And I Darken by Kiersten White

Title: And I Darken (Conqueror's Saga #1)

Author: Kiersten White 

Publication Date: July 7th 2016

Publisher: Delacorte Press 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

(this isn't the same cover as the book I read, but this one captures the book better)



Goodreads Blurb:

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.
Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.
But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

After reading Ms. White's other books, I was shocked at the writing style, characters, and literally everything in this book; I can't believe the person who wrote the Paranormalcy series wrote this book! I think it's impressive that an author can try out and succeed with different styles and different genres, and even though I wasn't a fan of this book, many thoroughly loved it.

My feelings about the book itself are definitely conflicted. On one hand, the plot and characters were really complex, but on the other, they were a bit too complex that it was difficult to understand what was going on.

What I Liked:
* loosely based on history
* Lada was fierce, driven, and downright scary
* Radu was sweet and serious throughout the novel
* Mehmed was mysterious
* the narration was intense and the plot was driven
* there were a lot of historical allusions to the Ottoman Empire that I understood
* the writing style was good

What I Didn't Like:
* the plot was too much (for me), and the descriptions were a bit tedious
* Lada was a little too negative and bitter sometimes
* literally only three characters who were fully developed
* the book skipped the shift in Mehmed, from little kid to king
* role of women/ the stereotype was appropriate to that time period I suppose but it was still silly that Ladu was trying to be "manly" and stifle her feminism

Overall, it was not a fun, light read. It was engrossing and tough. The world they live in is brutal and at times a bit too fantastical. It is harsh and there weren't many positive, happy feelings in this book; I found it to be very dark and as a generally happy person, I found it discomfiting and wanted something a little more light. However, it was written in a time period that was harsh and gritty, so this book was successful in capturing that mood.

I recommend it to fans of historical fiction as well as those who enjoy reading dark, intense stories about thriving when the odds are stacked against you, about losing what makes you human, and about the darkness in all of us. Also, if anyone is interested in Vlad the Impaler, Lada is supposed to be the female version of him.

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Title: Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1)

Author: Susan Dennard 

Publication Date: January 5th 2016

Publisher: Tor Teen 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Blurb: 

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.
In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

I ended last year with a WoW for this book and sadly after reading over it and comparing my expectations to what it actually turned out to be, I am a bit disappointed. Yes, it was a great book because of the characters, the setting, and the story, but it lacked the depth and presence that characterizes my favorite fantasy novels like ToG and Angelfall. 

Pros:

• Loved the idea of elemental magic, very Avatar-like 
• World building/setting description was good
• Characters were interesting and had lots of potential (there were so many roles and personalities that were full of foibles)
• I gave this book 5 stars because it was fast paced and there was SO. MUCH. STUFF. The details, side-stories, descriptions, character interactions, magic, fights, travelling, and more fighting were all so interesting. I don’t think any one of these aspects of the book were developed as much as they could have been, but they were all undeniably interesting and added to the charm of this book.
• The writing was good and honestly I loved this book even before it came out. Thanks Twitter.
• The map in the front of the book really piqued my interest and I will continue this series in hopes of discovering the other regions. 

Cons:

• with all the build-up and hype, I expected the book to be my fave book ever, but it fell short of an ideal book
• weak character interaction- there wasn’t much tension/humor in the dialogue between the characters- it seemed to fall short of my expectations
• elemental magic could have been explained waaay better- I get that it’s a similar idea to Avatar, but it would have been helpful for the author to include how exactly the elemental witches contributed/played a role in society.
• the history was almost non-existent, I want to know more about Nubrevna, about where Safiya is from, why Safiya has such a high rank but lived like a peasant and how she was unable to help Iseult. The mood and intensity of the book was a little shallow/superficial and it felt like the author was just crafting a pretty story. It wasn’t very meaningful (to me personally).
• To compare to Throne of Glass, this book didn’t hold a candle to the action, suspense or gravity found in ToG. It had exciting moments, but neither of the heroines pulled off the “badass” vibe like Celaena did.
• Safiya and Iseult had a strong bond but it wasn’t the best bond I’ve seen in literature… I compare every “best-friend” bond to that between March sisters and I found this one to be lacking.

Main Characters: 
Safiya: Truthwitch (can discern lies from the truth), impulsive, outgoing, loud, and more lively and I guess this book is more "hers" than Iseult's
Iseult: Threadwitch (can see life threads), for the most part acts calm and secretive. She is an outcast and her backstory is heart-wrenching
Merik: Windwitch, the prince of Nubrevna and his role is to help the his country as Admiral of the Nubrevnan navy
Aeduan: Bloodwitch, tries to kill both Safiya and Iseult... but fails every single time. Complicated character, scary at times, and downright confused at others. 

Favorite scene:
I absolutely loved the dancing scene between Safiya and the captain; it was a sort of turning point and heralded a major conflict in this novel. Also, the writing was very descriptive and almost poetic. 

Reawakened by Colleen Houck

Title: Reawakened (Reawakened #1)

Author: Colleen Houck

Date Published: August 11th 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Blurb: 

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.
And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.
But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.
From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

*SPOILERS*

As a fan of Colleen Houck's Tigers Curse series, I was ecstatic when I first stumbled upon this book on Goodreads about a year ago. It seemed too good to be true- Egyptian mythology! Mummified princes! Ancient Curses! But sadly I was a bit disappointed- Reawakened did have everything that was promised, but while reading this book I was bored and didn't feel the same sort of excitement that was ever-present with the Tigers Curse series. 

So why the 4 stars? With this one I'll admit that the rating reflects my love for the Tiger's Curse series (and this cover!) more than it does for the content of this book.

Now, don't think this book is bad- it's not. It was filled with mummies, Egyptian princes, funny moments, and a few interesting characters. It had all the elements of a 4 star book in the fantasy genre. But what I found lacking was the life. Reawakened was boring. I felt no excitement whatsoever and characters & events were formulaic, lifeless, and middle-grade. I'm thinking that this book is directed at a younger, middle grade age group rather than my usual YA- this might be the reason I find it lacking. *shrugs* I'm not sure why I didn't have a blast with this book when I absolutely loved Tigers Curse and I know, I know. I should stop comparing it to Tigers Curse. 

|OK, lets start the review portion of this post.|

The main character, Lily Young, is the only child of two wealthy parents and, as you can imagine, quite lonely. She is a bit unsure of herself and has a "bubble-wrapped" view of the world. She doesn't really have a defining character trait (not funny, smart, or bold) except for her "hidden" sarcasm, which seems to be the main trait that is required in all YA/middle-grade heroines. 

The male MC is Amon. He's an Egyptian prince who was awakens every couple thousand years or so to perform a ritual that is meant to protect his people from Evil (aka Seth). This time, he wakes up in the Metropolitan Museum. Amon starts off weirdly backwards and slowly gets more modern as the book goes on. He was an interesting character with a background I really wanted to know about but sadly his thoughts/personality didn't shine through and he wasn't quite a dynamic character. 

The plot itself was interesting- Amon had to travel back to Egypt, locate his two brothers, and perform the ritual but of course things don't go as planned. Amon can't find his canopic jars (preserved organs) so he was to use Lily's organs. Then while trying to locate his organs/brothers, the evil Seth makes life difficult and sends henchmen to impede their progress and/or kill them. However, the narration was often dry. The climax of this book (the fight between Seth and the brothers) was anti-climatic because there was already so much fighting going on that it was a bit too much. The Indiana Jones-type scenes that were present in Ms. Houck's Tigers Curse series were in this book; they were pretty good and had me engaged.

My biggest problem: lack of character development. There were only a handful of characters in this book. I personally enjoy a large cast (such as in the Throne of Glass series) but a small one can be nice as well since it helps the author focus on developing each individual. However, in the case of this book, the characters were mostly flat. Interesting but not quite alive. Hopefully Ms. Houck will develop the three brothers in the next book.

My favorite part: the backstory. There are periodic flashbacks through this book and provide context for most of the events. The flashbacks definitely provided more depth to the mysterious brothers, whose individual personalities I found to be lacking. The flashbacks also felt like the most solid and well executed part of this book, and without them, I think there wouldn't be such a clearly defined plot/purpose.

Overall, this book was good. Maybe not exactly 4 stars but it had so much potential. I recommend it those looking for a beach/light read and those who enjoy Egyptian mythology.

WoW: The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

A weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Title: The Vanishing Throne (The Falconers #2)

Author: Elizabeth May 

*RELEASE DATE: November 19th 2015

Publisher: Gollanzc 

Goodreads Blurb: 

1845.
The battle is over. Edinburgh stands in ruins. Only Alieana Kameron, former heiress and debutante, now murderess and fae-slayer, remains amid the destruction.
Humanity has moved on - but the war has only just begun.

So this book released in the UK in November but its going to release in the US in June (2016). I don't see why/how that's reasonable. Sigh. I still haven't read this book and that is a veritable problem. I must acquire a UK copy (maybe from Amazon?) and read this book ASAP. 

The Falconer ended with the biggest cliffhanger possible and I am very not happy with how long it took for the book to release (to partially release? to selectively release? why can't books release on the same date throughout the entire world?). Here is my review of The Falconer. 

Although I'm not happy with the release date, I am content in my knowledge that this book will be amazing and I guess it won't hurt to wait a bit until I can get my hands on this book. 

What I'm most looking forward to is Alieana growing into a warrior and saving the world. Because I'm sure that's going to happen. Also Kiaran's transformation might be interesting as well. Hopefully there will be copious amounts of witty banter and it won't be boring. 

Book, please don't be boring. 

*Note: Yes, technically this book is released but only kinda released so we're going to let this dubious WoW slide*

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Title: Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1) 

Author: Rae Carson 

Publication Date: September 22nd 2015 

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Blurb: 

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.
Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.
She also has a secret.
Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.
When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.
The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

*SPOILERS-ish* 

A few years ago, when my friends and I discovered "A Girl of Thorns and Roses" by Rae Carson, I was skeptical of trying it. It is a fantasy book, yes, but the story line didn't pull me in. However, mostly everyone I encountered, who read the book, loved it. So, I gave a try... not my type of book.

Understandably, I didn't really have high hopes for this book, but a few reviews, as well as that fantastic cover, convinced me to give it a try. Let's take a moment to enjoy the cover. I absolutely love the font, and although its a bit too elegant/flowery for the action that takes place inside, the gold theme is spot on.

The MC, Leah Westfall (love the last name btw), has a special power: she can sense gold. She doesn't publicize her talent but somehow the store of gold in her house is discovered, and someone kills her parents to get that gold. This is how the story starts off, and there is a lot of action and running away going on, but it's nothing compared to the action during the middle/end of this book. I admit, I found the beginning a bit tedious, and if you find yourself feeling the same, keep truckin' it gets waaaay better!

The book is very character-centric, with a well developed, unique array of characters and they are the main reason I gave this book 4 stars.

The context for this book is the California Gold Rush, and as a history fan, this piqued my interest even more than the cover. To my knowledge, the writing/events were perfectly suited to this time period and Ms. Carson obviously did her research. The "Oregon Trail" part of this book had me a it worried because, hello, cannibalism (guys, don't click this link if you're squeamish, it talks about the Donner Party. Ugh I get the chills just typing that name), but never fear, no one eats anyone. But other stuff happen that make me simultaneously sniffle and sit up with alarm. Honestly, I think this book could be shelved in the horror genre, because some parts are dead scary. 

The "caravan" of peeps Lee (Leah disguised as a boy) travels West with includes two or three families and a small militia-like group of men (and of course her best friend Jefferson, who ran away from home before Lee did, but somehow they were able to find each other). A few memorable character include Major, Mrs. Joyner, and Therese. Yes, they're really really memorable. 

I hate horror stuff, but I can honestly say that the Trail was my favorite section of this book. The characters we meet are pretty unique (weird, crazy, awesome, inhumane are all apt descriptions) and honestly form the backbone of this book. I am not going to reveal anything that will spoil the book but this is the part of the book where you'll be needing tissues. And maybe a pillow to scream into when the buffalo stampede happens. That part was really stressful and it wasn't the only time I felt like I was actually with Lee, facing all kinds of wacky dangers while trudging resolutely to a place we've never seen before. 

This book touches on a multitude of issues: feminism, Native American/Anglo relations, slavery. It captures the pioneer spirit perfectly and does a good job depicting the difficulties/hopes of those who travel Westward. Although the overarching conflict is between Lee and the murderer (whose identity is revealed pretty early on), Lee vs. crazy people, gender stereotyping, and an arduous journey is ever-present. 

The ending was a shock and was really really frustrating, but I can't say anything to justify this statement or else I'll give it away. It's not quite a cliff-hanger because far from feeling hopeless, Lee feels empowered and gives off the vibe that she'll be able to handle anything. This could be a standalone from the way most things wrap up. But of course, the main conflict-confronting the murderer- didn't really resolve so I'm still looking forward to the next book. 

I recommend this to history buffs, fans of gritty Western action books, and those who enjoy character-based novels. 

Angellfall by Susan Ee

Title: Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1)

Author: Susan Ee

Publication Date: January 1st 2011

Publisher: Skyscrape

Rating: 5 out of 5 

Goodreads Blurb:

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

The apocalypse has arrived in the form of the angels and nothing in Penryn's world is ever the same. She lives in constant fear- not only for herself but also for her little sister, Paige, and schizophrenic mother. One day while she scavenges the alleys for food she finds herself in the middle of an angel showdown. Trying to protect her wheel-chair bound little sister, she tries to flee but captures the attention of one of the lackeys. Soon, she's left with a broken angel, a lost mother, and a kidnapped sister. The rest of the novel is about her journey to the angel's nest to recover her sister. During this journey she "befriends" the hurt angel. His name is Raffe. But his friend call him Wrath. Hehe. (it was a lame joke but those who have already read this book will hopefully laugh along... :D).

I read this book a year or two ago and loved it soo much that I forced my best blogger friend Emma to sit still while I read it to her. Not one of my best moments, but I was desperate to discuss this wonderful book with someone I knew. And lo and behold, the read aloud ended about 2 chapters in with Emma promising to finish reading this book. And she also posted proof on her blog that she did actually read it :D here's her review.

I loved this book. It had THE PERFECT blend of real characters, an imaginative plot, wrenching emotions, and an originally humorous voice. In the cluttered, often dismal world of YA post-apocalyptic fiction, Susan Ee's Angelfall is a blindingly white angel feather. (Yet another one of my arguably witty allusions to the book.)

Penryn. She is the modern YA heroine- strong, intelligent, and a bit snarky. She is one of my favorite heroines of all time because of her unwavering loyalty and down-to-earth humor. She handles every situation responsibly, very unlike a seventeen year old (one of the side effects of being forced to grow up because of an angel apocalypse). Penryn (this book will make you love the name Penryn- when I first read the official blurb, I was like Penryn? Ugh. But this book has the power to make you change your mind, trust me) was willing to face evil angels and cannibalistic Nephilim creatures (that turned out to be something else entirely 0.o) just to save Paige. My favorite scene was when the bad guys broke into her building and started fighting Raffe. I will not give away why it was my fave, but I will tell you that I absolutely loooved Raffe's reaction. Now go read the book to find out what I'm talking about.

Raffe. Even though he is supposedly an all-knowing divine being, Raffe definitely does not act the part. Apparently he even watches tv shows in his heavenly adobe. LOL. One thing I loved about Raffe was his humor, which defused many tense conversations, as well as his nobleness: he was trying to do what was right when the rest of his brethren were ignoring the fact that they were divine beings who were supposed to uphold the law. And although he comes off as indiscernible at the beginning, he quickly becomes a charming hero.

This book was filled with several comical scenes, a few which included the revolutionaries Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, as well as emotional ones, such as at the very end where something-really-really-big-I-can't-spoil-for-you happens.

Filled with unique character- the mother, Obi, Uriel, and Laylah- this book is so wonderfully refreshing. It is the BEST angel book I have ever read (and I've read a bunch of them: Shadows by Paula Weston, Outcast by Adrienne Kress, The Collector by Victoria Scott, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, Sanctum by Sarah Fine, Inescapable by Amy A. Bartol) aside from Cassandra Clare's TMI and TID series' which completely redefined angels.

This white feather of a book will raise your standards of literary creativity and thoroughly cure any book slumps you may be feeling this dry summer. I recommend it to those who enjoy the post-apocalyptic, fantasy, action, or general awesomeness genres.

WoW: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

A weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Click here to order on Amazon!

Title: Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

RELEASE DATE: September 29th 2015

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Goodreads Blurb: 

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Six stories packed in one, each more interesting than the other- how can I not want to read this? Heist, spy, magic, criminal prodigy-- all these words are like little fireworks in my head, promising absolute brilliance. Ever since Heist Society (when is the next book coming out?!) the word "heist" triggers the excitement and a rush of adrenaline one may feel after successfully pulling off a con. Not that I would know first-hand how that feels like...

I will love this book, and of this I am certain. My prediction is not solely based on the fact that the blurb is absolutely fascinating but also on how much I adored Shadow and Bone, Ms. Bardugo's other great novel.

I'm constantly looking for the next awesome book, so feel free to comment below on any books you are waiting for!

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

Title: The Scorpion Rules 

Author: Erin Bow

Publication Date: September 22nd 2015

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing 

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Goodreads Blurb: 

A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.  

Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Prefecture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive.  

Enter Elián Palnik, the Prefecture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Prefecture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages.  

What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war? 

I requested this ARC because the blurb seemed intriguing. But after I read the first chapter, I started questioning if this was actually the book that the blurb was describing. The style of this book is highly esoteric and unlike anything I've encountered before.

Let us first examine the characters, who are oh so serious and proper, with the exception of Elián and Talis who provided much needed comical relief to the reader. Greta, the princess, was respected by everyone and acknowledged by her Precepture ("Amish" settlements where the royalty learn to live off the land) as the "leader". She is the MC but her relationships with the other characters are non-existent at best. She is almost like a robot herself, and although she is portrayed as such for a reason, it did not help me connect to the story what-so-ever. The other hostages Xie, Thanda, Grego, and Han are obviously important, being Greta's closest companions, but there was startlingly little emphasis placed on their thoughts or actions. Elián, however, was portrayed as refreshingly real, but by the end, him and all the other characters seemed so helpless in their society and it was a little frightening. Talis. The Ruler of the World. He was so pathetically childish that I found myself ridiculing the others for following his lead. There was not enough information given to substantiate everyone's profound fear of Talis; yes he did blow up a city (which, btw, was so random and made no sense) but he is so silly.

The world-building is so lacking; although we know there are more countries, they are never talked about. This book is apparently supposed to be a science fiction (dystopian) novel but it never had that vibe; in judging dystopians, the book I use to scale is 1984 by George Orwell. This book lacked the "reality" that was present in 1984; it simply DID NOT feel real and felt entirely made up, almost as if it was some type of fantasy in which powerful robot dudes had the power to blow up cities.

The best aspect of this book was not the characters, or the plot, or even the backstory/history (which was barely explained unless Greta felt like spouting random facts). The best aspect of this book was the science, in which there could have been more a lot more detail. But, the field of AI is quite interesting and arguably, AI is a misnomer for the robots in this book considering those robots are uploaded with a human "essence", for lack of a better word. I thought the idea of immortalizing a human in a non-organic body quite similar to that of The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.

The plot was entirely one directional, and uncomplicated. There were no side stories, no surprising twists, and absolutely no depth. I found it extremely stodgy and lackluster- I wanted a story that engaged me and appealed to either my emotions or brain. This story did not have enough science (political or technological) or enough action/dialogue/life to satisfy my expectations. However, if straightforward, uncomplicated books work for you, you will definitely enjoy this novel.

The 2.5 rating I gave this book is based on it's ideas that had the potential to captivate. It is also based on the fact that it was highly unique and took a new (although uninteresting) approach on AI as well as dystopian fiction.

This book was not my type of book; it was dull and I found it hard to appreciate the futuristic world presented. But, like I stated before, the style was esoteric and I'm sure this book will appeal to those who look for and appreciate the subtler connotations to the story. One of those interesting nuances that I appreciated is the fact that the use of hostages is an ancient practice (which is stated in the blurb, not the book... but an interesting fact nevertheless). But even with those connotations, it is hard to naturally enjoy this book. However, if I read this with the intent to uncover those connotations and use my critical thinking skills to pick apart the plot, then maybe what I would find would be thought-provoking. But alas, that was not my approach and consequently I was quite frustrated with the lack intrigue and life in this book.

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Title: Stitching Snow 

Author: R.C. Lewis

Publication Date: October 14th 2014

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Rating: 4 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb: 

Princess Snow is missing.
Her home planet is filled with violence and corruption at the hands of King Matthias and his wife as they attempt to punish her captors. The king will stop at nothing to get his beloved daughter back—but that’s assuming she wants to return at all.
Essie has grown used to being cold. Temperatures on the planet Thanda are always sub-zero, and she fills her days with coding and repairs for the seven loyal drones that run the local mines.
When a mysterious young man named Dane crash-lands near her home, Essie agrees to help the pilot repair his ship. But soon she realizes that Dane’s arrival was far from accidental, and she’s pulled into the heart of a war she’s risked everything to avoid. With the galaxy’s future—and her own—in jeopardy, Essie must choose who to trust in a fiery fight for survival.

SPOILERS.


I've heard that this book is similar to Cinder, being all futuristic and cyborg-y but honestly I didn't even see the similarities until someone pointed them out.

Stitching Snow was a wonderful Snow White retelling, complete with the evil queen, huntsmen, handsome prince, and the seven robots. That's right robots. They were brilliant robots and I really really wish they all had a bigger part in the story.

One thing that made this quite different from the original Snow White is that there were a lot of different races/countries involved. There were four to be exact, and the politics/war between the countries stood out from the standard YA Snow White retellings.

One thing I couldn't believe was that Dane's father died. That was honestly so heartbreaking because 1) it was so unexpected and 2) it totally threw everything in a loop because Dane's father was the catalyst for all the action in this book.

The two main characters, Essie and Dane, are both royalty who assume different roles to suit their purposes. At first they seem like they're on opposite sides, but by the end they totally unite against the evil monarchy of Windsong.

Essie was strong in the physical sense but she didn't really have a sense of purpose; she was perfectly willing to live disguised as a Thandan instead of going to reclaim her throne and fight for her life back. She acted all tough but throughout the book I see glimpses of the frightened nine year old girl whose world just collapsed. I fully empathized with her situation and admired how she pulled together and prevailed in the face of such odds: almost killed by her step-mother's decree and living in a harsh, unaccommodating planet just to spend her days fighting in the Cage to earn money. But near the end, Essie definitely lost some of that admiration. She was rude and dismissing, especially towards Dane, and after Dane's father died, that was definitely not ok. But overall, Essie was a well developed character.

Dane was great, and his actions (kidnapping Essie, going undercover, saving Essie's life) were either understandable or undeniably brave. He was the most down-to-Earth (does that phrase even apply in galaxial settings? Should I say "down to planet"...) person in the entire novel and I totally agreed with everything he said and did. Even kidnapping Essie. He was kind and unassuming, and also focused. Almost the opposite of Essie. Overall, Dane was great, but also a bit of an uncomplicated person (definitely an oxymoron- uncomplicated person), which however didn't help in enlivening his character.

Filled with robots, an evil Queen, interplanetary travel, and superpowers (yup, it fits in somehow), Stitching Snow is a book I recommend to fairy tale lovers as well as those who enjoy a more futuristic setting.

WoW: Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

A weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Click here to order on Amazon!

Title: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

RELEASE DATE: September 1st 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens 

Goodreads Blurb:

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.
Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

I've been waiting for this book since I read Heir of Fire 10 months ago... 10 MONTHS. It's agony and I know that every other YA high-fantasy lover is suffering similar apoplectic fits for having to wait soooo long for this. But the promised 656 pages of literary nourishment should be an appropriate reward for our patience (not that I'm being very patient...). I know this is like the SECOND most awaited book in YA fiction in 2015 (the first being Winter by Marissa Meyer), so having this as my WoW is a bit redundant because it goes without saying that EVERYONE is waiting for this book (a tad exaggerated, just a tad). 

The main reason I'm such a fan of Sarah J. Maas's writing is because her characters are sublime and her plots are so enthralling. And her books are so emotional that I'm guaranteed to shed tears. Celaena's emotions come across so clearly and I definitely feel them as my own. Also, her depiction of the fae is is a thing of beauty and no one describes them like she does.

Oooh I just cannot wait! *off to invent a time machine*

WoW: Court of Fives by Kate Elliot

A weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Click here to order on Amazon!

Title: Court of Fives (Court of Fives #1)

Author: Kate Elliot 

RELEASE DATE: August 18th 2015

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Blurb: 

In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott begins a new trilogy with her debut young adult novel, weaving an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.

Jessamy's life is a balance between acting like an upper class Patron and dreaming of the freedom of the Commoners. But at night she can be whomever she wants when she sneaks out to train for The Fives, an intricate, multi-level athletic competition that offers a chance for glory to the kingdom's best competitors. Then Jes meets Kalliarkos, and an unlikely friendship between a girl of mixed race and a Patron boy causes heads to turn. When a scheming lord tears Jes's family apart, she'll have to test Kal's loyalty and risk the vengeance of a powerful clan to save her mother and sisters from certain death.

This book is giving off a Hunger Games-like vibe, and at the same time has me thinking Jes is somewhat like Celaena Sardothien from the Throne of Glass. Or maybe I'm delusional and in need of some good books... it's probably the latter, seeing as how this summer has been utterly lacking in exciting YA reads. Hopefully this book will exceed my exorbitantly high expectations. *Fingers crossed*

The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

Title: The Girl at Midnight (The Girl at Midnight #1)

Author: Melissa Grey

Date Published: April 28th 2015

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Rating: 3 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb: 

Beneath the streets of New York City live the Avicen, an ancient race of people with feathers for hair and magic running through their veins. Age-old enchantments keep them hidden from humans. All but one. Echo is a runaway pickpocket who survives by selling stolen treasures on the black market, and the Avicen are the only family she's ever known.

Echo is clever and daring, and at times she can be brash, but above all else she's fiercely loyal. So when a centuries-old war crests on the borders of her home, she decides it's time to act.

Legend has it that there is a way to end the conflict once and for all: find the Firebird, a mythical entity believed to possess power the likes of which the world has never seen. It will be no easy task, though if life as a thief has taught Echo anything, it's how to hunt down what she wants . . . and how to take it.

But some jobs aren't as straightforward as they seem. And this one might just set the world on fire.

The plot of The Girl at Midnight reminded me of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. It was a good read and the style of writing was unique and peppy, but there were So. Many. Parallels. The writing style was a curious blend of old and new; the characters talked in a refined manner, but once in a while something snarky and entirely unrefined slipped in: 
“Pickpocket?” The word was so salty Caius could almost taste it.”
Salty? Realllyyy? It cracked me up, but it just seemed so alien. 

I enjoyed Echo's character, especially her Bravado as she called it. She was altogether super funny and witty. But the way she interacted with others and actually the way ALL the characters interacted with each other seemed so orchestrated. The only true connection/ depth of feeling I could perceive as genuine was that of The Ala and Echo. Speaking of The Ala, she was my favorite character! Loooved her. Although you could technically draw her as a parallel to Brimstone (from Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone), The Ala is much more of a parental figure, and she was so cool. That first chapter/prologue was my favorite chapter in the whole book because it just seemed so real and perfect. Rowan vs Caius. Hmmm, how well do we actually get to know them in this book? Not well at all, honestly; both characters could have been explained much, much more. Ivy was an interesting addition, and should have a louder voice/bigger role. Out of all the characters, I didn't truly understand any of them except maybe Echo. Virtually none the characters seemed to grow/mature; there was no transition period. To elucidate, at the beginning Echo is naive then bam she gets imprisoned then bam she's super mature and jaded. It was frustrating to see how quickly and unnaturally all the characters changed throughout the book. 

There are so many elements in this book, but none of the seem fully developed. For example all the locations visited in this book were pretty cool, but the only one I felt I truly understood and "saw" was Echo's library. Although the scenes take place in "familiar" (relative term) settings such as New York and Japan, the distinctions between the supernatural and the familiar are non-existent: when we are traveling through New York, I don't really get a feel of how the author is portraying the environment. Does she want it to be spooky, otherworldly, familiar, or intriguing? The writing is pretty and the dialogue droll, but it lacks life. The author doesn't always have clear voice and sometimes the story feels a bit directionless. 

There was an abundance of "action" but nothing actually got resolved. Also the famous firebird? Little to nothing was revealed about its so called powers. There is very little information on the history of the two species the Drakharin (dragon people) and the Avicen (bird people). I did however enjoy the descriptions of both races, and especially when describing Jaspar, found the feathers and scales to be absolutely ethereal. 

I know I had a lot of complaints with this book. The reason was that I was expecting something better, something really, really amazing. This book was merely good BUT I found myself enjoying the banter between Echo and her friends, and loved the descriptions of the otherworldly creatures as well as Echo's thieving escapades. I recommend this book to those who don't have any expectations and want to rebound after reading the Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Also, fans of high fantasy and snarky heroines will find themselves enjoying this book.

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2)

Author: Mary E. Pearson 

Date Published: July 7th 2015

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Goodreads Blurb: 

Intrigue abounds in this hotly anticipated sequel to The Kiss of Deception!
Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.
Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.

 Heart of Betrayal. Finally. A really good book. I haven't read anything this good since A Court of Thorns and Roses and the other book, The Wrath and the Dawn. This definitely was everything I was expecting after reading A Kiss of Deception last year; the second book in a series is rarely as good as the first one, but in this case Heart of Betrayal was fantastic. 

Jezelia aka Lia. She was amazing albeit a little too conniving. I absolutely enjoyed her "political maneuvering", but at times it was too much; at times I found myself questioning whose side she was on and what she hoped to accomplish. If there was one thing I could change, it would be the amount of pages spent on Lia's, Kaden's, Rafe's, and the Komizar's petty little power games and acting.

Rafe. For the most part he was pretty sweet and seemed like an awesome prince. I didn't have any qualms whatsoever with his spinning of the truth. In fact, his cover as emissary was brilliant and he was probably my favorite character, right after Aster. 

Kaden. Ugh. This guy is confused. I mean, he obviously is completely loyal to the Komizar, but after failing to kill Lia, he doesn't know what to with his life anymore. I appreciated that he tried to help Lia, but at the same time was he reaally helping? In truth, he was completely undecided and although he did have a perplexing persona and ambiguous motives, he didn't quite portray the strong yet enigmatic figure.

Komizar. The classic YA villain: someone with at least one awesome skill (sword-fighting, magic, persuasion) and murky motives. Someone with a dark past, who seems altruistic as well as malevolent. He's the guy we know is bad, but have a hard time accepting because he seems to care about everyone's else's welfare.... Until he chops off someone's head. Yup, an extremely accurate description of the Komizar, ruler of Venda. 

I loved how there are different kingdoms and an actual geography to this fictional world. The kingdoms of Dalbreck, Venda, Morrighan were wonderfully created, each with their monarchs/rulers, political discord, structure, language, and culture. There was a huge behind-the-scenes plot brewing throughout this whole novel, but it was still quite unclear as to what it's supposed to lead to. Without giving away too much, my take on it was: Lia discovers some ancient texts that seem to rewrite the history of all three kingdoms. SPOILER. Through the same channels, she also discovers an ancient prophecy calling for the sacrifice of the one called Jezelia (her name). 

So this book has all the elements required for a high fantasy: magic, an evil villain, dashing hero(s arguably more than one), kingdoms at war, an ancient prophecy, and loyal sidekicks (Berdi, Pauline, and Gwyneth). And while we're talking about loyal sidekicks, the chapters are told from different POVs, and while the majority are told by Kaden, Rafe, and Lia, some are told from Paulina's POV. Although it was nice to hear her voice in this book, the few chapters in which she appeared didn't feel natural: we only hear from Paulina for important transpirations in Morrighan. Everything we are told by Paulina was useful, but her chapters were few and scattered throughout the book, which gave off the vibe that they were added as an afterthought. 

The Ending. Why would anyone end it like that?! I enjoy endings that resolve, and that make you cry, not because they're so frustratingly incomplete, but because they make you weep as if you've lost a good friend. Here are my feelings on what a good ending should be like: 
“Finishing a good book is like leaving a good friend.”
― William Feather
The ending of the Heart of Betrayal was the exact opposite. Instead of resolving, Ms. Pearson decides to betray our trust and rip out all our hearts. It was the worst possible ending because it left me with more questions than answers. It was so artfully cruel, that I can't help admire her ruthlessness. I mean it wasn't a classic cliffhanger; one chapter of Lia's life was closed, albeit only temporarily (according to my predictions). But there was so much going one: someone really, really important dies, someone else really important might be dead, an entire country is mutinying, alliances are shifting and the MC just did something crazy to cause the entire mess... And then DONE. The book just ends. Worst feeling ever. 

Rife with betrayals, secrets and fighting, this books will satisfy the appetites of even the pickiest bibliophile, at least one of the YA fantasy genre. 

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson

Title: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest (Medieval Fairy Tale Romance #1)

Author: Melanie Dickerson 

Date Published: May 12th 2015

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 

Goodreads Blurb: 

"Swan Lake" meets Robin Hood when the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant by day becomes the region's most notorious poacher by night, and falls in love with the forester.

Jorgen is the forester for the wealthy margrave, and must find and capture the poacher who has been killing and stealing the margrave's game. When he meets the lovely and refined Odette at the festival and shares a connection during a dance, he has no idea she is the one who has been poaching the margrave's game.

Odette justifies her crime of poaching because she thinks the game is going to feed the poor, who are all but starving, both in the city and just outside its walls. But will the discovery of a local poaching ring reveal a terrible secret? Has the meat she thought she was providing for the poor actually been sold on the black market, profiting no one except the ring of black market sellers?

The one person Odette knows can help her could also find out her own secret and turn her over to the margrave, but she has no choice. Jorgen and Odette will band together to stop the dangerous poaching ring . . . and fall in love. But what will the margrave do when he discovers his forester is protecting a notorious poacher?

A retelling of Swan Lake, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest was as delightful as Melanie Dickerson's others books. 

Odette, a young lady, dedicates her life to feeding the poor. Throughout the day, Odette teaches the poor orphans of her village to read and write, and during the night, she takes up her bow and arrow to poach. The only problem is that poaching is illegal and punishable by death. Cue Jorgen, the margrave's forester, whose job is to take care of the forest and arrest any poachers. 

The main dilemma of this story is that Odette is in love with Jorgen but can't tell him that she is the poacher he's looking for. Comical at times, and downright sad at others, the plot had an amalgamation of engaging elements, including Mathias's jealousy, Odette's uncle's debt, and the supposedly ominous character of Lord Thornbeck. 

My experience with Barbie and the Swam Lake served as my background knowledge for this fairy tale. A few similarities I noticed were the name Odette, the swan costume, the little kids, and the deception (the one where the evil girl disguises herself as the heroine in order to trick the hero). 

Both Jorgen and Odette were orphaned during the great pestilence and faced a great deal of hardship, which helped them better understand each other. It was a bit like love at first sight, similar to how it was in Barbie and the Swan Lake. Both of them were kind-hearted and altruistic; they were a perfect match. I loved Odette; she was the classic Disney heroine in that she held herself with both aplomb and humility. And she didn't let others persuade her to change her ways. 

Very few serious issues were mentioned here, one of them being the morality of hunting and another being civil disobedience. The arguments Odette made weren't particularly unique but it was nice to see the author broach something serious in the midst of all the fairy tale-like ebullience and light-hearted drama. 

 The role of a girl who disguises herself as a boy to fight/poach is becoming more common in YA fiction. For example Defy by Sara Larson, The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace, Scarlet by AC Gaughen, and Dauntless by Dina Sleiman. But the concept was swimmingly integrated into all of these books, so I have no complaints. 

Ms. Dickerson has such wonderfully, aesthetically pleasing covers for all her books, and this one is no exception- the braid is beautiful and border on the bottom seems so whimsically classic. She is definitely my favorite medieval times author, and she captures the settings very accurately and contextually. 

The margrave, Lord Thornbeck was impenetrable and it was literally impossible to discern his motives and character until the very last few chapters. I won't give away which side he was one, but he was one of the more interesting characters who each need to have their own book. 

This book was a fun, sweet read and I recommend it to anyone who just wants to relax.