Read and Reviewed

3.5/5 stars.When I was contacted by Mr. Cho to possibly review Florence, the magic word that caught my attention was "mermaid". I am a huge sucker for mermaid books, but have yet to read one that I really enjoyed. Normally there are so many problematic elements in the story that my general feeling upon finishing is "meh". But that was not the case with Florence; while it took me a bit of time to get invested in the story, once that happened I was happily engrossed in the world of Niemala and the on-going relationships between the characters. And the ending of this book just left me with one thought: "I can't wait to see what happens next!"Florence is your typical shy loner girl. She doesn't have any friends, she hangs by herself, and prefers to observe others through the lens of her camera. When she's kidnapped by a merman and taken to the underwater world of Niemala, she finds herself instantly immersed in a world completely different from the one she's used to. Aside from the obvious differences - the world is populated by mermaids and merman, and is obviously underwater - she suddenly finds herself as a focus of others, and has to deal with being thrust into the spotlight. Much of the first part of the book - and the reason it took some time to really grab me - is that the author includes a lot of description and information to help with the world-building. This information, while necessary to help the reader become immersed in the world, really slowed down the development of the plot, which really didn't appear until about 45% into the story. However, I enjoyed all of the descriptions and details; while it slowed things down, it also really helped me see the world the author had created.Things I didn't like as well included: some of the author's choice of words (I felt like they were too complex or unique for the rest of the narrative; it's fine to throw in different words so things don't sound the same, but words that might make people reach for dictionaries - particularly if they're not so good at using context clues - can really throw people out of the book), and the way the book switched from Florence's first-person point of view (which is the main point of view) to an omniscient third-person point of view. This allowed the reader to be privy to things that Florence herself was not, and that tends to annoy me, because I like to be on the same page as the narrator. The switching between points of view didn't necessarily happen as seamlessly as they could have, either, and while these chapters did help progress the plot along, I kind of felt like there could have been some other way to maintain the one single point of view.I was concerned that we were heading toward a love triangle, and as anyone who has followed my reviews to any degree knows, I am so over love triangles. But this wasn't your typical one, at least not for me, because one brother was all flash and beauty while the other was more intricate and intriguing; I pretty much had my preferred ship from the get-go, so enjoyed watching Florence figure things out. I also adored Yolee, the princes' younger sister. Her personality was pretty awesome and I loved what her gift was, and the reason why she loved what she did. And watching Florence and Yolee's friendship blossom was also fun to read. And I also loved watching the growing relationship between her and Rolan as well. Talk about a guy with some hidden depths!This book pretty clearly sets itself up for a sequel, at least in my opinion, because there's no clear wrap-up of the dangers facing the world, and there's a definite unanswered issue at the end as well. This is okay, though, because I definitely wouldn't mind diving back into the world of Niemala (yes, the pun was intended; sorry about that). While there were times when the plot was a bit slow, anyone who loves world-building and fun twists on mermaid lore will probably find something to enjoy about this book. You can probably also appreciate the journey of a young woman searching for her place in the world and finally realizing that she can do more than what she thought she could. I know that, for me at least, that was one of the definite plusses!A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

When I accepted this book for review, I was hoping it would be a fun, cute contemporary read. And that's exactly what it ended up being. Even though it took me a ridiculously long time to finishThe Truth About Faking, it wasn't really the book's fault at all; I just had SO many real life things to take care of that reading became secondary. Even when I was annoyed with the main character for her choices and decisions, each time I set it down it was generally with a smile on my face. I enjoyed watching the main character's growth as she realized that she'd been wrong, and I also enjoyed the fact that the book wasn't really all about her, but also included some issues with her parents, her church, and some other issues that are definitely affecting teens today. All in all it was a really well-written book that I enjoyed quite a lot.

I had a bit of trouble adjusting to the main character's name - Harley - at first, because I had a student by that name a few years ago and my Harley was very definitely a boy. So every time I read her name at the start, it threw me a bit. But aside from that, the book was instantly engrossing and fun. I loved watching how Jason - who wound up being my favorite character in the book - slowly turned Harley's carefully planned life completely upside down. I loved how she couldn't help herself from having fun with him on their "fake dates", even when she didn't want to. I liked watching her evolution, from someone who has an ideal "Mr. Right" to someone who realizes that sometimes what you have planned out for yourself is impossible, and actually not at all what you want.

What annoyed me with this book, though, was watching Harley jerk Jason around; she likes him almost from the get-go, but refuses to acknowledge it. She treats him terribly at times, and I actually sort of cheered when he finally stood up to her behavior. No guy should allow a girl to go back and forth like she was doing, and even though it's obvious how much he cares for her, she really needed to get herself figured out. I also could see some of the revelations coming from a mile away; that sort of bothers me, particularly when the main character is always so shocked at the developments. But again, Harley's inability to figure out what she wants made for a more detailed, better developed "growing up" process, and allowed the reader to really see her character growth.

If you're looking for a light, fun, contemporary book to read, give this one a try. I definitely enjoyed it from beginning to end, and any book that leaves me with a smile on my face and warm fuzzies in my heart is definitely a good thing.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

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

Hi. My name is Merin, and I am a Percy Jackson addict.I love Percy the way a mother loves her child. I am blind to his faults, and adore him even when he's being a sarcastic pain in the ass. My feelings for him are such that I am physically incapable of giving this book anything less than five stars. Even though Percy isn't the main point of view character he was in his title series, these books are what they are because of him, and his involvement makes it nearly impossible for me to be objective.That being said? This book is absolutely fabulous.The elements that made the previous installments so great are ever-present in The Mark of Athena. You still have the humor, the action, and the emotional journeys of the characters. And most of all, you still have Percy being Percy. Except this is a more mature, more tested, more grown up Percy. He's still hilarious, still the character who says things he shouldn't. But he's also the guy who is totally in love with Annabeth, and their relationship is what's really at the heart of this book. Yes, they're trying to figure out how to keep Gaea from waking, and they're going to have to reunite the Greek and Roman camps. But what the previous two books have taught us is that their feelings for each other - their inability to live without the other - have created what is probably the best "One True Pair" of all time. NO ONE will ever be able to compare to Percy and Annabeth, and that's saying something when you consider that they're not even seventeen yet."Yeah," Percy said. "I learned a long time ago: Never bet against Annabeth." - 53%Of course, I can wax poetically about how awesome Percy and Annabeth are together until the end of days, and it still will only encompass part of what made this book so fantastic. The truth is, Annabeth ROCKS this book. She is tough, headstrong, and stubborn, and while she is confronted with some very serious weaknesses, she never gives up, even when things are going against her. Honestly, if you have ANYTHING bad to say about Annabeth after reading this book, please do it elsewhere, because I will be like Octavian in that dock scene; I will be unable to hear you over the wax in my ears. I don't know what the next book is going to bring for Annabeth and Percy, but I have faith that they will be able to overcome whatever it is just because they are together, and as Annabeth said in this book, being with Percy always makes her feel braver. And she's definitely going to need a whole lot of that.Now, just so this doesn't dissolve into a Annabeth and Percy lovefest, here were some other things I loved about this book. The return of the "dam" joke. The Jason/Percy bromance; I really think these two can be best buds forever. Leo being absolutely kick-ass, and the way he felt like an outsider and became such an integral part of the quest. Piper's brief moments of being awesome (I wish there was more of this and less of her waxing on about Jason). The Hazel and Leo backstory. Jason and Percy working together. The glimpses of the gods and goddesses. Aphrodite's tea party. The ever-present humor interspersed with all the action and adventure. The way that all seven demigods have realized that they can't do this alone and are going to have to work together. The way Riordan combined the Greek and Roman stories together. Reyna. The scene where Annabeth drops her dagger and Percy is awesome. Annabeth's ability to face her worst fear. The Percy/Annabeth reunion scene. All of the Annabeth backstory, which answered nearly every single question I had about her. All of the absolutely hilarious lines.To sum up: this book was everything I wanted it to be, and more. I love that we got an Annabeth point of view, and I absolutely adored her voice. There were lots of achy-breaky moments in this book, but it just made everything seem more realistic, and it hurt in the good way. Be forewarned, though, that if you read this book, you're going to want the next one immediately. My only complaint is that we're going to have to wait another year to learn what happens next! I'm definitely starting the countdown for The House of Hades. How about you?***To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

3.5/5 stars.Struck was an interesting read for me; I'm sort of over the whole dystopian thing, but the "it's the end of the world as we know it"-type books where time is ticking away toward a huge apocalypse hold quite a bit of interest for me. I was also intrigued by the idea of a girl who longs to be struck by lightning, and has already been struck several times. Add to that the religious intrigue - it's the end of the world so OF COURSE we have a crazy cult proselytizing to everyone and telling them they have to join them if they want to be saved - plus quite a lot of personal family drama surrounding our main character, and you wind up with a book that was pretty engaging from start to finish.I thoroughly enjoyed the author's way with words, and the way she built suspense; each of the book parts was labeled according to the days left until this supposed "end of the world" storm hits, which helped you keep track of what was happening and when. Jeremy, the main male character and romantic interest, also has the ability to see things that are going to happen, which also helps keep the reader interested. Or at least it kept ME interested, because I wanted to know if he was right or wrong. There's a paranormal aspect with this book as well, in terms of the characters' abilities, and I enjoyed the whole concept behind the abilities and how said abilities came about. I also want to give props for the author's world-building; the descriptions used to describe a ravaged Los Angeles, and the people's attitudes was absolutely first-rate, and that also goes for the backstories of the characters and how they came to be the way they are.My one problem was that it took Mia a very long time - like 300 pages - to figure out what was going on, when I was fairly certain what was going on just a few chapters into the book. Nonetheless, there was enough drama going on elsewhere in the book that it continued to hold my attention. And the part of me that grew up reading cheap romance novels just wants to mention that the kissing scenes between Mia and Jeremy - aside from the whole "blacking out and falling into a vision" thing - were exceptionally well written and, quite frankly, very hot, which is always a plus in my book!While not being the best book in the world, Struck was an entertaining read that kept me thoroughly interested in what was happening in its pages. Mia is a strong, stubborn girl who tries to do what's best for those she loves, and makes a lot of mistakes along the way. I appreciated the thought put in to the author's world-building and the interesting look at the fanaticism of religion in a very dark time. If you're looking for a well-developed book about the impending apocalypse, I'd definitely recommend this one!

3.5/5 stars.This is the second book that takes an indepth look at teen pregnancy that I've read. The first was The First Part Last, which I read for my YA Literature course, and it was told from the teen father's point of view. This book is your more "typical" book, in that it comes from the point of view of the mother, who in this case is sixteen-year-old Maggie. Maggie has a lot to deal with; she and her mother don't get along, her father works long hours and is never home, and she's trying to adjust to being the girlfriend of an extremely popular guy at school, which is thrusting her more into the social spotlight. And then she realizes that she's pregnant, and things quickly change.First of all, I want to give massive props to the author for portraying what seems like an extremely realistic look at teenage pregnancy. Maggie initially denies the pregnancy, and then once she can't do that any longer, still refuses to tell anyone what she's dealing with, aside from Justin, who is the father. Justin's solution is simple: an abortion. The book then turns into a "should I or shouldn't I" situation, wherein Maggie struggles to figure out what she wants. I'm going to be upfront when I say that Justin is a total jerk, and Maggie's blindness about this sort of infuriated me. But, again, it's completely realistic; so many girls want to think that their boyfriend loves them and will stand by them, etc., even when it's fairly obvious that the opposite is true. What I really enjoyed about this book was the way Maggie was portrayed. Once she learns she's pregnant, she starts dealing with so many emotions, and the reader gets a front row seat. She is slowly falling apart, and her feelings are so well-written that the reader can easily empathize with her. It was interesting to me to watch her contradictions and uncertainties, and to see what she would decide to do next. The lead up to Maggie's ultimate decision was the strongest part of this book, at least for me.My biggest complaint was the negative portrayal of one particular topic in this book, which I can't really go into detail about because I'm trying to avoid spoilers. So I'll apologize upfront for sort of beating around the bush and keeping things rather vague. I sort of felt like only the bad aspects of said topic were shown in this book, and while it does tie in to Maggie's feelings and outlook, I don't believe that you can paint everyone with the same brush. Not everyone is going to react the same, and it seemed like that was the message. (Again, sorry for the vagueness; if you're interested in having me just say exactly what I mean, let me know and I can do so in the comments or something.) That being said, I seem to be the only one who thinks this, so your mileage may vary!All in all, I found At What Cost to be a really solid book about a rather controversial topic. Maggie was solidly drawn, and the description of what she's dealing with and her emotional journey is first-rate. The little bit of a romance going on with Evan also gets two thumbs up, as does the fact that the book is engaging and a very quick read. As a heads up, the ending was a bit abrupt; I couldn't believe the book was finished and thought at first that my Kindle was lying. I personally would be interested in a sequel, as I'd love to see what comes next for Maggie and the others.A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via YA Bound Blog Tours.

Hades: Lord of the Dead is undoubtedly the best of the Olympians series. I love how, instead of leaping around from myth to myth and story to story, O'Connor chose the story of Persephone to introduce us to Hades and his underground realm. This most likely has something to do with the fact that the story of Persephone and Hades is my favorite Greek myth, but also had something to do with the fact that it was the most cohesive story; the narrative flowed nicely and didn't confuse anyone by jumping around and introducing new characters or stories. I also love the twist O'Connor provided with the story of Persephone; I don't want to spoil anyone, but let's just say that her relationship with Hades was a bit more kosher than some versions of the tale that I've read!

The third installment of George O'Connor's Olympians series features the Queen of the Gods, and gives us a pretty good idea of why she's so vindictive and vengeful in the myths. Of the three I'd read to this point, this one was my favorite: I liked that the author showed Hera's journey from maiden goddess to Zeus' wife, and allowed us to get inside her head a bit. With all that Zeus put her through, she's amazing for sticking with him! I also liked that we basically got the story of Heracles as well (Heracles means "the glory of Hera"), and the small glimpse of Jason. Jason's line about Hera moving in mysterious ways and basically accounting for Heracles' fame was perfectly spot-on!There was also one fairly poignant line at the end: "There is a story they tell of Hera ... It is a story that the women knew, for when the men of ancient Greece wrote down their stories, they did not think to ask the women for theirs." (pg. 65) And isn't that the truth with all myths? Makes you wonder about everything that was possibly left out.

Another solid addition to the Olympians series! I liked the fact that Athena's tale was told via the three Fates, and I liked how the myths used were weaved together to give a clearer picture of Athena's character. And I actually learned something new from this one, which was how Athena got the name of Pallas. Likewise, I hadn't realized that Athena wore Zeus' aegis. Considering my love of Greek myths, finding new information is pretty amazing!I especially liked how O'Connor didn't gloss over the rather dark details of the Olympians and how they came to be; this was seen first in Zeus and again here, where the stories are told fairly matter-of-factly, with just a few things sort of "blurred" out. It definitely helps make the stories more appropriate for a younger audience.

Zeus: King of the Gods is a great start to the tales of the twelve Olympians. I loved how O'Connor used this book to set up the series. The reader gets to learn about how Gaea and Ouranos came to be, how the Titans and Titanesses were born, and how Kronos became king, and was eventually overthrown by his children. The tales were told in a very reachable way, so that anyone reading it could follow along. We get our first glimpse of Zeus the womanizer in this book as well, with his interactions with Metis (and as an aside, I particularly enjoyed her, as she was a character I was familiar with but didn't have too much detail on). I also loved the little additions to the artwork in each of the panels as well, which showed glimpses of various side stories that are also part of the Greek myths.One thing that really stood out to me in this volume was the author's notes at the end, with the page citations that explained what was happening and how it connects to upcoming volumes of the books. It gave a great deal of background information in a short, concise way, and I found it to be very useful in supporting how the author came up with the versions of his stories. All in all this was a really solid start to a series that I, personally, am quite anxious to see to its completion.

The Kindle version of this is currently on sale for $2.99 from Amazon!

Short, succinct and to the point! A great introduction to how Poseidon, Hades and Zeus determined who would rule what. O'Connor also gave us quite a bit of background into Poseidon's character, and some of his more famous children (and I concur: Theseus WAS a jerk!). As a heads-up, there is a bit of gore, and some stylized nudity that is hidden fairly well in the illustrations. There's also some sexual content, but all you see in the pictures is some kissing, and considering we're talking about the Greek gods, said content should be expected. I want to read the first four books in this series before officially deciding, but I'm fairly certain I'll be adding it to my to-purchase list for my school library.An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret of Ravelston tells the story of Jane Freemont, a free-thinking woman growing up in early 19th-century England, where being free-thinking isn't exactly smiled upon. After accidentally embarrassing a lady of status, she's sent to Ravelston, a town to the far north of the country, to live with her uncle, who is the town rector. While there, she becomes aware of a missing servant girl named Mary, and takes it upon herself to figure out where Mary went, and what happened to her. The story had an intriguing premise, so when I was contacted by the author I immediately accepted it. And, for the most part, I did enjoy the book. While it did take me a very long time to finish, that wasn't necessarily the book's fault, and more my own inability to carve out the necessary time each day to get it finished in a more timely manner. That being said, there were some things that slowed the book down, namely the language used (I'm guessing it was true to the time period, but it was still a bit tedious to read all the "my Lord"s and "my dear uncle"s, etc. There were also a few slip-ups where the language was more modern (a serving maid referring to her male companion as her "boyfriend"), which tended to throw me out of the story. That being said, I found Jane to be a very feisty main character, and I enjoyed reading from her perspective. She is definitely a girl who was born in the wrong time period; she's too aware of her surroundings, too curious, and too persistant. It actually causes Jane quite a lot of trouble while she's in Ravelston, but it was those moments that were the most interesting to read.I have a soft spot for historical books, and enjoyed reading about Ravelston Castle, and the beautiful grounds surrounding it. What I didn't necessarily like was the Lord of Ravelston, Andrew, who was too bitingly sarcastic and mean-spirited. I didn't like his treatment of the people his mother asked to visit, particularly his cousin, Carla. I think we were supposed to find him mysterious and intriguing, but I just found him irritating and arrogant. Some of the constant "this is how the upperclass live" parts were a bit slow, though, and made the book drag. I think some of it could have been cut out to keep the book at a more lively pace. I also have to admit that I had most of the mystery figured out well before Jane discovered the truth, although I was surprised at one particular twist.All in all, Jane is a plucky, lively heroine who does what she feels is right, and doesn't bow down to society's norms. The mystery, while a tad obvious for me personally, was a decent way to drive the plot and keep the reader interested, and I enjoyed the ways Jane set about trying to figure out what happened. The Secret of Ravelston is an overall good read, and would be a good choice for those of you who enjoy historical tales.A copy of this book was provided to me by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

I will say upfront that if you call something a fairy tale retelling, I am probably going to read it. My love of fairy tales really knows no bounds, and I am always especially intrigued when an author sets the retelling in modern times. The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is indeed set in modern times, and is one of those books where hardly anyone realizes just what's happening and how odd (or magical) the occurrences are. The narrator is a fifth grade girl named Lorelai, who is still reeling from her mother's death, which she feels she played a role in. It's her secret guilt, and it's basically burying her. When you combine what Lorelai is going through (she also struggles with a learning disability that her father won't seek treatment for) with the fairy tale aspect, you get a book that is quite dark for its target age group, at least in my opinion. That's not to say it's over the top dark, because it's not, but there's really nothing fluffy about this book in the slightest.The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, and definitely goes the way of the Grimm Brothers in terms of its "happily-ever-after" qualities. While her father marries her "stepmonster" Molly, a school is literally built over the weekend. When the school Lorelai was supposed to attend mysteriously burns down, her father and Molly decide to send Lorelai and her brother, Brian, to the new Splendid Academy. The school seems too good to be true: the children get two meals for free, the class sizes are fairly small, there are hardly any rules at all, and the playground is straight out of every single child's combined imagination. But Lorelai and her classmate, Andrew, soon discover that something very strange is going on at the school, and become the only two to realize who's really in charge and what the ultimate plan is for the students.Considering that this is a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, you can probably guess where this book goes in terms of its overall plot. But there were a lot of things that made me wince; Lorelai's stepmonster is absolutely awful and I wanted to shake her father for not seeing just how terrible a person she really is; one of the teachers in the school treats the children absolutely terribly, which hurt my educator-trained heart; and Lorelai is clearly suffering from her mother's death and no one has done a single thing for her. Add to that Andrew's problem with obesity, and this book has no shortage of deep and dark topics. But I found it all to be handled really well; nothing was dumbed down in any way, but it was still something that's readable and able to be comprehended by the age group that's most likely going to be drawn to the book. I give the author two thumbs up for not shying away from the darkness and even embracing it at some points. I felt like it added a richness to the story that wouldn't have otherwise been there if she'd gone made things "happily-ever-after" fluffy.All in all, I found The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy to be a very enjoyable read. It deals with some heavy topics, particularly for the age group it's marketed for, but it does it in a way that anyone would understand and be able to relate to the story. Throw in some fairy tale magic, a fabulous climax, and a headstrong main character, and you get a book that's engaging and thought-provoking, without the completely over-the-top ending that usually occurs in the fairy tales we all know and love. If you want a book where the main character isn't perfect, but takes control of her destiny and tries to right the wrongs in her life, then I'd definitely recommend this. It's now available in North America from a bookseller of your choice.An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I first read the beginning of this book in BEA Buzz Books, which was auto-approved on NetGalley, and was instantly intrigued by the multiple narrations and the overall story: three girls who decide to right their wrongs by taking revenge on the perpetrators. I am going to say upfront that, as a general rule, I don't tend to subscribe to the "eye for an eye" school of thought; as an educator, I am always telling my students to not hit back, to tell someone if there's a problem, and to not take matters into their own hands. Therefore, the entire premise of this book made me slightly uncomfortable, particularly once we got into the girls' revenge. It was that slightly uncomfortable feeling that accounts for my rating. I just wanted to be upfront about that, because that's really my only "complaint" about this entire book.Burn for Burn is compulsively readable. Once I started, I had a very hard time putting it down. The story itself is gripping: you want to know what led these three girls to make the decision to punish those who'd wronged them. You wanted to learn more about their back-stories, and their histories with each other and the characters they were seeking revenge on. All three girls have very distinctive voices. You have Mary, who had a childhood trauma which has stayed with her the rest of her life. Kat, who used to be friends with the popular crowd but had a huge falling out, and has had to endure lies being spread about her and her family. And then there's Lillia, who is part of the popular crowd, but is suffering from something that happened that summer. Even without the authors' telling you who was speaking, I knew from whose point of view I was reading, the girls' voices were that unique. I give a definite two thumbs up in that regard. I also really loved watching the growing friendship between the girls, how they all balanced each other out, and how Lillia and Kat were able to overcome their pasts to work together for a common goal. The three girls' relationship was probably one of the strongest parts of this entire book.I have to admit to a bit of an embarrassment squick, which made the revenge schemes hard for me to read, particularly those taken against Alex. This was made even worse once you realize that things weren't quite as clear cut as the girls had thought. And then you had the wham, bam, thank you ma'am ending, in which the girls got in way over their heads; I didn't expect such a cliffhanger ending, and was shocked when my Kindle read 100% complete. What? You mean I have to wait to see the outcome of that ending? I know, I know, this is the first in a trilogy, but I wasn't quite expecting that I'd be left hanging in that manner. There's also the hint of a paranormal aspect that I likewise wasn't expecting, but instead of bothering me like it very well could have, I am instead intrigued to see where the authors are going with it, and what it will mean for the girls and their victims.All in all, Burn for Burn was a really gripping, suspenseful read that I absolutely couldn't put down. It is a super fast read with well designed characters; even the secondary characters are fully fleshed out. Just be aware that there isn't any closure here, no neat ending tied up in a bow. The book is fairly dark, particularly when talking about what each of the girls had to go through, so this isn't going to be a fluffy, realistic fictional read. But I would certainly recommend it for anyone, as I think there is something for everyone in this book. Burn for Burn will be released in North America on September 15, 2012. Do yourself a favor and check it out.An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Throne of Glass was one of my most anticipated reads of 2012. It got enormous press, and I was intrigued by the book's history: starting out on FictionPress, then being pulled by the author in order to edit and publish it. I had heard good things about the version on FictionPress, including a kick-ass heroine, great mystery, and a swoon-worthy romance. Unfortunately, only some of that turned out to be true for me personally. Overall,Throne of Glass, while containing aspects that I did really enjoy, left me mostly underwhelmed.

When the "Dear Reader" section mentioned a love triangle, I figured I was probably in for a rather painful journey. I am truly fed up with this trope, and the fact that seemingly every single YA book ever feels the need to include one. It didn't help that one of the parts of said love triangle only seemed to be interested in Celaena because of her good looks (and likewise, SHE was interested in him because of HIS good looks). I couldn't get past the womanizing, arrogant persona of Dorian, and as such, all the scenes between him and Celaena, for the most part, were tedious to read through, and some actually made me roll my eyes so hard I was worried I'd injure myself. It also probably didn't help that I was rooting for Chaol from the get-go, either. I am definitely firmly in the "Team Chaol" camp.

Then there is our "kick-ass" heroine. Celaena is really good at talking herself up. She's beautiful. She's the best assassin ever. Etc. However, while her good looks are confirmed by several others, we never actually get to see her doing any assassinating; she only has flashes of brilliance that the reader gets to see, and the rest of her assassination background is hearsay or something that Celaena herself tells us, and that's only in the beginning when she's first pulled out of Endovier to try her hand at the king's competition. For the most part, all Celaena really does is read, admire beautiful clothing, and banter back and forth with Chaol and Dorian. And while I did in fact enjoy said banter - she has a quick wit and a very sharp tongue that I enjoyed reading - her arrogance made her just as unlikeable in some ways as Dorian was.

And all of that probably makes you think that I really must have disliked this book a great deal. That's not really the case, as there were some redeeming factors in this book. I liked the Tests that Celaena and the other competitors had to face, particularly the one where they're required to scale the wall. I did NOT like that we didn't actually get to see all of the tests, though; I felt like they were sacrificed for more romance, and honestly, enough was enough in that regard. I also liked the mystery, and how Celaena set out to solve it. While I could see the villain from a mile away - far sooner than Celaena herself - I did like the darkness of the plot. I also liked what little we actually got to see of Erilea and its world-building; the ancient gods and goddesses, the Wyrdmarks, etc. And most of all, I really enjoyed Chaol and Nehemia, who, for me personally, were the highlights of the book. I also appreciated that Celaena was both feminine and "kick-ass", as it's not usually a popular combination. As someone who is pretty girly herself, I liked that Celaena was a bit like me in terms of her love of pretty clothes.

Overall, Throne of Glass was an enjoyable read, but not one that I loved to pieces. It has some interesting concepts and a darkness to the overall plot that I appreciated. Celaena redeemed herself at the end a bit, and I am intrigued enough by the fairly open ending to see what comes next for her and the other characters. Even though I didn't love this, plenty of people did, so go ahead and give it a read yourself to see which camp you fall into!

An e-galley of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars.Imagine a world where potato chips - or crisps - have their own secret world, where they go on adventures, fight in wars, and travel in space. That is precisely the world that Michael Diack has created with his book, The Super Spud Trilogy. When I was first contacted by Mr. Diack for a possible review, I was really excited because, not only was this the first book I'd ever been asked to review by an actual author, but the synopsis of the book sounded like a lot of fun, and something that would make me laugh. And that's exactly what it was.Mr. Diack has created a very imaginative world, where Super Spuds (i.e. the bags of chips) live in landfills (or rubbish tips, if you're British, as these crisps are) and have their own communities where they're ruled by kings or queens, come in a multitude of flavors (some of which sounded downright gross, I have to admit), but have the ability to walk and talk just like you and me. There's just one catch: if a human sees them, they die instantly. And boy, is there a lot of death in this book! And the deaths are handled with such an irreverence that the reader can't help but laugh through it all. One thing I learned very quickly in this book was not to get attached to anyone because no one is safe. If they aren't killed by birds, they're caught up in wars between neighboring rubbish tips, or participating in death-defying (or not-so-defying) activities. Let me put it this way: the life of a Super Spud is definitely not boring!There is also a ton of tongue-in-cheek humor, as well as references to loads of famous movies or shows, from Top Gun to X-Files to Star Wars, just to name a few. You can't turn a page without running into some sort of reference to something else, and it just added to the overall feel of this book. Yes, death is prominent, but the book is really quite lighthearted when it comes down to it. I admit to laughing out loud several times while reading.The Super Spud Trilogy is an overall enjoyable read, full of many adventures, interesting characters, and loads and loads of humor. It's not deep or thought-provoking, and isn't going to grab hold of your emotions and not let go, but that's not really what the author was going for. If you're looking for something different, and enjoy spotting pop culture references, as well as reading things that make you laugh, then you'd probably enjoy this. I know that I did!A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.