Book Review: Dotwav by Mike A. Lancaster

Genre: YA Sci-fi Thriller
Publication: September 2016 by Sky Pony Press
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALAAC 2016

Synopsis:

“There’s something in that sound. Something bad. Something dangerous.”

Fifteen-year-old Ani Lee is a skilled hacker researching a strange .wav file that she’s downloaded when it behaves as no file ever should.

Joe Dyson is a seventeen-year-old American transplant recruited into a secret teen division of the British intelligence service who’s looking into the disappearance of a friend caught up in an underground music scene that might be more than it appears.

When Ani and Joe’s investigations intertwine, they discover that the .wav file and the music are linked—someone’s embedding the file into tracks to create a mind-controlled teen army.

But who’s behind it? And why? And how do you stop a sound?

An exhilarating sci-fi techno-thriller that blends music, mind control, and conspiracy perfect for fans of Little Brother, Brain Jack, and Proxy.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

I. Love. This. Book.

I've been a huge fan of Lancaster's from pretty much the first page of his first book, Human .4. His second book, a follow up to Human .4, was also fantastic so Dotwav was already sitting pretty high up on that pedestal.

As it should be!

Again, because:
I. Love. This. Book.

It's just a great story - lots of layers and great characters and fabulous sci-fi. It's the fabulous sci-fi that really does it for me. YA sci-fi can be tricky. I've been burned before but not so with Dotwav. So many things are going on and while it's a little over the top, realism wise, it all makes total sense in the big picture.

It's got a Mission Impossible type feel - only cooler and with young people. It also reminded me of that so horrible you have to love it movie, Hackers - without Jolie's huge lips getting in the way of everything.

Oh! And there's a twist...ish...towards the end - I didn't see it coming at least - and it was freaken cool.

If YA sci-fi is your thing you should for sure check out Dotwav (and Lancaster's other books!). I would also recommend this book to reluctant teen readers (boys and girls) as it's just a fun story that flows well and keeps you engaged page after page. Also, there is little to no romance and the main protag is male, which is always refreshing to me since most YA book I read have female MCs.

Mike has become one of my always read authors and I can't wait to read whatever it is he has planned next!

Book Review: Black Widow Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl

Book #2 of the Black Widow series
Genre: YA Marvel Universe
Publication: October 2016 by Marvel Press
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALA 2016

Synopsis:

BLACK WIDOW: RED VENGEANCE is the action-packed sequel tothe instant New York Times best-seller, BLACK WIDOW: FOREVER RED, penned by #1New York Times best-selling author Margaret Stohl. This time, Stohl takesreaders inside the minds of Marvel's most cunning and dangerous spies-BlackWidow and Red Widow-delving deeper into their powers and will reveal more thanever before about the infamous assassin and her fledgling hero-in-training.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

Loved.

Honestly, I didn't think I would enjoy this series as much as I am. I mean, I love the Marvel Universe and I loved the Avengers movies but there is only so much, witty banter, explosions and total mass destruction I can take before I get a little glassy eyed.

Or so I thought.

Ok, so the books have a little less explosions (thank you!) and the banter is mostly all Tony Stark's but wow this story is intense - and the details that went into Natasha's back story? Fantastic.

As with my love for book 1, my book 2 loves stems from a place of fandom love. I grew up with Superman and Batman but I never connected to the DC world the way I've connected to Marvel. S.H.I.E.L.D. is one of my all time favorite shows and Agent Coulson? Clark Gregg for life! Natasha aka The Black Widow has always been a bit of a mystery to me, having never read her comics. I can't help but picture Scarlett Johansson as I read Red Vengeance (and Robert Downey Jr, and Clark Gregg) and I really think my reading experience was enhanced because I had these visuals helping to paint the story in my mind.

Ok, fandom fangirling aside, Black Widow Red Vengeance was an excellent book. I loved the writing, I loved the story and I loved that so much of a universe I already love was incorporated so well into Natasha's new stories. Ava still got to me a bit but I'm warming up to her.

I really thought this was a duology but the way this one ended - I can't imagine the story not continuing. Not so much a cliff hanger as a shear drop - like, boom! Yeah, it was intense (also loved that part ;)

If Marvel is your thing, if S.H.I.E.L.D. is your bae then this series is for you. And, if mystery, intrigue, superheros and kick ass female characters is your thing, this series is also for you :)

Book Review: Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl

Book #1 of the Black Widow series
Genre: YA Marvel Universe
Publication: October 2015 by Marvel Press
Acquisition: received as a gift

Synopsis:

Enter the world of the Avengers’ iconic master spy…

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments—until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned—and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava’s dreams…

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

So, I went into this one with pretty high expectations. I love Marvel and I love love love S.H.I.E.L.D. -- Agent Coulson for life!

And...

I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, it was better then I was expecting.

Black Widow, aka Agent Romanoff, aka Natasha Romanova was a bit of a unknown for me. All I really knew about her came from the Avengers movies and she didn't get a lot of screen time. However, she is one of those characters you just knew had to come with a pretty hefty back story. In Forever Red the backstory is the story - front and center in all it's horrific glory.

And I ate. It. Up.

Black Widow for life! (j/k Phil)

Lots of details, lots of awesome little bits and pieces of S.H.I.E.L.D. and some well known (to me) characters and some new ones and action and adventure and mystery and really really good storytelling.

So yeah, I loved it.

I wasn't actually too sure of Ava at first. I thought maybe she was a throw away type of character - because this series is being written for young adults and the Black Widow isn't a kid, an actual teenager was needed to make the story work for the YA audience.

That isn't what this is at all though. Ava and Natasha are connected in ways I didn't see coming AT ALL and it made for a hell of a story.

Highly recommend for fans of Marvel, Black Widow, and kick ass female characters :)

Quick Review: Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Book #1 of the Every Heart a Doorway series

Publication: April 2016 by Tor.com
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALAMW 2016

Goodreads

5 / 5 Stars

Very strange - not YA - very short - not for everyone.

Loved the idea of this all.
So many stories out there about kids falling into realms hidden to most folks.
Not many stories about what happens to the ones that return to the real world.
Totally answers the "Ok, what now?" question I've often found myself asking.

Loved the characters and how they fit and don't fit together. Loved the order and organization given to it all.

Kinda short and honestly, in hardcover, that price is a little harsh. Ebook this baby!

Or spend your money however you want - who am I to say ;)

Either way - highly recommend.

Oooo - and there will be more? Wishlisting those 2 lovelies now!

Quick Review: All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

Publication: September 2013 by Viking Books for Young Readers
Acquisition: read an ARC won in a giveaway

Goodreads

5 / 5 Stars

This one sat on my shelf for a long time before I read it. It fell into the "judge and dismiss by it's cover without remembering why I have it or looking up what it was actually about to realize I really did want to read it"...hole

This is totally a real thing.

Once I got over my wrongness and actually started reading - I seriously couldn't put it down.

Mystery, historical, coming of age, romance that packs a punch. Every element was spot on and even when I thought I knew what I was going on, I was still hooked into the story.

I was wrong btw - about what I thought was going on. I was very very wrong and it was pretty fantastic when I found out how wrong I was.

Also - 2nd person point of view. I love this.

YA historical fiction fans would love this book! Especially if you also like a really good mystery and stellar character development!

Book Review: Safekeeping by Karen Hesse

Genre: YA Futuristic Dystopian Adventure
Publication: paperback January 2016 by Square Fish
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

The president is assassinated, the government has been taken over, and all hell is breaking loose.

Radley's parents warned her that all hell would break loose if the American People's Party took power. The news is filled with images of vigilante groups, frenzied looting, and police raids. It seems as if all hell has broken loose.

Coming back from volunteering abroad, Radley just wants to get home to Vermont. When her plane lands in New Hampshire, her parents-who always come, day or night, no matter when or where she lands-aren't there. Her cell phone is dead, her credit cards are worthless, and she doesn't have the proper travel papers to cross state lines. Out of options, Radley starts walking. . . .

This is a vision of a future America that only Karen Hesse could write: real, gripping, and deeply personal.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

I bought Safekeeping because I saw it in my local indie bookstore and it takes place practically in my backyard. My silly little NH 'city' is even mentioned by name! Hehehe

Oh - and also, the story sounded fabulous!

Well, I was right - the story was fabulous AND the place based details were totally spot on! The author actually walked the route Radley took - from Manchester NH to Brattleboro VT in order to write as realisticly as possible.

One thing I'm bummed about -- the paperback (which I bought) doesn't have the photographs the author took on her journey. I might just need to make another purchase.

Getting back to the story - I loved it. It's the future and American political society has actually fallen and one girl finds herself thousands of miles away when it all goes down. She makes it as close as she can but nothing is as it has been and she has to fight her way home.

Safekeeping is so very realistic. It's one girl's story but it could be anyone's. One thing I hate about some dystopian or post apocalyptic stories is the all encompassing change that effects everything systematically. A bigger power takes control or another governing body steps in and it's like a new chapter has started and everyone just has to go on from there.

Safekeeping isn't like that. Society is in shambles but not all of it is completely gone and nothing is 'changing' in a dramatic way. It's more chaotic which is how I see it all going down IRL.

I loved, loved, loved the journey Radley took- it feels like the sort of thing I would do if I were in her shoes.

At under 200 pages, I ate this one up! I loved the setting, and the characters. I loved what Radley does and why. I loved how real it all felt - which is actually pretty terrifying. And I also loved the ending! Not what I was expecting but it was pretty perfect!

I highly recommend Safekeeping to fans of YA futuristic, dystopian, thrillers - especially if you're looking for a quick read with staying power.

Book Review: Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication: September 20th 2016 by Roaring Brook Press
Acquisition: read a free eARC via NetGalley

Synopsis:

When Caroline's little brother is kidnapped, his subsequent rescue leads to the discovery of Ethan, a teenager who has been living with the kidnapper since he was a young child himself. In the aftermath, Caroline can't help but wonder what Ethan knows about everything that happened to her brother, who is not readjusting well to life at home. And although Ethan is desperate for a friend, he can't see Caroline without experiencing a resurgence of traumatic memories. But after the media circus surrounding the kidnappings departs from their small Texas town, both Caroline and Ethan find that they need a friend--and their best option just might be each other.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

A pretty powerful book. Horrific even. I don't think I'm qualified to speak on the realism but yeah, if defiantly leaves a mark.

Not for the weak of heart though. The subject matter is dark and the aftermath is messy. It could be a very emotional read. For me it was at least.

I couldn't imagine going through what any of these characters went through.

Ethan - wow. I didn't think I would enjoy being inside his head but yeah - he was extremely real for me and I was cheering him on every step of the way. His struggles were laid out in a perfect way. The alternating 1st person POV really worked for this story. We get pieces of Ethan a little bit at a time and his thoughts and his feelings are raw and unfiltered.

Caroline - she got on my nerves a bit but oh my god, her heart is in the right place. She's a mess but she loves her brother so much and she would do almost anything to help him. He can't even tell her what happened and while at first, I couldn't imagine how she could bring herself to talk to Ethan about it all, it makes perfect sense.

I'm gonna say, Afterward isn't for everyone. It doesn't sugar coat and these characters - all of them - even Ethan's mom and his therapist and Caroline's mother and father -- they are all so different but they are all reacting to the horrific situation they are in such heartfelt and real ways.

Fabulous read for me.

Book Review: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery
Publication: July 26th 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALAAC 2016

Synopsis:

Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?

If dealing with that weren't enough, Sam also comes face to face with a real live (well technically dead) ghost. A handsome, angry ghost who wants Sam to stop touching his stuff. But soon Sam discovers she is at the center of a centuries old curse affecting anyone with ties to the trials. Sam must come to terms with the ghost and find a way to work with the Descendants to stop a deadly cycle that has been going on since the first accused witch was hanged. If any town should have learned its lesson, it's Salem. But history may be about to repeat itself.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

I've loved Salem Massachusetts for a long time. It started in history class when we studied the Witch Trials. Then in English we picked apart The Crucible. THEN came the first of many trips to visit the town IRL (once on Halloween night...I wouldn't really recommend it!)

It's a fascinating place. It's a layered city full of history, tourism and modern day paganism. It's all there and depending on what you are looking for there is so much to explore.

Because of my Salem love, I was actually a little worried about How to Hang a Witch. Witchcraft is a personal thing for me and I've read many a book that depict it horribly.

I found that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. How to Hang a Witch isn't just a story of witchcraft. It's a story of history and magic and prejudice and family and ghosts!

Adriana Mather is a descendant of the infamous Cotton Mather from the Salem Witch Trails. Cotton was a lot more complicated then history books highlight and Samantha is an equally complicated fictional representation.

I loved how detailed everything was especially the history of the original Witch Trial families - the modern day characters that walk the halls of their school like then own the place! A little unrealistic but it makes for some fantastic story telling.

And the ghost! Oh my! The ghost!

Oh! And the ending!

Ok, I didn't really love the ending. BUT I was totally taken by surprise by it. I was so so sure I knew what was really happening to Samantha. There were even times when I rolled my eyes because - OMG it was so obvious! But...I was really really wrong. And that's awesome even if I didn't love why I was really really wrong.

Also...there is romance...and it took a weird turn...and I wasn't really happy about it. BUT lots of other things happened and in the end, all was good...ish.

Overall, I really really loved this book. It's a fantastic telling of a town, so entrenched in it's own history that the inhabitants might be just be destined to repeat it all.

Book Review: Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun

Genre: YA Futuristic Fantasy
Publication: April 2016 by Harlequin TEEN
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALA Midwinter 2016

Synopsis:

As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits—by her duties as a member of the royal family, by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman, and by the edge of the only world she’s ever known—a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what’s left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft.

When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks, and other terrifying beasts. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

Heir to the Sky has a lot of things going for it -futuristic, fantasy, dystopian, mystery, romance without insta love or love triangles.

Any two of these qualities would do it for me, so, all of them together in one awesome package?! Fantastic!

I seriously enjoyed this book.

Lots of great imagery, and some fabulous character development. The setting was beyond awesome - and this was with me assuming I knew everything that was going on (I didn't).

If anything, I want to say that the ending was a little too rushed. Maybe? I could see the story being really drawn out over a 2 or 3 book series and I'm so so happy that isn't the case. So, yeah, maybe things came together a little too quickly at the end but I think it worked for the story.

Heir to the Sky is a book that stayed with me after finishing. I loved the floating continents and I loved how Kali pieces together the truth of her world.

A quick read for me that I think fans of many different genres would really enjoy. Nothing was overdone - the mystery and fantasy elements combine pretty perfectly with the futuristic, quasi dystopian setting.

Love it!

Book Review: Dark Energy by Robison Wells

Genre: YA Sci-fi
Publication: March 2016 by HarperTeen
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALAMW 2016

Synopsis:

We are not alone.

Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing—or no one—has come out.

They have arrived.

If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching all of this on the news from Miami, Florida. Instead, she’s the newest student at a boarding school not far from the crash site—because her dad is the director of special projects for NASA, and if anything is a special project, it’s this.

And there’s no going back.

A shell-shocked country is waiting, glued to televisions and computer screens, for a sign of what the new future holds. But when the aliens emerge, they’re nothing like what Alice expected. And only one thing is clear: Nothing will ever be the same again.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

Sci-fi young adult standalone?

What what?!

Oh yeah!

So much freaken love for Dark Energy.

The story is awesomely awesome.

When I think of aliens coming to earth I totally see it the way things went down in Dark Energy. No secret, long con infiltration. It's a crash landing.

No aliens today.
Boom!
Aliens fall from the sky.
Crap - what now?

It's not neat and clean and there aren't nice little boxes you can draw around, well, anything. Not the reason for the aliens coming to earth, or the state of their ship, or what they really are, or where they come from, or what the people of earth will or can do now -- no boxes!

And speaking of that spaceship? The scenes where Alice and her friends help explore the interior (oh yeah, that happens) -- it's some of the best pages of sci-fi I've ever read. It's realistic and nothing is glossed over and OMG I wish it were actually a real thing and I could be there with her! (ok, maybe not, cause...well...reasons. But yeah, it's awesome).

I can't recommend Dark Energy enough. It's not long and it's not complicated but it's so full.

It's a book I think all types of readers could enjoy - reluctant, hard core sci-fi fans, YA fans, Non YA fans, people who like words in paragraph form -- yeah, pretty much everyone.

Seriously, even if sci-fi isn't your go-to read, I would give Dark Energy a try. At its core, it's a fabulous story by a fabulous author and you won't be disappointed.

Book Review: Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Book #1 of the Reign of Shadows series
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: February 2016 by Harper Teen
Acquisition: received an ARC at ALAMW 2016

Synopsis:

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

Lots of love for Reign of Shadows!

Starts out with a lot of mystery right off the bat. The eclipse, Luna's seclusion, the curse of the Black Woods - it's all shrouded in intrigue and it's all fabulous.

Everyone has secrets and it's this perfect combo of discovery and adventure that drives the story forward.

I pretty much couldn't put it down.

Luna is an awesome character. She is very sure of herself and very confident and I loved the fact that when she does waiver, it's realistically. At some many points she could have broken down and played the role of damsel needing rescue - but this doesn't happen.

Oh, and Fowler? Loved! He's very unique and you can tell his secrets are eating him up but even though he pushes his aloofness in your face, you can tell there is so much more going on in his head.

And that ending!

Cliffhanger light? Yeah, let's go with that.

Something is revealed and wow - I didn't see it coming!

Cannot wait for book 2! It's a wishlist must own!

Book Review: Half Bad by Sally Green

Book #1 of The Half Bad Trilogy
Genre: YA Paranormal Urban Fantasy
Publication: January 2015 by Speak
Acquisition: received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and sixteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his seventeenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

Such a great read.

It totally missed my radar and I should be shamed for that because OMG it's good - All the praise Half Bad has gotten is 100% deserved.

I love the way it starts. Part One with short chapters and a whole lot of unknowns.

I love how Part Two adds tons of explanation but there is still so much story to tell.

I love the switching back and fourth between 1st and 2nd person point of view. It made me feel like I was both being told what was happening to Nathan and at the same time experiencing it for myself.

I love how complex Nathan's life becomes and how much detail there is in his story.

I love how it takes place in England because it adds a layer of depth and history that the same story set in America just wouldn't have.

I love that it incorporates magic and life, love and family, loyalty and duty in fantastic ways.

I'd be hard pressed to find something I didn't love in Half Bad.

It's a gripping story that I couldn't put down. Nathan is a complex character whose story I needed to know. Everything about Half Bad pulled me in, wanting more!

I'm so excited that's it's only the first book in the series. Very, very much looking forward to devouring this trilogy.

Book Review: Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace

Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: January 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books
Acquisition: received a free ARC at ALA Midwinter 2016

Synopsis:

Breezy remembers leaving the party: the warm, wet grass under her feet, her cheek still stinging from a slap to her face. But when she wakes up, scared and pulling dirt from her mouth, a year has passed and she can’t explain how.

Nor can she explain the man lying at her grave, dead from her touch, or why her heartbeat comes and goes. She doesn’t remember who killed her or why. All she knows is that she’s somehow conscious—and not only that, she’s able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past.

Haunted by happy memories from her life, Breezy sets out to find answers in the gritty, threatening world to which she now belongs—where killers hide in plain sight, and a sinister cult is hunting for strange creatures like her. What she discovers is at once empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

Good! So good! So very very good!

God, I loved this book.
It was strange, and weird and totally implausible but at the same time, totally realistic.

It's part mystery, part paranormal discovery.

Basically, it's a story about a girl. And the things that have happened, are happening and will happen to the girl.

Sounds boring right? Well, it's not!

This girl, isn't ordinary. And while her journey could fit into a number of plots, her unique circumstances make for hella good storytelling.

Nothing really fits into perfect boxes for Breezey. Her life, her death, her afterlife. It's all a jumble which is exactly how the real world works.

I love how there aren't any absolutes. There are questions and answers and mysteries to solve but all of the bits and pieces don't exactly fit together in the end.

At the end of Shallow Graves I kinda wanted a little more. More of Breezey's story and more of her world but at the same time, I liked that there were still loose ends.

Shallow Graves is a perfect match of fantastic storytelling and unanswered questions. Oh! And fantastic imagery - love it!

Book Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Book #1 of Shades of Magic
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Publication: February 2015 by Tor Books
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

Kell is one of the last Antari, a rare magician who can travel between parallel worlds: hopping from Grey London — dirty, boring, lacking magic, and ruled by mad King George — to Red London — where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire — to White London — ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne, where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back — and back, but never Black London, because traveling to Black London is forbidden and no one speaks of it now.

Officially, Kell is the personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see, and it is this dangerous hobby that sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to take her with him for her proper adventure.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save both his London and the others, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — a feat trickier than they hoped.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

It's been a very long time since I've read a book that I've loved as much as I love this book.

It's good.

Seriously good.

Fabulously, tremendously good.

Schwab knows how to tell a story. I mean, I knew that already. But OMG was I blown away by A Darker Shade of Magic.

Every character, every setting, every little detail, every big detail - EVERYTHING was perfect.

I grew up with fantasy. Sweeping, epic fantasy stories passed down to me by my parents. ADSOM 100% reminds me of these stories I read and loved when I was younger.

Complete and full and timeless.

I sometimes have a hard time putting myself in a different worlds within the same story but that didn't happen here. Gray, Red, White, Black - it was all so easy to envision.

And man, did I wish I could visit Red London. It's got magic, and Kell and secrets and Kell and mystery and did I mention Kell lives there?

Since finishing ADSOM (oh, and a big thank you to whoever popularized this acronym - makes it so much easier to gush over talk about via Twitter and the like ;)

What was I saying? Oh yes - since finishing ADSOM I've been recommending it to just about everyone. Friends, family, strangers - no one is safe from my tremendous love for this book!!

So, have you read it yet? ;)

(btw - book 2? Also ridiculously fabulous!)

Book Review: Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication: March 2016 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Acquisition: received a free ARC at ALA Midwinter 2016

Synopsis:

Reader, I murdered him.

A Gothic retelling of Jane Eyre.

Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked - but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors.

A fugitive navigating London's underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate's true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household's strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him - body, soul and secrets - and what if he discovers her murderous past?

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

I didn't like Jane Eyre at all when I was forced to read it in school many many moons ago. So, a Jane Eyre retelling? No thank you.

But wait, this one has murder you say? Murders actually? Well...ok, I'll give it a go.

So glad I did because Jane Steele is fantastic!

All the ridiculousness I hated in Jane Eyre is gone and all the murdery goodness that I like (in books!) is totally here.

Ok, it's not all murder. There is also romance - which! Is so actually authentic and genuine and not flighty in the least! *cough* Mr. Rochester *cough*.

Everything in the original is given a fun twist in Jane Steele.

Mundane miserable childhood + horrible boarding school experience?
Crazy miserable childhood + fantastically wicked boarding school experience!

Seemingly perfect romance with flaky, boring, hiding-ALL-the-secrets poor excuse for a man?
Ridiculously imperfect romance with intriguing, secrets-are-the-new-sexy, adorably nurturing man!

Heroine I felt like slapping every other page?
Heroine I knew would slap me first for being so judgmental!

Love, love, love, love Jane Steele.

If you're a fan of Jane Eyre or if you hated it like me - this one's for you.

If you like Gothic romance (that actually makes sense) - this one's for you.

If you like your romance with a hefty side of actual relevant and thought provoking content - this one's for you.

Basically, I think this one's for everyone!

So very glad I didn't let that other Jane keep me away. Ms. Steele would be proud ;)

Book Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Book #4 of the Lunar Chronicles
Genre: YA Sci-fi Fantasy
Publication: November 2015 by Feiwel and Friends
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

I can't imagine a scenario in which someone would read books 1-3 of The Lunar Chronicles but decide not to finish the series with book 4.

Ok - I guess it could happen. I'm actually terrible at finishing up series.

You know what, I change my mind -- I totally can imagine a scenario in which someone reads books 1-3 of The Lunar Chronicles but doesn't read book 4.

But you know what?

You need to NOT be that person and you totally need to read book 4! (or books 1-3 and then book 4 if you haven't read any of the series yet) (or books 2-3 and then 4 if you only read Cinder and then for reasons we have already established exists, didn't continue with the series) (OR you need to....you're picking up what I'm throwing down here right?)

Bottom line - It's a fabulous series and Winter is a fabulous end to the aforementioned fabulous series.

:)

I really do love this series and I couldn't have been happier with Winter.

It's not a perfect story - maybe a little unrealistic on the happily ever after front? But you know what? It all really worked for me.

There were some surprises. Some things didn't turn out the way I thought they would. But it made sense and it nothing felt rushed or out of the blue.

I've have strong feelings for these characters and with a lot of characters spread over 4 books, that's A LOT of feelings.

The Lunar Chronicles is a series I'm always recommending to folks. I'm sad that it's over but I'm so happy I stuck with this one to the end!

Book Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Book #3.5 of The Lunar Chronicles
Genre: YA Sci-fi Fantasy
Publication: January 2015 by Feiwel and Friends
Acquisition: bought

Synopsis:

In this stunning bridge book between Cress and Winter in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles, Queen Levana’s story is finally told.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,

Who is the fairest of them all?

Fans of the Lunar Chronicles know Queen Levana as a ruler who uses her “glamour” to gain power. But long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, Levana lived a very different story – a story that has never been told . . . until now.

Marissa Meyer spins yet another unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes full-color art and an excerpt from Winter, the next book in the Lunar Chronicles series.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

So - who loves The Lunar Chronicles!

"I do! I do!"

A few pages into book one, Cinder and I was hooked. It's just THAT GOOD.

With that said, I wasn't rushing to get my hands on a copy of Fairest. Possibly because I absolutely hate Levana and I was worried that in knowing her backstory I might actually start to feel sorry for her and possibly because I saw it as a fluff book that was only standing in the way of Winter coming!

I was wrong.

On both counts.

Because - OMG No! My hate for Levana was stronger then ever after finishing Fairest.

And because - not only was it a perfect story to read before delving into the 800+ page massiveness that is Winter, it gives some really good background to Winter as a character and some pretty cool insight into the Lunar world.

Do you need to read Fairest before reading Winter? No.

Do you need to read Fairest at all to still enjoy the series as a whole? No.

Should you read Fairest because Meyer is word magician and you love the world she has created so much you just want ALL OF IT? Yes.

Also, on it's own, it's a pretty great story. The backstory of Levena and her family seems to be one that existed all along and not something thrown together or created solely for the purpose of another book to add to the chronicles. It felt, to me, like the details of this story were always there, lurking beneath the surface of books one, two and three.

In essence, it's a pretty perfect backstory -- one where all the pieces fit.

I highly recommend Fairest to fans of The Lunar Chronicles and I highly recommend reading it as book 3.5 - after Cress and before Winter.

Book Review: Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

Genre: YA Historical Horror

Publication: September 2015 by Harlequin Teen
Acquisition: Received a free ebook for review via NetGalley

Synopsis:

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

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

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

Did you look at that cover?!

Yeah, that's pretty much how the entire book feels.

Creepy and dark and like there is something just out of reach that you're not quite sure you want to be reaching for.

I pretty much loved every page.

It's a story that stays with you and it's a true horror story. Nothing sugar coated, no easy or neat answers and no happy endings.

Love!

One of the things that really drew me in is how enclosed the story is. It starts out as one family in one place. They move, meet new people but it's still them, they are still alone and even though they are far from their original home, they are still in the same place.

Also, it's suspenseful and not predictable, two features that are sometimes missing from horror, especially young adult horror in my opinion.

Great characters, great horror, and a story that stays with you long after you turn the last page = ALL the great things!

Book Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Book #3 in The Lunar Chronicles
Genre: YA Fantasy Sci-fi Fairy tale
Publication: February 2014 from Feiwel and Friends
Acquisition: received a free ARC from the publisher

Synopsis:

In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

This was re-read for me but I never posted my review the first time around. (*bad Emily*)

The short and sweet version -- if you read books 1 and 2 I can't imagine any scenario in which you wouldn't also read book 3. It is so ridiculously easy to fall in love with these characters. If you haven't started this series yet -- what are you waiting for? Do it!

Seriously, this is a good series.

Everything I loved about books 1 and 2 were amplified in book 3. I think it's because we pretty much get to see all the characters - both interacting with each other and on their own. There are many point of views in this book and I know that can be off putting to some but I personally love it.

The story gets more complex but doesn't loose itself. The characters are tried and true but far from boring. The tension is intense but not overwhelming.

I love all of it.

And you should to ;)

Book Review: Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publication: October 20, 2015 by Swoon Reads
Acquisition: Won an ARC from a fellow blogger

Synopsis:

The author of A Little Something Different brings you the most adorkable romance ever.

Jane, a superstitious fangirl, takes an anonymous babysitting job to avoid an unpaid internship with her college-obsessed mom. The only problem? She’s babysitting the siblings of her childhood friend and new crush, Teo.

Teo doesn’t dislike Jane, but his best friend Ravi hates her, and is determined to keep them apart. So Teo’s pretty sure his plans for a peaceful summer are shot. His only hope is that his intermittent search for his birth father will finally pan out and he’ll find a new, less awkward home. Meanwhile, at Jane’s house, her sister Margo wants to come out as bisexual, but she’s terrified of how her parents will react.

In a summer filled with secrets and questions, even Jane’s Magic 8 ball can’t give them clear answers, but Signs Point to Yes.

(from Goodreads)

5 / 5 Stars

It's so unlike me to give a 5 star review to a romantic contemporary young adult novel. Why? Mainly because I just don't read them and when I do I'm usually unsatisfied.

This book though? It was good! Like really good!

I love Jane and I love Teo and I even grew to love Ravi (especially after I found out why he hates Jane so much - ha!).

These characters are real people. They aren't whinny, rediculous, pie in the sky versions of teenagers. And OMG yes! They are totally adorkable!

There's a lot of heart in this story and not just from the romance. BUT the romance was so nice! It wasn't insta love or overbearing and there weren't any cray cray reactions (or overreactions) and it all just felt very real and very fun and very very enjoyable to read.

Signs Point to Yes is on my very short list of YA contemps that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. (I even added Sandy Hall's first novel A Little Something Different to my wishlist!)

It's fun to read out my comfort zone every once in a while - I'm so glad I gave this one a try!