Outpost by Ann Aguirre

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 317pgs

The Story

Deuce’s whole world has changed.

Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn't fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

The Review

Don't get me wrong here. I really, really loved the first book in the series, but there was just something missing in this sequel. Something strong and something captivating. Or rather, I have no clue what changed in this sequel for me. But it's just unlike the first book that was packed with so much action, adventure, and so much character progression and development, I just felt as if the sequel just lost all of what made the first book, Enclave, so special and unique in its own genre, which is a real shame really because I was starting to really love this series.

OUTPOST was still interesting I suppose and left me with many questions with what is going to happen in the third and final book, but the characters and the storyline itself - at least for me - just fell completely flat. If anything, I probably blame it all on the teenage angst that constantly surrounded the characters which seemed rather unnecessary (especially between Deuce and her moody hunting partner/love interest Fade) and on the suppose 'love triangle' the main character has between two boys, even though it's quite obvious she has feelings more for one particular boy than the other. But yeah, I'm still uncertain to what I feel for this particular book, only that the storyline dragged on too many accounts and the characters in the end just didn't appeal to me this time round.

Overall, while OUTPOST was a major letdown, but I'm still hoping for the best in the third and final book and I'll be crossing my fingers that something changes my mind about this series, especially when I thought the first book had such a promising start.

The Rating

2/5 stars

The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Candlewick

Pages: 320pgs

The Story

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished — only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear. Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing — one right on top of the roof — hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he’s launched on a time-twisting journey — from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker’s actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

The Review

To put it simply, I found this book, THE OBSIDIAN BLADE, was a tad bit . . . overwhelming. Well, for the most part at least. Whether that's a good thing or not, I just don't know what to think really after (barely) finishing this book. From the beginning of the book, while I will admit that I certainly went into this particular title with very high expectations considering a lot of people had quite enjoyed it in the past and the story did sound quite fascinating to me as well, but all I can say is that it's really different to what I'm used to reading from a sci-fi-like genre and I definitely give the author credit for that because it was really, really different. And pretty odd too.

While some of the characters were interesting in their own right, but I think what let this book down majorly was, one, having a slow pace which doesn't help most of the time, and two, having very little answers to some pretty big questions that was going through my mind at the time of reading this book. So when a book is slow and becomes confusing to me because I have no idea what's going on when really I should have some clue as to what is going on . . . that - to me at least - is a book's major downfall and unfortunately ends up ruining my enjoyment of the rest of the story. So sadly this book is bumped down from a two star to a one star as sad as it is.

Overall, THE OBSIDIAN BLADE is more for a braver reader who is looking for something odd and interesting. Now I won't go and say it was a terrible book since it does have its cool moments at times, but in the end it just wasn't an enjoyable read for me and I was pretty disappointed.

The Rating

1/5 stars

Tokyo Heist by Diana Renn

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Pages: 364pgs

The Story

When sixteen-year-old Violet agrees to spend the summer with her father, an up-and-coming artist in Seattle, she has no idea what she's walking into. Her father's newest clients, the Yamada family, are the victims of a high-profile art robbery: van Gogh sketches have been stolen from their home, and, until they can produce the corresponding painting, everyone's lives are in danger--including Violet's and her father's.

Violet's search for the missing van Gogh takes her from the Seattle Art Museum, to the yakuza-infested streets of Tokyo, to a secluded inn in Kyoto. As the mystery thickens, Violet's not sure whom she can trust. But she knows one thing: she has to solve the mystery--before it's too late.

The Review

I like a good old-fashioned heist story. Honestly who doesn't love a good-old heist? Whether it's a book or movie, I'm totally there for it no matter what the format it comes in! But in this case, what made me enjoy this book even more and more was the fact that it was set behind the backdrop of one of my favourite countries ever, Japan, and honestly combining my love of heists and Japan together, you're bound to get an amazing storyline out of it. And I was right. It was a whole lot of fun!

TOKYO HEIST is unlike any other contemporary and heist book I have ever read. Sure it features the traditional mysteries and heists as its major themes, but what made this story even more unique was the country of Japan the book was set in and how heavily cultured the author made the book. Plus it definitely helps having a protagonist like Violet being easily to connect to, considering I love Japan and I'm a total manga fan to the core like Violet was. Just having her talk about her love of drawing, manga, and Japan within itself, just screamed at me to like and then love her . . . because we would totally be best friends in another life. Trust me we totally would!

Overall, I thought TOKYO HEIST offered a great story and I loved how everything turned out in the end for all of the characters. So if  you're looking for a fun-filled heist story and for something to escape books from the paranormal side of things of YA, then this book would be absolutely perfect for you!

The Rating

4/5 stars

Erasing Time by C.J. Hill

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 368pgs

The Story

When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that's so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can't go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The same government has implanted tracking devices in the citizens, limiting and examining everything they do. Taylor and Sheridan have to find a way out of the city before the government discovers their secrets. To complicate matters, the moblike Dakine has interest in getting hold of them too. The only way for the girls to elude their pursuers is to put their trust in Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

The Review

Whether it was because I wasn't in the mood for this particular book right now or because I just wasn't into the whole of the storyline (who knows really), but unfortunately for this book right here it was just not my cup of tea. While ERASING TIME certainly did have it's high points in certain sections of the book and had that great thriller and sci-fi feel added onto it (which I always love to read in a good old book), but there was just something missing in this title and I don't know what it was exactly, so in that case it was a pretty disappointing read on my part because the book had sounded really good initially.

On the brighter side of things, I had actually thought the start of the book was really gaining my full attention and I was also starting to like this book as it definitely had great potential (I mean the storyline alone sounded so cool and fresh). However, once I dived more into this storyline and once it introduced many confusing things that I couldn't fully understand and not to mention having very little explanation of why things were the way they were and with very little character development on top of it all, the more and more the book started to pull me away from . . . well . . . pretty much everything else in the book that I tried to connect with. I may have liked the concept of the book (which is why it's getting two starts from me because I certainly liked the originality of it) and some of the characters (props to them as well), but sadly everything else that needed to matter somehow just fell apart in the end. There were just too many questions I had with very little answers to them, which I don't like in a book at all. I mean, I get it's the first book in the series and such, but . . . I still don't like this confusing element to it. I just needed . . . more from it in the end I guess.

Overall, ERASING TIME isn't everybody's cup of tea and judging by my review you can see this already, but if you're looking for a quick-paced story with some pretty interesting characters and unique world-building concepts that you may or may not have read before, I would definitely recommend giving this book a shot and see what happens for you because there are still plenty of other readers who had quite enjoyed this book more than I ever did.

The Rating

2/5 stars

The Cloud Hunters by Alex Shearer

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Pages: 283pgs

The Story

Hunting the skies is not for the faint-hearted. In a world where water is scarce and deadly jellyfish swim through the sky, mollycoddled teenager Christien dreams of excitement and danger. When he meets the exotic and alluring Jenine and her family of Cloud Hunters, he becomes determined to fulfil that dream. . . .

In a richly imaginative tale, Alex Shearer creates a Dahl-esque fantasy that roams through realms of magic, wonder and adventure.

The Review

THIS book right here was one of the most imaginative ideas that I have ever come across this year and I wished I'd read it sooner than I did because let me tell you, with similarities that remind me so much of the creativeness and innocence of Howl's Moving Castle (one of my favourite movies and books), I firmly believe someone should make an anime movie or something out of this book. It was just filled with so much awesomeness even for a much smaller book.

From the beginning, I found THE CLOUD HUNTERS was a very unusual book but it's also the book itself that sets it apart from all the other books I have previously that truly matters here. Containing interesting characters, beautiful world-building and a clever blend of adventure, fantasy and smaller of romances, what made me dive further into this brilliant world of Shearer's was the fact that neither unique element overpowers another which made me enjoy this book even more and it's the kind of read - a flowing and beautifully-written read - where I can see many people enjoying themselves as well. Ah, I just fell in love with this book as soon as I opened the page and I wished it wasn't over already.

But let's talk about the characters. Christien, for one, who is our main character, was a fantastic boy and I loved just how fascinated he was about the people who call themselves 'The Cloud Hunters' in the book, those people whose adventures are based solely around collecting water for their lands in the sky. Literally. In the sky. The more he thought about them, the more I wanted to know about them . . . it was a dream within itself really and I couldn't help but be swept up by it all. Janine, on the other hand, a young girl who is a Cloud Hunter herself, was perfect for a boy like Christien and not to mention the total opposite to him. While she may live a hard and rough life in the skies above alongside her family, but I loved how tough she was throughout the book and I can definitely see why Christien was falling in love with her . . . boy this book . . . I had a lot of feels in this one, especially with these two main characters so just you wait people until you read the book . . . it was so emotionally awesome in every single way.

Overall, THE CLOUD HUNTERS was a book I was so glad to have a chance to read and whether people were a fan of the ending or not, but I personally had totally loved how a simple idea - a simple but a very creative one at that - turned out to be such a wonderful journey for me and I can't wait to read more from this author!

The Rating

5/5 stars

A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 352pgs

The Story

When she wakes up in unfamiliar surroundings, Skye knows something terrible has happened to her. It's not until she hears Asher, the dark, rebellious angel she fell in love with, that the memories come flooding back. She tries to put the past behind her, but she knows she'll be forever haunted by the ruthless betrayal that almost took her life.

Skye returns home, but with the knowledge of who she really is, nothing can ever be the same. As she tests the limits of her newfound powers, Skye discovers that she's capable of far more than anyone could have imagined. Both the Order and the Rebellion want her for their side as war between the factions looms. She can't forget the terrifying truth she now knows about the Order, but something holds her back from embracing the Rebellion.

The Review

Now I wasn't exactly a huge huge fan of Jocelyn Davies's debut novel, A Beautiful Dark, and for the most part it was because of the love triangle and what had occurred towards the end of that book. But despite what I thought at that specific time, I still wanted to give the sequel another chance to prove me wrong and I'm glad I did because to my own surprise the book, A FRACTURED LIGHT, was a much better book compared to the first in the series and while it did contain that annoying back-and-forth love triangle, which I still didn't like, but on a whole I thought it was a much more pleasurable book to read and a very entertaining one at that.

I don't want to give anything away for obvious reasons so I'm going to be pretty vague here, but what occurs within in this book had really kept my interest in from the very beginning and that's because, like what the main character Sky had experience, I too had no idea who to trust in this book, especially with Sky's two love interests, Asher and that other-whats-his-name guy I didn't care too much about anymore. Hehe. Trust, at least what I found in this sequel, was the main focus of the book this time round and it was very interesting to see how things would eventually play out because of this trust issue if you get my meaning. It was very interesting indeed. The ending in particular was not at all how I pictured it to be like, so in the end I was pretty happy with that part because it was - ultimately - the right thing to do in Sky's case. So whether something bigger will happen as a consequence of that final action and decision in the last installment of the series who knows, but I guess we will have to wait and see and hope for the best in the final book.

Overall, A FRACTURED LIGHT was such a bigger improvement compared to the first book in the series and I'm now really looking forward to reading the next book!

The Rating

4/5 stars

When Summer Ends by Isabelle Rae

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Createspace

Pages: 368pgs

The Story

Chloe Henderson has never been one to break the rules or push the boundaries… but during her summer break, she and her friends use fake IDs to sneak into a club. It’s there that she meets handsome and alluring bartender, Will Morris. The pair hit it off immediately, growing closer with every passing day. But as with every summer, it has to end sometime. 

Chloe’s senior year approaches and there’s a shock in store when she returns to do her final year at school. Will is there too, but he’s not one of her fellow students…

A tale of forbidden love, broken hearts, friendship, and rivalry.

The Review

I must say this book had caught my eye sometime last year but I didn't think it would be that interesting to read about. But judging by all of the high praising reviews I have seen over the last few months, I decided against what I thought initially of the book and went ahead to read it anyway (and it did also help that it was offered for free to read as well hehe). Turns out, despite all of the drama the characters had went through and all of the teenage angst, I actually really enjoyed this book and surprisingly I was totally sucked in right from the very first page.

WHEN SUMMER ENDS, for the main gist of it, is a story that revolves heavily around two strangers meeting at a bar and ultimately entering a romantic relationship soon afterwards. But unlike most relationships, this one starts off wrong, where the guy in this 'relationship' is a twenty-two-year-old and the girl he is slowly falling in love with is . . . well . . . a seventeen-year-old school girl which the guy doesn't find out until later. So already you can tell this is a wrong sort of relationship from the get-go and one that is based on lies. While I disapprove of the circumstances with how this relationship started, but along the way and when everyone finds out about the secrets they have been hiding, this relationship soon turns out to be one you were rooting for all the way and for me personally I just wanted these two characters, Will and Chloe, to get together despite the odds they were facing which includes them being a student and a teacher.

On a whole, this book was quite a solid one and I think the storyline was very well paced considering all of the drama and angst the book contained. And I think this particular book's strength came through the characters themselves or more specifically the main characters, Will and Chloe. Whether or not you condone their teacher-and-student relationship, ultimately Will was very well-written character and very mature for his age which was nice to see because he is a nice guy overall, and Chloe as well was again another well-written character and despite her many faults (especially when she continues to pursue Will even though Will is trying to hold back from their 'relationship') I still thought she complemented Will's character in a great way. But again, there's a lot of angst in this book and whether you're a fan of it or not, I think for a quick and completely addictive read, many girls out there will love this book and will fall for Will as well.

Overall, WHEN SUMMER ENDS may not exactly have a great message about underage relationships, but in the long-run I thought it was an awesome read and a very entertaining one at that. So I would highly recommend it to everyone!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Hyperion

Pages: 368pgs

The Story

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

The Review

TIME BETWEEN US features a lovely little romance and I can see why so many enjoyed it. But as far as the story went, I wouldn't necessarily say it was one of the best time travelling stories out there that I have come across lately. At least not in the lines of my favourite films and stories such as The Lake House and The Time Traveler's Wife. It was good but not as amazing as I thought it would be like.

In terms of what I did like in the book, I quite enjoyed the romance that goes on between Bennet and Anna's characters, and what happens when time begins to interfere with each of the character's own present times. It was a well-written book in those particular aspects. But what I didn't like was the fact that the time travelling concept was more a plot motivator rather than it playing a much more important role in the book. I felt like at times the romance was over-taking the plot more than it needed to be . . . but apart from that I still thought this book was a lot of fun and quite an enjoyable read.

Overall, TIME BETWEEN US may not be a favourite book of mine, but I'm happy to have read it and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a much lighter read.

The Rating

3/5 stars

Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 352pgs

The Story

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. 

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

The Review

I picked up this book on a whim and I wasn't particularly expecting much from it either. Mostly because of the average reviews it has been receiving over the last year or so. But since I was already in love and interested in Norse mythology, and much to my own surprise and better judgement, I actually really, really enjoyed this book and it definitely reminded me of the likes of Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed series which is always a good thing since I enjoyed that series as well. This book, I guess, just had this fun feel about it and you can't go wrong with a book like that.

VALKYRIE RISING offered a lot of great things to me. It has many likable characters, interesting mythologies, great plot and unexpected twists, and on a whole it just had such a great background setting of Norway which isn't featured - if at all - in too many books that I have read in the past which is quite refreshing to say the least. But out of everything I've just mentioned, what I loved the most about this book and what was its strong suit was the mythology it featured - these group of women warriors who lure strong and young men to join Odin's army. How cool is that, right? Well . . . maybe not for the guys hehe. I mean, there's something just so awesome about this particular mythology and what amplifies this mythology even more was having an amazing and a very strong, determined and young protagonist named Ellie, whom I thought had really bought out the awesomeness in the mythology alone not to mention the story itself. Just you wait you guys it's really awesome, especially when the story begins to come together in the end!

Overall, VALKYRIE RISING was such a great debut coming from a very talented Ingrid Paulson. With great mythology, characters and interesting plot twists, I can't wait to read more from her and from this series because I was hooked right from the very beginning with this one! 

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages: 342pgs

The Story

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

The Review

I've read nothing but amazing and glowing reviews for this book (everyone I know seemed to love it), and since I was so desperate to read it, I finally got myself a copy to see for myself just what an amazing read it was and I hoped to join ranks of those who'd loved it as well. Now while I liked the potential the book had, what it offered and the sound of the storyline itself, but unfortunately I found nothing particularly likable about this book which is such a shame really, considering I love the fantasy genre and I was really looking forward to this title.

I don't what it was exactly but I just got nothing from this book. The story was predictable, the characters faded into the background (not even the main character could save them all let alone himself) and nothing in the entire world Nielsen created got me invested in the storyline either. There was . . . nothing as sad as it is to say so. I just needed something more because something major was missing to make it an even greater tale and I guess it's my loss on this one because it's not for me.

Overall, THE FALSE PRINCE will probably appeal for younger readers than myself, but other than that I was quite disappointed with this book and it just wasn't what I was looking for originally.

The Rating

1/5 stars

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 310pgs

The Story

When does obsession become madness? Tragedy has forced sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein to swear off alchemy forever. He burns the Dark Library. He vows he will never dabble in the dark sciences again—just as he vows he will no longer covet Elizabeth, his brother’s betrothed.

If only these things were not so tempting.

When he and Elizabeth discover a portal into the spirit world, they cannot resist. Together with Victor’s twin, Konrad, and their friend Henry, the four venture into a place of infinite possibilities where power and passion reign. But as they search for the knowledge to raise the dead, they unknowingly unlock a darkness from which they may never return.

The Review

In the next installment of Kenneth Oppel's Victor Frankenstein series, SUCH WICKED INTENT, is just as well-written as the first book of This Dark Endeavor which I loved immensely. Mostly because of Victor himself  (cause I really love him and his inner demons!). But for some reason I didn't quite find this second installment to be as satisfying as the first book nor was it a book that stayed necessarily on course of its original source of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but regardless of that, I still found it was was a very well-written book with a lot of unexpected twists and dark adventures in it that I think any Gothic fan will love and eat right up!

From the previous book, I absolutely loved Victor's character and everything he represents (even if he does frustrate you in everything he does and the dangerous actions he takes). And even in this book I loved the fact that the author still fueled his burning passion of science, schemes, manipulations and such because it's just . . . so Victor, you know? But in this sequel I felt really sorry for Victor because, one, he's dealing with the death of his twin brother, Conrad, will he blames himself for, and, two, he's still struggling with his romantic feelings for Elizabeth, his distant cousin and the girl who was set to be betrothed to his brother which has many complications of its own considering Elizabeth did love Conrad. Victor just has all these torments in him in this sequel and I wanted - so badly - for him to be happy for once in his life but it's hard to be considering his ultimate fate in Frankenstein but I still love him.

The only kicker for me in this book was Elizabeth. Now I haven't always loved Elizabeth because she a bit of an over-the-place kind of girl and she's always hard to read as a character (I just don't know whether to like, love, or loathe her really), but she is the main link to Victor's obsession and desire, which I cannot help but love. So while it is apart of the storyline - Elizabeth and Victor's relationship - and part of the reason why many conflicts come Victor's way, but Elizabeth is this very selfish young woman and I think she treated Victor horribly in this book by playing with his mind. I mean, Victor, of course, is not entirely innocent and Elizabeth has always refused him with his feelings for her as well, but still . . . I don't like girls playing with guys minds . . . it's unfair and it's no wonder why Victor was a madman at times - all because of her. Still, I loved Victor and his obsessive nature. It's part of the reason why I loved the classic of Frankenstein.

Overall, SUCH WICKED INTENT may not have entirely won my heart like the first book did but it definitely sets up a nice sequel and I'm really, really hoping there's another book in the works because I'm really, really missing my dear Victor and his scientific obsessions of creation.

The Rating

4/5 stars

Hidden by Sophie Jordan

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 260pgs

The Story

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

The Review

Sophie Jordan's Firelight series may not be one of the most epic stories I have ever read, but it's one of the sweetest and most easy-following reads that drew me in to begin with, and it's one of those rare qualities that I love most about it. So after I FINALLY got a chance to read this book (been meaning to read this book for what seems like forever), I have to say while it's settles on a nice conclusion to the series for most of the characters involved, but I found it was still a very disappointing book out of all three books in the series.

In saying that, I thought HIDDEN was a fairly well-plotted book and added a lot of surprising twists in the mist of it all. It was good that respect. But after everything that the characters have been through - from the dangers of hunters and the possible capturing of the Draki to the dangers of forbidden and complicated romances - it just wasn't what I expected for a final conclusion. Not even the romance between Will and Jacinda could save me now (which mind you was very mushy for my taste). I don't know what it was exactly that put me off with this book except that it seemed as if it was 'missing' something important to make me take notice, you know? And as for the ending, while it does get a satisfying nod from me because for one character in particular, a character that has always been a favourite of mine, that being Cassian, I felt as if his story was not justified well. So whether Sophie Jordan is planning a spin-off series for him or not, I just didn't like the ending for Cassian. It seems too unfinished for me.

Overall, HIDDEN was fairly good but mostly just-an-okay kind of book for me and that I guess is what was most disappointing of all considering it's the final book. Final books are meant to blow your minds . . . which this book did not do for me . . . sadly.

The Rating

2/5 stars

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pages: 382pgs

The Story

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

The Review

WHOA. I'm so glad I decided to read this series because it's such a thrill ride, especially this book right here! I am absolutely certain that I love Daemon for all eternity, even though he can be a very, very, very frustrating dude to handle. And, on the plus side, I am also certain that I love Katy as well because - while she can make some silly decisions on her part - but she can be a pretty amazing girl on her good days. And . . . well . . . I seriously need more of this series and I need it now, okay?

OPAL is a fantastic continuation of the Lux series and I can see why so many readers adore this series just as much as me and basically everything in it! From the storyline to its characters. So while I did have some trouble in loving Katy and Daemon's interactions with each other this time round, as they always argue and go back and forth about loving one another with the 'I love you but I don't but I do' sort of thing, but once they finally get it together and screw their heads back on . . . they actually become a great fictional couple and one that I will love til the very end. In this book especially, you can tell how much they love one another! So yay for that!

But what I loved most about this third book in the series was the cliffhanger! With the previous two books I wouldn't necessarily say there were major cliffhangers at the end of those titles, but this one is pretty MAJOR indeed. I'm telling you it was beyond cruel the ending because just when you think everything is going to plan and will be alright for the characters . . . something BIG suddenly happens and ruins it all and pretty much ruins our lives along with it. So yes, thank you dear author for now leaving me to die in waiting around for the next book. I seriously need it now! GIVE IT TO ME! Argh.

Overall, I have a lot of feels for OPAL and I'm not saying this lightly! That ending . . . damn. I need the fourth book now and I mean now, okay? My Katy and Daemon feels are going to explode if I don't get that book already. Those two . . . they need to be together without all of this mad alien, psycho drama. Just saying!

The Rating

4/5 stars

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pages: 366pgs

The Story

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks . . .

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town . . .

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes . . .

I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies . . .

The Review

As soon as I finished the first book in the Lux series, Obsidian, I knew I had to quickly order a copy of the sequel as well because I was . . . HOOKED.

ONYX may not have won me over entirely like the first book may have done, but I still totally loved it not to mention enjoyed this book immensely because we all finally get to see an entirely different side to Daemon's character. He was no longer pushing Katy away with his over-protective and surly manner, but instead he was embracing how much he truly felt about our girl despite their new and sudden connection with each other (which would explain why Katy was hesitant about their new relationship in the first place). Anyway, I really liked that new side to Daemon. But, if I'm being honest here, I think out of everything it was the romance in this book that had really done it for me. No one who has already read this series can deny how much Daemon and Katy belong together! You just can't deny it! Katy who has grown so much in this series, especially in this book, just connected so well to Daemon and those sparks . . . damn they were so hot!

Overall, ONYX was such a pleasure to read and I'm seriously looking forward to reading pretty much anything else Jennifer L. Armentrout has for her readers and for me too! I really need more of Katy and Daemon hotness, alright?

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 402pgs

The Story

It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen's persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

The Review

A big thanks to the lovely (and awesome) Brodie for swapping books with me to get a copy of this book!

Sometimes retellings of some of my favourite stories just cannot live up to my expectations nor impress me on a very high level. But with me having a lot of cover love for this book and with the story being a retelling of my favourite of all favourite Jane Austen book's, Persuasion (trust me READ the original book you guys), this book just needed to be read by me. I'm pretty much sold on any Jane Austen retelling. So considering everything I've just read, the author not only stays true to the original work but it also presents new readers a very lush and imaginative storyline that holds its own.

Wow. Wow. Wow. You guys, I have so many feels for this book alone. FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a story unlike any other I have read before - at least for a retelling, and it's the kind of book that makes your heart warm, tingly, and achy in all of the right places. It was just bittersweet. So while some readers may not be a fan of the dystopian elements featured in this particular book, but I actually thought it fitted and suited well - and so perfectly too - for the storyline such as Persuasion and if you can't tell already . . . it totally won me over!

Then there is the romance section of the book. Oh my god, the romance! It was the bittersweet kind going on between the independent and sometimes-closed off young girl, Elliot, whom I loved as the main character, and her childhood sweetheart boy now turned independent-rude-brush-off of a man whom Elliot hasn't seen in what seems like a lifetime and whom I loved to hate and love all over again, that being Captain Malakai Wentforth aka Kai. Like in the original book, Persuasion, I think Diana Peterfreund did such great justice to her own set of characters and managed to weave the original characters' personalities into them and so well too. She just got everything right both with the characters and the romances between them. Just damn. If you have read the original book you will understand my emotions here . . . it was utter sweet perfection! You could FEEL the conflict, the anger, the confusion of feelings going back-and-forth between the characters Elliot and Kai . . . it was all of these unresolved feelings going on and it just sparked with passion in this book. Just sparked! SO MANY FEELS!

Overall, I could honestly go on and on about this book and it was everything I was hoping for! Jane Austen would be proud of this one. Very proud indeed. FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is one of the best retellings - if not my favourite book retelling by far - that I have read in a long time and it's something I would highly recommend to everyone within a heartbeat! Again, SO MANY FEELS!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pages: 361pgs

The Story

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is.

The Review

OH MY GOD . . .

WHOA. WHOA . . .

WHOAAAAAAAAAAA!

Are you kidding me? Are you freaking kidding me? Whoa! Why didn't I read this book sooner than I did? Why didn't I listen to my lovely fellow bloggers when they told me to read this amazing book series asap? Who knows really . . . but I've read it now and let's just say I was really, really blown away by it all.

OBSIDIAN was just . . . SO original. I kid you not. Everything about the storyline was solid, the action scenes were perfection, the shocking twists were spot-on and so was its characters. Each one of them. Sure, if I was being really honest here, while I found the characters drove me nuts in the best possible way in particular with Daemon's character who came off as a slight jerk-ish guy who was still so addictive (even our girl Katy was such a fiery and captivating-kick-ass character), but I was really, really impressed with this book and everything in it. Not even this review can do it justice so I'm keeping this book review short as possible because . . . blah . . . I can't even explain it.

Overall, goodbye vampires and werewolves and HELLO hot aliens! OBSIDIAN deserves every bit of praise it's been getting lately because it's everything a book should be - all fantastic things! Now I can't wait to get my hands on its next set of books! I impulsively ordered the rest of the books in fact so be prepared for more gushing book reviews to come!

The Rating

5/5 stars

The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Ace

Pages: 304pgs

The Story

McKenzie Lewis has a gift. 

It allows her access to a world few have seen, 

and even fewer can comprehend. It’s her secret. 

And it exists in the shadows . . .

McKenzie was a normal college student, save for one little twist: she’s a shadow reader, someone who can both see the fae and track their movements between our world and the Realm. It’s a gift for which she has been called insane, one for which she has risked family and friends—and one that has now plunged her into a brutal civil war between the fae.

With the reign of the king and his vicious general at an end, McKenzie hoped to live a more normal life while exploring her new relationship with Aren, the rebel fae who has captured her heart. But when her best friend, Paige, disappears McKenzie knows her wish is, for now, just a dream. McKenzie is the only one who can rescue her friend, but if she’s not careful, her decisions could cost the lives of everyone she’s tried so hard to save.

The Review

After defeating the King and his Fae in the first book, The Shadow Reader, McKenzie still can't seem to catch a break from pretty much . . . well . . . anything paranormal. Since switching sides with the Rebels in a war between them and those of the Fae, McKenzie is not only falling in love with the Rebel leader, Aren, and also having complicated and contradicting feelings for her past love, Kyol, but she is also attempting to fight off Remnants coming after her and her rebel followers, the type of Fae who are still very loyal to their dead king and would rather kill his replacement. But with many other matters on higher stakes, with a possible Rebel traitor among them all and with McKenzie's human best friend, Paige, abducted by those deadly Remnants . . . McKenzie must do everything within her power to hold the Fae kingdom together before everything is destroyed in the end.

I really enjoyed Sandy William's debut, The Shadow Reader. It was a very fun and addictive urban fantasy read, and I thought its sequel THE SHATTERED DARK was clearly no exception as well. I loved it! It may not have been as strong as the first book in terms of some uninteresting sections of the book, but regardless of that I still loved the main plot and how it mostly focused on the rebel faes which I wanted to know more about so I was all for it really. And, as for the romance side of things, while it did - at times - fall into the pitfalls of love triangles (even if it's not really a love triangle per se but just some resolved feelings for another person), however I'm really glad one of the  love interests was straightforward in his affections rather than hiding them for the main character and really . . . I love having high tension in anything romance-wise so I was pretty happy about that in this book!

Overall, THE SHATTERED DARK was a great continuation of The Shadow Reader series and with so much happening in the book - not to mention a great cliffhanger of sorts - I think many readers will enjoy this sequel just as much as the first book.

The Rating

4/5 stars