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Review: Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

Nov11

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.

Review: Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia GrayTen Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray
Series: Firebird #2
Published by HarperTeen on November 3, 2015
Pages: 432
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-half-stars

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents' invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.

The second book in the Firebird trilogy, Ten Thousand Skies Above You features Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.

Claudia Gray has done it again! Ten Thousand Skies Above You was an amazing, amazing book! After the cliffhanger in A Thousand Pieces of You (which was one of my absolute favorite books of 2014!!), I was desperate to get my hands on this book! And it definitely did NOT disappoint!

The one thing I hate to admit is that, as much as I loved A Thousand Pieces of You, I completely blanked on a LOT of things that happened. I remembered bits and pieces, especially from the Russiaverse, but that was about it. So I had to skim through A Thousand Pieces of You before I started Ten Thousand Skies Above You. This didn’t take long and it was completely worth it! I felt way more prepared, going into Ten Thousand Skies Above You, than I would have if I HADN’T skimmed A Thousand Pieces of You first. Plus, Gray did a great job recapping things along the way, as well.

Once again, I loved Marguerite. As usual, she was incredibly take-charge and refused to sit on the sidelines or let someone else do the dirty work for her, despite the uncertainty of what she was doing – and despite knowing what she now knows about her role in things. The way her story ended, though? Holy crap, did NOT expect that!

I’m still Team Paul, obviously! I adore Paul and I ship him and Marguerite so hard! But it was harder to like Paul in this book because, sadly, some of his other selves were.. well… a little bit rough around the edges. And a LOT less trusting. (P.S: I’ll still always love Lieutenant Markov from the Russiavnrse the best! Just saying…). Theo really had some amazing moments in this book! Sadly, after everything that happened with “Theo” in the first book, I’m still having a hard time trusting him. And after what happened at the end of this book…??? Whoa! That’s all I’m saying!

Through the dimensions visited in this book, we definitely saw a different side to each of the characters – darker, more evil sides – as opposed to those versions we met in the first book. We also discovered that some of the other versions of our beloved characters were a lot more ruthless when it came to achieving their goals. One character was stone-cold and heartless in one dimension, though I won’t say who for risk of spoilers.

There were some EPIC and INTENSE revelations in this book! I can’t talk about ANY of them without spoilers, obviously, but HOLY CRAP!!! We finally learned more about the events of book one and how/why they came to take place. We learned more about the Triadverse, more about Triad as a company and more about the founders, including Wyatt Conley and his motives. Basically, we learned why everything is happening. We also learned more about Marguerite’s role in all of this. And if you thought the cliffhanger for A Thousand Pieces of You was insane, you haven’t seen anything yet!!! I just can’t even! I have NO idea how I’m going to wait a year for the third book!!!

My only real complaint with this book is that it started off a bit slow – not necessarily in a boring way, just slow. The real action didn’t technically start until page 80! However, from there, it was intense and epic. Once that intensity started, it never eased up! I definitely loved the dimensions from A Thousand Pieces of You more, especially the Russiaverse (for obvious reasons!), but I still enjoyed the dimensions in this book, too!

Overall, Ten Thousand Skies Above You was epic, amazing and wonderful! No Second Book Syndrome to be found here! I’m so anxious to get my hands on the third book, I can’t even put it into words! Until then, I’ll keep myself busy by re-reading Spellcaster and then reading Steadfast and Sorceress for the first time! So, obviously, I HIGHLY recommend this book (and this series as a whole), not to mention everything Claudia has ever – and will ever – write. Period.

four-half-stars

Review: Everything But the Truth by Mandy Hubbard

Nov10

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.

Review: Everything But the Truth by Mandy HubbardEverything But the Truth by Mandy Hubbard
Series: If Only . . . #6
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on November 17, 2015
Pages: 288
Source: the publisher
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three-stars

If Only . . . she wasn't pretending to be someone else! The If Only romance line continues in this fun rags-to-riches romance.

Holly Mathews' mom is the new manager of a ritzy retirement home, and they just moved in. But having super-rich retirees as her only neighbors isn't a total bust, because the gorgeous, notorious Malik Buchannan is the grandson of a resident. Just one problem: when they meet, Malik assumes Holly is there to visit her own rich relative. She doesn't correct him, and it probably doesn't matter, because their flirtation could never turn into more than a superficial fling . . . right? But the longer she lives in his privileged world, the deeper Holly falls for Malik, and the harder it is to tell the truth . . . because coming clean might mean losing him.

For anyone who has dreamed of their own Cinderella story, this romance shows that when it comes to true love, the best person to be is yourself!

This was my first Mandy Hubbard book and my first read from the “If Only” YA Romance Series (which focuses on teenage girls who want what they can’t have and fall for someone they shouldn’t, according to this article). I had no idea what to expect and I don’t typically read YA romance novels, so I was a bit nervous; however, Everything But the Truth ended up being a cute, light-hearted romance with fun characters and major ship feels!

I liked Holly in the beginning. She was the average girl-next-door who was working and saving every last penny for college. She and her mom got along (something I’d love to see happen more often in YA) and she was kind to – and liked by – the residents. Her lies, intentional or not, quickly became frustrating, though. She had so many opportunities to fess up and she let them all slip by. After awhile, the convenient stories she made up to hide her lie became TOO convenient, almost unrealistically so.

I was swoony for Malik almost immediately after we met him. Later in the story, he definitely had some meh moments. I understand his trust issues, given who he is and what he’s been through; however, I hated how mistrustful he became of Holly. Yes, I know, I JUST condemned her for dragging her lies out for too long. But in the end, she DID tell him the truth. And it’s obvious she was sincere, so I’m kind of mad at Malik for waiting so long to forgive her. Really, they were both equally at fault.

At first, I was going to go on this whole rant about Alex and how I didn’t fully trust her and how she was a crappy friend because I’m so tired of books with crappy female friendships. But then there’s a huge revelation/explanation for her and her behavior – something I’d suspected a few chapters before we were officially told – and everything made so much more sense! So I won’t rant about crappy female friendships in this review and in relation to this book. But in general, I do wish we’d see less of this trope in YA!

Finally, I really liked Mr. Buchannan! He totally reminded me of Blu Mankuma as Gort in Halloweentown ll: Kalabar’s Revenge. He’s so growly bear, but with a giant soft spot! Deep down, he loves his grandson and his intentions are good.

This book was often right on the edge of cute but cheesy. There were plenty of “awwww” moments, but they were equally matched by the cheesy moments. It also took awhile to get used to Hubbard’s writing style, so at first, the writing came off as being a bit simplistic. Once I got used to it, though, I enjoyed it! Her writing has this rawness to it that makes the story feel more authentic, more like a teenager is actually telling/showing it.

Sadly, this book’s biggest fault was its predictability. I don’t know if it’s a result of the genre or just my ability to predict how things will turn out, but it was pretty easy to figure out what would happen and how things would be resolved in the end. As I mentioned earlier, in relation to Holly, there were also a lot of resolutions that were entirely too convenient. This goes hand-in-hand with the predictability aspect.

Overall, despite the cheesiness (and I mean that in a cute/fun way) and predictability, I found that I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, light-hearted romance and the characters, though not totally stand-out, were awesome in their own way and awesome enough that I DID care about them enough to see how their stories ended. Plus, the ending DID make me cry, so, ya know… Predictable, but sweet and epic! So if all that is your kind of thing, then this book is definitely for you!

three-stars

Review: Soundless by Richelle Mead

Nov9

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.

Review: Soundless by Richelle MeadSoundless by Richelle Mead
Published by Razorbill on November 10, 2015
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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three-stars

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore.

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

At its core, Soundless has the potential to be an amazing book. First of all, it’s Richelle Mead, which is always an automatic “yes” for me. But beyond that, the plot also sounded intriguing, as did the diverse characters and setting. However, in the end, I was pretty disappointed.

I’ll start with the positive: As always, Mead’s writing was gorgeous. She does an incredible job of showing the reader the world she’s creating, which (usually) really pulls the reader in. At times, I did find myself being pulled in and enjoying the book. But those rare moments were far out-numbered by the meh moments.

I have read four series’ by Mead, both YA and adult. Each series put a unique spin on a common plot and each had a colorful cast of characters that felt like real people – people I cared about and who I rooted for. Sadly, Soundless was lacking both of those trademark Mead elements. Though Soundless had a unique concept, the plot was structured much the same way as all the other Fantasy and Dystopian novels out there (example: The whole “saving my sister” thing reminded me of The Hunger Games and, once that comparison was in my head, I could’t shake it at all). That made things fairly predictable and I was able to guess how several things were going to play out from very early on.

The characters weren’t completely flat – they all had these brilliant moments where I really loved them; however, they were lacking… something… And I really can’t even put my finger on what it was. I guess I’m comparing them to Mead’s other characters from her other books and I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by the cast of Soundless in comparison to the cast of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines (I’ll leave out comparisons to Mead’s adult books, to level the playing field a bit).

Fei and Li Wei absolutely had moments of bravery and strength throughout their journey. They experienced growth that the other characters didn’t. But given what they went through and what they learned, I expected more growth – and that didn’t happen. I’m not convinced of their chemistry, either, though they certainly had more chemistry than Fei and Sheng did.

The other characters in this book felt like secondary background characters, even Fei’s sister, because we mostly took this journey with Fei and Li Wei. I will say that I really liked Xiu Mei and couldn’t stand Sheng. But beyond that, I don’t really feel one way or another about any of the characters – even Fei and Li Wei, who are supposed to be the main characters. Beyond their moments of bravery and strength – and the fact that they had the most development of any other characters – nothing about them stood out for me.

Though I’m no expert on Chinese culture and folklore, I skimmed a handful of reviews on Goodreads and was disappointed to discover that those more knowledgable than I had two major issues with this book: the cover model is not Chinese and the Chinese names were done wrong. I’m proud of Mead for stepping out of her comfort zone and writing a book that’s vastly different from her previous ones; however, I’m disappointed she didn’t do more research and that the cover artist didn’t chose a better cover model, one that better represented the culture and the book as a whole.

There was a rushed convenience to the ending. At first, Mead had a logical explanation for the hearing and vision loss, one rooted in science. I actually found this explanation intriguing. But then, almost out of nowhere (I say “almost” because it was hinted at earlier), Mead brought in a (illogical) fantasy/magical element to explain certain things. Now, I’m usually the first person to be like “OMG SUPERNATURAL/FANTASY ELEMENTS!! YAY!!!!” But it didn’t feel necessary in this book. Instead, it felt forced and, in relation to the resolution of the book, entirely too convenient. In my opinion, Mead should have used either the logical explanation OR the illogical explanation, but not both.

Finally, Soundless is a stand-alone, but there was a lack of closure by the end of the book. I feel like the reader is left hanging, with a lot of questions still unanswered. And many plot points tied up quickly and simply, but with a lack of explanation and logic. Really, a lot of things in this book were incredibly illogical and required almost a complete suspension of disbelief. Many books require suspension of disbelief, but Soundless demanded it.

Overall, Soundless was nonsensical and illogical. I found myself asking “why?” too many times. There was no sense of urgency, no heart-pounding or heart-in-throat moments – even when there should have been. If you’re a Mead fan, I still recommend this book – you may enjoy it where I didn’t. However, if you’ve never read any of Mead’s books, I suggest starting with one of her other series’! Her other books, in my opinion, are way better – better plot, better characters. Basically, better all around!

PS: Alyssa @ The Eater of Books! posted a great review of Soundless, explaining the deus ex machina plot device and how it relates to the book. I had to look up what deus ex machina meant, but once I read the explanation and then read the book itself, I completely agreed! Check out Alyssa’s review here!

three-stars

Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Oct9

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.

Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnisA Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on October 6, 2015
Pages: 384
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us.

A Madness So Discreet was nothing like I expected it to be. It was my first Mindy McGinnis book and I really enjoyed it! The beginning was a bit odd (though not necessarily in a bad way), but after that, it got super intriguing. McGinnis’ writing style takes some getting used to but she really dives into the world she creates and you can’t help but dive in right along with her!

The first 90 pages were very blunt, in-your-face and completely unapologetic. Honestly, the whole book was like that, but it was especially apparent in the beginning, when we saw the way Grace was treated in a less-than upstanding insane asylum. The way women used to be thrown in asylums simply because their husband or father (or any male in their life) said, “yep, she’s crazy. Lock her up!” was completely horrifying, sick and twisted.

Grace was a pretty amazing character. She faced a LOT of hard times – and that’s an understatement. One thing that happened to Grace – the thing that got her sent to the asylum in the first place – was truly heinous. I don’t want to spoil it and, to be honest, it’s not something I’ve dealt with very much and I don’t think I could discuss it properly/do it justice, so I’m just going to say that it was horrifying and no one ever deserves to go through what she experienced, never mind the fact that she was deemed “crazy” to hide the heinous act of another. Though I won’t elaborate (because spoilers) and I don’t know much about the subject, I will say that it felt like McGinnis handled it very well in the context of this book.

With everything Grace went through, I feel like she was a very strong, fierce character. She didn’t let what she experienced harden her. She didn’t lose herself in the asylum – though there was that one moment…. But in the end, she faced the things that haunted her and saw justice served. She found a place for herself and made her own happiness.

Thornhollow was an interesting but frustrating character. It was hard to get a good read on him. He rescued Grace from a very bad situation, but he did it more for himself than for her. He had a bit of a one track mind when it came to his work. Sometimes that was a good thing, but sometimes it made him very stubborn and he refused to listen to Grace or accept alternate theories on a certain subject. I also didn’t see much character growth in him. He stayed pretty much the same throughout, though he had a few moments where he learned important lessons and seemed to embrace those lessons.

Adelaide was an epic character. She said whatever was on her mind, never holding anything back. I thought she was hilarious and sarcastic and loved the way she sided so quickly with Grace, rather than Thornhollow. Their bond was awesome.

There were a lot of secondary characters that I really came to like – and some I strongly disliked. I appreciated the way McGinnis showed that there were good and bad people in this world and not everyone was who they seemed. At the first asylum, you had Croomes and Mr. Heedson, who were evil and horrible. But then you had Mrs. Clay, who was a kind old lady. And then there’s Falsteed, who was super creepy and weird and who seemed to be straddling that line of good versus evil. But there was still something likable about him.

At the second asylum, Grace met Nell and Lizzie, both of whom I really liked. Despite their circumstances, they still managed to hold their heads high. Nell was fierce and spoke her mind, while Lizzie was more perceptive that people gave her credit for, as well as fiercely loyal.

This book’s pacing was a bit odd. Sometimes, it slowed down and I had to push to get through certain sections. Other times, I sped through 50 pages without even realizing it. The beginning was hard to get through because of the conditions of the first asylum and the things that Grace was subjected to. But once I got through that, the pace picked up and stayed up for awhile before it began slowing a little bit. The ending, though, will have you flipping pages as fast as you can!

Overall, this book was Criminal Minds in the form of YA historical fiction. If you like criminology and criminal psychology, you’re going to love this book! The characters are complex, flawed and wonderful. McGinnis is an amazing author and her writing will pull you in and refuse to let go. Trigger warning for sexual assault – If books with that topic bother you, you may want to avoid this book or read with caution. I highly recommend this book for fans of psychological thrillers and historicals!

four-stars

Review: Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

Oct7

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.

Review: Daughters Unto Devils by Amy LukavicsDaughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics
Published by Harlequin Teen on September 29, 2015
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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three-stars

When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner's family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly Ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.

When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn't right on the prairie. She's heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can't be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.

Lately, I’ve really been in the mood for a creepy, scary, “keep the lights on” book – Something that scares me as much as my favorite horror movies, maybe more. Which is why I’ve been desperately anticipating Daughters Unto Devils for over a year now. But as a horror buff, not much scares me. So, sadly, neither did this. But beyond that, the entire book fell kind of flat for me.

I didn’t connect with any of the characters, nor did I particularly like them. They were very flat and had very little character growth or development throughout the book. Not to mention the fact that they were all pretty nasty and mean to each other. Pa was such a cold man. Ma seemed broken. Amanda was bland. Henry was completely using Amanda. And though Emily had reason to be angry with Amanda, she also didn’t have to stay so angry. Wasn’t Amanda punished enough with everything that happened to her? I just didn’t see any love at all between these characters. Also, I didn’t trust Zeke or Doctor Jacobson at all.

Though the majority of the book didn’t scare me, the last page did gave me a small chill, but it was nothing near what I’d hoped to feel with this book. Rather, it was like watching a horror movie that you’ve already seen – you know what’s coming, yet you still anticipate that moment when you’re going to be scared and jumpy, but you’re never actually scared, just jumpy. It’s unfortunate that this book wasn’t creepy because the setting – the isolated prairie in the 1800s – had such creep-factor potential.

Despite all that, I will say the plot was intriguing! With the right music and special effects, I could completely see it being a successful movie or TV mini-series. Also, the pacing was pretty spot-on. I finished this book in a matter of hours – mostly because I was desperate to get to the creepy part (which didn’t happen), but also because the writing flowed very nicely and it was an easy read.

If you love horror, give this one a shot! And if you’re easily scared, you might want to read this during the day.. With all the lights on.. Just in case..!

So.. Short review is short. But I honestly don’t have anything else to say about this one. I’m very sad panda that I didn’t enjoy it more; however, this book had all kinds of potential and I’m still excited to see what Amy Lukavics comes up with next.

three-stars

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Oct6

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.

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh BardugoSix of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Dregs #1
Published by Henry Holt and Co. on September 29, 2015
Pages: 480
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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four-stars

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

After binge reading the entire Grisha trilogy, I was super pumped to dive right into Six of Crows. I had extremely high expectations for this book, since I loved the Grisha trilogy so much – and Six of Crows more than delivered! With incredible world-building, epic characters and Leigh Bardugo’s gorgeous writing, this book was everything I hoped it would be and more!

First of all, I love this world. I love that we (those who read the Grisha trilogy) know this world – it’s established and we know the rules and laws, but it’s also a different side of the world we know and love. It’s darker and heavier, yet it still has moments that make you laugh out loud. Bardugo’s world-building and writing skills have gotten even better since she did the Grisha trilogy and since that trilogy was insanely amazing, it’s hard to believe she could get even better than she already was!

I also loved these characters. They have so much depth and richness – I was immediately and completely invested in them and their story. They were insanely awesome and had such great chemistry, I just shipped everyone with everyone!

Kaz is incredibly cocky, sarcastic and bad-ass. He had nothing and no one and he had to build himself up and, essentially, start from scratch. He needed a roof over his head, a source of income, a way to ensure his safety and reputation – and he did all of that and more. He’s fiercely loyal to the Dregs and his friends, yet driven by revenge

I had a major girl crush on Inej. I loved everything about her – her background, who she was to the Dregs and Kaz, her attitude and personality, how badass and loyal she was – absolutely everything. She’s a trained fighter and capable of holding her own. In those regards, she reminded me of Alina and Celaena.

I 100% shipped Kaz and Inej. They were just perfect together. They were both loyal and bad-ass and they could both hold their own in a sticky situation, yet they still watched each other’s backs, kept each other’s secrets and were concerned beyond words for each other’s safety when things looked grim. Yet they still butted heads over a number of things and the tension between them was insane. My heart completely broke for them at the end of this book and I’m anxious to see what happens next for them.

I wasn’t really crazy about Jesper in the beginning, but then he grew on me. He and Wylan (one of my favorite characters) were hilarious and perfect together. It’s hard to pick who my OTP was, between them and Kaj & Inej, but I can definitely say that they were one of my absolute favorite ships in this book!

For the most part, I liked Nina. She was hilarious and I loved the role she played in the group, but I never fully trusted her – She had her own agenda and I was always waiting for her to stab them all in the back, to do what she had to in order to fix the messes she found herself in.

Matthias was an okay character, but he wasn’t stand-out for me. What he did was brave and it showed that he DOES know right from wrong and he CAN learn to do the right thing. But I wasn’t crazy about his background or his personality. And I definitely did NOT ship him and Nina, which made me very sad because I had heard a LOT about this ship prior to reading the book and everyone loved them. I wanted to like Matthias and I wanted to ship him and Nina but I just couldn’t. Not after the things he did and how many times he betrayed her or hurt her. He reminded me of the Darkling – I wanted to like him, but I could’t forgive the things he did.

Normally, this many POVs in one novel would annoy me – Unfortunately, too many multiple POV’s (greater than three) are almost always done because it’s the only way to kept the story moving and without them, there would be less plot and a shorter novel. But Bardugo made it work and I loved seeing inside everyone’s heads! I also felt the pacing was pretty spot on. Some people found it slow to get going, but I think that’s because Bardugo really took the time to develop this world and these characters and, as a very character-driven reader, I really appreciated and enjoyed that. For me, nothing felt like filler – it all felt relevant and important to the overall story. Others might disagree and that’s okay! But I do suggest pushing through the potentially slow beginning – it’s so worth it for the epic cliffhanger ending!

And, my goodness, was that cliffhanger epic, intense and insane! This book JUST came out a week ago and I’m already dying for the sequel! So many revelations, so many plot twists, so many crazy character developments… My poor heart couldn’t take it!!! I really don’t want to say more for fear of spoilers, but trust me, it was ridiculously good!

Overall, if you couldn’t tell from my rambling-filled fangirl review, I LOVED this book, I LOVE Leigh Bardugo and I CAN’T wait for her next book (both in this series and in general). I can’t get enough of this world, these characters or Bardugo’s crazy-good writing! I HIGHLY recommend this book, whether you read the Grisha trilogy or not (Side note: You DON’T have to read the Grisha trilogy before you read Six of Crows – they’re companion novels and can be read together or separately; however, I HIGHLY recommend you read both the Grisha trilogy AND Six of Crows because both are amazing beyond words), give this one a chance! It’s filled with amazing characters, an epic plot and a rich, well-developed world – So, basically, it has everything that makes an amazing book!

four-stars

Review: Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis (Blog Tour + Giveaway)

Oct5

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.

Review: Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis (Blog Tour + Giveaway)Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis
Published by Disney Hyperion on October 6th 2015
Pages: 336
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Sixteen-year-old heiress and paparazzi darling Liddi Jantzen hates the spotlight. But as the only daughter in the most powerful tech family in the galaxy, it's hard to escape it. So when a group of men show up at her house uninvited, she assumes it's just the usual media-grubs. That is, until shots are fired.

Liddi escapes, only to be pulled into an interplanetary conspiracy more complex than she ever could have imagined. Her older brothers have been caught as well, trapped in the conduits between the planets. And when their captor implants a device in Liddi's vocal cords to monitor her speech, their lives are in her hands: One word and her brothers are dead.

Desperate to save her family from a desolate future, Liddi travels to another world, where she meets the one person who might have the skills to help her bring her eight brothers home-a handsome dignitary named Tiav. But without her voice, Liddi must use every bit of her strength and wit to convince Tiav that her mission is true. With the tenuous balance of the planets deeply intertwined with her brothers' survival, just how much is Liddi willing to sacrifice to bring them back?

Haunting and mesmerizing, this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Wild Swans strings the heart of the classic with a stunning, imaginative world as a star-crossed family fights for survival in this companion to Stitching Snow.

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SpinningStarlight 
Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis! I’m very excited to be a part of this blog tour! I absolutely loved this book and I hope you enjoy my review!

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According to the synopsis, Spinning Starlight is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Wild Swans. I’ll admit, I haven’t read that one and have no idea what it’s about. But I’ll say this: In my opinion, Spinning Starlight was The Little Mermaid meets These Broken Stars and full of awesome. With intriguing characters, epic world-building and Lewis’ signature writing, this companion to Stitching Snow (one of my top reads of 2014) will take you on a wild ride!

I really liked Liddi. She’s burdened with a heavy responsibility from a young age, yet it never really goes to her head. In fact, it has the opposite effect and she actually doubts herself and her abilities. She puts a lot of pressure on herself to live up to other people’s expectations. She’s incredibly loyal to family and the love she has for her brothers – and the love they had for her – was amazing. Often, you see siblings fighting in YA and not getting along, so this was a very refreshing change of pace. I would have loved to get to know her brothers more, though. We definitely didn’t get to see enough of them and their interactions with Liddi!

In the journey to save her brothers, Liddi ends up being in a constant state of danger. She was almost always in an unknown place or situation and, without an easy means of communication, she had to fight to be understood and to survive. In my mind, that makes her brave, loyal and fierce.

The only thing that annoyed me, in regard to Liddi, was the process by which she and Tiav communicated in the beginning. Deciphering the weird syllables of Liddi’s robotic/computerized voice was a bit annoying and it often slowed down my reading pace.

I liked Tiav for the most part, especially in the beginning and end – though he lost some brownie points in the middle for some of his behavior! But in the beginning, when he first met Liddi, he was very level-headed and open-minded. He was quick to trust Liddi, though he remained cautious, but he was kind and very protective and accepting of her. Like I said, his behavior in the middle portion of the book kind of ticked me off, but from his perspective, I get why he acted the way he did, so I won’t come down too hard on him for it. And he definitely redeemed himself in the end.

There were a LOT of secondary characters in this book. As with Stitching Snow, I admired Lewis’ ability to make us care for characters that we didn’t really have a lot of time to get to know. Some note-worthy characters (for both good and bad reasons) are Garrin, Quain (who I liked but didn’t always trust), Shiin (again, liked her but didn’t trust her), Minali (don’t even get me started), Dom and Kalkig. But they are/were all wonderful characters that I loved reading about and, in some cases, would have liked to read about more and get to know better.

The Spinning Starlight world was WAY more elaborate than the Stitching Snow world – which is weird to say because I know it’s supposed to be the same world, since this was a companion novel. But Lewis definitely upped the world-building in this book and I love how detailed it was. At the same time, there was more action in Stitching Snow versus this book and the pacing of Stitching Snow felt faster, though I still read this book pretty quickly. The ending for both books felt slightly rushed, but I noticed it more so in Spinning Starlight. I really would have loved an epilogue, something to make the ending feel more complete.

The only two complaints I really have are with the flashbacks at the end of each chapter and some of the tech talk. The flashbacks were a bit confusing because they felt very random and I couldn’t figure out what they had to do with the chapter they proceeded. The formatting of this eARC was a bit off, though, so I’m wondering if they make more sense in the finished copy of the book. As for the tech talk, I really felt very lost and confused with a lot of the technology and the explanations for the Khua, conduits, etc. And not understanding a lot of that meant I was confused for a good portion of the book, so that took a bit of enjoyment away from reading.

But overall, this book was epic and a fun read. I love Lewis’ writing. I love the worlds she creates. I love the characters she develops. I just really love her books and can’t wait to see what she does next! And, of course, I highly recommend this book!

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And now for the giveaway! 1 winner will receive a signed finished copies of STITCHING SNOW & SPINNING STARLIGHT. US Only. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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RC
About the Author:
 
R.C. Lewis teaches math to teenagers—sometimes in sign language, sometimes not—so whether she’s a science geek or a bookworm depends on when you look. That may explain why her characters don’t like to be pigeonholed. Coincidentally, R.C. enjoys reading about quantum physics and the identity issues of photons.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:
9/28/2015 – Fangirlish – Interview
9/29/2015 – A Backwards Story – Review
9/30/2015 – Supernatural Snark – Guest Post
10/1/2015 – YaReads – Review
10/2/2015 – Two Chicks on Books – Interview

Week Two:
10/5/2015 – Pandora’s Book’s– Review
10/6/2015 – Bookhounds ya – Guest Post
10/7/2015 – Just Commonly – Review
10/8/2015 – Mundie Moms – Interview
10/9/2015 – Please Feed The Bookworm – Review

four-stars

Review: Twist My Charm: The Popularity Spell by Toni Gallagher

Sep21

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.

Review: Twist My Charm: The Popularity Spell by Toni GallagherTwist My Charm: The Popularity Spell by Toni Gallagher
Series: Twist My Charm #1
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 22, 2015
Pages: 272
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Magic and a little twist of mayhem will charm fans of Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Wendy Mass in this fresh, contemporary debut!

When a package arrives in the mail for Cleo Nelson, she can’t wait to open it. The birthday present is seven months late, but it’s from Uncle Arnie and that can only mean one thing: magic! Inside is a voodoo doll complete with instructions for making happy, wonderful things happen to Cleo and her friends—err, friend. Just one, really. But maybe the doll can change that. . . .

Cleo can’t wait to try out the magic with her friend, Samantha. They start small by wishing for treats (surprise pizza!), but then their spells start to grow. And when they wish for popularity, they accidentally get the popular girl in school in major trouble with the principal. Can happy spells be twisted into bad magic?

I don’t read much middle grade – Okay, I never read middle grade. But when this book was pitched to me, it sounded like a really fun, intriguing read. Plus, the author was a TV producer for Disney’s Bug Juice. So.. Umm.. I had no choice but to read it!!! And I ended up really enjoying it!

The characters in this book were extremely relatable and yet extremely hard to relate to. I know, those two statements are completely at odds. But let me explain – I’m used to reading books with older characters. And at times, it was really hard to remember that the characters in this book were only around eleven and twelve years old. Sometimes, I caught myself thinking, “Wow, that was REALLY childish and immature,” only to stop and remind myself that they ARE children, so of course they’re going to react and behave to certain things in certain ways.

That being said, Cleo was a fun, relatable character. She was the awkward new girl who didn’t have the right hair or clothes and who was bullied by the mean girl – things that anyone, at any age, can relate to. She’s dealing with living in a new place and going to a new school, along with the realization that her dad is starting to seriously date someone. That’s a lot for anyone to handle! I admired Cleo’s ability to realize she was in over her head and needed help a few times. She realized when things had gone too far and knew she had to put a stop to them. Overall, I loved her character and personality.

Samantha’s a tough character to talk about because I really didn’t like her, but the reasons why I didn’t like her.. Well, again, some of the things she did were really childish and mean. But, like I said earlier, I have to remember that she IS a child. On the other hand, her age is no excuse for the way she treated Cleo. She was a bad friend, plain and simple. I understand why she was upset and I understand why she did a lot of what she did, but still. I’m happy with where her story ended, though, and excited to see what happens with her and Cleo in the second book.

Madison’s another tough character to talk about. I very strongly disliked her in the beginning. She reminded me of every mean girl I’ve ever encountered – and tried to forget – in my life. Couple that with the things she did to Cleo and Sam and you can see why she wasn’t likable. Once we got to know her better, though, I understand her actions and where she was coming from. Her personality did a major 180, roughly half-way through the book and I started to feel sorry for her and like her more. I REALLY like how her story ended and can’t wait to see more of her in book two!

I really liked Terri. She tried so hard to be kind to Cleo, to get on her good side without overstepping her boundaries. But Cleo was very stubborn and unkind to Terri. I understand why – to a certain extent – but it still made me sad. I loved Cleo’s dad and Terri together – they were such a fun, cute couple! I was shocked by the way Terri’s story ended and I’m crossing my fingers that something will change for her and her story in book two.

The middle/end of this book was pretty crazy and intense. I was shocked and saddened by some of the things that happened. But, overall, I really liked the way it ended and I’m very excited to get my hands on book two and see what happens next for Cleo, Sam and Maddy, as well as Cleo’s dad and Terri. If you’re a fan of middle grade and magic, then you’re going to love this one!

four-stars

Review: A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano

Sep16

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.

Review: A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefanoA Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano
Series: Pram #1
Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on September 1, 2015
Pages: 240
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Pram Bellamy is special--she can talk to ghosts. She doesn't have too many friends amongst the living, but that's all right. She has her books, she has her aunts, and she has her best friend, the ghostly Felix.

Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent and is looking for answers. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who promises to help. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram's power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost.

New York Times bestselling author Lauren DeStefano is beloved by critics and readers alike, and her middle grade debut is lyrical, evocative and not to be missed.

I don’t normally read middle grade novels, but I’m a huge fan of Lauren DeStefano’s YA books, so I knew I had to give A Curious Tale of the In-Between a chance! To my (slight) surprise, I really enjoyed it! I loved Pram, the world and the plot.

Pram was an awesome character. She’s described (through the eyes of her aunts) as being eccentric and imaginative. She knows she’s strange, but she doesn’t really let it bother her. She worries what others will think of her, but she doesn’t change herself to make them happy. She’d rather be invisible than be noticed, which I can completely relate to! She’s also very loyal to her friends and a very strong, brave person. She endures a LOT at the end of this book – both mentally and emotionally and even physically (a little bit) – and I’m very excited to see what happens next for her! Also, I know this is weird, since she’s so young, but I couldn’t help but picture her as Jennifer Love Hewitt in her Ghost Whisperer role – Like, this whole book just reminded me of a Middle Grade version of Ghost Whisperer!

Felix was an intriguing character. It’s a bit odd, because he’s young and he has the mentality of someone who’s young, but he’s also been a ghost for a long time, so he has a bit of maturity and wisdom that seems beyond his years. He has moments where he acts mature and wise, where he had enough sense to know when something was wrong and when he couldn’t handle something alone. But other times, he very much acted like the age he was when he died – like when he felt Clarence was taking Pram from him and she had to choose between her dead friend and living one. Someone older would know that you can have many friends and that you can have different interests and hobbies with each friend. But, despite his many years as a ghost, Felix couldn’t completely comprehend this. I felt bad for him because, at times, he seemed so sad.

Speaking of Clarence, I really liked him. Though his actions were a bit selfish sometimes and though his one-track mind got Pram into a lot of the trouble she found herself in, he was really good for Pram. Someday, if and when Felix DOES decide to move on, Pram will need a friend and Clarence is a good friend. He understands a lot of what Pram is going through and he’s very fierce and loyal to her. His actions at the end of the book – coupled with Felix’s help – really saved the day.

I loved Aunt Dee and Aunt Nan. They were pretty content to let Pram be herself, even when she was being eccentric, speaking to people who weren’t there and telling them about “imaginary” friends. For the most part, they did everything they could to keep her safe. I think they should have been more honest with her at times, but I understand that they felt they were protecting her by not telling her certain things. Also, this might be as odd as my Ghost Whisperer comment, but they completely reminded me of Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda from Sabrina the Teenage Witch – sans magic and slightly less quirky, though!

Lady Savant.. Ugh, it’s really hard to talk about her because I absolutely hated her for the majority of the book, but then something happened near the middle/end and I felt really bad for her. So even though I want to hate her for what she did… I really can’t now. There’s no excuse for the things she did, but the things that happened to her weren’t fair, either. I don’t want to justify her actions, but it’s hard not to want to defend her a little bit.

I loved the world and rules in this book, as well, though DeStefano is amazing at world-building, so that doesn’t surprise me. I loved the different approach she took to the ghostly world and the whole story with memories and objects – I know that’s vague, but I don’t want to spoil it for you guys! You’ll just have to read it to find out what I’m talking about!

My only complaint was that the writing felt a little bit awkward and stilted, which surprised me because I never had that problem with DeStefano’s YA books. But then I started to wonder if maybe it was just me and getting used to reading a book with a younger protagonist and, therefore, a different voice. Of course the book’s tone would be different. Once I got into that mentality, the writing didn’t bother me as much and I actually forgot it had bothered me at all by the time I got roughly half-way through the book!

The ending was pretty intense and I didn’t expect a lot of what happened, to happen! I also thought this was a stand-alone and apparently there’s going to be a second book! So that makes me really excited, especially given how it ended.

I highly recommend this for fans of Lauren DeStefano – and, of course, fans of MG novels and ghosts/paranormal plots. DeStefano is an amazing writer and she creates amazing worlds, characters that you care about and plots that keep you reading until the very last page.

four-stars

Review: Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Sep14

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.

Review: Dumplin’ by Julie MurphyDumplin' by Julie Murphy
Published by Balzer + Bray on September 15th 2015
Pages: 384
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-half-stars

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . . until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine— Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

When I first heard about Dumplin’, I was really excited to read it. I’ve been hearing nothing but good things about it (based on early reviews) and how deeply it effected some people. Sadly, though, this book ended up being completely underwhelming for me.

I loved how unapologetic Willlowdean (Will) was about her fatness. She cares what people think, but only to a certain extent. She’s got that “I’m fat. Don’t like it? Don’t look” attitude that I wish I had. I could really relate to a number of things she dealt with, like not wanting to get out of the pool when a lot of people were around and not wanting to go shopping, especially at a store where you knew you’d never fit into anything. And don’t even get me started on trying to pick out Halloween costumes…

Yet, despite the fact that I could relate to a lot of what Will was going through, I still found myself disconnected from her. Her character growth had this weird up-and-down progress – sometimes, it seemed like she was growing and maturing and then, out of nowhere, she would take a huge step back. I didn’t completely mind this, because it felt very realistic – in life, we all have our ups and downs! But otherwise, her character just felt flat.

To be honest, I felt disconnected from all the characters. I couldn’t tell Amanda and Hannah apart for much of the story. Ellen was a pretty crappy friend to Will (though Will wasn’t much better to Ellen). Bo had some epic moments where I adored him, but otherwise I didn’t really care one way or another about him – and I’m not convinced of the chemistry between him and Will. I just didn’t see any sparks fly. I could see them as friends and, maybe over time, they could become more. But I just didn’t see that instant connection that most YA couples have. Same with Mitch. I sort of liked Millie, but I feel like we didn’t get to know her enough.

Will’s mom really annoyed me, though, I’ll definitely say that. I wish I didn’t know what it felt like to have a fat-shaming family member, but I do. So her words stung and I really wanted to slap her. Also, Callie. She reminded me of all the bullies who taunted me all throughout elementary, middle and high school.

Basically, what I mean when I say I felt “disconnected” from the characters is that.. I could relate to a lot of what they were going through, but I never felt like I was being pulled into the story. I liked some of the characters, but I never really cared what happened to them.

The ending was very underwhelming and felt very open-ended. I felt like a lot of the storylines were left dangling, like there was no sense of finality to the book. Honestly, I was shocked when I reached the last page – I kept trying to swipe my iPad, thinking there HAD to be another few pages.

Overall, I definitely love the body positivity message this book sends and I had so many moments where I could relate to Will. The pacing was perfect – I read 80% of the book in just a matter of hours. And it wasn’t necessarily a bad read… I just didn’t connect with the story as I’d hoped to. But I seem to be in the minority when it comes to this book – the majority of my friends and fellow bloggers LOVED it. So I still definitely recommend it! I’m still excited to read Murphy’s other book, Side Effects May Vary, and I’m excited to see what her third book will be about, as well.

three-half-stars