Secondary Character Saturday (15)

This is a weekly meme created to honor the characters that don't always get their voices heard, who support (or work to destroy) our beloved protagonists. This is for the third wheel in the love triangle (can you have wheels on a triangle?), for the BFFs, the family members, or even just the kind and loving (or deceitful and creepy) stranger who shows up and changes the game. We all know these stories wouldn't hold up without support so I'd like to take the time to highlight the best secondary characters I come across. This is an opportunity to talk about what makes these characters special, maybe to speculate what their world would be like without them, or maybe cast them in their own primary roles. If you'd like to create a SCS post leave your link in the comments and I'll check it out!

So today it's all about:

Iko from Cinder

I really loved Iko as Cinder's android sidekick. She provided a lot of comic relief and an escape for Cinder from the horrible treatment she receives from her adoptive family. I love her response of "I don't compute" when she doesn't understand a situation...it serves as a reminder that shes a machine, even though she's one of the most compassionate characters.

Iko technically belongs to Cinder's stepmother, Adri, as property, but she's joined at the hip with Cinder as her friend. In a world where there's a definite separation between humans and robots, Iko bridges the gap. She has a defective personality chip that allows her to be more human so that she empathizes with Cinder and does her best to avoid Adri. I especially loved the scene where Iko has taken some of Adri's make-up and pearls and tries to dress herself up just to poke fun. She's a seriously cool robot who acts more human than most humans and always has Cinder's back.

I don't want to give too much away if you haven't read the book yet, but Iko is in a bad way when the book ends, but the story isn't over. She's going to be with Cinder for the rest of the Lunar Chronicles, I'm sure...in one form or another. I'm really interested in what role she'll play in the later books because I know Cinder will need her. 

What did you all think of Iko or any of the other characters in the story?

What's Next? (5)

This week I've selected four ARCs Hannah has sent me that are all slated to come out this July, and one of which that came out in June. It's always so exciting to open up a package FULL of books :-) , so I need your help in deciding which ones to start with. 

Devine Intervention by Martha Brockenbrough

This book sounds really sweet and hilarious at the same time. Just reading the premise kinda made me laugh out loud. Having just read Angelfire, I'm already in guardian angel-mode. This book just might be the yin to Angelfire's yang.

AWorld Away by Nancy Grossman

Ever since I visited an Amish community with Girl Scouts when I was 12, I've been fascinated with these domestic outsiders. I think we can all say that we've been intrigued by the Amish at some point. This book follows a young girl during her "rumspringa", where she gets to leave her community. I'm curious to see our world from her perspective, aren't you?

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

The cover of this book alone makes me want to pick it up. I love the medieval-esque city depicted. And dragons. Dragons are cool. And these dragons can disguise themselves as humans! Now THAT is a new twist.

Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein

First line of description: "Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure." Awww yeah!!

I never get tired of reading about a butt-kicking heroine.

Let me know what you all think!

Top Ten Tuesday - People who like...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's topic is: Top Ten Books for people who like book X...more specifically, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

1. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

2. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

3. Graceling by Kristin Cashore4

4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

   

5. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I know it's Top Ten, but I'm limiting it to five, mainly because these are some of my most favorite books I've read, and I just realized that they all fall under the paranormal/fantasy romance genre. Fantastic!

What's next? (4)

                                                    

What's Next is a new meme hosted by Iceybooks, and you can participate!
Every Thursday select three-five books that you want to read but can't decide which one to read first. 

Again, I'm not as in-tuned to what is new and great in the YA world, so here are a couple books I've been meaning to get to, but for one reason or another they still sit on a shelf waiting to be opened!

Legend by Marie Lu

I've seen this book around the internet and in book stores multiple times now, and as a fan of post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction this could be epic. I really need to pick this up soon.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

 I'm always interested in twists on classic stories, and this is the first one I've seen that's set in the future and with robots! Plus, it takes place in New Beijing...who'd a thunk it?

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Now this book I've chosen solely because it takes place in Missouri, even using the St. Louis arch as an important landmark in the story. As a native St. Louisan, this makes me very happy. I must read.

What do you all think? Let me know your thoughts!