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momwithareadingproblem's Reviews (1.18k)
I received an eARC of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
As my first read of 2017, Freeks by Amanda Hocking was an interesting choice. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it isn’t my typical read. To be honest, it was the cover that drew me in. Circus/carnival stories have always fascinated me so I was curious and hopeful for this one. Freeks follows a girl in a traveling sideshow but with a twist. The people actually possess the powers they claim: psychic, necromancer, fast healing, etc. I liked this addition!
Mara is a character that jumps off the pages. I could easily see her in real life. She’s inquisitive, a bit of a misfit, and makes no apologies for it. She hides behind the carnival, the sideshow of fellow freaks she travels with. She stays behind the scenes, claiming she has no powers, though in reality they just haven’t manifested yet. Mara longs for a steady life, one with a house and home phone number, but she can’t imagine leaving her makeshift family.
The story really begins when the carnival enters the town of Caudry, a small community in Louisiana they were invited to perform in. From the moment they cross the bridge into town, the paranormals in the camp feel a sense of dread. Their powers are off, and then one of their own goes missing. This adds a touch of mystery to the plot. I actually enjoyed this. I spent the majority of the book trying to guess what was happening. Let me be the first to tell you just to enjoy the read and not guess. You won’t get it right!
With any good story comes a little romance as well. This one in the form of a young man with a kindred spirit to Mara. She feels a gut instinct that she should be frightened of him, but she can’t seem to stay away from Gabe. Gabe is mysterious, kind hearted, and infatuated with her. He returns to the carnival almost daily just to see her, knowing she leaves at the end of the week. Personally I liked him, but I worried through the entire book that he might have a hand in the events that were happening.
Overall, I enjoyed Freeks! Set in the 1980s (though I believe that it could have been set in any time period), the story jumped off the pages. I felt that I was there in the carnival, seeing the mysterious sights and watching the events unfold. Mara wasn’t my favorite character though. I felt her a bit selfish and too focused on Gabe rather than her friend that was missing and the thing that was attacking them. Despite this, I still enjoyed the mystery and suspense of the story. While there are elements of paranormal, they are not the main focus. If you enjoy urban fantasy though, I still recommend the book!
As my first read of 2017, Freeks by Amanda Hocking was an interesting choice. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it isn’t my typical read. To be honest, it was the cover that drew me in. Circus/carnival stories have always fascinated me so I was curious and hopeful for this one. Freeks follows a girl in a traveling sideshow but with a twist. The people actually possess the powers they claim: psychic, necromancer, fast healing, etc. I liked this addition!
Mara is a character that jumps off the pages. I could easily see her in real life. She’s inquisitive, a bit of a misfit, and makes no apologies for it. She hides behind the carnival, the sideshow of fellow freaks she travels with. She stays behind the scenes, claiming she has no powers, though in reality they just haven’t manifested yet. Mara longs for a steady life, one with a house and home phone number, but she can’t imagine leaving her makeshift family.
The story really begins when the carnival enters the town of Caudry, a small community in Louisiana they were invited to perform in. From the moment they cross the bridge into town, the paranormals in the camp feel a sense of dread. Their powers are off, and then one of their own goes missing. This adds a touch of mystery to the plot. I actually enjoyed this. I spent the majority of the book trying to guess what was happening. Let me be the first to tell you just to enjoy the read and not guess. You won’t get it right!
With any good story comes a little romance as well. This one in the form of a young man with a kindred spirit to Mara. She feels a gut instinct that she should be frightened of him, but she can’t seem to stay away from Gabe. Gabe is mysterious, kind hearted, and infatuated with her. He returns to the carnival almost daily just to see her, knowing she leaves at the end of the week. Personally I liked him, but I worried through the entire book that he might have a hand in the events that were happening.
Overall, I enjoyed Freeks! Set in the 1980s (though I believe that it could have been set in any time period), the story jumped off the pages. I felt that I was there in the carnival, seeing the mysterious sights and watching the events unfold. Mara wasn’t my favorite character though. I felt her a bit selfish and too focused on Gabe rather than her friend that was missing and the thing that was attacking them. Despite this, I still enjoyed the mystery and suspense of the story. While there are elements of paranormal, they are not the main focus. If you enjoy urban fantasy though, I still recommend the book!
A is for Abstinence by Kelly Oram is a follow-up/sequel of sorts to [b:V is for Virgin|15703297|V is for Virgin (V is for Virgin, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1345676801s/15703297.jpg|21364310]. This time the story is told from Kyle’s perspective and can I just say it was perfect ♥︎ I LOVED this book!!! It picks up about 8 months prior to the epilogue of Val’s story so you know where it’s going but also get what’s been happening with Kyle which again I loved.
Kyle Hamilton is (and I’m sorry Brian) my favorite Oram character. I’m in love with him. He’s confident, knows he’s sexy, and is unapologetic for it. He knows his reputation and in this book he’s working to prove to Val he’s a changed man. This is the Kyle I could see in Val’s story but he just wasn’t mature enough to admit it yet. He’s a man in love with a girl who he’s never forgotten and he’s out to win her heart this time *swoon*
Val has grown up a lot in this book. While we don’t get her perspective this time, there were a few scenes I really wish I could have known what was running through her head, specifically the music video. Val is the confident young woman I knew she’d grow up to be. She’s still toting her “Virgin Val” brand and you can tell it is starting to wear on her, especially as her friends are getting married and having children of their own. She’s ready for it but after the heartbreak of Kyle turning her away once, she’s hesitant and really you can’t blame her for it.
Overall I adored this book! While [b:V is for Virgin|15703297|V is for Virgin (V is for Virgin, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1345676801s/15703297.jpg|21364310] is more for the mature young adult crowd, I would classify this one in a clean new adult genre. After all, Kyle is a rock star. I enjoyed reading this story from his perspective as he worked to change not only Val’s perception of him but the world’s perception of him. The abstinence bracelet Val gave him in the first book makes a reappearance in this one and he’s wearing it. How sexy is that?! If you enjoy clean, romantic comedy, I highly recommend you set aside some time and binge this book!
Kyle Hamilton is (and I’m sorry Brian) my favorite Oram character. I’m in love with him. He’s confident, knows he’s sexy, and is unapologetic for it. He knows his reputation and in this book he’s working to prove to Val he’s a changed man. This is the Kyle I could see in Val’s story but he just wasn’t mature enough to admit it yet. He’s a man in love with a girl who he’s never forgotten and he’s out to win her heart this time *swoon*
Val has grown up a lot in this book. While we don’t get her perspective this time, there were a few scenes I really wish I could have known what was running through her head, specifically the music video. Val is the confident young woman I knew she’d grow up to be. She’s still toting her “Virgin Val” brand and you can tell it is starting to wear on her, especially as her friends are getting married and having children of their own. She’s ready for it but after the heartbreak of Kyle turning her away once, she’s hesitant and really you can’t blame her for it.
Overall I adored this book! While [b:V is for Virgin|15703297|V is for Virgin (V is for Virgin, #1)|Kelly Oram|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1345676801s/15703297.jpg|21364310] is more for the mature young adult crowd, I would classify this one in a clean new adult genre. After all, Kyle is a rock star. I enjoyed reading this story from his perspective as he worked to change not only Val’s perception of him but the world’s perception of him. The abstinence bracelet Val gave him in the first book makes a reappearance in this one and he’s wearing it. How sexy is that?! If you enjoy clean, romantic comedy, I highly recommend you set aside some time and binge this book!
V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram is a fast-paced read about a girl’s convictions and how those convictions turn her world upside down. When Val Jensen gets tossed aside by her boyfriend after refusing to have sex because she wants to wait for marriage, the nasty confrontation in the school’s cafeteria goes viral making Val an instant online star. For some Val is an inspiration, others think she’s a prude, Val just wants her peaceful life back. But when she sees the reach one video has, Val decides to take her convictions and start a nation-wide movement. Only one problem, this year’s Sexiest Man Alive has his eyes set on Val and he won’t let up.
I adored this book! Val is a character that is easy to like. She’s straightforward in her convictions. Her birth mother became a pregnant teen after a drunken encounter at a party and couldn’t even name Val’s father. Adopted, Val vows to not be her birth mother. She will wait until she finds someone to spend her life with. You have to love that conviction! It isn’t to hurt anyone as her boyfriend at the beginning of the book believes. She just refuses to become another teen mom. Val is headstrong, a little shy, and knows what she wants in life. I admire that.
When the video of her confrontation with her ex goes viral, Val earns the nickname “Virgin Val” and she’s devastated. She isn’t sure if she should be embarrassed or wear the name proudly. It takes seeing the responses to the video from her peers for her to decide something should be done. My heart breaks for her though as she goes through the transformation. Her friends aren’t as good as she thought, the media is relentless in finding skeletons in the closet, and then enters Kyle Hamilton, the consummate playboy.
Kyle is perhaps my favorite character. He sees Val as a challenge, but I also believe that he was infatuated with her. He genuinely likes her simply because she isn’t intimidated by his fame and speaks her mind to him. I may have rooted for him just a tad.
Overall, this book is great! It’s heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. Val learns some hard truths about herself, the people she surrounds herself with, and how sometimes the heart wants what it can’t have. If you enjoy clean, romantic comedy, I highly recommend it!
I adored this book! Val is a character that is easy to like. She’s straightforward in her convictions. Her birth mother became a pregnant teen after a drunken encounter at a party and couldn’t even name Val’s father. Adopted, Val vows to not be her birth mother. She will wait until she finds someone to spend her life with. You have to love that conviction! It isn’t to hurt anyone as her boyfriend at the beginning of the book believes. She just refuses to become another teen mom. Val is headstrong, a little shy, and knows what she wants in life. I admire that.
When the video of her confrontation with her ex goes viral, Val earns the nickname “Virgin Val” and she’s devastated. She isn’t sure if she should be embarrassed or wear the name proudly. It takes seeing the responses to the video from her peers for her to decide something should be done. My heart breaks for her though as she goes through the transformation. Her friends aren’t as good as she thought, the media is relentless in finding skeletons in the closet, and then enters Kyle Hamilton, the consummate playboy.
Kyle is perhaps my favorite character. He sees Val as a challenge, but I also believe that he was infatuated with her. He genuinely likes her simply because she isn’t intimidated by his fame and speaks her mind to him. I may have rooted for him just a tad.
Overall, this book is great! It’s heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. Val learns some hard truths about herself, the people she surrounds herself with, and how sometimes the heart wants what it can’t have. If you enjoy clean, romantic comedy, I highly recommend it!
Full review to come....after my fangirling
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I am so in love with this book!!! Poison’s Kiss by debut author Breeana Shields has topped my list of favorite books. I know 2017 just started BUT this may wind up being my favorite read of the year. The author does a marvelous job of combining Indian mythology with her own brand of fantasy. It is done SO well that I found myself looking up the original mythology just because I wasn’t ready to let this world go.
The book follows Marinda, a young woman with a deadly kiss. She is a visha kanya or poison maiden. As a child she was slowly introduced to poisons until she herself became toxic to others. Now she is an assassin for the Raja or at least that is what her handler would have her believe. Marinda has one purpose, kill those that oppose the Raja. She is a lethal assassin, one that can easily slip in and with one kiss kill those that she is assigned to. The problem is she has a conscience which makes her character easy to empathize with.
Marinda isn’t just a poison maiden. She has dreams and wants that feel hopeless to her. If one kiss from her is deadly, how can she have love? Her own brother is dying and in the back of her mind she always questions if it is her proximity to him. Let’s also not forget the guilt she carries for all the people she has killed. It’s really an awful existence. She’s naive to the world around her, only knowing what her handler deemed she know. Her one reprieve is a bookshop she apprentices at a few days a week. But even that becomes a nightmare when her next target becomes a boy she knows.
My breath feels lodged in my throat, because I want to shake him off and at the same time I never want him to stop touching me. No one ever touches me. Not like this, all affectionate and casual and unafraid.Deven is a kind young man, too kind in Marinda’s eyes. He barely knows her yet he shows her kindness by caring for her brother, offering comfort. It is easy to see why Marinda likes the boy, it is even easier to understand why she pushes him away. As the blurb mentions he is her target, I don’t feel like I’m spoiling too much. Marinda cares for him, and for the first time she questions her handler. She makes a choice to save Deven and that choice turns her world upside and sets the plot in motion.
Overall I really enjoyed this fast-paced read. The author’s blend of fantasy and mythology creates a beautiful, realistic and haunting world for Marinda. And Deven *swoon* His kindness alone is enough to make the reader root for him which is why it is easy to forgive the insta-love typical of YA books. If you’re a fan of fast-paced adventures, fantasy and of course a mix of romance, I highly recommend you grab a copy.
I received an unedited advanced copy of the book from the author, review to come...
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
When I was originally approached about Finding Kyler by the author Siobhan Davis, I’ll admit I was a bit hesitant. Contemporary YA is not my thing. I’ve never really enjoyed it, even when I was a teen. I mean there’s enough drama in the real world, why would I want to read about it in my books?! However, I love Siobhan Davis. Her fantasy/sci-fi series have been addictive reads so I was more than a little curious to see how she would fare in another genre. I can honestly say, she is brilliant!
Finding Kyler by Siobhan Davis is the first book in The Kennedy Boys, a book about forbidden love, scandals, and the privilege (or curse) of being in the upper class. The story begins with Faye Donovan. After losing her parents, she is forced to move in with her uncle and his family. But the story doesn’t stop there. There are scandals, secrets, and more than a little romance in store for her.
Faye is a tough character to like, in my opinion. When the book opens, she is grieving and doing so badly. She’s 17 and she’s lost everything. Her parents are dead, and she is being forced to leave the country to move in with an uncle she didn’t even know existed. She’s having a hard time reconciling this. Her parents lied to her about having other family, but why?! So now not only is she grieving but she is angry and guilty for being angry. It’s a vicious cycle and my heart hurt for her. I can’t imagine losing my parents at 17, an age when you realize you need them the most. Despite all of this Faye is herself, she forces herself to be transparent and I love that about her. She speaks her mind, which is really rare in YA these days.
When Faye arrives in the States with her uncle, she learns that she now has a large family. There are seven boys in the family ranging from college age to high school. It’s a lot to take in! While Faye prefers Kyler, the boy that is closest to her age, I personally preferred Kalvin. He’s a year younger (I believe) and strikes up a brotherly relationship with Faye once he realizes he can’t get under her skin. I enjoyed the Kennedy family more than I expected. They are so broken and there are so many secrets among them. Faye learns several and then trying to figure out who to keep the secrets from and who knows becomes a bit of a headache for her. I truly felt for this family. It was easy to empathize with them and hope that they can find their own happily ever afters.
Now for the thing I struggled with in this book: the romance. It is hot and steamy, a little too steamy in my opinion for a YA book (this is definitely not a book I’d give a young teen despite the characters themselves being teens). However I couldn’t tear myself away. Kyler and Faye are cousins which in the area I grew up in is a bit taboo, even if it isn’t necessarily illegal. I personally had a hard time setting this aside and kept hoping that their relationship would either become platonic OR it would be revealed that Faye wasn’t truly kin to them. Despite the forbidden nature of their feelings for one another, I found myself rooting for them. Kyler and Faye fit. They struggled but they also have these deeply, intimate moments that will make you love them.
Overall, despite my initial reservations, I really enjoyed this read. I found myself fully invested in the drama (and believe me there is a lot!) and my emotions were all over the place. I was angry with Faye, I swooned, I cried, I laughed, I even fell in love a bit. If you enjoy fast-paced, highly emotional, forbidden romance, I recommend you grab a copy ASAP!
Seven Black Diamonds by Melissa Marr has been on my TBR shelf for a really long time, like embarrassingly long. When I receive a book to review, I write it down in a spreadsheet. It helps me to keep track of what books I have and when they are being released. Somehow when I received this book in 2015, it didn’t get written down. It wasn’t until I came across it on my Kindle that I realized I had it and hadn’t read it *hangs head in shame* So the first thing I did when I found it….READ IT!
Melissa Marr has been a name I’ve heard over and over again from people telling me I should read her books and that I’d enjoy them. Well, they were right! Seven Black Diamonds is the first book by Melissa Marr I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is told from multiple points of view, but focuses on one main character: Lilywhite Abernathy. This girl is going down the rabbit hole….erhm tunnel?….you get my meaning....as she embarks on a journey to discover who she is and what that means.
I really like Lily…and not just because her name is similar to my own. She’s fierce, loyal, and has a strong moral compass for the daughter of a crime lord. Set several years after the fae/human war (I really want more info on this!) in the human realm, fae are outlawed. Any trace of fae blood or affinities is a ticket to jail, more likely it’s a death sentence. Lily was not one, not two, not even three affinities, but MANY and she doesn’t know why. She suspects her mother was fae, but she died when Lily was just a girl and her father is extremely overprotective. It isn’t until she encounters Creed Morrison that she learns there are other like her. I have to give her props. She hides her secrets well, even when others suspect what she is, she neither confirms or denies (you know because fae can’t lie, at least without it hurting). The only person in the know is her father and it is something he guards very closely.
When Lily goes to St. Columba’s…think private school for the elite of the elite, she learns that Creed is there along with his friends whom she suspects are like her. Except they aren’t exactly what she thought. As the blurb suggests, Creed is a part of a fae Sleeper cell known as the Black Diamonds and they’ve been waiting on Lily to join them. They work for the fae Queen of Blood and Rage who is waging war against the human population for killing her heir. Lily is mistrusting of their cause, but quickly begins to rely on these people. They are like her and for the first time in her life, Lily isn’t hiding what she is. I really felt for her as she slowly let her walls down. How freeing is it to just be yourself?!
The plot is twisted and as I said told from many points of view. I don’t think the book would’ve worked if it was told from only one. I liked finding out the motives behind other characters and understanding what drove their actions. Plus all the secrets!!! Yikes! As the reader you know way more than Lily and I found myself yelling at her, many times. So the plot is basically about Lily and her heritage and who she really is. It focuses little on the war between fae and human, though I’d love to hear more about that!
Overall, I enjoyed this read. I alternated between reading my ARC copy and listening to it on audiobook (yes, I bought it). I enjoyed the narrator! She drew me into the story immediately, and I loved her accents. Honestly I had attempted to start reading it but found myself a little bored so switched to listening. Once I got about 25% in though, I was fully invested and switched back and forth until I finished. If you enjoy fae lore, urban fantasy, and romance (because there’s quite a bit of it), I highly recommend you read this book!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review
Melissa Marr has been a name I’ve heard over and over again from people telling me I should read her books and that I’d enjoy them. Well, they were right! Seven Black Diamonds is the first book by Melissa Marr I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is told from multiple points of view, but focuses on one main character: Lilywhite Abernathy. This girl is going down the rabbit hole….erhm tunnel?….you get my meaning....as she embarks on a journey to discover who she is and what that means.
I really like Lily…and not just because her name is similar to my own. She’s fierce, loyal, and has a strong moral compass for the daughter of a crime lord. Set several years after the fae/human war (I really want more info on this!) in the human realm, fae are outlawed. Any trace of fae blood or affinities is a ticket to jail, more likely it’s a death sentence. Lily was not one, not two, not even three affinities, but MANY and she doesn’t know why. She suspects her mother was fae, but she died when Lily was just a girl and her father is extremely overprotective. It isn’t until she encounters Creed Morrison that she learns there are other like her. I have to give her props. She hides her secrets well, even when others suspect what she is, she neither confirms or denies (you know because fae can’t lie, at least without it hurting). The only person in the know is her father and it is something he guards very closely.
When Lily goes to St. Columba’s…think private school for the elite of the elite, she learns that Creed is there along with his friends whom she suspects are like her. Except they aren’t exactly what she thought. As the blurb suggests, Creed is a part of a fae Sleeper cell known as the Black Diamonds and they’ve been waiting on Lily to join them. They work for the fae Queen of Blood and Rage who is waging war against the human population for killing her heir. Lily is mistrusting of their cause, but quickly begins to rely on these people. They are like her and for the first time in her life, Lily isn’t hiding what she is. I really felt for her as she slowly let her walls down. How freeing is it to just be yourself?!
The plot is twisted and as I said told from many points of view. I don’t think the book would’ve worked if it was told from only one. I liked finding out the motives behind other characters and understanding what drove their actions. Plus all the secrets!!! Yikes! As the reader you know way more than Lily and I found myself yelling at her, many times. So the plot is basically about Lily and her heritage and who she really is. It focuses little on the war between fae and human, though I’d love to hear more about that!
Overall, I enjoyed this read. I alternated between reading my ARC copy and listening to it on audiobook (yes, I bought it). I enjoyed the narrator! She drew me into the story immediately, and I loved her accents. Honestly I had attempted to start reading it but found myself a little bored so switched to listening. Once I got about 25% in though, I was fully invested and switched back and forth until I finished. If you enjoy fae lore, urban fantasy, and romance (because there’s quite a bit of it), I highly recommend you read this book!
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review
In All My Life by Ciara Knight is the 4th installment in the Riverbend novella series, a sister series to her popular contemporary romance series Sweetwater County. As with all the books in this series, In All My Life follows two people who found themselves in Riverbend because of the bad hand life has dealt them.
Helen Simpson and her daughter were first introduced in the last book. Helen was integral in bringing her husband to justice and stopping his sex trade. Now she is living with a new name and running a battered women’s shelter. I like Helen. She’s a strong woman who doesn’t let her past rule her present. If I had been through what this woman has, I would have buried my head in the sand and never reemerged. She was tortured and kept a prisoner by her husband, someone you should be able to trust. So obviously she has trust issues, and no one can fault her for them.
Larson Raeder though, he stole my heart! A former cop now university security guard, Raeder keeps his heart on lockdown and trusts no one. He is given the task by the dean to help with security at the women’s shelter, a job he takes seriously but doesn’t know if he wants. His own sister, a woman like these women, betrayed him and cost him his life when he tried to help her out of her relationship. Now he watches these women with a wary eye. And like with Helen, you can’t fault him. He has a heart of gold, but has been so broken by sister that he keeps everyone at arm’s distance.
I think you can probably guess where this is heading. One of the things I love about Ciara Knight‘s contemporary romance is her ability to make you fall in love with the characters, to root them on, and cry with them when things go sour. Also the dual POV is amazing! I love the dramatic irony it brings, where we the readers know what the characters do not.
Overall I enjoyed this book, reading it in one afternoon. It’s a sweet, contemporary romance with some suspense thrown in for good measure. If you’ve enjoyed the Riverbend series so far, I highly recommend it. If you’re new to the series, that’s okay. Each novella can be read as a standalone without spoiling the others, though I do recommend reading in order as I like the other characters.
Helen Simpson and her daughter were first introduced in the last book. Helen was integral in bringing her husband to justice and stopping his sex trade. Now she is living with a new name and running a battered women’s shelter. I like Helen. She’s a strong woman who doesn’t let her past rule her present. If I had been through what this woman has, I would have buried my head in the sand and never reemerged. She was tortured and kept a prisoner by her husband, someone you should be able to trust. So obviously she has trust issues, and no one can fault her for them.
Larson Raeder though, he stole my heart! A former cop now university security guard, Raeder keeps his heart on lockdown and trusts no one. He is given the task by the dean to help with security at the women’s shelter, a job he takes seriously but doesn’t know if he wants. His own sister, a woman like these women, betrayed him and cost him his life when he tried to help her out of her relationship. Now he watches these women with a wary eye. And like with Helen, you can’t fault him. He has a heart of gold, but has been so broken by sister that he keeps everyone at arm’s distance.
I think you can probably guess where this is heading. One of the things I love about Ciara Knight‘s contemporary romance is her ability to make you fall in love with the characters, to root them on, and cry with them when things go sour. Also the dual POV is amazing! I love the dramatic irony it brings, where we the readers know what the characters do not.
Overall I enjoyed this book, reading it in one afternoon. It’s a sweet, contemporary romance with some suspense thrown in for good measure. If you’ve enjoyed the Riverbend series so far, I highly recommend it. If you’re new to the series, that’s okay. Each novella can be read as a standalone without spoiling the others, though I do recommend reading in order as I like the other characters.
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Frostblood by Elly Blake is an action-packed, exciting read! Following the story of Ruby, a young Fireblood living in the Frost King’s territory, Frostblood is full of deception, revenge, and rebellion. Personally once I started the story, I couldn’t set it down. Despite having an ARC copy, I wound up buying an audio copy as well so I could take my reading on the go.
Ruby is an easy character to emphasize with and easy to follow her story. She has lived her life in the shadows, hiding her true nature as a Fireblood. In the kingdom of Frost, her ability is outlawed. She must live, never using her abilities, which as she ages becomes increasingly harder to control. When soldiers come to take her, knowing what she is, her mother is killed and her village razed. Her semi-peaceful life of hiding is over and an ember of revenge burns in its place. She now lives to kill the general and king who killed her mother, that is if she survives the prison.
A mysterious pair of powerful Frostbloods come to her rescue, breaking her out of the prison. Arcus is cloaked in mystery. He tells her little of his past, he always wears a cloak shielding his face, and he can be a little cruel during his training with Ruby. Frost and Fire are truly at odds with one another and it comes out in the characters Ruby and Arcus. Their banter brings levity to the story. They get under one another’s skin. Yet they become friends though shared grief. The other Frostblood is Brother Thistle, who was once a powerful general in the Frost King’s armies. I like him. He’s like a wise Yoda!
The plot slowly builds and the book is clearly split into two parts. During part one, Ruby is training and learning to use her gift, plotting her revenge. Then she is captured by the Frost King and forced to fight in his gladiator-style arena, putting her gift to good use. While the first part of the book is slow without much excitement, the second part is violent and gory. Ruby is pitted against Frostbloods, Frost animals, and people the king deemed as traitors. King Rasmus is an interesting villain. While his character is absent most of the book, he is still feared. When Ruby finally confronts him, she sees something in him that makes her pause.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I fell in love with the world and characters. Ruby is a strong character, even when she is a bit naive, and I love the relationship that built between her and Arcus. If you enjoyed [b:Red Queen|22328546|Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)|Victoria Aveyard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449778912l/22328546._SY75_.jpg|25037051] or you like YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book. And as a note of interest if you like audios, I LOVED the audio of this book. The narrator is fantastic!
Frostblood by Elly Blake is an action-packed, exciting read! Following the story of Ruby, a young Fireblood living in the Frost King’s territory, Frostblood is full of deception, revenge, and rebellion. Personally once I started the story, I couldn’t set it down. Despite having an ARC copy, I wound up buying an audio copy as well so I could take my reading on the go.
Ruby is an easy character to emphasize with and easy to follow her story. She has lived her life in the shadows, hiding her true nature as a Fireblood. In the kingdom of Frost, her ability is outlawed. She must live, never using her abilities, which as she ages becomes increasingly harder to control. When soldiers come to take her, knowing what she is, her mother is killed and her village razed. Her semi-peaceful life of hiding is over and an ember of revenge burns in its place. She now lives to kill the general and king who killed her mother, that is if she survives the prison.
A mysterious pair of powerful Frostbloods come to her rescue, breaking her out of the prison. Arcus is cloaked in mystery. He tells her little of his past, he always wears a cloak shielding his face, and he can be a little cruel during his training with Ruby. Frost and Fire are truly at odds with one another and it comes out in the characters Ruby and Arcus. Their banter brings levity to the story. They get under one another’s skin. Yet they become friends though shared grief. The other Frostblood is Brother Thistle, who was once a powerful general in the Frost King’s armies. I like him. He’s like a wise Yoda!
The plot slowly builds and the book is clearly split into two parts. During part one, Ruby is training and learning to use her gift, plotting her revenge. Then she is captured by the Frost King and forced to fight in his gladiator-style arena, putting her gift to good use. While the first part of the book is slow without much excitement, the second part is violent and gory. Ruby is pitted against Frostbloods, Frost animals, and people the king deemed as traitors. King Rasmus is an interesting villain. While his character is absent most of the book, he is still feared. When Ruby finally confronts him, she sees something in him that makes her pause.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I fell in love with the world and characters. Ruby is a strong character, even when she is a bit naive, and I love the relationship that built between her and Arcus. If you enjoyed [b:Red Queen|22328546|Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)|Victoria Aveyard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449778912l/22328546._SY75_.jpg|25037051] or you like YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book. And as a note of interest if you like audios, I LOVED the audio of this book. The narrator is fantastic!
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Okay I have a confession. When a book is compared to another book, I usually roll my eyes. 9 out of 10 times the comparison does not live up to the book it is compared to. When I originally received a copy of The Gender Game for review, I was a bit skeptical of its comparison to one of my favorite dystopians [book:The Hunger Games|2767052] BUT having now read it the description fits. The Gender Game by Bella Forrest is an exciting dystopian about two countries with varying degrees of oppression. Revenge, subterfuge, and secrets set the tone for the series and personally I wound up buying the rest of the series so I could binge read. It is that good!
Violet Bates is 19 at the start of the book and basically one offense away from a death sentence in the Matrian society she’s grown up in. Any violence is too much violence and after accidentally killing not one but two girls, Violet is now looking at extermination. But the queen makes her an offer. Patrus has stolen something valuable and they need it back without causing a war. Violet is to enter Patrus under the guise of marriage and steal back the thing that was taken. With her only other choice death, Violet accepts the terms with one condition, she wants her brother back. You see, in Matrus, boys who are deemed too aggressive are marked and sent to the mines in the north. Violet’s brother was marked and sent away at 8.
I love Violet. She is just a girl, trying to survive. Yes she has a temper, it’s why she is in the situation she is in, but she has good reason. Her mother is dead, she’s never known her father, and when her brother was marked she tried to send him to Patrus, to save him from the mines. All that did was send him earlier and send her into a detention center where she has spent the last 8 years. Violet is tough and extremely mistrusting, but who can blame her?!
Once in Patrus, Violet is paired with an undercover Matrian spy, Lee. Lee was born on the river that separates the two countries and was raised in Matrus for 8 years before he went back to Patrus to live with his father. He considers himself a man of no nation and this makes him a good spy. Lee is standoffish, only giving Violet the details of the plan as he sees fit. And it seems he always gives her the dangerous parts.
Then there is Viggo, a warden of Patrus. Violet is assigned to get to know him and his routine so that Lee and Violet can steal the egg. Yet Viggo gets under Violet’s skin. They are a lot a like. Viggo is mistrusting of the government, only working as warden as his prison sentence. He is strong, yet also kind. It is easy to see where this will go.
I personally enjoyed the dystopian world Bella Forrest has created. The two countries – Matrus and Patrus – are ruled by either women or men, respectively. In Matrus, women rule, violence is looked down on, and advances in science are pursued. In Patrus, the men rule. They are a bit barbaric, women are subservient, and technology is a big influence. It was interesting to see how the author took the stereotypes of men and women and put those as the fundamental aspects of these societies. I’m curious to see how these societies came to power and how they will fall (because they will fail) during the course of the series.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It was a fast-paced, full of suspense. I enjoyed learning about the two societies from Violet’s perspective and that ending?! Oh my goodness! It’s killer. If you enjoy dystopia, I highly recommend you grab a copy.
Side Note: I alternated reading and listening to this book. The narrator is fantastic. I found myself completely engaged and listened to a majority of the book, only reading a handful of chapters. If you enjoy audios, I highly recommend this one!
Okay I have a confession. When a book is compared to another book, I usually roll my eyes. 9 out of 10 times the comparison does not live up to the book it is compared to. When I originally received a copy of The Gender Game for review, I was a bit skeptical of its comparison to one of my favorite dystopians [book:The Hunger Games|2767052] BUT having now read it the description fits. The Gender Game by Bella Forrest is an exciting dystopian about two countries with varying degrees of oppression. Revenge, subterfuge, and secrets set the tone for the series and personally I wound up buying the rest of the series so I could binge read. It is that good!
Violet Bates is 19 at the start of the book and basically one offense away from a death sentence in the Matrian society she’s grown up in. Any violence is too much violence and after accidentally killing not one but two girls, Violet is now looking at extermination. But the queen makes her an offer. Patrus has stolen something valuable and they need it back without causing a war. Violet is to enter Patrus under the guise of marriage and steal back the thing that was taken. With her only other choice death, Violet accepts the terms with one condition, she wants her brother back. You see, in Matrus, boys who are deemed too aggressive are marked and sent to the mines in the north. Violet’s brother was marked and sent away at 8.
I love Violet. She is just a girl, trying to survive. Yes she has a temper, it’s why she is in the situation she is in, but she has good reason. Her mother is dead, she’s never known her father, and when her brother was marked she tried to send him to Patrus, to save him from the mines. All that did was send him earlier and send her into a detention center where she has spent the last 8 years. Violet is tough and extremely mistrusting, but who can blame her?!
Once in Patrus, Violet is paired with an undercover Matrian spy, Lee. Lee was born on the river that separates the two countries and was raised in Matrus for 8 years before he went back to Patrus to live with his father. He considers himself a man of no nation and this makes him a good spy. Lee is standoffish, only giving Violet the details of the plan as he sees fit. And it seems he always gives her the dangerous parts.
Then there is Viggo, a warden of Patrus. Violet is assigned to get to know him and his routine so that Lee and Violet can steal the egg. Yet Viggo gets under Violet’s skin. They are a lot a like. Viggo is mistrusting of the government, only working as warden as his prison sentence. He is strong, yet also kind. It is easy to see where this will go.
I personally enjoyed the dystopian world Bella Forrest has created. The two countries – Matrus and Patrus – are ruled by either women or men, respectively. In Matrus, women rule, violence is looked down on, and advances in science are pursued. In Patrus, the men rule. They are a bit barbaric, women are subservient, and technology is a big influence. It was interesting to see how the author took the stereotypes of men and women and put those as the fundamental aspects of these societies. I’m curious to see how these societies came to power and how they will fall (because they will fail) during the course of the series.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It was a fast-paced, full of suspense. I enjoyed learning about the two societies from Violet’s perspective and that ending?! Oh my goodness! It’s killer. If you enjoy dystopia, I highly recommend you grab a copy.
Side Note: I alternated reading and listening to this book. The narrator is fantastic. I found myself completely engaged and listened to a majority of the book, only reading a handful of chapters. If you enjoy audios, I highly recommend this one!
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare is the 4th book in The Mortal Instruments and picks up 6 weeks after the ending of [b:City of Glass|3777732|City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments, #3)|Cassandra Clare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369452339l/3777732._SY75_.jpg|3443248]. Personally I had a hard time with this one. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed it and it is pivotal for the series IMO, but the characters are in such a dark place. Jace is struggling with the aftermath of Clary’s choice to save him, Simon is realizing what it means when you are immortal AND have the mark of Cain, and Clary is dealing with her anger towards her mom, her nonexistent feelings for her brother and father who killed many, and beginning her training as a Shadowhunter. So yeah….a lot going on in this book!
While most of the books have focused on Clary, I felt this one started to shift away from her. Again don’t get me wrong, she’s present and at least half the book is told from her perspective, but Simon is the main figure in the book along with Jace. I think we get more of Simon’s perspective in this book than we have all series so far, but I could be wrong. Maybe it was just how the plot seemed to involve him more. Simon is probably my favorite character. He is down to earth, struggling with his change into a vampire (and not even a normal vampire at that, but a Daylighter), and essentially Simon is having an identity crisis. Who is he now? He can’t be the Jewish nerd he used to be, at least not when he can’t even say God’s name. And don’t get me started on how he is dating not only Isabelle but Maia too. Poor Simon doesn’t even realize that he is being a jerk, he is that clueless when it comes to girls.
With Simon having an identity crisis, Jace is resisting the night terrors that plague him. In doing so though, he begins to push Clary away. Jace is a complex character and always has been. He’s very closed off to those around him, yet he is the most honest character. You never have to wonder what he is thinking as he will tell you and this gets him in trouble this book. He loves Clary so why is he pushing her away?
As I’ve already said, the plot kind of revolves around Simon and Jace instead of Clary this time. Simon finds himself at the middle of demon’s plot and Jace’s nightmares continue to get worse. Hiding from Clary, he decides to be Simon’s bodyguard. It’s kind of humorous considering the boys can’t stand to be in the same room as each other. There’s a new character introduced throughout the course of the plot: Kyle. I like Kyle and I think you will too. He reminds me of Luke a bit who was more absent than I would’ve liked this book.
Overall I really enjoyed this installment, despite the dark that seems to shadow the characters. And that ending!!!! If I didn’t have other books I have to read at the moment I would have already dove in to book 5 to find out what happens next. If you enjoy urban fantasy, then you should definitely be reading this series.
While most of the books have focused on Clary, I felt this one started to shift away from her. Again don’t get me wrong, she’s present and at least half the book is told from her perspective, but Simon is the main figure in the book along with Jace. I think we get more of Simon’s perspective in this book than we have all series so far, but I could be wrong. Maybe it was just how the plot seemed to involve him more. Simon is probably my favorite character. He is down to earth, struggling with his change into a vampire (and not even a normal vampire at that, but a Daylighter), and essentially Simon is having an identity crisis. Who is he now? He can’t be the Jewish nerd he used to be, at least not when he can’t even say God’s name. And don’t get me started on how he is dating not only Isabelle but Maia too. Poor Simon doesn’t even realize that he is being a jerk, he is that clueless when it comes to girls.
With Simon having an identity crisis, Jace is resisting the night terrors that plague him. In doing so though, he begins to push Clary away. Jace is a complex character and always has been. He’s very closed off to those around him, yet he is the most honest character. You never have to wonder what he is thinking as he will tell you and this gets him in trouble this book. He loves Clary so why is he pushing her away?
As I’ve already said, the plot kind of revolves around Simon and Jace instead of Clary this time. Simon finds himself at the middle of demon’s plot and Jace’s nightmares continue to get worse. Hiding from Clary, he decides to be Simon’s bodyguard. It’s kind of humorous considering the boys can’t stand to be in the same room as each other. There’s a new character introduced throughout the course of the plot: Kyle. I like Kyle and I think you will too. He reminds me of Luke a bit who was more absent than I would’ve liked this book.
Overall I really enjoyed this installment, despite the dark that seems to shadow the characters. And that ending!!!! If I didn’t have other books I have to read at the moment I would have already dove in to book 5 to find out what happens next. If you enjoy urban fantasy, then you should definitely be reading this series.