tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post3363446202969458301..comments2024-03-28T14:20:08.699-04:00Comments on The Book Rat: DEFY by Sara B. Larson | reviewMistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-12553626964498117502014-01-12T18:52:26.051-05:002014-01-12T18:52:26.051-05:00I was strictly a classics and horror reader, and I...I was strictly a classics and horror reader, and I think a librarian might have recommended Alanna to me. I remember thinking there was no way I was ever going to like it, and then I promptly fell in love. Opened my eyes to what else a book could be!<br /><br />And I always liked Jon (still do), and think he's an incredible character, but George will always have my heart. =DMistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-59859580098967180102014-01-12T18:35:13.411-05:002014-01-12T18:35:13.411-05:00Oh, George. Although I did like Jon in the first t...Oh, George. Although I did like Jon in the first two books, before he turned into an idiot ;P <br /><br />Before I read the Alanna series I was pretty firmly a realistic-fiction-only sort of reader (and hadn't had much success with fantasy series I'd previously tried, like Chronicles of Narnia). It was kind of a happy coincidence that I ended up reading the Alanna series – I ran out of the books I'd brought along on a family summer trip and so my sister loaned me the first book, and then of course I had to read the rest... :Ddanyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-29013200501727136712014-01-08T16:51:17.903-05:002014-01-08T16:51:17.903-05:00I wallowed a bit, too, after I read it, but I didn...I wallowed a bit, too, after I read it, but I didn't realize just how much this bothered me until I sat down to write the review - and I could have gone ON! So trust me, you won't be the only gloomy Snape. lol!Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-76866400138726880692014-01-08T16:49:57.545-05:002014-01-08T16:49:57.545-05:00;);)Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-43296961301087316492014-01-08T16:49:37.259-05:002014-01-08T16:49:37.259-05:00Oh my gosh, I was just on her blog last night beca...Oh my gosh, I was just on her blog last night because of her review! I read it on Goodreads, actually, and she mentioned her gender-bender post, so I clicked over for that. <br />Yeah, agree with everything she said. And it's VERY heavy on the telling. I mean, I can see why it sold, and why people are going to like it, as it's very fast-paced and engaging, but... having potential just makes it more disappointing that it was all wasted.Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-79084281604118082522014-01-08T11:51:04.911-05:002014-01-08T11:51:04.911-05:00YES. THIS. AAAAAAAAALLL OF THIS. Every single blas...YES. THIS. AAAAAAAAALLL OF THIS. Every single blasted point. You express yourself SO much better than I did in my review. I was too busy wallowing in disappointment to do much of anything, I'm afraid. And while I certainly don't begrudge those who loved this book, I'm definitely the gloomy Snape in the room when they start squealing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02117225682735602543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-87946525704638487472014-01-08T01:52:53.268-05:002014-01-08T01:52:53.268-05:00Considering your review, and Gilly's (here: ht...Considering your review, and Gilly's (here: http://gillianeberry.blogspot.com/2013/12/review-defy-by-sara-b-larson.html) I will never, ever, ever read this book. It will just make me rage. I don't understand how publishers and editors aren't...well....doing their job better. The market seems flooded with touted books that are shallow, forced, 'tell, not show', and generally shouldn't be published. As an editor, it drives me bonkers. As an author, it makes me cry.Beth Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898921671895123053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-67805940428727735552014-01-07T16:47:04.428-05:002014-01-07T16:47:04.428-05:00Salute!Salute!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-15995796541009816092014-01-07T14:09:50.481-05:002014-01-07T14:09:50.481-05:00Alanna changed my LIFE, man. George Cooper was my ...Alanna changed my LIFE, man. George Cooper was my first (and longest lasting) lit crush*, 'cause I still love me some George. That series got me into reading totally different things, made me look at things in a new way, and showed me what a good book with a good female lead could be. <br /><br />THIS felt like a book written by a teen who also likes Alanna's story, and wants to emulate it - BUT IS ALSO DISCOVERING HOW AWESOME FLIRTING IS AND OMG I SHOULD TOTES PUT THAT IN THE BOOK. All the flirts. All the chest muscles. YEAH!<br /><br />>_<<br /><br />*Tied with Gilbert Blythe. It's an interesting mix...Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-36090080299459261862014-01-07T14:06:52.353-05:002014-01-07T14:06:52.353-05:00I can understand Rylan knowing - or at least suspe...I can understand Rylan knowing - or at least suspecting - because he works closely with her, and it would make him seem observant and give him some much-needed personality (and be so much better than "I heard your brother slip and call you Alexa aaaages ago"...). But both him and the Prince knowing was absurd, and robbed the story - and reader - of one of the greatest moments of a gender-bender, which is The Reveal. AND of all the confusion and exploring and weirdeness that comes with being attracted to someone whom you don't think you're SUPPOSED to be attracted to. And there IS so much more than binding - and Alexa acted very girly. If the premise was going to be that she's not very good at hiding it, then there should have at least been some people that looked at her askance, or thought she was gay (or if that's not a concept of this culture, than at least odd in some way). She blushes non-stop, she ogles the half-naked menfolk, she gets awful fluttery and heart-thumpy, and she has to keep reminding herself to lower her voice and use a "man" voice, all of which to me means she never really pulled it off with anyone. And the minute it's out in the open, everyone starts treating her like a delicate flower. <br />Gah! So much wasted potential, just thrown away. Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11436497955518156688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-14270877775682570402014-01-07T13:46:09.006-05:002014-01-07T13:46:09.006-05:00Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series wer...Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series were the books that got me into YA fantasy, so I totally had my eye on this one...but now, I'm thinking it'll be dropping down the to-read list. I rather suspect a lot of the things that bugged you would bother me as well. Thanks for the detailed and frank review! danyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947267082874389487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790614306320534072.post-69214394012203933962014-01-07T10:00:36.125-05:002014-01-07T10:00:36.125-05:00I pretty much agree with this. I just . . . both ...I pretty much agree with this. I just . . . both guys in the triangle know! There's no, "Am I in love with a boy?" And well, her disguise is so half-assed and apparently limited to binding her boobs. There are other things that make girls look different from boys! It is fun, but there's so much missing.<br /><br />And, ugh, breeding houses.Livianiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479932701589363306noreply@blogger.com