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pink-earmuffs · 6 years

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MULTI ARC REVIEW POST - read between 11/17 and 2/5/18

Shadowsong - ARC VIA Netgalley

Read: 11/05/17; Release: 1/6/18

“Six months after the end of Wintersong, Liesl is working toward furthering both her brother’s and her own musical careers. Although she is determined to look forward and not behind, life in the world above is not as easy as Liesl had hoped. Her younger brother Josef is cold, distant, and withdrawn, while Liesl can’t forget the austere young man she left beneath the earth, and the music he inspired in her. When troubling signs arise that the barrier between worlds is crumbling, Liesl must return to the Underground to unravel the mystery of life, death, and the Goblin King―who he was, who he is, and who he will be. What will it take to break the old laws once and for all? What is the true meaning of sacrifice when the fate of the world―or the ones Liesl loves―is in her hands?”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the follow up to Wintersong. Within the first novel I found myself deeply impressed with the level of mythology and world building that had taken place. This one is no exception and I found myself getting the answers that the first book had promised and a little more. Satisfying conclusion to a great two book series and I can’t wait to see what else Jones might write.

Pretty Dead Girls - ARC VIA Netgalley

Read: 11/10/17; Release: ½/18

“Beautiful. Perfect. Dead. In the peaceful seaside town of Cape Bonita, wicked secrets and lies are hidden just beneath the surface. But all it takes is one tragedy for them to be exposed. The most popular girls in school are turning up dead, and Penelope Malone is terrified she’s next. All the victims so far have been linked to Penelope―and to a boy from her physics class. The one she’s never really noticed before, with the rumored dark past and a brooding stare that cuts right through her.There’s something he isn’t telling her. But there’s something she’s not telling him, either. Everyone has secrets, and theirs might get them killed.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mean girls meets Pretty Little Liars meets parts of Heathers in this one. The pacing was a tad off but I felt like it was worth my time. Murphy definitely knows/has down the teen speak and the mentality of the girls that seem completely vapid and shallow. However I love how vague some parts were while managing to pull together a solid ending. A light read, but fun.

By The Book - ARC VIA Netgalley

Read: 11/15-16/17; Release: 1/6/18

“An English professor struggling for tenure discovers that her ex-fiancé has just become the president of her college—and her new boss—in this whip-smart modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Persuasion. Anne Corey is about to get schooled. An English professor in California, she’s determined to score a position on the coveted tenure track at her college. All she’s got to do is get a book deal, snag a promotion, and boom! She’s in. But then Adam Martinez—her first love and ex-fiancé—shows up as the college’s new president. Anne should be able to keep herself distracted. After all, she’s got a book to write, an aging father to take care of, and a new romance developing with the college’s insanely hot writer-in-residence. But no matter where she turns, there’s Adam, as smart and sexy as ever. As the school year advances and her long-buried feelings begin to resurface, Anne begins to wonder whether she just might get a second chance at love. Funny, smart, and full of heart, this modern ode to Jane Austen’s classic explores what happens when we run into the demons of our past…and when they turn out not to be so bad, after all.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I usually love retellings but this just seemed to go all over the place with no clear direction. I liked certain aspects of it and as someone else pointed out I was a little blind sided by the fact that there’s very little to no interaction by the people you think are the main couple and the ending does feel slightly tacked on.

Black Chuck - ARC VIA Netgalley

Read: 12/05-06/17; Release: 04/3/18

“Psycho. Sick. Dangerous. Réal Dufresne’s reputation precedes him. When the mangled body of his best friend, Shaun, turns up in a field just east of town, tough-as-hell Réal blames himself. But except for the nightmares, all Ré remembers is beating the living crap out of Shaun the night of his death. Shaun’s girlfriend, sixteen-year-old Evie Hawley, keeps her feelings locked up tight. But now she’s pregnant, and the father of her baby is dead. And when Réal looks to her to atone for his sins, everything goes sideways. Fast. The tighter Evie and Réal get, the faster things seem to fall apart. And falling in love might just be the card that knocks the whole house down.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The cover intrigued me but I found myself disappointed about the story as a whole. I found that certain elements didn’t pan out or give clear answers and despite the creepy atmosphere and the interesting aspects with the history I just couldn’t get into the novel very much at all.

Protogenesis - ARC VIA Netgalley

Read: 12/08/17; Release: 4/5/18

“With her unusual violet hazel eyes hidden behind heavy glasses, American teenager Helene Crawford is the kind of student that always has an answer; yet, she doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. One fateful day, life as she knows it comes to a grinding halt. There was a fire. Her mother is gone. But something is not right…The Greek Mafia may be involved. Vivid dreams of ancient deities consume her sleep. A maze of clues leads her to believe that her mother is still alive… She must go to Greece. The answers to her perilous quest lie there, as Helene braves into the unknown of a new life, torn between two Greek guys and a new world that literally awaits her.And who knows, maybe the Greek gods and goddesses are on her side… or maybe not. After all, nothing is as it seems.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sci-fi and mythology mixed together sounded great but this book felt too long winded and even though I enjoyed certain parts of this I still found it hard to want to finish this one.

The Lost Plot - ARC VIA Netgalley

Read: 1/03-04; Release: 1/9/18

“In a 1920s-esque New York, Prohibition is in force; fedoras, flapper dresses, and tommy guns are in fashion: and intrigue is afoot. Intrepid Librarians Irene and Kai find themselves caught in the middle of a dragon political contest. It seems a young Librarian has become tangled in this conflict, and if they can’t extricate him, there could be serious repercussions for the mysterious Library. And, as the balance of power across mighty factions hangs in the balance, this could even trigger war. Irene and Kai are locked in a race against time (and dragons) to procure a rare book. They’ll face gangsters, blackmail, and the Library’s own Internal Affairs department. And if it doesn’t end well, it could have dire consequences on Irene’s job. And, incidentally, on her life…”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I usually love Cogman’s writing style but this book feels like it’s shoehorned in on the rest of the series so far or meant to be a side story in the universe that she’s already created. This was a good story but I didn’t feel like it fit in with all of the other novels. I did miss the Vale character but understood why he wasn’t there. And while I did like the backdrop of this novel I didn’t really feel like I enjoyed this book the way I did with the ones before it. The love interest thing also took an interesting turn and I’m not sure how to feel about that but at the same time some of it seemed foreshadowed in other books. Overall, not as good as the others but still mildly enjoyable even if it feels disjointed.

The Belles - ARC via Netgalley

Read: 2/2-5/18; Release; 2/6/18

“Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite, the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie, that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision. With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide: save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles, or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gorgeous. The world building was great and left me impressed there were certain things I could have done without (tw: assault animal violence) but what I really like about this was that it was unique and something I hadn’t really read before. I liked the first half but found the second half dragging along even as the ‘villain’ was revealed and I felt the first half of the novel was really great especially with all the building and the background that’s given with the discussion about what it takes to be a Belle and how they’re looked at as objects instead of people and how the hierarchy is done. There were certain aspects of the novel that I had to reread to understand but after a while I got what the terms were implying. I did like this but I didn’t love it however I would read a sequel.

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pink-earmuffs · 6 years

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MULTI BOOK POST RIKKI - ARC via Netgalley READ: 10/1/17; RELEASE: now available 2.7/5 “Ever since junior high and an ill-fated game of seven minutes in heaven, Rikki Eisendrath and Sam Payne have hated each others’ guts. But when they end up at the same college—and the same dorm—they figure it’s time to declare a truce. They even become friends . . . sort of. But when Sam asks Rikki to model for his sculpting project, they start spending more time together—and her feelings for him get more complicated. She tries to focus on the guy she’s been crushing on instead. But Sam’s the one she can’t stop thinking about, even though their arguments are starting to heat up as much as the chemistry between them.With antagonism and attraction this intense, there’s bound to be an explosion. But when the dust settles, will Sam and Rikki be enemies, friends . . . or something more?” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I gotta say, as cute and quirky as this is (and I did enjoy it) there wasn’t anything especially stand out about this one. I liked that it “does what it says on the tin” and is essentially what it makes itself out to be. I did like that the novel had a lot of open mindedness for it but I don’t know if I’d read the next few. ———————————————————— BEGIN AGAIN - ARC via Netgalley READ: 10/2-3/17; RELEASE: 11/14/17 2.5/5 “He makes the rules. She breaks them all. A new start. It's the only thing keeping Allie Harper going, when she packs up her life and moves across the country to Woodshill, Oregon. She's about to start college, desperate to leave the ghosts of her past behind her. Even if that means never talking to her parents again.Now the hard part - finding an apartment before classes start. Just when it seems she'll have to live out of her car, Allie visits one more place. It's beautiful. With one exception: can she stand being roommates with campus bad boy Kaden White? Sure, Kaden is sexy with his tattoos and careless attitude, but he's also an arrogant jerk. With nowhere else to go, Allie moves in.The first thing Kaden does is make a set of rules. Either Allie obeys, or she's out: 1. Don't talk about your girl problems. 2. Keep your mouth shut if I bring someone home. 3. We will NEVER hook up. Easy enough, thinks Allie. Who would want to get involved with a brute like Kaden? But the more she gets to know him, the more she sees beyond his gruff facade. He, too, is harboring some painful secrets. For Kaden and Allie, it gets harder and harder to ignore the sparks between them. And the lines between the rules start to blur.” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I was surprised to learn this book is originally a German novel but I had fun reading a translation and unfortunately have to rate it low because the second to last half of the book seemed to be too repetitive for the main characters (who reminded me of characters from a Colleen Hoover novel) and it seemed to be intent on repeating itself for a while. The first half of the book was great and I did enjoy the characters but the dragging of the plot and novel didn’t help. ———————————————————— I LIKE YOU LIKE THIS - ARC via Netgalley READ: 10/4-5/17; RELEASE: 11/7/17 2.9/5 “In 1984 Connecticut, sixteen-year-old Hannah Zandana feels cursed: She has wild, uncontrollable hair and a horrid complexion that she compulsively picks, and as if that weren’t bad enough, her emotionally unavailable parents mercilessly ridicule her appearance and verbally shame her. Wanting to change her pathetic life, Hannah attempts to impress a group of popular girls―an ill-fated effort, except that she captures the attention of Deacon, a handsome and mysterious boy who also happens to be her school’s resident drug dealer. Suddenly, Hannah’s life takes an unexpected detour into Deacon’s dangerous and seductive world―but when her relationship and family unravel around her, she is forced to reexamine what she believes about herself and the people she trusts the most.” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like this one and I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy read and while the authors writing style was easy and very worth the time I just found this to be too heavy. Maybe it had to do with events going on in my life but at points I couldn’t understand the focus on Hannah and Deacon’s relationship when most of the novel seemed to want to be about how Hannah has to go on her own journey and grow as a character. While a good debut I had issues with some of the content and probably won’t read the sequel even if there is one. ———————————————————— THIS MORTAL COIL - ARC via Netgalley READ: 10/5/17; RELEASE: 11/7/17 2.9/5 “In this gripping debut novel, seventeen-year-old Cat must use her gene-hacking skills to decode her late father’s message concealing a vaccine to a horrifying plague. Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that’s not what makes her special. In Cat’s world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius. That’s no surprise, since Cat’s father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own.. When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat’s instincts tell her it’s just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat’s help to release it and save the human race. Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself?” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. Urgh. I must have been going through too much last month because I even disliked this one. I read the description and it sounded a bit like X-Men so I thought I’d like it but alas, no. I did like the originality in this and what the “fix” and resolution was but everything else fell flat for me. Including Cat and Cole’s romance that involves a little bit of emotional manipulation and also the foreshadowing for what was going on was a little too obvious. I didn’t mind the science references but I just didn’t enjoy this one like I thought I would. ———————————————————— THE EMPRESS - ARC Via Netgalley READ: 10/6-8/17; RELEASE: 10/31/17 “It’s a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite. But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress. Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the first Diabolic but would have been fine had it been a stand-alone novel. I felt slightly underwhelmed. I really did enjoy the first novel so I knew what I was getting into reading this but the majority of the book kind of lulled but I was surprised by the ending. ———————————————————— THE NEW DARK - ARC via Netgalley READ: 10/13/17; RELEASE: 11/1/17 3/5 “She thought she knew who she was and where she came from. Then her home was destroyed. Her little brother gone. Her boyfriend taken. She owed her own survival to a mutant - the very forces behind the destruction that has ripped her life apart. Now Sorrel will never be the same again. There is no "Before", there is only "Now". Because now there's no internet, no TV, no power grid. Food is scarce, and the world's a hostile place. But Sorrel lives a quiet life in the tiny settlement of Amat. It's all she's ever known ... Until a gang of marauding mutants destroys the village, snatching her brother Eli, and David, the boy she loves. Sorrel sets out after them, embarking on a journey fraught with danger, spurred on by the thought of Eli and David out there somewhere, desperate for her help.” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I genuinely liked the concept and thought some of this novel was new in the sort of way that I hadn’t seen the subjects tackled that way before however the downfall is so many of the questions remain unanswered for the next installment. The pacing and characters are fast and well done and I was pleasantly surprised by a new twist on a slightly tired genre but I was also taken aback by how drawn out some aspects seemed to be.

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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MULTI BOOK POST ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS - ebook edition “A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel. Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life. Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.” I bought this one and read it for fun because the summary seems like something I’d be into and I really genuinely was surprised by how much I did like it. I’ll be honest here, some parts of this didn’t work for me and some did but the good outweighs the bad here. I sort of feel like the point of the novel was to get the two leads together but that being said I liked that it didn’t actually feel forced like most novels in the genre and that was a great thing. For all the plot I feel like while the romance worked Isobel was a strong heroine and I liked that she was the focus point of the novel. Over all a good read, great world building, and I’m interested to see what else the author does. _____________________________________________ RILEY COLLINS (DANGEROUS YEAR) - arc via netgalley READ: 9/5-7/17; RELEASED: 9/26/17 3/5 “As the daughter of an American ambassador, seventeen-year-old Riley Collins has grown up in some of the world's most dangerous cities. She may have learned the art of politics from her dad, but it's the lessons in survival taught by his security chief that she's taken to heart. When Riley is caught up in a violent incident, the State Department steps in, offering an all-expense paid senior year at Harrington Academy, one of the most elite boarding schools in Connecticut. The catch: she must use her tactical skills to keep her eye on heiress Hayden Frasier, the daughter of a tech billionaire intent on changing the world. Immersed in American materialism and social media for the first time, it's culture shock for Riley. Hayden resents her new roommate, and Riley learns nothing is ever private when there's a cellphone around. She discovers allies in Von Alder, the cute class flirt; Sam Hudson, whose status as Hayden's ex-boyfriend puts him on the forbidden list; and Captain Grace Taylor, Harrington's tough new head of security, and the only one who knows Riley's true purpose at Harrington. Disturbing signs begin to appear that Riley's assignment wasn't the walk in the park she'd been promised. She learns the death of Hayden's former roommate might not have been an accident after all, and she spars with classmate Quinn, whose attempts at social sabotage causes Riley to take drastic measures. As Riley's relationship with Hayden thaws into her first opportunity at true friendship, the danger around her roommate heats up. Riley must fight for her life and Hayden's - and the security of a nation - as those around her reveal themselves to be true friends, or the ultimate betrayers.” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was a cute novel to open a series with and it’s an inventive premise so I have to be honest. While it is inventive and different it follows too many typical YA cliches (the love interest bit, some of the unexplained things that weren’t explained to the reader - unless they get explained in the next book, the main character not having enough faults) but that being said the relationships and pacing (despite the main characters insta-great at everything mode sometimes) were well done and the cliffhanger does make me want to continue onto the next novel. _____________________________________________ ADAM - arc via netgalley READ: 9/4-5/17; RELEASED: 9/19/17 2/5 “When the unearthing of the Ark of the Covenant results in the discovery of the bones of an angel, a government program seeks out descendants of the divine being. Scientists confirm the existence of Nephilim, descendants of the Divine Bloodline who exhibit unique supernatural abilities. These individuals soon find themselves at odds with society. Sisters Piper and Wren knew they were different, but after the discovery, the two have evidence to explain their maturing abilities. But the government has the power to condemn and crucify Nephilim, locking them into ADAM compounds across the globe. The sisters are next, and Piper and Wren will need to act quickly to avoid being captured. In order to survive the two must embrace the stigma and master the very gifts that God has bestowed (or cursed) upon them. Mysterious forces who have been plotting these events for decades shift the balance of power, and soon all parties involved will need to pick a side.” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. For all the great things the summary gave you I was disappointed in this. I don’t know if it was the writing or the plot but nothing clicked about this for me like I was hoping which is sad because I was hoping to like it. _____________________________________________ THUNDERSTRUCK - arc via netgalley READ: 9/1-3/17; RELEASED: on ebook/paperback 3/5 “Stevie Moon is famous...at least to the subscribers on her comic review vlog. At school, she’s as plain as the gray painted walls in the cafeteria. So when Blake, the hot new guy at school, shows an interest in her, she knows trouble when she sees it. Been there. And never doing it again. As the son of the god Thor, Blake Foster's been given an important mission—to recover the Norse god Heimdall’s sacred and powerful horn before someone uses it to herald in the destruction of the entire universe. But while Blake is great in a fight, the battlefield that is a high school’s social scene is another matter. Blake knows his only choice is to team up with the adorable Stevie, but she's not willing to give him even the time of day. He'll need to woo the girl and find the horn if he hopes to win this war. Who better to tackle Stevie's defenses than the demi-god of thunder?” Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this one. On the surface it was light and fluffy but also had the makings of a typical YA novel and I thought the touches from Norse Mythology were different, if not, unique to anything I’ve read in the genre. I liked the set up and the way it was used but I can’t help but think the universe should have been fleshed out more and a little less emphasis on romance but over all this was a quick, fun, read that’s enjoyable.

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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MULTI REVIEW POST BONFIRE - ARC via Netgalley READ: 8/19-22/17; RELEASED: 11/9/17 "Can you ever outrun your past? From actress, producer, and writer, Krysten Ritter, a psychological suspense novel about a woman forced to confront her past in the wake of small-town corruption. It has been ten years since Abby Williams left home and scrubbed away all visible evidence of her small town roots. Now working as an environmental lawyer in Chicago, she has a thriving career, a modern apartment, and her pick of meaningless one-night stands. But when a new case takes her back home to Barrens, Indiana, the life Abby painstakingly created begins to crack. Tasked with investigating Optimal Plastics, the town's most high-profile company and economic heart, Abby begins to find strange connections to Barrens’ biggest scandal from more than a decade ago involving the popular Kaycee Mitchell and her closest friends—just before Kaycee disappeared for good. Abby knows the key to solving any case lies in the weak spots, the unanswered questions. But as she tries desperately to find out what really happened to Kaycee, troubling memories begin to resurface and she begins to doubt her own observations. And when she unearths an even more disturbing secret—a ritual called “The Game,” it will threaten the reputations, and lives, of the community and risk exposing a darkness that may consume her. With tantalizing twists, slow-burning suspense, and a remote, rural town of just five claustrophobic miles, Bonfire is a dark exploration of what happens when your past and present collide." Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I read the majority of this in hospitals and waiting rooms in the midst of being ill. Do I have any regrets? Nope. I originally requested this because I've been a fan of Krysten's for ages and was excited and then I read the summary and whoo boy. It's not a perfect debut (there were some parts that seemed more destined for the small or big screen instead of a novel especially the end reveal) but the story and the way Ritter manages to capture imagery and feeling within the pages makes it easy to see in your mind and get lost in the mystery and the intrigue of the world she's created. Very much looking forward to reading more from her. ------------------------------------------ THE PUNCH ESCROW - Paperback ARC READ: 8/3-5/17; RELEASED: 7/25/17 4.2/5 "Dubbed the “next Ready Player One,” by former Warner Brothers President Greg Silverman, and now in film development at Lionsgate. It's the year 2147. Advancements in nanotechnology have enabled us to control aging. We’ve genetically engineered mosquitoes to feast on carbon fumes instead of blood, ending air pollution. And teleportation has become the ideal mode of transportation, offered exclusively by International Transport―the world’s most powerful corporation, in a world controlled by corporations. Joel Byram spends his days training artificial-intelligence engines to act more human and trying to salvage his deteriorating marriage. He’s pretty much an everyday twenty-second century guy with everyday problems―until he’s accidentally duplicated while teleporting. Now Joel must outsmart the shadowy organization that controls teleportation, outrun the religious sect out to destroy it, and find a way to get back to the woman he loves in a world that now has two of him." Thank you to the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. This one was a nice surprise. I was contacted by the publisher and offered this one. I had to wait to get out my thoughts about it because of real life events that went beyond my control. So sorry this is late. I found the whole thing really interesting from the carbon sucking mosquitoes to the AI and the cloning that takes place. Not once did I find this to linger or be slow in the pace and I loved that the main character was an average "Everyman" with his own set of issues that just so happens to go on this journey. Add to the fact that I hope there's a sequel and I'll be completely looking forward to it. ------------------------------------------ ZERO REPEAT FOREVER - ARC via Netgalley READ: 8/1-2/17; RELEASED: 8/29/17 3.8/5 "The 5th Wave meets Beauty and the Beastin this fast-paced and heart-stopping novel about an invasion of murderous creatures and one girl fighting for her life at the end of the world. He has no voice or name, only a rank, Eighth. He doesn’t know the details of the mission, only the directives that hum in his mind.  Dart the humans. Leave them where they fall.His job is to protect his Offside. Let her do the shooting. Until a human kills her… Sixteen-year-old Raven is at summer camp when the terrifying armored Nahx invade. Isolated in the wilderness, Raven and her fellow campers can only stay put. Await rescue. Raven doesn’t like feeling helpless, but what choice does she have? Then a Nahx kills her boyfriend. Thrown together in a violent, unfamiliar world, Eighth and Raven should feel only hate and fear. But when Raven is injured, and Eighth deserts his unit, their survival comes to depend on trusting each other…" Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. The pitch for this is Beauty and the Beast meets The Fifth Wave. I liked one more than the other but was still an optimist about reading this because with life happening I needed a fun escape. I liked this take on aliens and mythology (I've read enough alien fiction in my teens since Roswell to have a grasp of what's new or not and what's been done before), that I hadn't considered and I liked the authors take on aliens for Nahx. Raven, the main character was a tad all over the place (maybe it was the pacing of the novel) but I did enjoy the originality of the novel and how it unfolded. I'll look forward to the second one because even though I wasn't shocked by the twist it's still a good novel. ------------------------------------------ CHRISTOPHER WILD - ARC via Netgalley READ: 8/9/17; RELEASE: 2017 "Three lives. One man.Christopher Marlowe was the first rock star poet, a spy, an atheist, a gay rebel whose controversial plays thrilled audiences and challenged the government. CHRISTOPHER WILD is Kathe Koja’s new novel, a daring remix of eras—the glitter and threat of Elizabethan England, a grimy mid-20th century, and a dark near-future of constant surveillance—as Marlowe loves and fights and writes his way through every life" Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. Alright, time for the confession, I picked this up because I'm an English major and I got into TNT's now canceled show on Shakespeare. I wanted to like this but found myself struggling at times even if this novel is beautifully constructed. ------------------------------------------ THE WHISPERING ROOM - ARC via Netgalley READ: 8/10-12/17; RELEASE: 11/21/17 4.2/5 "Jane Hawk—fiction’s most relentless, resourceful, stunning new heroine—continues her battle against a murderous conspiracy in the riveting sequel to The Silent Corner."No time to delay. Do what you were born to do. Fame will be yours when you do this.”These are the words that ring in the mind of mild-mannered, beloved schoolteacher Cora Gundersun—just before she takes her own life, and many others’, in a shocking act of carnage. When the disturbing contents of her secret journal are discovered, it seems certain that she must have been insane. But Jane Hawk knows better. In the wake of her husband’s inexplicable suicide—and the equally mysterious deaths of scores of other exemplary individuals—Jane picks up the trail of a secret cabal of powerful players who think themselves above the law and beyond punishment. But the ruthless people bent on hijacking America’s future for their own monstrous ends never banked on a highly trained FBI agent willing to go rogue—and become the nation’s most wanted fugitive—in order to derail their insidious plans to gain absolute power with a terrifying technological breakthrough. Driven by love for her lost husband and by fear for the five-year-old son she has sent into hiding, Jane Hawk has become an unstoppable predator. Those she is hunting will have nowhere to run when her shadow falls across them." Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. Alright, when we last left the characters I was excited for a sequel and found that I had more questions instead of answers. Kootnz still has a brilliant strong character in Jane and he doesn't falter here. The only complaint I had much like last time is that Koontz is still a bit wordy in his descriptions but even though that makes it longer it's still enjoyable even though the pace drags a slight bit in still itching to get my hands on the next novel to see where he takes Jane especially after that ending. ------------------------------------------ NOTES FROM THE UPSIDE DOWN - ARC via Netgalley "Jump inside the world of Stranger Thingsand discover everything you need to know about the hit TV show. Grab your Eggo waffles and get ready for a visit to Hawkins, Indiana—just don’t forget the fairy lights! If you devoured Stranger Things on Netflix and you’re looking to fill the demogorgon-sized hole in your life, then look no further than Notes from the Upside Down. Thisfan-tastic guide has every fact you could ever wish for—from insights into the origins of the show, including the mysterious Montauk Project conspiracy theory; a useful eighties playlist (because, of course); and much more. If you’ve ever wondered why Spielberg is such a huge influence, which Stephen King books you need to read (hint: pretty much all of them), or how State Trooper David O’Bannon earned his name, then this book is for you. Entertaining, informative, and perfect for fans of eighties pop culture, Notes from the Upside Down is the Big Mac of unofficial guides to Stranger Things—super-sized and special sauce included." Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I really, really fell in love with this show when it debuted and since then I've always looked for a book like this. I'm a casual fan but enjoy the little tiny backstories and what not from tv shows. Overall a great edition to companion books with a really bright and catchy cover. ---------------------------------------- BREAKING BAD 101 - ARC from Netgalley "AMC’s Breaking Bad is among the most beloved, critically acclaimed American television series of our time. Created by Vince Gilligan, the series charts the transformation of high school science teacher Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston) into a cold, calculating meth kingpin. Breaking Bad 101 collects esteemed critic Alan Sepinwall’s (Uproxx) popular Breaking Bad recaps in book form, featuring new, exclusive essays and completely revised and updated commentary—as well as insights from and interviews with the creative masterminds behind Breaking Bad. The ultimate critical companion for one of the greatest television dramas of all time, Breaking Bad 101 offers fans Sepinwall’s smart, funny, and incisive analysis of the psychology and filmmaking craft behind each episode and celebrates the series’ unique place in pop-culture history." Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this review copy in exchange for an honest review. I liked this book. I'm a huge fan of the TV series and found this to be a nice walk down memory lane especially with the episode recaps and I like how they manage to tie in Better Call Saul as a nod to the shared universe that the characters all live in. A nice edition to companion books and fans of the show (even if the cover isn't very eye catching).

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MULTI ARC REVIEW POST - QUEUED GOBLINS OF BELLWATER - ARC via Netgalley READ: 6/29-30/17; RELEASE: 10/1/17 3.5/5 "Most people have no idea goblins live in the woods around the small town of Bellwater, Washington. But some are about to find out. Skye, a young barista and artist, falls victim to a goblin curse in the forest one winter night, rendering her depressed and silenced, unable to speak of what happened. Her older sister, Livy, is at wit’s end trying to understand what’s wrong with her. Local mechanic Kit would know, but he doesn’t talk of such things: he’s the human liaison for the goblin tribe, a job he keeps secret and never wanted, thrust on him by an ancient family contract. Unaware of what’s happened to Skye, Kit starts dating Livy, trying to keep it casual to protect her from the attention of the goblins. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Kit, Skye draws his cousin Grady into the spell through an enchanted kiss in the woods, dooming Grady and Skye both to become goblins and disappear from humankind forever. It’s a midwinter night’s enchantment as Livy, the only one untainted by a spell, sets out to save them on a dangerous magical path of her own." I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I gotta be honest, I was looking forward to this one but it fell flat for me. I wasn't expecting a Wintersong esque clone but this just left me feeling dull. Most of the book was focused on romance which is well and good and I thought Livy and Kit's relationship was fine but I wasn't here for Skye and Grady's seemingly easy insta-love plot. I just wish this was more fleshed out. It seemed lacking at points, for a book about goblins they didn't seem to be present much. But when they were I would have liked to have read some expansion. ---------------------------------------- FREEFALL - ARC via Netgalley READ: 7/4-5/17; RELEASE: 9/26/17 3.8/5 "When the 1% and the 99% clash, the fate of the human race hangs on the actions of two teens from very different backgrounds in this thrilling sci-fi adventure. In the Upperworld, the privileged 1% are getting ready to abandon a devastated planet Earth. And Cam can’t wait to leave. After sleeping through a 1,000-year journey, he and his friends will have a pristine new planet to colonize. And no more worries about the Lowerworld and is 99% of rejects. Then Cam sees a banned video feed of protesters in the Lowerworld who also want a chance at a new life. And he sees a girl with golden eyes who seems to be gazing straight though the feed directly at him. A girl he has to find. Sofie. When Cam finds Sofie, she opens his eyes to the unfairness of what’s happening in their world, and Cam joins her cause for Lowerworld rights. He also falls hard for Sofie. But Sofie has her own battles to fight, and when it’s time to board the spaceships, Cam is alone. Waking up 1,000 years in the future, Cam discovers that he and his shipmates are far off-course, trapped on an unknown and hostile planet. Who has sabotaged their ship? And does it have anything to do with Sofie, and the choices—and the enemies—he made in the past?" I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Margaret K. McElderry Books in exchange for an honest review. I liked this but I didn't. I had two big problems. The insta love aspect that the protagonist, Cam, feels for the girl he sees, Sofie. I also had a problem with the Terrarists - the Low world protesters (it's most likely an earth pun but they were described in a way that left me feeling not so great). Aside from that I loved the world building in this I think it was really well thought out aside from the minor quibbles I had and I could easily envision the world that exists without too much of a thought. The back and forth between past and present also added another dimension to the way things developed which I thought was unique but at points the insta love story dragged down what I thought was an interesting sci-fi premise. ------------------------------------------ ONE TRUE PARING - ARC via Netgalley READ: 7/16/17; RELEASE: 7/25/17 (Out) 3/5 "They couldn't be more opposite, the Hollywood actor and the hometown girl, but all they need is a little convention magic to become the perfect ship in Cathy Yardley's One True Pairing. Jake Reese needs a decoy girlfriend. Fast. The lead actor of the popular TV show,Mystics, is tired of losing his shirt to overeager fans. Literally. Which is why a chance meeting with gothabilly bookworm-slash-barista Hailey Frost seems almost too perfect to be true. Hailey is not impressed with his TV fame and is desperate to save her family's bookstore. It's a match made in Hollywood, but as the two pretend to date, fan fiction becomes reality. Can this OTP become canon?" I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and St Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. I haven't read one of Yardley's books before. But I really enjoyed this one. Cliche's galore but I do like how fandom in fiction is becoming more accessible to see and less cringe worthy over time. It's got all the ingredients of a cliche, fun, light hearted read and I enjoyed the chemistry between TV actor Jake and "normal" Hailey. ------------------------------------------ SPARKED - ARC via Netgalley READ: 7/21-23/17; RELEASE: 10/3/17 4.2/5 "Fifteen-year-old Laurel Goodwin wakes up to find her older sister Ivy missing from their Airstream trailer in the Oregon redwoods. A recurring nightmare convinces her that Ivy was abducted, but no one takes her dream seriously, including her mom. Laurel, a loner, has to learn to ask for help, and Jasper Blake, a mysterious new kid who shares her love of old books, quickly becomes her ally. Together they find their quiet town holds a deep secret and is the epicenter of a dark prophecy. Laurel soon learns that her worst enemies, mean girls Peyton Andersen and Mei Rosen, are developing powers that she needs to find and save Ivy. With time running out, Laurel realizes that power doesn't always take the form that you expect. And once she learns to look beyond her snap judgments, she develops an unexpected gift of her own." I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Geek & Sundry in exchange for an honest review. This wasn't what I expected at all. I figured it might have something to do with an element in YA fiction because I was reminded of The Craft while I was reading (which isn't a bad comparison but rather interesting), but the vibe of the overall book was something that I really loved. Short to avoid spoilers but I definitely loved the mystery aspect of the main character looking for her sister and the love story was a nice touch amongst the twists in the book that I didn't see coming. Hoping for a sequel.

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MULTI ARC REVIEW POST (QUEUED POST) OF JENNY & THE ALIENS - ARC via Netgalley READ: 6/5/17; RELEASE: 8/1/17 2/5 "Ten years after Earth sent messages out into deep space, there has been an answer. Music from distant planet Pud 5 has reached the world’s radios. Are aliens about to invade? No one knows, and almost-eighteen-year-old Derek doesn’t really care, because at a wild end-of-the-world party, Jennifer Novak invited him to play beer pong, and things, well, progressed from there. Derek is in love. Deeply, hopelessly in love. He wants it all — marriage, kids, growing old on a beach in Costa Rica. For him, Jenny is the One. But Jenny has other plans, which may or may not include Derek. So Derek will try anything to win her — even soliciting advice from an alien who shows up in his hometown. This alien may just be the answer to Derek’s problem, but is Derek prepared to risk starting an intergalactic war to get his girl? Just how far is he willing to travel to discover the mysteries of the universe — and the enigma of love?" I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like this. The cover seemed fun and I've always been interested in "alien" portrayals in fiction going back to when I was a teen but unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one. I don't know if it was Derek or Jenny or the both of them or maybe I missed something but this book just didn't work for me. ------------------------------------------ READY TO RUN - ARC Via Netgalley READ: 6/12-13/17; RELEASE: 8/22/17 3/5 "The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show. Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: firefighter Luke Elliott, a known player who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan, but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected. Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms." I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for an honest review. Ever since I started reading Colleen Hoover novels a while ago I sort of started slowly gravitating towards romance novels. Lauren Layne's premise intrigued me from the summary. This was a genuinely fun book. Luke's left 3 women at the alter and Jordan decides she's gotta have him on Jilted (it's like a reverse Bachelor). Naturally, Luke wants no part in whatever Jordan seems to set her sights on (him being on the show for one). But, honestly, the characters left me wanting something more and Jordan didn't sit well with me. Fun premise, good read, unlike-able characters. ------------------------------------------ REINCARNATION BLUES - ARC Via Netgalley READ: 6/21-22/17; RELEASE: 8/22/17 4/5 "First we live. Then we die. And then . . . we get another try? Ten thousand tries, to be exact. Ten thousand lives to “get it right.” Answer all the Big Questions. Achieve Wisdom. And Become One with Everything. Milo has had 9,995 chances so far and has just five more lives to earn a place in the cosmic soul. If he doesn’t make the cut, oblivion awaits. But all Milo really wants is to fall forever into the arms of Death. Or Suzie, as he calls her. More than just Milo’s lover throughout his countless layovers in the Afterlife, Suzie is literally his reason for living—as he dives into one new existence after another, praying for the day he’ll never have to leave her side again." I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review. Oh, wow. I don't really know where to start with this one. I thought Poore took a really interesting concept (and one that may have been done a bit as of late) and turned it on its head and created something really gorgeous and unique. The premise is simple enough. A boy has only 5 lifetimes left (out of 9,995) to get close to the perfection the universe wants him to have but at the same time we're treated to the tale of Milo and Death (or, Suzie). I think in every lifetime Milo goes through he learns something and gains something via knowledge in exchange for the time he has with Suzie. I'm not going to spoil the ending but this book was wonderful, non linear, and interesting in a way that made me want to reread this multiple times to see if the experience was different each time. ------------------------------------------ RISING TIDE: DARK INNOCENCE- ARC via Netgalley READ: 6/22-23/17; RELEASE: 2014 "Could Maura's life get any worse? ...turns out it most certainly can.Isolated and sheltered by her lonely mother, Maura's never been able to make friends. She seems to drive her classmates away—except for the odd times they pay enough attention to torture her—but she doesn’t understand why. Maura considers herself to be a freak of nature, with her unusually pale skin and an aversion to the sun that renders her violently nauseous. Her belief is only worsened by the fact that almost everyone around her keeps their distance. Even her own father deserted her before she was born, leaving Maura alone with her emotionally distant mother, Caelyn. Even though Maura is desperate for answers about her unknown parent, Caelyn remains heartbroken and her daughter can’t bring herself to reopen her mother’s wounds. Or is there a more sinister reason Caelyn refuses to utter a word about her long-lost love?When a cruel prank nearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates, Ron, rushes to her rescue. Darkly handsome & mysteriously accepting, Ron doesn’t seem to want to stay away, but Maura is reluctant to get too close, since her mother has announced she’s moving the two of them to Vancouver…nearly 3,000 miles away from their hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania. If life wasn’t already challenging enough, Maura begins to experience bizarre, physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring, compelling Maura to fear for her own life. Vicious nightmares, blood cravings, failing health and the heart-shattering loss of Ron—as well as the discovery of a tangled web of her own mother's lies—become obstacles in Maura's desperate quest for the unfathomable truth she was never prepared to uncover." I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to like this but I didn't. I thought some of the change up to the vampire mythology was good, kudos for that inventiveness, but overall I just couldn't bring myself to finish which is a shame. ------------------------------------------ ROYALLY ROMANOV - ARC via Netgalley READ: 6/27-28/17; RELEASE: 7/17/17 3.8/5 "In this charming modern day retelling of the 1956 classic Anastasia, a museum curator falls for a mysterious man who may or may not be a long lost heir to Russia’s imperial Romanov dynasty.Finley Abbot is organizing the most prestigious art exhibit of her career at the Louvre museum—a retrospective of art from the House of Romanov. But the sudden appearance of Maxim Romanov threatens to turn her into the biggest laughingstock of the art world. When she finds herself falling in love, she realizes there’s even more at stake than her career. How can she trust a man with her whole world when he can’t remember a thing about his past?After suffering a violent blow to the head, Maxim’s only clue to his identity is a notebook containing carefully researched documentation in his own handwriting indicating that he is the sole surviving descendant of the Grand Duchess Anastasia, previously thought dead in the murder of her family during Russia’s Bolshevik revolution. His struggle to put the mysterious pieces of his past back together leads him to Finley. At first, she’s convinced Maxim is nothing but a con artist. But there’s something undeniably captivating about the beautiful, brooding man who claims to be searching for his identity—something Finley can’t quite bring herself to resist. When he reveals a secret about one of the imperial Fabergé eggs in the collection, she accepts he may actually be telling the truth. But as soon as Finley and Maxim act on their feelings for one another, Maxim is confronted with evidence that calls into question everything he’s begun to believe about himself." I received an advance copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was cute. It's a typical chick lit book with an interesting what if backstory because of Anastasia and all of the hidden references. For what it is some parts were asked to suspend disbelief and if you can do that the story between the two leads - Maxim and Finley - pays off. ------------------------------------------ JUMPER (COMPLETE SERIES 5 Books) - Paperback Editons READ: 6/1-30/17 There's four (5 if you count the movie tie in) novels in this series but I'm only listing the summary to book 1. "Steven Gould's SF classic, Jumper.Davy can teleport. He first discovers his talent during a savage beating delivered by his abusive father, when Davy jumps instantaneously to the safest place he knows, his small-town public library. As his mother did so many years before, Davy vows never to go home again. Instead, he sets off, young and inexperienced, for New York City. Davy gradually learns to use and control his powers, first for sheer survival in an environment more violent and complex than he ever imagined. But mere survival is not enough for Davy. He wants to know if his mother disappeared so completely from his life because she, too, could Jump. And as he searches for a trace of anyone else with powers like his own, he learns to use his abilities for more than escape and theft. A young man with nothing to lose, and the ability to go anyplace he wants, can help a lot of people. But he can also make a lot of trouble, and sooner or later trouble is going to come looking for him. The one way Davy can think of to locate others who can Jump is to make himself visible to them, but if he does, the police will surely find him too." Alright, straight up, I have a secret love for the film version but the entire series of books are dark and vastly superior to the film we got. The film is fun but the book is drastically different and dare I say much more grounded than the movie version and the dark tone continues throughout the novels but it does have its light moments. I've always enjoyed these novels and Millie is continually my favorite well written and realistic character in the series (even though things change for her over time). Gould created a unique world in 1992. I just wish there were more of it on screen and more that stuck to the novel!universe.

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MULTI ARC REVIEW POST (QUEUED POST) SECRETS OF SKIN AND STONE - ARC via Netgalley READ: 5/26/17 RELEASE: 6/5/17 3/5 "Something is wrong in Hidden Creek. The sleepy Alabama town is more haunted than any place fiend hunter Grisham Caso has ever seen. Unearthed graves, curse bags, and spilled blood all point to an evil that could destroy his gargoyle birthright. The town isn’t safe for anyone, and everyone says fiery Piper Devon knows why. Piper wants to leave Hidden Creek behind. She’s had enough of secrets—they hide in the shadows of her room and tell her terrible things are coming. Too-charming city boy Grisham might be her only chance to save herself. To survive, Piper and Grisham have to shed their secrets and depend only on each other. But what lurks in Hidden Creek still might take everything away from them, including each other." I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Entangled Publishing in exchange for a fair review. I liked this one. It was definitely a different sort of creature used within the typical YA genres and I've never seen a gargoyle being used. So I appreciated the chance to read something new and the change it gave. I have to give the author props for trying something new and giving a twist on the kind of "mythology" that hasn't been used much in YA. The down vote is for the typical "insta love" type of trope but I was able to over look it in favor of the book and also props for the author giving the reader a heads up incase they decide they might be triggered by some elements that were written about. ------------------------------------------ NYXIA - ARC via Netgalley READ: 5/27-28/17 RELEASE: 9/12/17 4/5 "Every life has a price in this sci-fi thriller that has the nonstop action of The Maze Runner and the high-stakes space setting of Illuminae. This is the first in a new three-book series called the Nyxia Triad that will take a group of broken teens to the far reaches of the universe and force them to decide what they’re willing to risk for a lifetime of fortune. Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family. Forever. Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden—a planet that Babel has kept hidden—where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe. But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human." I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Random House/Crown Books Publishing in exchange for a fair review. This was or is one of the most diverse books I've ever read with characters from different places and ethnicities and I'm very pleased about that. It's one of the main reasons I wanted to see if this was different from the usual teen gets thrown into a death game scenario that originated after Hunger Games popped up. This is not that. In fact I'd go a bit farther and say that this book explored that idea a bit better and turned things on its head (I'm remaining spoiler free here but there were a few surprises in this book and I can't wait to see how those are expanded upon). Every time there was a moral dilemma the book presented Emmett with things and I was surprised to find that I was left with the idea of wanting more answers (I'm wanting a sequel). The writing here is vivid and imaginative with what seems to be the layout for a very well thought out universe. Lastly, Nyxia, what is it? ------------------------------------------ AS YOU WISH - ARC via Netgalley READ: 5/29/17; RELEASE: 1/2/18 3/5 "What if you could ask for anything- and get it? In the sandy Mojave Desert, Madison is a small town on the road between nothing and nowhere. But Eldon wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, because in Madison, everyone gets one wish—and that wish always comes true.Some people wish for money, some people wish for love, but Eldon has seen how wishes have broken the people around him. And with the lives of his family and friends in chaos, he’s left with more questions than answers. Can he make their lives better? How can he be happy if the people around him aren’t? And what hope is there for any of them if happiness isn’t an achievable dream? Doubts build, leading Eldon to a more outlandish and scary thought: maybe you can’t wish for happiness…maybe, just maybe, you have to make it for yourself." I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and SOURCEFIRE Books in exchange for a fair review. Eldon, the main character who gets a wish on his 18th birthday, like the rest of the town's inhabitants, in this drove me a tad crazy. I get that he's the narrator and you're going to sympathize with him but his indecisiveness got to me after a while also he was fully fleshed out at least because he wasn't perfect. This kind of dragged to be honest and I was more than confused about how the "mythology" about the wishes worked and why it just seemed to be this thing in the town without any extra world building going on. By no means is this a bad novel, it's unique and gives the reader something to chew on but overall it just wasn't for me. ------------------------------------------ NOSTALGIC RAIN: GALAXIES AWAY - ARC via Netgalley READ: 5/30/17; RELEASE: 7/1/17 4/5 "What seventeen-year-old Leland finds in the abandoned basement of his house is something he will never forget. Leland lost his father when he was seven. Since then, he has successfully adapted to the awful life of being a student, the man of the house, and a father figure to his two younger siblings. All of that changes when he and his best friends stumble upon a secret in his deserted basement, and fall into another dimension with three moons, foggy woods, and an ancient castle-Oremanta. Learning who he really is, how he came to this remote planet, and the shocking, ugly mystery of Oremanta aren’t as bad as the quest he finds himself obligated to complete-killing someone he never thought he’d meet in Oremanta to save everyone." I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and the author in exchange for a fair review. I wanted something original with this book but it also seemed familiar enough to have maybe certain things I could enjoy about it. It definitely didn't disappoint and I felt like this was a mashup of certain things but also fresh and entirely new in terms of world building and creation and was definitely new and welcome to read by a "new" author. The POV changes were hard to follow once I started but by the end I found them seamless. Will definitely be looking forward to a sequel. ------------------------------------------ SHIMMER AND BURN - ARC via Netgalley READ: 5/31/17; RELEASE: 8/8/17 3/5 "To save her sister’s life, Faris must smuggle magic into a plague-ridden neighboring kingdom in this exciting and dangerous start to a brand-new fantasy duology. Faris grew up fighting to survive in the slums of Brindaigel while caring for her sister, Cadence. But when Cadence is caught trying to flee the kingdom and is sold into slavery, Faris reluctantly agrees to a lucrative scheme to buy her back, inadvertently binding herself to the power-hungry Princess Bryn, who wants to steal her father’s throne. Now Faris must smuggle stolen magic into neighboring Avinea to incite its prince to alliance—magic that addicts in the war-torn country can sense in her blood and can steal with a touch. She and Bryn turn to a handsome traveling magician, North, who offers protection from Avinea’s many dangers, but he cannot save Faris from Bryn’s cruelty as she leverages Cadence’s freedom to force Faris to do anything—or kill anyone—she asks. Yet Faris is as fierce as Bryn, and even as she finds herself falling for North, she develops schemes of her own. With the fate of kingdoms at stake, Faris, Bryn, and North maneuver through a dangerous game of magical and political machinations, where lives can be destroyed—or saved—with only a touch." I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing in exchange for a fair review. This started off really promising and I was loving the different take on magic and the world that had been created (even though I think it may be expanded upon in the last book) and I genuinely like the characters but it lagged in the middle and started getting a tad predictable for the genre. Probably will seek out the sequel to see how it ends.

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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STRANGE THE DREAMER - Hardcover Book Edition READ: 3/30-5/18/17 5/5 "The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around--and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever. What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries--including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?" This book was lyrical. Both in prose and in plot. I was extremely impressed with the level of detail and care that went into this novel. Why I loved it so much was because it read, not just as an original piece, as a hugely imagined fully formed world that you could get lost in and also manage to put the pieces together just as the main character does. This book is rich with imaginative ideas and wonderful prose. My only real complaint is that cliffhanger of an ending that makes the reader want more immediately. I took so long reading this because I wanted to fully appreciate every single word. And now I can't wait until the next one. ------------------------------------------ NOS4A2 - Paperback Copy Edition READ: 5/18-20/17 4/5 "Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country. Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland." Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son." I'll be honest here. I picked up this one based on the summary. I haven't read much of Hill's work - I know who his father is - I've only read one previous novel by him "Horns" and loved it so I decided to give this one a go. I was reminded of his fathers work in certain elements of this novel but the way it was done was enjoyable and yet this book reminded me of The Nightmare Before Christmas mixed with serial killers and enhanced supernatural mysticism. Manx is quite possibly one of the creepiest villains ever to be put to the page while Vic McQueen is one of the best heroines I've encountered. My only gripe is that I felt as if some questions about Manx might have been open ended on purpose. -----------------------------------------THE FABULIST - Paperback Copy Edition READ: 5/11-13/17 3.5/5 "A NOVEL OF AN IGNOMINIOUS FALL, THE RISE TO INFAMY, AND LIFE AFTER BOTH. It is the summer of 1998, and Stephen Glass is a young magazine journalist whose work is gaining more and more acclaim -- until a rival magazine tells Glass's editor that it suspects one of his stories is fabricated. As his editor sorts out the truth, Glass is busy inventing it -- spinning rich and complex blends of fact and fiction, and exploiting the gray world in between. But Glass is caught. His fabulism is uncovered and his career instantly unravels. Worse, his editor learns that it's not the first time. Soon, a long history of invention, passed off as journalism, emerges. Glass suddenly becomes a household name -- an emblem of hubris and a flashpoint for Americans' distrust and dislike of the press. The media is consumed with the story: Once the young man who had been known for mastering the "takedown" article, Glass now becomes the one every journalist wants to take even further down. Once the hunter, Glass becomes the hunted -- the story of the year. Glass responds to this agonizing public scrutiny with a self-imposed exile, first near Chicago with his family and then in the anonymous suburbs of Washington, D.C. There, he begins a long personal struggle with his misdeeds, working out his own answers to the questions of why he fabricated, how he can learn to stop lying, and whether, at age twenty-five, he has destroyed his life irrevocably. Glass encounters a world far stranger than his own fabrications -- one populated by eccentric coworkers, ailing animals, angry masseuses, sexy librarians, competitive bingo players, synchronized swimmers, a soulful stripper, and a mysterious guardian angel who dresses only in purple. Meanwhile, Glass is chased by marauding journalists whose desperation and ruthlessness manage to match even his own. As he dodges his pursuers, Glass grasps at straws only to find that, wondrously, they sometimes hold. Despite himself, he rediscovers the Judaism he'd left far behind in Hebrew school, and falls helplessly in love with a young woman who turns out to have her own shameful past. In the end, "The Fabulist" is as much about family, friendship, religion, and love -- about getting through somehow, even when it seems impossible -- as it is about reality and fantasy. At once hilarious and harrowing, "The Fabulist" is one of the year's most provocative novels." This book just seems self serving in a way that borders on the author making up even more absurdities in an effort to sell a book about his life. However, it is well written, I can't help but think this was his own attempt to lessen his own guilt about what he's done in his life through the one method he knows - creating fiction. ------------------------------------------ THE HEARTS WE SOLD - Paperback ARC Edition READ: 5/1-4/17; RELEASE: 8/8/17 4/5 "When Dee Moreno makes a deal with a devil--her heart in exchange for an escape from a disastrous home life--she finds her trade may be more than she bargained for. And becoming "heartless" is only the beginning. What lies ahead is a nightmare far bigger, far more monstrous than anything she ever could have imagined. With reality turned on its head, Dee has only a group of other deal-making teens to keep her grounded, including the charming but secretive James Lancer. And as something like love grows between them amidst an otherworldly ordeal, Dee begins to wonder: can she give James her heart when it's no longer hers to give? The Hearts We Sold is a Faustian tale for the modern age that will steal your heart and break it, and leave you begging for more." I have to agree with the one review that stated that "the rumpelstilskin clause" might look a tad familiar but it's nonetheless a strong novel with its own mythology and merits that are new takes within YA. The book provides hints that could lead to more within this universe even with the ending being satisfying but it's a wonderful novel with a new twist on a semi used prose. ------------------------------------------ CATALINA EDDY - ARC Via Netgalley (already released). READ: 5/21-22/17 3.5/5 "Times may change, but crimes never do, and neither do the people who investigate them. A collection of three loosely connected crime novellas, each set in a distinct era, Catalina Eddy is a gritty, hard-boiled exploration into the immutable police underworld of Southern California. In The Big Empty, an obstinate Los Angeles detective investigates the murder of his estranged wife while fears of nuclear war and Communism grip the nation; inLosertown, a mid-career attorney in San Diego chases down a legendary drug kingpin but chafes against the Reagan Revolution policies of his new boss; and inPortuguese Bend, set in the present day, an undercover cop is paralyzed in a gunfight but determined to solve what may be her last case as a police officer in Long Beach. They are all, in one way or another, stuck in dreary endless loops of love, murder, and the quest for clarity, release, and redemption." I was given an ARC of this a tad late but didn't mind because I had been wanting to read this for a while. Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Blue Rider Press & Plume for the chance to read. Daniel Pyne wrote a great crime novel/ 3 short series of noir tales that tie together over the course of several different decades but the effect from each of the stories reverberate over time. The Big Empty, The Portuguese Bend, & Losertown all take place at different time frames but handle different points of view in relation to crime which is a different take on what I usually see in crime novels. The Big Empty takes place in the 50's and a PI tries to figure out the death of his ex wife. The Portuguese Bend is told through the view point of a forensic photographer being the main protagonist. Finally Losertown gives the reader a look at the US Attorney Justice System. These stories that Pyne wrote are excellent editions to any crime/noir aficionado's reading library. ------------------------------------------ THE RED LILY - ARC via Netgalley READ: 5/19/17; RELEASE: 6/19/17 3/5 "The Black Lily resistance needs a larger army if they are to defeat the vampire monarchy. In order to do so, former lieutenant and traitor to the vampire Crown, Nikolai must seek help from the red-hooded temptress he needs to avoid at all costs. The secret he carries could prove dangerous for her if she gets too close…even though keeping her close—very close—is the only thing on his mind. Sienna will do anything for the Black Lily, and when Nikolai asks for her assistance to gain the trust of the commonwealth, it’s the last thing she wants to do. The thought of leaving her woods and her wolves behind is terrifying…not to mention the danger being with Nikolai poses." I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to the author as well as Entangled Publishing, LLC for the chance to read and review. I have to give Juliette Cross credit here. Vampires have been done to death but here with the novels taking place in a sort of way that involves fairy tale retellings is genius. I loved that sort of element and she does it effortlessly. Sienna and Nikolai are a pair together but what I really enjoyed is that Sienna is no nonsense and isn't exactly "helpless" in terms of a heroine. I'm looking forward to more work from Cross and seeing where she takes this series. ------------------------------------------ ANGELS IN AMERICA - 2017 paperback edition READ: 5/18-19/17 5/5 "Tony Kushner's Angels in America is that rare entity: a work for the stage that is profoundly moving yet very funny, highly theatrical yet steeped in traditional literary values, and most of all deeply American in its attitudes and political concerns. In two full-length plays--Millennium Approaches and Perestroika--Kushner tells the story of a handful of people trying to make sense of the world. Prior is a man living with AIDS whose lover Louis has left him and become involved with Joe, an ex-Mormon and political conservative whose wife, Harper, is slowly having a nervous breakdown. These stories are contrasted with that of Roy Cohn (a fictional re-creation of the infamous American conservative ideologue who died of AIDS in 1986) and his attempts to remain in the closet while trying to find some sort of personal salvation in his beliefs. But such a summary does not do justice to Kushner's grand plan, which mixes magical realism with political speeches, high comedy with painful tragedy, and stitches it all together with a daring sense of irony and a moral vision that demands respect and attention. On one level, the play is an indictment of the government led by Ronald Reagan, from the blatant disregard for the AIDS crisis to the flagrant political corruption. But beneath the acute sense of political and moral outrage lies a meditation on what it means to live and die--of AIDS, or anything else--in a society that cares less and less about human life and basic decency. The play's breadth and internal drive is matched by its beautiful writing and unbridled compassion. Winner of two Tony Awards and the 1991 for drama, Angels in America is one of the most outstanding plays of the American theater." Review pending

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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MULTI REVIEW ARC POST; THE BONE QUEEN, DEATH AND NIGHT, WENDY DARLING (VOL. 3) THE BONE QUEEN - via Netgalley ARC READ: 4/29/17; RELEASE: 6/13/17 "In a highly anticipated prequel to the Books of Pellinor, Alison Croggon captivates fans old and new with her ancient, legendary world of Annar.After being seduced into sorcery by an agent of the Dark, the promising Bard Cadvan of Lirigon recklessly unleashed the terrible Bone Queen, bringing destruction down upon Annar. Cast out of the Schools of Barding for his crime, Cadvan now lives in exile, burdened by memories of his dealings with the Dark. At his former home, Cadvan’s mentor, Nelac, and his rival, Dernhil, begin to suspect that the Bone Queen may yet lurk in Annar, and a young Bard named Selmana is plagued by an ominous presence and an unsettling new ability to step between worlds. With darkness gathering and Bards giving in to fear and paranoia, a guilt-ridden Cadvan must once again earn the Bards’ trust and Selmana must gain control of her newfound powers if they are to bring peace to the living and the dead. Fans of the Books of Pellinor will savor this glimpse into Cadvan’s past, and readers new to Alison Croggon’s intricately built world will relish The Bone Queen as a stand-alone epic of light, dark, magic, and redemption." 2/5 I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Candlewick Press. in exchange for an honest review. I, like many others, didn't realize this was a prequel for an already established series that had been published ages ago. It's not that I wish I hadn't given it a shot, it's just that this felt "info-dumpy" about the universe instead of a natural unfolding and world building. I found myself stopping halfway through because I just wasn't riveted by it. DEATH & NIGHT - via Netgalley ARC READ: 4/28/17; RELEASE: 5/8/16 "An exclusive Star-Touched novella over 100 pages long! Before The Star-Touched Queen there was only Death and Night.He was Lord of Death, cursed never to love. She was Night incarnate, destined to stay alone. After a chance meeting, they wonder if, perhaps, they could be meant for more. But danger crouches in their paths, and the choices they make will set them on a journey that will span lifetimes. Discover how Maya and Amar first met and fell in love, and don't forget the next Star-Touched novel, A Crown of Wishespublishes on March 28, 2017." 4.5/5 I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. in exchange for an honest review. I'll be honest, I still haven't read The Star Touched Queen. I have it waiting and I've heard great things so when this popped up as a sort of prequel I was interested. Roshani's writing reads off the page poetically and I immediately wanted to go read the two other books in the series. Even knowing bits and pieces this is a wonderful prequel for people to start the series with. Amar and Maya's relationship isn't "insta" but rather I have the feeling that it's just as complex and might be even as poetic under Roshani's writing. I look forward to picking up the rest of the series. WENDY DARLING - via Netgalley ARC READ: 5/8-9/17; RELEASE: 7/18/17 "Wendy Darling has found herself once again in the arms of charming Peter Pan, the god-child who desires power above all things. This time, though, Wendy burns not with passion but with a secret: with Hook as her ally, she is there to defeat the evil that lies inside of Peter, the evil that holds all Neverland hostage―the Shadow. To do this, Wendy must quietly undo Peter from inside his heart while at the same time convincing Tink to betray the twisted love that binds them together. This is a task made nearly impossible by the arrival of Booth, her sweetheart from London and a new pawn in Peter’s manipulative game―a boy whose heart she must break in order to save his life. As all of Neverland prepares to fight, Wendy races to untangle Peter’s connection to the Shadow, a secret long buried in the Forsaken Garden. When the time comes, pirates, mermaids, Lost Boys, and the Darling family will all rise―but if Wendy can’t call the Shadow, they will all be destroyed by Peter’s dark soul. War has come to paradise, and Neverland will never be the same. Wendy Darling: Shadow is the thrilling final installment in Colleen Oakes’s Wendy Darling Trilogy." 4.5/5 I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and SparkPress (a BookSparks imprint) in exchange for an honest review. I'm going to need a few days to emotionally process this whole trilogy and how good it was. This, I think, was a fitting ending but I'm going to think it over before leaving a longer review.

#advance review #advance reader copy #books #arc review #multipost

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN - paperback copy READ: 4/25-26/17 "Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. And once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave. One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of coldtown itself." 4.5/5 I read this in two days. I really loved the world that Black created in this book. It's not like too many "romantic" vampire books I've read. In fact, I love the fact that it wasn't like that at all and if it was it was done through the eyes of humans who think it is. That's what made me love this book. I think I've read so many of those "romantic" vampire books that this one was a huge welcome, refreshing, surprise. It was unique and wasn't relying on the usual tropes. My only gripe was that this is a standalone. I definitely would read more in this universe if Black created more.

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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THE SILENT CORNER - ARC via Netgalley READ: 4/18-19/17; RELEASE: 6/20/17 "“I very much need to be dead.” These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what. People of talent and accomplishment, people admired and happy and sound of mind, have been committing suicide in surprising numbers. When Jane seeks to learn why, she becomes the most-wanted fugitive in America. Her powerful enemies are protecting a secret so important—so terrifying—that they will exterminate anyone in their way. But all their power and viciousness may not be enough to stop a woman as clever as they are cold-blooded, as relentless as they are ruthless—and who is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Because it is born of love." 4.8/5 I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine in exchange for an honest review. I loved Koontz's Odd Thomas series and had yet to read anything else by him yet. I requested a copy to see if I would enjoy anything else by him that wasn't related to that series. Aware that this is the first entry in a totally different series with a new main character, a woman named Jane Hawk, which is a refreshing change of pace I decided to dive into something that was new. Kootnz is known for horror, (the technology touches and use that technology presents in the novel create a terrifying atmosphere under which the plot unravels slowly because Koontz is wordy and throughly descriptive), but I found this to be completely different and I was actually into the novel because it read more like a thriller and a guessing game. He's created a strong female character, (which always makes me happy when I read a book), that draws the reader in directly from the first page and works well. My only real problem is that the novel "wraps up" only to leave the reader with a lot of questions and this might be a problem for anyone that doesn't want to start reading another series. I will be reading the next book to see where this entire series ends up going.

#dean koontz #arc review #advance reader copy #advance review #books #the silent corner

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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UNSUB - ARC via Netgalley

READ: 4/15-18/17; RELEASE: 6/27/17

“A riveting psychological thriller inspired by the never-caught Zodiac Killer, about a young detective determined to apprehend the serial murderer who destroyed her family and terrorized a city twenty years earlier. Caitlin Hendrix has been a Narcotics detective for six months when the killer at the heart of all her childhood nightmares reemerges: the Prophet. An UNSUB—what the FBI calls an unknown subject—the Prophet terrorized the Bay Area in the 1990s and nearly destroyed her father, the lead investigator on the case. The Prophet’s cryptic messages and mind games drove Detective Mack Hendrix to the brink of madness, and Mack’s failure to solve the series of ritualized murders—eleven seemingly unconnected victims left with the ancient sign for Mercury etched into their flesh—was the final nail in the coffin for a once promising career. Twenty years later, two bodies are found bearing the haunting signature of the Prophet. Caitlin Hendrix has never escaped the shadow of her father’s failure to protect their city. But now the ruthless madman is killing again and has set his sights on her, threatening to undermine the fragile barrier she rigidly maintains for her own protection, between relentless pursuit and dangerous obsession. Determined to decipher his twisted messages and stop the carnage, Caitlin ignores her father’s warnings as she draws closer to the killer with each new gruesome murder. Is it a copycat, or can this really be the same Prophet who haunted her childhood? Will Caitlin avoid repeating her father’s mistakes and redeem her family name, or will chasing the Prophet drag her and everyone she loves into the depths of the abyss?”

4.5/5

I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton Books in exchange for an honest review.

Alright, aside from the fact the summary was what drew me to the book initially a friend has been talking about this book for a while and telling me I HAD to read it.

I wasn’t disappointed at all. I do think that the fictional killer in this was reminiscent of the Zodiac Killer in the 60’s. I was reminded of that when I read this novel, from the Prophet and the way the novel comes together in the end,but that’s not a bad thing. Meg Gardiner can easily write a great book. The writing was pointed and none of the reveals in the novel felt “shoe horned” in. It felt natural in reading and that’s the sign of a great mystery as well as great plotting. I was into this even if it did take me a few days. What kept me interested, through the times I had other things to do, was a capable, intelligent, strong main character in Caitlin Hendrix. I wanted to know what was in store for her and judging from the ending I don’t think this is the last of the character (which is a good thing and I sort of hope this is the start of a series with this character because I’d read more). Unfortunately, some of the side characters didn’t work for me but I’d give it a re-read later to see if that changes.

But regardless, I’d read another book with these characters in this universe and I’m looking forward to seeing more work from this author.

#arc review #arc #advance review #advance reader copy #unsub #books #queue

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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LOVE AND VANDALISM - ARC via Netgalley READ: 4/11-12/17; RELEASE: 5/1/17 "He calls it fate. She calls it blackmail. Rory has a secret: she’s the vandal who paints graffiti lions all over her small town. If her policeman dad knew, he’d probably disown her. So when Hayes, a former screw-up on the path to recovery, catches her in the act, Rory’s sure she’s busted. Instead, he makes her a deal. If Rory shows him around town, he won’t turn her in. It might be coercion, but at least the boy is hot. As they spend more time together, Rory worries she made the wrong choice. Hayes has a way of making her want things she shouldn’t want and feel emotions she’s tried to bury. Rory’s going to have to distance herself from Hayes or confront a secret she can’t bring herself to face…" 3/5 I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and SourceFire Books in exchange for an honest review. I think this book is more about growth than some other form of cliche romance that occurs in a lot of books. While this story has romantic parts I actually think of this book as Rory's story. It's a lot more than your usual contemporary YA Lit novel which is always a welcome surprise. The family dynamics take center stage in this novel and then, even after the plot twist, you're also experiencing Rory's slow come around to being likeable as the story goes on. So while it might be easy to dislike her in the beginning of the book it's a huge change by the time the novel ends. It's a good change. Rory has her art as an emotional outlet and when she encounters Hayes, (I enjoyed the Narnia bits), the story goes to more than friends for the two of them in a very slow believable way that didn't feel tacked on or added to the story as an after thought. But, as I said above I liked that this read more as an emotional journey rather than a usual YA Lit novel. Would recommend to others looking for a mix of both genres as it's a great mixture of YA Lit as well as one characters own personal growth.

#arc review #advance reader copy #advance review #books #queue

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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MULTI REVIEW POST NOVEMBER 9 - Paperback Edition READ: 4/9/17 "Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse. Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist. Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?" 3.9/5 Alright, this was my first time reading a Colleen Hoover novel let alone a romance novel. Life's been rough and let's just say I need a big distraction. I know what I'm getting into when I read romance but I've never actually read one of that makes sense. I liked it. Some parts didn't sit well with me but other parts did and upon finishing this book I wanted to seek out more of Colleen Hoover's work. ---------------------------------------- SLEEPER - ARC via Netgalley READ: 4/9-10/17; RELEASED: 8/1/17 "A new suspense-ridden thriller that's Heathers meets Inception. As if surviving high school wasn't hard enough, Sarah Reyes suffers from REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, a parasomnia that causes her to physically act out her dreams. When she almost snaps her friend's neck at a sleepover, Sarah and her nocturnal habits are thrust into the spotlight and she becomes a social pariah, complete with public humiliation. When an experimental drug comes onto the market that promises nighttime normalcy, Sarah agrees to participate in the trial. At first, she seems to be cured. Then the side effects kick in. Why does a guy from her nightmare show up at school? Are the eerily similar dreams she's sharing with her classmates' coincidence or of her making? Is she losing her mind or does this drug offer way more than sleep?" 3/5 I received a copy of this novel thanks to Netgalley and SourceBooks Fire in exchange for an honest review. I'm keeping the review short on purpose so that spoilers are avoided. I have to admit, the summary was what drew me to want to read this and not the cover. It does what it says on the tin, pardon the expression, and Sarah's story really does seem like Inception meets Heathers and it's done in such a way that feels new. It wasn't something I had read before but it was something I greatly enjoyed and would read a sequel. ---------------------------------------- BETROTHED - via Netgalley READ: 4/10-11/17; RELEASE: Already on Kindle "The first book in the Betrothed series. Amy Smith has always known she was different. Severe allergies, fragile health and taunts at school have made life an endurance test for the adopted seventeen year old. When Amy starts having strange dreams, everything changes. Night after night, she becomes trapped in a shroud of black - a void of silence but for a male voice calling for a girl named ‘Marla’. One night, the darkness clears, Leif is revealed and Amy discovers that she is the girl he has been searching for. Immediately the two are swept up in a passionate yet forbidden love. Leif isn’t like the other boys Amy knows. Breathtakingly gorgeous, he speaks with her telepathically… not to mention, he can fly. Desperate to find a way to be with her, Leif tells Amy of the terrifying threat to his Fae homeland, the danger to the people, and of an unforgivable betrayal to his King. He urges her to seek her true identity…. But Amy is confused... isn't it all just a dream?" 3/5 Thanks to Netgalley for providing the copy of this. It's not really an ARC (because the entire series is on kindle) but nonetheless I enjoyed this. It's not really a story I haven't read before with various "otherworldly creatures" but I like that it was given its own spin on things (in particular liked the main characters disbelief at things -- that's not common in this type of genre). Amy was unique in that aspect at least and the romance seemed to not be forced despite the book title. I'll probably hunt down the sequels when my pile gets smaller and I need more to read.

#arc review #advance reader copy #advance review #books #colleen hoover

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pink-earmuffs · 7 years

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REVIEW MULTIPOST: STREET SONG - ARC via Netgalley READ: 3/28-29/17; RELEASE: 4/20/17 "Ryan’s career is over. After winning a TV talent show and becoming a teen sensation, his fame has spiralled into addiction, embarrassing headlines and career suicide. Now his image-obsessed stepdad wants him at home, back in school and under his thumb. However, a chance meeting with the enigmatic Toni offers him a fresh start in a new city. Before long he has reinvented himself, made real friends and is playing real music in Toni’s band. Despite living in a hostel, busking for his wages and living under a false identity, Ryan is finally happy. But struggling to exist on the brink of homelessness, he is exposed to a more sinister world. Forced to truly decide what kind of person he wants to be, Ryan begins to realise that starting over comes at a price." 3/5 I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and Black & White Publishing in exchange for a fair an honest review. I've never read anything by this author before and I thought the description was intriguing so I requested it. In short, this book has a very YA sounding premise but it deals with very heavy subject matter. This didn't read like YA to me it almost veers to New Adult in some ways. I did enjoy the main character, Ryan and his struggles and by the end of it he's shown significant growth in terms of things. Overall, great read, the author gives you a typical headline as a premise but it's a heavy read and delves into something that might not be even thought of by media standards. ---------------------------------------- BLACKHEARTS - Ebook READ: 3/29/17 "When Edward “Teach” Drummond, son of one of Bristol’s richest merchants, returns home from a year at sea, he finds his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, all Teach wants is to return to the vast ocean he calls home. There’s just one problem: he must convince his father to let him leave and never come back. Following the death of her parents, Anne Barrett is left penniless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne takes a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks and Anne longs to escape the confines of her now mundane life. How will she ever achieve her dream of sailing to Curaçao—her mother’s birthplace—when she’s trapped in England? From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn together by a shared desire for freedom, but kept apart by Teach’s father, their love is as passionate as it is forbidden. Faced with an impossible choice, Teach and Anne must decide whether to chase their dreams and leave England forever—or follow their hearts and stay together." 2/5 My first thought when reading this was "Pirates!" Second thought was that I haven't really seen much of it in what I read so I gave this a go. I had read reviews that made it seem more like a romance novel than anything to really do with pirates and okay, knowing that it was part fantasy and had to deal with Blackbeard in some way I figured that things would have played out differently but nope. I was just given romance with a hint of pirating that might be referenced in future books. Teach and Anne fell flat for me. It seemed kind of insta-loveish which set me back a bit to try and want to finish it to be honest. I struggled with this one and that made me sad because I had high hopes. ---------------------------------------- BLACKSOULS (BLACKHEARTS #2) - ARC via Netgalley READ: 4/1-2/17; RELEASE: 4/11/17 "Edward “Teach” Drummond is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most celebrated merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain. Mutiny is a capital offense and Teach knows it could cost him his life, but he believes it worth the risk in order to save his crew from the attacking Spanish ships. Sailing on the same blue waters, Anne barely avoids the Spanish attack, making it safely to Nassau. But lawless criminals, corrupt politics, and dangerous intentions fill the crowded streets of this Caribbean port. Soon, Anne discovers that the man entrusted to keep the peace is quite possibly the most treacherous of them all—and he just happens to hold Teach’s fate in his terrifying hands. Life and death hang in the balance when Teach and Anne are given a dangerous mission. It’s a mission that will test their love, loyalty, and devotion, forcing them down a path neither one could have ever imagined." 3/5 I received a copy of this via Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Alright. I'll be honest, I wanted to try and see if this improved upon what was laid out in the first book. That being said: PIRATES! Actual Pirates in this one! This held what I managed to like about the first book and actually improve upon it. The added note of pirates which was lacking in book 1 improves with the addition of Reva and a few others that come in near the end of the book. As per usual, I think this entire series isn't bad but if it had been marketed more as a Blackbeard origin story rather than a romance with a hint of pirates (the first book) it might have faired better. I'm excited to see where it goes next towards book 3 and Teach becoming Blackbeard eventually. ---------------------------------------- MASK OF SHADOWS - ARC via Netgalley READ: 4/2-3/17; RELEASE: 9/5/17 "Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class—and the nobles who destroyed their home. When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand—the Queen's personal assassins, named after the rings she wears—Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge. But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive." 2/5 I received an arc of this book via Netgalley and publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Fire, in exchange for an honest review. I just... the description had me. The cover had me. Everything else in this looked great. Seriously, awareness via gender fluid characters, what's not to like? I genuinely thought I would like this but I didn't. I thought this would be different but it's just a mishmash of plots that sticks too close to Hunger Games. The other issue that I had, that I read in another review, was that instead of giving the participants actual character they were reduced to being a number on a page (with exception to a few). I was just so disappointed. The characters (the ones that were developed) were there. The setting was there. And development and detail just wasn't.

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