Read and Reviewed

Like many folks who read and review YA books, I have been burned by many an angel book in the past. So it was with some trepidation that I started The Watcher, hoping it would be more like my reading experience for Sweet Evil (pleasantly surprised) than my experience with Hush, Hush (seriously annoyed). I'm happy to report that I can easily put The Watcher into the "good" category. I enjoyed our main character, Mia, quite a lot, and found myself swooning right along with her when it came to Michael.

The Watcher has a well-developed angel lore that's used throughout the book. I liked that Michael isn't just saintly good; he's a fallen angel who is recovering from his past mistakes, and that added a different sort of vibe to his interactions with Mia. I liked the nods back in time to previous civilizations, and the fact that Mia and Michael had a history. It was interesting to see Mia's visions of her past, and to hear Michael's explanations about what happened. Now, admittedly, because they do have this past, their relationship in the present seems rather insta-lovey, but it's excusable because they do have already established feelings for each other. I liked how Mia weaved her way through her memories of what was and what was her current reality.

There is a definite sort of epic-ness to the plot of this book. There's a lot of good versus evil, and Mia finds herself caught right in the center of it. It was interesting to have the inside look at what angels and demons in this universe do, and I liked the way everything evolved. I enjoyed reading about Michael's struggles with his feelings for Mia and the way he had to fight not to lose himself (or, more notably, his wings). There's a lot of back and forth, and nothing is completely resolved at the end, so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a sequel at some point. I am definitely curious as to how things are going to be satisfactorily resolved in terms of the emotional aspect.

The Watcher is an angel book, but - at least for me - brings some new ideas to the table. Those who are leery of another Fallen orHush, Hush will probably be pleasantly surprised with Ms. Voisin's rendition. The characters are enjoyable, and while it's a long book, I didn't really feel the length while I was reading. I think most paranormal fans will be quite entertained with Michael and Mia's story.

An e-galley of this title was provided by the publisher for blog tour purposes.

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

 

I have been looking forward to Game. Set. Match. for a long time. I absolutely love tennis, so when I saw that this book would be set around the sport, I was instantly hooked and knew I had to read it. I was super excited to be chosen as part of the book blitz/blog tour, because I was so anxious to read the book that I didn't want to wait for its release. I am happy to report that everything I wanted this book to include - three strong female characters, three swoon-worthy boys, and lots and LOTS of tennis - was brought into existence by the author and I was pretty much instantly enamored with the story, characters and setting.

This book is told via three alternating points of view. We have Penny, who is the established player (although still young herself), Jasmine, whose parents were tennis superstars, and Indy, whose mom just passed away. Out of the three, I think I connected the most with Indy, as her journey to OBX (which is the nickname for the tennis academy) seemed the most realistic. She has a lot to deal with throughout the book, and I just found her extremely sympathetic. However, I also had a fondness for Penny, mostly because of her scenes with her male counterpart, Alex. There was a lot of chemistry between the two of them, and I liked the way Penny had to navigate her feelings for him while still staying focused on her training. Really, though, all three girls were very strong characters, and each were developed in a way that the reader really comes to care about all three of them.

Considering that this is labeled New Adult, I was very happy to see that some of the typical NA tropes weren't used. There's no sex, first of all; it's mentioned, but isn't explicitly written into the text. There's a bit of a bad boy - Alex - in this book, but you don't get the usual situations that seem to go hand in hand with a character of this sort. All of the romances were sweet, and the boys equally deserving of fanfare. My favorite overall relationship was Alex and Penny, simply because of the steps they had to take to get together, but I also really enjoyed Indy's journey to get together with her beau of choice. This is the relationship I'm most curious about, simply because there are some issues between the two of them that will have to be resolved.

Considering that this is technically a tennis book, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the sport in this review. The tennis in this book is amazing. I was eating up all of the practice scenes, as well as the match play. I loved the look inside the girls' heads as they were competing; it's the mental aspect that I personally find so compelling in the matches I watch, so to get to experience that through this book was especially interesting to me personally. The tennis scenes were easily my favorites in the entire book.

Game. Set. Match. is an extremely well done debut novel. If you like sports, you should definitely pick it up, but even if you're uncertain about the tennis aspect, the girls and the romances should be enough of a draw to keep you engaged. I know that I, for one, shall be eagerly awaiting any future installments!

An e-galley was provided by the author for blog tour purposes.

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

2.5 stars.Need had been on my radar for quite some time. I am especially fond of faerie books, so was drawn to this one due to the inclusion of the fae in the plot. However, this didn't have your typical faeries; the creatures in this book were pixies, and not the type that Gilderoy Lockhart released in Chamber of Secrets. I likewise wasn't expecting the inclusion of shapeshifters, so was quite surprised with the twists of the plot. The sleepy Maine town that our main character, Zara, finds herself inhabiting certainly had a lot going on!When push comes to shove, I can honestly say that I "liked" this book. However, there were a lot of things that I had issues with, most notably the pacing and plot advancement. I also have a problem when nearly everyone in a book turns out to have some sort of special power or ability, and couldn't help but feel like that was the case here. Now, on the one hand, I appreciate a book that can keep me guessing, and Need certainly did that. But I want things to make sense, too, and felt like there was just a whole lot of paranormal activity going on in this book when there didn't really need to be. The book is also quite clearly the author's first. I was struck by the word usage in several instances, most notably when the door and Nick both "smashed" into something in the same sentence. I always try to alter my word choice to create some variety in my reviews, so get annoyed when authors don't take the same amount of time in their books. Obviously, this is just a matter of personal taste, though, so you may not have the same problem.I did like the way the romance built between Nick and Zara, though, so give the author kudos for that. While Zara notices his good looks early on, they didn't just become instantly enamored with each other. There was a nice set-up to their relationship, and it wasn't completely easy for them, either. In fact, it's the romance that piqued my interest the most and made me want to check out the second book. I wonder how the plot will advance when the two characters are already together.There were some nice plot twists in regard to the pixies, and I am likewise intrigued with what's going to happen next with them. I was surprised at how bloodthirsty and dangerous these beings were, especially since my only experience with pixies was in Harry Potter, when they were decidedly smaller and not nearly as deadly. I liked that Ms. Jones sort of flipped your preconceived notions of pixies on their head. There was enough of an open ending to nicely set up the second book, and I can't wait to see the fallout of Zara's decision.All in all, Need was disappointing to me personally, but I see enough promise there to ensure that I'll check out the second book, Captivate. If you're a fan of faeries, take note that this book isn't going to be what you expected. Fans of paranormal creatures, though, will have plenty to make them happy.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

DISCLAIMER: This book is a retelling of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, which I have never read. As such, this review will contain only my thoughts on Thorn Abbey itself, and no comparisons to the original work will be made.

It has now been several days since I finished Thorn Abbey, and I still am not completely sure what I thought about it. There were certainly aspects of this story that I liked, and others that I did not. Having never read Rebecca (and really knowing next to nothing about the book), I had no expectations regarding the plot or characters, and likewise didn't know anything about any aspect of the story. In some ways I feel this was a good thing, as I wasn't making constant comparisons, but on the other hand, it would be nice to know how well she stayed faithful to the original story. I suppose I shall just have to stalk the reviews of folks who have read Rebecca, or - even better - just break down and read it myself.

What struck me immediately about Thorn Abbey was the amazingly gothic and dark atmosphere. It's set at a contemporary boarding school (I initially thought this was a historical tale) somewhere in New England, but the weather, the buildings, the classes, everything just oozed mystery. The descriptions of the setting were one of my favorite parts of the story. Ms. Ohlin has a great talent for setting the mood. I also found the mystery itself to be first rate, and written in a way that was extremely compelling and engrossing, so much so that I pretty much finished this in one sitting. The book is infinitely readable, and definitely has an "it" factor when it comes to keeping the reader engaged.

But then there's Tess, our main character. Unfortunately, much of what I didn't like lies with her and her alone. I found Tess to be surprisingly stalker-like when it comes to Max, our main male character. She falls for him much too quickly and pretty much becomes consumed with thoughts of him. I found her obsession creepy and weird, and honestly didn't like reading her inner monologues. Because of this, I had an extremely hard time connecting with her. I honestly didn't care about her feelings and emotions at all. I likewise didn't connect with Max. I just don't feel like there was enough development to either of their personalities to really pull the reader in and make them care about what the characters are going through. For me, the mystery and atmosphere were what kept me reading because I just wanted to know how things would turn out. I can't say I cared what that final climax meant for the characters themselves.

Ultimately, Thorn Abbey was a bit of a disappointment. Did I like it? Yes. Could it have been better? Definitely. Would I still recommend it? I would, simply for the mystery and atmosphere, which were seriously first-rate. Of course, that could just be because I haven't read Rebecca, so your mileage may vary.

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

3.5/5 stars.Going in to Suddenly Royal, I was hoping for a quick, fun and entertaining read that would have me smiling a lot. I'm happy to report that those qualities are in abundance. Samantha is a quick-witted, sarcastic and sometimes infuriating character who I very much enjoyed reading, and Alex fully lives up to his nickname of Prince Yummy. I found this book extremely engaging, and very much enjoyed my time spent in its pages.Anyone reading the summary is probably struck with some similarities to The Princess Diaries or The Prince & Me, and there definitely are things that that are the same between those titles and this one. However, I liked that the "princess" (she's actually a duchess) in this book is an adult; she's a Master's student who's had to deal with the death of her mother and her father's struggle with cancer, so she's already had to deal with some difficult experiences. This makes Samantha a character with a lot of depth, and an interesting back story that very much influences her actions, thoughts and feelings, not only toward Alex, but the whole idea of reclaiming her Lilarian title. I very much enjoyed reading about her personal journey as she struggled with her place in this new and unknown world.Alex is described as a playboy in the summary, but that didn't really come across so much in the book itself. I liked that he was thoughtful and caring, and willing to help Samantha through her struggles. I liked the way he slowly brought her around to the idea of a relationship, and very much liked that he didn't push her and was willing to go at her pace and only move forward with her permission. This is so often not the case in books today that I couldn't help but find the slow growth of their relationship all the more satisfying. If you're tired of books where the guy and girl immediately fall into bed with each other, then this will be a refreshing change!Suddenly Royal also had a lot of depth to it. The world of Lilaria, the customs the people follow, and the royalty who dominate the upper echelon of society were all well-crafted. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see this world through Sam's eyes, particularly her smiles and gasps of astonishment as something new was revealed to her. The descriptions were first rate and really helped place the reader in the narrative. Some of my favorite parts were when Sam got to experience the city and surrounding countryside (and I am SO jealous of that bookstore!). I also liked that this wasn't just a "cute" read. Sam goes through a lot, experiences a lot, and it really helped keep the book grounded. I liked the inside look at all that being a duchess entails, and everything Sam was going to be responsible for. In a "cute" read you don't always get to see the struggles, and I very much liked that those were included here.While the premise behind Suddenly Royal perhaps isn't the most original, there is enough within the book's pages to keep anyone engaged in the story. The two main characters are wonderfully drawn and constructed, and are surrounded by a fabulous supporting cast, all set in a unique world that's described so perfectly you can see it in your mind. It looks like this is the first in a new series, and I'm really excited to see what's next for Sam and Alex (no drama, please!). If you're looking for a fun, summer read, do give this one a try!A copy of this book was provided by Inkslinger PR for blog tour purposes.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

DISCLAIMER: Because this is the sixth book in the Kingdom Keepers series, this review does contain some references to occurrences in the previous books. Major plot points or spoilers, however, are avoided.I am at a loss when it comes to my feelings about this series. It started out so incredibly strong, with awesome world-building and likable characters. I loved the inside look at the inner workings of Disney that most tourists and fans don't get to see, from the behind-the-scenes mechanics of rides and attractions, to the glimpse inside the areas of the parks that only Cast Members are allowed inside. The idea of five teenagers being turned into holograms - and then told that their "other" job (aside from marketing) is to fight the Overtakers, or Disney villains, who are trying to gain control of the Parks and turn them decidedly darker. But as the series has gone on, instead of the awesome action scenes and battles between good and evil, the books have devolved into Relationship Drama (and yes, it deserves capital letters) between the main characters. And that's just majorly disappointing to me.I mentioned in my review of Shell Game that the editing of these books has become extremely lackluster. In that book, there were lines of dialogue that didn't  match up to the speaker, misspellings galore, and gaping plot holes. I mentioned that I didn't like the fact that Mr. Pearson turned Tia Dalma into a villain, either, and considering her huge role in Dark Passage, my unhappiness with that move has grown exponentially. I'm sorry, but she's NOT evil. She very clearly was helpful in the Pirates films, and I don't like what he's done with her character at all. I can get behind the other villains - the Evil Queen from Snow White, and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, to name a few, because that's exactly how they were written in their original fairy tales. Their evilness, if you will, makes sense. Tia Dalma's? Not so much.Considering that the main part of this book is supposed to be about the Kingdom Keepers' fight against the Overtakers, way too much of this book is taken up with teenage drama of various sorts. Not only do you have the typical love interest stuff - Willa likes Philby, Charlene likes Maybeck and Finn (but maybe Maybeck more?), Finn likes Amanda, but finds himself also crushing on new character Storey Ming (who is WAY too old for him and therefore should NOT be crushing back, ugh), Philby also likes Storey but probably Willa more, and, just, seriously, STOP. Chapter after chapter of this book is taken up with all this ~drama~ about who likes whom, and it's just ridiculous. I also am getting really tired of the increasing strain between Finn and Philby and who is the true "leader" of the Keepers. And while I used to like Wayne, I find him at fault for most of it, so my dislike of him has also grown in each installment. Philby is a massive jerk, who likes to prove he's the smartest and basically says things just to make Finn angry, and also revels in the fact that Wayne has told him some things he hasn't told Finn. The only character I really liked in this book was Maybeck, who at least isn't treating everyone terribly!I also need to mention that the editing of this book was no better than Shell Game. It's overly long (see that paragraph above regarding all the drama) and there were typos throughout (and this was a hardback copy, not the e-book version). At one point Philby tells Willa that her idea is "brilliant" and then five lines later he tells her it's "too risky". What? Which is it? That's just one example, but there are moments of this throughout the book. Every time it happens it just really knocks the reader out of the story, which further lowers your enjoyment.Dark Passage is the most disappointing installment in the series thus far. Considering that the books have gotten worse as they've gone along, I have little hope that the final installment will be any better. If we could just go back to the main plot of this series - the battle against the Overtakers - and stop with all the unnecessary romantic "intrigue" then I think you'd have a decent finale. Alas, I don't hold out much hope of that happening. Will I still read book seven? Yes, because I've devoted myself to the previous six, and I want to see how everything ends. Will I enjoy it? Unfortunately, that seems extremely unlikely.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

You know those books that make you smile throughout? The ones that aren't especially deep, but loads of fun and laugh out loud funny? The ones you read when you're looking for an escape, when you don't want to think too hard, when you just want to read to enjoy? How My Summer Went Up in Flames is that sort of book.

I am actually a newbie when it comes to books about road trips, and I'm glad this was my first experience, because it really was a cute, fun, fluffy way to spend an afternoon. The book is engaging and engrossing in equal measures, and I was actually surprised that, once we got past a hilariously funny (without always meaning to be) main character in Rosie that there's actually a lot of depth to her story, and the way her ex-boyfriend's actions turned her into someone she didn't like at all. I thought it was pretty thought-provoking in the end, without hitting you over the head. I also liked the cast of characters accompanying Rosie on her trip, from boy-next-door Matty, to geeky and surprisingly sensitive Spencer, to moody and impatient Logan. Each of the boys served their own role in getting Rosie to realize that breaking up with Joey wasn't the be all, end all and that she actually could do something to turn her life around.

I do want to say that I had a fairly big problem, however, with the fact that Rosie used words like "skank" and "slut" and other completely inappropriate names to refer to Joey's new girlfriend. Considering that he is the one who cheated on her, not the new girlfriend, Rosie's anger was completely misdirected. And regardless of how angry you are, throwing a word around like "slut" to describe the girl your boyfriend cheated with is just distasteful. Let's put the blame on the right person, and quit with the name-calling.

Nonetheless, I came away from How My Summer Went Up in Flames with a new appreciation for road trip books. Rosie's personal journey was infinitely readable, and I found it impossible to not root for her to make the necessary changes and figure herself out. If you're looking for a fun and quick contemporary read that's perfect for summer, do pick this one up!

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

Drug addiction is a subject I haven't personally read a whole lot of, but the two books I have read that dealt with the topic - Crank by Ellen Hopkins and The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx - were quite eye-opening and compulsively readable. As such, I was extremely intrigued with the summary for White Lines, particularly since it seemed like there was going to be a lot more going on in this book than just the drugs. What I found in its pages was a very damaged main character who, despite her issues and flawed way of thinking, was someone I was completely rooting for and hoping she'd figure things out before it was too late.This book is quite dark, and not just because of the drug use. Cat is emotionally wrecked, doesn't trust easily, and is well aware that her choices aren't the best. The book is scattered throughout with flashbacks to her childhood, when her mother would abuse her or her father would ignore her, and that added a very tangible sense of sadness to the story, even if she herself wasn't necessarily drowning in sorrow the time. Cat was a very conflicted narrator, equal parts sad and angry, mostly going through the motions. Only when she was at the club or doing drugs was she "alive" if you will (which of course was the main draw for her to the drugs in the first place), and I have to give major kudos for the way those scenes were written, in such a psychedelic fashion. The clothing, atmosphere, music and excess were nearly dripping off the page, keeping time with the chaotic and drug-infused thoughts careening through Cat's head. All of this was just utterly atmospheric and kept me thoroughly engaged the entire time.My one complaint about this book is that the ending is rather nice and tidy, if you will. One of the things I liked most about The Heroin Diaries was when Nikki recounted just how difficult it was to get himself together and leave the drugs behind. I couldn't help but notice that, aside from a paragraph or two, that is decidedly missing from White Lines, and somehow keeps the story from being as completely fleshed out as it could have been. In my opinion, a book dealing with a subject as all-encompassing as drug abuse and addiction is shouldn't be tied up in a nice, neat bow, and I couldn't help but feel that that was precisely what happened here.Nonetheless, if you're looking for a realistic, gritty and dark YA read that deals with a number of tough topics, do pick up White Lines. The book does a very good job of transporting you to the 1980s, complete with John Hughes movie and New Age music references that made me smile. There are no minced words when it comes to the drug use and club scenes, but all of it comes together to form a really well done book that's extremely readable and really pulls you in. I'd definitely recommend it!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

Despite being overly long and detailed, I am one of the ones who did enjoy reading Illuminate, the first book in this series. I liked the different sort of angel and devil lore being used, and really found myself drawn to some of the characters. I was therefore quite excited to read Infatuate; I was hoping that Ms. Agresti learned from some of the issues in the first book (like the slowly-developing plot), and that I'd come away enjoying this one even more. I'm happy to report that, for me at least, that was definitely the case. While some aspects of the book were repetitive (like the Krewe's continuous nights of chaos), I still found myself moving through this one a bit more quickly, and becoming much more engrossed in the story and characters.One thing I do want to mention is that this book should not be read if you haven't read Illuminate. The second installment makes continuous references to the events of the first book, and while some of it is explained, you will be much better able to understand the dynamic between Haven and Lucian, which is a very big driving force in this book. I don't want to go too in depth about this, because I'd like this review to be as spoiler free as possible, but Lucian's current situation is definitely the cause of some of Haven's decision making, and I think knowing their previous history makes it more poignant and really helps the reader understand why she's so determined to help him. Considering that her doing so is what helps bring about the climax of this book, it's rather important that the reader be invested in their relationship, and I'm just not sure you can be as emotionally connected if you don't read the first book.Speaking of Lucian, I am a reader who is not normally "team" anything when it comes to character relationships. I'm pretty happy to just go along with what the author decides is the way to go most of the time, but with this series in particular, I am very firmly rooting for Lucian and Haven. I simply find Lucian to be the more compelling, interesting character. Haven is very "good"; she's a tad too all-powerful, a tad too intelligent. Because Lance is very similar to her, their relationship is ... kind of boring. It also didn't help that Lance and Haven get caught up in a very strange love square. Lance's actions during this time don't exactly endear him to the reader, and even when it's "explained" I still found him to be a bit of a jerk. Lucian is at least honest with her and doesn't keep playing with her emotions. He is what he is, you know? Lucian just helps to bring a spark to the pages, and gives Haven a different sort of vibe and light, if you will. I simply find myself much more invested in their interactions and actively rooting for them to get together. I'm sure that, in the end, I'm going to be disappointed with the outcome, but I'm still hoping for many more Lucian/Haven moments in the third book.I also adored Dante in this book. Talk about someone who has undergone some serious character growth! I love that he's a major player now, and the fact that he gets his moments to shine. I just love the fact that he's an openly gay character, and not only has his own unique abilities and powers, but also a very cute relationship that gets developed in this book. You don't always see gay angels, so, for me, that's an added perk to this series. I'm looking forward to more Max/Dante moments, and can't wait to see how his abilities might change and grow in the next book.Infatuate is a very solid second book. There's enough development not only in the characters but the plot to keep readers engaged and looking forward to the end of the series. It does have a semi-cliffhanger at the end, but it felt like a natural progression to me, particularly since the word "sacrifice" kept getting thrown around throughout the book. My one complaint is that the Krewe in this book was fairly one-dimensional; you didn't get to see what made them want to become what they are like you did with the "bad" guys in the first book, and some of their antics became repetitive by the end. But there was still a good tension in this book which was sometimes missing from the first installment, and kept me eagerly turning pages. I'm definitely looking forward to what comes next!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

My first thought upon finishing this book was "aww," because this really is a cute read. It was basically everything I was expecting it to be, which was a fun, fluffy way to spend an afternoon (although it took me longer than an afternoon to read, blast you, work!). However, this book was also surprisingly dark in some places as well, particularly once we meet the villain of the story. This helped keep the book from falling over the edge into "so sweet it hurts your teeth" territory, and also really helped keep the plot moving forward and the reader engrossed in the narrative. Considering that I don't always have the best attention span, that earns this book major bonus points!Margo is a wonderful main character, who thinks her life is perfectly planned out. And it is, until she meets Oliver. See, Oliver is a genie, and Margo his new master. He wants her to make her three wishes fairly quickly, because he's on the run from a former master who's threatening his life. Mixed in with the magical hijinks (and can I just say how much I loved Margo's first wish?), there is a very nice contemporary romance in the pages of The Art of Wishing. I loved that this book took a very fresh approach to the YA paranormal genre, most notably because we don't see too many genie stories (or, rather, ANY genie stories), and also because there is no insta-love (let the masses rejoice!). Or rather, I guess there is a tad of it on Oliver's part only, but it was explained reasonably well and I found myself okay with it. Margo, for her part, not only doesn't fall straight away, but even pokes a bit of fun at the trope ("I've only known you for like a week!"). Considering that Ms. Ribar works in the publishing industry, I loved the way she handled that section in a nicely tongue in cheek way.Xavier, our villain, is deliciously dark in a sort of madman-type way. The confrontations between him and Margo are not lighthearted in the slightest (probably the only aspect of this book that isn't fun or fluffy in some way), and were actually pretty scary to read. The reader gets a chance to really understand his motivations and the reasons he feels the way he does, but he's quite twisted and damaged, which makes him hard to sympathize with, at least until the very end. I wasn't too sure what my thoughts on him were, aside from the fact that I wished he'd leave Oliver and Margo alone!If you're looking for something a bit different, The Art of Wishing is your book. Fans of contemporaries will like this one because it's mostly realistic with just the slightest magical twists, while paranormal fans will like the fresh take on the magical creature trope. The ending is a bit unexpected and features a minor cliffhanger - I certainly didn't see it coming! - but I wouldn't say it was done purely for the shock factor, although it certainly gives an idea of what the next book might be about. I, for one, can't wait to see what comes next!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

You know that pervading feeling that, once you've read one YA paranormal romance you've read them all? Well, I'm happy to report that The Sweetest Dark is a nice break from your typical paranormal fare. Don't get me wrong, there are still some common tropes used in this book. But overall I found this nicely refreshing, not only because our main character is a different sort of creature from the norm, but also because it's set in the past during World War I, so has a distinctly historical flair as well. All in all there was little to complain about, at least for me, plus two swoon-worthy boys that I very much enjoyed getting to know!Lora, our main character, is an orphan girl from London who's given an opportunity to attend a prestigious finishing school on the coast of England. At the school she catches the eye of two boys (trope number one: love triangles), one a poor workman for the school named Jesse, and the other the son of the Duke who owns the school, Armand. She also gets an immediate enemy in Chloe (trope number two: the mean girl), who fancies herself Armand's significant other, and is extremely jealous of the attention "Mandy" is giving another girl. (Sidenote: I don't dig Armand's nickname at all.) Of course it's determined that Lora is a paranormal creature (she's a drakon), and is drawn to both boys due to her nature and theirs as well. This book very much revolves around Lora's personal journey, as she navigates her new knowledge about herself and what it means for her future.This book reminded me very much of the Gemma Doyle books by Libba Bray. Lora's story is very similar to that of Ann's, and I found myself drawing a lot of comparisons between the two. This book was a bit slow to get started, but once she gets to school and meets the boys it definitely picks up. Without giving too much away, I want to say that the background to what Lora is and the way she's connected to Jesse and Armand both was very interesting to read about, if a little confusing at times. I wish I could go more in depth on my feelings about the revelations into what Jesse, Armand and Lora all are, but I don't want to spoil anyone, so shall refrain. It's safe to say that it's definitely different, though!If you're tired of your same old, same old, you just might want to give The Sweetest Dark a try. It is the first in a series (trope number three: the trilogy), but I found myself engaged enough in not only Lora's story, but both Jesse and Armand's as well that I'm looking forward to what's coming next, especially considering the ending (no worries; there is no cliffhanger). I have to say that I actually find myself leaning more toward the "second" boy in the love triangle this time around, which doesn't often happen. I will be very interested in seeing what comes of that!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

As anyone who has read my reviews is probably well aware of at this point, I am a huge sucker for books based on mythology of any kind. Vengeance Bound is a semi-retelling of the Furies, except that our main character, Corinne, is one of the three ladies of justice. She and the other two spend the majority of their time chasing down criminals and administering their own brand of justice. Cory also has a backstory that details how the Furies came to be inside her, and a history with an evil doctor she desperately wants revenge on.

This book was exceptionally fast paced. I began reading it and, before I knew it, was already halfway through. The plot moves quickly, with Cory and the other Furies going out at night to punish wrongdoers, and attending a new high school during the day. While at school she becomes friends with a group of kids who have their own issues, although said issues aren't completely apparent in the beginning. She also falls for one of the guys in the group, Niko, who I liked quite a bit. Their relationship was fairly slow moving, although Cory of course gets that "weak in the knees" feeling from the get-go.

My biggest issue with this book wasn't the mythology, which was interesting, or the plot, which was engrossing. The biggest problem was that I really didn't connect with Cory or any of the other characters at all. I was sort of just surface reading, if that makes sense, not feeling any attachment to their plights or Cory's struggle to maintain her hold on the Furies so they didn't completely take over her body. Normally a book that has as much blood and gore as this one would prompt some kind of response - a flinch or wince or something - but that wasn't the case here at all. I was sort of like Cory, in that I was along for the ride. It was a very strange reading experience for me. I can't recall the last time I felt so dispassionate about a book's proceedings.

Still, Vengeance Bound was entertaining enough in that fluffy way. Fans of mythology will enjoy the backstory to the Furies origin, and those who enjoy seeing criminals get their comeuppance will also have something to cheer for. The romance is sweet enough but nothing earth-shattering, and - at least on Cory's part - a bit too insta-lovy for my tastes, although I did wind up liking the two of them and their sweet shared moments and steamy kisses. The ending seems open to a possible sequel, but I'm not sure I'll be reading. It wasn't a bad way to spend an afternoon, but I really can't say anything more enthusiastic than that.

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

Excuse me a moment while I pick up the pieces of my heart that shattered all over the floor upon finishing this book.Ahem.While I enjoyed The Immortal Rules, I didn't completely love it, and so went in to The Eternity Cure with anticipation of a good story, but nothing earth-shatteringly brilliant.I was so wrong.The continuation of Julie Kagawa's dystopian vampire series is a nonstop journey of brutality, heartbreak, and action that leaves the reader literally on the edge of their seat, desperately wanting to know what's coming next, but afraid to turn the page. She's not afraid to show us just how awful this world is - the Red Lung virus that nearly wiped out civilization decades before has mutated into something even worse - and she doesn't shy away from showing us this world in all its horror. To say that this is a brutal and frightening read is an understatement. It is much darker than The Immortal Rules.Because I want to stay as spoiler-free for this series as possible, I can't go as in depth about certain things as I would like to. I will say that each of the major characters we met in the first book make an appearance, including one extremely deranged individual who is quite terrifying to read about. I was also really pleased to get some background on the world, like the history of the virus and how it spread so quickly and killed so many. The journal entries early on were horrible to read (at least for me personally) because I could so easily see why the scientists were doing what they did. I liked that Kanin's role in the entire fiasco was also further explained, because he's so hated by nearly everyone that I wanted to know exactly what he'd done to deserve such vitriol. And this book also served to further tie each of the characters together, which I also enjoyed.While it takes a while for Kanin to make an appearance, I just want to say that - aside from Allison - he is easily my favorite character, and I was SO glad when he finally showed up again. I also really liked the banter between Allie and Jackal. This world is very bleak, and there are some truly awful things going on, so his smart comebacks and disregard for human feelings were sort of refreshing to read and kept the book from diving headfirst into darkness. Not that there isn't any of that, of course - this is still an end of the world book full of horror and despair - but he definitely helped provide levity and keep the reader grounded. He very much has a teasing older brother tone to his interactions with Allison, which had me laughing several times throughout. I personally think he's an absolutely fascinating character and I can't wait to see how his story plays out.The Eternity Cure is a fantastic followup to The Immortal Rules, and surpasses its predecessor in pretty much every single way. There is loads of character development, new twists and turns, and tons of page-turning action to keep every single reader thoroughly engrossed in the story. Be forewarned, though, that the ending of this book will break your heart; I don't know how I'm going to wait a whole year for the final book! Even if you were only feeling so-so after book one, you MUST read this one before you make any final decisions about this series. I daresay The Eternity Cure might just change your mind!An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

When I first saw the blurb for Release via Giselle's book tour emails, I was immediately intrigued and knew I had to sign up to be part of the tour. I have a huge interest in literature that deals with World War II and, more specifically, the Holocaust, because while the tales from the camps are brutal and heartbreaking, and make you question just how evil individuals can be, the stories of survival and strength that are shared with the readers really touch me in a way I can't put into words. Admittedly I was a little concerned about the mix of history from this terrible time period and the paranormal twists promised by the summary, but in the end I'm happy to report that said nervousness was unfounded. Ms. Hadaway really handled this entire book with a deft touch, and I ultimately came away all the more glad that I was able to experience her story.I want to give major props for the depth of research that clearly went into crafting this book. Not only are the details from the war itself handled extremely well, but the background of the demons and the other supernatural beings - including the history of the original fallen angels - and the inclusion of the old time religions really helped ground the book in the "real" world, even though the main character is decidedly paranormal. I also found this trio of paranormal girls to be quite fascinating; each has their own, unique personality and back story, which made them feel extremely real and helped the reader connect with the story. I think that my favorite was Rose, simply because of her emotional journey and the way she slowly came to terms with who and what she was. I liked reading from her viewpoint quite a bit.Miranda and Ben's romance was well done, and I appreciated that it wasn't the usual insta-love variety that you often find in paranormal tales. I liked that it took time for them to come to really trust each other, and the way Ben was slowly incorporated into the group's dynamics. The author introduces a lot of characters in this book, from Miranda's brother, Cray, to Cray's friend, Denny, to Gertrude and Helen and Father Ott, but it never felt overwhelming or confusing at any time. All were important to the book's eventual climax and I can understand their inclusion. It may have been better to stick with just one narrator, though, because at times we had multiple point of view switches in one chapter. This didn't bother me too much, but I know not everyone likes multiple narrators so wanted to mention it all the same.My one complaint is that this book is very dialogue-heavy. Sometimes it's better to just sum up a conversation instead of having the character speak it word for word, and there were times when I felt the dialogue slowed the story down. Part of this is because Ben didn't know about Hell and the fallen angels like the others did, nor did the reader, so that information had to be told in some form, but I just feel like perhaps dialogue wasn't always the best way to impart what everyone needed to know, if that makes sense.All in all I found Release to be a very engrossing and compelling read. The research alone that went into creating this book is absolutely first rate, and combined with some well-written characters, is nothing short of intriguing. If you like historicals with a paranormal flair, definitely pick this one up! I'd highly recommend it.A copy of this book was provided via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

I was drawn to Vessel by the promise of a well-crafted world and unique mythology, and I'm happy to report that the book really delivered in those aspects. I also found within its pages an absolutely captivating and realistic main character, despite the fact that she resides in a purely fantastical world. Throw in a struggle for survival in a seemingly inhospitable land, and this was an interesting cross between something dystopian-like (it's not the end of the world, here, nor is this a post-apocalyptic tale) and high fantasy that had me immediately intrigued. While I do have to admit that the book took me far longer to read than it should have - like, five library renewals too long - I ultimately came away from this book extremely satisfied and glad that I stuck with it.Liyana is probably one of my favorite female protagonists ever, and I don't make that claim lightly. She is resourceful, stubborn, and so incredibly caring and loving that you pretty much start rooting for her right from the first page. When Bayla, her goddess, fails to come inhabit her body, she's thrust in a whirlwind of events that forever changes her, and ultimately she comes out all the stronger for it. Some people shrink away from danger and difficult times, but Liyana really embraced them and did all she could so that she and those she cared about would survive. I loved her quick wit, her intelligence, and - most of all - her ability to always have a story handy when it was most needed. As a librarian, I couldn't help but love that she's a storyteller!I also want to give mad props for the mythology used in this book. From the background on the gods, to their shared memories and stories, to their unique personalities, every single thing about them was so wonderfully and carefully crafted that it wasn't hard at all to imagine the world in which they exist. I loved how Korbyn - while still being a god - was very much humanized during his journey with Liyana, and I loved their shared interactions and the way their relationship developed. I'd wax on even more about this, but don't want to give too much away! Just, trust me, if mythology is your thing, you will LOVE this portion of the story!So, considering I've had nothing but praise for this book, you're probably wondering at my final rating. The truth is that I did have a bit of a slow time getting through the book, and even set it aside for nearly two weeks in order to read something else. While I ultimately enjoyed the story a lot, there were moments where I wasn't really compelled to pick it up, despite how much I enjoyed all the things I just mentioned above. This, for me, warrants a bit of a ratings drop, even if that slowness is my one and only fault with the story.Despite the time it took me to read this, Vessel is still a really wonderful book. Whether mythology is your thing, or you just enjoy reading about strong, stubborn, steadfast main characters, this book is sure to have something that almost everyone will enjoy. If you find it moving more slowly than you'd wish, my advice is to just stick with it; the last half really picks up and makes the whole thing extremely worthwhile.***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

I'm not going to do an official review of this at all, but here are my basic thoughts. As is typical with any collection of stories, some of these were good, others not so much. What some of them also were was REALLY strange, and not always in a good way. The Bluebeard, Bearskin, and Beauty and the Beast retellings were probably my favorite, for those particularly interested!***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!