Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth (Across the Universe, #3) by Beth Revis
Publisher: Penguin
Publication date: May 2nd, 2013
Number of pages: 369pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience. But this new Earth isn't the paradise that Amy had been hoping for. Amy and Elder must race to uncover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. But each new discovery brings more danger. And if their colony collapses then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been meaningless..

It's a shame that when the first few books in a series have been great but then get let down by its conclusion. This is what happened here. I had to wait extra longer for the book to be released in Australia, so I had all these hopes. When I did get around to reading it it didn't feel like the same story I had been reading.

I understand how things were different because of the different surroundings, but I was was not impressed. People weren't who I thought they would be, there was contrived plots and it was poorly delivered. I expected much better from Beth Revis.
I was a big fan of the romance between Amy and Elder, even though I knew they were gonna have their happy ending, but in the way it happened, I didn't like.
I'm disappointed and wish things could have been different, but I guess you can't always get what you want.

In this installment, Amy and co find themselves right next to Centauri Earth and have to decide whether or not they should take the risk in landing and making it their home. Not everyone agrees, but those that do hop on their way to explore the new planet.
Soon they discover that they aren't alone, and it brings more danger than they ever anticipated. Amy isn't alone either when her parents slowly wake up and she is reunited with them, to discover she may not know her parents like she thought she did. She basically was blind when it came to why they were there, what their mission was and their intentions.

I would still recommend this series no matter if this book disappointed me. It did have its good parts, even with the bad, so I guess it was not a total waste of my time.
Everything ended up the way it was supposed to, I guess, though sometimes it's not how you envisioned it to end up.

I'd like to say Ciao to this trilogy, I'll always cherish it as the series that got me into YA sci fi and for that I'm greatful.

Rating: 3/5

Review: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Millions Suns (Across the Universe, #2) by Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: April 5th, 2012
Number of pages: 386 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Trapped on board the spaceship Godspeed, Amy trusts no-one.

The ship's ruler is dead and a rebellion threatens. Amy wants to help Elder as he tries to take charge, but she's torn between her feelings for him and the chaos that's pulling everything apart. As more harrowing discoveries are made about Godspeed, Amy is caught in a desperate race to unravel its secrets. Only one thing is certain.

They have to get off this ship.

I believe this was one of the most talked about, anticipated books of 2012. Ever since Beth came out with ATU, the fans have been hungry for more, myself included.
I'm not big on sci/fi, but this series really sucked me in, which is hard to do for a genre like this.
I was surprised at how much I liked the first book and by the end I could not wait until book 2.
The book isn't even out in Australia yet, so I decided to get myself a copy for my kindle. I decided I had enough waiting and it was time to check out the book everyone was talking about.

A Million Suns picks up about 2 months after the end of ATU. Elder is the leader of the ship as he tries to discover and be the leader he is meant to be, but finds that things are easy said than done in this case.
He is trying his best, but it doesn't always come across that way. There are angry people and who start to rebel against him.

When Amy starts to receive clues left by Orion, she starts to wonder if there is something going on that nobody knows about.

I think I hated him less in this book, as we got to understand the reasons for what he did. It was an interesting plot within the story, and I was wondering what it was leading to. When it got discovered... that he knew something so jawdropping.. I didn't know how to react. But I came to understand him a little better.

I might like Amy and Elder's sweet relationship, but my favourite relationship in this series, is.. well we haven't seen much of it, but is her relationship with her parents. The fact that Amy went with them on the ship because she didn't want to be apart from them tore at my heart strings. I can't wait to see them wake up so she can talk to them and be with them again.

Rating: 5/5

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) by Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: March 3rd, 2011
Number of pages: 398 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone - one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship - tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Across the Universe is one of those unique books that hook you from the beginning. When I first read this book, I had not read any YA sci fi at all, I never figured it was my thing, or at least, it never appealed to me before now.
I found this story compelling, fascinating because it's the sport of thing you'd have as an adult story, to having these characters as teenagers was interesting to me.

This is a dual pov book. On one hand you have our female protagonist, Amy who was frozen alongside her parents heading to a new earth and suddenly wakes up realizing they have not arrived yet and someone has woken her up early -- without her parents.
Then we also our male counterpart, Ender. He is a young leader-in-training who will one day take over leadership of the ship he has been born and raised on. The one place he only knows. Things don't always go according to plan and Elder takes an interest in the new girl, since he has found her interesting to have someone different, his own age to talk to. Someone with different experiences than he does. Someone who lived on another earth.

After being adjusted to her new surroundings, Amy and Elder soon discover the frozens -- the others who were frozen upon arriving on the ship are suddenly being unplugged and thus dying. You would think being unplugged would then wake them up, but no, I guess there is only a proper way of doing it otherwise they die, and this is what has been happening. Someone aboard the ship does not want these people to wake up, ever and is preventing them from doing so, ever again.
Amy and Elder will have to discover the culprit and put a stop to it once and for all before someone she cares about gets hurt.

If you like sci fi with a touch of romance and mystery, then I'd recommend you check this trilogy out. It's not one to be missed.

Rating: 5/5

Review: Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

Spirit (Elemental, #3) by Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher:  Allen & Unwin
Publication date: June 1st, 2013
Number of pages: 294 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He has learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can't seem to afford any allies.

He's up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there's Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She's not hostile. She's bold. Funny. Hot. But she's got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down - which means he'll have to find someone he can trust.

POWER. ENEMIES. EVERYWHERE

This is the third book in the Elemental series and after Spark I couldn't wait to know more about Hunter. We were introduced to him in Storm, but at that point I didn't really like him all that much. He was coming in between Becca and Chris and I did not approve, aha. But I was curious about who he was and there was enough for me to continue to look forward to see if he would get happiness.

In Spirit, we discover there is more to Hunter than meets the eye. You think you know him. You don't. You think he isn't broken. He is. I was blown away by how much Kemmerer was also to affect me. I didn't expect to adore Hunter's story as much as the other two because I was in love with the Merricks and I wasn't sure how I would feel with this guy having his own book, but it totally worked because he is family.
In Spark he began to befriend Gabriel and even though the others didn't really like him because of certain things that went down in the first book, but when Michael Merrick takes a chance on him, that's all he needs.

Hunter has always been torn between what he has always been taught and what he feels deep in his heart. It's always been a US and THEM kind of thing. The Guide and then there is the Merricks. When a new girl takes an interest in him, he thinks he has found the one person who may take his mind of everything that has been happening. Unbeknowest to him, not everyone is as they seem. Her agenda may be more than texting the cute boy in class. It may be more about something far sinister than one might wish.
Meet Kate. She has a way of getting people relaxed enough to open up. I suppose she has her own secrets, and when she meets Hunter, she thinks she can use him to her advantage, but is she also prepared for falling for someone she shouldn't.. and what would the consequences of that might be?
Kate is a girl of mystery. She is bold and fearless. She and Hunter have more in common than he might realize, and when her story unravels, he may either want to duck and hide, or run. Or a third option? Trust your instincts because sometimes you have to have faith in someone rather than thinking they are one type of person.

I thought their relationship was definitely interesting and I supported it. There was times where I didn't like Kate or what she was doing, but I understood why, because there was a greater force behind her that makes her motives look like child play.
Hunter and Kate's relationship takes an interesting turn when they suddenly find themselves on the same side and have to decide how to go about surviving to the next day. Not everyone is as forgiving and understanding as she.

What I loved most about this book was how Hunter finally found the family he needs. It doesn't come easy, but I loved the way he has found himself in the hearts of the Merricks. Hunter is just as messed up as the rest of them, which means he would fit right in.
The way Michael Merrick handles Hunter, I feel Michael identifies himself with Hunter in some ways during his teenage years. He takes Hunter under his wing because he doesn't want to see his life worse than it already is.
When we get involved in his personal life and you see the way his family life is, well, it's easy to understand why he deserves so much better and by being around the Merricks makes him feel some sort of family. I wanted to reach out and hug him on more than one occasion. The things he has been through, the things he has had to endure just made my head spin. Every one is messed up and has issues in some form or another, but Hunter... Ugh.   His book just made me understand him like  I never did before.

Brigid Kemmerer also achieved one thing you don't often see in YA these days. A shock worthy event that I had to double check to make sure I was reading it right. She sure is not your typical YA author, and for that is actually a great thing. You never know what to expect or what she will do next. Her books keep you on edge. Just when you think you know... your world will be then turned upside down and you'll have no idea why.

I absolutely can't wait for book 4 in the series. I know it's gonna be Nick's book and that for sure is going to be interesting to say the very least.

Rating: 5/5

Review: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Spark (Elemental, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: October 1st, 2012
Number of pages: 350 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

EARTH. FIRE. AIR. WATER.

He could feel flames coming through the floor, looking for him. Sparks and ash rained down. He wasn't going to make it. He was going to fail. Again. Then a hand closed over his wrist and pulled, hard.

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. So when an arsonist wreaks havoc on his town all the signs point to Gabriel.

Layne is strangely drawn to him. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let Layne know that the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

THE FUSE IS LIT…

FIRE. Hot guys. Strike a match. You're about to get hot!

I fell in love with this series starting with Chris's book and that took me long enough to read, for which I could slap myself for. I got around to reading this one and I could not have been any more pleased.

I adored Gabriel ever since the previous installment and couldn't wait to discover more about him and who would light his heart on fire.
His love interest I felt was perfect for him. Layne is someone in his class who helps him be better. Not just a twin to Nick, but someone all on his own. She makes him believe he can be his own person and be his own man who is capable of doing things just like anyone else.


I knew I would love anything about him, although I had no idea what would be in store for him. Not only did we discover oh SO much about who he is, but the book also dealt with his relationships with his brothers and Michael especially, who I felt they clashed so much because they were similar in ways they didn't want to acknowledge,
Gabriel had so many issues deep within himself he wasn't dealing with, and bit by bit, with the help of his newfound friendship (relationship?) with Layne, helped him come to grasp what he wanted out of his life and never to take anything or anyone for granted.
There were times in the book where I wanted to smack him, times where I wanted to hug him and reach to him. He is a complicated boy and more so than one would ever think in the beginning. He hardly shows how he really feels, but there are moments where you begin to understand him.

There was much progress as he begins to understand that he does not have to be a copycat of his perfect brother, Nick, but that he could be someone as well. He might screw up, but in the end, he means no harm and all wants is to be someone he doesn't feel he is worthy of being --- until Layne comes into his life.
Layne is the one driving force that makes him open up his eyes and appreciate the things he has. The people he has in his life, including his brothers, who are his best friends in the process. I loved their friendship and what grows into something so beautiful. It's interesting... he sees what Chris has with Becca and even though he may tease him for it, I don't think Gabriel ever thought he would have anything like that. He didn't think he was the sort who deserved anything more than he got.

I love these books because one thing they have going for them is character development. It was such a thing to witness to see Gabriel grow into this person who started out as someone different beforehand.

If you haven't read this series yet, GET A MOVE ON.  These books are not to be missed and you would not be disappointed.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #2) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Publication date: November 1st, 2013
Number of pages: 304 pgs
Format: Paperback ARC
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository | Bookworld Australia

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all

The Iron Traitor is one of those books where you you have a feeling where it's gonna end, especially given a preview we were given in the Iron Prophecy, so that must come back at some point. It was all a matter of when exactly, and which finally gets addressed in this installment.

In the followup to The Lost Prince, we follow Ethan and Kierran's journey into their personal developments. For Ethan, he has some trouble when Kenzie's father discovers the two of them are dating and he does not approve. Not to mention given her condition and how she disappears at random without much of an explanation. What could she tell him? That she has been to the NeverNever? Yeah, that would go over well, right?
With Kierran, he is on a different kind of adventure, as he tries to find a way to free the girl he loves from possibly fading from existence, which gets stronger after each passing day.

Soon enough, the two boys find their lives entwining once again, and the outcome may not be what either of them expected nor want.
This was not the most exciting of installments, but it was enjoyable all the same. The end though? I fell flat on my face. One of the biggest cliffhangers in this entire series (and that includes Meghan's series) and I can't even see how it's gonna go on from here on out. One hell of a way to end a book, Julie.

I always enjoy the friendship between the boys, even if it's not the easiest one. And then we have the romantic aspects to the series. I really adored Kenzie. I feel she is coming into her own after each book I read, and the relationship she and Ethan have just warms my heart.
But it's Kierran's relationship that is the most tragic. That is the one that most resembles the relationship that was between Meghan and Ash in the previous books. Maybe it's the whole forbidden thing that makes it so tragic because you can't see how these two people could be together even though it's the only thing they want in the world.


Thanks to Harlequin Australia for giving me this opportunity to review this for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Black City (Black City, #1) by Elizabeth Richards
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR
Publication date: November 13th, 2012
Number of pages: 374 pgs
Format: Hardcover

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-old Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

AH. Black City. This has been a novel which I had heard many things about, mixed and I was a tad hesitant to read it, although I will always trust my own judgement first and foremost in the end.
I'm glad I did pick this book up when I was in Sydney after my cruise in July because it surprised me so much. I was shown that even those you were unsure about could appeal to you.
In this case, it did with me.

I loved the whole dual POV as it makes me think this is not just Natalie's story, nor is it Ash's.. It's both of their stories individually and together.
I loved them from the beginning and couldn't wait to discover what was exactly was happening. There was definitely shocks I did not see coming even though I was warned of one by a friend but had no idea just what it was. I felt in the end the shock ended up being for the best in the long run.

We're quickly introduced to our main characters, Ash and Natalie. While they come from two separate lives, their paths soon cross in an interesting and maybe predicable way. The rest, as they are is history.
We're dealt with a world where humans and darklings live separated from one another with a wall between them. It may be for protection or some other stupid reason, but I feel it made things worse than it did better. When Half-Darkling, Ash meets human, Natalie, daughter of the Emissar they find this connection forming between the two of them. Slowly, they fall in love. This may be Insta-love to some, but I quite liked it. As you go along in the story and things start to get revealed, you can understand that their bond is more than you might assume... that they really, are in love.  It is beautiful and pure and romantic and totally forbidden.

Soon, the two of then find themselves in the center of more attention than they may want or need. The things between them are much bigger than each of them and they may have to decide is their love worth ruining everything over. They have many decisions ahead of them. Many choices to make. Lots of questions and not many answers available.

This is a dystopian world with a twist. I loved how it was both paranormal and dystopian. Mixing both genres together was an interesting thing and it definitely worked.
I adored this book so much that when I discovered I couldn't find a paperback for book 2, I had to then buy both books in hardback right then and there. I was not one for waiting, and I actually am gonna start on Phoenix very soon.

I look forward to seeing the world and what happens in the second installment and what happens for our lovebirds. Will they be able to survive it all?

Rating: 4.5/5

 

Review: Winds of Salem by Melissa de la Cruz

Winds of Salem (The Beauchamp Family, #3) by Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Hyperion
Publication date: August 13th, 2013
Number of pages: 320 pgs
Format: Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Freya Beauchamp has been kidnapped and sucked into the past, forced to relive the horrors of Salem and return to the witch-burning hysteria that gripped the small Massachusetts town. Freya’s family is determined to save her, but the Passages of Time are closed to the Beauchamp family, leaving them stuck in the present, centuries from Freya. Joanna, Freddie, and Ingrid must find another way back to save Freya before it's too late. Because this time, when Freya is hanged, she's not coming back…ever.

The Beauchamps are sure that their nemesis, the trickster god Loki, is behind the brewing hatred in Salem and Freya's kidnapping—but is the witch hunt just a way for the power-seeking Putnam family, whose daughter Ann was one of the first accusers, to settle scores and consolidate their hold on the lands and power in town?

Black magic, time travel, romance, mystery, history, and adventure are served up in a cauldron of bubbly magic in the latest installation of the New York Times bestselling series Witches of East End.

Melissa has continued to impress me book by book, and this one is no exception. In the third installment to Melissa de la Cruz's 'Witches of East End' aka 'The Beauchamp Family' series comes a thrilling and new story has it continues from Serpent's Kiss.

Not only do we discover what indeed happened to Freya after she was sucked back in time, thanks to Loki, but we also discover what really happened to the mystery of the bridge back in Asgard. Not everything or everyone is as it seems, and there was some twists and turns not even I saw coming.
Freya finds herself trapped back in the past which she had already relived; during the time when she was in the Salem Witch Trials and burned at the stake. Not a pleasant time to rehash, no? She has no choice, but with the help of some new friends, Freya will see if she can stop the ultimate outcome. There seems to be someone that wants her erased, for good, but who is it? Is it the trickster, Loki, or is it some other enemy they have yet to see coming?

This book is split between the past where we deal with the Witch Hunts and Freya with her entanglement, and then we have present day and discover just what is happening with Ingrid & Matt, Joanna and Norman and Freddie with his life.
Melissa did a great job with tying up storylines in this book. We get the answers we have waited since the beginning to discover which surprised me a tad. We get the end of some eras, and the beginning of others.
We also find out more about the past between Freya/Killian/Bran. Speaking of the triangle. I am not sure if I like how she concluded it in the end. I suppose in some ways it makes sense, but in other ways, it just makes Freya just another in the middle of two men. Although in my opinion, Killian/Balder has always been her true love. It's definitely a difficult situation to be in that's for sure.; And if Melissa continues on with more books we'll see what happens with the three of them.


Some parts of the book, toward the end made me sad, but I also love the relationship between Joanna and her husband, Norman. You discover more of their past that goes back to the beginning of time and how they started out. I think they may be the true love story of the series. This series is about family. true love. friendships and sisterhood. Magic. Mythology.


A pretty satisfying conclusion to this particular arc. I definitely would love if Melissa did decide to do more books. I think there are more stories to tell for these characters and past to be explored.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: Acid by Emma Pass

Acid by Emma Pass
Publisher: Corgi Children's Books
Publication date: April 25th, 2013
Number of pages: 431 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon (Kindle) | The book Depository

The year is 2113. In Jenna Strong's world, ACID—the most brutal controlling police force in history—rule supreme. No throwaway comment or whispered dissent goes unnoticed—or unpunished. And it was ACID agents who locked Jenna away for life, for a horrendous crime she struggles to remember. But Jenna's violent prison time has taught her how to survive by any means necessary.

When a mysterious rebel group breaks her out, she must use her strength, speed, and skill to stay one step ahead of ACID, and try to uncover the truth about what really happened on that terrible night two years ago. They have taken her life, her freedom, and her true memories away from her. How can she reclaim anything when she doesn't know who to trust?

It's the year 2113 and Jenna Strong's world comes crushing down when she is accused and sent to prison for the deaths of her parents. In a world where ACID, the horrific controlling police force leaves no crime unpunished.
At fifteen years of age, Jenna is sent to an all MALE prison where she would serve her sentence for her parent's murders and she has survived the best she could; by becoming a strong survivor and not letting anyone mess her around. This is something she comes to learn over time.

One day, she gets drugged and taken out of the prison, minus a sacrificial death having no idea why or where she is being taken.
She is then given a new identity to save her life. But like her life prior that, not everything goes to plan.
I loved Jenna so much. She was forced to grow stronger because anything else she just becomes a victim. She becomes someone even the men are afraid of. They won't ever attempt to touch her again, otherwise she'd break their legs --  or worse. I think she figures better to stand up for herself otherwise she won't survive any longer in a place such as that.
Even with each life, she may become someone else with a new identity and memories, but deep down she'll always be Jenna Strong.

In her new life, when Jenna meets Max, the son of the doctor who died for her, she has to keep quiet especially when Jenna Strong has been accused for his father's death.
I loved the relationship between Jenna and Max. He may not know who she really is, but he knows her and knowing her name wouldn't change that.
The things these two go through sometimes broke my heart. Max is someone I felt for deeply because of everything he has been through. His family has been ruined, he just does not understand why or the true person responsible.

This might have been a stand alone book, but I felt there could have been room for more. The end was definitely satisfying. We got the answers we yearned for, though some questions might have been left opened.
I'm definitely a fan of Emma Pass. I'm glad I got the chance to read this book. It was dark, full of mystery, rebellion, romance and self discovery.

Rating: 5/5

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins
Number of Pages: 376
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Add to Goodreads

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered.

This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland — known as The Death Shop — are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent energy storms will. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild — a savage — and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must come together to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

 Meet Aria. She lives in a pod protected from the outside world. Inside the pod she has everything she has ever wanted. She can go into any realm/world she wants and no harm done to her. Plus they don't ever get sick or even get periods (lucky girl). But her mother is away on business and the communication line with the pod she is on has gone done. She just knows something is wrong. To try to get information she convinces the son of one of the consuls to break in one of the sectors that is damage. From there things go wrong. But there's an outsider, Perry, who had broke in at the same time and saved Aria.

But Aria pays the sacrifices and gets thrown into the outside. And Perry just happens to stumble across her and saves her from eventually dying. But Perry needs Aria. To the outsiders or savages as they are often referred to, Aria is a Dweller. Perry's nephew has been kidnapped by them, and he has to get them back and Aria seems to be his only hope.

The book and the world building is interesting. And very different. But I just couldn't really connect to the characters. I liked them as individuals, but Aria and Perry as a couple I couldn't get into. I felt like them falling in love came out of nowhere. They initially hate each other, but one day they started being friends and then bam they are in love. *rolleyes* I did love Roar.

I felt like all the reveals in the book was very predictable. I could see them coming all along.  The book was ok. But it didn't interest me enough to continue with the series.

Rating: 3/5

 

Review: Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires #8) by Chloe Neill
Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Publisher: NAL Penguin
Number of Pages: 350
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she’s already seen a lifetime’s worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.

Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.

Merit and her allies rush to figure out who’s behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there’s any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.

Considering it's been about a month since I've read this, this review will be rather short.

It might of took eight books, but Merit and Ethan have finally some drama free relationship time. It was rather nice to see nothing interfering with their relationship for once.  They even go to Merit's parent's house for a family dinner. Which was probably one of my favorite scenes in the books.

But Chicago's vampire scene has never been quiet since Merit has joined its ranked. There's an anti-vampire group striking out and rioting hitting vampire houses and their safe locations. I had a good feeling who was behind it but not why, since some of the attacks didn't really destroy anything.

We do see Merit and Mallory getting somewhat back on track. And even a tiny bit of the shapeshifters, which is never enough. There was a mention back to the vision of that child that we assumed is somehow Ethan and Merit. And even foreshadowing that there could and may be a way for Merit to turned back human. Which honestly I think at this point she wouldn't. And I couldn't see Ethan turning back to a human.

This was probably one of my favorite books in the series. We got a little bit of everything. Including a jaw dropping cliff hanger, that no doubts sets up the next book. You can tell the series is winding down, and although it makes me sad I can't wait to see how it all ends.

Rating: 4/5

Review: On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

On the Edge (The Edge #1) by Ilona Andrews
Publication Date: September 29, 2009
Publisher: Ace
Number of Pages: 309
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it.

I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to read this series. I've been thinking about it ever since I discovered Kate Daniels. I had even brought the first book a few months ago and hadn't gotten around to it. And once again I wanted to hit myself for not reading this sooner.

Ilona Andrews is a literary genius. I'm convinced now that they can write nothing to disappoint me. However I think I do enjoy Kate Daniels more this book stands on its own. I knew only a few pages in I was hooked when I came across this line:

 “Yes, I'm too mad to punish you right now. We'll talk about it when we get home. Go brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on dry clothes, and get the guns. We're going to Wal-Mart.”

Although we learn afterwards the guns has nothing to do with actually going to Wal-Mart, but the statement makes you think that. And along with thousands of others sometimes I wished I had a gun in Wal-Mart. *sigh*

We potentially have two love interest for Rose, who I loved from the beginning. It's almost hard to hate a kick ass heroine, especially one with two younger brothers who she is responsible for. Initially I wanted Rose to give William a chance. I didn't particularly care for Declan, although I grew to love him as did Rose. I really did love the ending, and I couldn't help but smile/giggle about it for days.

From looking at the descriptions of the other books, I find it interesting that each book features different main characters like the paranormal romance series, yet there's no doubt that this is urban fantasy. At first I wasn't sure I would like that, but after reading this book and seeing that it focus more on the plot rather than romance I'm positive I'm going to love it. I can't wait till I can go buy the rest of the series and continue.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) by Sarah J.Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Publication date: August 15th, 2013
Number of pages: 432 pgs
Format: Paperback
Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful – the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King’s contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all . . . And trying to may just destroy her.

Love or loathe Celaena, she will slice open your heart with her dagger and leave you bleeding long after the last page of the highly anticipated sequel in what is undeniably THE hottest new fantasy series

I would say CROWN of MIDNIGHT is one of the most anticipated sequels for 2013, and boy did it deliver. It was everything I could have wanted and more in a sequel to this series. Nothing is left unturned, if anything, it only amps up the whole story-relationships and character developments than ever before.

In THRONE of GLASS it opened up the story, we were introduced to our main characters, he plot and Celeana's first adventures to becoming the King's Champion. In CROWN of MIDNIGHT though, the stakes are raised, you discover more about these characters than you ever felt was possible. Just when you think you know everything or what will happen---  you are then thrown through a loop and the unexpected happens. With this book, expect heart palpatations, an intense journey, unexpected revelations and juicy twists and turns.

The romance is definitely knocked up a notch or two, which I'll be into more detail soon. I adored Celeana in the first book, but in this book.. you begin to understand her so much more. She does what she needs to do to survive, and sometimes you think she is heartless, and then get shocked when she does actually have a heart. She'll do things you never saw coming, find herself in situations and do certain acts that will tear your heart out.
Dorian is someone who I felt was in the first book, but was just there. I didn't have many feelings in regards to him or his relationship with Celeana. I felt bad for him because I had a feeling she just didn't feel as strong about him that he did with her, and it would be best if he let her go.
In this installment, I begun to really adore him. His whole personality came out so much more, discovering things about him that even HE was shocked about with the discoveries. I also felt that he should be loved by someone, even if it wasn't to be with Celeana. I just hope that somehow, before this series ends that he finds someone who loves him as much as he does her.

Now Chaol. I have loved him since the first book. He might have acted like a jerk, but boy, in this second installment to this story, you see so much more of him, and boy was it joyous. His relationship with Celeana has to be one of my favourite things about this book, and I have a feeling it's something which is only going to grow and grow over the course of the rest of then series. There is no point denying it now for those who have read it.  These two... OTP, love of each other's lives. They may have had previous loves, but this is the REAL DEAL people. No holds bars. It's romantic. Terrifying. Angsty. Full of hope and joy. Tears and pain. It's everything you want, everything you can't live without even if it hurts sometimes.
I look forward to discovering what is in store for these two come book 3. 2014. Come to me!

*cough* THAT cliffhanger? I knew it. But come on.. to leave it like that was just absolutely excruciating especially since we have to wait a year for the next book to be released.

Sarah has done an amazing job with this series thus far. I have never been one for High Fantasy, until THRONE of GLASS.  I am glad I picked up that first book one day in the bookstore and met these terrific characters.

If you haven't read this series yet, set everything down. Go and order it PRONTO.  You will not be disappointed.

Rating: 5/5