ARC Review: They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera (Spoiler Free)

Title: They Both Die At The End
Author: the incomparable Adam Silvera
Page Count: 384
Genre: YA Contemporary, but like with a sci-fi twist that Silvera novels tend to have
Rating: 5 Stars, obviously.
Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.



Hey y'all! Wow, it's been awhile over here. I'm hoping to post a few posts these next few weeks, but we'll see how it goes.

Review:

If you follow me on Goodreads- you've seen this review. But I need to share my love of this book here- because it is everything to me. Something about a Silvera novel, magical in its own way. These books feel like they were written for me, at different points in my life- and I hope one day I can do the same sort of thing with my writing. Thank you Adam, for inspiring me every single day of my life.

Damn it Silvera does it once again: makes me feel emotions that I didn't think I was capable of feeling.

the convict: THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END
the charge: murdering me
plea: guilty

This story shows the importance of friendships, no matter how long you have known someone. all it takes is one day to change someone's entire life.

in a world where you get a call the day you are going to die, TBDATE follows Mateo and Rufus who meet through the Last Friend app, and they travel the town, trying new experiences on their last day on earth.

It's as tragic as it sounds.

highlights include:

● beautiful writing

● dynamic characters

● short perspectives from people who aren't dying today [trust me when I say these are just as tragic as the rest of this book]

● specifically Dierdre's story she is writing. *looooooooove*

● the pure Mateo

● the badass on the outside yet soft TM on the inside, Rufus

● killer concept with a killer execution

● the best of friendships

● seriously though, all of Rufus and Mateo's friends are lovely and caring and ugh

● the importance of Mateo's dad to him *cries* it's so refreshing.

● "Here's my version of Utopia: a world without violence and tragedies, where everyone lives forever, or until they've led fulfilling and happy lived and decide themselves that they want to check out whatever's next for us."

● existential conversations that make my heart sing [afterlives]

● though tragic [as Silvera books usually are] it is also laced with hope throughout [I'm sensing a theme here]

● "you may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you'll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk."

Most importantly: this book is wonderfully moving and I cannot recommend it (and all Silvera books) enough.

I'd go as far to say that it's Adam's best book yet.

Love love love

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Title: Every Last Word
Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
Page Count: 368
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary, OCD,
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Source: My friend Elizabeth :)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Buy Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble
Synopsis: If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear. 

Initial thoughts: Oh my god. love this book. so damn much. words cannot express. left me speechless. everyone must read. every last word. this damn book. you will love. I assure you.


Full Review:

Question: How do I begin talking about a book that moved me as much as this book did?

Answer: It will be difficult.

Question: So, Cody... what was it about this book that made you love it so much?

Answer: Well, this is going to be a long winded answer. Initially, I was only intrigued in the book because it features a main character that lives with OCD, and I was interested to see how she coped with the disorder. As it continued my emotions intertwined with Sam's. So much so that I had to set the book down multiple times because I just couldn't handle myself.

This book is a wholly emotional depiction of a very serious disorder. And Tamara handled it with such care and caution, in order to really show a real story that not only felt real, but screamed real.

I loved this book because of how Tamara not only incorporated how Sam dealt with her OCD, but also the poetry incorporated throughout. It really made this book shine.

I spent a large amount of the novel, a little frustrated at something that I predicted in the novel. The romance can be seen from a mile away... and although I grew to like it... I was very much worried that it would end up being a "romanticizing mental illness" situation, and that is my least favorite thing in novels. Every once in awhile, if the characters have romantic interests but it doesn't magically fix their issues, then I am okay with it. This book is the case. (That jumble of thoughts was little confusing, but I hope you catch my drift here)

Anyways, I did like the romance, once it got into it. I did think it was a little quick, but I've become numb to those kind of things now. Besides... that is not even remotely the main part of the book.

The book follows Samantha McAllister and how she navigates high school with OCD and hiding it from her "best friends" who are dubbed the "Crazy Eights". They are basically Mean Girls to the extreme, and while I strongly disliked them, I never hated any of them... (okay, maybe one of them... I'm looking at you Kaitlyn. God, she bothered me to no end)

Anyways, Sam meets this girl named Caroline and gets introduced to Poet's Corner, and in an instant, her life is changed. She begins writing poetry, with Caroline's help. The nuances of this book are absolutely phenomenal.

I wasn't in love love with this book until about 75% in when we get to the big twist... AHHH. I FREAKED OUT. IT WAS AMAZING. IT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR ME. Like, I was enjoying it. And the writing is phenomenal. But their was something missing to really allow it to stand out from a YA line up in regards to about mental illnesses. SO THIS TWIST REALLY DID EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO.

Everything about said twist made sense and it made me want to go back and reread the entire book to see the very subtle foreshadowing.

Sue was a phenomenal character and the scenes between her and Sam read the most realistic and you could definitely tell that Stone put so much effort into the planning and writing of this book. I wholeheartedly appreciate everything that made this book what it is.

And what it is, is absolutely breathtaking.

Also, I did a thing with the titles. Looked at them, wrote them all down in order to see if they made a poem...and in a very abstract way... they did. But, I'm planning on putting them in my own order soon, and will be showing y'all that soon!

Overall:

Tamara Ireland Stone's novel Every Last Word was an honest depiction of OCD and how it can affect a person. I loved the familial dynamics, I loved her interactions with her psychologist/therapist. I loved the message behind this book. That's why I love this book. Because it really conveys a powerful and wholly wonderful message that we will all be better because of. Highly recommend. I will be buying myself my own copy ASAP.

Blue Tide by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Title: Blue Tide
Author: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Release Date: January 9th, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Adventure Romance
Source: From the author, Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Synopsis: An award-winning YA adventure-packed romance steeped in Middle Eastern culture and set in the Asian Pacific amongst dangerous oceans and tropical islands.

Seventeen-year-old refugee Lux plots her escape from the island where her family is stranded, denying that her home was lost in the Floods. Lux is determined to get her old life back by any means possible. But before her feet even leave the sand, she's taken hostage by a vengeance-driven pirate nearly as young as she is.

Her capture is the key to his freedom...

Captain Draven’s scarf veils more than his face. Underneath, he struggles between morality and survival. When Lux sees deeper into his motivations, she’s torn. She can commit mutiny to escape to a home that may no longer exist, or she can try to help Draven escape the clutches of the person responsible for the deaths of half the world. Staying would mean entrusting her life to a pirate. Helping Draven would mean losing her heart to one.

Review:

"The essence of all experiences in love is that we don't love when we choose to, and we don't choose to when we love."

While this book was entertaining, it didn't blow me away. It is a thoroughly entertaining story with characters that are interesting, and a simple premise that leaves much room to be explored. I highly recommend if you are looking for a quick and fun read, because that's exactly what you get with this.

By far my favorite part of the story was all of the Arabic incorporated in. It was well done, and while I can't say anything about how good the incorporation of Arabic was, or how accurate the diverse portrayals were, I did myself enjoying it, and I was completely entranced in the story.

A few pros:

The storytelling was simple and easy to follow and it read SO quickly!

The character dynamics were interesting and they held a lot of interesting potential.

Liliou and Ahmed were both very interesting characters and I cannot wait to see them further explored in future installments. I also think that Draven was a character that I grew to appreciate. These characters definitely weren't two dimensional... Lux could be annoying but literally every other character made up for that. I looooved Lilou and wish we had more of her. (maybe somehow in book two?) Ahmed was my favorite character I just wish he had been fleshed out just a little more.

I really enjoyed the romance, even though it was tropey. I thought the first romance took the perfect amount of time to come to fruition. It took almost half the book and I truly appreciated it.

Cons:

I did feel at times the villain(s) fell a little flat, and didn't have much driving force besides being evil.

Where was the actual pirating? Like, seriously? I really wanted some pirate fighting and some actual pirating, but I didn't really find much of that within this novel. And that's mostly my fault for expecting more than I should have. If more pirating and battles had present I would have loved this novel, instead of just really liking it.

The love triangle was completely unnecessary. It didn't need to be there. It didn't bring much character development. (I mean, a little for Lux... but she still fawned over that boy WAY too quickly.)

Other thoughts:

Were the naming's of Lux and Draven intentionally referencing League of Legends? Because that's all I could think about for the first 20% of the book... Seriously. It killed me. I laughed a lot because of it.

Overall: I was entertained but not blown away. I think this is an adequate story, with fun themes and potential for an even better sequel, because Duncan's writing is definitely strong. And she can only improve with time. Thoroughly impressed and definitely looking forward to the sequel! definitely worth your time if you are looking for a quick read with some intriguing worldbuilding and some really cool characters (and the romance is pretty fun too)

.

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Title: The Falconer
Author: Elizabeth May
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Page Count: 378
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Faeries
Rating: Entertaining
Source: Kindle Copy (influenced to purchase by Stacee!)
Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble
Synopsis:One girl's nightmare is this girl's faery tale

She's a stunner.
Edinburgh, 1844. Eighteen-year-old Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, has everything a girl could dream of: brains, charm, wealth, a title—and drop-dead beauty.

She's a liar.
But Aileana only looks the part of an aristocratic young lady. she's leading a double life: She has a rare ability to sense the sìthíchean—the faery race obsessed with slaughtering humans—and, with the aid of a mysterious mentor, has spent the year since her mother died learning how to kill them.

She's a murderer.
Now Aileana is dedicated to slaying the fae before they take innocent lives. With her knack for inventing ingenious tools and weapons—from flying machines to detonators to lightning pistols—ruthless Aileana has one goal: Destroy the faery who destroyed her mother.

She's a Falconer.
The last in a line of female warriors born with a gift for hunting and killing the fae, Aileana is the sole hope of preventing a powerful faery population from massacring all of humanity. Suddenly, her quest is a lot more complicated. She still longs to avenge her mother's murder—but she'll have to save the world first.

The first volume of a trilogy from an exciting new voice in young adult fantasy, this electrifying thriller combines romance and action, steampunk technology and Scottish lore in a deliciously addictive read. 

Initial Thoughts: Thoroughly enjoyed. totally excited for the sequel.

loved Aileana! she was such a badass!

loooooooved Derrick and Gavin!

Really excited to see where this trilogy takes us!!!

Full review:

"But I've already grown so used to lying, I don't think I can do anything else."

^ Wholly relatable, Aileana.

Honestly, is this book something entirely unique? No

Does this book have stand out characters that are unforgettable? Maybe one or two.

Is this book set uniquely? Maybe? (actually not sure. Scotland isn't exactly a new place to set a novel)

Is this book something I've read before? Yes. Similar things exist in many places....

But do I care? Not really.

Because this book may not be unique and the writing isn't "blow me away good" but it still is very well written, and the characters and plot kept me intrigued. I was entertained by this novel. Enough to keep me reading. Enough to make me want to read the sequel. Enough to make me feel invested in these characters' fates. Enough to make me actually care about the fate of this world.

I loved the incorporation of fae and May did this in a way that I haven't seen before. I loved learning about them all, and I loved the little manifesto at the end that gives a more in-depth description of the fae and which ones are more dangerous and things such as that. (Plus, Derrick's comments within were as hilarious as he was within the novel)

I was so intrigued with the premise and the plot that, although there are some semi-uniteresting parts... I didn't care. I cared about the characters and their motivations. I cared about Aileana... even though she annoyed me a couple times. Not nearly as often as Kiaran did... GAH.

But I cared enough to ignore the fact that the love triangle bothered me. (And I'm only really commenting on this now) But gahh. I hate love triangles. Although it was small, and insignificant to the plot. It just seemed to be there. And both boys are actually necessary for her to reach her goal. There was something that was closer to the end that really intrigued me...

Speaking of the end, it left it so open for the sequel and that's what really makes me want to continue reading... how it ended. Because before the last 15-20% I really didn't have a lot I was over the moon in love with. A few cool sections weren't enough to have me fully invested. But authors like May know how to pull you in at the last moment and really make you care. I appreciated how she drew us in with this revenge plot. And although it stayed true to the idea, it became so much more than that.

You shouldn't turn down an offer to be cared for. Some people aren't fortunate enough to receive one."

Gavin was one of my favorite characters and I will be upset if we don't get more of him in the sequels. Derrick is lovable and snarky and sassy and everything I love in pixies (lol because I haven't read another book in recent time that have a pixie as a large character but still he's absolutely wonderful and can't wait to see more of him) Kiaran McKay isn't much more than a broody love interest. Aileana was pretty badass. And Catherine is a great friend throughout this novel and if I was in any of this situations I would need someone as strong and supportive as she is. I doubt we'll see much of her in the sequels but I sincerely hope we do.

Consensus: Tropes aside, The Falconer is an interesting novel with good writing, some steampunk mixed in lightly, and a compelling story one I think is worth a read. It's a real quick read and the side characters really make the story, at least for me.

eARC Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

Title: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett
Author: Chelsea Sedoti
Page Count: 398
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars!
Source: eARC via Netgalley!
Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble
Synopsis:
A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn't mean to interfere, but she has a pretty crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it, she decides to immerse herself in Lizzie's life. That includes taking her job... and her boyfriend. It's a huge risk — but it's just what Hawthorn needs to find her own place in the world.

(Personally think the book holds SO much more than this synopsis shows.)

Consensus: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett is a poignant, passionate, story that is both heartbreaking and hilarious, often at the same time. The story shows Hawthorn's thirst for adventure and her quest to solve her own loneliness. There are so many layers to this book and I really cannot stress how important this book is. Please read it.

I have so many things to say about The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, and many of them are completely incoherent but I am going to try my best... (I'm starting this review with my thoughts the second time through and then delving back into the incoherent thoughts of my initial read through.)

Me while reading this book:

I was sneaking pages everywhere my first time reading this!

And I was HOOKED. Completely. I hadn't intended on reading it when I picked it up in May... but a very compelling voice pulled me in and didn't let me go. It'll do the same for you.

SECOND READ:

"Cities let you blend in. There are so many people that it doesn't matter if you're weird or if no one likes you, because there's probably someone even worse off. And if you're really lucky, you might even meet people who are weird in the exact same way you are and feel like you've finally found a place where you fit in."

The second read through The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, I really paid attention to quotes, and the little things rather than the overarching story as I did the first time through... And I loved this book just as much the second time through.

Hawthorn, our main character, has such a unique and snarky voice. She is full of self-loathing and self-pity, and it can be overbearing at times. She is annoying as hell, and super selfish... throughout most of the book. But that's what makes her so great. She is real. So fucking real. I have met so many people like her... and usually the "I'm nothing special. I'm misunderstood. Nobody likes me" kind of trope is something I would make fun of... Yet for some reason, the way Hawthorn described it... I believed her. I believed in her. I believed her faults, I loved her faults, I loved the way she wished for these little inconveniences:

"I wished Mychelle and her stupid jock buddy would win the lottery and lose the ticket.

I wished they would only ever be able to take cold showers.

I wished every glass of lemonade they drank for the rest of their lives would be just a little too sour"

Hawthorn is petty af, and I adore it. I relate to this on a spiritual level. Honestly, my note while reading this part was "Petty af and I love it"

She would go from saying something super real that broke my heart like:

"What's wrong with you?" my brother asked.

"Nothing," I said, trying to calm myself with a deep breath. "Or maybe everything. It could go either way."

ME TOO HAWTHORN. ME TOO. That's why I connected so much with this book. It's not the story itself that's inherently emotional. (I mean, it is..) But it's the themes that Sedoti drives home through Hawthorn's unique narrative.

but she would go into crazy theories about werewolves, and lycanthropy and everything that really suspends this disbelief. I loved it for entirely different reasons.

There are some gem of quotes in here too:

"Confusion is like curiosity- it reminds us we're alive. To not feel confused means we no longer care. Not caring is death."

Sundog reminds me of my senior year English teacher... and I love the zen inspirational quality about his words. (Sundog is a hippie, basically)

I loved Hawthorn's character development and how she grows throughout the book. She does a lot of back and forth but still manages (in the long run) to move forward. She definitely knows who she is and I admire that.

The relationships in this book are super interesting to explore... From Emily and Hawthorn's friendship, to Hawthorn and Sundog's mentorship, to the familial dynamics of the rest of Hawthorn's family and her. They were real. The parents were present and my god do I appreciate that.

Seriously. Hawthorn was a terrible friend to Emily and I really enjoy how Sedoti explored their friendship and the ups and downs because it felt so, so real. I have personally had a friendship like that... and witnessed many others. It's real, and I think Sedoti did an excellent job portraying it on the page.

I really like this quote  and think it is the point of the story:

"You only know the part of the story people want you to see."

It's powerful! Way to go Sedoti! Your debut blew me away! I know this book is something that some readers will click with and others won't... but it totally clicked for me. Very happy to have read this... and I really hope I convinced you to read it as well :)

FIRST READ THROUGH THOUGHTS:

SPOILER FREE SECTION:

Hawthorn Creely is our narrator, our protagonist, our voice for this journey. The journey being the mysterious disappearance of Lizzie Lovett, glorified cheerleader, highly-praised, happy-go-luck-get-everything-she-wants-girl... and Hawthorn is borderline obsessed with her. She's obsessed with her disappearance, obsessed with things that happened before she disappeared, obsessed that she is not as good as her... It's quite annoying... yet it's all entirely understandable... if you have ever felt like Hawthorn, you understand her thought process, you understand her motivations for everything.
Hawthorn is very lonely and misunderstood, and beautiful. The loneliness really drives her. It's her motivation for just about every decision she makes. She is flawed and unreliable and she really isn't the best friend most of the time, but that's also due to the fact she doesn't always understand social cues because she has spent so much time thinking, feeling like every person is out to persecute her. Nothing is going her way. Nobody really likes her. She is having troubles with her best friend. Her family is slightly crazy.

Hawthorn puts up a façade but doesn't really do it very well. She thinks she does at time... and then quickly reverts back to complaining, and being upset. Most of the time this is justified.
And then Hawthorn starts investigating Lizzie's disappearance with none other than Lizzie's boyfriend himself. She comes up with crazy theories, and they are quite hilarious to be honest. And also really interesting. I loved them. I loved learning about her thoughts, her world. It was also great to see how Lorenzo saw her.

I disliked their friendship, but that would be my only complaint. But that was the point. I wasn't supposed to like it.

I'm trying to be vague, but I am gonna need to go to the spoilery section now

WARNING MAJOR SPOILERS STARTING NOW.

I laughed so hard at all of the crazy things that happened. The werewolf thing was insane and the fact that Enzo actually encouraged Hawthorn was insane.

I also cried my eyes out a few times. I teared up a bit when Enzo took Hawthorn's virginity. I thought it was a very fucked up thing to do. It pissed me off. I was angry. I wanted to kill him. It was just not good. It made me uncomfortable. But it was also a PHENOMENALLY written scene.

When everything is finally played out... I bawled for a good twenty minutes. I understood Hawthorn's pain. The one thing Lizzie said in the locker room Hawthorn's freshman year impacted her in the most meaningful way. I loved it. I loved how Hawthorn's pain was palpable. It killed me inside. My heart broke reading those pages.

It really put into perspective how different people cope with different things. Hawthorn talks about them hoping someone will notice. Lizzie, she... left her life behind. And my goodness did that kill me.

Hawthorn questions how somebody could possibly feel so much pain when their life is so perfect and boy did that resonate with me. I feel like my pain is unimportant sometimes, and not something that should be felt because my pain isn't enough/ as bad as somebody elses. It really feels horrible, but everyone's pain is important.

END OF SPOILERS. MORE THOUGHTS.

I also loved the familial dynamics in the book. Rush was honestly such a realistic brother. Also, the parents felt really real to me and I truly appreciate that. 

I also loved Emily and her friendship with Hawthorn. IT was all super realistic and showed the true meaning of friendship.

AND MY FAVORITE.

I loved Connor so so so much. His cute pet name for Hawthorn was Thorny and it was adorable and I really just wanted them to get together every single page they were on together. Some of my favorite scenes were with Connor and Hawthorn!

READ THIS BOOK!

Book Review: Unicorn Tracks by Julia Ember

Title: Unicorn Tracks
Author: Julia Ember
Page Count: 180
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, F/F romance, Adventurous!
Source: Directly from the author!
Rating: 3.5 Stars!

Synopsis: After a savage attack drives her from her home, sixteen-year-old Mnemba finds a place in her cousin Tumelo’s successful safari business, where she quickly excels as a guide. Surrounding herself with nature and the mystical animals inhabiting the savannah not only allows Mnemba’s tracking skills to shine, it helps her to hide from the terrible memories that haunt her.

Mnemba is employed to guide Mr. Harving and his daughter, Kara, through the wilderness as they study unicorns. The young women are drawn to each other, despite that fact that Kara is betrothed. During their research, they discover a conspiracy by a group of poachers to capture the Unicorns and exploit their supernatural strength to build a railway. Together, they must find a way to protect the creatures Kara adores while resisting the love they know they can never indulge.

Review:

"What's bound in blood cannot be undone."

This book is a wholly original, lovely piece of work! It's super short allowing for a very quick read! (Seriously, the book is only 180 pages making it definitely worth it!)

That is my main problem with the book: The length. It is entirely too short, and I feel like given another 50-100 pages could have allowed Ember to fully flesh out these otherwise well-developed characters and maybe give us a little more look into the world we were in.

The book takes place is an African country named Nazwimbe, and has strong fantasy elements but mainly, the magical creatures. From manticores to chimeras, to the most glorious unicorn. This book is chock full of mentions of magical creatures as well as actually seeing them on the page. I really enjoyed that animals were an integral part of the book because it really brought something out that I think would of been lacking if this had only been a typical YA f/f fantasy. (Not that this genre is a typical thing.) The animals really set this apart.

I really enjoyed the diversity. Especially because Kara is described as fat multiple times and she embraces that fact. I'm always for body positivity and this book gives a little glimpse into that which I find wholeheartedly important. I also really enjoyed the chemistry between all of the characters. The dynamics felt real, and I appreciate that. Something really important to note is that although the relationship between Kara and Mnemba seemed really instalove-y (and it was...) it still felt real. And I generally don't think any form of instalove worked... it worked in this book.

I loved the romance between Kara and Mnemba because they loved each other AND each other's faults. Not despite. And I find that so important.

"Love grows over time. It's slow. It develops."

Plotwise, I wanted more. But this goes back to the length issue. There is so much more that could have been done if this book was longer. More animals, more relationship development, even more of an explanation of the cultural differences between the different countries. I think the Pits could have been shown even more. The power that this held over Mnemba could have been explored more and packed a heavier punch than it already did.

The plot we were given though, was clean and well paced. I liked the development of Kara and Mnemba from almost business partners to friends and so on and so forth. Even though it was quick, it felt natural and I liked that. I liked Kara's spunkiness, and her wish to help others. Her passion that was shown so many times throughout the novel really made me care for her. There are a few things that seemed a little to easy for the circumstances, but I am okay with it.

I loved the little baby unicorn foal. ADORABLE. I wanted more, but I mean I liked what I got.

Overall, I liked this novel a lot. I just wanted more. I wouldn't change much of what did happen in the novel... just add some more in. And honestly, cannot complain for what we were given because it's a culturally diverse fantasy novel set in non-western culture. And that alone made it special. Enter in easy-to-follow good writing, and you have a compelling and almost addicting novel.

Definitely recommend!

The Rose & The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

Title: The Rose & the Dagger
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Page Count:
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Retellings
Rating: 4.75 Stars!
Source: The library <3
Links: Goodreads  IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Synopsis: The darker the sky, the brighter the stars.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

Now she’s reunited with her family, who have found refuge in the desert, where a deadly force is gathering against Khalid—a force set on destroying his empire and commanded by Shazi’s spurned childhood sweetheart. Trapped between loyalties to those she loves, the only thing Shazi can do is act. Using the burgeoning magic within her as a guide, she strikes out on her own to end both this terrible curse and the brewing war once and for all. But to do it, she must evade enemies of her own to stay alive.

The saga that began with The Wrath and the Dawn takes its final turn as Shahrzad risks everything to find her way back to her one true love again.

Review:

"I swore I would spend my life showing those I loved how I felt, and never resorting to words. I promised I would do for others what I'd failed to do for her. Not to profess love. But instead act upon it."

The Rose and The Dagger is everything good about The Wrath and the Dawn except to me, executed 10000000x better.

Now don't get me wrong, they are both beautifully written and constructed books with rich fleshed out characters, swoon-worthy romance, and magic beyond any other....

But ROSE was SOOOOO much more my style. They are both such different, unique books and if you had a little more background info before ROSE, I almost feel like you could read this without the first one. (Okay, I lie, this is probably not the case, I just love ROSE infinitely more.)

There is something about this book. The writing is as addicting and lively as WRATH but there was something so much more appealing about it to me. I ADORED every last word.

"Sometimes the family you choose is stronger than blood."

In this book Irsa, Shazi's younger sister plays a much more central role, and I LOVED her in WRATH, so this was such a shining moment of brilliance in my opinion. Everything that involved Irsa was so right.

This whole book meshed with me so damn well. From the new characters to the old characters and all of the changes that are held within the walls of this novel... ITS SO BEAUTIFUL.

Words fail to explain the beauty and the serenity of Ahdieh's words. Even if you do not like her books, you cannot deny that her writing is definitely distinguishable from all other authors today. She has a very unique and powerful voice. Poignant. Strong.

The characters in Renee's world are BEYOND BELIEF in their strength, and reality. Which totally sounds contradictory but it makes sense in the best of ways.

I loved the focus on the magical book and Shazi and Irsa's Baba's obsession with it. It offered another level to the novel besides the expected war between Khorasan and the rest of the country. (For whatever reason I am completely blanking on the name at the moment.)

AND GUESS WHAT?!? I LIKED TARIQ IN THIS NOVEL. I LIKED HIM. I couldn't care less about him in WRATH but I thought he offered such beautiful contrast and strength in this novel that I was so happy to have him a part of it all.

There are so many swoons in this book! It is not as romance heavy or as steamy as WRATH and that may be why it's more my style because this had the PERFECT amount of romance for me! Khalid and Shazi are just perfect <3 but the real love story lies with her younger sister. <3 <3 <3

I honestly cannot recommend this book enough to everyone. To me, it was VASTLY better than WRATH and feel it deserves ALL the praise!

To close this review, here are some QUOTES!

Beware of  spoilers of plot points. Nothing THAT insane, but yes, spoilers.

"I wish you would not be so stubborn." "And I wish you had not jumped before and arrow last night. But wishes are for genies and the fools who believe in such things."  I laughed so hard at this. But also *paiiiiiiin*


"Be the beginning and the end, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran. Be stronger than everything around you. Make all our many sacrifices woth it."  HELL YES.

"Make sure she never feels lonely. That she always feels loved." *CRIES*



"It does not take courage to kill. It takes courage to live." *LOOOOOVE*

PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!

ARC Review: The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

Title: The Sun Is Also A Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Page Count: 344
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5
 Amazon IndieBound Goodreads Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Source: I won an ARC via Barnes & Noble Teen Book Fest Trivia Night!

Synopsis: Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

Review: This book made me believe in love at first sight again. It's absolutely beautiful.

I was hesitant for the first 30ish pages. but then it made sense. Everything clicked. I got the story and how it was being told. and I adored everything that came after.

Natasha trusts only science and facts

and Daniel is such a hopeless romantic.
Together they make a breathtaking constellation.

This book has so many important topics: Undocumented Immigration; Parental Overprotection; Multiverse Theory; The impact you have on others lives, no matter how small a matter may seem.

This book is important because it accurately portrays societal stereotypes put on various ethnic groups based on outward appearances and expectations.

and I love the ending of this book. it was as perfect as I could have hoped for.

the hopeless romantic in me swooned over this day that changed their lives forever.

Continuing my thoughts after the initial stream of thoughts was written:

Okay. I must admit, I was super wary going into this book because I was afraid I wasn't going to like it as much as I liked Everything, Everything. I had no need to worry because this book blew me away. In TSIAAS we follow Natasha, a Jamaican American who is facing deportation in 12 hours, and Daniel, a Korean American boy whose family is too strict and too set on him becoming a doctor.

Except, Daniel doesn't want to be a doctor. He writes poetry. He's just too afraid to defy his family.

and Natasha's mother might tell her that "Everything happens for a reason." but Natasha doesn't believe in that. She believes in things she can see, science,facts, the works. Natasha decides to take matters into her own hands and attempt to stop the deportation.

And in a single moment there lives are changed forever because Natasha and Daniel meet at one fateful moment. And everything that comes after tells a story of love, loss, and growing into oneself.

I had a dream the night after I read this that I was being deported. I, a white male, being deported. That's insane and would never happen. But this book made me feel it. Made me feel the pain that these families are going through. Granted, not nearly as strong as they feelas they are being kicked out of the land they call home. It's not a fair thing. But this book presents so many important glances at how this could possibly feel. And boy was it palpable. It's a terrifying ordeal and I feel so strongly for Natasha and for Daniel.

I love the way this story is told. Through first person for both Natasha and Daniel and then it weaves into third person for these "breaking of the third wall" kind of situations. We get to hear stories from all of these people and how their lives are interconnected with Tasha and Daniel's. It's a very clever way to tell a story and I loved reading it.

I cannot say that I actually understand how Natasha and Daniel feel, because I have never been a situation even remotely close to the ones that they experience. Although I can say that I sympathisize with them, and by God I try my best to understand. I felt emotions I haven't felt this strongly since I read More Happy Than Not.

I did tear up a few times. It hit me hard, this story. It was beautifully written and told so honestly. You could very well tell that Nicola Yoon's words came from a place of true stories. You can just tell that she has a personal connection to these stories. And that's what makes it so special.

I love this book. It has immense depth, and gorgeous stories. If I had to make a critique it would be stupid and would be the amount of times "says" was used. But I honestly don't care enough about that. It was just slightly annoying.

Love, love, love this book. You will too.

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater (Book 4 in the Raven Cycle)

Title: The Raven King
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Page Count: 439
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Paranormal, Indescribable.
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: Library <3
Links: Goodreads IndieBound Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Synopsis: Nothing living is safe. Nothing dead is to be trusted.

For years, Gansey has been on a quest to find a lost king. One by one, he’s drawn others into this quest: Ronan, who steals from dreams; Adam, whose life is no longer his own; Noah, whose life is no longer a lie; and Blue, who loves Gansey… and is certain she is destined to kill him.

Now the endgame has begun. Dreams and nightmares are converging. Love and loss are inseparable. And the quest refuses to be pinned to a path.


My initial review on Goodreads: Read this damn book now. (well, read the other three first, but do itttttt.)

I absolutely adore this novel with all of my heart. Like seriously. It's really, really good.

And I love all of these characters. And I love this world. And I have a love/hate relationship with the emotional turmoil it put me through....

But I think I was expecting something else from the conclusion. Something was disconnected. I can't really find the words to describe why it felt this way to me, it just did.

This is not to say that I didn't adore this novel... and it may very well be my favorite of the series...Because I loved it. And I really think this series is worth reading. I truly do.

Full Review:  PROBABLY DEFINITELY SPOILERS SOMEWHERE FOR SOMETHING.

Me always with this series:

I actually don't even know where to begin with this review, if it even ends up being a review.

I don't actually have words to say. Because there is something about this series that had a complete disconnect from my heart, from my emotions, from everything... Okay not a complete disconnect because I do adore these characters...

Depending on where you began the story it was about Richard Gansey III... and boy is Gansey something. He is the central figure to this entire story because his death is fated. He had been brought back to life because somebody died who shouldn't have... and he had been seen on the ley line in book one by a Blue Sargeant... and he was dead. Except this is what I have put in my mind and I'm not sure how entirely accurate it is! Yay!

Truth be told, I didn't love this series in it's entirety. I love the characters, but I am not head over heels in love with Stiefvater's writing style.. (but it is addicting...)

Back to my review... A lot of this sounds bitter... oops. xD This is not intentional, I promise. I actually really love this book.

This book is pure


Like seriously, it's insane. It's an addicting story. This book is crack. I swear.

Okay. Depending on where you began the story it was about Adam Parrish. Who is my favorite. Along with Ronan and Noah... anyways... Adam is a freaking broken soul, in my opinion. His backstory is the most heartbreaking to me. Okay, maybe not the most heartbreaking but it's very difficult for me. It killed me. Everything about him. But I also love him. Because he is such a real character. He is tied to Cabeswater, and the reality of Cabeswater as it is revealed in this installment is INSANE. I freaked out.

Depending on where you began the story it was about Ronan Lynch. And Adam Parrish. PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH PYNCH. I love them together infinitely <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

When I began this book there was a few characters that I didn't remember at all. But I ended up adoring them all. I still love Maura.

And I've realized I am never going to properly review this. Maybe once I eventually reread the series and everything is clarified for me. Because I remember practically nothing from the first three books. Very few details.

I do believe this series is definitely worth reading. It is one of the most intricately planned series I have ever read.

What's your favorite Stiefvater book?

ARC Review: A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir (Out August 2016)

Title: A Torch Against The Night (EMBER Book #2)
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Page Count:
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: @rstolle who is the best <3
Links: Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository IndieBound
Synopsis: A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.

Review:

Sabaa Tahir's writing is suspenseful as can be in this action-packed sequel to the blockbuster hit 'An Ember In The Ashes' which was one of my favorite books of 2015. Top 3 for sure. I loved that book with all of my heart and this was one of my most anticipated novels of 2016...

"Don't lock yourself away from those who care about you because you think you'll hurt them or - or they'll hurt you. What point is there in being human if you don't let yourself feel anything?"

And it for sure delivered. The writing was even better, the characters were fleshed out even more so, and the plot was even more suspenseful, if you can believe it. Practically everything about this book improved upon the first book. Yet for some reason I still find myself enjoying the first one more...

Was it because I didn't do a reread before I picked this up? Highly likely. I'm going to assume this is why and if I reread both, that I'll end up enjoying TORCH more than I already did. I mean I loved the addition of the new characters and the new mysteries this book held. I love the growth each and every character had and I LOVED watching it all play out.

I think the addition of Helene's POV not only added a different outlook on everything it was a very necessary change from EMBER. Helene offered a whole new perspective and watching her inner turmoil/monologue was heartbreaking and raw and so very real. And her perspective was by far the highlight of this sequel.

This book doesn't cease to amaze me, it continually moves at a rapid speed and doesn't let up for a moment. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this book and I cannot say how successful this will be. TORCH is darker than EMBER, it is more suspenseful. It has better writing. TORCH is everything that was missing with EMBER. Sabaa took the criticisms one could have with EMBER and flipped them on their head and improved upon the flaws.

Sabaa's writing is just purely addicting.

"the stars are so different when you're free"

"I know what it is to lose those you love. I taught myself not to feel anything at all."

There are so many beautiful exchanges between the characters. We get to see Elias at his most vulnerable, we get to see Laia at hers, and Helene with hers as well. We get to see the Commadant be as badass and dangerous as can be, and we get to see bloodthirsty Marcus and his tyranny over the Empire.

I love the addition of the Forest. I love seeing Helene grow as Blood Shrike and make some of the most difficult decisions anyone could ever have to make. Helene broke my heart and watching her battle her own mind over her love for the most important people in her life tore me apart. I felt like a machete was cutting me open and sawing out my intestines slowly as I bled... but never would I die. It was gutwrenching, to say the least.

I loved Avitas Harper and I cannot wait to see more of him. (He may very well be one of my favorite characters.) I liked seeing Kauf and how that truly played into the story. The characters within hold promise. The Warden was frightening. The darkness was powerful. The Efrit, monstorous. The monsters richly imagined.. This book was haunting in the best of ways.

Laia was a lot stronger in this book and it made me very happy to see her grow.

I will always love Helene more than any other character because of who she is and what she stands for and the fact that she is actually more selfless than Elias and Laia combined. (Well, Elias is pretty selfless.) I just adore Helene.

I loved Afya and meeting Elias' mother. I felt the sequence in Nor (is that what it's called?) was extremely well written and a highlight.

I loved the scene with Laia in the marketplace and thought that was brilliant.

Helene's interactions with her family clenched my heart in it's boney fingers.

And while I love almost everything about this book... I don't like the ending very much. It is eerily similar to the first ending.... Yet it doesn't hold the amount of suspense and fear that the first one does. It feels like the series could end here and I would very much hate that. I'm not ready to say goodbye... yet it could be with the way it ended. I need to know more, and the ending just wasn't enough "pop" for me.

Consensus: A Torch Against The Night is a brilliant novel that improves upon the flaws in the first book, but also has flaws of it's own. The characters are dynamic, realistic, and heartbreaking and the plot moves at a rapid speed, yet their was a bit of disconnect in the ending chapters that left me feeling just slightly unsatisfied. I still adored this book, and think it may have been the mood I was in while finishing the book. I highly recommend and believe if you even liked EMBER you will LOVE TORCH. Haunting, elegant, and brilliant writing allow Tahir's characters to shine brightly in the midst of a dark world and terrifying circumstances.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (Monsters of Verity Book #1)

Title: This Savage Song
Author: Victoria Schwab
Page Count:
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Monsters, Paranormal
Rating: 4.5 Stars!
Source: I won a UK copy!
Links: Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Synopsis: There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

Review:

This Savage Song is a symphony of gorgeous violin chords played onto the backdrop of a city where monsters not so secretly hide among you and is brought to life by Schwab's distinct voice and incredibly beautiful writing. This book is super unique and special and absolutely breathtaking.

"Just for the record. I think this is a terrible idea."

And this book is most definitely not a terrible idea. It is a phenomenal idea.

Our two main characters are Kate Harker and August Flynn. Kate Harker is the daughter of a kind of a mogul. Her dad has control of half of the city and then Henry Flynn has the other half. In one half, monsters run a little more freely and are under protection of Kate's father and the other half is under the control of Henry Flynn. (I must admit I read this a few weeks ago and now the details are a little hazy... just the name of a few things.)  Kate is not my favorite because she is kind of bitchy... but I also understand it. Her father's an asshole. Her annoying "I can get away with whatever I want" vibe makes sense to me, and by the end of it all, I felt like she grew quite a lot throughout the novel.

She is badass, but it's an almost "I'm special." which is my biggest complaint about the novel. God, do I feel for her though. Her circumstances are simply heartbreaking. Especially when everything is revealed, I was so emotionally invested in the stories.

And then we have August Flynn. He is a monster himself. and he doesn't want to be. He does anything and everything he possibly can do to not be a monster. He avoids his impulses. His inner turmoil is PHENOMENALLY written. It killed me. I loved him from moment one. He evokes such sympathy.

He has two "siblings" Leo and Ilsa. Leo is one of the hardest people I have ever met. He's so strong, but that's also his weakness. He's a very interesting character and I feel like leaving him up to your own judgement is the best way to leave his character.

Ilsa is the best character in this entire novel. She holds so much depth and I love her story. It terrifies and fascinates me. I love her so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much. Seriously. Her and August are just wonderful. I love them to pieces.

There are a few different types of monsters...

“Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.
Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.”
“Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.”

This is haunting and simply brilliant. I love the simplistic way that Schwab describes these vile creatures. I think that the monsters descriptions every time they appeared were my favorite. I love Schwab's descriptions in regards to anything even remotely evil.

OH MY GOD. Sloan. Haunting. Vicious. Terrifying. ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING. That is all.

I cannot wait to see what the sequel holds for us. It will definitely be monster-filled.

There is so much I want to say about this book. But I just think I'll keep it to what I have said. I find it powerful enough. You want this book. I assure you. I'll reread when I get my US finished copy, I'm sure and maybe I'll revisit this reviews as I reread soon. :) YOU WANT THIS BOOK.

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!!! Have you read any Schwab books? What's your favorite of hers?

The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry

Title: The Love That Split The World
Author: Emily Henry
Page Count:
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary with sci-fi elements?
Rating: 4 glorious stars <3
Source: The Library <3
Links: Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Synopsis: Natalie Cleary must risk her future and leap blindly into a vast unknown for the chance to build a new world with the boy she loves.

Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start... until she starts seeing the “wrong things.” They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a pre-school where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right.

That’s when she gets a visit from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls “Grandmother,” who tells her: “You have three months to save him.” The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.

Emily Henry’s stunning debut novel is Friday Night Lights meets The Time Traveler’s Wife, and perfectly captures those bittersweet months after high school, when we dream not only of the future, but of all the roads and paths we’ve left untaken

Review:

"You never owe another person something, no matter how nice they are to you. Relationships aren't transactions"

So, before I begin writing the actual review... I'm just going to say that this book was something I didn't really think I would ever read. I mean... it wasn't on my radar months ahead of time. I had heard some mixed early reviews of the novel and so I wasn't that excited about it. But I have consistently heard things about this book, whether they be good or bad, but still constantly.

And I, being of curious mind, decided to request it from the library and see what all of this fuss is (or isn't) about...

well, turns out I am part of the IS in this fuss.

ALSO: COVER LUST. HOLY MOLYYYYY. BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Okay, so this book follows Natalie, an adopted girl whose mother gave her up for reasons that are theorized upon but not really explained thoroughly (at least, I don't remember it being said directly) And well, Natalie has been seeing this apparition that she calls Grandmother since she was young. She would appear to her and tell her beautiful stories that seemed completely meaningless at the time.

The first thing I noticed about this book is that it was going to be a slow, slow burn. But that honestly didn't detract (that much) from my enjoyment of the book. There is just something completely enamoring about Henry's writing style and voice. It's very powerful, even when it's in a subtle way. Each sentence was cleverly crafted and tied nicely into everything else.

Almost everything felt essential to the story. There were a few moments were I found the pacing even slower than I would have liked. It happened towards the middle of the story when Grandmother's stories weren't being incorporated.

When I read the acknowledgments and learned that all of these stories were inspired by real First Nation stories, I was overjoyed. I felt like the stories were intriguing and gave me a good grasp on the cultures that the First Nation tribes have. I haven't heard anybody comment on the accuracy but I believe them to be accurate based on her resources! Props to Henry for everything she put into this novel.

Natalie's life is one incredibly difficult to explain because her reality begins to bleed into anothers. And holy crap is it one of the most fascinating premises I have read to date. Like, seriously. The premise alone deserves a billion stars.

I loved the romance in this book and didn't find it to be overbearing.

I also loved every intricate entrance of sci-fi elements and the EDMR (I feel like that's not what it was called but it's been a week since I read this, on purpose so I don't spoil everything.)

Something that bothered me was the addition of a character mentioning she's gay... what was the point of that? It didn't add anything to the story. I felt it was unnecessary and felt out of place for the novel itself. Although it is something that can be easily overlooked it didn't feel necessary.

I will say that I detracted a star for slow pacing, a few cliché moments, and a couple boring scenes, but overall I thought this book was well written, unique, and interesting as all hell. I will definitely be picking up A Million Junes when it releases!

I think the highlight of this book was Grandmother's stories. They really tied everything in the main storyline together. OH also, I loved her friendship in Megan. She was such a real character and I truly appreciate her.

I definitely recommend this to those who love a slow burn, sweet romances, interesting premises, with a lot of scary "What ifs?" involved. This story is for you. Although I really think anybody could enjoy this if they are in the mood for it! :)

Series Review: The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Curse (Book 1), The Winner's Crime (2), and The Winner's Kiss (3)
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Overall Series Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

The Winner's Curse Goodreads synopsis: 
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love... 

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart. 

Review:
This post was originally going to be just a review on The Winner's Curse, the first book in The Winner's Trilogy, but because of the chaos that senior year brings a well as the laziness that my ass brings, I have waited so long to write my original review that I have been able to read the whole trilogy, so I have now decided to do an overall series review instead.  Let's see how this goes.

Throughout the series we follow a Valorian girl named Kestrel, and a Herrani boy named Arin.  The Valorian's are those who have conquered the Herrani and their country, Herran.  The books follow Kestrel and Arin through their budding, but forbidden, romance and how their relationship causes turmoil for both of their countries.  Their allegiances to each other and their countries will be put to the test, major swooning and heartbreak are guaranteed to ensue. 

One thing I can confidently say about this trilogy, it gets better with each book.  The characters get more complex and fleshed out as the books continue and you really get immersed into Arin and Kestrel's world.  These books are categorized as fantasy and have no magic in them.  This might be a turn-off for some fantasy readers, but for me it was intriguing and refreshing.  The books may lack a magic system, but the political intrigue more than fills the void.  Honestly, the politics in these books is off the charts.  There is some action and fighting in the series, mostly in the last book, but most of the battling between characters is done through mind games and psychological warfare.

Main Characters-
Kestrel is one of the most intelligent and perceptive main characters I have ever read about.  In the first book I was conflicted because I thought she lacked depth, but as I mentioned before, as the trilogy continues her character becomes much more nuanced and fleshed out.  Something I did like about her from the very beginning was that she never gets caught up in the pettiness of Valorian society and treats the Herrani, who are enslaved, as equals, unlike many of her peers.  I absolutely loved reading about the relationship between Kestrel and her father.  It was complex to begin with and gets even more nuanced and heartbreaking as the books progress.  All she wants is her fathers approval and love, but because he is so traditional and set in his own ways, their relationship is strained and they cannot see eye to eye on how Kestrel should live her life.  I also liked the fact that Kestrel isn't very good at combat.  A lot of times in YA, a female character's strength is defined by her physical strength and fighting skills. There are many other qualities in a character that reveal strength.

Arin , our other main character, is a fighter.  He is fiercely loyal to his country and Kestrel.  This is an admirable trait, but it gets him into a into of trouble as well.  I believe you don't learn about his backstory until the second or third book, but it's absolutely heartbreaking.  I really came to care for Arin in the second book.  He was so self doubting and mistrusting of others, he was like a lost puppy in the rain that I wanted to take inside and put in front of a warm fire.  Kestrel's and Arin's relationship becomes very complex throughout the series, especially during the second book.  They are so loyal to each other that they result to the classic "lie to the one I love to protect them" tactic.   It can be quite frustrating at times, but it's the kind of frustration that keeps you wanting more and seeing if they can ever work things out. There are many things that tie them together but equally as many things threaten to tear them apart. It's honestly hard not to root for them.

Plot-
All of the books in the trilogy aren't very fast paced, they aren't slow by any means, but due to the methodical nature and the political intrigue of the books, there isn't much action.  But when there is action, the scenes are crafted with such detail that I occasionally had to pause reading and shudder from the gruesome images of war.  The last book especially could be very gruesome, there were a lot of war scene painted in pretty graphic imagery.  Rutkoski's writing is beautiful and again improves even more as the series progresses.  I gave the first book 3/5 stars, being that it wasn't an amazing book, but a very strong first in a series, and it was obviously the book to lay out the groundwork for the books to come.  My love for this trilogy really began to blossom in the second book, and the last two books overall are the reason why I give praise to the series.  I cannot stress how much the trilogy improves after the first book.  Honestly the second book took me on such a whirlwind of emotions that I had to set it down a few times to calm myself.

I really did not realize how invested I was into these characters and the world they live in until I finished the last book.  I actually became teary eyed and experienced a little bit of a book hangover.   I think what really got me was how much the main characters care for each other.  It really reminded me of how Tessa, Jem, and Will care for each other in The Infernal Device's trilogy by Cassandra Clare.  And honestly, anything that reminds me of TID will bring tears to my eyes.  Anyways, The Winner's Trilogy is full of political intrigue, complex and heartbreaking relationships, and very loyal and intelligent characters.  Highly highly recommend.  

Very Late eARC Review: Your Voice Is All I Hear by Leah Scheier

Title: Your Voice Is All I Hear
Author: Leah Scheier
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary mystery surrounding mental illness?
Page Count: 328
Rating: 4.5 Stars <3
Source: NetGalley and SourceFire Books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my rating.
Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository
Synopsis: I was the one he trusted. I was the one he loved, the only one who believed him, even when his own mother had locked him up and thrown away the key.

And now, I was going to pass down the white tiled hallway, knock on his doctor’s office door, slam his secret notebook on her desk and make her read it, make her understand what he was hiding, make her see what only I had seen.

April won’t let Jonah go without a fight.

He’s her boyfriend—her best friend. She’ll do anything to keep him safe. But as Jonah slips into a dark depression, trying to escape the traumatic past that haunts him, April is torn. To protect Jonah, she risks losing everything: family, friends, an opportunity to attend a prestigious music school. How much must she sacrifice? And will her voice be loud enough to drown out the dissenters—and the ones in his head?

Review:

Consensus: Your Voice Is All I Hear is a heart-pounding contemporary mystery-ish book that tackles an issue as serious as Schizophrenia and does it without apology. Throughout the novel we see the effects schizophrenia has on the person and every person around them. This book is beautiful, it is harrowing, it is haunting, it is something you don't want to miss. Not only will you learn a lot about a mental illness that affects a surprising amount of people, you will be changed for the better. You will be changed for good. Please, do yourself a favor, read this book.

This book started out with a bang that completely intrigued me. The prologue definitely set the mood for the second half of the book, but not for the first half if that makes sense?

The first half of this book was a big set up for everything to follow afterwards. We meet our narrator friend, April, and she begins to tell her story to us. Of school, of her life, of her best friend moving away, of so many things... of her lack of friends... of her fear of being at school without her best friend... and the new kids arrive... and she meets Jonah.

and despite the OBVIOUS instalove, this freaking book was absolutely what I wanted to read, and just completely up my alley. For those of you that don't already know, I am completely fascinated with learning and understanding mental illnesses... this book, I feel, really helped me learn about schizophrenia and not only its effects on the person with the illness, but how it affects every single person around them. The damage it does, the pain it causes, the hearts it shatters.

This book is haunting, and for awhile, it doesn't seem that way, but it is. It's beautifully written, and I felt like I was there the entire time. Scheier teleported me to each scene through her vivid scenes and realistic dialogue.

It's honestly very hard for me to write about this book without completely spoiling it because there is just so much that is connected to every other thing.

I do, however, want to talk about the mental institution. It was very different from what I was initially expecting going in, because I have read various books that have mental institutions in them, so it was just different. and I think I liked it... but I also think it was a weaker point in the writing of the novel, because I didn't think it showcased anything that was happening there (I mean, this is probably because it was from April's POV. I think this is the one moment where I wished we had a dual POV, the rest of the novel I thought was fine in that regard other than that.)

The characters, to me, were very realistic. April was a typical teenage girl in most senses... Jonah is too difficult to explain but I felt for him every single page. Kris was very important to the story in showing how April transformed through her experiences with Jonah.

I absolutely adored Katie, Jonah's little sister because she is the TOTAL little sister/ little sibling. She is adorable and sweet and caring. There were a few moments that absolutely broke my heart. When she visited the mental institution, I teared up a little bit, because her feelings were so raw and what everyone else wanted to say but also couldn't because he was improving.

This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride and I highly enjoyed it.

The last 10% was practically flawless. I loved that we got to see Ms. Lowry's assignment in its entirety and the effect it had on the students. It really tied together such a lovely book. I loved the ending, I thought it fit the story extremely well.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about schizophrenia!

Before I forget to mention this, and sorry for the out of order thing... I write my thoughts as they come to me and rearranging things would make it sound funky. The familial dynamics were phenomenally displayed. I absolutely adored the way they played out. April and her mother were what you would expect, but then you have... so much that I can't say because its spoilery...

THERE IS THIS ONE PIVOTAL SCENE THAT JUST CRUSHED ME. IT WAS INSANE AND IT LED TO SO MANY THINGS AND JUST WOAH.

Lastly, I just need to comment on Jonah's talent. He's an artist, and he paints, and holy... I saw these pictures, I craved these pictures and the way they were incorporated put into perspective (even better than it would have without) the affects of schizophrenia.


- Cody @ Roecker Reviews <3 y'all!

Book Review: A Cold Legacy (Madman's Daughter 3) by Megan Shepherd (JENNA DID A REVIEW!)

 

Title: A Cold Legacy
Author: Megan Shepherd
Genre: Young Adult, Gothic/Steampunk twist on a couple of classics
Page Count: 388
Source: The library
Rating: is like a 3.75 a thing. Maybe a 3.97. Round it up to a 4? But that's not right. I'll come back to that. Alright, I'm back to that. I feel that 3.95 is the most accurate number I can come up with. No, maybe that's too high. I still can't decide. You guys can round it up or down, I don't care anymore, I'm tired. 

Synopsis: After killing the men who tried to steal her father’s research, Juliet—along with Montgomery, Lucy, Balthazar, and a deathly ill Edward—has escaped to a remote estate on the Scottish moors. Owned by the enigmatic Elizabeth von Stein, the mansion is full of mysteries and unexplained oddities: dead bodies in the basement, secret passages, and fortune-tellers who seem to know Juliet’s secrets. Though it appears to be a safe haven, Juliet fears new dangers may be present within the manor’s own walls.

Then Juliet uncovers the truth about the manor’s long history of scientific experimentation—and her own intended role in it—forcing her to determine where the line falls between right and wrong, life and death, magic and science, and promises and secrets. And she must decide if she’ll follow her father’s dark footsteps or her mother’s tragic ones, or whether she’ll make her own.

With inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this breathless conclusion to the Madman’s Daughter trilogy is about the things we’ll sacrifice to save those we love—even our own humanity. 

REVIEW:

... Now that all that has been properly ignored, I shall skip promptly to the reviewing part.

In case you don't know: this is the third book in a trilogy, and yes, I will be spoiling things from the first two books. 

Hello world! Guess who made a post? It's Jenna! For those of you just joining us, I joined Cody for an interview post many months ago with the intention of joining his blog and then I promptly managed to disappear into the abyss of "Not Reading Anything for a Really Long Time". But now I've read a thing and I had some thoughts on it and here I am.

Alright, so if you know me (you probably don't but here's some free information on me to help you feel like you do), you know that I don't really read a whole lot of YA. I used to read it all the time, but truth be told, reading too much of it made me really picky about it as I became increasing desperate for new material that was original.

But this was a trilogy I had to read. When I heard that each of the three books would be based on three classic Gothic novels- The Strange Island of Dr. Moreau, by HG Wells, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, and Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley-  I was super excited. I love all of those books, even if you may think they aren't that interesting to read because they are classical, they are certainly a very good source of inspiration and the concepts behind each novel fascinate me in their morbid-ness. 

Now on to the actual review of the actual book. Obviously, I liked the first two books pretty well, otherwise I would not be here reviewing the third one. The writing was pretty good but my major issues with that aspect was some repetitiveness and the fact that is easy to skip entire paragraphs and not notice somehow. 

On the repetitive factor: I'm mostly referring to the main character Juliet's fear of becoming like her father. I understand that it's a major fear of hers, I understand it haunts her all the time, but there are ways to refer back to that fear and let the readers connect the dots back to how she was feeling without explicitly stating it all the time. This also might be why the paragraphs were so easily skip-able as well.

Now my top priority in reading is characters. I have a whole spiel about why but I'm not going to give it now. But characters, my friends. Characters are the priority. They are what I live for. The plot can be the worst thing ever conceived, but if the characters are brilliant or just plain lovable, I will follow them through anything. And in this case, the plot wasn't the worst thing in the world. This was a battle of characters.

The problem was, I didn't really like Juliet. I mean, I liked her a little more in this book than the others, but not by much. My problem with disliking the main character of a book is the fact that now you have to suffer through all their decisions from then on. Some people like that. Some people find that interesting. I do not.

For one, it affects the way they interact with other characters. I'm not gonna list another reason because that's the one I'm focused on. Because unlike my opinion of Juliet and love interest Montgomery James, I really liked Edward Prince, and Lucy Radcliffe. 

What really turned me against Juliet and Montgomery for the first two books was the lack of compassion that they showed in particular to Edward. I get it, they were being cautious, the Beast is dangerous, etc. But it got kinda old. There were many fewer sentimental scenes to help show the characters' lovable side. Heck, I almost outright hated Montgomery until this last book. Good job, last book, you saved him!

But I adored Edward and Lucy, Lucy in particular shining in this book. I've always loved heart-bleed characters, but I think that Shepherd did a wonderful job of making the character more complex, since a character in his situation is bound to have a lot complex feelings and relationships. And, of course, it was easy to care about him, which is good, because in my experience, Caring About Edward Prince was about 90% of my life while reading.

And Lucy. I disregarded her for the first two books. But in this book, I was glad to see her shine. Shout out to Lucy for making up for the general lack of compassion. She developed far beyond Generic Best Friend and became The Hero No One But Jenna Knew They Needed and I adore her for it. Her role in this book was A+ and I appreciate finally having someone I can actually connect to, since Juliet and Montgomery were so isolating and hard to relate to for us bleeding hearts. 

Ultimately, my desire to know what happened to Edward and eventually drove me through all of these books more than any other motivation.

But one thing that disappointed me greatly... the romance between Edward and Lucy. It could have been beautiful, but as it is, I cannot support it. It felt rushed, almost last-minute, like it was only there to cause Edward and Edward Fans some extra "Emotions". But because it was so choppy and rushed, I couldn't really get into it, and those Emotions were lost in the Disappointment Abyss.

Side note, Elizabeth, Hensley, and particularly Jack Serra also deserve some shout outs... particularly Jack Serra. (But Jenna, you said Jack Serra twice! True, little readers. I like Jack Serra.)

And on that note, I'll end with the ending, or as I like to call it, The Other Thing I Didn't Like. It was, for one thing, rather inconclusive, and for another... Well, Edward's ending was so.. vague. I understand why he'd want to seek out someone else like him, but... that's it? We're just supposed to accept that our baby of three books is now just gonna wander off after something that was that was only kinda mentioned a couple of times before? It's just sad. And as much as I believe certain things that happened in the book were necessary and well timed, the extra Edward Pain was not necessary. The poor guy had enough. It wasn't even interesting anymore. Let him rest. Let Edward Rest 2k16, my new campaign slogan. 

TLDR: unbalanced/uninteresting characters and completely unsatisfactory ending kept this otherwise enjoyable book/trilogy from getting much higher than a 4, but much more interesting side characters and a very fantastic twist on some of my favorite classics cause a not-very-impressed-with-YA- reader to be pretty dang impressed. 

Jenna out *mic drop*