Review: Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

Title: Revenge and the Wild

Author: Michelle Modesto

Series: Stand Alone

Published: February 2nd 2016 by Balzer + Bray

ISBN: 9780062366153

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.  Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.  But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

I GIVE THIS ...

This is probably the fastest I've finished a book in awhile. It kept me up at night, messed with my brain in the form of some crazy dreams, and finished with a bang!

I'm still not sure I'm crazy about Westie. She's a little to head strong for me. But, I have to admire her shear determination to get her revenge on the family that killed hers. And lets all admit, this was no ordinary murder. I don't think I've ever read a book based around cannibalism! And this was not glossed over in an way. That's were it really messed with me. 

The setting was a little bit much for me. It was hard for me to get a real handle on this western world that was full of steampunk, magic, and every mythical creature imaginable. It made for some interesting twists to the story though, because the story would not have been the same without most of these elements!

I really loved the secondary characters. Nigel was the perfect father figure and he tried really hard not to put up with Westie's bullshit. I loved Alistair. I knew exactly were the story was going with him, but I enjoyed the build up immensely. But honestly, my favorite was James. He character literally blew me away.

I highly recommend this if you are looking for something totally different!

Review: Maid of Wonder (Maids of Honor #3) by Jennifer McGowan

Title: Maid of Wonder

Author: Jennifer McGowan

Series: Maids of Honor (Maid of Secrets, Maid of Deception)

Pages: 336

Published: September 15, 2015 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9781481418263

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: Sophia Dee, the most unusual spy of Queen Elizabeth’s Maids of Honor, has run out of time for her psychic skills to fully manifest. A terrible new prophecy haunts Windsor Castle, and the Queen demands answers before the next doomed soul dies. Thrust into a dangerous and horrifying competition to solve the deadly prediction, Sophia finds herself pitted against the most celebrated mystics of Europe: John Dee, her devious uncle and the Queen’s personal astrologer, and Nostradamus, the renowned prophet-seer of France. In a court where whispers of witchcraft, poisonous plots, and grim assassins threaten her at every turn, Sophia needs answers fast. But does she dare trust Marcus Quinn, her uncle’s striking and overambitious assistant? Or, instead, should she turn to the tortured dark angel of the spirit realm, who whispers to her only of sorrow and death? As new dangers surface and the dire prophecy sweeps toward its final victim, the five Maids of Honor prepare to do battle. Only then will the girl who so often sees the future finally discover if she can save the Crown—and herself. 

I GIVE THIS ...

I've really enjoyed this series to date.  So their was no doubt that I would read this book when it became available.  I admit that Sophia is not my favorite maiden, but I was intrigued to learn her story.

Sophia's gift is interesting to me.  I wonder how it would be viewed in today's world that she conversed with angels?  It was definitely hearsay in that time.  I wonder if that fear was partially why she seemed to have so little control and understanding of it.  Until it came down to an ultimatum, it didn't even seem like she was trying to make complete use of it.

I did find her voice annoying at times. You can tell she is a little bit more sheltered and naive compared to the rest of the maids.   She doesn't seem to have any responsibility like the others.   While her gift is no easy, she needed to be pushed to do it.  I think Elizabeth did it in her typical fashion.  She wanted to make a spectacle of it for her own amusement.  I loved the inclusion on Nostradamus,  although I admit that I don't know much about him besides his name.  I was on the fence when it came to Marcus Quinn.  I felt it was kind of creepy how he could see Sophia in her dreams and seemed to be there every time she turned around.  But, he also seemed very invested in her well being.  

Overall, an adequate addition to the series.  You can't really have it without a story about Sophia, so I'm happy to have it.  I sincerely hope this series continues.   

The Last Changeling by Chelsea Pitcher

Title: The Last Changeling 

Author: Chelsea Pitch

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 360

Published: November 8th 2014 by Flux 

ISBN: 9780738740843

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description:  A Kingdom at War . . .  Elora, the young princess of the Dark Faeries, plans to overthrow her tyrannical mother, the Dark Queen, and bring equality to faeriekind. All she has to do is convince her mother’s loathed enemy, the Bright Queen, to join her cause. But the Bright Queen demands an offering first: a human boy who is a “young leader of men.”   A Dark Princess In Disguise . . .  To steal a mortal, Elora must become a mortal—at least, by all appearances. And infiltrating a high school is surprisingly easy. When Elora meets Taylor, the seventeen-year-old who’s plotting to overthrow a ruthless bully, she thinks she’s found her offering . . . until she starts to fall in love.

I Give This ...

I don't particularly like giving negative reviews.  I feel I tend to be very open minded and rarely come across a book that I don't find enjoyable in some small way.  Even rarer still is the book I give up on completely.   With this one, I fought for every page trying to find the small moments.  

I think I struggled with many different aspects of this book.  The fae world being strange and different than typical stories was a little of off putting.  Especially when that world is put together for us piece by little piece.  I also had a  hard time with Elora.  She's trying to overthrow her mother, who is The Dark Queen, plus instigating revolutions in the human world.  You would think this might make her a bad ass.  She just doesn't come across that way and I wasn't buying into it.  I just didn't feel the charisma she seemed to possess.

I did like Taylor and felt the struggle with his own identify and his relationship with his parents was genuine.  I wasn't over the moon about the love at first sight tone his relationship with Elora took.  But, I was expecting it at the same time.    I also liked how the book became about more than just saving the Fae world.  Not many books will attempt to tackle more than one difficult subject in one sitting.

But, in the end, this was a struggle.  It was hard for me to appreciate it for what it was. Maybe next time!

 

Review: Maid of Deception by Jennifer McGowan

Maid of Deception by Jennifer  McGowan

My rating:

Picking this one up, I was a little put off that the lead character was Beatrice.  She wasn't my favorite person in book 1.  But, she surprised me.  I ended up liking her by the end.

She seems very bitter for such a young girl, but she's basically been Elizabeth's play thing for a very long time.  It seems the Queen gets a particular kick out of manipulating Beatrice's world.  Turns out though that Beatrice can make life tough for the Queen as well.  She knows a secret that the Queen would rather stay hidden for ever.  You would think that would make the Queen fawn over her instead.  But, that's not the Elizabeth I know and love.

I really enjoyed learning about Beatrice's family and estate.  It turns out she's learned that art of secret keeping from them.  Her mother's crazy, the estate is full of orphan's, and her father has something hidden in the well at the center of the overgrown maze!  Not to mention that the gypsies hidden on her land are enough to be charged with treason.

Beatrice comes across as materialistic for quite some time.  But, I think our young Scottish Lord is teaching her that there are some things in life that are more important.

I enjoyed this installment a lot!  I felt it a little bit better written than the first book.  Plus, I'm a sucker for YA historical fiction!



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Review: All the Rage by Courtney Summers

All the Rage by Courtney Summers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love Courtney Summers. She knows how to tackle tough subjects. But, even this one was hard for me to read. Mainstream society is getting better about handling rape, but it's still not were it should be. I'm afraid what happens in this book happens far to frequently. Society has a tendency to blame the victim. It's easy to look away.

I really felt for Romy. She's just trying to move forward. She's constantly the target for intense teasing and ridicule. I can't even begin to imagine all the internal turmoil she would go through on a daily basis. It's too much for any one person to bear. I think her mother really tries to help her, but she doesn't know how to reach her.

The side story of the missing girl felt a little bit like filler. I didn't mind it because it did weave into the story in a way. I would have like more redemption and forgiveness for Romy when it came to that situation.

Over, it was a very good read.

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Review - The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

Title: Kiss of Deception

Author: Mary E Pearson

Series: 1st

Pages: 486

Published: July 8th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co.

ISBN: 9780805099232

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description: A princess must find her place in a reborn world.  She flees on her wedding day.  She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.  She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.  She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan. The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.  Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love. 

I Give This ...

This one kind of surprised me.  I wasn't sure what to think of it and first, and had a little bit of a hard time with the different view points (I'm not a huge fan on more than 2 points of view).  In the end, I was won out by the story, however I want more fantasy and less romance.

I liked Lia almost immediately.  She's willing to give up everything, defy and father and her kingdom by refusing to marry the person chosen for her.  Granted I think part of her acted a little rashly.  I think most of her decision to run was based on not wanting to marry a person who really only existed in her head.  It was less to do with the actual person and even less to do with what may or may not have been happening right beneath her father's nose.  She just came across and excellent bargaining tool.

I was a little disappointed that the story seemed to focus more on the romance and less on the fantasy.  But, I will admit that I kind of got wrapped up in it.  Mainly because I honestly had no idea who was who.  I liked that the princess had one point of view and that she favored one over the other.  But, our other two points of view are from the prince and the assassin with no idea which one belonged to which name the princess knew them as.  I would think I had it but then they would do something that would lead me to doubt.

I did think the latter part of the book was more action and last romance, although I was still unsure at our assassin's true feelings.  It leaves many open doors.  There's a lot of story elements that are still missing, so I hope the story focuses less on the romance and gets down to business.  I think that there is a lot of potential here.

 

Review - Lost in Time (Blue Bloods #6) by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Lost in Time

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Series: 6th (Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy, Misguided Angel,
Pages: 342

Published: September 27th 2011 by Hyperion 

ISBN: 9781423121299

Source: Library

 

Description: The stakes have never been higher for the young Blue Bloods of Manhattan. After their brief yet beautiful bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force depart for Egypt, desperate to find the elusive Gate of Promise before Jack must face his twin, Mimi, for a blood trial. A blood trial that only one of them can survive. But everything Schuyler thought she knew about the gate turns out to be a lie, and they soon find themselves ensnared in a deadly battle against the demon-born. Schuyler and Jack take up arms, only to realize that there is a much graver threat simmering in the Kingdom of the Dead.  Meanwhile, determined to save the only vampire she still loves, Mimi has followed Kingsley Martin into Hell. With the help of her new human Conduit, Oliver Hazard-Perry, Mimi makes a bargain with the Queen of the Dead that she may soon regret. When the time comes to choose between love and revenge, both Mimi and Oliver will learn the true meaning of sacrifice.   

 I Give This ...

Once again... I've let time get away from me.  School is back in session and with teaching, homework, and the kids' outside activities, blogging falls behind.  Since this one is not a review book, I'm going to make this short and sweet.

Jack and Schulyer kind of drove me crazy in this book.  I don't think they really mean to bury their heads in the sand, but that's what it felt like they were doing.  I think they were enjoying their honeymoon time together.  It was almost like they didn't want to face the reality of the world around them.  As long as the convinced themselves that they were looking for the gate, it didn't matter how much time passed.  I was glad to see push come to shove and they were forced to deal with the matters at hand.  Jack needed to face Mimi, and Schuyler needed to find the gate.

Mimi Forces really grew on me in this book.  She knows she has to face Jack, but she's willing to let him stall as long as possible.  In the mean time, she's going to Hell back for Kingsley.  Her trip through the land of the dead was my favorite part of the story.  It reminded me a great deal of other stories I've read in the past that deal with world of the dead.  I do have to admit that I was a little nervous if the old Mimi would emerge in order to fully extract Kingsley from Hell's grasp.

It was a little slow at parts, but the ending just shows how evenly matched Jack and Mimi are.  And it also shows how much they truly love their significant others but respect their bonds.  I'm looking forward to the next one to see how this all ends.

Review - Dissonance (Dissonance #1) by Erica O'Rourke

Title: Dissonance

Author: Erica O'Rourke

Series: 1st

Pages: 496

Published:  July 22nd 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

ISBN: 9781442460249

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

 

Description: Delancy Sullivan has always known there’s more to reality than what people see. Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed ~ all of these choices create an alternate universe in which an echo self takes the road not traveled and makes the opposite decision. As a Walker, someone who can navigate between these worlds, Del’s job is to keep all of the dimensions in harmony. Normally, Del can hear the dissonant frequency that each world emits as clear as a bell. But when a training session in an off-key world goes horribly wrong, she is forbidden from Walking by the Council. But Del’s not big on following the rules and she secretly starts to investigate these other worlds. Something strange is connecting them and it’s not just her random encounters with echo versions of the guy she likes, Simon Lane. But Del’s decisions have unimaginable consequences and, as she begins to fall for the Echo Simons in each world, she draws closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide ~ a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse.  

I Give This ...

  Well this was fascinating and maddening all at the same time.  The idea of alternate universes created from each decision made by each person was interesting.  But, at the same I couldn't wrap my head around it.  The shear number of these universes has to more than even the Walkers can hope to control.

At first, I wasn't sure I understood what it was exactly that the Walkers did in relation to the other dimensions.  The full scope of their job isn't really explained up front, but more woven throughout the story.  Basically the are in charge of keeping the base dimension stable.  The other dimensions are ghosts of this one and really aren't even real, but tied to the base.  However, ripples from the outer dimensions can effect the base and cause chaos.  Choices made in other dimensions can actually bleed over into the base.

Delancy was interesting in the sense that she doesn't seem like your typical Walker.  You can tell she's brilliant and good at it.  But, she doesn't follow the rules set forth by the Council.  When she accidentally does something she's shouldn't be able to do, she's put on probation.  The Council follows her every move, but it's not so much to monitor her progress but to see exactly what she is capable of (and maybe to keep an eye on her family).   As with many books, The Council isn't exactly as it appears.  

 The more Delancy travels between the other dimensions, the more fascinated I became.  Some of these world's are permanent, while others exist for mere moments.  All depend on the person and the decision being made.  It so much to tend to, it's no wonder that the Council is trying to keep tight control of it.  Of course they are going about it the wrong way and a revolt has silently been brewing.

I enjoyed this for the most part.  I wasn't overly into the romance between Delancy and Simon, but it gradually grew on me.  I did find the plot and setting to be awesome.  I'm actually looking forward to more of this series!

 

Review - The Girl with the Windup Heart (Steampunk Chronicles #4) by Kady Cross

Title: The Girl with the Windup Heart

Author: Kady Cross

Series: 4th (The Girl with the Steel Corset, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, The Girl with the Iron Touch)

Pages: 396

Published: May 27th 2014 by Harlequin TEEN 

ISBN: 9780373211197

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus. Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends. Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields. 

I Give This ...

 I was pleased to see this one as I had no real indication that the series was over after the last book.  After a rocky start, I've come to really enjoy this characters and I wanted to see an satisfying ending.

I really wish that Griffin would stop holding so much back from his friends.  Granted we wouldn't have a story without it.  But, his friends rely so much on him, I wish he would give the slightest indication that he needed them a little bit.  Because of this character flaw, he is literally draining himself dry in the Aether.  It's a good thing that Finley doesn't stand for that kind of crap.  She's determined to prove her worth to Griffin.  I think she feels like she needs for Griffin to see that he can trust her, heart and soul.

I was surprised by the tension between Finley and Emily.  I don't think that was there before.  I think it might be because they both care for Griffin in different ways and have to argue about who has the better way to save him.  I really enjoyed that addition of Mila in relation to Jack Dandy.  I didn't particularly care for his relationship with Finley, but I liked his character.  So, I readily accepted his new found fascination with Mila.

I liked how most of this story took place in the aether.  It reminded me a little bit of Dante's Inferno.  I enjoyed Finley's own personal demons that she had to overcome in order to get to Griffin.   I enjoyed how conniving The Machinist could be.   I never failed to be surprised the lengths he wold go to get what he wanted.

In the end, I was surprised by this series.  I'm still hesitant when it comes to steampunk, but I've learned to give it a chance.  This series has helped me accomplish that.  I will be looking for Kady Cross again.

 

 

Review - Unhinged (Splintered #2) by A.G. Howard

Title: Unhinged

Author: A.G. Howard

Series: 2nd (Splintered)

Pages: 400

Published: January 7th 2014 by Harry N. Abrams

ISBN: 9781419709715

Source: Library

Description: Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of. That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs. As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind. If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head. 

 I Give This ...

Another case of why didn't I read this sooner, especially knowing how much I loved the first book.  I can't say enough about this book and the series so far.

I was happy to be back with Alyssa even if she's in complete denial that Wonderland exists.  She has her mom back, even if she's become a bit overprotecting.  Jeb is still alive, although he has no recollections of the events in Wonderland.  In her opinion, her world is almost perfect.  The only thing out of place is her art has taken on a mind of it's own, beautiful but a bit morbid. Because blood is not a normal medium used and she's not really guiding the picture that forms.  That, and Morpheus continues to haunt her dreams. 

There's so much that happens in this book that it's hard to describe it all in one messily little review.  The Red Queen is trying to infiltrate the human realm in very subtle ways.  One the twins that guards the graveyard has left her post, which leads to way for some of Wonderland to cross over.  But through it all Alyssa is convinced that she's not needed.  It isn't until she learns that the truth not only about her mother, but her father as well, that she begins to accept just how deep her destiny runs.  

I think the most fascinating thing about this series is how the author has managed to give even more life to the world created by Lewis Carrol.  The characters and scenery are familiar, but the have more depth.  Each element is darker and more malicious.  It seems everything and everyone has an ulterior motive.   The only part that lost me a little was the ending at prom seemed a little cliche.  But, it had to happen at some point.

 

Review - Bloody Valentine (Blue Bloods #5.5) by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Bloody Valentine

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Series: 5.5 (Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations, The Van Alen Legacy, Misguided Angels)

Pages: 147

Published: December 28th 2010 by Hyperion 

ISBN: 9781423134497

Source: Library

 

Description: The Blue Bloods have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shape-shift, and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even those immortal vampires, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, part of the best-selling Blue Bloods series, author Melissa de la Cruz offers three tantalizing stories that delve deep into the love lives of the all-powerful vamps (and their Red Blood friends) from New York's Upper East Side. Might a witchy new girl help cure Oliver's broken heart? How did Allegra fall in love with a human? Will Schuyler and Jack finally be bonded?

I Give This ...

I don't normally do short stories.  It depends on the story I guess.  I this case, I'm actually glad I read it.  I think it bridged a few gaps that I was missing in how things came to be the way they are.

I loved all three stories.  I was curious as to what would happen to Oliver.  I think the pain of being bonded to Schuyler was almost to much for him to bare.  It's event in some of the things he tries to do to be rid of her in his soul and his blood.  I was happy that the witch was able to cure him of the bonding, but sad when she left.  I felt that Oliver might have grow attached to her to quickly as a replacement.  

I think the story of Allegra and Ben  is my favorite.  She was willing to go against time and tradition by not renewing her bond.  She tried to not let that happen for the better of everybody involved.  But, she found she loved Ben to much and he loved her.  In the end the realized that it was better to be together no matter what the cost than live without each other.

Jack impressed me a lot in the last short story.  It's taken a long time for him to prove to me that he really does love Schuyler.  For some reason, I was never as sure of him.  I admire the great lengths he went to for all their friends to be there on their bonding day.  He made it special and meaningful despite all the dangers they were facing.

I do think reading this short book made certain events in the next major installment make a little more sense.  I also think it filled in some back story that I really wanted to know (like Ben and Allegra). 

 

   

Review - Midnight Thief (Midnight Thief #1) by Livia Blackburne

Title: Midnight Thief

Author: Livia Blackburne

Series: 1st

Pages: 376 

Published: July 8th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion 

ISBN: 9781423176381

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs. But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull. Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease. When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives. In her arresting debut novel, Livia Blackburne creates a captivating world where intrigue prowls around every corner—and danger is a way of life. 

I Give This ...

This sounded like something that might be that it book, the one to rave about.  For awhile it really was.  I enjoyed so many aspects of this novel.  But, somewhere in the book an event occurred and the story took a different turn.  And one that just no longer resented with me.    

I really enjoyed Kyra.  Her ability to sneak into places undetected and leave the same way she came was fascinating.  That part of the story really drew me in.  I was hesitant when the Assassins Guild offered Kyra a place in their ranks.  But, I wasn't surprised that she accepted the offer.  I never felt it was about the money that was offered.  It was all about being able to prove that she could do the job and all it's challenges.  I think she also enjoyed skirting around those in charge without their knowing.  A way for her to prove that she was more than just a street urchin.  

I also really enjoyed Tristam.  He's your poster boy for someone who fully supports whatever government is in place.  To him, there's only black and white and no grey.  So, I think it's really hard for him to admit that Kyra might have got the best of him.  He never imagined that it was a women sneaking in and out without being seen.  I also like that as he gets to know here, he realizes that not everything is as clear cut as it seems.  That sometimes the good guy and the bad guy aren't always what you think.

So what happened?  It's actually really hard to explain without giving away something that I think is suppose to be a surprise, although an intricate part of the story.  Let's just say that there's something off about those Demon Riders and their wildcats.  I could see it coming, but I kept hoping the story wouldn't go there.  When it did, I was so disappointed.  I have no idea why the story effected me that way.

It's likely that I won't continue this story.  There are parts of me that are greatly intrigued.  But, I was put off by an element of the story that might be to much to overcome.    

 

Review - Where Silence Gathers (Some Quiet Place #2) by Kelsey Sutton

Title: Where Silence Gathers

Author: Kelsey Sutton

Series: 2nd (Some Quiet Place)

Pages: 360

Published: July 8th 2014 by Flux

ISBN: 9780738739472

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Seventeen-year-old Alexandra Tate sits outside Nate Foster's house, clutching a gun. After serving ten years for the drunk driving accident that killed Alex's family, Nate has been released from prison. Every night, Alex waits out of sight, building up the courage to exact her own justice. There's just one problem: Forgiveness. Alex has been able to see personified Emotions for as long as she can remember, and Revenge is her best friend. But when Forgiveness suddenly appears, he offers Alex a choice--getting even or moving on. It's impossible to decide when Revenge whispers in one ear . . . and Forgiveness whispers in the other. 

I Give This ...

I've been early awaiting this next part of the series.  Part of me really wanted more of Fear, but realizing this was more of a companion book I was just happy to back with these characters.

Alexandra is one angry teenager.  I'm not discounting her anger, because I think part of it is very justified.  She's been through hell and back at a very young age.  But, part of me wonders if those raising her shouldn't have been doing more to help her.  I think they might have been afraid to push to hard.  She makes reckless choice throughout this story.  Since I've never been in her position, I found it hard to agree with many of the.  Granted I don't think it helped that her companion since childhood was Revenge.  

I truly love the concept of this series.  For some reason that idea of emotions and elements being able to take on human forms in fascinating to me.  I love how Revenge and Forgiveness battle it out in this one.  They have to be constant enemies vying for the top prize.  I loved each of them, even when I knew in my heart that it would be better for Alexandra to pick Forgiveness.  I love the other elements that we see and how they perfectly embody the emotion they represent.

I hope Kelsey Sutton write more of these books.  I don't think I would tire of getting to know different emotions in this light.  Plus, I really enjoy the humans they interact with.

 

Review - Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Title: Torn Away

Author: Jennifer Brown

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 288

Published: May 6th 2014 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 

ISBN: 9780316245531

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Jersey Cameron has always loved a good storm. Watching the clouds roll in and the wind pick up. Smelling the electricity in the air. Dancing barefoot in the rain. She lives in the Midwest, after all, where the weather is sure to keep you guessing. Jersey knows what to do when the tornado sirens sound. But she never could have prepared for this.  When her town is devastated by a tornado, Jersey loses everything. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with relatives she hardly knows-family who might as well be strangers. In an unfamiliar place, can Jersey discover that even on the darkest of days, there are some things no tornado can destroy? 

I Give This ...

One should not read books about the loss of loved ones when you've recently experienced it yourself.  Or maybe you should because it helps you come to better terms with how you are feeling about your own loss.  Whatever the case may be, I deeply felt the pain Jersey goes through in this book.

I enjoyed our brief introduction to Jersey before tragedy struck home.  I think the point of making her the typical girl made the story that much more devastating.  Her life isn't perfect, so that can make her anybody.  It shows that death knows no bounds and will take anybody.   I admired her courage as the tornado was ripping over her, her determination to stay put because she knew that's were her family would come looking for her. I felt her deep sorrow when she discovered her mother and sister were gone and the joy she felt when she found her step-father.  

And then the story turns some more because all that wasn't enough for Jersey to go through.  Part of me really wanted to hate Jersey's stepdad.  But, he wasn't coping well with his grief and thought the best thing for her was to live with her biological father.  This is a man she's never met and family who obviously resents everything about her.   They were awful is so many ways.  I had high hopes that her stepfather would recognize this and come and get her.  

At this point, I was beginning to wonder if Jersey would find some sort of peace in this chaos the world had left her in.  She ends up at her mother's parents house.  She's indifferent here and determined not to show any sort of emotion.  But, she's having a hard time matching these people with the imagine her mother left her.  Slowly she begins to understand that maybe family changes over time.  Her mother and sister may be gone, but they can still live on in her and the people around her.  How she chooses to remember them is up to her.

A beautifully written and powerful book.  I savored it until the last page was done.  I apparently need to  read more of Jennifer Brown.

 

Review - On the Fence by Kasie West

Title: On The Fence

Author: Kasie West

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 296

Published: July 1st 2014 by HarperTeen 

ISBN:  9780062235671

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

 

Description: For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.  To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high. 

I Give This ...

I've read Kasie West's debut novel but haven't managed to get to anything else written by here (even the second book in her series).  I've been interested in her contemporary work, so I decided this would fit the bill.  Plus, I like the idea of the boy next door.

I liked Charlotte from the first few pages.  I didn't really identify with her, but I felt her personality really jumped off the pages.  I liked how at ease with her brothers.  I liked that her dad gives her a challenge because to help her learn a lesson.  Part of me does wish it would have been a little harder for her to find a job, but I enjoyed the job that was available to her.  I think it taught her a lot about who she was, who she could be, and what she wanted.  

Honestly, I wasn't sure what part of the story I enjoyed more...the boy or the job.  You see, I think the job is a big part of the story her.  Charlie didn't have to be just a tomboy.  She was allowed to be feminine whenever she felt like it.  But, she was so afraid that her brothers would give her a hard time.  Her job allowed her to explore that side that I think she hadn't wanted to for a long time.  

And then there's the boy.  Braden is the typical boy next door.  I love that he is so close to her brothers that there's really no separation to them and him.  I think Charlie has always noticed him, but never give him much thought until they started their late night talks at the fence.  But, Charlie has a hard time ready his intentions.  She's never had much practice ready boys off the field.

I also enjoyed the two surprise twists in the story.  One, I had a feeling about given the hints and dreams that Charlie kept having about the accident that killed her mom.  The other one was a given considering Charlie has 3 older brothers.  I'm sure they thought they were protecting her.  Overall, I loved this story.  I have another one of her contemporaries that I need to read as soon as possible.  

 

Review - No Alligators in Sight by Kirsten B. Feldman

Title: No Alligators in Sight

Author: Kirsten B. Feldman

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 232

Published: November 25th 2013 by KBFeldman Books 

ISBN: 9781492792192

Source: Author for honest review

Description: In this coming of age novel, Lettie and Bert squeak by in a tiny town on Cape Cod, one parent an alcoholic and the other absent. After a string of bad decisions on Lettie’s part, their father ships them to their barely remembered mother for the summer, where they will learn hard lessons about themselves, their family, and their future by way of the Florida swamp. Throughout Lettie keeps her biting humor flowing, her razor-sharp pen at the ready, and her eye on her quest for a “normal” life. 

I Give This ...

I'm always a little wary of self published books, which in the growing age of self publishing maybe I should be open.  I had nothing to fear with this one.  I loved this coming of age book.

Lettie has a lot of pent up anger directed at everybody.  She was forced to grow up to quickly in order to take care of herself and her little brother Ben.  She never got to be a child herself, a fact that is really easy to place the blame on her father.  He's there and he's not the best of parents.  It's easy to idolize and fantasize about their mother who left them.  If if she knows the truth is far from this fantasy.  But, when Lettie gets caught shoplifting, her father decides maybe a little hard truth is what she needs.  

What floored me at first was that I had no idea that the absent mother might actually be worse than the father.  Within a couple chapters, I realized that maybe Lettie's dad was trying to protect them the only way he knew how.  He may have been an alcoholic, but he did love them.  I kept waiting for some moment to happen for Lettie's mother to wake up a realize what they were doing.  I hated that it was so obvious how much she favored Bert (not in a way the deterred from the story if you know what I mean).  I hated the way her husband didn't care about them.  But, most of all I was disgusted when they dumped her at the airport expecting her to find her own way home with out so much as a backwards glance.

Despite the events that lead to Lettie being send home, I was happy to see that maybe it opened up her dad's eyes a little.  She needed a father and he was right there.  I think he was making the right choices to better their lives, although I wish it would have happened sooner.  I'm not sure on the ending though.  Part of me is hoping for the bridge to be built while the other part thinks there's no freakin way. 

 

Review - Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga #1) by Jennifer Donnelly

Title: Deep Blue

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Series: 1st

Pages: 340

Published: May 6th 2014 by Disney Press 

ISBN: 9781423133162

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description: Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.  When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin's arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence. 

I Give This ...

Mermaid books tend to be hit of miss with me.  I think it's just one of those topics that can get cheesy really quickly.  It has to be believable without being over the top.  I think this book does that just fine.

I was a little unsure at first because it seemed like Serafina wasn't going to be that strong of a character.  She's use to being told what to do and feeling like she's never going to live up to her mother's expectations or her crown.  But when all hell breaks loose, Serafina must step up to the plate quickly.  She has a hard time with this at first.  It's more of denial in admitting that her mother and the rest of her nation might be wiped out.  She hesitates in her decisions thinking that they have little importance.

I actually really enjoyed the world building behind this one.  I would have liked more information on the different nations, but what I got was enough to picture this world.  I loved how there was a little mystery surrounding Prince Mahdi.  I wasn't quite sure if he was going to warp into a bad guy or just seriously misunderstood.   I also loved the idea of the 6 mermaids being descendants of the original ruling mermaids.  I think they each represent the characteristics that originals were known for.  

I think I especially enjoyed watching Serafina grown and learn throughout this book.  She's really begins to lead in the end and accept her new position.  I really look forward to book 2!

 

 

Review - Nantucket Red (Nantucket #2) by Leila Howland

Title: Nantucket Red

Author: Leila Howland

Series: 2nd (Nantucket Blue)

Pages: 288

Published: May 13th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion 
ISBN: 9781423160953
Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: When Cricket is offered the chance to earn enough cash to afford a real college experience, she heads back to Nantucket for the summer. But the faraway island challenges Cricket in ways she hadn't anticipated. It's hard to focus on earning money for next year, when she finds her world opening up in entirely new ways-to art, to travel, and, most unexpectedly, to a future completely different from the one she has been working toward her whole life. A friendship blossoms with Ben, the gorgeous surfer and bartender who encourages Cricket to be free, even as she smarts at the pain of seeing Zack, her first love, falling for her worst enemy.  But one night, when Cricket finally lets herself break all her own rules, she realizes she may have ruined her carefully constructed future with one impulsive decision. Cricket must dig deep to fight for her future, discovering that success isn't just about reaching goals, but also about listening to what she's been trying to ignore-her own heart.

I Give This ...

I'm a sucked for the word red in a title for some reason.  Chances are that if it's in the title, I will pick it up and read the description.  That's what happened here and realizing I needed to read Nantucket Blue first.  Well worth the mistake.

This one picks up right were the first one ended.  But, then we are rushed right through Cricket's senior year.  It kind of through me off a little at first, but I adjusted when I realized the important time frames were there.  Zack went off to an exclusive boarding and school and Cricket decided absolutely no contact (they even deleted each other off Facebook).  They saw each briefly at Thanksgiving and Zack tried to rekindle their romance.  Cricket basically blew him off, so I didn't blame him for moving on.  For Cricket to expect him to wait was putting a lot of pressure on him.  

I liked how Cricket was handed this opportunity.  She's worked really hard to earn a scholarship, but we all know Ivy League are pricey.  She's willing to live at home just to make sure she can do it.  But, she's given the chance to live the whole experience, if she can make the money to pay half the balance.   And this is were she ends up at Nantucket, because were else can she make that much money in a short summer.

I felt that Cricket really grew in this book.  She realizes what she wants in love and that maybe she was wrong to push away Zack.  I don't think she every really cared for Ben either.  I think it was the older guy thing and hoping to make Zack jealous.  And think she also learned that  you have to have a little fun in your life or you might let loose too much at the wrong time.  Every choice you make has consequences even if at the time it seems like no big deal.

A great second book in the series and a great summer beach read.  I'll have to put this author on my watch for list!