Mia and Jake have known each other their whole lives. They’ve endured summer vacations, Sunday brunches, even dentist visits together. Their mothers, who are best friends, are convinced that Mia and Jake would be the perfect couple, even though they can’t stand to be in the same room together.
After Mia’s mom turns away yet another cute boy, Mia and Jake decide they’ve have had enough. Together, they hatch a plan to get their moms off their backs. Permanently. All they have to do is pretend to date and then stage the worst breakup of all time—and then they’ll be free.
The only problem is, maybe Jake and Mia don’t hate each other as much as they once thought...
My Review:
3.5 stars? I'm not sure. It's hard for me to rate this one. On one hand I absolutely loved the characters and totally got sucked into the story. I loved Ms. Nguyen's first book, The Way to Game the Walk of Shame, and I just generally enjoy her flirty, cutesy style. On the other hand this book didn't feel quite as thoughtful or as tightly plotted as her first one. There were some plot threads and characters that felt unnecessary or underdeveloped. That said, I was riveted and generally enjoying this one until about the last 3rd of the book, when I could see how everything would unravel and kind of just wanted to get to the end.
Overall I enjoyed this one. Never underestimate the value of a nice, feel good, romcom. I mean, to take a break from the world and smile a little feels priceless some days.
The Rakess (Society of Sirens #1) by Scarlett Peckham
Book Description:
Meet the SOCIETY OF SIRENS—three radical, libertine ladies determined to weaponize their scandalous reputations to fight for justice and the love they deserve…
She's a Rakess on a quest for women's rights…
Seraphina Arden's passions include equality, amorous affairs, and wild, wine-soaked nights. To raise funds for her cause, she's set to publish explosive memoirs exposing the powerful man who ruined her. Her ideals are her purpose, her friends are her family, and her paramours are forbidden to linger in the morning.
He's not looking for a summer lover…
Adam Anderson is a wholesome, handsome, widowed Scottish architect, with two young children, a business to protect, and an aversion to scandal. He could never, ever afford to fall for Seraphina. But her indecent proposal—one month, no strings, no future—proves too tempting for a man who strains to keep his passions buried with the losses of his past.
But one night changes everything...
What began as a fling soon forces them to confront painful secrets—and yearnings they thought they'd never have again. But when Seraphina discovers Adam's future depends on the man she's about to destroy, she must decide what to protect…her desire for justice, or her heart.
My Review:
I literally read this book because I saw it and thought it looked so ridiculous. I figured the cover and title were just for attention grabbing shock value, and hey, it worked on me. I understand why this has the over the top 80's bodice ripper vibes but role reversed. And on one hand I think it's brilliant. On the other hand I think some people may skip this one because of the cover/title, and definitely be missing out.
Marketing strategies aside, I am so impressed by Scarlett Peckham's writing, and this story. There is a lot more to this book than first appears. I love the themes that were discussed. I love the well fleshed out characters. I love the humor. This book is deeper and more complex than it looks.
I felt like the the intimate scenes were written vulgarly just for shock value. The writing style completely changed between those scenes and the rest of the book. I also noticed that Sera and Adam seemed to be jumping into bed together (in graphic detail) every chance they got when it was illicit or risqué, but once they were in a committed relationship, suddenly it was fade to black. I just thought that was an odd choice.
*mild spoilers*
I cannot think of another novel I've read recently that handles the topic of addiction and alcohol abuse so responsibly. The subject of grief and loss was also handled very well. I was impressed.
The characters experienced more growth and depth than I was expecting, and it was done remarkably well. I felt like some things, Sera refusing to get married, for example, were just there to make a point to a modern audience and didn't really 100% fit with the narrative. (I get not everyone wants to be married, but Sera had nothing to lose and everything to gain had she married Adam. That's what he wanted all along, and what would have been best for their children as well.) But overall I was very impressed by this book and I will be looking forward to the sequel.
When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.
This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?
My Review:
This was probably more of a 2 star read for me, but I added a star for the nostalgia and just the fact that we finally got this book. I didn't hate this....but it was A LOT. And I understand why, but understanding didn't make it more enjoyable to read. I don't think this needed to be quite so long, to be honest.
This book coming out made me realize that, during the Twilight mania years, people had fallen in love with Edward from Bella's perspective, and not the character himself. Bella is a highly unreliable narrator in her own story. But it doesn't feel that way when you read the original books. And the few instances when it comes up that the vampires have this side to them Bella can't really see or understand, she's just assured that they're all only looking out for her good, ultimately. This book shows what an uncomfortably creepy stalker Edward really is. How things started even faster and earlier than we knew. And how unbalanced and uneven this relationship actually is, even overlooking the significant (and concerning) age difference. And yet, somehow this book also felt like it was trying to justify all the creeper decisions Edward was making? Much like Life and Death, in a lot of places I felt like Stephenie Meyer was using the narrative to defend the original series against the criticisms it's received over the years.
I enjoyed reading some of the beginning of the book. It felt like familiar territory but with an interesting new spin. Then once Edward really became fixated on Bella I felt like I could be reading a thriller or horror story about a serial killer. You, but vampire style. It became very uncomfortable.
I did enjoy the insights into the other Cullens. I love all of them. I would definitely read a (different) story from any of their perspectives.
The conversation rehashes from Twilight became redundant and boring. There wasn't usually much that was changed by seeing things from Edward's perspective. Edward's mind was intense. It was alternately creepy, anxiety inducing, or tedious. I was either stressed or falling asleep most of the book. There was nothing romantic or emotional about any of the scenes seen from his perspective. I'm not even sure why Edward was with Bella. It seemed like he was only interested because he couldn't read her mind and she smelled good, oh and Alice had a vision. Poor, overworked Alice. Girl needs a vacation.
This is a very minor point, but I'm not a fan of the cover. I get the pomegranate reference, it was hammered home repeatedly throughout the novel, but the one on the cover also looks like a rotten, damaged, bleeding heart to me. Which is probably purposeful, because symbolism, but it's also kinda gross.
This was a very long, dense read. I wish I could have loved it. It didn't even feel really nostalgic for me. I never really became immersed in the world. I was mainly bored. I only forced myself through the entire book because it was THIS BOOK and THESE CHARACTERS and I wanted to have read the whole thing. I considered DNFing several times. I knew if I put it down I'd never pick it up again. I'm pretty sure I'll never read this one again. There were scenes I did enjoy, but I mainly just felt relief when I finally reached the end of this book.
When Andra wakes up, she's drowning.
Not only that, but she's in a hot, dirty cave, it's the year 3102, and everyone keeps calling her Goddess. When Andra went into a cryonic sleep for a trip across the galaxy, she expected to wake up in a hundred years, not a thousand. Worst of all, the rest of the colonists—including her family and friends—are dead. They died centuries ago, and for some reason, their descendants think Andra's a deity. She knows she's nothing special, but she'll play along if it means she can figure out why she was left in stasis and how to get back to Earth.
Zhade, the exiled bastard prince of Eerensed, has other plans. Four years ago, the sleeping Goddess's glass coffin disappeared from the palace, and Zhade devoted himself to finding it. Now he's hoping the Goddess will be the key to taking his rightful place on the throne—if he can get her to play her part, that is. Because if his people realize she doesn't actually have the power to save their dying planet, they'll kill her.
With a vicious monarch on the throne and a city tearing apart at the seams, Zhade and Andra might never be able to unlock the mystery of her fate, let alone find a way to unseat the king, especially since Zhade hasn't exactly been forthcoming with Andra. And a thousand years from home, is there any way of knowing that Earth is better than the planet she's woken to?
My Review:
DNF on page 106. This was one of my most anticipated books this year. Unfortunately I've been having to force myself through it. I really WANT to like the story and get into it, but something is just not clicking. I find myself doing just about anything else to avoid picking this book up again, and often falling asleep when I do actually try to read it. So, to save myself from the reading slump I could feel this driving me towards, I read some spoilery reviews to see if it seemed worth powering through. Unfortunately one major spoiler would have pretty much killed all my interest in the series regardless of whether I liked it until that point or not. It's a trope I've always hated and have zero interest in. So, that saved me some time. Here is where we part ways.
The Handmaid's Tale meets Wilder Girls in this unique, voice-driven novel from Kelly McWilliams.
Agnes loves her home of Red Creek--its quiet, sunny mornings, its dusty roads, and its God. There, she cares tirelessly for her younger siblings and follows the town's strict laws. What she doesn't know is that Red Creek is a cult, controlled by a madman who calls himself a prophet.
Then Agnes meets Danny, an Outsider boy, and begins to question what is and isn't a sin. Her younger brother, Ezekiel, will die without the insulin she barters for once a month, even though medicine is considered outlawed. Is she a sinner for saving him? Is her sister, Beth, a sinner for dreaming of the world beyond Red Creek?
As the Prophet grows more dangerous, Agnes realizes she must escape with Ezekiel and leave everyone else, including Beth, behind. But it isn't safe Outside, either: A viral pandemic is burning through the population at a terrifying rate. As Agnes ventures forth, a mysterious connection grows between her and the Virus. But in a world where faith, miracles, and cruelty have long been indistinguishable, will Agnes be able to choose between saving her family and saving the world?
My Review:
Disappoint.
**Spoilers**
I feel like this book tried to go in too many directions at once and it just didn't work for me. The cult and plague was plenty. But we also had two not-so-great love stories, including one insta-love, and a whole paranormal, otherworldly aspect that I wasn't a huge fan of.
What was the plague, exactly? I could never really picture what was going on with the rock hard, sharp, red skin and the nests?? Just a regular virus would have helped keep things a little more simple. For being a plague that wiped out half the world, it never felt like much of a threat to our main characters. I know we needed it so Agnes could cure it, but other than that it seemed totally superfluous. I know the country was falling apart because of it, but anything else could have just as easily caused the same situation.
I would have appreciated Agnes exploring and finding her own faith in her own way. I REALLY didn't like her becoming a "prophet" and going right back to her hometown. I know it was supposed to be different with her than the other guys, but it never felt different enough. And I never found the paranormal aspects of her journey believable. I honestly wondered if she would be found to be schizophrenic in the end. My biggest hang up about Agnes's faith and purpose and the prayer space was that it had nothing to do with God, really, and everything to do with the power it gave Agnes. Everything was about Agnes and what she could do and that made me very uncomfortable, especially as we see everyone at the end, happily setting up the site of basically another cult right on top of the original one. Sure they can wear regular clothes and use technology. But they're still living on a commune following the teachings of a self proclaimed prophet.
This wasn't a terrible book. I was riveted from the beginning until about 75% of the way through. I felt like there were too many things going on, and the ending was a letdown. I'm still not sure what the author was going for. Cults are bad? Cults are good? Cults are only good if they're run by women? I'm really not sure what the takeaway here is.
A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.
Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.
But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.
Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?
With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?
My Review:
In my opinion, this is the most frustrating type of book to read.
**Mild Spoilers**
Not only is every character a terrible person (they're supposed to be, and that's fine) but they're also super flat and not relatable at all. The writing is simple and just kind of meh, but it's fine. Everything is just fine, okay, not great. So what you're reading for is the plot. That's the only real hook this book has going for it. That may have been intentional, and it would have been enough if, instead of a satisfying climax it didn't just fizzle out. It's frustrating to rate this type of book because I was completely hooked and could not put the book down for the first 75ish percent? But then the least satisfying 'climax' ever happened and I totally lost interest. I had to force myself through the last part of the book because once the mystery was over, I didn't care about any of the awful characters. I was just looking forward to not having to read about their bitter, selfish, spiteful selves anymore.
I'm not a Jane Eyre fan. I can't remember when I read it, I just remember thinking it was creepy and not for the reasons it was supposed to be. I'm not sure whether this would particularly appeal to fans or not. This gets three stars for the first part being very interesting and entertaining. But because of the ending and the way things turned out, it ultimately feels like I wasted my time reading this. Had the characters or writing been exceptional I might feel differently, I don't know.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a free eARC to review. All opinions are my own.
A reimagining of the story behind Agent 355--a New York society girl and spy for George Washington during the Revolutionary War--perfect for fans of Tatiana de Rosnay's Sarah's Key and the novels of Julie Berry.
Rebellious Frannie Tasker knows little about the war between England and its thirteen colonies in 1776, until a shipwreck off her home in Grand Bahama Island presents an unthinkable opportunity. The body of a young woman floating in the sea gives Frannie the chance to escape her brutal stepfather--and she takes it.
Assuming the identity of the drowned Emmeline Coates, Frannie is rescued by a British merchant ship and sails with the crew to New York. For the next three years, Frannie lives a lie as Miss Coates, swept up in a courtship by a dashing British lieutenant. But after witnessing the darker side of the war, she realizes that her position gives her power. Soon she finds herself eavesdropping on British officers, risking everything to pass information on to George Washington's Culper spy ring as agent 355. Frannie believes in the fight for American liberty--but what will it cost her? Inspired by the true "355" and rich in historical detail and intrigue, this is the story of an unlikely New York society girl turned an even unlikelier spy.
My Review:
**Possible Mild Spoilers**
I really enjoyed this book. The spying wasn't as integral to the plot as I would have thought based on the title and description, but I think the amount we got was plenty, combined with everything else that was going on. There were a few things throughout the book that gave me pause and felt a little too over the top, Sewel reappearing being one example. But I was so invested in the characters and their lives that I didn't care too much.
The tangled relationships Frannie/Emmeline shared with Asa and Duncan, and Frannie's relationship with herself and her past were the main thing keeping interested throughout the book. The scenes between Asa and Frannie stole the show. Every time they were together the scenes were funny, heartfelt, and breathtaking. There were several twists throughout the story that actually managed to surprise me. And the ending left me literally speechless. I'm still not sure what to say about it. I can't believe that's the actual real ending. I'm not mad at it. Okay, I was a little mad. But mostly I'm just completely shocked. I think this is a stand alone. I'm usually okay with that. But this time I'd like an epilogue. Not sure we need a whole sequel, unless it's from Lucy or Charlotte's POV.
Despite some weak spots, I really had a great time reading this. I would recommend it for someone looking for an interesting, light, historical coming of age/romance. It is a little light on history and more focused on the characters and their relationships.
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
A sweeping, multi-layered romance with a divine twist, by the Printz Honor-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa, set in the perilous days of World Wars I and II.
It's 1917, and World War I is at its zenith when Hazel and James first catch sight of each other at a London party. She's a shy and talented pianist; he's a newly minted soldier with dreams of becoming an architect. When they fall in love, it's immediate and deep—and cut short when James is shipped off to the killing fields.
Aubrey Edwards is also headed toward the trenches. A gifted musician who's played Carnegie Hall, he's a member of the 15th New York Infantry, an all-African-American regiment being sent to Europe to help end the Great War. Love is the last thing on his mind. But that's before he meets Colette Fournier, a Belgian chanteuse who's already survived unspeakable tragedy at the hands of the Germans.
Thirty years after these four lovers' fates collide, the Greek goddess Aphrodite tells their stories to her husband, Hephaestus, and her lover, Ares, in a luxe Manhattan hotel room at the height of World War II. She seeks to answer the age-old question: Why are Love and War eternally drawn to one another? But her quest for a conclusion that will satisfy her jealous husband uncovers a multi-threaded tale of prejudice, trauma, and music and reveals that War is no match for the power of Love.
My Review:
This book is exquisite. The writing, the research, the plotline, the characters... Absolutely excellent. I wish it had a more compelling cover so more people would give it a chance. At least, that's what held me back initially. I thought it looked boring and pretentious. It's definitely not any of those things. This is the best book I've read this year, and probably one of the best I've ever read. I want to buy a copy for everyone I know.
Subscribe to more videos! If you like this video please share the link. Video copyright content belongs to STARZ. Song “Some Nights“ is by Glee. I only own t...
Re-uplloading a S3 video Some Nights: "The underlying theme is that of a person’s search for identity, and how they define themselves, in their own eyes, or those of another, or those of society at large.“-Diana Gabaldon
Some legends never die…
Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.
Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.
Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.
My Review:
Overall this was a pretty entertaining, fun story. I liked most of the dark mysterious elements involving artifacts, and curses. And I think Vlad the Impaler is a pretty fascinating character all his own. Unfortunately a lot of things about this book seemed a bit uneven, and the last quarter or so lost my interest a bit.
~Mild Spoilers~
The first thing I noticed about this book was that romance seemed like it would be more fun and less stilted than I was expecting for the time period and setting. However, although I enjoyed Theo and Huck’s banter, I was left wanting much much more on that front. Their romance ended up seeming like an afterthought to me.
The main thing that bothered me about this book was that it does not in any way, shape, or form read like a novel set in the 1930s. The whole time I was reading I just pretended it was modern day, and except for one or two references to specific dates, it really made no difference to the story.
I liked the adventurer/archeologist aspect of it. But it began to seem more and more far fetched as the book went on. The supernatural elements remained at a spooky mysterious level for a lot of the book, but ended up going just a bit over the top for me at the end. Especially with no real explanation why or how everything was that way. It just was.
I did enjoy the book for the most part. The reason I lost interest at the end was because I just never felt a real connection to Theo and Huck. I thought I would as the book went on, but then I found myself almost done and I still felt like we’d only scratched the surface. I also got VERY tired of looking for Theo’s dad. Mostly because we never meet him until the very end, and all we’re told about him is that he’s kind of awful. So by about 75% through I was like why are we still looking for this dude? I don’t care anymore. Just fly back to New York together and be happy. I also super didn’t care about the rings. If they’re cursed why do you want to find them? And if they can’t be destroyed how can you ever stop someone else from finding them? Why should I care? I got very bored of the constant walking in the woods. SO much walking. I know they were traveling, but it was a lot. I knew I was basically checked out of this book when I was reading what was supposed to be a very harrowing, suspenseful scene, and I was just bored. I don’t know why exactly I couldn’t connect with this one, but I just never got there.
I had several issues with this one, which was disappointing, because I was hoping to love it. But it was still a decent enough book over all, and I think a lot of people will really love it.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Isabelle should be blissfully happy – she’s about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn’t the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince’s heart. She’s the ugly stepsister who’s cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella’s shoe ... which is now filling with blood.
When the prince discovers Isabelle’s deception, she is turned away in shame. It’s no more than she deserves: she is a plain girl in a world that values beauty; a feisty girl in a world that wants her to be pliant.
Isabelle has tried to fit in. To live up to her mother’s expectations. To be like her stepsister. To be sweet. To be pretty. One by one, she has cut away pieces of herself in order to survive a world that doesn’t appreciate a girl like her. And that has made her mean, jealous, and hollow.
Until she gets a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.
My Review:
DNF
There were a lot of things happening in this book, but they just weren't coming together for me. Maybe they did by the end, but I wasn't entertained enough to get there.
I am not that particular about world building. I will go along for the ride with very little info for quite awhile if the rest of the story seems worthwhile. But this felt confusing and I never felt grounded in the story because I know nothing about when or how or why this is all taking place.
I appreciated the added twist of involving Fates and Chance and Death, etc. I thought I would enjoy it, because Chance was the most vibrant and interesting character to me. However, again, without a world to ground all this in it all kind of felt haphazard and random. I never felt like I had a good handle on what was going on with the Fates and stuff. I enjoyed some of their chapters but I also felt like I was completely removed from Isabelle's story whenever they showed up.
Ultimately I didn't connect with the characters because everything was written in a very distancing way with an omniscient narrator. I understand it was supposed to feel fairytale-esque, but there wasn't anything really happening. There wasn't much dialogue, the characters internal monologues felt almost ridiculously formal and stilted, and I felt like the narrator was talking down to me a lot of the time. So....yeah that was not enjoyable for me.
I enjoy books that are also able to convey a strong message. Reach out to people, encourage, or teach things. But it doesn't need to feel like a sermon to get there. In fact, the best "message" books DON'T feel that way. You get the meaning and purpose by experiencing things and growing with the characters. Not by being beaten over the head with the book's intended message or moral. Even when I agree with a point, I don't necessarily want to spend hours of my free time having it reiterated to me like I'm not very smart and might miss it.
This could have made a decent middle grade or lower YA fairytale retelling if the preaching was toned down some, and some of the more graphic and horrifying things were removed. They seemed to be jammed in just for shock value anyway, or to make it seem like a grittier read. It felt gratuitous and unnecessary.
I'm very disappointed, because I was excited about this one. I pre-ordered it and I expected to love it. But I just couldn't force myself through it anymore. I may have been able to overlook most of the flaws, but they stuck out to me because ultimately I was just very bored. When I put the book down I had no desire to pick it up again.
Girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.
Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for their chance to grab one of the girls in order to make their fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.
With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.
My Review:
This book was excellent. I'm not sure if I can say I "enjoyed" it, because the whole thing was pretty stressful. But I was completely riveted through the whole thing. This was completely different from what I was expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't put it down, and some instances actually had me holding my breath in anticipation. This is the first time I've read anything by Kim Ligget, and I'm definitely interested in checking out her other works now.
There were some dystopian tropes present, but I thought everything was given a unique twist that kept it interesting. When I started reading I wondered if the somewhat distant, disillusioned tone would keep me from connecting with the characters, but it was handled very skillfully, and I ended up caring deeply for them. Overall this storyline was unique, intense, and very well written. I don't want to give anything away, but this was so much more than I expected in every way. I really can't do this book justice, but I’m excited for everyone to get a chance to read it.
*I received a free ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
There is a rule amongst his kind: A jester doesn’t lie.
In the kingdom of Whimtany, Poet is renowned. He’s young and pretty, a lover of men and women. He performs for the court, kisses like a scoundrel, and mocks with a silver tongue.
Yet allow him this: It’s only the most cunning, most manipulative soul who can play the fool. For Poet guards a secret. One the Crown would shackle him for. One that he’ll risk everything to protect.
Alas, it will take more than clever words to deceive Princess Briar. Convinced that he’s juggling lies as well as verse, this righteous nuisance of a girl is determined to expose him.
But not all falsehoods are fiendish. Poet’s secret is delicate, binding the jester to the princess in an unlikely alliance . . . and kindling a breathless attraction, as alluring as it is forbidden.
My Review:
This book was so fun and unique. I'm really glad I stumbled across it. I can't even remember how I heard about it. I believe it's self published. I was even more impressed with the writing being that this *appears* to be a self published debut novel. Correct me if I'm wrong.
This story reads sort of like a fairytale. It has a conversational yet whimsical tone. It sucked me right in and I was halfway through before I even realized I'd committed to reading it. (Sometimes I read bits and pieces of a few different books before I decide which one I'll actually be reading the whole way through.) It isn't so whimsical that it gets irritating though. There's a fine line with fairytale-like fantasy books between setting a mood, and distancing me from the entire story because of the tone. This book struck it just right. I will say that I did put this book down for quite awhile at about 65%. There is a fair amount of angst happening in this story and I just wasn’t in the right mood and needed a break. That being said, I could not forget these characters and their story. I ended up coming back to this one more invested than ever, and the ending did not disappoint.
If you like fairytales and/or romantic fantasies, this one is worth checking out. The story and world building were excellent and different from anything else I've seen. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am excited that it looks like the series contains a book from each Season. I will definitely be continuing with this series.
Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
My Review:
DNF
I'm calling it. I've been trying so hard to get into this book for awhile. The world is so interesting. I love the concept. But the actual execution is SO. BORING. Nothing is happening. I made it to page 210 of a 342 page book and everything I've read still feels like set up. Endless descriptions of the characters and world without them actually doing much of anything. If this was a longer book or a series MAYBE I would try to power through. Still seems like too much, though, to be honest. At this point I don't know why I'm supposed to invest my time in all this info when I'm not getting any story with it. Also there are a couple of maybe kinda funny quips here and there but mostly these characters have about as much personality as a saltine and no chemistry together whatsoever, no matter how many times we're told about how loyal and great they are together. The whole book is basically all tell and no show.
I'm incredibly disappointed. The cover is beautiful, it started out strong, and I was really thinking I'd love it but then it just fizzled out.
The Girls of Innovations Academy are beautiful and well-behaved—it says so on their report cards. Under the watchful gaze of their Guardians, the all-girl boarding school offers an array of studies and activities, from “Growing a Beautiful and Prosperous Garden” to “Art Appreciation” and “Interior Design.” The girls learn to be the best society has to offer. Absent is the difficult math coursework, or the unnecessary sciences or current events. They are obedient young ladies, free from arrogance or defiance. Until Mena starts to realize that their carefully controlled existence may not be quite as it appears.
As Mena and her friends begin to uncover the dark secrets of what’s actually happening there—and who they really are—the girls of Innovations will find out what they are truly capable of. Because some of the prettiest flowers have the sharpest thorns.
My Review:
Okay... Well that was about as subtle as a sledgehammer. I like The Program by Suzanne Young, although I haven't gotten around to reading the rest of the series. I do plan to. Government conspiracies and mind control dystopia, etc. is something I think she does well. So maybe my expectations of this book were too high. I'm not sure.
*Spoilers*
The concept of this book was very similar to The Program (and many other works.) Except this time it's just girls, and minus the big twist at the end of this. Honestly most of this book felt like being beat over the head with the message that girls should be themselves and love themselves and not subscribe to society's standards. And I mean, yes, I agree. But have you ever had a discussion with someone who you agree with, but even though you say you agree, they keep ranting because they just feel like venting? That's what this entire book felt like. Like I get it. We're on the same page. And no new ground was really covered there. The situations in the book became so extreme that they seemed ridiculous, to be honest. I just wanted so much more.
I was riveted for about the first half of the book. After that I still really wanted to know how it turned out, but I was already disappointed. The situations were so over the top. None of the characters were well fleshed out. The bad guys really didn't turn out to have much motive at all. And honestly neither did the good guys. The girls' personalities were flimsy and Jackson was a caricature. This seemed like it would have been better either as a quick short story with a shocking twist. Or a longer, more well fleshed out book. As it was I wasn't super attached to any of the characters. And then the twist at the end (which I had guessed literally in chapter one but then hoped I was wrong) distanced me even more from the story. Like what is the point here? This is a series? Where are we even going with this? I'm not sure I care. Also, there are already so many plot holes. How can this continue?
I don't know. I'm unsure at this point whether I'll read the next one. This was entertaining for awhile but ultimately pretty empty. Which is kind of ironic because it seemed like it was straining desperately to be meaningful. Overall, I'm more surprised at how disappointed I am in this than I was by the plot twist.
Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Book Description:
From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.
My Review:
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have teamed up again. Lucky for us, because they make an absolutely fantastic writing team. I loved The Illuminae Files, and although I was skeptical that Aurora Rising could be as good, I loved Aurora Rising as well.
I'm not sure what I can say besides this book is awesome, preorder it now! The world building is impressive. I am largely ignorant and uninterested in space in general, but Kaufman and Kristoff manage to make it seem interesting, accessible, and super easy to understand. Their characters, as always, just leap off the page. There are only a handful of authors who can create characters like this, especially ensemble characters. They're all so distinct and diverse and yet so relatable. I love the banter, the complicated relationships, the teamwork. And of course we have some incredibly imaginative and sometimes horrifying, sci-fi/fantasy space danger stuff happening. Kaufman and Kristoff have some amazing imaginations and incredible writing skills.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I cannot recommend this book enough. I laughed out loud, I cried, I was literally on the edge of my seat. I would preorder the sequel right now if I could. Until then I will reread this one....
*I received a free ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
