StephFurlan
Ottawa Public Library
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Added Dec 05, 2023
Added Sep 04, 2016
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Added Apr 18, 2015
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Apr 18, 2015
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While I don’t go out of my way to read ghost stories, I have heard very good things about Garth Stein that I gave his latest novel A Sudden Light a try. It’s not a scary story, but the story weaves the human condition, curiosity and mystery together wonderfully.
The story follows Trevor Riddell, a fourteen-year-old boy, who tags along with his father to the Riddell estate in the Pacific Northwest. He hopes to save his parents’ marriage since they’re undergoing a trial separation after they filed for bankruptcy. His father, Jones Riddell, plans to work alongside his sister, Serena, to convince their ill father to sell the property and live in a retirement home. Jones believes once he settles the estate’s affairs and divides profits he can then live happily ever after. However, Trevor uncovers that the ghost haunting the Riddell home hopes the Riddell family will honour an old promise.
This novel was an enjoyable read. For the most part, it had a smooth and steady pace. However, there were moments, especially when there were flashbacks of the past, when things got slow and even a little boring. The flashbacks do help form the story, but I wish they had the same pacing as the rest of the novel.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.com/2015/02/review-a-sudden-light-by-garth-stein/While I don’t go out of my way to read ghost stories, I have heard very good things about Garth Stein that I gave his latest novel A Sudden Light a try. It’s not a scary story, but the story weaves the human condition, curiosity and mystery together…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Feb 19, 2015
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The story centers around Thomas who arrives in a community of boys with his memory erased. He learns they are all trapped in a giant maze, which they must solve if they want to be freed. Everyone has a role to play: groundskeepers, law enforcers, cook, doctors, and runners. The maze runners are the most important among them. They risk their lives in the maze, trying to solve its secrets. Despite everyone’s hesitation to trust Thomas, he joins the runners to help them find a way out before they run out of time.
I bought this book a few years back before all the hype and tried to read it. I only managed to read the first chapter, having put it down because I didn’t feel like I could get into it or really connect with it. There just seemed to be better books out there worth my time. Once I heard the news The Maze Runner was being made into a movie, I tried to give the novel a go one more time since I’ve always tried to read the book first then go see the movie. The second time around I just had to push through the first chapter, hoping the rest of the story would get better.
The reader sees everything from Thomas’ perspective. When we first meet him, he is disoriented, being in a new place and hearing strange words, which are a part of a fabricated language the boys have made up. The reader can’t help but feel lost too.
Complete Review: https://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/review-the-maze-runner-by-james-dashner/The story centers around Thomas who arrives in a community of boys with his memory erased. He learns they are all trapped in a giant maze, which they must solve if they want to be freed. Everyone has a role to play: groundskeepers, law enforcers,…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 30, 2014
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If you’re a fan of the show Doctor Who or the video game series Assassin’s Creed, then you’ll be in for a treat with Megan Crewe’s novel Earth & Sky. It has time-traveling aliens, and the characters explore ancient civilizations and significant moments in history.
The novel starts off slow. I’m not particularly a fan of slow beginnings, but I felt this one was necessary for the story. It helps set up the rest of the plot and introduces our main characters. By chapter two, it’s like the whole story bolts off running, never quite slowly down or stopping until the very last page. The quick pace certainly reminded me the sense of urgency the characters were feeling. The story always kept me interested, engaged and wanting to keep returning to the book whenever I had to put it down.
I liked the main characters, Skylar and Win, but I wanted to love them! At times, they felt two-sided, not fully developed. Skylar was either anxious and annoyed or completely confident. She suffered from what seemed like anxiety attacks for years and it felt like she was cured the instant she met Win. I would have preferred it if her character growth was more gradual than sudden. Also, it felt like Skylar jumped at the chance to time travel and agreed to help Win too quickly. I wish it would have taken her more convincing to help him instead of totally acceptance that aliens and time travelling were real. As a part of the theme of my blog, I would deem Skylar as a strong female character. By the end of the novel, she found determination and bravery within herself, not only to travel so far away from home but selflessly chooses to do all she can to save her planet.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/review-earth-and-sky-by-megan-crewe/If you’re a fan of the show Doctor Who or the video game series Assassin’s Creed, then you’ll be in for a treat with Megan Crewe’s novel Earth & Sky. It has time-traveling aliens, and the characters explore ancient civilizations and significant…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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From both friends and bloggers, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Scott Westerfled and his novels. I’ve never read any of his books, so I was thrilled when I got a copy of his newest book Afterworlds to try the author out. However, sometimes high expectations can lead to great disappoint. This novel felt like a letdown to me and I wish I probably started out with one of his earlier books to fully understand why readers love this author so much.
The novel felt unnecessarily long (it’s about 600 pages—a hefty book!). A problem I find when there’s more than one perspective is readers may end up having a favourite one. This happened to me. I enjoyed Darcy’s story much more than Lizzie’s. Most of the time, I sped through Lizzie’s parts because I just wanted to get them over with. I got bored of Lizzie very quickly. Some scenes in Lizzie’s story felt disjointed, feeling like something separate from the rest of her story. One moment Lizzie meets a young FBI agent (which turned out to my favourite character in the whole story) who’s keeping an eye out on her after the terrorist attack, next she’s exploring a “ghost” house with her newest ghost friend, and then Lizzie and the Death god are chatting on a private island about her new abilities. Her story just seemed to be all over the place.
Overall, the concept of Afterworlds is unique and new, but I felt it was poorly executed or the novel may be greatly misunderstood.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/review-afterworlds-by-scott-westerfled/From both friends and bloggers, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Scott Westerfled and his novels. I’ve never read any of his books, so I was thrilled when I got a copy of his newest book Afterworlds to try the author out. However, sometimes…
Rethinking NormalRethinking Normal, BookA Memoir in Transition
by Hill, Katie RainBook - 2014Book, 2014
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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The first time I heard about Katie Rain Hill was during one of her many interviews on television. She’s been interviewed for CNN, ABC’s 20/20, Tulsa World and many other media outlets. I haven’t read many memoirs, autobiographies or biographies in my lifetime, but I was curious and thrilled to get a chance to learn more about Katie’s story in her first book: Rethinking Normal.
If you haven’t heard of her, you’re probably wondering by now: what makes her so special? Well, she’s a transgender woman, which essentially means she was born male, but identifies as female.
In her book Rethinking Normal, Katie shares her life story—everything from childhood until now. She talks about her home life and school, falling in love, her transition and gender re-assignment surgery, and being a part of the LGBT community, taking an active part in bringing more awareness about being a transgender person.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/review-rethinking-normal-by-katie-rain-hill/The first time I heard about Katie Rain Hill was during one of her many interviews on television. She’s been interviewed for CNN, ABC’s 20/20, Tulsa World and many other media outlets. I haven’t read many memoirs, autobiographies or biographies in…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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The novel also celebrates female empowerment. Nowadays, we’re able to talk about sex and sexuality more openly, having more honest discussions about it. While it seems like Ellie wants to lose her virginity by choice, she is still influenced or pressured into it. I would have liked it more if it was completely by choice. Overall, it is a reminder, especially for young girls, to be true to their selves and listen to that inner voice. If you’re not ready or you’re doing something for the wrong reasons, take a step back.
Sanghani’s Virgin is a refreshing read about female sexuality and empowerment. However, this novel is a light, entertaining, and one-read kind of book for me.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/review-virgin-by-radhika-sanghani/The novel also celebrates female empowerment. Nowadays, we’re able to talk about sex and sexuality more openly, having more honest discussions about it. While it seems like Ellie wants to lose her virginity by choice, she is still influenced or…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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Looking for a suspenseful, creepy read? I’m talking all about: Bird Box by Josh Malerman. It’s my very first review on my YouTube channel Feisty Little Woman too!
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/review-bird-box-by-josh-malerman-video/Looking for a suspenseful, creepy read? I’m talking all about: Bird Box by Josh Malerman. It’s my very first review on my YouTube channel Feisty Little Woman too!
Complete Review:…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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The story takes place in a seemingly perfect world, one without pain and suffering, war and death, differences or choice. When children turn twelve, they are assigned a role to play for the rest of their lives in the Community. A young boy named Jonas is chosen as the next Receiver of Memory, receiving special training from the Giver who holds all the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. One memory after the next, Jonas learns the beauty of what life can be and the horrors that have been tucked away.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/08/26/book-to-film-the-giver/The story takes place in a seemingly perfect world, one without pain and suffering, war and death, differences or choice. When children turn twelve, they are assigned a role to play for the rest of their lives in the Community. A young boy named…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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The Madman’s Daughter series has a great concept, adding a new twist on Victorian classics. I had high hopes for this series, but the second novel, Her Dark Curiosity, was a major disappointment.
I admit I skipped a few pages because it was agony waiting for anything interesting to happen. I think I would have been better off simply reading a Wikipedia entry about the book or reviews with spoilers, instead of wasting time reading this book. And thank goodness I borrowed the book from the library. I probably would have regretted buying it.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/review-her-dark-curiosity/The Madman’s Daughter series has a great concept, adding a new twist on Victorian classics. I had high hopes for this series, but the second novel, Her Dark Curiosity, was a major disappointment.
I admit I skipped a few pages because it was agony…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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I really enjoyed Michelle Berry’s novel Interference. At first glance, it might seem like a simple novel but speaks volumes about the human experience. It examines how people can come into our lives, for the better or worse, and how we respond, physically or mentally, to them can reveal a lot about who we are.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/review-interference/I really enjoyed Michelle Berry’s novel Interference. At first glance, it might seem like a simple novel but speaks volumes about the human experience. It examines how people can come into our lives, for the better or worse, and how we respond,…
The Storied Life of A. J. FikryThe Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, Audiobook CD
by Zevin, GabrielleAudiobook CD - 2014Audiobook CD, 2014
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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I absolutely loved this book! It’s one of the few books I’d re-read over and over again. Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a great pick for anyone who understands how the publishing world works or obsessed with books and has a love of reading.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/review-the-storied-life-of-a-j-fikry/I absolutely loved this book! It’s one of the few books I’d re-read over and over again. Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a great pick for anyone who understands how the publishing world works or obsessed with books and has a love…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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I had mixed feelings about the main character, Juliet. There are instances where she takes charge, standing up to an attacker and protecting the weak. That’s the kind of character I can root for. Even when she acts a little docile, I was more understanding since it was expected of Victorian women to be completely prim and proper. But what bothered me the most was her indecisiveness. She couldn’t make up her mind who she liked more—Montgomery or Edward. I think it was unfair of her to get involved with both of them. I understand it was meant to create tension in the novel, but I would have rather had more tension created via the murders on the island, dimming down the romance and turning the notch up on the suspense and horror.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/review-the-madmans-daughter/I had mixed feelings about the main character, Juliet. There are instances where she takes charge, standing up to an attacker and protecting the weak. That’s the kind of character I can root for. Even when she acts a little docile, I was more…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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Ever enjoy the movie The Prince and Me? It was part of the reason I was interested in trying out Angie Stanton’s Royally Lost.
It loosely has the same concept in the sense that girl meets boy and the boy is secretly a prince. Our female lead is Becca, a seventeen-year-old girl who is taking a cruise with her family on a trip around Europe but feels miserable and hates being there. Then, there’s Nikolai. He’s heir to the throne and all the girls love him, but he’s miserable too, not having the freedom he wishes for. When they cross paths, they’re infatuated with each other and go site-seeing, enjoying each other’s company.
I had really high hopes for this novel. I wanted a fun read about travelling and exploring with an undercover prince, but the main character sucked all the fun out of it. I hated the main character, which isn’t good, especially if the reader is experiencing everything through her eyes.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/review-royally-lost/Ever enjoy the movie The Prince and Me? It was part of the reason I was interested in trying out Angie Stanton’s Royally Lost.
It loosely has the same concept in the sense that girl meets boy and the boy is secretly a prince. Our female lead is…
The Queen of the TearlingThe Queen of the Tearling, BookA Novel
by Johansen, ErikaBook - 2014Book, 2014
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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Everyone has been raving how awesome it is, but I didn’t hop on the bandwagon. Actually, this may be my first “Did Not Finish” (DNF). I barely got through the first few pages, but then a few friends urged me to keep reading. I did, but I finally had to put it down after the first chapter.
*May have to try reading it again at another date.
Completed Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/07/10/review-the-queen-of-tearling-by-erika-johansen/Everyone has been raving how awesome it is, but I didn’t hop on the bandwagon. Actually, this may be my first “Did Not Finish” (DNF). I barely got through the first few pages, but then a few friends urged me to keep reading. I did, but I finally had…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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Jumping back into Emma’s story, readers go from Archetype and onto the second and final instalment, Prototype. After a year of running trying to find her parents, she finds sanctuary and safety with the Resistance. She hopes to build a life of her own there, but struggles confronting the man she loves, Noah Tucker, who has moved on and is raising their daughter with another woman. She is constantly reminded of her past, the one that wasn’t entirely her own and the one she lived, and what she is. Meanwhile, Declan Burke wishes to reclaim her, getting the public on his side with both sympathy and reward money to hunt down his wife and bring her back to him. It’s up to Emma to fight for her life and freedom, taking a stand for what she wants.
I had high expectations for this book after such a fantastic, shocking ending in the first novel (If you haven’t read my Archetype review, go check that out first). I can see both books appealing to an audience not quite familiar with the science fiction genre and welcoming them into it for the very first time, but for science fiction fanatics like me, Prototype falls short.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/06/29/review-prototype/Jumping back into Emma’s story, readers go from Archetype and onto the second and final instalment, Prototype. After a year of running trying to find her parents, she finds sanctuary and safety with the Resistance. She hopes to build a life of her…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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I’ve been waiting for a book to come along that didn’t have a perfect representation of women but a realistic one. Mating for Life gives readers a sneak peek into the lives of several women: mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, but mainly focuses on Helen, a mother and a free-spirited feminist, and her three adult daughters, Fiona, Ilsa, and Liane. The story explores various types of relationships, such as, friendships, mother-daughter relationships, father-daughter relationships, flings and one night stands, and married and divorced couples. Marissa Stapley gives an honest depiction of what life is like or what it can be like for some people. No one’s life follows a steady course; everyone is just trying their best to navigate through their own lives, trying to make sense of it or learning from their mistakes.
The story gives readers access to the personal lives of these women. It’s beautifully descriptive that I was able to imagine everything so clearly and became understanding of their choices, no matter how calculated or poorly made. I wanted to keep turning each page, wanting to learn more about the characters and what made them tick. The only drawback I found, which is strictly a personal preference, was chapters and paragraphs felt too long or dragged out. Sometimes several characters’ dialogue sat in sentences side by side in the same paragraph, which took me out of the story, trying to figure out who said what. However, this is a very small, and the only, criticism I have about the novel. I also loved how each chapter started out with an animal and their mating habits, and even made an appearance in the chapter, being mentioned or spotted by the characters.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/review-mating-for-life/I’ve been waiting for a book to come along that didn’t have a perfect representation of women but a realistic one. Mating for Life gives readers a sneak peek into the lives of several women: mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, but mainly…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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I loved the detailed descriptions. I’m a fan of imagery; it helps me play out stories like a movie in my head. However, sometimes when an author describes a world too much, it slows down the process of the story. I felt some parts of the novel were too slow for my liking and it only becomes action-packed and mission driven towards the second-half.
Despite the minor issues I had with the novel, I think Pure is worth the read if you’re looking for something completely new or in the mood for a fresh take on a dystopian story.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/review-pure/I loved the detailed descriptions. I’m a fan of imagery; it helps me play out stories like a movie in my head. However, sometimes when an author describes a world too much, it slows down the process of the story. I felt some parts of the novel were…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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I felt the book’s description is a bit misleading since I originally thought it would be more about the character’s transformation after disastrous events rather than a chick lit novel where the character mostly exchanges her old love interest with a new one. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the novel any less, just that I was disappointed that the description sets up expectations and the book seems like a whole other beast.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/review-forgotten/I felt the book’s description is a bit misleading since I originally thought it would be more about the character’s transformation after disastrous events rather than a chick lit novel where the character mostly exchanges her old love interest with…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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White light blinds you as your eyes open. As they adjust, you see strangers surrounding you. They take care of you, keeping you in a white room like a safe cocoon. Though when you sleep, dreams that feel so real haunt you, sharing a past that might have been yours and urging you to remember it—a truth you must unravel. During your first evaluation session, the doctor asks you how you are feeling and what you saw in your nightmares. You open your mouth to answer, but then a voice in your head, much like a conscience, urges you to lie. What would you do? This is Emma’s reality and she has a choice to make—trust a past life she doesn’t remember or give in to the tempting lifestyle she has now.
In Archetype, the novel is in first-person narrative, a story told through our protagonist Emma’s eyes. When readers first meet Emma, she is a weak and naïve character. She herself even realizes it, but I believe she is a reflection of her circumstances. Now, comparing her to the voice in her head, which early on I assumed was the essence of the woman she was before the “accident,” I enjoyed this stronger and quirky personality much more. I couldn’t get enough of her. She had quick wit and hilarious sarcasm that eased some of the tension in the story. The voice, or as Emma calls it “Her”, even protects Emma, guiding and helping her through her journey of difficult situations and getting her closer to seeing the bigger picture.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/review-archetype/White light blinds you as your eyes open. As they adjust, you see strangers surrounding you. They take care of you, keeping you in a white room like a safe cocoon. Though when you sleep, dreams that feel so real haunt you, sharing a past that might…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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The aliens have come to claim Earth, and through a series of planned waves of destruction, humans start to lose hope and their lives. The first wave consists of shutting down their power, making their electronics and means of communication useless. Earthquakes and tsunamis were wave two. For wave three, the aliens used birds to spread disease among the humans to decease their population more rapidly. Then there came the Silencers, alien agents in human bodies, who were assigned to hunt down the remaining humans in the fourth wave. In the novel The 5th Wave, readers find out what the aliens have planned next for humanity.
The story is written in first-person through several characters’ points-of-view, but primarily between two protagonists, Cassie and Ben. Some authors who choose to tell their story this way don’t execute it well, and I find myself wanting to skip some characters’ chapters to get to the ones I favour more. But, Yancey does an excellent job using this method. Every time there was a shift in perspectives I always wanted to learn more from the character, but was eager to get back to the other character too. During one moment in particular, it created a perfect and heart wrenching episode of tension.
While I love that the heroine, Cassie, takes center stage during most of the story, I feel like she didn’t have much character growth. She felt like the same girl from beginning to end. The only way you get a sense that she grew as a person was through a series of flashbacks, from shy school girl to cautious survivor. Most of the time, I felt like Cassie was telling me how things happened rather than Yancey showing readers. I believe I would have had a better sense of any character growth if I had gone on the same journey with the characters, experiencing each wave and their losses.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2014/01/08/review-the-5th-wave/The aliens have come to claim Earth, and through a series of planned waves of destruction, humans start to lose hope and their lives. The first wave consists of shutting down their power, making their electronics and means of communication useless.…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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We always hear about the hero’s story, but hardly ever hear the villain’s side. The ultimate question is: are criminals born or made? Whatever the answer made be, How to Lead a Life of Crime reveals a world where the craftiest and meanest teenagers go to school to become better predators, killers, and con artists.
The novel was a little difficult for me to get into at first because it had a slow start. I actually had to put it down after two or three pages and didn’t pick it up until a month later. What can I say? I’m the type of reader that likes to jump right into the action from page one. But after the first chapter, it did amp up, drawing me in completely with its smart and laugh-out-loud writing and intriguing storyline. There were times when I would have rather stayed home from work or stayed up late to keep reading. I was hooked by chapter two and the book turned me into its reading addict.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/review-how-to-lead-a-life-of-crime/We always hear about the hero’s story, but hardly ever hear the villain’s side. The ultimate question is: are criminals born or made? Whatever the answer made be, How to Lead a Life of Crime reveals a world where the craftiest and meanest teenagers…
StephFurlan's rating:
Added Oct 29, 2014
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The story gives me a Star Wars vibe, which I love! Cinder is totally Luke Skywalker and her sidekick Iko reminds me of R2D2. The prince, by default, would have to be Princess Leia (sorry, Prince Kei). And Levana, the Lunar Queen, is Cinder’s version of Darth Vader. The Lunar is a race that lives on the moon and is waiting for their moment to strike Earth to gain power.
I would definitely deem Cinder as a strong female character. She lives her life on her own terms after she breaks free from her stepmother. She has a little bit of spunk too. I adored the scenes she had with the Doctor (one of my favourite characters in the whole book, even though he’s only a side character), mostly making sarcastic remarks (especially the one about the sex change – read the book and you’ll probably laugh out loud too). She is a loving character too. She has a sweet relationship with her youngest stepsister and with her sidekick robot Iko.
Complete Review: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/review-cinder/The story gives me a Star Wars vibe, which I love! Cinder is totally Luke Skywalker and her sidekick Iko reminds me of R2D2. The prince, by default, would have to be Princess Leia (sorry, Prince Kei). And Levana, the Lunar Queen, is Cinder’s version…
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