The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo, #1) by Rick Riordan || Ode of Bacon

Judul: The Hidden Oracle (The Trials of Apollo, #1)

Penulis: Rick Riordan

Tanggal Terbit: May 2016

Penerbit: Disney Hyperion

Halaman: 376

Bahasa: Inggris

ISBN: 9781484782521

Your fault, Apollo.
Your punishment.

My father’s voice still rings in my ears. Can you believe Zeus blamed me for the god’s battle with Gaea? Just because the earth goddess duped one of my progeny—Octavian—into plunging the Greek and Roman demigods into a civil war that nearly destroyed human civilization. I ask you, how was that my fault?

Now I’m cast out of Olympus in the form of a sixteen-year-old mortal boy, acne and all! Sadly, I’ve been punished this way before. I know I will face many trials and hardships. I can only hope that if I suffer through them and prove myself worthy, Father will forgive me and allow me to become a god again.

But this time my situation seems much more dangerous. One of my ancient adversaries knows I am here and is having me followed. The Oracle of Delphi remains dark, unable to issue prophecies. Most embarrassing of all, I am bound to serve a demigod street urchin who defends herself by throwing rotten fruit.

Zeus could not possibly expect me to fix the Oracle problem by myself. Not in my present weak condition. It’s time for me to drop in on Camp Half-Blood, where I might found some talented fodder . . . er, I mean heroes to help. No doubt they will welcome me as a celebrity! They will bring me holy offerings, like peeled grapes, Oreos, and—oh, gods—perhaps even bacon!

Mmm. Yes. If I survive this, I really must write an ode to the power of bacon. . . .

Honestly, I picked up this book just because it's Rick Riordan's. I'm always in need for sarcastic humors that Rick has plenty to offer in almost all of his book.

Apollo is such a witty character but as he became mortal, he turned into such a sappy teenager boy, and it's hilarious. The mystery on why he became mortal and how to fix it is my motivation in reading this book. But it's just it. A fun book to read but nothing more

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More Than This by Patrick Ness || Yes, more than this

Title: More Than This

Author: Patrick Ness

Date Published: May 2014
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 480

Language: English
ISBN: 9781406350487

A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

Well, the first few chapters was slow and hard to read. This book has a LGBTQ+ theme, I have no intention to offend anyone but I am not quite fond of it. I respect it but I don't support.

But, the last half was amazing and such a fast ride. I loved it. How the characters grew and find their resolution was nice. The twist was such a new feeling, just read it.

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We were Liars by E. Lockhart || Fool ya~

Title: We were Liars

Author: E. Lockhart

Date Published: May 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 228
Language: English

ISBN: 9780375984402

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

 
 Okay, so many youtuber had been liking this book so I read. Well, it was pretty fun, but not that satisfying. Hmm the twist was definitely there but I wish for more character development or some improvement because the story itself didn't justify the ending to what would I like.

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Spells & Sleeping Bags by Sarah Mlynowski (Magic in Manhattan #3) || I love you my dear sister

Title: Spells & Sleeping Bags (Magic in Manhattan #3)

Author: Sarah Mlynowski

Date Published: April 2008

Pubslisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 320

Language: English

ISBN: 9780385733885

At long last, Rachel's powers have arrived and she's a bona fide get-your-broom-ready witch! And it's happened just in time. No Manhattan for her this summer—she's spending her vacation at Camp Wood Lake.

But she's having some serious issues:

Mosquitoes in the Adirondacks are incredibly thirsty.

Her stepmom keeps sending embarrassing feminine hygiene care packages.

She accidentally zapped away all her clothes.

And there's a backstabber in her cabin intent on making life miserable.

Good thing Rachel's a witch.

This was a funny book, I really enjoyed it. The theme for this 3rd installment was sibling's jealousy and how to tackle it. It was heartwarming how Rachel adored Miri. For easy and light read. This was good.

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Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #2) || Big Bad Wolf, or nah?

Title: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)

Author: Marissa Meyer
Date Published: February 2014

Publisher: Square Fish

Pages: 452

Language: English

ISBN: 9781250007216

Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison—even though she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive if she does—in this second installment from Marissa Meyer.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana.

 The second book of lunar chronicles. I was irritated. I wasn't quite fond of scarlet. I don't know.  It's not as good but how cinder escape was good. Lil bit of a let down.

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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline | Well, where am I again?

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Date Published: August 2011

Publisher: Crown Publisher

Pages: 374

Languange: English

ISBN: 9780307887436

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

The reason why I read this book was because so many hype around it. I was curious. Well, brashly, it was mundane. So many details that I didn't care. The characters, especially the main character. Why did it feel like he was 13-years-old? The voice, the story, it felt distant and unattached. Maybe this is not my cup of tea or water. Huh.

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See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng | Hello There Stranger

Title: See You in the Cosmos

Author: Jack Cheng
Date published: February 2017

Publisher: Dial Books

Pages: 320

Language: English

ISBN: 9780399186370

11-year-old Alex Petroski loves space and rockets, his mom, his brother, and his dog Carl Sagan—named for his hero, the real-life astronomer. All he wants is to launch his golden iPod into space the way Carl Sagan (the man, not the dog) launched his Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. From Colorado to New Mexico, Las Vegas to L.A., Alex records a journey on his iPod to show other lifeforms what life on earth, his earth, is like. But his destination keeps changing. And the funny, lost, remarkable people he meets along the way can only partially prepare him for the secrets he’ll uncover—from the truth about his long-dead dad to the fact that, for a kid with a troubled mom and a mostly not-around brother, he has way more family than he ever knew.

Bought this book on impulse when I was at an airport, on my way to a business trip. Honestly, it was the cover, I can't help myself. From the synopsis it was pretty interesting so I made it mine.

Well, let's say it just a light journey to find happiness. Alex was very bright and innocent, positive and very clear of himself. Along the way, story unravel, he met people, friends, family.

The depth was not really there, made it had less impact, power, and impression. But, if you want a quick and light read, maybe this one for you.

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Dark Matter by Blake Crouch | That was Unexpected

Title: Dark Matter

Author: Blake Crouch

Date Published: July 2016

Publisher: Crown (ebook)

Pages: 352

Language: English

ISBN: 9781101904237

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

I forgot who recommend this book, but somehow I managed to read and finish this book in the middle of my greatest reading slump ever in my life. It's fun, fast paced and I can't stop reading it.
 
While this is a sci-fi, you don't have to think much and trying to figure out everything because for me that will spoil the fun and give me headache.

Characters development is not really there because it's more about the story and twist so I can't really see it.

I don't really catch anything but the enjoyment and the thrill, so yeah. If you want a fast and fun ride, this book is for you. 4 star for Dark Matter.

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The Boy in the Black Suits by Jason Raynolds | Life Goes On

Title: The Boy in the Black Suit

Author: Jason Reynolds

Date Published: January 2015

Publisher: Atheneum Books

Pages: 272

Language: English

ISBN: 9781442459502

Just when seventeen-year-old Matt thinks he can’t handle one more piece of terrible news, he meets a girl who’s dealt with a lot more—and who just might be able to clue him in on how to rise up when life keeps knocking him down—in this wry, gritty novel from the author of When I Was the Greatest.

Matt wears a black suit every day. No, not because his mom died—although she did, and it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home, which pays way better than the Cluck Bucket, and he needs the income since his dad can’t handle the bills (or anything, really) on his own. So while Dad’s snagging bottles of whiskey, Matt’s snagging fifteen bucks an hour. Not bad. But everything else? Not good. Then Matt meets Lovey. She’s got a crazy name, and she’s been through more crazy than he can imagine. Yet Lovey never cries. She’s tough. Really tough. Tough in the way Matt wishes he could be. Which is maybe why he’s drawn to her, and definitely why he can’t seem to shake her. Because there’s nothing more hopeful than finding a person who understands your loneliness—and who can maybe even help take it away.

Well I perceived this book like an appetizer.  You see, I heard great things about All American Boys and the theme is kinda my things. But the softcover is yet to be released so I treated myself with this book just to peek into Reynolds writing skill. 

It's kinda muffled.

Is it strange when I said I read and heard the books? When it's a good book the voice is clear and strong, when it's not the voice is soft. I can't hear it well.

This book, theme and characters wise are one of my favorite but I just don't connect with them. It's just bland. I don't feel any emotions whatsoever.

The story was about Matt who trying to live after his mother dead with a father who can't seem to move on and wrecking himself to almost death. He worked at a funeral house and met a girl-the girl. He learned a lot from her how to accept the grief, how to embrace and live with it. 

See? The theme was great, superb. Try it, maybe I became really picky after so many many many plates of books.

Nonetheless I give it, 3 stars

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The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud | Jin Tengil Ketemu Asasin Licik

Judul: The Ring of Solomon

Penulis: Jonathan Stroud
Tanggal Terbit: November 2015
Penerbit: GPU
Halaman:528

Bahasa: Indonesia

ISBN: 9789792289435

Bartimaeus, sang jin luar biasa, terjebak sebagai budak di Jerusalem, di bawah kekuasaan Raja Solomon. Semua ini gara-gara cincin legendaris Solomon, yang membuat pemiliknya memiliki kekuatan tak terbatas.

Namun, dengan datangnya Asmira, gadis pembunuh yang ternyata punya banyak rencana, keadaan mulai… menarik.

Maka Bartimaeus pun berada di posisi paling berbahaya selama kariernya yang panjang dan harus mengerahkan semua kekuatan sihirnya agar bisa lolos dari situasi ini.

Petualangan Bartimaeus yang pasti dianggap seru oleh pembaca lama maupun baru.

Well, sesungguhnya gak begitu tertarik baca ini karena yeah ending dari buku dgn settingnya yg sama.... Tapi pas ketemu buku ini di rak diskonan gak bisa nolak buat gak beli, dan akhirnya setelah bertahun-tahun tertimbun akhirnya selesai baca juga.
Baiklah si Barti ternyata dari awal memang tengil dan menjengkelkan belum lagi gayanya yang sok-sokan tapi sebenernya lumayan loyal bikin penasaran pengen baca sampai akhir.
Rada susah sih karena gak begitu empati sama si Asmira tapi Solomon bagus juga pengarakterannya walau gak begitu diexplore.
Well sepanjang petualangan cukup engaging kok kalau bisa melewati chapter2 awal yang menurutku cukup sulit untuk dilewati. Endingnya sih gak cetar membahana banget tapi cukup lah. Overall, it's a fine book.

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