Idols: Review

Synopsis:

The Icons came from the sky. They belong to an inhuman enemy. They ended our civilization, and they can kill us.

Most of us.

Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas are the four Icon Children, the only humans immune to the Icon's power to stop a human heart. Now that Los Angeles has been saved, things are more complicated - and not just because Dol has to choose between Lucas and Ro, the two great loves of her life. As she flees to a resistance outpost hidden beneath a mountain, Dol makes contact with a fifth Icon Child, if only through her visions. When Dol and the others escape to Southeast Asia in search of this missing child, Dol's dreams, feelings and fears collide in an epic showdown that will change more than just four lives -- and stop one heart forever.

In this riveting sequel to Icons, filled with nonstop action and compelling romance, bestselling author Margaret Stohl explores what it means to be human and how our greatest weakness can be humanity's strongest chance at survival.

***

What I like:

1) Dol, Ro, Tima and Lucas working together as a team: It kind of annoys me that they do not get along in Icons. But now they're close friends, and they will protect each other. I kind of like the strong connection between each other because lately I'm tired of teammates working against each other.

2) A new character: I'll try not to include any spoiler here. While I have this love-hate relationship with this character, I still like this character's appearance in the book. It makes everything so much more intense and complicated. Idols desperately need some more complication. 

3) Ro: While Lucas is a really nice girl, it's Ro that I truly love. I love this wild side of Ro, where he will do anything (including burn down the whole world - literally) to save Dol and his friends. And he's surprisingly deep, for a guy who is so hilarious and snarky. I really hope that things will end well for him in the end.

What I don't like:

1) Everything is so straight-forward: It's supposed to be a good thing at times, but I like sci-fi dystopian novels with a touch of mystery. Besides the new character which complicates everything (but only at the end), every task that Dol and her friends makes are so... sane. Too sane, considering they're in a ruined world where they have every right to not be sane. 

2) The extra com-links: I understand it's a side-line that has everything to do with the story, I just find them extremely annoying. Especially when they're written in capital letters. Like what's the deal with it? It makes my head pound just reading about them. It's uncomfortable. 

Overall:

It's actually a much better story than Icons because it's much more developed. However there are still things that can be done in a better way.

Rating: 6.5/10

Name and Cover Reveal: Icons #2 by Margaret Stohl

The sequel of the post-apocalyptic novel Icons by Margaret Stohl has a name AND a cover!

Idols. I don't know what that means. It doesn't have a synopsis yet. I guess there will be one soon.

Idols will be released on May 1, 2014 according to Hachette Book Group but July 8, 2014 according to Goodreads.

Icons: Review

Synopsis:

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

***

I guess I can't get into any May releases until May 21, huh? Icons doesn't disappoint me. But it definitely isn't one of my favorite reads. It's like there's something more to this book but I just can't find something that fills up the vacancies of whatever that is supposed to be there. Although I know perfectly what's going on in the book, my emotions just refuse to attach completely to the book. Sure, I know what's exciting and what's not, but I don't actually feel anything strong.

Reading Margaret Stohl's book is actually quite interesting, since that I read Caster Chronicles series which is written by her and Kami Garcia, it's nice to see her strike out on her own and develop a dystopian new world destroyed by aliens known as Icons. It's a brilliant concept because I'm a fan of alien-apocalypse (until The 5th Wave nearly destroys it). Mysterious yet so close to our characters. And you're raised to believe that nothing is strong enough to hold against them. A really terrifying new world. Just what I love.

But the characters... hmm, not so much. First is Dol. I don't hate her, because there's simply nothing to hate. She's trusting and self-sacrificing. But other than that, I don't think there's any other thing stronger to make her likeable to me. She's really flat to me. Ro, on the other hand, is a strong character. I like him, but there are times that I'm annoyed by his recklessness and rage because he fights without even thinking. Lucas... well, he's a little bit complicated. I don't hate him, either. One hand he's a undesirable character and on the other he's a nice boy. And neither of these are strong enough to make him an obvious character, despite his constant appearance. Tima has her past, but I won't judge her that soon because I feel like there are something more about her that we don't know yet.

The plot is pretty smooth. Nothing too twisted, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. The ending is quite nice, but I can sense (Spoiler!) a love triangle blooming [groans] (End of spoiler). It's different from joining the resistance like many endings from many dystopian books. That's a nice thing because I'm tired of "oh, you are in danger and you run into the resistance and rebel against the government/aliens/whatever that's making the world bad" . But, like Reboot, the ending is too much of a rush to me because I think there can be more twists when it's near the epic part of the book. 

The only thing I like very much besides the settings is Margaret Stohl's writing. I can see more clearly how her writing skills are because... well, Caster Chronicles is co-written by two authors and the short story written by Margaret Stohl in Shards and Ashes is not enough to show her real skills. It's almost poetic and very emotional in one way (but I can't feel it. Not really. So it's my own problem then). I really like this quote, check this out:

This is your sorrow as much as mine. Your love, your rage, your fear. These are our gifts, and our gift to you.

See? Almost poetic. :) Although I think I can find better quotes than that...

I think I will read the sequel, but just because I enjoy her writing and I want to see how things will turn out.

Rating: 7/10

*By the way, do you know the book was originally called The Book of Sorrow? You will find out why in the book ;)

Gonna Read: May 2013

May 2013 is not a month for books. Mainly because APRIL (And October!) is the month(s) for books. Another reason is... I've got an annual exam at school to prepare and this can get really intense so I don't really have time for so much books...

Anyway. I really wanna read these books:

1. Icons (Icons #1) by Margaret Stohl

 Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.


Expected Publication: May 7, 2013

Book Trailer: 

2. Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

He’s arrogant, domineering, and—To. Die. For…

Hunter is a ruthless killer. The Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe him too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job, that is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: Protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into a walking glow stick. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.


Expected Publication: May 17, 2013

(Hope that more steamy cover will be on the way)

3. The Runaway Queen (The Bane Chronicles Part 2) by Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson

Magnus Bane has a royal role in the French Revolution—if the angry mobs don’t spoil his spells. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

While in France, immortal warlock Magnus Bane finds himself attempting to rescue the royal family from the horrors of the French Revolution—after being roped into this mess by a most attractive count. Naturally, the daring escape calls for invisible air balloons…

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles, The Runaway Queen, is written by Maureen Johnson and Cassandra Clare.


Expected Publication: May 21, 2013

4. Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?


Expected Publication: May 28, 2013 







(Warning: Don't expected many May new releases reviews. There might be some more other reviews that are April releases or other books. But generally, there won't be as much review as in April or... January.) 

Trailer Thursday: Icons by Margaret Stohl

I would love something more alien by Margaret Stohl, the NY Times bestseller of Caster Chronicles series. This is a very curious one. Icons.

Synopsis:

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

***

Icons will be released on May 7, 2013

Cover Reveal: Icons by Margaret Stohl

A brand-new series by one of the bestselling author of Beautiful Creatures, Margaret Stohl!

Cover:

What do you think about the cover? I think it looks electric!

Synopsis:

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

***

Icons will be released on May 7, 2013. 

(Do you know that the first book of Icons is originally called "The Book of Sorrow"?)

Icons: News!

A new name for the first book of the Icons series by Margaret Stohl!

The first book is like the series' name, Icons.

Come on man, if you change the name, just let me know.

So there is no The Book of Sorrow. For now.

But I don't think this is the final title. Maybe The Book of Sorrow will be the final title. Or entirely something else.

Who knows.

And I think entitling it The Book of Sorrow is much better

The thing is that the information is from goodreads...


Another news is that there is a new summary! Check it out:

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

Wow, it sounds exciting. I guess it's safe to say I want to get my hands on the book really badly.


Third news is the expected publication is settled! And the date is:

May 7th, 2013

Not too far away, huh? At least not as much as City of Heavenly Fire and Book 3 of Divergent.



And the biggest news: Film adaptation of Icons!

Check this article:

Alcon in talks to buy 'Icons' novel

'Beautiful Creatures' author Margaret Stohl penned sci-fi fantasy

By Rachel Abrams

Alcon Entertainment is in talks to acquire hot YA novel "Icons: The Book of Sorrow," a move that would re-team the production company with "Beautiful Creatures" author Margaret Stohl. "Sorrow" is the debut novel in a planned four or five-book series. Tome begins in the future after an alien race has decimated Earth. The aliens turn buildings into deadly icons, capable of shutting down all forms of energy and reducing living things to dust in seconds. The only hope lies in four children born immune to the power.
Alcon acquired rights to "Beautiful Creatures," the first novel in Kami Garcia and Stohl's supernatural series, earlier this year. That pic co-stars Viola Davis, Emma Thompson and Emmy Rossum.
CAA is shopping "Sorrow," while the Gernet Company reps Stohl.

Information from http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118057408

Oh my goodness this is freaking happening! There is a film adaptation when the book isn't even out yet!

Just like The Iron Trial...

And the thing is, the book is called The Book of Sorrow, not Icons.

So I guess the original title is right.

Maybe.

Icons: The Book of Sorrow Info

A new series from the bestselling Caster Chronicles series author Margaret Stohl!

It's named Icons.

Here's the info of Book 1: The Book of Sorrow

Summary:

Three hundred years in the future, the planet has been invaded by an invisible yet deadly alien race, turning the Earth into a post-apocalyptic landscape. The world was overcome when major buildings on each continent were turned into icons – menacing towers that have the ability to interrupt the natural energy field that is the source of all life. In the blink of an eye, an icon can shut down all forms of energy, turning plants, animals and humans to dust. Outside of urban enters where the icons are based, there lies a small but real resistance movement that dreams of returning the Earth to its "childhood" when people were free to live their own lives and set their own destinies. It is in these grasslands that four children are born immune to the devastating and destructive power of the icons. Each of these children have somehow been bred so that in each, one particular emotion wields tremendous power – power enough to stand up against the icons….

The first in a planned five-book series, ICONS: The Book of Sorrow is a gripping beginning to an incredible new saga

Expected Publication: 2013

Sounds Thrilling. I think I'm gonna like this series. Hope that 2013 will come soon. I want so many books right now (Just look at how addicting Clockwork Princess and Divergent is)

Source: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11861715-the-book-of-sorrow

P.S. I can't promise this is the most accurate info. But it's the best website I can get.