Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Title: Storm Siren (Storm Siren #1) 

Author: Mary Weber

Date Published: August 19th 2014 

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Rating: 4 out of 5 

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Goodreads Blurb:

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you."

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

SPOILERS.
So when I first read the blurb on Goodreads, I was expecting a heroine similar to Celaena Sardothien (from Throne of Glass). But I wrong, and not regrettably so. I was pleasantly surprised with this book after I got over my disappointment. The MC, Nym, is an Elemental who has the power to control, wrong word, summon lightning. She struggles to rein in her emotions and often her rage unleashes storms that always end in death and destruction. She accumulates guilt and that causes her to hate her ability and herself. Nym was definitely not self-assured and at times seemed weak and fearful. But her caustic humour, sarcasm definitely wins some points and her need for redemption is admirable. 

When she is bought by a madwoman at a slave auction after unleashing her "thunder", Nym is given the option of either being executed as punishment for the deaths she's caused. Or a chance to seek redemption by fighting for the kingdom Faelen. When she "chooses" to help, the madwoman aka King's war adviser aka Adora hands her over to her Elemental trainer, Eogan, and the training begins. 

Along with Colin, another Elemental with the power of Earth, Nym learns to control her ability and they both prepare to take on invading forces. After a test on the mountains, Nym explodes with righteous anger at being manipulated and being used as a weapon and causes an avalanche that nearly destroys a nearby village. After another bout of self doubt, Nym lets the curse control her and refuses to use her ability to kill anyone. 

But Eogan complicates everything with secrets of both his and Nym's pasts and then the King of Faelen is betrayed and the legendary, accursed Draewulf attacks. 

I like the history and the world building was adequate but what needed the most improvement was the explanations and background of the characters- I felt as if there was a slight case of info-dumping. 

Personally, the last couple of chapters were the most suspenseful and tense moments of the whole book. And that ending. That Ending. The Ending. Like I totally thought it would be a happy ending but who was I kidding? Definitely myself- that ending was so brilliantly unexpected and so artfully done. I mean, it wasn't a great ending in and of itself but how the author springs it on you the very last minute/paragraph was what made me decide I really liked this book. 

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) 

Author: Mary E. Pearson

Publication Date: July 8th, 2014

Publisher: Henry Holt 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.
She flees on her wedding day.
She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.
She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.
She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.
The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.
Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love. 

Although the story isn't particularly different from the usual YA reads, I loved the author's style and the world building and characters, which all added up to equal one of the most delightful reads this year.

I usually enjoy books told from different perspectives, and The Kiss of Deception was no exception- although I had a hard time figuring out which alias belonged to which character, I loooved the different POVs.  

I really liked Princess Lia's character and her spirit but it was very similar to all the other YA heroines nowadays. Both Kaden and Rafe aka he assassin and the prince were interesting additions and I loved the prince but I felt like strangling the imbecilic assassin during the second half of the book. He needs to figure out his priorities. 

Pauline, the best friend, was truly loyal and should have had a larger role in this book. SPOILERS. Walther, Lia's brother, was a supremely supportive and awesome brother and I felt really awful when he died.  

The kingdoms- Vendan, Dalbreck and Morrighan- are already suffering from shaky relations with with each other and Lia's escape from her marriage to the Prince of Dalbreck sparks even more conflict. The savages (Vendans) believe that Lia was able to escape because of her strong powers as the First Daughter so they send the assassin to kill her. But predictably, nothing goes as planned (antithesis? :D) and both the prince and assassin fall in love with the princess.

To those who hate love triangles, it wasn't much of a triangle- it was pretty obvious the prince was the One. Regardless, I personally felt that this book didn't emphasize much on the romance but rather Lia's refusal to be "a soldier in her father's army" and her burning desire to decide her own destiny. But alas destiny is hard to control and an ancient prophecy threatens to take over Lia's life.

The book ended with a slight cliff hanger but throughout, it was peppered with questions that I can't wait to see answered in the next book, The Heart of Betrayal. 

The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson

Title: The Tyrant's Daughter 

Author: J. C. Carleson

Publication Date: February 11th 2014

Publisher: Random House Children

Rating: 5 out of 5

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Goodreads Blurb:

From a former CIA officer comes the riveting account of a royal Middle Eastern family exiled to the American suburbs. 
When her father is killed in a coup, 15-year-old Laila flees from the war-torn middle east to a life of exile and anonymity in the U.S. Gradually she adjusts to a new school, new friends, and a new culture, but while Laila sees opportunity in her new life, her mother is focused on the past. She’s conspiring with CIA operatives and rebel factions to regain the throne their family lost. Laila can’t bear to stand still as an international crisis takes shape around her, but how can one girl stop a conflict that spans generations? 
J.C. Carleson delivers a fascinating account of a girl—and a country—on the brink, and a rare glimpse at the personal side of international politics.

The Tyrant's Daughter was a mash up of political tension and teenage worries- two that normally wouldn't go that well together. But the clash is what makes this book more real and unique. Also, the fact that Ms. Carleson has background knowledge and experience makes it impossible to doubt this book is based on a true story.  

My only peeve is that we didn't get to know all the characters better- they all had so many stories to tell and although I enjoyed listening to Laila's voice, I wanted to know her mother's story, and also the stories of all the others deeply affected by this war. But through Laila's voice we are able to see the stark contrast between the two worlds and how she struggles to find which one she belongs in. Throughout the book, Laila compares her values to the ones of others around her and struggles to make sense of whether or not she should move on. 

After moving to America, Laila discovers her sheltered upbringing and also her one sided view on the war- she realizes that everything she was told as a child was wrong and that her father was not a fair king but actually a ruthless tyrant. So when her mother gets re-involved with the crisis, Laila has the choice to ignore the painful reminders of her exile and move on, or attempt to get involved and find out how her family was responsible for  the war ravaging her country. She chooses to uncover the secrets- but her actions only further ensnare her in her mother's trap. At times, I really felt as if the mother and Laila were on opposite sides and the mother's motives, personally, were hard to understand. 

The other characters in this book were colorful additions and helped emphasize both Laila's hidden baggage and her complex personality. I enjoyed this book and especially enjoyed how the author was able to effectively present Laila's point of view.   

Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Title: Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)

Author: Danielle L. Jensen

Publication Date: April 1st, 2014

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the mountain. When Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she realises that the trolls are relying on her to break the curse.
Cécile has only one thing on her mind: escape. But the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time…
But the more time she spends with the trolls, the more she understands their plight. There is a rebellion brewing. And she just might be the one the trolls were looking for...

A talented singer/farm girl, Cécile, is kidnapped and sold to the legendary Trolls of Trollus, who were thought to no longer exist. The King forces her to marry the Troll prince, Tristan, and hope that their bonding will get rid of an ancient curse that prevents them from ever escaping their cage under the Forsaken Mountain. When things don't go according to plan (no surprise- they rarely do), Cécile is allowed to live as princess (more accurately, prisoner) and provides the trolls of Trollus with hope for a better life.

Instead of giving up and allowing the cave to suck the life out of her, Cécile resists the trolls "way of life" and fights to escape at every chance she gets. But the longer she's there the more she sees that trolls aren't the heartless, thoughtless creatures legend made them out to be. She uncovers a whole world filled with prejudices and a thirst for power that is not so different from her own. And after a while, she makes it her quest to free the trolls from the curse that traps them under the mountain. 

But Cécile soon finds out that very few of the trolls are willing to side with her. As she navigates through the treacherous slopes of Trollus, she finds but a handful of trolls/people she can trust- one of them the prince, Tristan. 

As the story progresses, we discover that Tristan is not an evil, heartless snake like his father (I mean that figuratively, he's still a troll) but believes that humans and half trolls should not be treated with such contempt and disrespect. To further build on this surprising turn of events (not really, it was after all in the official summary), HE is the one leading the rebellion of mistreated half-bloods, trolls, and humans to overthrow his father, the King.  

Both Cécile and Tristan began to trust each other and as they face countless obstacles, they fall in love. But, humans are still hated and although Cécile is the princess, some want both her and Tristan dead. After numerous attacks on their life (they are bonded, so if one dies, so will the other), Tristan wants Cécile to escape back to her world and be safe, but the stubborn heroine won't give up and both of them fight against the rising tensions within the different classes of Trollus. 

But when Tristan's half brother attacks Cécile, everything falls apart and nothing in Trollus will ever be the same. 

In my opinion, the beginning of this book could have been done better- what happens at the beginning of this book is not a very good representation of what happens throughout the rest of the book. 

This unique and compelling book is truly one of a kind and I can truthfully say that is definitely on my 2014 Top Ten List. So if you enjoy an undeniably interesting plot, prophecies, or ancient civilizations, this is the books for you. 

John Dreamer by Elise Celine

Title: John Dreamer

Author: Elise Celine 

Publication Date: February 12th 2014

Publisher: AuthorBuzz

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

*ARC provided by Netgalley*

Goodreads Blurb:

Andy wasn’t usually sure about much, but she was absolutely certain this was the weirdest day of her life as she stood stranded in the middle of a great white room with six strangers. Well, they were mostly strangers. She could have sworn she’d seen the guy with the green eyes before, and maybe that was why he kept staring at her. 
When a man calling himself the Guardian appeared and said they had come to make their deepest dreams come true, they embark on an adventure none of them ever imagined, and the consequences of their actions would change them forever.
"John Dreamer" is the first in a series of books set in the confines of the Great White Room. 

In John Dreamer, Andy is transported to the Great White Room and meets with six other, interesting people who share the same birthday. As they struggle to make sense of their situation, they are thrown into different scenarios that push them out of their comfort zone and force them to overcome their faults. 

The first who is allowed to leave this Place of Dreams is Marcus. When the seven subjects are captured by soldiers, Marcus uses his karate skill and frees himself from his captors. He "saves" the day, and in the process discovers that he is brave. After Marcus disappears, the others realize that the key to being free of this Room is to discover and overcome whatever prevents them from truly living their life.  

Similarly, Olivia learns self-acceptance, Linda learns to overcome her shyness, Roy learns gratitude, and the Matty finally feels appreciated and known. And they all move on to be great people who truly change the world.

The two others, John Dreamer and Andy fall in love at first sight but the constantly moving plot prevents anything real communication between them. But at the end, these two are the ones left in the Place of Dreams and find out that they met as children and finally confess their deepest secrets. Andy confesses that she has been unable to connect to anyone after her mother's death and John reveals just how heartbroken he was over his dad's desertion. 

This book can be a little overwhelming at times and starts off with a bang but has a great moral, interesting plot, and engaging characters. And Ms. Celine really draws the readers in by making the characters understandable and realistic. The supernatural theme is overshadowed by her ability to convey important, human truths such as our ability to change and accept. 

A bit like the Wizard of Oz, this book is about self-discovery, accepting change, and learning to be a better person. 

Don't Even Think About it by Sarah Mlynowski

Title: Don't Even Think about it

Author: Sarah Mlynowski

Publication Date: March 11th 2014

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Goodreads Blurb:

We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.
Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.
So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening. 

Don't Even Think About it presents a completely new and different premises than most of the YA books being published. Its about a classroom of teenagers who all receive mutated vaccination shots and end up developing telepathic super powers. 

This book is an extremely light read, and was a bit pointless- throughout the story multiple secrets are uncovered, the characters with the telepathy all get annoyed at one another, and everyone with telepathy knows everything everyone is thinking. So there is absolutely no privacy and way to many pointless conflicts. 

But I applaud the creative factor in this story and how Ms. Mlynowski introduces the telepathic powers. I also like how she collectively writes through the voices of all the characters, who are all telling the story together. 

I also disliked the "teenagers" in this story and believe all the emotions weren't exactly genuine. The main conflict, teenagers vs. telepathic powers, was too stretched out and way too much insignificant information was given. But I suppose all that info was added to further the effect of confusion and disbelief so I don't really have a problem with it. What I did, however, have a problem with was connecting to the story- sure it was interesting, but I never really connected with it or felt as if I was "in" the story. 

Champion by Marie Lu

Title: Champion (Legend #3) 

Author: Marie Lu 

Publication Date: November 5th 2013 

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

He is a Legend. 

She is a Prodigy. 

Who will be Champion? 

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position.But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything.With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

First it's Allegiant and now this- I'm convinced that all my favorite authors are all conspiring to break their readers' hearts. But, do not lose hope because, unlike Allegiant, Champion hints at a brighter future.  

Everything from the previous two books carries over and Champion is more intriguing/ heartbreaking and results in a sensory overload. I mean that both positively and negatively; although there is no doubt this book is fabulous, it brings up too many unimportant information. There is soo much going on and frankly, I was skimming to the "important" parts. 

In Marie Lu's Champion, Day is diagnosed with a terminal disease and pulls away from June. But as the plague and the war with the Colonies worsens, both are forced to make difficult choices. As the story progresses, so do the characters of both June and Day. We see more depth to Day and see June's drive to do what's right.

The ending is my favorite part (other than the fact that, you know, it ended) because what happened (won't spoil it!) was soo unexpected (well not really, there were enough hints that I refused to put together) and it made me start crying. Ugh, I'm becoming a silly headed ninny- so many books are making me dissolve into tears! But this book totally deserved it, and Ms. Lu ended the series with so much forethought and general "wonderfulness", that it put many authors to shame- this is a perfect example of ending a series the "right" way. 

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Title: The Falconer (Falconer #1)
Author: Elizabeth May 
Publication Date: September 26th 2013 
Publisher: Chronicle Books

Rating: 4 out of 5 

Goodreads Blurb:

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844
Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.
Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.
But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

The only problem I had with this book was that it was too violent. But without the violence, this book probably wouldn't have been nearly as interesting. So my feelings are extremely contradictory (like they often are).

Although this book was too short (only 336... jk, it was just extremely fast paced), I enjoyed how we got to piece together the back story part by part. The plot was interesting and Gavin was an unexpected addition. The cliffhanger ending was also unexpected. For a second I though it was merely the end of the chapter, similar to how TV shows break right before the advertisements- suspenseful enough to ensure that viewers don't switch channel, but don't feel like the end. The ending of The Falconer definitely didn't feel like an ending, cliffhanger or not.

The main character, Aileana, is plagued by her mother's death. Unable to handle her grief, she forges a deep hatred for all faery kind (the correct term is sithichean) and decides that it is up to her to protect innocents and kill all sithichean. Little does she know that that has always been her destiny, as all the females before her were Falconers, fated to kill sithichean.

I actually don't know what to think about Kiaran. His intentions were never clear and although I understand that was entirely purposeful, it was just adding to his mysterious, shadowy, secretive stereotype (which is kinda just waaay to cliche). But he was still an awesome faery/sithichean, and an interesting plot complication- who exactly is Kiaran and whose side is he on? SPOILER. When Aileana met with the sithichean that killed her mother, Kiaran stopped Aileana from killing her. He later reveals that their lives are connected, so if the evil sithichean (extremely redundant) is killed, he also dies. Also Kiaran taught Aileana how to kill faery kind... and Kiaran is a faery... THIS is what I meant by plot complication.

This book is ideal for faery lovers who enjoy an unforgiving heroine and a unique plot.

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Title: Defy (Defy #1)

Author: Sara B. Larson

Publication Date: January 7th 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Rating: 3 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.
The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

An amazing debut that leaves you waiting for more- Defy will capture your attention. But, I warn you, that might be all that it does. 

Alexa, disguised as Alex, is sworn to protect the seemingly sullen and uninterested prince and at the same time make sure no one discovers her secret. After her brother is killed, things quickly spiral out of control and soon Prince Damian, Alexa, and a fellow Gaurd member, Rylan, are kidnapped by the enemy and travel through the jungle. 

The main character Alexa, reminds me of Katsa from Graceling with her superior fighting skills and tough exterior.
In the jungle, several interesting revelations take place and Alexa has to decide exactly who to trust. This book was fast-paced and intriguing, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Graceling and Mulan.

I really enjoyed the plot, although it was sometimes lacking. I felt as if the romance took over at times, but overall this book was enjoyable. SPOILER. There is a love triangle.

This book was riddled with revelations, secrets and hidden agendas. I liked how all those fit together to make the book interesting. Even though I felt as if there was too much being thrown in, it was altogether satisfactory.

Although the book was definitely good, I do have some qualms. The world building was practically nonexistent- yes there were definitely some details that seemed interesting (ex: black sorcerers, jungles, the war) but overall there could have been more. Also, this book wasn't particularly creative- it had too many elements from the standard fantasy YA books that were altered a bit to fit the author’s taste. So even though this book didn’t make me go “OMG this is one of my favorite books!” or even “This book is spectacular!”, I still recommend it to anyone looking for a light, enjoyable read.

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Title: Tiger's Curse (The Tiger Saga #1)

Author: Colleen Houck 

Publication Date: January 11th 2011

Publisher: Splinter

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb:

Would you risk it all to change your destiny? The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she'd be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world.But that's exactly what happened.

Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.Packed with magic, action-adventure, and romance, the epic Tiger's Curse series will keep you breathless and yearning for more.

Kelsey, a seemingly ordinary girl from Oregon, gets a summer job at a circus. There she meets a white tiger called Dhiren, and from that moment, she is pulled into a 300-year-old curse involving otherworldly adventures, extremely handsome tigers, and awesome super powers.

This is one of my favorite books ever! I love the Indian mythology, I love the romance, I love the characters, and I love the my tigers!

 SPOILER. Dhiren, the white tiger from the circus, is actually an Indian prince who was betrayed by his brother and was cursed by the evil sorcerer Lokesh. Lokesh is the power-hungry monster that wants to unite the pieces of the Damon amulet to control all the elements.

So, Kishan (the brother) and Ren have both been living as tigers for more than 300 years. Now how does Kelsey Hayes fit in? She is the warp =D To be a little less incomprehensible, let me explain. Kelsey Hayes is given the task of breaking the curse by completing five sacrifices and finding four gifts by the goddess Durga (controller of the Damon amulet). Their guide and mentor, Mr. Kadam is the reason that they are able to figure all the prophecy mumbo jumbo out and quite frankly, he is the only reason they were able to find out how to enter Kishkindha, the realm of the monkey, Kappas, and predatory plants.

While in Kishkindha, fighting for their lives, Ren and Kelsey fall in love. Cue the silly,cute romance. But after a while, Kelsey convinces herself that Ren is too good for her (he is a prince) and rejects Ren. And after that the romance portion of this series goes in never ending, circles. But in the end it all works out perfectly.

After they avoid the scary plants, they find the gift mentioned in Durga’s prophecy- a Golden Mango that provides an endless supply of food. On the way back, however, both the monkeys and Kappas decide to attack them and they both barely escape with their life. In fact, Kelsey gets poisoned by a Kappa and would have died if it weren't for Fanindra, the golden snake given to them by Durga.

After they leave Kishkindha, Ren discovers that he can turn into a man for a longer period of time (6 hours to be exact) and he is determined to convince Kelsey that they belong together. Kelsey, being ridiculously stubborn, compares herself to a radish, and leaves a heartbroken Ren behind while she flies back to Oregon.

Kelsey- Loves poetry and used to read to Ren at the circus. She is courageous and cares about her tigers.

Ren- The white tiger, loves Kelsey, and also enjoys literature/poetry, quiet, fierce, and extremely prince-like, very handsome

Kishan- The black tiger, Ren’s brother, withdrawn from society, blames himself for what happened, kind/caring, also very handsome

Tiger’s Curse and the rest of the series are so delightfully wonderful that I can’t wait for her next series about Egyptian sun gods and awakened mummies! I am positive Ms. Houck will not disappoint.