Review: Forget Me Always

Forget Me Always by Sara Wolf
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am curious to go back and read the first book now because I think I would appreciate the series as a whole more if I started from the beginning. That said, as a stand-alone book, I was lukewarm about it as a thirty-something adult, but I can understand why a lot of teenagers enjoy it. I really liked Isis as a character. She is witty and sharp, even at the beginning of the book when she's overcoming amnesia and physical trauma. Some reviewers are saying they did not like Sophia. I mainly felt sorry for her. I felt like she had a big heart that had been twisted and broken a few too many times, and as a result, she was mean to people as a defense mechanism. It wasn't always right, but I understand the reflex. Jack annoyed me at times, but I still cared about him.
The writing style was engaging, but plot wise, I lost interest about halfway through because some elements of the mystery became too obvious. Also, I felt that there were more characters than were really necessary to keep the plot moving along. However, I can appreciate Jack and Isis's relationship. They have a strong connection and are trying to figure out what they are to each other in terms of a romance. That resonated with me. Isis goes through very real struggles as a teenager and as a woman: body image issues, trauma, men who treat her badly. I felt for her, and I appreciate the book being brave enough to tackle some of these issues. Overall, it was solid; not great, but solid. I think it would be worth having in high school libraries, and some young college students would enjoy it as well.

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Review: Black Widow: Forever Red

Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but I thought it hit a slow period in the middle. Toward the end, the momentum picked back up, and I really liked the way it closed out. The story definitely started out strong, and I found Natasha Romanoff intriguing as a character. I would have liked more character development, although I realize it was meant to be more of a plot-driven novel. I think I would have cared more about the two teen protagonists if I had known more about them, although I know some of the mystery behind them was intentional. In that regard, I think shortening the book would have helped the story arc. I also think it would have been more effective as a graphic novel. I would have enjoyed seeing the action scenes out in front of me, and it would have been visually engaging, I think. I also believe it could potentially be a good film. Overall, I think it was a worthwhile read, but know going into it that it is more plot-based and entertaining, but without a lot of character analysis or depth.

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Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: On Your Own

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: On Your Own by Andrew Chambliss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an enjoyable read, especially in light of recent events. Buffy learns and grows in so many ways, and her relationship with Spike becomes even more complicated and complex. Plus, some of Andrew's old habits die hard. I don't want to give too much away, but the art work is captivating, and the story is enjoyable. I can relate to Buffy's desire for something better, yet feeling like she needs to earn it. Slay those vampires, Buffy! I need a female protagonist with some serious feminist strength right now. :)

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