Awaking (The Naturals, #1) by Madeline Freeman
Published September 21st 2013 by Createspace
Pages: 186 pages

Morgan Abbey's life is about to change. Just weeks before the beginning of her senior year, a mysterious stranger approaches Morgan with information that turns her world on end: First, the psychic ability she believes she had just been pretending to have since middle school might actually be real. Second, her mother, who disappeared abruptly and completely almost a decade ago, might still be alive. Morgan finds herself drawn into a centuries-old struggle involving a shadowy group with incredible powers. The Veneret have quitetly coexisted alongside the common people of the world for centuries. Now they believe it is time for them to reclaim their former positions of power-and that Morgan is the key to their victory. Every victory comes at a price-but is it one Morgan will be willing to pay?

Morgan didn't know what tomorrow would hold, and she found she didn't want to. For the moment, she was safe. Despite the questions racing in her mind, she almost felt peace. And, for now, that would have to be enough. 

- Madeline Freeman, Awaking

Honestly, I don't have a clue where to begin. I wanted to like this book much more than I do know, so much more. There was something about it which caught my attention. So maybe it was the outstanding cover, but I expected something more. Right now, my thoughts all agree on one statement: a huge disappointment when it could have surprised me in a very good way.

The biggest problem I had with Awaking were the plot and premise behind it. I couldn't find a single thing that stood out, or even made this book special. I didn't manage to make it to my list of books with an outstanding concept. Throughout the entire thing I kept flying through the pages, but not in the way I wanted it to be. I was searching for something which would manage to hold my attention. It felt like yet another one, filled with your common cliches when reading a Young-Adult novel. That kind of book where the girl realises she has powers and a secret organization wanting to take over the world. I can count several books on my fingers that have a very similar plot, and thus does nothing good for this one.

I feel like I can go on and on by saying how unoriginal Awaking is. Even when it comes to the characters, I don't think I have anything to say about originality. The cliches didn't stop when I was talking about the plot. No, it went even further than that. Ladies and gentlemen, here I present to you: the most common cast of characters you have ever seen. There's the bitch, the main Mary-Sue heroine, the cute guy who's suddenly into the protagonist, and the best friend who has everything. That's when I came to the conclusion they all had little to no development and were all really flat characters. The only one who stood out enough for me to fall in love with him, was Lucas. Undeveloped, but so adorable and sweet.

There was also quite the confusion for me while reading. Every character in here all seemed to have this "OK, whatever" attitude. That may or may not had to do with them being not developed, but it just confused me. Everything that happened didn't freak them out, not just a little bit. They all go with the flow, and no one seems to at least think about what was happening. Last but not least, almost every character in this book got to have physic abilities. When I thought it was rare to be a Natural, because it was stated multiple times, the author went all surprise! Everyone in the protagonist's environment is one, too! Yet another reason to add to my list of unrealistic events that happened in Awaking.

In the end, Awaking was just an average novel in the average world of Young-Adult. Don't think I didn't like it, because I did. It had a nice pace, I have no complaints about the writing which was actually really good and Lucas was the reason I managed to kept reading. Yet looking at the book, from characters to plot, there was just nothing special about it.

The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1) by James Dashner
Published October 6th 2009 by Delacorte Press
Pages: 374 pages

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

"Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas's attention away from Alby."Go ahead," Newt replied.Minho nodded and faced the crow. "Be careful," he said dryly. "Don't die." 

- James Dashner, The Maze Runner

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

There's no doubt about it. The Maze Runner is a book which has received a lot of mixed reviews. It's probably the very reason which triggered me into finally reading the book. That, and the fact of the movie coming out in the fall. I was curious to have an opinion of my own, instead of reading countless others to figure out whether to read it or not. Well, my friends, this action-packed adventure novel does seems to have its flaws I couldn't ignore.

I had heard a lot of things about James Dashner's writing style. How he, unlike many other authors, isn't really concerned about the emotions of his characters but rather just tells how they feel. It's something I was bothered with through the whole book and just couldn't get used to. Also the fact that he sometimes goes way too much into detail was kind of frustrating at times. Sure, it can be nice to use many details because it builds up the tension and excitement. However, there were other chapters where it was completely unnecessary and gives the tendency to skim a page or two. The real issue I had with the writing style can easily connect to the characters in general: the way of talking. It just really frustrated me sometimes. It felt like the way they talked was the only thing I could use to know who was who. Newt was the one who seems to like the word 'bloody' a bit too much, which resulted into saying it way too many times I eventually lost count. Alby was the one with the southern accent, and Chuck was the one who talked normally.

So what the writing did to the characters was nothing good. Because the only difference they had was the way they talked, led me to believe there wasn't anything special about them all. Did they even have a personality of their own? They all behaved so much like each other. Bossy, wanting to be independent and aim at the leader's position and above all, aggressive for no particular reason. When I was finished, I started to skim through the pages, looking for character development because I think I missed some. Thomas was a frustrating protagonist and a little too Marty-Stu for my liking. His actions were just so unrealistic, as if a sane person would throw himself into dangerous situation just for the sake to save others he barely knows. His relationship with Teresa also seemed to involve that typical but subtle insta-love/lust, so I have a very clear view of where this is heading. Looking at every character overall, I think I only cared for Minho and Chuck. But then, a random event occurred. I'm still trying to figure out why in the world that was necessary.

I feel like a bad person for writing such negative paragraph's, because I did enjoy the book. The plot itself is original in so many ways. It's extraordinary and nothing like I've heard of before. It felt like a perfect combination of the Greek myth of the labyrinth and the dystopian vibe. There was mystery from the first pages where my questions started to pile up without really getting answers. That didn't bother me as much as the others, party because I read The Maze Runner so quickly I honestly did not have the time to be frustrated. Piece by piece, the mystery around the maze is slowly starting to unveil itself. I was just really interested in it all, so you could say my mind was blown to bits when I found out the truth. After two years of intense research, it had to be Thomas who brought along the final piece of the puzzle? They never found out? It's unexpected, sure, but I expected something more from guys like them.

About the ending, I like to split it up into the last information we get before the epilogue, and the epilogue itself. The first part was a little weird, or is it just me? I didn't find it fitting to the feel I'd gotten while being in the Glade. It was like a mash-up of a plague and a fantasy world full of unicorns. Maybe it will get clearer once I'll get to read the sequel, because now information was kind of thrown in there to then move on with the story. Now, the epilogue itself was a whole lot better. I'd love to call it a perfect cliffhanger, because it was one. It's subtle, yet opens up a whole new story for the sequels to continue with.

In a nutshell, I would The Maze Runner as an action-packed, incredibly fast-paced novel with a plot I'm invested in, had meh characters and writing that needs some getting used to. Although I feel like The Maze Runner series is going to be one with lots of questions and little answers, I'm definitely up for it.

The Moment Collector by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Published: August 7th 2014 by Orchard Books
Pages: 256 pages

A haunting mystery, romance in the vein of The Lovely Bones by New York Times bestselling author.

"The yard of this house is a graveyard of moments and everything left behind is a clue. And I am here to dig."

There's a ghost haunting 208 Water Street. She doesn't know who she was, or why she's still here. She does know that she is drawn to Maggie, the new girl in town, and her friends - beautiful, carefree Pauline and Liam, the boy who loves her.

But the ghost isn't all that's lurking in Gill Creek... Someone is killing young girls all across the country. Can the ghost keep these three friends safe? Or does she have another purpose?

"This is no place for anyone with a heart."

- Jodi Lynn Anderson, The Moment Collector

Thanks to Hachette Children's Books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

I'm still trying to put the pieces together. As in what I actually just read. I'm looking at the misleading synopsis when I say it does not fit in the catagory of a murder-mystery novel, a ghost story even less. It was something I never saw coming, and I'm not talking positively here.

The only light-hearted thing that was to be found in The Moment Collector, was a tiny bit of the romance. I enjoyed seeing Maggie's and Liam's relationship develop into something more. Despite what everyone says about him and Pauline, Maggie still believed they could have something. Something special. Something he and Pauline would never have. It was so obvious what was going to happen. Secretly I had been crossing my finger throughout the book and wait until the author would surprise me with a lovely plot twist. I hope the people who've read the book understand me when I say I'm not all to pleased about how it turned out. It's a special love-triangle all right, but not the only I enjoyed reading about. It was all too messy and did nothing good to the characters themselves.

Talking about the characters, I feel like I can go ahead and say I didn't care for every one of them. They didn't feel special to me in any way, and none of them managed to grab my attention. Maggie was an okay protagonist, if only she didn't bore me to death. Don't get me wrong, out of them all, I understood her actions. Her little crush on Liam and her actions following up to that are what every young girl would do. She was new in town and didn't feel comfortable with it all. She would rather go home, to where everything was fine the way it was. On the other hand, she could fit into the very same catagory as Liam, Pauline and everyone else; characters who're flat, poorly executed with little to no character development. Liam was a weak character with no self-esteem and Pauline frustrated with every word that stumbled out of her little perfect mouth. One day she's ready to go and explore the world and be happy. She doesn't need Liam. She doesn't love him and wants to meet other boys. Then, she realises she already had everything but threw it all away. I hope the point I'm trying to make is clear. This girl has more mood-swings than anyone out there. She's always changing her mind and always gets exactly what she wants, even though she messed it all up. I just really don't like that girl.

There's nothing much of a plot going on. If one would actually call those messy storylines a real plot. They didn't connect in any way and all felt like loose strings. Suddenly there's this happening and we get nothing close to a conclusion because there's already something new to fill up the pages. It was all way too focused on the romance for anything else to happen. I'm being honest here when I say this could have been an excellent murder-mystery novel if there actually was more attention paid to that aspect of the book. What we have now is close to nothing. The same goes for the supposed ghost story. Having your ghost tell something at the end of some chapters, which isn't anything new or exciting, isn't going to turn your book into a ghost story. Both could have been done so much better, and I'm really sad they didn't turn out to be what I expected.

The pace was utterly slow. I had to force myself to keep reading because it is an advanced reading copy and I had to be able to write a proper review about it. I don't know whether I'm glad I read that ending. Not only didn't it manage to leave a satisfied I actually finished it, it made me even more confused and left me with a ton of questions I don't care about. It was so tragic, I felt like Shakespeare almost had to step aside. When I say tragic, I mean overly-tragic. Where did that come from? It was rushed in a way I've never read before. Like the author didn't know what to write anymore so she threw something in she hoped would surprise her readers. I'm surprised all right, but not the kind I think she hoped for.

Overall, The Moment Collector was boring and didn't succeed in making me enjoy it. It's a sad book with flat characters and an overly-tragic ending which still doesn't make any sense. Disappointment of the year.

Origin (Lux, #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: August 27th 2013 by Entangled Teen
Pages: 364

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

"Oh shit. ET just phoned home." 

- Jennifer L. Armentrout, Origin

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

The Lux series hasn't been as awesome for me as it was for everbody else. There was always something that bothered me, and is the number one reason not to call the Lux series one of my favourites. Origin, the fourth book in the series, changed all that. I don't know what's up with me having an amazing reading month, but this book was a thrill ride.

Armentrout's motto seems to be out with the old, in with the new. Origin makes it clear that it's not all about Daemon and Katy anymore. Without realising it, they're actually just a small piece of everything around them. Something much bigger is going on. I loved how there was a story created in the first three books which slowly connected to everything else. It becomes clear why new characters are introduced and what's their role to play. Certain older characters are put in the background and we open up to a whole new story. We also leave the usual crew of characters behind and open up to a new, smaller cast. I loved this because this way it keeps the series fresh and exciting. At times there was so much going on I'm again, sitting on the edge of my seat and flying through the pages. I can't even wrap my head around everything the characters went through. Origin is the best book in this series so far, as it deserves to be. The plot twists in this book were so well done, I don't think anyone could have seen those coming. They were a perfect addition to the pace, resulting into an action-packed novel.

I must admit that I was scared for the sudden change of the point of view. Not only Katy would be narrating Origin, because Daemon would have his parts too. I have read books where the sudden change to dual POVs were an absolute mess. There was no way of separating the two because they basically talk and think the same way. Origin, is in fact an outstanding surprise. Of course, I had to get used to them in the beginning, but as I did, it was easy to tell who was narrating the story. It was refreshing to be in Daemon's head for a while. He's aggressive and not scared to take consequences, and it was made clear by the way he thought. His point of view is refreshing and I'd love to continue reading in both his and Katy's.

Discussing the world building of the Luxen was a problem to me before. They don't have their home planet anymore, yet that doesn't mean their species along with their secrets are also wiped away. I think a huge deal of those secrets is revealed in Origin. Katy learned things she never knew before about the Luxen and the Arum because Daedalus is the one who's telling her all this. To believe or not to believe? When it comes down to all the information I've gathered while reading, I'm pretty sure she must to. It's because were on the side of the so-called enemy, that we got to discover the other side of the Luxen, the side Katy knew nothing about. I personally adored that, and I'm very interested in where this new information will lead us to.

There may have been some confusion I had while reading Origin. I could think about it as much as I wanted to, but in the end, I still didn't know who the bad guys really were. Okay, looking at the last chapter, I definitely got a hint. But looking at Daedalus, I don't know. Although their plans and ways to achieve what they want are terrifying, they're only doing this for their belief of what's right. I can't understand why Katy didn't show a single sign of understanding. They can't go out there and achieve what they want without doing things which aren't legitimate. Comparing it to the real world, there isn't much difference. Everybody strives for their own good cause, and Daedalus is not an exception. Katy suffering while being there was brought in a way that made you feel compassionate with her, yet on the other hand it didn't make me feel sad. I do feel bad now for saying this, but overall it was quite enjoyable.

The new characters who were introduced were all very likable to me. Or should I say character? Archer has won my heart. The way he, out of everyone at Daedalus, cared for Katy made my heart melt. I'm dying to see him, his relationship with Katy and another certain girl play out in Opposition. Besides discussing Archer, I'm feeling the need to talk about Dee. After one book of her being a total bitch to Katy and everyone else in her environment, I finally got my girl back. This just made me put down the book, hug it for a few seconds before I started reading again.

Moving onto other characters, I must say I'm a bit disappointed when it comes to the amount of deaths in this book. Was it really necessary? I get that it's a huge deal, what they did at the end of the book, but to have a few known characters die made me really sad. Even though I didn't know them as much as I wanted to. I agree there was one who really deserved it, or something far more worse, yet everyone else? I didn't want them to leave, certainly because it's not the last book.

Katy's and Daemon's romance was yet again full of their undying love for each other. It was lovely at times, how Daemon wanted to protect his kitten no matter what, but in my opinion Armentrout has crossed a bridge too far this time. Were they drunk when they decided to do something so stupid? Honestly, all I could think of is what an idiots they were. You don't just go to that place for something so important just because maybe they won't be able to do it in the future? It shouldn't bother me so much in the first place, but because it does it matters. I'm really crossing my fingers in the hope this little mess will be restored in the last book.

So besides the ridiculous change to the romance, unnecessary deaths and yet another cliffhanger, I'm completely sucked into the world Jennifer L. Armentrout has created. There were plot twists at every corner and a certain new character I'm genuinely interested in. I'd prefer to get the last book with its ugly cover right now instead of waiting until August comes around.

No Place Like Oz (Dorothy Must Die, #0.5) by Danielle Paige
Published: November 12th 2013 by HarperTeen
Pages: 196

In this digital original novella, Dorothy travels back to Oz to reunite with old friends, but her story may not have a happy ending. No Place Like Oz is a prequel to the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.

After returning back to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don't compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she's happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she's just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same.

Home isn't just where you're born-it's where you belong. I found my home and I let it go. But I came back. Now I was home for good, and I would never, ever make the mistake of leaving again. The past was gone forever. There was no place like here.

- Danielle Paige, No Place Like Oz 

To start off, I would quickly like to point out how I'm a bit disappointed. Especially after having read the actual novel, Dorothy Must Die. There's something about this novella I can't put my finger on. Usually I read novellas a lot faster because they're full of adventure. They end on a note when you're desperate for more. I wanted to love this as much as I did with Dorothy Must Die. I did like it, although it could have been so much better.

It's almost impossible to not compare No Place Like Oz to Dorothy Must Die. Comparing this to the other is probably the very reason of my disappointment.While writing this review, I keep asking myself how in the world did the author go from this to one of my new all-time favourites. Not that it's bad, just less fantastic. The premise is still the same. Dorothy turning into a fascist leader is something you want to read about. I've always been fascinated by Frank L. Baum's world, and the one created here is extraordinary. It's a sequel to the original novels without trying to be, and on the other hand it's a prequel to a whole new trilogy. As with Dorothy Must Die, I did love the vibe I got while reading. It's just that there were other things that couldn't be ignored.

The pace and certain elements of the plot each played a role in why I struggled with No Place Like Oz. The biggest of the two had to be the pace. It wasn't that interesting in the beginning, and I couldn't find something that caught my attention. It was only at the ball when things started to get awesome that I found myself flying through the pages. There wasn't really a plot either. To summarize the whole novella, it's pretty much about a girl who finds shoes, gets back to Oz, turns evil and has a big party. Again, I know it's a backstory for the actual novel and isn't as important. On the other hand, I keep asking myself what if the plot was better. Would I have enjoyed it much more? I definitely think so.

The characters. These are difficult to write about, in the way that almost every single one of them had something I both liked and didn't like. Dorothy is the character who stood out, and not because I was in her head all the time. Although it's obvious to see why she's turning into a little bitch, her development in turning wicked was something I fairly enjoyed. She still has that authentic feel of the original Dorothy mixed with something dark and twisted. I think it's pretty clear by now what I easily fall for. In case you haven't noticed: when authors still manage to have that original feel to a retelling of something. Danielle Paige obviously managed to succeed in doing that. Not only Dorothy, but also the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Lion all reminded me so much of the original characters, it was lovely. To be honest, I haven't read any of the Oz novels so Ozma came as a surprise, especially when you've seen her in Dorothy Must Die. She's that lovely little princess who everybody loves, including me. There's always that kind of character who's there for light-hearted moments, and Ozma is no exception in that category.

That being said, I can't help but to not overlook two small issues when it came to the characters. One: the development of every character besides Dorothy. I get that it's a novella and that it's not the right time for character development, but one with two hundred pages might get some. What I'm trying to say is, I just thought most of the characters were rather flat. Most of the times it doesn't stand out that much, yet it did with No Place Like Oz. Not only was this noticeable with Dorothy's crew, Auntie Em and Henry were the real issues I had here. Both of them were flat, but above all, extremely annoying. I know this isn't morally right, but I enjoyed certain scenes at the end. It doesn't do much good to them, yet I couldn't help but smile. This probably makes me an awful person for writing this, but those two, I didn't like them at all.

No Place Like Oz isn't a novella I hated or loved. It was something in between. What I do know, is that it came across as a disappointment. Lucky for me, I read the awesome Dorothy Must Die before reading this, so now I know to continue this series. If you've only read this and you're considering reading the novel, I definitely recommend you do.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Published: April 1st 2014 by HarperTeen
Pages: 452 pages

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

"They talk about Oz where I'm from. I've heard about it my whole life. But this is messed up. What happened here?"
Indigo's impassive face twisted into a snarl. "Dorothy happened", she said.
- Danielle Paige, Dorothy Must Die

Let me tell you how much I loved this book: a lot. Dorothy Must Die surprised me in so many ways it's hardly describable. This book was a roller coaster from beginning to the end. As the protagonist got swept up by the tornado and dropped into a whole new world, I felt like I was too. There remains nothing of the Oz you think you know, and that's what made everything outstanding. Welcome, Dorothy Must Die, to my all-time favourites.

As I said, the most outstanding aspect of the novel must be the world. It's such a twist to the original works of Frank L. Baum, I absolutely love it. The post-apocalyptic feel to it makes it special, but to discover what's really going on keeps you interested throughout the book. This is definitely not the Oz you thought you knew. Everything wicked seems to be good, and vice versa. It's a mess, a very interesting one. It's intriguing and attracts all sorts of audience, including the people who know little to none about Oz. I do understand the fact that it may seem complicated in the beginning because there aren't real explanations. You either understand or you search for it on Oz wikia. I did the second, and without having read any originals, I'm pretty sure almost everything I got introduced was nothing new, and thus easy to follow. You have the Munchkins, the flying monkeys, witches, the Emerald City, the yellow brick road, etc.  It all has its stereotypical vibe and features. However, the author managed to bend everyone in a way you would have never seen coming. That's where the post-apocalyptic theme comes in. It's there because of the main story-line, and can't be ignored. I just loved its big impact on everything and how it all played out. There is a lot of world building for the second and third book in the series, and I loved every aspect of it. This may not be the world I want to live in, but certainly one I'd love to read more about.

Not only the world was done really well, the pace is also something that stood out. There were always things happening, and they grab your attention. Even better, they don't lose it. When I was worried that things were going at a slower pace, Paige threw some action in there at the right moments that kept me going. With some books it's the case that when the pace can completely ruin the book. I'm so grateful it didn't. The plot was another wonderful addition to the book. Amy gets thrown into Oz and learns her way through it, in way that's still entertaining and fun. Even though the word 'fun' is one huge overstatement in the new Oz. The transition from one scene to another went in a smooth transition and everything was knitted well together. I've always had a thing for assassins, and that story-line was one I enjoyed to the fullest.

Because the romance in Dorothy Must Die is barely there, I enjoyed it so, so much. Amy's little crush on someone is believable. In a certain way we've all experienced this. It brought light-hearted moments to the dark world of Oz. Believe me, after reading two hundred pages of sudden deaths and gore and blood, you're craving for a hint of romance. It stays a hint throughout the whole book and I loved that. There's no need to rush anything. After all, the girl's got other things to worry about.

There is so much to talk about when it comes to the characters. Starting with Dorothy. How do you explain someone so cruel while she's still Dorothy Gale? I haven't got a clue why or how she became the person she's now. The way she commands everyone around her without a noticeable spark of rebellion is astonishing. She's that perfect example of people who went wacky when the power got to their head. Her actions are for some reason entertaining. She's that character you both want to see dead and to read more and more about. What I have here, is a series love-hate relationship. And I think that's just perfect. I can already see her in her dresses with lots of cleavage and her high-heeled red shoes. It's an image that fits her perfectly, especially the shoes. While she looks like a slut, the contrast between her appearance and her actions is grand. This side of Dorothy isn't to be messed with, and it was getting clearer and clearer as I progressed with the book.

Moving onto Amy, her relationship with Dorothy had to be one of the most entertaining relationships out of the entire novel. Behind all the lunacy, I got to understand why Dorothy felt an immediate hate towards her. Of course she's a sociopath, but what Amy thought was right. She's an infiltrator in Dorothy's perfect world and after all, makes her realise she's not as special as she thought she was. I see lots of potential for those two in the future, filled with more hatred and hopefully a succeeded mission. Amy herself is a protagonist you love from the start. Being a poor girl who lives in a trailer park in Kansas gives the first impression of not being perfect. She's strong and believes in what is good, and has her insecurities. She's just new to everything. She doesn't know who's really good, and because of that she's careful and mostly thinks before she acts. There are these exceptions when she does something stupid, but then immediately learns from her mistakes. The training didn't turn her into an awesome assassin in a matter of days. She's scared and just wants to be home, however it doesn't mean that she's willing to give up. All in all? A realistic character, and thank the literary gods for that.

Every other character introduced had a role to play. There are not just there to fill up the pages, they create plot twists I never saw coming. They help Amy on her way to become the person they want her to be, in order to finally kill Dorothy. Unfortunately, there are sudden deaths of some fantastic characters. I hate to say this, but that's how things go under Dorothy's rule. They all create a wonderful cast which belongs to a wonderful start of the trilogy.

However it is a retelling of Frank L. Baum's popular novels set in Oz, Dorothy Must Die is without a doubt one of the most original novels I've ever read. I loved it from beginning to end, the characters were all so well done and with a hint of romance, I see great potential for this new trilogy. If only someone would buy the movie rights already.