter maid and is determined to impress so that she can move up to harder jobs. Then when she hears about a missing mammal case, she jumps at the opportunity and takes the case. She must aly with a sly, con-artist fox named Nick Wilde in order to solve it. Along the way, the case becomes bigger than either of them could have ever anticipated.

I love movies with animals in it. Especially animals that talk and do things just like humans do. I naturally adored this movie and thought it was super funny and super cute.

The plot is pretty well paced and doesn't drag. It is sort of a mystery movie which is filled with twists and turns that I could never have anticipated. It consistently stayed one or two steps ahead of me so I couldn't figure it out ahead of time. It was really well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. The writers put in as much effort with the mystery as they did the characters and setting.

Zootopia also happens to be a hilarious movie. The humor is so well done that it is sure to get you to laugh, no matter what.

ACTORS/CHARACTERS


The characters are all very interesting and unique and have secret sides to them that you really wouldn't expect to see.

Judy Hopps is intelligent, brave, optimistic and friendly which are all great qualities to have. But she has flaws just like everyone does. Sometimes she doesn't think through what she is saying and just spits it out which ends up doing more harm than good. But she also wants to make the world a better place and she does that by becoming the first bunny officer ever. She has to break the mold of how rabbits are perceived. They aren't perceived to be strong or fearless and she breaks those expectations. She also sees potential in others that others don't. I felt like I related to her, me being a female viewer but she is a good person to try and relate to. 

Nick Wilde is sly, intelligent, charming, fast-talking, witty, cynical, laid-back and opinionated. I loved him from the beginning. He is by far my favorite character, but close followed by Judy. He can talk his way out of practically anything. He believes that dreams in Zootopia, never come true. His knowledge of the city help Judy and we soon learn that there is a lot more to Nick than what meets the eye. 

FRIENDSHIP

Judy and Nick develop a strong relationship as the movie progresses. They consistently work together and help each other. Their chemistry is undeniable and I loved them so so much. They are able to carry the emotion of the movie as well as be entertaining. They develop a strong bond that is so easy to see. 

ANIMATION

The animation was truly beautiful. I loved how they designed the city and all the places as well as the characters. 

Zootopia is such a creative place and I really wanted to explore more of it because it was all so well done. Every element was well thought out and planned before putting it on the screen. 

I highly enjoyed this movie and believe that it is on it's way to becoming a Disney classic. Zootopia is a great representation of how Disney has evolved into something that everyone should spend time watching. It has wonderful messages that teach children and adults not to be prejudiced and to follow their dreams. 

It is one of Disney's best films as well as one of the smartest. 

Music Monday #24

I got this idea from the blog Trust in the Words. 

Wiser by Madilyn Bailey

This is part of Madilyn Bailey's new album. I have been following her for a for a couple years and she has an amazing voice. This is also so far my favorite song written by her. :) 

What's in your headphones?

Happy reading everybody! <3

Weekly Update: 8/1 - 8/7

I have decided to start doing a weekly post called weekly recap where I update you on my life, reading and watching. Plus any posts I have done or will do.

This week, I came back from California so I had to recover from that. I also had a couple of appointments this week.

I did go to see a movie on Friday, with my mom and sister. I saw Star Trek Beyond which was so good. I will have a review up this coming week.

I also went to the library and got way too many books.

New Books

Purchased:

Library:

 

In Case You Missed It

Music Monday: Starving by Hailee Steinfeld
Top Five Wednesday was Books I feel Differently About
Wednesday: August TBR
Thursday Book Review: The Duchess Quest [Blog Tour]
Sunday Book Review: Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes [5 Crowns]

This Week I Read

  

  

Next Week I'm Reading

Upcoming Reviews

Upcoming Posts

Monday:  Music Monday featuring Wiser by Madilyn Bailey + Zootopia Movie Review

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday Rewind. I'll be doing Top Ten Books I'd Love to See as a Movie or TV Show + Blog Tour  

Wednesday: NONE

Thursday: Family Relationships and Why They Are Important in YA Literature Discussion

Friday:  UNKNOWN

Saturday: Starflight by Melissa Landers Review

Sunday: Weekly Wrap-Up