The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Scholastic

Pages: 450pgs

The Story

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after . . .

The Review

While I didn't have a lot of high praise for Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys, however, I must say that - well, this time at least - I actually came to really love this second instalment of the series.

Even though there are certain parts of the book that can become a little confusing at times for the reader (which also happened to me when I read the very first book because the story was a little confusing for me) and while this book is much more focused on another certain character, that being Ronan, rather than the focus being on our other main leading characters - including Blue and Gansey, but on a whole, it was much more enjoyable to read compared to the first book which I'm really happy (not to mention very surprised) about since I have loved every single other book Stiefvater has ever written.

And another thing to mention and without giving away spoilers, while Ronan's character was interesting and all, but I also came to enjoy Blue and Gansey's characters. Blue was a pretty good character from the first book, but with Gansey I was a little unsure about him. But in saying that, both Gansey and Blue have surprised me in this sequel and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more about them, especially with Blue and finding out more about her 'true love' and quite possibly more about her fate with this certain special someone. Another worthy mention is Adam as well, whom was also interesting in this book though I'm kind of rooting for Gansey and Blue despite her whole 'true love' dilemma which, for those who have read the book, readers should know what I'm talking about.

Overall, THE DREAM THIEVES was a delightful book and I can't wait to find out what more the author has install for her characters in the next book.

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

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 Sharpest Blade by Sandy Williams

Release Date: 31st December, 2013

Publisher: Ace

Pages: 320pgs

The Story

Torn between two worlds.

Torn between two lives.

McKenzie Lewis’s ability to read the shadows has put her—and …those she loves—in harm’s way again and again. The violence must end, but will the cost of peace be more devastating than anyone ever imagined?

After ten years of turmoil, the life McKenzie has always longed for may finally be within her grasp. No one is swinging a sword at her head or asking her to track the fae, and she finally has a regular—albeit boring—job. But when a ruthless enemy strikes against her friends, McKenzie abandons her attempt at normalcy and rushes back to the Realm.

With the fae she loves and the fae she’s tied to pulling her in different directions, McKenzie must uncover the truth behind the war and accept the painful sacrifices that must be made to end it. Armed with dangerous secrets and with powerful allies at her side, her actions will either rip the Realm apart—or save it.

The Review

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book!

THE SHARPEST BLADE was a delightful end to this adult fantasy trilogy and while it wasn't exactly my favourite instalment in the series, but I was still pretty happy with how everything was concluded in the end. It was nice and clean. Straight to the point too.

Now for the majority of this series, I've always had this fondness for our main character, McKenzie, and let me tell you she was a very tough heroine throughout the series, especially in this third and final book. She was very kick-ass, in fact. Now despite her romantic troubles between two very powerful guys (which is solved by the end of this book thankfully), but when it comes to fighting against the fae and their other creatures, McKenzie never allowed anyone - not even once - to push her around and so . . . she definitely holds her own in any situation that she faces, which - I guess - is one of the many qualities that I've always came to admire about her. Another thing too, McKenzie, at least what I found, had already made her decision with who she wanted to be with between her two love interests from   the end of book one and she never regretted her choice with this particular 'love' of hers, which is a nice change to read about considering love triangles don't always end well for the heroine, so yeah that was nice.

Overall, THE SHARPEST BLADE contained so many elements that I love in the fantasy genre and I would definitely recommend this series for sure! It's such a fun, quick read.

The Rating

4/5 stars

Horizon by Alyson Noel

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Macmillan

Pages: 336pgs

The Story

Fate has bound them together—and torn them apart.  Now Daire and Dace face one final fight that will seal their destiny forever.

Daire Santos is the last of the Soul Seekers, and the only thing standing between the Richters and the destruction of everyone she loves. With her grandmother gone and Cade back in Enchantment, Daire must finally step into her destiny and lead the fight against the Richters. But what if that means sacrificing the person she loves most?

Bound to the Richters by blood, Dace struggles against the darkness growing inside him that threatens to claim Daire too. Though Daire refuses to give up on him, the choice may not be hers. An epic battle is on the horizon and the end of the world looms near. With such insurmountable odds stacked against them, is their love really enough to conquer all?


The Review

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me a review copy of this book!

After reading the Immortals series, even though that particular series didn't work out so well for me after six books or so, but I was so glad that Noel's other Soul Seekers series did work out in the end. It was very entertaining to say the least (more so the mythology side of it) and even the final book offered a nice - but an also unexpected - ending, which was much better than the Immortals series ending ever was. So I was rather glad for that.

While Daire, the main character, had her ups and downs in this book, but soon as the last half of the book came to a head, she soon grew back into her own once more and made all of the right decisions. Dace, her love interest, on the other hand, was still an alright kind of character and I always liked him as Daire's love interest, but he was probably the only disappointing factor of the book and that's probably because I expected so much more from him in this particular book. But regardless of that, everything in the end worked out the best for everyone . . . mostly.

Overall, HORIZON was a very entertaining book and while the ending (even for a final book) did end with a small plot-twist, but it was still a great read.

The Rating

4/5 stars

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 448pgs

The Story

A Russian honey trap agent targets a young CIA operative to uncover a senior-ranking mole at the heart of the Russian Intelligence service.

Dominika Egorov, former prima ballerina, is sucked into the heart of Putin's Russia, the country she loved, and spat out as the twists and turns of betrayal and counter-betrayal unravel.

American Nate Nash, idealistic and ambitious, handles the double agent, codenamed MARBLE, considered one of CIA's biggest assets. He needs to keep his identity secret for as long as the mole can keep supplying golden information.

Will Dominika be able to unmask MARBLE, or will the mission see her faith destroyed in the country she has always passionately defended?

The Review

A big thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

I will happily admit I don't usually read CIA books unless they have an interesting blurb at the back of the book (because some CIA books can clearly be quite long and heavy reads) but I do have quite a fetish for thriller books, particularly espionage thriller stories since they are the most exciting reads of all. And, in line with those exciting reads that I love and adore, I surprisingly really enjoyed Jason Matthews's RED SPARROW and I knew all along it was right up my alley in the first place.

RED SPARROW, in my opinion, may not be for everyone's taste but it definitely has so many appealing things about it - what with credible characters, beautiful descriptions of settings and with some pretty exciting experiences of what the CIA has to offer in terms of actually feeling what it's like to be apart of this grand scale organisation with many deceptions, schemes, double-crossings and dangerous missions of all types. It was just such a fascinating read for me and sets up a great tale that I think any reader would enjoy, no matter what you like or don't like in books or in their genres.

Overall, RED SPARROW is not for the light-hearted or impatient people, but on a whole I thought the book felt really authentic and I love that considering the author himself was in the actual CIA in real life (I mean that's seriously cool because he knows his stuff!). So I find Jason Matthews definitely gets a two thumbs up from me with his new book!

The Rating

4/5 stars

Devoured by Emily Snow

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Touchstone

Pages: 320pgs

The Story

Sienna Jensen had no plans to return home when she graduated college last spring—after all, her dreams lie in California. But when she discovers her grandmother’s Nashville home has been foreclosed, and the new owner has started the eviction process, Sienna has no other choice but go back to Music City. And she comes face to face with the flawed, gorgeous man she never thought she’d see again. The man who now holds the deed to her grandma’s estate.

When millionaire rock star Lucas Wolfe finds the outspoken redhead glaring at him from across a courtroom, he’s both infuriated and intrigued. He still can't get the night Sienna almost spent with him out of his mind, and the chemistry between them is as undeniable as it was two years ago. He craves Sienna more than ever. And just like everything Lucas hungers for, he’s determined to have her.

Now, Lucas will do whatever it takes to lure Sienna into his bed, even if that means making a deal with her: ten days with him, playing by his rules, and he’ll hand over the deed to her grandmother’s home. Though she agrees to the arrangement, Sienna is conflicted. Because of her duty to her family. Because of promises she’s made to herself and a past that still haunts her. And as Lucas’s game of seduction continues, and Sienna is introduced to his dark, erotic world and even darker background, she realizes that at any moment, she could be devoured.

The Review

I went on a whim with this book. A pretty big whim it seems. But considering the book sounded like a read crossed between Beautiful Disaster meets the likes of Easy with a slight hint of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, I just thought myself: Why not have crack at it and what have I got to lose? And it obviously paid off with my sudden whim since I quite enjoyed this book. It's not the best book I've ever read in the genre so far but I liked it well enough to finish it.

Look when it comes down to it, the characters in the book, in particular Sienna and Lucas, may do stupid things at one time or another and develop feelings (or rather lust) for each other way too quickly and are perhaps not as developed as main characters as much as I would like them to be, but I think these sorts of reads - particularly ones that go into the erotica genre - are meant to be seen as fun, quick reads if you get my meaning and to me that's the most fun part about it. They're quick, fun reads with stories with a lot, a lot of frustrating situations thrown into one to get the readers on edge and I loved that about it! The only little bit of criticism I have for this book is Lucas and his relationship with Sienna. While I don't necessarily approve of bully, bad boys who treat women like nothing . . . but Lucas is much better than some boys I've come across and he does improve later on in his bad boy ways . . . so we shall see what he's like in the next sequel. Fingers crossed that I have more respect for him in that book.

Overall, DEVOURED was a pleasant book to read with some pretty frustrating and sometimes outrageous characters. So even though I'm still not entirely sure how I felt about this book exactly (it was to be as expected considering the genre) but I thought it sets up a quite nice start to a series and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

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