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Review: Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Aug9

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: Wilder Girls by Rory PowerWilder Girls by Rory Power
Published by Delacorte Press on July 9, 2019
Pages: 353
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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three-stars

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.

This book was such a wild ride. I honestly still don’t really know how I feel about it. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it but it was weird but it was intriguing but but but… I really don’t even know. I think this is the most conflicted my feeling have been over a book in a VERY long time, if ever. The writing was very choppy and hard to follow in the beginning, but I got used to it after awhile. I was kind of meh on the characters, but started really enjoying it when we got Byatt’s POV.

I really loved the idea of the Tox and wanted more. I wanted to know what it was, how it came to be, why it effected everyone so differently, etc. When it came to the Tox, I was suspicious of literally everyone and everything. I kept thinking there was going to be some kind of huge reveal about it, like that the government had released it by accident (re: The Crazies), or maybe even on purpose. I was truly intrigued by it, and I’m still not sure if I was satisfied or not with the final reveal of what it was. Plus, I was a bit thrown off by some of the science and logistics because some of it really didn’t make sense. I can do the whole “suspension of disbelief” to a certain extent, but there were too many questions with this one.

The last 80-100 pages were the most thrilling/intriguing. A lot happened, a lot was revealed, and a lot was left unanswered. I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say the ending was left pretty open-ended. It almost reminded me of a horror/thriller movie where they do the same thing, and you’re left with more questions than answers.

So, overall, I think I liked this book more than I expected to, but it still had some meh moments. I think it would make an excellent movie. It’s very visual and I’d like to SEE some of that visual. I also want more stories from this world, but I want DIFFERENT stories from DIFFERENT characters. Even different time periods, like before the Tox (but like BEFORE Hetty, Byatt and Reese were on the island.. Maybe we’ll find out this has happened before). I’d also like to see a story that’s set after the events of the book but with different characters. My favorite would be if there was a sequel set maybe 50 years later, and the island is abandoned and then some teens decide to spend the night partying there and share ghost stories of what happened, and then they all suddenly get infected or get haunted by the spirits of the dead, or the wildlife and animals attack them, or the girls who went “feral” are there and attack them or or or… *Clears throat* Can you tell I watch too many made-for-TV horror movies? Hehe. But in my defense, this really would all make an EXCELLENT horror movie.

Anyway.. So, yes.. I think I can safely say I recommend this to anyone who loves creepy thriller horror dark books and movies. This one will def leave you with lots of thoughts and questions. I don’t recommend it if you don’t like cliffhanger endings in stand-alone books, though. Because it definitely leaves you guessing.

three-stars

Review: There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Jun17

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: There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya MenonThere's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
Series: Dimple and Rishi #2
Published by Simon Pulse on May 14, 2019
Pages: 384
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

The irresistible companion novel to the New York Times bestseller When Dimple Met Rishi, which follows Rishi’s brother, Ashish, and a confident fat athlete named Sweetie as they both discover what love means to them.

Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.

The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.

Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?

I finished this awhile ago, but I’ve put off reviewing it because I’ve been in a review slump and I feel like my reviews are just all babble and crap lately. However, I really loved this book and really wanted to get this review posted already. So.. Here goes nothing!

This book was beyond incredible. I really enjoyed When Dimple Met Rishi, but I loved this book even more. Sweetie, as a fat girl, was so incredibly relatable. Many times while reading, I found myself nodding or crying – or both – to the things Sweetie said/felt, or the things other people said to her. ESPECIALLY HER MOTHER. Amma just… ARRGGHHH. OMG don’t even get me started.. I can’t even discuss this.. Not because of spoilers, but because I’ll get angry all over again and start crying.

I ADORED Ashish. And felt so bad for him. As much as I liked Rishi, I could tell right from the moment Ashish stepped onto the page (in When Dimple Met Rishi) that Rishi was too hard on him and too judgmental of his actions. But now, seeing Ashish’s cool, aloof self so broken up about Celia, it makes my heart break for him even more. He tries SO hard to act tough, but everyone has their limits.

Elijah and Oliver were BEYOND adorable. And I totally predicted Samir and Pinky would get a book before it was even announced – SO PUMPED FOR IT!!!!

The ending of this book was absolute, utter perfection. I loved it so much, I can’t even put it into words. Like… There’s so much more I want to say about this book, but… review slump. And babble. I want to avoid babbling like an idiot. I want to do this book justice. So I’m going to leave it here and just recommend the CRAP out of this book. Like, please please please read it. It was SO AMAZING!!!!

five-stars

Review: These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel Sterling

May25

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: These Witches Don’t Burn by Isabel SterlingThese Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling
Series: These Witches Don't Burn #1
Published by Razorbill on May 28, 2019
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

"Infused with page-turning suspense, bittersweet romance, shocking twists, and tragic turns, Sterling has written a standout debut." --Dana Mele, author of People Like Us

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly By Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day.

Isabel Sterling's delightful, suspenseful debut is equal parts sweet romance and thrilling mystery. With everything she loves on the line, Hannah must confront this murderous villain before her coven--and any chance she has with the new girl--is destroyed.

I finished this book over a month ago, and I’m still struggling with reviewing it. It was just SO incredible, I don’t feel any review I write can do it justice. But I NEED to get my feels out there already, so I’ll do the best I can. But this may be a lot of Word Vomit. You’ve been warned!

I’ve been excited for These Witches Don’t Burn ever since it was first announced, and it did NOT disappoint. The writing was incredible and the plot was intense. I loved the magical rules and the different witch clans (Elementals, Blood Witches and Casters).

The characters were incredible, and super relatable – even in small, simple ways. Like Cal attending Salem State, where I almost went. And the fact that Veronica got into Ithaca College’s Park School of Communications and was, therefore, a Parkie (an affectionate nickname for Park students), like I was – studying journalism, of all things, same as I did (at first). And Hannah’s taste in music is a lot like mine – all over the place. I adored Hannah in general. Again, she was a super relatable character and I loved taking this journey with her. I loved her complicated relationships with Veronica and Morgan.

As much as I loved the characters, I also didn’t trust a single one of them except Hannah and Gemma. Everyone else gave me “suspect” vibes. At the same time, some of my “suspects” seemed too obvious, and I questioned whether they were red herrings. When the ACTUAL baddie was revealed, it made such perfect sense, I was mad at myself for not figuring it out sooner.

I don’t know if it was just because it was about witches or what, but I kept picturing most of these characters as the characters from The Secret Circle. Like, Hannah is Cassie (but maybe brunette instead of blonde) and Veronica is Faye, although I kind of also sometimes pictured her as Diana). And I kept picturing Evan as Adam and Savannah as Melissa. And then – not related to The Secret Circle, but just saying in general – I kept picturing Morgan as Danielle Panabaker with red hair.

This book also had INCREDIBLE LGBTQ+ rep. I can’t speak for it personally, but I’ve heard from other bloggers that the rep was well done, and this book meant a lot to a lot of people, and it’s an important book because of that.

So.. Overall, I absolutely 100% LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! I don’t feel like my review is doing it justice, though. It’s definitely in my Top Five for the year and I want to yell at everyone to read it, but I just don’t have much else to say. So rather than ramble on, I’m gonna stop here and just say PLEASE BUY AND READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE WITCHES AND SALEM AND EPIC CHARACTERS AND LGBTQ+ REP AND OMG IT’S JUST SOOOO GOOOOOODDDDDD PLEASE READ IT!!!!!!!

five-stars

Review: Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

Apr25

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: Stepsister by Jennifer DonnellyStepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Published by Scholastic on May 14, 2019
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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four-stars

A startling, fiercely feminist re-imagining of Cinderella from the bestselling, award-winning author Jennifer Donnelly.

Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe ... which is now filling with blood.

When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.

Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. To be sweet. To be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.

Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.

Evoking the darker, older versions of the Cinderella story, bestselling author Jennifer Donnelly shows us that ugly is in the eye of the beholder, and uses her trademark wit and wisdom to send an overlooked character on a journey toward empowerment, redemption, and a new definition of beauty.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly!

You can find Lissa on Instagram!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I used to say that I was sad that Gregory Maguire was the one who came up with the idea for Wicked, and the other, “other side of the story” books he has written. Because while I adore the concept (and the fabulous Broadway musical) his writing style doesn’t do much for me.

Thankfully his monopoly on the concept seems to be at an end. I loved Sea Witch by Sara Henning. And now Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly.

I am going to throw in a few pros/cons here.

Pros:
Characters – I adored all the charactets. They were well developed and well written and likable.

Horses – I will always be the 11 year old who picked up her first Mercedes Lackey book because of the pretty white horse on the cover. Horses were my fantasy gateway drug, and I will always swoon when they are well written and treated as the characters they are, and not just transportation.

The Message – I am all for the message in this story. Beauty is not what you look like, but what you do and what makes you passionate. And I really enjoyed the MC’s beauty. However…

Cons:
The Message – This book was hit a bit too hard with the message stick. Not all the time, and not enough to ruin it for me, but it was definitely overkill. A little subtlety would have gone a lot further with me.

Overall I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

four-stars

Review: Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Apr20

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: Romanov by Nadine BrandesRomanov by Nadine Brandes
Published by Thomas Nelson on May 7, 2019
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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five-stars

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

“Not even royal blood can stop bullets.”

This book was everything I needed and then some. With a Life/Reading Slump that’s going on 3 years now, it’s difficult to find books I truly enjoy. Even when I DO find books I enjoy, I still struggle to find the time and energy to read them. Typically, it takes me 3-4 weeks to read one book now, whereas I used to read a book every 3-7 days before The Slump. But Romanov? I couldn’t put Romanov down. I read it in less than a week, and I adored every single second of it.

The first half of the book is basically straight-up historical fiction, with a small bit a magic thrown in. I love history and I love the mystery surrounding the execution of the Romanov Family, and whether or not Anastasia escaped. But I really didn’t know much about the Romanov family otherwise, and nothing about Anastasia beyond what we “learned” in the animated movie. So reading about the family’s final months/days in exile was intriguing and educational, but since it was done in a fictional way, it didn’t feel dry or like I was being lectured at. In fact, it’s made me want to read more about this time period!

The second half of the book was where the majority of the magic came into play. It was also where the author divulged from history, and gave us her fictional take on what happened after the Romanov family was executed. This was just as intriguing as the first half of the book – if not more intriguing.

As much as I love the story of Anastasia and LOVED the movie, I haven’t actually read any other Anastasia retellings. I have a bunch on my TBR, and I asked Twitter for recommendations, but I haven’t actually read any. I came to this shocking realization as I was reading, and made this comment: “I really like Nastya – she’s my favorite Anastasia since the Disney one.” – So.. First of all, someone corrected me and told me that the 1997 animated movie wasn’t actually a Disney movie. I don’t care – Anastasia will always rank as a Disney Princess in my eyes. Second of all, I guess that makes Nastya my second favorite incarnation of Anastasia, since this is only the second retelling I’ve read/watched, bahaha. But that aside, I really did love her character – her strength, resilience, and ability to grow from tragedy and forgive the “enemy.”

Zash probably has the biggest character development/growth of anyone in the book – even beyond Nastya. I really don’t want to spoil it so I can’t go into details too much, but I really liked the way his story went.

So, yeah.. I don’t even know what else to say. Except that this book was everything I needed, and is definitely one of my favorites of 2019. I HIGHLY recommend it!

five-stars

Review: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Apr15

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: Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn BarnesLittle White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: Debutantes #1
Published by Freeform on November 6, 2018
Pages: 390
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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five-stars

"I'm not saying this is Sawyer's fault," the prim and proper one said delicately. "But."

Eighteen-year-old auto mechanic Sawyer Taft did not expect her estranged grandmother to show up at her apartment door and offer her a six-figure contract to participate in debutante season. And she definitely never imagined she would accept. But when she realizes that immersing herself in her grandmother's "society" might mean discovering the answer to the biggest mystery of her life-her father's identity-she signs on the dotted line and braces herself for a year of makeovers, big dresses, bigger egos, and a whole lot of bless your heart. The one thing she doesn't expect to find is friendship, but as she's drawn into a group of debutantes with scandalous, dangerous secrets of their own, Sawyer quickly discovers that her family isn't the only mainstay of high society with skeletons in their closet. There are people in her grandmother's glittering world who are not what they appear, and no one wants Sawyer poking her nose into the past. As she navigates the twisted relationships between her new friends and their powerful parents, Sawyer's search for the truth about her own origins is just the beginning.

Set in the world of debutante balls, grand estates and rolling green hills, Little White Lies combines a charming setting, a classic fish-out-of-water story, and the sort of layered mystery only author Jennifer Lynn Barnes can pull off.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes!

You can find Lissa on Instagram!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

I adore Jennifer Lynn Barnes books. A little bit more twisty than my usual genre (I am not a Pretty Little Liars watcher, but I can see why those who are would love this book), but the writing and characters are so compelling. I get an air of Buffy or Veronica Mars from Sawyer without her being anything like either (in a good way).

The Southern sassiness is evident and deftly intertwined in the story without being overblown. The romance takes a bit of a back burner and I would love to have seen more in that regards.

Though the ending wrapped up the story at hand, the door was definitely left open for more, and that makes me very happy. JLB is auto-buy for me so I’d buy a anything from her either way, but since I DID like this one so much, I’m excited that there are more books planned for the series.

five-stars

Review: Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

Apr13

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: Wicked Saints by Emily A. DuncanWicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
Series: Something Dark and Holy #1
Published by Wednesday Books on April 2, 2019
Pages: 385
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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five-stars

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..

“We’re all monsters… Some of us just hide it better than others.”

“A witch is just a girl who has realized her power is her own.”

Holy WOW this book was EPIC. I’ve been super excited for this one ever since it was announced, and it did NOT disappoint! I remember hearing – early on when it was first announced – that it was being compared to the Grisha trilogy, and I DEFINITELY felt those Grisha Vibes. Not to get too crazy about it, but Nadya DEFINITELY reminded me of Alina, Kostya was comparable to Mal, and Serefin was for sure like the Darkling.

I also had major Kingdom of Fire trilogy vibes – I think because of the dark, lush, atmospheric tone of the book. Also, the Vultures in Wicked Saints reminded me of the Ancients in the Kingdom of Fire trilogy. There were also moments when I had Throne of Glass vibes because of things like the salt mines and the mention of assassins and all that. And for some reason, Nehemia (from Crown of Midnight) kept randomly coming to mind, but I’m not sure why.

I LOVED Nadya. She was an epic badass. Malachiasz had me intrigued from the beginning, and only got better and better as the story went on – until the end because WTF OMG?!?!?!?!?!?!??! Serefin was… Wow. I don’t even know, honestly. By his own admission, he said, “I’m heartless, but I’m not cruel.” And he definitely had some heartless moments, but he also had some… interesting things going on… (vague descriptions are vague.. But spoilers..!! So.. JUST READ IT AND YOU SHALL SEE WHAT I MEAN!!). Plus, the way his story ended was…!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was just so dark and creepy and delicious.. I can’t even put it into words or do it justice. The ending was INTENSE and EPIC and CRAZY and I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!!!!!! (Okay, maybe I did a little, but also I didn’t so… WTF?!?!?!?!?)

I HIGHLY recommend this one for those who loved the Grisha trilogy, and for those who like dark, creepy books with epic characters and incredible world-building. Emily A. Duncan is a fantastic writer, and I’m already SO PUMPED for the second book in this trilogy – plus anything and everything else that she writes!

five-stars

Guest Review: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

Apr7

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.

Guest Review: The Bone Witch by Rin ChupecoThe Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Series: The Bone Witch #1
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on March 7, 2017
Pages: 432
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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five-stars

In the captivating start to a new, darkly lyrical fantasy series for readers of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir, Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price...

Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there's anything I've learned from him in the years since, it's that the dead hide truths as well as the living.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice.

A message from Meredith: Hey everyone! Today, I have Lissa here with a guest review for The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco!

You can find Lissa on Instagram!

Without further adieu, here’s Lissa’s review! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~

This is a massive book – in more than just page length. The amount of world building involved is immense, in a wonderfully immersive way. It might feel a bit slow to some readers who prefer more action, but I appreciated the attention to detail. We learn so much about the extensive magic and cultural systems at play here. I enjoyed all the references to different Eastern cultures and myths, but loved that it still became its own world.

The characters are so detailed, their reactions so authentic to the culture that is built around them, it makes them feel real despite being fantastical. I definitely empathize with a number of them and want them to get to their happy endings (a crucial thing for me, as I am an extremely character-driven reader).

I only regret that the book ends just as the action is beginning to occur. It made me immediately want more. I can’t wait to read the next one!

five-stars

Review: Tarot by Marissa Kennerson

Mar10

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: Tarot by Marissa KennersonTarot by Marissa Kennerson
Published by Razorbill on February 19, 2019
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
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three-stars

Anna was never supposed to exist. 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 decoration. 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.

I finished this awhile go, but waited to review it because I was on the blog tour, and wanted to separate the blog tour from the review. I DID enjoy Tarot, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected to. I was left a bit confused at times, and wanting more – more descriptions, more explanations, more.. everything. I think the biggest problem was that this book was pretty short, and things happened very quickly. I think this book could have benefited from being a little longer.

I can’t say whether I loved the characters or not. I liked them for the most part, but again, I wanted MORE. I wanted more of their personalities, their backgrounds, their relationships, etc. The romantic relationships – two in particular – happened WAY too fast. I mean, I LIKED the ships. And I’m not opposed to insta-love, when it’s done well. But this was just SO fast. I wanted more of a build-up, I guess.

I was also really confused, re: the plot and where the tarot cards came in. Anna wove a tapestry and created a world, and then (at the end) created these people (not the people of Cups, the “soldiers”) who.. I guess symbolized the tarot cards? Does that mean she created Tarot cards? Is this the origin story of how Tarot cards came to be? I still haven’t been able to figure this out…

So.. Yeah. I was definitely entertained and intrigued by this book. I didn’t NOT like it, but I’m torn on how much I liked it. I would definitely read a sequel or prequel, or another book by the author. The writing was done well, the world was gorgeous and the characters were still fun and likable.

three-stars

Review: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (Blog Tour)

Feb19

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: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller (Blog Tour)Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
Published by Feiwel & Friends on February 26, 2019
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

How do you kill a god?

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!

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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!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who enjoyed Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen. Also, to those who enjoyed The Hunger Games. Because seriously, SO many THG vibes!!

four-stars