Hey guys! I’m so excited to be on the blog tour for CAPE by Kate Hannigan (August 6, 2019, Aladdin)! This book sounds incredible, and I’m super excited to share it with you!
A brilliant girl puzzler discovers she’s part of a superhero team!
Josie O’Malley does a lot to help out Mam after her father goes off to fight the Nazis, but she wishes she could do more—like all those caped heroes who now seem to have disappeared. If Josie can’t fly and control weather like her idol, Zenobia, maybe she can put her math smarts to use cracking puzzles for the government.
After an official tosses out her puzzler test because she’s a girl, it soon becomes clear that an even more top-secret agency has its eye on Josie, along with two other applicants: Akiko and Mae. The trio bonds over their shared love of female superhero celebrities, from Fantomah to Zenobia to the Black Cat. But during one extraordinary afternoon, they find themselves transformed into the newest (and youngest!) superheroes in town. As the girls’ abilities slowly begin to emerge, they learn that their skills will be crucial in thwarting a shapeshifting henchman of Hitler, and, just maybe, in solving an even larger mystery about the superheroes who’ve recently gone missing.
Inspired by real-life women from World War II—the human computers and earliest programmers called “the ENIAC Six”.
Kate Hannigan is a noted author with a special passion for stories that empower girls and women. Her picture and middle grade books have received high praise, multiple starred reviews, selected for Booklist Editor’s Choice and a Golden Kite Award for Middle Grade fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three children. Please visit her at KateHannigan.com.
Hey guys! I’m so excited to be on the blog tour for Storm Blown by Nick Courage (July 16, 2019, Delacorte Press)! This book looks absolutely epic, and I’m super excited to read it!
A major hurricane is raging across the southern United States, and two unsuspecting kids are about to have the adventure of a lifetime! Perfect for kids who love high-stakes plots and natural disaster movies, and anyone interested in extreme weather!
A little rain and wind don’t worry Alejo–they’re just part of life at the beach. As his padrino says, as long as there are birds in the waves, it’s safe. When people start evacuating, though, Alejo realizes things might be worse than he thought. And they are. A hurricane is headed straight for Puerto Rico.
Emily’s brother, Elliot, has been really sick. He can’t go outside their New Orleans home, so Emily decides to have an adventure for him. She’s on a secret mission to the tiny island Elliot loves. She’s not expecting to meet up with an injured goose or a shy turtle. And nothing has prepared her for Megastorm Valerie. Soon Alejo and Emily will be in Valerie’s deadly path. Who will survive?
Nick Courage is a New Orleans-born writer (and aspiring skateboarder and baker) who splits his time between Brooklyn and Pittsburgh, where he lives with his wife and two cats. His work has recently appeared in The Paris Review Daily, Story, Writer’s Digest and Full Stop. The Loudness was his first novel for young readers and Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House) will be publishing his second novel, Storm Blown, in the summer of 2019.
Hey guys! I’m so excited to be on the blog tour for Wilder Girls by Rory Power (July 9, 2019, Delacorte Press)! This book looks absolutely epic, and I’m super excited to read it!
It’s been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty’s life out from under her.
It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don’t dare wander outside the school’s fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.
But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there’s more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.
Rory Power grew up in New England, where she lives and works as a crime fiction editor and story consultant for TV adaptation. She received a Masters in Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia, and thinks fondly of her time there, partially because she learned a lot but mostly because there were a ton of bunnies on campus.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
As her father's chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: to win back her honour, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.
Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (February 26, 2019 – Feiwel & Friends)! Without further adieu, here’s my review!
~*~*~
Tricia Levenseller went on my Auto Buy List after I read and LOVED both Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen. Warrior of the Wild did NOT disappoint. It was a fun, epic adventure with amazing characters and an intriguing world.
Rasmira was strong, brave and stubborn. Being sent into the Wild was the best thing that could have happened to her. It was meant as a punishment, but she learned so much about herself, the people she thought she knew and loved, and the world around her. Her character growth from beginning to end was INCREDIBLE.
I 1000% adored Soren and Iric – both as individuals and as friends. I don’t want to say too much, but I loved how their story ended. I loved Iric’s growth, especially. He went from being gruff and sarcastic to cheeky and hilarious. I absolutely adored him and Aros! I also loved the way Soren and Iric fought like bickering old ladies. It reminded me of Angel and Spike (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), as well as Jeb and Morpheus (from Splintered by A.G. Howard).
I truly loved the dynamic between Rasmira, Soren and Iric. It’s a little bit hard to talk about that dynamic without spoilers, but oh man, I just absolutely adored them together.
Now let’s talk about the villain… Peruxolo didn’t scare me. From very early on, I had major suspicions and questions. And I WAS RIGHT!!!! *Clears throat.* That’s all I’ll say about that… But really, I don’t think he was the true villain of the story.. If you’ve read it, you guys KNOW who the true villain was. Well, not so much a “villain” as a back-stabbing asshole. But I can’t name names without spoiling a major plot twist, so I’ll just sit here and stew about it while you guys GO AND READ IT AND SEE WHAT I MEAN!
I know some people are tired of new releases being compared to big books like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight, etc. But I SERIOUSLY had major Hunger Games feels throughout this entire book, with a few stand-out moments. One of the biggest moments? Irrenia asking Rasmira, “You will try, won’t you? … To complete your quest … You have to come home to me.” This moment STRONGLY reminded me of Prim begging Katniss to win and come home to her. Another thing that gave me major THG vibes? The Ziken. They reminded me of the creatures at the end of THG. And Rasmira worrying they would attack her while trying to fall asleep in the woods reminded me of Katniss worrying about falling asleep in the woods, wary of the fact that there were Tributes hunting her.
Overall, I absolutely 100% adored this book. I’m VERY excited to see what Tricia Levenseller does next! Her characters are incredible, her worlds are lush and imaginative, and her plot twists are EPIC. This book had me laughing out loud, gasping in shock, and grinning like an absolute idiot. It’ll run you through an emotional rollercoaster, and you’ll love every minute of it!
Hey guys! I’m so excited to be on the blog tour for Tarot by Marissa Kennerson (February 19, 2019 – Razorbill)! I’ve been SUPER excited for this book ever since I first heard about it – it has everything I love in a book: magic, intrigue, a unique world, and epic characters. When I realized there was going to be a blog tour, I jumped at the chance to be a part of it!
So, for my blog tour stop, I’m sharing my Playlist with you. Mad props to all the authors who do these for their books because I’ve never done a playlist for a book before and this was HARD. I just hope I did the book justice with my song selections…
Before I share my playlist with you guys, take a look at the cover and synopsis for the book:
Her fate is so much more than the cards she was dealt.
Born of a forbidden union between the Queen and the tyrannical King’s archnemesis, Anna is forced to live out her days isolated in the Tower, with only her mentors and friends the Hermit, the Fool, and the Magician to keep her company. To pass the time, Anna imagines unique worlds populated by creatives and dreamers–the exact opposite of the King’s land of fixed fates and rigid rules–and weaves them into four glorious tapestries.
But on the eve of her sixteenth birthday and her promised release from the Tower, Anna discovers her true lineage: She’s the daughter of Marco, a powerful magician, and the King is worried that his magical gifts are starting to surface in Anna. Fearing for her life, Anna flees the Tower and finds herself in Cups, a lush, tropical land full of all the adventure, free-spiritedness, and creativity she imagined while weaving.
Anna thinks she’s found paradise in this world of beachside parties, endless food and drink, and exhilarating romance. But when the fabric of Cups begins to unravel, Anna discovers that her tapestries are more than just forbidden expression. They’re the foundation for a new world that she is destined to create–as long as the terrors from the old world don’t catch up with her first.
And now for my Playlist (Please note: These are in no particular order)!!
Bell, Book and Candle by Eddi Reader. This song came to me for no other reason but that it was used in Charmed (the original 1998 version), which is about witches and magic. Also, I’m not sure what genre it is officially, but when I listen to it, I think of folk music and Celtic music, which makes me think of witches and magic.
~*~
When Will My Life Begin by Mandy Moore. This came to mind when I was on page 26 of the US ARC. Anna being stuck in the tower made me think of Rapunzel. I just kept picturing Anna throughout the years, stuck in the tower with very little to do, and imagined her asking the same questions Rapunzel does in the song: When will my life begin? What’s it really like outside this tower? Will I ever get out of this tower and truly live?
~*~
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. This song came to me before I even started reading, but then page 6 of the US ARC really made me think about it. In Tarot, Anna’s father – the king – says, “Fates are a fixed thing, destiny preordained.” But Anna doesn’t believe that – she feels people should be able to have more autonomy; that they should be able to decide things for themselves. This song’s message aligns with that. It’s basically saying, only you can live your life. Your life is a blank book and only you can decide what happens and how it ends.
~*~
Wildflowers by Tom Petty. At the beginning of Tarot, a line from this song is quoted: “You belong among the wildflowers.” In the song, the line goes on to say, “You belong somewhere you feel free.” So, I included this song on the playlist for two reasons:
1) It’s quoted in the book, so the author must feel it’s relevant
2) It really does fit the theme of the book, of wanting to be free (as Anna wants to be free of the tower and her father’s control).
~*~
Journey to the Past from the animated movie Anastasia. This song came to me after Anna escaped the tower. She’s on a journey to discover who she is and to live her life – which is exactly what this song is about; finding yourself, finding your family, your future, your home, etc. Most importantly, it’s about discovering your past so you can find the path to your future. Because if we don’t understand where we come from, how will we know where to go next on our journey in life?
~*~*~*~
That’s it for my playlist! Like I said at the beginning of this post, I’ve never done a playlist for a book before, and I truly hope this list does the book justice!
Now tell me, have you read Tarot? Which of the above songs would you add to your playlist? Are there any songs NOT on my playlist that you think fit this book? Share them in the comments!
~*~*~*~
About the Author:
Marissa Kennerson received her B.A. in English literature from the University of California, Berkeley. Before earning her master’s degree in psychology and art therapy, she worked for Wired and Glamour. She’s the author of the YA cult-suspense novel, The Family, which she did not write from personal experience, since the only cult she’s ever been in is the cult of YouTube makeup tutorials. She lives in California with her husband and son.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Featuring art and writing from the students of the Parkland tragedy, this is a raw look at the events of February 14, and a poignant representation of grief, healing, and hope.
The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School share their emotional journeys that began on February 14, 2018, and continue today. This revealing and unfiltered look at teens living in the wake of tragedy is a poignant representation of grief, anger, determination, healing, and hope.
The intimate collection includes poetry, eyewitness accounts, letters, speeches, journal entries, drawings, and photographs from the events of February 14 and its aftermath. Full of heartbreaking loss, a rally cry for change, and hope for a safe future, these artistic pieces will inspire readers to reflect on their own lives and the importance of valuing and protecting the ones you love.
TRIGGER WARNING: This book is about a school shooting, and everything that entails – guns, death, PTSD, anciety, depression, etc. Please be cautious in reading this review if those things are a trigger for you.
~*~*~
I’m not going to use my usual “Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for….” intro for this post, because I can’t say I’m excited to be on a blog tour for a book about a school shooting. I don’t know if “humbled” is the right word, either. Honestly, I don’t know what word to use. But the minute I received the email asking if I’d like to participate, I knew I had to say yes. It’s too important a topic to say no to.
School shootings – mass shootings in general – are becoming far too commonplace. We as a nation are growing numb to them. We CAN’T grow numb. We have to stand up and demand stricter gun laws, among other things. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School refuse to be silent, and we should do as they do.
As for the book itself… Parkland Speaks is a gut-wrenching read. Children should never have to fear for their lives while trying to receive an education. Parents should never have to fear that they’ll never see their children again after sending them off to school in the morning. For the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, everything changed on February 14, 2018. Seventeen families lost loved ones, and those who survived the ordeal lost friends – and their innocence.
This book contains poems, stories, diary entries, essays and more – both from students and from faculty who were there that day. Some of the poems are students reflecting in the aftermath of the shooting; others are stories of those who were in the freshman building during the shooting.
The most chilling passage, in my opinion, was one entitled “Nothing Bad Ever Happens in Parkland.” It was a testimony before congress by Stacey Lippel, language arts instructor at MSD. She was right in the thick of the shooting. She saw the shooter. A bullet grazed her arm. Yet she risked her life to save others. She saved many lives by ushering students into her classroom.
One truly heartwarming part of this book? All the stories about the therapy dogs, and how they comforted the traumatized students.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to EVERYONE. It’s a really hard book to get through, but it has a powerful message. Like I said earlier, we as a nation are growing numb to mass shootings, and we can’t let that happen. This book should be required reading for all politicians – for everyone, really, but especially politicians. These stories are heartbreaking and gut-wrenching and IMPORTANT. The lesson learned from reading this book is obvious: we must stand strong against gun violence and demand stronger gun safety laws.
~*~*~
I hate feeling like I have to say this, but if you don’t agree with my stance on gun safety, please don’t comment on this post. Don’t argue with me. Don’t try to start something, because I’ll just delete your comment and block you. Polite discussion is encouraged, but if you’re looking to pick a fight, you’re in the wrong place.
~*~*~
Memorable Quotes:
Please Note: Some of these quotes are snippets of longer passages. The Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) I read did not have page numbers, so I can’t include them here. Instead, I will include the title of the passage the quote comes from.
“Watching my students find their voices after someone tried to silence them…” – ReWrite
“Tears begin to stroke my eyes when I realize one of my messages will remain unread forever.” – Inside a Fearful Mind
“The text read ‘I just want you to know I love you all and don’t worry, I will be okay.’” – Third Floor
“Rose petals and blood covered the floor.” – Third Floor
“That’s when I realized… I left them in that building.” – 2/14/18: The Day My Whole Life Changed
“I didn’t know who the teacher was… I remember her saying something along the lines of ‘I want you to know that if anyone comes through that door, they will have to go through me.’” – Journal Entry #1
“Remember me when I’m gone.” – Immortal Dreams
“Together we will all stand strong.” – Political Puppets
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After suffering terrible losses, Henrietta and Lord Blackwood have led their warriors to Sorrow-Fell, a vast estate where only those invited by a Blackwood may enter--and the ideal place to plan a final assault against the Ancients.
It's time for a wedding.
Henrietta nervously awaits her marriage to Blackwood, but when the ritual to become his bride reveals a dark secret, she realizes that Sorrow-Fell is not a safe haven; it's a trap. Convincing the sorcerers of this, however, is not easy. So with Maria, the true chosen one, and Magnus, the young man who once stole her heart, at her side, Henrietta plots a dangerous journey straight into the enemy's lair. Some will live. Some will die. All will be tested.
In this stunning conclusion to the Kingdom on Fire series, Henrietta must choose between the love from her past, the love from her present, and a love that could define her future. While battles rage, the fate of the kingdom rests on her decision: Will she fall or rise up to become the woman who saves the realm?
It's time for Henrietta to make her stand.
Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess (October 16, 2018 – Random House Books for Young Readers)! Without further adieu, here’s my review!
~*~*~
This entire trilogy has been absolutely amazeballs. This book has been particularly epic in its craziness and WTF moments! The revelations and discoveries have had me on the edge of my seat, and I’ve basically just been going “?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!” and “Well shit….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” on my Goodreads updates.
Henrietta has grown sooo much from book one to book three. As I mentioned in my review of book two, she did have some stagnation in her growth; however, with this book, she really came into her own. I hate being super vague but spoilers, so let’s just say I loved her role in this story, the things that happened to her, and how her story ended. I was a little bit conflicted with two things that happened to her, but it worked out in the end, so it’s cool.
Magnus is literally my absolute favorite. He was THE BEST in this book for MANY reasons, but mainly one big reason. Again, spoilers – ugh – but.. READ THE BOOK AND YOU SHALL SEE! I love him, I loved his story arc, and I loved how his story ended. Like, it couldn’t have been any more perfect.
My love for Maria grew in this book. She was just absolutely brilliant – strong, fierce, powerful, etc. My only issue is, I thought she’d have a bigger role in the end game, and I’m surprised she didn’t. But I loved her character, and I’d kinda love to see a spin-off with her because I really want to learn more about her.
Blackwood… He had his moments, but overall, I didn’t really like him. And he did some especially awful things in this book. I don’t really think he redeemed himself in the end, but I think I understand him a bit better, and I’m.. at peace with him.. Mostly.. Another character I was meh on from the beginning was Rook, but I was shocked at how his story ended. Not sure I’ll ever get over that..
The deaths in this series have all been shocking and, for the most part, unexpected. I’ve mourned the loss of many great characters throughout this series, but this book in particular really “JK ROWLING-D” it. One death in particular broke my heart. Two other deaths shocked me because I didn’t see them coming at all. On the flip side, there were some characters that lived that shocked me, as well, because I fully expected them to die or (in some cases) remain dead.
The ending was insane and crazy and ridiculous and I still can’t wrap my mind around all that happened. Like I mentioned earlier, the revelations and discoveries were really mind-blowing in this book. I LOVED the ending, though some of it broke my heart. Yet I don’t think it could have ended any other way. I LOVED the “One Year Later” epilogue and the way it wrapped certain things up.
I highly recommend this amazing trilogy. The plot is beyond intriguing, the characters are epic, and the twists and turns will have you on the edge of your seat! I can’t wait to see what Jessica Cluess does next – she’s DEFINITELY going on the Auto-Buy Author List!
Hey guys! I’m so excited to be on the blog tour for Anna and the Apocalypse by Katharine Turner and Barry Waldo (October 23, 2018, Imprint)! This book looks hilarious and epic, and I’m super excited to read it!
School’s out for the end of the world.
Anna and the Apocalypse is a horror comedy about a teenager who faces down a zombie apocalypse with a little help from her friends.
Anna Shepherd is a straight-A student with a lot going on under the surface: she’s struggling with her mom’s death, total friend drama, and the fallout from wasting her time on a very attractive boy. She’s looking forward to skipping town after graduation–but then a zombie apocalypse majorly disrupts the holidays season. It’s going to be very hard to graduate high school without a brain.
To save the day, Anna, her friends, and her frenemies will have to journey straight to the heart of one of the most dangerous places ever known, a place famous for its horror, terror, and pain…high school.
This novel is inspired by the musical feature film, Anna and the Apocalypse.
Katharine Turner is a British writer who lives in Los Angeles, California. She loves reading books, watching movies, the otters at The Los Angeles Zoo, piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.
Barry Waldo started telling stories at a young age in rural Arkansas. He went from his first job at Showbiz Pizza Place to getting an MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School. After working at Disney, he led a team crafting the story for Mattel’s Monster High and worked with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to launch the bestselling Monster High book series by Lisi Harrison. He’s also worked with Shana and Ahmet Zappa to create the world of Star Darlings, and with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas.
When Barry found himself on a rainy train ride from London to Scotland, listening to a young Scottish gent explain how he was developing a zombie Christmas musical, Anna and the Apocalypse was born. Barry lives in Scotland with his husband.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A collection of striking and intimate photographs of Michelle Obama, coupled with personal reflections and behind-the-scenes stories from official White House photographer and New York Times bestselling author of Chasing Light, Amanda Lucidon, presented in a deluxe format for young readers.
This stunning and revealing collection of seventy photographs captures and celebrates Mrs. Obama's White House years and her dedication to improving the lives of young people in the United States and around the world.
As a former official White House photographer, Amanda Lucidon shares an insider's view on the role of the First Lady by documenting life at the White House and sharing personal memories that reveal what makes Mrs. Obama so special.
Newly adapted in a deluxe format for young readers from the New York Times bestseller Chasing Light, the collection also includes:
* The role of the First Lady, past and present
* What a White House photographer does
* The history of the People's House and the people who lived there
* And much more!
These strikingly intimate and candid photographs through the lens of a White House photographer are a beautiful celebration and powerful reminder of the impact of a remarkable First Lady.
Hey, everyone! I’m SO excited to be on the blog tour for Reach Higher: An Inspiring Photo Celebration of First Lady Michelle Obama by Amanda Lucidon (October 23, 2018 by Crown Books for Young Readers)! Without further adieu, here’s my review!
~*~*~
I’ve never reviewed a non-fiction book before – nor have I ever gotten political on here. But this book was absolutely amazing. It showcases Michelle Obama – a dignified, intelligent, kind woman who sacrificed her time and energy to make the world a better place.
The pictures are amazing. Amanda Lucidon did an incredible job ensuring that these pictures would go down in history. I especially loved the last one, with Michelle and the family dog. It’s so light and carefree, showing us a different side of the former First Lady.
I love the simple way this book broke down the job of the First Lady, the job of the official White House Photographer, and what the White House is – it makes it very easy for kids to understand. I also enjoyed the bits of historical facts – I learned things I never knew (or maybe once learned and had since forgotten), such as the fact that the White House wasn’t always called the White House, and that Dolley Madison was the first presidential spouse to be referred to as First Lady.
In today’s violent and volatile political climate, kids need this book. They need to know that there are good people out there; that people in power are not all corrupt, and often DO have our best interests at heart. Kids need to know that Michelle Obama is a beacon of kindness, and a person who values humanity – ALL humanity. Kids need to know what we’re fighting to get back, and that the journey will be worth the struggle and sacrifice.
I highly recommend this book to… basically everyone. But I especially think it will be great for teachers and librarians – a must-have book for classroom libraries and library collections. I recommend it to kids who need to understand where we came from and where we’re going, as well as for adults who need a reminder that their hard work will pay off – and that future generations will appreciate all they did.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend.
Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.
But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.
Hey everyone! I’m beyond excited to be on the blog tour for The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White!! This book was SO good!! I hope you enjoy my review!
~*~*~*~
I hated reading in school (because it took away from my own personal reading time), but Frankenstein was one of the few books I was forced to read and actually loved. And as you guys know, I LOVE retellings – especially creepy/dark/twisted ones. So for me, this book was wickedly delightful, creeptastic and intriguing!
Elizabeth is a manipulative bullshitter, a charmer. She’s blunt and to the point. She’s mean, by her own admission. But I love it. She’s flawed and that’s okay. She does what she has to to survive. She has no use for anyone or anything that doesn’t help her or advance her in some way, but considering the time period she lived in, and the things women endured – what we saw her endure – I get it.
Victor is… a complete psychopath/sociopath. I mean, that’s obvious to anyone who has read Frankenstein. But seen from Elizabeth’s perspective, it’s even more obvious.
I adored Justine and her friendship with Elizabeth. She was the one person Elizabeth truly loved, and remained friends with for reasons other than selfish ones. I completely related to her, hardcore, for various reasons. Her fate broke my heart.
Another character I absolutely adored was Mary. I had a weird theory I was desperate to prove, but alas, we received no confirmation on this one. I still loved her. She was strong and fierce in the face of personal turmoil.
I loved the ending. It left things a bit open-ended. I don’t see there being a sequel, but it allows your mind to wander and come up with your own wild theories, re: what happened next.
As always, Kiersten’s writing was phenomenal. She’s one of my favorite writers – has been for years, and always will be. I’ll read anything she writes, and am especially excited for her upcoming novel, Slayer (I mean, I’m a HUGE Buffy fan, so this should come as no surprise!!).
This book felt different from some of Kiersten’s others, but in a good way. It had more of a gothic fiction/classic feel to it and I liked the pace and how things played out. I do wish the atmosphere had been a touch darker and creepier, and I wish there had been a bit more thriller/edge-of your-seat-type intrigue, but I still really enjoyed it.
The only thing that frustrated me was that I couldn’t remember enough of Frankenstein. And that’s NOT a point against this book, that’s just me remembering bits and pieces and flashes, and wishing I could remember more. I had some theories and it was hard to develop them when I couldn’t remember certain things (for example: why did I blank on who Henry Clerval was?!? I read Frankenstein like 3 times. The name rings a bell but ???). But again, that’s NOT a negative or a point against this book. I just wish I could have remembered, because I think it would have made certain things more intriguing.
Overall, I really really loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who is already a fan of Kiersten White, as well as to anyone that loves horror, classics, retellings and especially – obviously – Frankenstein.
~*~*~*~
About the Author:
KIERSTEN WHITE is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, the And I Darken series, comprised of And I Darken, Now I Rise, and Bright We Burn; the Paranormalcy series; Slayer, and many more novels. She lives with her family near the ocean in San Diego, which, in spite of its perfection, spurs her to dream of faraway places and even further-away times.
And now for the giveaway! Three lucky winners will receive a finished copy of THE DARK DESCENT OF ELIZABETH FRANKENSTEIN! US Only. To enter, fill out the rafflecopter below!
A brilliant girl puzzler discovers she’s part of a superhero team!
About the Author:
Warrior of the Wild by 
Parkland Speaks: Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their Stories by 
A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by 
Reach Higher: An Inspiring Photo Celebration of First Lady Michelle Obama by 
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by 
