Days of Blood & Starlight

Author: Laini Taylor

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance

Release Date: November 12, 2012

Summary: Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it. In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life. While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

Review:  

WARNING! This review contains spoilers from the first installment in this series! 

Oh my goodness! Where do I even begin! Well, first of all, I read Daughter of Smoke & Bone quite some time ago, and I had purchased that and Days of Blood & Starlight at the same time after reading quite a few raving reviews. However, after I finished Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I started Days of Blood & Starlight and only managed to get about . . . two or three chapters in before I ended up starting another book. Anyway! Fast-forward a couple of months and with finals right around the corner, I needed a serious stress reliever, which for me, means reading!! So, I was looking at my shelf and Daughter of Smoke & Bone caught my eye and I just decided that I'd just go ahead and re-read that one super quick as a little refresher, and to hopefully finish the other two remaining novels in the series. 

After finished Daughter of Smoke & Bone for a SECOND TIME (!!) I couldn't wrap my mind around why I didn't finish the other books in the series right then! I mean, that ending!! Needless to say, I have now read Days of Blood & Starlight and have started the third and final installment in the series, Dreams of Gods & Monsters. 

Days of Blood & Starlight starts of fairly soon after Daughter of Smoke & Bone ended. The transition was fairly seamless, which was a major bonus. There was no real time jump, which also helped with the seamless transition. SOOOO MUCH happens in this second installment. By the end of Daughter of Smoke & Bone we've learned that Karou/Madrigal has been restored of her memories after her and Akiva broke the wishbone. Akiva ended up destroying all the portals into Karou's old world as well as her all of her friends and family. And . . . Karou is the new resurrectionist after Brimstone's death. Needless to say, my mind was blown . . . multiple times.

Karou's personality, I felt, really changed through the transition from the first to the second book. This may be attributed to the fact that she now has her old memories back. And, after basically all of the Chimaera have been destroyed, guess who has magically managed to survive . . .  THIAGO! Wait . . .  WHAT?!! Okay, so after reading about Madrigal's memories concerning Thiago, I was a little unsure about how I felt about this. Especially because he is like . . . in charge now, I guess. We'll get to that a little later on.

Meanwhile, Zuzana and Mik are back in the human world, with Zuze going a little crazy after Karou's disappearance. I have to admit, I wasn't too big of a fan of Zuzana during the first book, but I really did grown to love her so much throughout this one. Mainly due to the fact that she is totally hilarious! But also that she loves Karou so much to venture out and find her. Now that is true friendship!

Okay, so on to a little  . . . romance (?). Akiva and Karou are apart a lot during this installment (which basically sucked) because Akiva thinks Karou is dead. Meanwhile, Karou is basically being held captive by Thiago and isolated from everything. Thiago, Thiago, Thiago. You sound extremely sexy and seductive . . . but also like a huge jerk! I did want something to happen between you and Karou for quite some time . . . but not the way it actually ended up happening. Thankfully, you got what was coming to you . . .

With an ending like that . . . I definitely recommend having the third installment on hand! Such a whirlwind of emotions after finishing this one! So many crucial things happened! Not quite as great as the first one . . . but still, a solid sequel! Now to see what Dreams of Gods & Monsters has in store for me!!

Dangerous Lies

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Mystery, Romance

Release Date: November 10, 2015

Summary: Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life. After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer. But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows. As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…

Review: This was such a great read! It's been quite a while since I've actually sat down and just read a book all the way through, so this novel was a happy surprise!

I had a tad bit of a difficult time with our main character, Stella Gordon, because I couldn't quite relate to her back story. Although, as the plot developed, I did soften up to her. I really enjoyed how sassy (?) of a person she was. Stella was incredibly sarcastic, and had an attitude problem (that made for quite a few comedic scenes between her and her 'foster mother', ex-cop, Carmina). I couldn't help but laugh during the beginning stages of the novel because of the overall situation Stella just happened into.

Chet (love the name by the way) was a great character! Not only was he ideally handsome and gentlemanly, but he had a rough back ground which made him seem more . . . not quite sure if 'real' is the best word for it, but I'll stick with that. He was able to help Stella open up and, I feel, learn more about herself that she had previously.

One of the main things I had a problem with was Stella's boyfriend . . . like, wth happened with that whole thing . . . something was suggested, but I can't recall anything actually being stated on the subject. Also, the whole deal with Stella's mom . . . yeah, that was kind of messed up. But it made the plot line more intriguing.

Overall, this was a solid 3.5 star, but I raised it to a 4 to keep things more simple. I'll probably end up reading this one again. Loved the overall mystery and romance! If you're a fan of Fitzpatrick's work, you'll, most likely, enjoy this one!

Reawakened

Author: Colleen Houck

Series: The Reawakened #1

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Release Date: August 11, 2015

Summary: When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification. And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind. But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

Review: I will say, I was definitely expecting more from this novel than what I received. I am really on the fence between giving this one 2 stars vs 3 stars. However, I decided to be generous though, and went with the higher rating.

The main character, Lilliana aka Lily was . . . annoying, stuck up, and kind of dumb. She comes from an extremely privileged back ground, which is how she gets into the unauthorized area of the Met in the first place and meets Amon. I was very put off with her initial attitude and had a rough time opening up to her and the story.

So, Amon, the ancient prince that 'temporarily' bonds himself to Lily . . . wow . . . I mean, wow. I am usually always swooning when it comes to love interests. Amon, excluding his absolutely incredible bod, was kind of a jerk. He was very demeaning to Lily for a good portion of the book. But I will say, him learning about all of the modern day technology was pretty comical. Not to mention the fact that Houck refers to 'The Mummy' which just happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies. So some points were added because of that.

So, after Amon basically kidnaps Lily and they go and "wake up" his other 'brothers', things got a little out of control. As much as I absolutely adored Amon's 'brothers' and how fun they were to read about, their was just so much going on!! I found myself having to go back and re-read multiple times because the plot was moving so quickly . . . and not in a good way. I would literally be so confused at times I needed to close the book and go and do something else . . . also, the romance . . . yeah, if you are similar to me, in the respect that you, like, need at least a small portion of romance to keep you entertained, Reawakened is probably not the novel for you. There was a lot of one-sided sexual tension, with really no rewards . . .  #disappointment!

Overall, I did enjoy this one enough that I want to pick up the following installments in the series, but I'll probably end up waiting until the entire series is published before doing so. I did, however, end up totally adoring the setting in Egypt and how Houck incorporated Egyptian mythology so smoothly into the plot. If you're into fast-paced novels, and Egyptian mythology, this may be the book for you!

Under a Painted Sky

Author: Stacey Lee

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Romance

Release Date: March 17, 2015

Summary: Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail.

Review: After hearing multiple raving reviews about this, I finally went and picked it up off the shelves at my local library. It took me a few days before I actually cracked the thing open, but that was expected.

Under a Painted Sky launches you straightway into the amazing setting of late 1840's North America. Those many, many years of high school history finally paid off! Lee did an amazing job of bringing a fairly historically accurate feel to the book through the wording and depictions of her characters. It was like I had taken the Delorean and traveled back to 1849 every time I opened the book.

For the most part, I loved the interactions between Sammy and Andy and the group of cowboys they met and traveled with along the way. Their interactions with them were, for the most part, hilarious! One of my favorite interactions (it's from early on in the book so I don't spoil anything) was between Andy and her horse. Actually, anytime Andy and her horse were in a scene, it was pretty much guaranteed that I would be laughing before it was over.

Probably, the most difficult thing to deal with was the fact that Sammy and Andy were actually girls and you (the reader) knew, at some point in time, the boys were going to find out. And, well, it was a llloooooooonnnnnnnnnggggggg wait. I wanted them to have figured it out sooner rather than later because I was hoping for more in the romance department. However, by the end of the novel I was rather okay with how everything panned out.

Yes Timon, yes I was.

To finish up, I'm not quite sure if this is going to stay as a stand alone, or if there are plans for a sequel, but seriously, I could most definitely use a sequel. I felt that Under a Painted Sky was left very opened ended, which was a slight disappointment. I had wanted more all around closure and just didn't get it (one of the main reasons this book was 4 stars for me). However, I can deal with that.

Under a Painted Sky is, overall, a fantastic read! One I think younger YA reads might enjoy! The setting was fantastic and authentic. The characters and the developments were both very well written. I would most definitely recommend this if, 1) you're into YA comedic adventures, 2) you love the wild wild west, or 3) if you know how to read.

Queen of Shadows

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure
Release Date: September 1, 2015

Summary: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . . She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return. Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

Review: 

If you have yet to read the first three installments in the Throne of Glass series, please beware that this review INCLUDES SPOILERS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED NOVELS!! Proceed with caution! You've been warned!

Alright! So quick recap on what's happened over the previous novels so far. *click on the title of the book for my full review* In Throne of Glass we meet the absolutely incredible Celaena Sardothien. She's 'rescued' from the slave camp, Endovier, and put in a contest to become the King of Adarlan's champion aka personal assassin. Not surprising, she wins(!!) and makes some new friends along the way including, but not limited to, the crown prince of Adarlan, Dorian, the captain of the king's guard, Chaol, and the princess from a foreign land, Nehemia. Moving on to book 2, Crown of Midnight. So although Throne of Glass hinted towards a lot of things, Crown of Midnight is where those hints are actually solidified into facts . . . and where my mind was blown . . . multiple times! Chaol and Celaena decide to try and have a relationship, Celaena is secretly not assassinating people, and we lose one of our dearest friends! The second book ends with Chaol and Celaena breaking things off, Chaol going back to his homeland, and Celaena decides to go find her aunt and get some answers . . . she is after all, the lost princess of Terrasen, Aelin Ashyrver Galathynius. Moving onto book three! In Heir of Fire  there are now three different points of view, Dorian/Chaol's, the witches, and Celaena's. In the third book, Celaena embraces her fae heritage and trains with the sexy, yet brooding Rowan, an ancient fae warrior with more than enough skill to help Celaena.  Dorian falls in love with a servant girl, Sorscha, and Chaol is trying to keep everything together after finding out Celaena's true identity. And concluding book three, Celaena leaves Rowan to go back to Rifthold (where a rebellion has started) and take care of some unfinished business with the king.

Okay, so I'm going to try my darnedest to keep the rest of this review spoiler free!! 

Queen of Shadows starts with Celaena getting back to Rifthold. Maas did an excellent job of seamlessly connecting her books. I'm always so impressed!

In case you were wondering, Arobynn Hamel FINALLY makes an actual appearance! If you're like me, you have been waiting since the first time he was mentioned in Throne of Glass to actually meet him. I was a tad disappointed with where everything ended up going with him, but as Maas stated herself, he is a total "douche-canoe". Those words couldn't be more fitting! However, a lot of answers surrounding Celaena's time with the King of the Assassins are answered.

Let's talk about Sam. Sam is a fairly minor character, but his importance and the impact he had on Celaena was epic! A lot of things were put to rest when it came to Sam. And there were definitely some tears shed on my end whilst reading about it. Maas did a wonderful job of closing out that part in Celaena's life. But honestly, I looked something similar to this:

Overall, there were a lot of questions that were answered! And many more that arose! Queen of Shadows had me on the edge of my seat! The action was non-stop and engrossing! The hardest part was reading something and then doing a face palm because I hadn't caught on and realized that sooner! This happened too many times to count throughout Queen of Shadows which totally upped it's already awesome-ness to me! Sarah, thank you for being so fantastic! Jimmy says is best:

If you've read the other books in this series and have yet to read Queen of Shadows, I honestly have no idea why you're still here! GO!! READ!!! Then come back and fan-girl with me about how completely amazing Sarah J. Maas is!! Not to mention how sweet!! I had the greatest opportunity to be able to meet her!    *photographic evidence included*

The Heartbreakers

Author: Ali Novak

Series: The Hearbreaker Chronicles

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chick-Lit

Release Date: August 4, 2015

Summary: Stella will do anything for her sister—even stand in line for an autographed Heartbreakers CD... for three hours. At least she met a cute boy at the Starbucks beforehand. A blue-eyed boy who looks an awful lot like... Oliver Perry. Of course Starbucks guy is the lead singer for her least favorite band. Thanks, universe. But there may be more to Oliver than his world-famous charm, because even after she insults his music—to his face—he still gives her his number. Seriously, what is her life? But how can Stella even think about being with Oliver—dating and laughing and pulling pranks with the band—when her sister could be dying of cancer?

Review:

 **WARNING! This review contains some minor spoilers!!**

Isn't that cover the cutest?! I've read Novak's previous novel, My Life With The Walter Boys, and really enjoyed that one so why not pick up her latest release?

The Heartbreakers was such a great read! I was drawn into and devoted to Stella's life from page one. She, Drew, and Cara had such a great relationship! I loved that they were triplets! That is one thing that I wasn't expecting starting out. Their chemistry was so real! They argued, loved, and helped each other the entire novel! I couldn't get enough of their interactions! Family was presented perfectly and realistic which I really enjoyed!

So, The Heartbreakers are like, a boy band, but not because they all actually play instruments and stuff. You have JJ, Oliver, Alec, and Xander. The friendship, bond and overall connection between the band members was on point! The pranks they played on each other, also, were top notch and kept me laughing long after I'd read them. Especially the one involving Stella and Drew. *begins laughing* I can't, I just, I cant!! hahahahaha

I loved that Stella was able to, in a way, find herself and follow her passion of photography throughout the novel. I also enjoyed that *spoiler* Cara didn't die! I honestly was waiting for some "The Fault in Our Stars" or "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl" action and guess what, it never happened! Haha, that alone bumped this read up to 5 stars for me! A happy ending, I mean, it doesn't get better than that!

If you're a fan of YA contemporary romances, I'd highly recommend this one. It;s the perfect blend of sweet, hilarious, adorable, and touching! Definitely one to look into!

Trouble Is a Friend of Mine

Author: Stephanie Tromly

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Humor, Romance

Release Date: August 4, 2015

Summary: Preparing to survive a typical day of being Digby's friend wasn't that different from preparing to survive the apocalypse. Her first day not in school (because she cut) in her new hometown that will soon be her old hometown (because she's getting out of Dodge as fast as she can) Zoe meets Digby. Or rather, Digby decides he's going to meet Zoe and get her to help him find missing teenager. Zoe isn't sure how, but Digby—the odd and brilliant and somehow…attractive?—Digby always gets what he wants, including her help on several illegal ventures. Before she knows it, Zoe has vandalized an office complex with fake snow, pretended to buy drugs alongside a handsome football player dressed like the Hulk, had a throw-down with a possible cult, and, oh yeah, saved her new hometown (which might be worth making her permanent hometown after all.) A mystery where catching the crook isn't the only hook, a romance where the leading man is decidedly unromantic, a story about friendship where they aren't even sure they like each other.

Review: "With the wit of Sherlock, the smarts of Veronica Mars, and the humor of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, this is a debut novel you won't want to miss". Honestly, that blurb could not be any more true. Even before the story actually got started I was drawn to Zoe and Digby. I knew there would be much more in store for these two and that their adventures would be unforgettable . . . and hilarious!

Okay, during, basically the entire book I was laughing. I have never known a book to be so hilarious, and yet have there be so much pertinent information thrown my way. I kept on bothering my family because I would read something super funny and couldn't wait for them to just read the book. To say I was annoying . . . well . . . that would be an understatement.

Let's first talk about Zoe. She was incredibly sarcastic! *bonus in my book* And the fact that she does so well after being thrown into Digby's crazy, hilarious world. She is like the Wallace to  his Veronica, the Watson to his Sherlock, and the Cameron to his Ferris. She's a definite champ. Oh, and I loved the fact that she was always bringing up the paper that she and Digby were 'supposedly' writing and all the arguments that ensued between the two over it. But alas! One of my favorite interactions with Zoe is this:

" "Get over there," Schell said.

Sitting on the floor with a shotgun pointing at me, I imagined a crime show with some cop looking at my blown-off face saying, "Gentleman, looks like for this kid" -- put on sunglasses -- "school's out forever." Then credits rolling and some 70s rock song about not getting fooled again starting with a scream. "

I know, I know, you are now frantically searching for a copy of this book near you! But, wait, there's more!

Digby. Phillip Digby. What a strange, lovable, completely random man-child you are. I couldn't even begin to grasp how you knew so much at such a young-ish age. I loved your 'sources', especially the hilarious ways you came up with to pay for the information you acquired from said sources. And seriously . . .  you're still hungry?!

Overall folks, this one is a definite keeper. I did end up giving it four stars mainly because so much would happen and I would get slightly confused, but then a couple pages later everything would make sense and then is would happen over and over. But then again, this is a mystery! If you're looking for a fun, quirky, suspenseful, comical, with a dash of romance mixed in read, this is the book for you!

End of Days *spoilers included version*

Author: Susan Ee

Series: Penryn & the End of Days

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Horror, Action/Adventure, Romance 

Release Date: May 12, 2015

Summary: After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all. When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Review: This series has got to be my all time favorite series! If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only have one series of books, it's be this one.

I adored Penryn's character from page one of Angelfall and only grew to love her more throughout the series. I'd definitely want her on my side in a fight. Penryn was such a great MC because of her snarky, sarcastic attitude, her realistic view on the life she is currently living, and her overall kick butt-ness! Some of the things she said throughout the series really brought her home for me and kept her character feeling "real". I could honestly believe that she was a 17-year-old girl trapped in an angel infested post-apocalyptic world. Not to mention the status of her relationship. ;)

Raffe! OH RAFFE!! You, my friend, are absolutely fantastic! Seriously though, Raffe was almost as much of a favorite character as Penryn. There is just so much about him I loved. His condescending attitude and feelings towards humans throughout the first novel, and then his eventual love for one! *squeals internally* More on that later! I also really enjoyed getting to meet his Watchers in this final installment and getting to really learn and delve into Raffe's past. It made it a lot easier to understand and comprehend why he is the way he is when it comes to Daughters of Man . . . not to mention the fact that it made me want to re-read the series knowing other important tid-bits of information!

All I really have to say about Raffe and Penryn is:

RAFFE AND PENRYN FOREVER!!

I briefly mentioned the Watchers . . . let's talk more about them! Um, really though, I love love loved them! If Susan decided to write a spin-off series about Raffe and his Watchers, I'd definitely read about them. They were such great comedic relief and brought the best out in Raffe while all Hell was breaking loose. They definitely were the piece I didn't know was missing until they were introduced.

Okay, so there was one thing that I was slightly disappoint with. That would be the whole weird, crazy deal surround Penryn's mother. I felt that it was never really addressed as to what was "wrong" with her. Like, was she really crazy the entire time or was she just seeing things. For example: when the demons are attacking and she starts pelting them with rotten eggs that just happens to remind the demons of Hell and scares them off . . . HOW'D SHE KNOW!?!? A bit more clarification on that subject would have been appreciate, but that really was the only thing keeping this series from being perfect.

So, if you have yet to pick up Penryn & the End of Days and be blown away by her amazing story, you should probably go and pick this series up!!

Jesse's Girl

Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks (can be read in any order)
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Summary: Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol. But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?
Review: Isn't that cover just adorable? I've read the other books in this 'series' and really enjoyed them for the most part, so when I got my hands on an ARC of this a couple months ago I was ecstatic!

I really enjoyed Maya's character. She was down to earth, fun, and I loved her taste in music! Her first 'meeting' with Jesse was quite memorable and I loved that she stuck up for herself and wasn't afraid to speak her mind.

One of my favorite things about this book was the Ferris Bueller feel it had to it. Not only does Jesse refer to Ferris Bueller's Day Off multiple times, but he gets Maya to go and pull off some of his favorite parts from the film. Since I'm a fan of the movie, that definitely boosted my liking of this novel!

Let's talk about *the* Jesse Scott! Aside from the fact that he came off as a complete self-centered jerk, he managed to redeem himself quite nicely throughout the remainder of the novel. I loved what Maya brought out in him and that he eventually feels comfortable enough with her to confide in her. His character growth during the novel was exceptionally well-written.


Overall a 4 star rating for me, I enjoyed this novel and the recurring characters from the previous novels in this series!

The Revenants Trilogy Combined Review

Author: Amy Plum

Series: The Revenants

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Release Date: May 10, 2011

Summary: When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent. Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Review: 

 !!THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME MAJOR SPOILERS!!!

Where to begin? I've been meaning to pick up this series for some time and kept on putting it off (per usual). Finally, I just sat down and forced myself to read the first page. I was hooked!! 

I first came across Plum while reading her newer series, After the End. I really enjoyed that novel and decided to give her other stuff a try. I was not disappointed! . . . with the first installment anyway. The pacing throughout the first book was spot on! There was enough to keep me reading late into the night, but not enough to make me want to tear my hair out.

However, the farther I got in this series, the more I started disliking where the plot was headed. I knew from page one that something was going to be up with Kate. She wasn't going to be just some "ordinary" girl. So when I got to the 3rd book (If I Should Die) and found out that she is the Champion . . . well, it was kind of like a 'duh' moment for me. I was waiting to this huge reveal and was not as impressed as I had previously hoped. A half-hearted applause for that one.

I really did enjoy the relationship between Kate and Vincent though. It wasn't very realistic, but I was definitely swooning whenever Vincent came on stage (in a sense). I mean, come on, he is totally DREAMY!!

Overall, the series as a whole ended up being a solid 3 stars for me. It started out with a incredible amount of potential, but kind of burned out throughout the series. It'll probably be while before I come back to it. 

Saint Anything

Author: Sarah Dessen

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: May 5. 2015

Summary: Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and—lately—concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident? Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.
Review: I have been beating myself up constantly for not starting this book sooner. Back in May (when it was released) I managed to get my greedy little hands on a signed copy. Unfortunately, as soon as I had said copy, I stuck it on my bookshelf and forgot about it shortly after. Thankfully, whilst sorting my bookshelves, I came upon this beauty once again and immediately put it on the top of my 'to-read' pile. Now here we are, two days later!

It's no surprise that I'm a huge fan of Sarah Dessen. I fell in love with her many years ago after my sister encouraged me to read The Truth About Forever. *click here for my review*  The voice she gives to her characters is incredible and makes them very relatable to teens. After finishing Saint Anything I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Although it hits on some pretty heavy topics, I really enjoyed it overall. Two thumbs way up!

Sarah manages to turn the boring, everyday conversations, into works of art. It's crazy how so many of those everyday conversations turned into such a heartfelt, emotional piece of work. I'm always impressed with the feelings Dessen can conjure out of me. Not to mention the fact that she can make the love interest(s) seem extremely appealing even though they aren't doing anything miraculous or overly-charming.

The friendship between Sydney and Layla was so on point! In the book Sydney describes it by saying that she and Layla weren't friends one day, and then the next they were. Isn't that how it always is?! The relationship was so fun, sweet, and felt completely down to earth and real.

Let me be honest, I'm a major sucker when it comes to romance. Especially when dealing with YA. With Dessen, she makes it so that the romance isn't the main focus. She explores the many different elements that make up her characters while somehow weaving the romance in there very subtly. My craving was satisfied, but not in the way I thought it would be.

My favorite line was definitely the last one in the book. It totally sealed the deal for me! Watching Sydney grow into a new person slowly throughout the novel and then reading that last line, *sigh* it just made me smile! The compassion and attachment I grew towards these characters was crazy! Dessen definitely worked her magic with this one. She ended the story very strongly, but also in a way that left readers the option to either continue/imagine what might come next, or just be content with that perfect last line.

Although The Truth About Forever will always be my #1 by her, Saint Anything  has definitely claimed my #2 spot! If you're into YA contemporary romance, look no further! This is most likely the book for you!

An Ember in the Ashes

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Series: An Ember in the Ashes #1

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Summary: Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Review: The first couple of chapters were a little on the slow side (due mainly to story development) but the pace picked up shortly after. It didn't take me long at all to fall in love with the characters, setting, and story. After reading for multiple hours straight, I had to FORCE myself to put An Ember in the Ashes down in order to avoid being late for work.

The novel is written in two alternating POVs, Elias and Laia. Elias's chapters were very fast-paced due to the fact that he was at Blackcliff and a soldier in training. On the other hand, Laia's chapters were more mellow starting out. Having these alternating POVs really helped the overall pacing of the book and character development.

If there was one complaint I had dealing with this book, it'd be that the romance developed extremely slowly! It was easy for me to guess/assume that Elias and Laia would, at some point in time, develop feelings for each other. Little did I know, this would be an incredibly slow burning fire. But since I loved this novel so much . . .

I really enjoyed how much Tahir kept me on my toes while reading her novel. I was in suspense for a majority of the novel and even when I thought I knew what was going to happen, Tahir would pull the rug out from under me and I was left in the dark once again, greedily eating up the pages!

*the popcorn symbolizing me eating up the pages . . . obvs*

Let's not forget that ending though! I honestly need the next book . . . like NOW! Goodreads says that it'll be published in April of 2016 . . . WAIT . . . APRIL . . . of 2016?! *starts sobbing dramatically* I can't wait that long!

If An Ember in the Ashes isn't on your 'to-read' list yet, you'd better go and put it on there right now . . . 

Lastly, one of my favorite quotes from the book:

"There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that's a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It's damaged, but it's there. Don't let them take it from you, Elias."



The Revenge Playbook

Author: Rachael Allen

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Summary: Don’t get mad, get even! In the small town of Ranburne, high school football rules and the players are treated like kings. How they treat the girls they go to school with? That’s a completely different story. Liv, Peyton, Melanie Jane, and Ana each have their own reason for wanting to teach the team a lesson—but it’s only when circumstances bring them together that they come up with the plan to steal the one thing the boys hold sacred. All they have to do is beat them at their own game.

Review: The idea that 5 girls, who really have nothing in common, decide to band together to show the football team that they don't rule the town/school as much as they thought they did. Sound familiar doesn't it? Right from the get go, this novel reminded me of the movie, John Tucker Must Die. Since I enjoyed the movie, I figured 'Why not?'

I really enjoyed the idea of these girls banding together and feeling empowered by each other. Reading about each of their individual stories/reasons as to why they wanted to take down the football team was great and made the characters more relate-able. I also really enjoyed reading the chapters involving them actually doing the scavenger hunt. Those parts were so cute and funny! I also liked the way that Allen included the multiple POVs and flipped from the past (the girls history) and the present (doing the scavenger hunt). It really helped in the overall development of the story and pacing.

On the offhand, there were a few things I didn't particularly like. As previously mentioned, this book reminded me a great deal of John Tucker Must Die. Although I enjoyed that movie, it ended up making this book predicable and less original. Also, I felt that throughout the novel, the girls' virginity was a constant topic. I definitely felt that it held more weight throughout the entire novel more than it should have and actually ended up taking away from the story more than I had anticipated. I can understand (with this being a contemporary novel) how that could make the book more "realistic", but for me, personally, it just took away from the novel.

Overall, this was a fairly fun novel, but not one of my favorites. I can't see myself reading this again . . . but hey! you never know!

Joyride

Author: Anna Banks
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: June 2, 2015

Summary: It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico. Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects. All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

Review: I ended up having a love/hate relationship with this book. First of all, it was a lot shorter than I had originally suspected it to be. When I first got my greedy little hands on it all I could think was, "This is it?" Although that ended up not being a bad thing, I was initially put off by it's short length.

I did however enjoy the main character, Carly. She had a ton of determination, self-control, was strong-minded, and very witty. I had a lot of fun whilst reading the initial exchanges between her and Arden. Although, every character has some flaws. Carly's would have to be that she was very submitting, especially when it came to her brother/family. 

Let's talk about Arden Moss. Honestly, he was one of my least favorite characters in the novel. He kept on getting angry at Carly because she kept letting Arden know that unlike him, she actually had to work for a living while he could just lounge around because he came from big money. It really annoyed me that he would get so frustrated when Carly was just stating the obvious and Arden knew that. That is really the thing that made him my least favorite.

The story line. Well . . . let's just say that by the end, I did not see that one coming! From the synopsis, I was expecting something similar to the lines of a Sarah Dessen book maybe? Mainly just a contemporary romance . . . as the genre above specifies. Although this novel is contemporary, and does contain some romance, it didn't really feel like a YA contemporary romance to me.

Okay, okay, from the review above it may seem like I hated this book. But I didn't!! It is filled with charm, honestly, and discussed the important subjects of poverty and immigration. Although I don't think I'll read this one again, I don't regret reading it.

The Wrath & the Dawn

Author: Renee Ahdieh
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Retelling
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Summary: Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend. She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.
Review: First of all, I am sorry I haven't posted in a while! I took a short hiatus (due to a reading slump). Thankfully, I overcame that slump by reading, The Wrath and the Dawn. Okay, this book was . . . ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND FASCINATING AND EVERYTHING GRAND!! It makes me feel like this when I think about it.

For the past couple of weeks I have been on a fantasy kick! Needless to say, nothing was satisfying my craving until I got this book in the mail, thanks to Uppercase! I had heard nothing about it, surprisingly, and just decided to sit down and start reading without any expectations or notions. That was probably the best decision I've made. After simply reading the first page I was hooked with the writing style, setting of the story, and uniqueness of it all. Although, this did end up being a little frustrating due to the fact that I had a difficult time pronouncing some of the characters names.

Aside from that slight frustration, this book was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!! I love love loved (!!) everything about it. Shazi was such a kick butt main character! Her attitude and wit had me rooting for her from our first encounter. Shazi was such an impeccable main character and was so well written. I thoroughly enjoyed reading from her perspective

Khalid. OH Khalid. Although you had a very ogre-ish attitude at the beginning, I couldn't help but fall in love with you along with Shazi. You made me swoon, and sigh, and wish that you were real so that I could steal you for my own! I adored you so much and you didn't ever let me down!! *sigh* Khalid was such a great love interest! The mystery surrounding him was irresistible and held my attention for quite some time. Seriously though, I'm basically in love with Khalid.

Overall, this was an incredible read as I have already stated. It may or may not be my favorite book of the year thus far. One that you need to put on your to-read list immediately!! I can almost guarantee that you will not be disappointed with this action-packed, plot twisting, romantic fantasy!! I'm desperately awaiting the debut of book 2, The Rose and the Dagger!!