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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
5.0
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Fantasy/Romance (not sure why it's targeted towards the YA audience when Feyre is in her twenties I believe. Either way she's an adult).
Recommended Age: 18+. Lots of mature scenes and very strong language. LOTS of mature scenes... like a whole chapter devoted to mature scenes.
Favorite Quote: "There are good days and hard days for me - even now. Don't let the hard days win."
WARNING: Slight spoilers if you've not read the first book! Nothing spoilery from this book, but some things in the back cover blurb and in my review could spoil the first book for you. Don't read any further if you want to remain spoiler free on the first book!
"Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Prythian again, but this is not the happy ending Feyre deserves. She's very broken from her stay Under the Mountain and she's suffering from severe depression and PTSD. She's also having to navigate her new life as a High Fae and plan a wedding... but is this the life she wants?
First of all, this book is a very longgggggggggggg book. It is 624 pages in the edition I have.... but it doesn't feel like a 624 page book. To be honest the writing is so good that you easily breeze through the book. The pacing, albeit slow in the beginning, and the plot development are beautiful. The character development is amazing as well. I learned so much more about every main and side character that I am too heavily invested to NOT read ACOWAR. I also have to say this book was way better than the first book.
The only issues I had with the book were that it ended on a cliffhanger and that while it was tremendously good I feel that it was just a segue into the final book. It was a lot of filler information and I feel that everything I read was back-story for the real story I will read in the third book. I also fill this book could have employed more diversity in it. I enjoyed the book so much though and while this book has problems with the lack of diversity I still feel the book is very well written and very enjoyable. Hopefully more diverse characters will come into play in the third book.
---- New Review ----
Genre: Fantasy/Romance (not sure why it's targeted towards the YA audience when Feyre is in her twenties I believe. Either way she's an adult).
Recommended Age: 18+. Lots of mature scenes and very strong language. LOTS of mature scenes... like a whole chapter devoted to mature scenes.
Favorite Quote: "There are good days and hard days for me - even now. Don't let the hard days win."
WARNING: Slight spoilers if you've not read the first book! Nothing spoilery from this book, but some things in the back cover blurb and in my review could spoil the first book for you. Don't read any further if you want to remain spoiler free on the first book!
"Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Back in Prythian again, but this is not the happy ending Feyre deserves. She's very broken from her stay Under the Mountain and she's suffering from severe depression and PTSD. She's also having to navigate her new life as a High Fae and plan a wedding... but is this the life she wants?
First of all, this book is a very longgggggggggggg book. It is 624 pages in the edition I have.... but it doesn't feel like a 624 page book. To be honest the writing is so good that you easily breeze through the book. The pacing, albeit slow in the beginning, and the plot development are beautiful. The character development is amazing as well. I learned so much more about every main and side character that I am too heavily invested to NOT read ACOWAR. I also have to say this book was way better than the first book.
The only issues I had with the book were that it ended on a cliffhanger and that while it was tremendously good I feel that it was just a segue into the final book. It was a lot of filler information and I feel that everything I read was back-story for the real story I will read in the third book. I also fill this book could have employed more diversity in it. I enjoyed the book so much though and while this book has problems with the lack of diversity I still feel the book is very well written and very enjoyable. Hopefully more diverse characters will come into play in the third book.
---- New Review ----
Disclaimer: I bought my own copy of this book from a second-hand shop. All opinions are my own.
Book: A Court of Mist and Fury
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Book Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Spice Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Adult Readers, Romantasy, Fantasy, Fae, High Fantasy
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: Romantasy
Age Relevance: 18+ (PTSD, Panic Attacks, Depression, Trauma, Slavery, War, Language, Sexual Assault and Rape, Attempted Suicide, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence)
Explanation of Above: There are a lot of mentions and showings of various mental health issues, such as PTSD, panic attacks, depression, and generalized trauma. Slavery is mentioned as is war. There are a couple of occasions of cursing. There are mentions and flashbacks to sexual assault and rape of one of the main characters. Attempted suicide is mentioned. Child abuse is mentioned. Domestic violence is shown and there are paragraph long scenes of occurrences mostly in the beginning of the book.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 626
Synopsis: Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people.
As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.
Review: I don't know what to say in terms of reviewing this book since the last time I read it. I will say that out of the main trilogy of this entire series, I think that this is my favorite book of the three. I feel like some of the issues that were in the first book, such as the pacing and some of the character development flaws were rectified in this book and I just loved absolute overhaul of the story from the first book to the second. I also loved the continuation of the trauma from the first book and how well it was carried over into this book. The book did so well to show how that trauma impacts a relationship and your daily life and honestly I don’t feel like a lot of authors I have read previously have carried that so well from one book into another. I thought the world building that was expanded upon in this book was really well done and I love how all of the little things that were mentioned in the first book and then throughout the second are all brought together in the end of this one.
The only thing I can really fault the book for is that there were some small pacing lulls in it And sometimes it feels like stuff just comes together too neatly for the story.
The only thing I can really fault the book for is that there were some small pacing lulls in it And sometimes it feels like stuff just comes together too neatly for the story.
Verdict: I absolutely love this book.
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
3.0
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature scenes and lots of language).
Favorite Quote: “But you can't stay with people because of guilt. Or because they can drive a speedboat.”
When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed, Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? – Amazon.com
Have you ever fell and hit your head really, really hard? Have you ever lost your memory from it? Ever wake up and realize that you lost a couple of hours? While that’s terrifying enough, imagine if you lost a couple of years. That’s the situation Lexi finds herself in when you read or listen to this book. Her whole world is completely different and even she is a different person altogether. This book’s strengths are definitely in character development. Sophie Kinsella always writes these very relatable main and supporting characters and this book is no different. While I can’t attest for how the book was written (since my copy was an audio book) I can say that the audio book was very well done for the most part (females trying to speak in male tones kind of off-puts me but I dealt with it) and it seems like an easy read for anyone.
However, I did have issues with this book. I felt that the pacing was a bit weird. It jumped from a slow paced book to a fast paced one towards the end of the book. It felt like Kinsella wanted to end the book fast, but she really had enough material to make a duology or triology out of the books. Another complaint of mine was that I felt the plot was meh. No one really seemed to get that losing 3 years of memories means that you don’t remember what happened in a phone conversation last week. Also Sophie seems to have this issue where the main climax of the book does not happen until the very end of the book. The book also ends without wrapping up the biggest conflict in the whole book and it doesn’t give any finality of Lexi’s story.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part I did not like the ending of it. It was a decent contemporary read though and other people might like the overall message about it, but it just wasn’t for me I’m sorry to say.
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (some mature scenes and lots of language).
Favorite Quote: “But you can't stay with people because of guilt. Or because they can drive a speedboat.”
When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed, Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does? – Amazon.com
Have you ever fell and hit your head really, really hard? Have you ever lost your memory from it? Ever wake up and realize that you lost a couple of hours? While that’s terrifying enough, imagine if you lost a couple of years. That’s the situation Lexi finds herself in when you read or listen to this book. Her whole world is completely different and even she is a different person altogether. This book’s strengths are definitely in character development. Sophie Kinsella always writes these very relatable main and supporting characters and this book is no different. While I can’t attest for how the book was written (since my copy was an audio book) I can say that the audio book was very well done for the most part (females trying to speak in male tones kind of off-puts me but I dealt with it) and it seems like an easy read for anyone.
However, I did have issues with this book. I felt that the pacing was a bit weird. It jumped from a slow paced book to a fast paced one towards the end of the book. It felt like Kinsella wanted to end the book fast, but she really had enough material to make a duology or triology out of the books. Another complaint of mine was that I felt the plot was meh. No one really seemed to get that losing 3 years of memories means that you don’t remember what happened in a phone conversation last week. Also Sophie seems to have this issue where the main climax of the book does not happen until the very end of the book. The book also ends without wrapping up the biggest conflict in the whole book and it doesn’t give any finality of Lexi’s story.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part I did not like the ending of it. It was a decent contemporary read though and other people might like the overall message about it, but it just wasn’t for me I’m sorry to say.
Beyond Fear by Stephanie Hanlon
3.0
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: "'Since that day, the world we live in has become a very dark and dangerous place.'"
“Are you really ready to condemn all those people to death?” he asked.
“Because they will die. I can promise you that.”
A new evil has arisen, to take the throne of Kaimaira, but trapped within their prison the once great Elders of Valista cling to their last glimmer of hope, a hero from another land.
Lizzie Somers always dreamed of escaping her life but when she finds herself transported through the Borders into another world, she soon realises that the reality doesn’t always live up to the expectation.
Dragged into a terrifying quest and hunted throughout by a deadly enemy, Lizzie must learn to trust the one person she never thought she could in a desperate fight for survival.
But as her journey spirals out of control will Lizzie run and hide or will she find the strength to face her fears.
Because Beyond Fear there is courage and her life will never be the same again.
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my opinion of the book in any way.
I love reading books in which me and the characters can be transported to a fantasy world. And I love when that literally happens in a book. This book is a fun tale about Lucas and Lizzie who are taken from their world and placed inside one that seems ripped straight out of a fantasy novel. Is it fate that they’re there? I can’t answer that, but I can say that this book is a fun, exciting tale that you won’t want to miss out on. The main characters are fairly well developed and the writing is fantastic. The writing is also very age appropriate and would even be suitable for younger audiences dependent on how well they handle certain material.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was very fast for this book. I also felt that because of the pacing the book was zooming through major plot points without giving them time to sort themselves out. The pacing really threw me out of the book many times because I felt that as soon as I was introduced to a character I was saying goodbye to them. I think that if the book was slowed down and the actions, backstories, and scenery were explained better then the book would have not been as disconnecting and that all of the characters would have been better developed.
Overall, I felt the book was a great inspirational piece on finding strength and it would be a great read for children in the middle grade or teen age group, as that’s the age when most children begin experiencing bullying. It’s a fast read and it’s a fun one as well. I found it enjoyable and if you enjoy fantasy reads then you will too!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: "'Since that day, the world we live in has become a very dark and dangerous place.'"
“Are you really ready to condemn all those people to death?” he asked.
“Because they will die. I can promise you that.”
A new evil has arisen, to take the throne of Kaimaira, but trapped within their prison the once great Elders of Valista cling to their last glimmer of hope, a hero from another land.
Lizzie Somers always dreamed of escaping her life but when she finds herself transported through the Borders into another world, she soon realises that the reality doesn’t always live up to the expectation.
Dragged into a terrifying quest and hunted throughout by a deadly enemy, Lizzie must learn to trust the one person she never thought she could in a desperate fight for survival.
But as her journey spirals out of control will Lizzie run and hide or will she find the strength to face her fears.
Because Beyond Fear there is courage and her life will never be the same again.
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my opinion of the book in any way.
I love reading books in which me and the characters can be transported to a fantasy world. And I love when that literally happens in a book. This book is a fun tale about Lucas and Lizzie who are taken from their world and placed inside one that seems ripped straight out of a fantasy novel. Is it fate that they’re there? I can’t answer that, but I can say that this book is a fun, exciting tale that you won’t want to miss out on. The main characters are fairly well developed and the writing is fantastic. The writing is also very age appropriate and would even be suitable for younger audiences dependent on how well they handle certain material.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was very fast for this book. I also felt that because of the pacing the book was zooming through major plot points without giving them time to sort themselves out. The pacing really threw me out of the book many times because I felt that as soon as I was introduced to a character I was saying goodbye to them. I think that if the book was slowed down and the actions, backstories, and scenery were explained better then the book would have not been as disconnecting and that all of the characters would have been better developed.
Overall, I felt the book was a great inspirational piece on finding strength and it would be a great read for children in the middle grade or teen age group, as that’s the age when most children begin experiencing bullying. It’s a fast read and it’s a fun one as well. I found it enjoyable and if you enjoy fantasy reads then you will too!
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
5.0
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (racism, sexual content, language, violence. Trigger warnings for those who may have been victims of extreme racism or prejudice)
I received this book for free from KidLitExchange in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. – Amazon.com
I knew racism still existed. I’m from the South and while I grew up around it I still knew it was bad and I chose to study it extensively in college. So to hear people say that racism doesn’t exist anymore really makes me angry. That being said I immediately fell in love with this book from the moment I picked it up. The book was a very blunt story on racism in America, specifically regarding young African-American men. The reader sees the world through Justyce’s eyes and I think I’m better for reading this book. I loved how complex all the characters were in the book and that there were different types of racism or prejudice shown in the book by almost all of the characters. I loved how the plot developed and that heartwrecking twist! The pacing was also very well done and the writing was simply amazing! I probably could have read 600 more pages of Nic Stone’s writing and that would have been fine by me.
I absolutely love this book, but I do feel that this book can be polarizing for some readers. Some readers might not see the world as Justyce and the author. This book talks about a very hot-button topic as well as including scenes with recent-events that can be upsetting to some readers.
Verdict: I think this is a very important read in today’s world. Racism is only going to get worse and the divisive attitude some people have in this country needs to be dealt with. The only way we’re going to start moving away from racism for the final time is if we start putting each other in our own shoes, especially those who do not know what it’s like to be African-American in America. I also thought that even though Justyce makes a lot of mistakes in the book, he is an inspirational character and his journey is just as inspiring. Definitely recommended reading for everyone in America. I’m ready for change. Are you?
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (racism, sexual content, language, violence. Trigger warnings for those who may have been victims of extreme racism or prejudice)
I received this book for free from KidLitExchange in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. – Amazon.com
I knew racism still existed. I’m from the South and while I grew up around it I still knew it was bad and I chose to study it extensively in college. So to hear people say that racism doesn’t exist anymore really makes me angry. That being said I immediately fell in love with this book from the moment I picked it up. The book was a very blunt story on racism in America, specifically regarding young African-American men. The reader sees the world through Justyce’s eyes and I think I’m better for reading this book. I loved how complex all the characters were in the book and that there were different types of racism or prejudice shown in the book by almost all of the characters. I loved how the plot developed and that heartwrecking twist! The pacing was also very well done and the writing was simply amazing! I probably could have read 600 more pages of Nic Stone’s writing and that would have been fine by me.
I absolutely love this book, but I do feel that this book can be polarizing for some readers. Some readers might not see the world as Justyce and the author. This book talks about a very hot-button topic as well as including scenes with recent-events that can be upsetting to some readers.
Verdict: I think this is a very important read in today’s world. Racism is only going to get worse and the divisive attitude some people have in this country needs to be dealt with. The only way we’re going to start moving away from racism for the final time is if we start putting each other in our own shoes, especially those who do not know what it’s like to be African-American in America. I also thought that even though Justyce makes a lot of mistakes in the book, he is an inspirational character and his journey is just as inspiring. Definitely recommended reading for everyone in America. I’m ready for change. Are you?
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
5.0
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, mature content, violence, gore, trigger warnings for mentions of rape)
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.- Amazon.com
Audible has amazing sales sometimes. They’re called the $4.95 sales and they can sometimes have awesome books on there. One of those awesome books I bought in a recent $4.95 sale was Six of Crows. While I own the book in hardback, I read so many review books that I do not have time to read many of the other books on my bookshelves and I recently purchased the Six Of Crows box from Enchanted Book Box (check out their November box btw! It’s gonna be awesome!) so I felt like I had to get to know these characters that everyone raves about! The audio book was fantastic! The voice actors they casted for this audio book were perfect. The character development of this book was well done. At once point I thought that I wouldn’t know about the back story of Jesper or Wylan, but their development came and it was as equally well done. The plot development was also well done. It twisted and turned where I didn’t expect it to. The writing was superb and while it had a air of high fantasy, it was still very easy to follow along.
While I did enjoy the book immensely and I feel like I NEED the second book now, I did think that this book might not be for everyone. For starters, the pacing is a bit slow. There are multiple POVs (7 throughout the whole book) and each POV can start where another one ended or where another one began, meaning you could be hearing what each of the 6 were doing at the same time while they were all split up. The other thing is that the ending of the book became a little confusing for me. Maybe I just became confused and didn’t understand what all went on, but I had to listen to it twice to understand it.
Verdict: Leigh Bardugo is one of the most talked about author’s I see on instagram and I can now see why that is. She’s an amazing writer and this book has easily became a favorite of mine. I loved how the story took place from the perspective of the “bad” guys rather than the “good” guys, which really made the reader question who are the good and bad guys in this fight and if there are any totally good or bad guys at all. I’d totally recommend this book for any YA Fantasy lover and anyone who’s looking for an action-packed book!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, mature content, violence, gore, trigger warnings for mentions of rape)
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.- Amazon.com
Audible has amazing sales sometimes. They’re called the $4.95 sales and they can sometimes have awesome books on there. One of those awesome books I bought in a recent $4.95 sale was Six of Crows. While I own the book in hardback, I read so many review books that I do not have time to read many of the other books on my bookshelves and I recently purchased the Six Of Crows box from Enchanted Book Box (check out their November box btw! It’s gonna be awesome!) so I felt like I had to get to know these characters that everyone raves about! The audio book was fantastic! The voice actors they casted for this audio book were perfect. The character development of this book was well done. At once point I thought that I wouldn’t know about the back story of Jesper or Wylan, but their development came and it was as equally well done. The plot development was also well done. It twisted and turned where I didn’t expect it to. The writing was superb and while it had a air of high fantasy, it was still very easy to follow along.
While I did enjoy the book immensely and I feel like I NEED the second book now, I did think that this book might not be for everyone. For starters, the pacing is a bit slow. There are multiple POVs (7 throughout the whole book) and each POV can start where another one ended or where another one began, meaning you could be hearing what each of the 6 were doing at the same time while they were all split up. The other thing is that the ending of the book became a little confusing for me. Maybe I just became confused and didn’t understand what all went on, but I had to listen to it twice to understand it.
Verdict: Leigh Bardugo is one of the most talked about author’s I see on instagram and I can now see why that is. She’s an amazing writer and this book has easily became a favorite of mine. I loved how the story took place from the perspective of the “bad” guys rather than the “good” guys, which really made the reader question who are the good and bad guys in this fight and if there are any totally good or bad guys at all. I’d totally recommend this book for any YA Fantasy lover and anyone who’s looking for an action-packed book!
The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
2.0
Rating: 2/5
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (adult content, torture, violence, trigger warnings for torture)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.
The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .
Never mention The Pact to anyone.
Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples.
And then one of them breaks the rules.
The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule.
For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare. - Amazon.com
Let's start off with my need for thrillers is completely gone now. I had to DNF this book because it got way to weird and uncomfortable for me. While I thought that the characters were well developed and the writing was pretty good, I got a Stepford Wives and The Gift vibe from this book and it really creeped me out to a point where I had a few nightmares about it. When that happens that's when I call it quits on a book. Aside from the nightmares and the overall creepy vibe of this book, I felt that the books plot and pacing were off. It was probably my being uncomfortable that made this book too weird for me.
Verdict: I can't really give a detailed review like I normally do because of how quickly I DNFed the book, but if you enjoy thrillers and if you loved reading The Stepford Wives or loved watching The Gift you might like this book!
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (adult content, torture, violence, trigger warnings for torture)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.
The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .
Never mention The Pact to anyone.
Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples.
And then one of them breaks the rules.
The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule.
For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare. - Amazon.com
Let's start off with my need for thrillers is completely gone now. I had to DNF this book because it got way to weird and uncomfortable for me. While I thought that the characters were well developed and the writing was pretty good, I got a Stepford Wives and The Gift vibe from this book and it really creeped me out to a point where I had a few nightmares about it. When that happens that's when I call it quits on a book. Aside from the nightmares and the overall creepy vibe of this book, I felt that the books plot and pacing were off. It was probably my being uncomfortable that made this book too weird for me.
Verdict: I can't really give a detailed review like I normally do because of how quickly I DNFed the book, but if you enjoy thrillers and if you loved reading The Stepford Wives or loved watching The Gift you might like this book!
Sara's Game by Ernie Lindsey
2.0
Rating: 2/5
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: DNF-ed cannot recommend
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review courtesy of Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I think I'm in a DNF spree. I had to DNF this book after about 100 pages. It's not because the book was poorly written or not interesting, but because I knew how it would end from the beginning. And a spoilery look at the end proved my theory to be right. That completely ruined the book for me and while it was my fault I can't help but wonder if the book could have been written in a different way to avoid the ending from being guessed completely at the beginning of the book.
Verdict: If you enjoy thrillers, please give this a read! It seems to be highly enjoyable for a lot of people and I hope one day to return to this book and reread it.
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: DNF-ed cannot recommend
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review courtesy of Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I think I'm in a DNF spree. I had to DNF this book after about 100 pages. It's not because the book was poorly written or not interesting, but because I knew how it would end from the beginning. And a spoilery look at the end proved my theory to be right. That completely ruined the book for me and while it was my fault I can't help but wonder if the book could have been written in a different way to avoid the ending from being guessed completely at the beginning of the book.
Verdict: If you enjoy thrillers, please give this a read! It seems to be highly enjoyable for a lot of people and I hope one day to return to this book and reread it.
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
4.0
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 14+ (some sexual references, tiny gore, realistic ways on how the world will collapse).
Pages: 337
Author Website
Amazon Link
I usually have a hard time getting into books when I first start them. Call it my rebellious nature taking control or just that I hate starting over at page one even if it’s a different book. But that was not the case with this book. This book was, in short, absolutely everything I want in a dystopian novel. The world building and realistic circumstances of this possible event made me legitimately scared for the future and heavily invested in Laura’s life. The format was told in diary format, so I was invested in learning about what happened to Laura and her family from day to day. I found that while told through diary format all of the characters were fairly well developed and the plot was intriguing. The pacing was also well done and the story kept me interested throughout the whole of the book.
The only issues I found with this book were the sexist comments and that I’m not receiving much information outside of the family’s town. This book, while wonderfully well written, is really sexist. I thought for sure the book would make some big show in the end about how all of these comments are untrue, but it really didn’t. The character grew and became stronger, but the comments weren’t ever mentioned again. Usually I don’t have issue with these comments if they’re within a historical setting, but this book takes place at least in the 2000s and by then I’m pretty sure women had sufficiently proved themselves to be just as strong as men.
Verdict: Avoiding all the sexist comments, this book is a terrific read for any dystopian reader! I’m not immediately heading to my local grocery store to stockpile food and water before an asteroid crashes into the moon.
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 14+ (some sexual references, tiny gore, realistic ways on how the world will collapse).
Pages: 337
Author Website
Amazon Link
I usually have a hard time getting into books when I first start them. Call it my rebellious nature taking control or just that I hate starting over at page one even if it’s a different book. But that was not the case with this book. This book was, in short, absolutely everything I want in a dystopian novel. The world building and realistic circumstances of this possible event made me legitimately scared for the future and heavily invested in Laura’s life. The format was told in diary format, so I was invested in learning about what happened to Laura and her family from day to day. I found that while told through diary format all of the characters were fairly well developed and the plot was intriguing. The pacing was also well done and the story kept me interested throughout the whole of the book.
The only issues I found with this book were the sexist comments and that I’m not receiving much information outside of the family’s town. This book, while wonderfully well written, is really sexist. I thought for sure the book would make some big show in the end about how all of these comments are untrue, but it really didn’t. The character grew and became stronger, but the comments weren’t ever mentioned again. Usually I don’t have issue with these comments if they’re within a historical setting, but this book takes place at least in the 2000s and by then I’m pretty sure women had sufficiently proved themselves to be just as strong as men.
Verdict: Avoiding all the sexist comments, this book is a terrific read for any dystopian reader! I’m not immediately heading to my local grocery store to stockpile food and water before an asteroid crashes into the moon.
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
5.0
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, death, mentions of rape)
Pages: 416
Author Website
Amazon Link
Summary: A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.
Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.
When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.
As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.
I picked this book up for the butterfly on the cover if I’m going to be completely honest. Which I always am with you guys. You’re probably the only ones I don’t hide anything from. Feel special? Now what if I told you that there was someone out there that was basically made for you, made to protect to you forever and always, and even after your death they would avenge you? Don’t you feel really special now? Well that’s the actual job of a Diabolic. They protect the one they’re bonded to forever and always… and that’s the problem our protagonist faces. This book is amazing to say the least. The character development is fantastic. Even though we are looking through the eyes of the protagonist, we are accurately given descriptions and motives to all of the characters. The storyline and plot are well done as well. The story is a lot of political intrigue and motive, but the action in the book keeps the story moving well. The world building is also well done. While we’re in a very different world than the one we live in, never did I feel confused or frustrated while reading the book.
The only issue I could find with this book is that the pacing is a little fast for me, but by the end I thought the pacing perfectly matched the tone of the book. However, it might not be for everyone.
Verdict: If you’re a sci-fi lover or a newbie to the genre, I highly suggest this book. You won’t regret reading it.
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, death, mentions of rape)
Pages: 416
Author Website
Amazon Link
Summary: A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.
Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.
When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.
As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.
I picked this book up for the butterfly on the cover if I’m going to be completely honest. Which I always am with you guys. You’re probably the only ones I don’t hide anything from. Feel special? Now what if I told you that there was someone out there that was basically made for you, made to protect to you forever and always, and even after your death they would avenge you? Don’t you feel really special now? Well that’s the actual job of a Diabolic. They protect the one they’re bonded to forever and always… and that’s the problem our protagonist faces. This book is amazing to say the least. The character development is fantastic. Even though we are looking through the eyes of the protagonist, we are accurately given descriptions and motives to all of the characters. The storyline and plot are well done as well. The story is a lot of political intrigue and motive, but the action in the book keeps the story moving well. The world building is also well done. While we’re in a very different world than the one we live in, never did I feel confused or frustrated while reading the book.
The only issue I could find with this book is that the pacing is a little fast for me, but by the end I thought the pacing perfectly matched the tone of the book. However, it might not be for everyone.
Verdict: If you’re a sci-fi lover or a newbie to the genre, I highly suggest this book. You won’t regret reading it.
All The Things We Lost by Kayla Tirrell
4.0
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: YA Romance/Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (some violence and slight sexual content)
Pages: 192
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: After her mother’s death, eighteen-year-old Katie finds herself in a town she never thought she'd see again. Lost in turmoil and sadness, hope surfaces when she comes face to face with Julian for the first time in years.
However, he isn’t the same boy she left behind. Reserved and covered in bruises, everyone in River Valley avoids him. Rumors of his activities run rampant.
Julian is barely keeping it together. He’s the sole provider for his family after his dad leaves. His dreams to go to college are ruined. Even his relationship with his older brother leaves its mark.
Can Katie and Julian find hope and love in each other, or will the struggle to survive their desperate situations prove too much?
All The Things We Lost is a young adult contemporary romance perfect for both teens and adults. It is the first in a series of books, each revolving around a different couple living in the same, small town.
After the slew of fantasy and sci-fi reads I have waded through this month I just HAD to stop and read this cute little teen romance story and I didn’t regret it. It was charming and delightful. The characters were very well developed, their struggles felt real, and I cried. Like ugly cried. The world building was decent for this type of book and the pacing is well done. I also thought for the most part that the plot was good and it did keep me interested in reading the rest of the book.
The only slightly off-putting thing about this book is that it’s sometimes cliché and some of the things that happen in the book are a bit predictable. However, that doesn’t detract from how well written and interesting the book is. It’s also great for a good cry.
Verdict: If you like teen romance books, this is your new favorite series!
Genre: YA Romance/Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (some violence and slight sexual content)
Pages: 192
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: After her mother’s death, eighteen-year-old Katie finds herself in a town she never thought she'd see again. Lost in turmoil and sadness, hope surfaces when she comes face to face with Julian for the first time in years.
However, he isn’t the same boy she left behind. Reserved and covered in bruises, everyone in River Valley avoids him. Rumors of his activities run rampant.
Julian is barely keeping it together. He’s the sole provider for his family after his dad leaves. His dreams to go to college are ruined. Even his relationship with his older brother leaves its mark.
Can Katie and Julian find hope and love in each other, or will the struggle to survive their desperate situations prove too much?
All The Things We Lost is a young adult contemporary romance perfect for both teens and adults. It is the first in a series of books, each revolving around a different couple living in the same, small town.
After the slew of fantasy and sci-fi reads I have waded through this month I just HAD to stop and read this cute little teen romance story and I didn’t regret it. It was charming and delightful. The characters were very well developed, their struggles felt real, and I cried. Like ugly cried. The world building was decent for this type of book and the pacing is well done. I also thought for the most part that the plot was good and it did keep me interested in reading the rest of the book.
The only slightly off-putting thing about this book is that it’s sometimes cliché and some of the things that happen in the book are a bit predictable. However, that doesn’t detract from how well written and interesting the book is. It’s also great for a good cry.
Verdict: If you like teen romance books, this is your new favorite series!