It was a beautiful stand alone novel. I am crying happy heart-ached tears. Review will come soon!

Update - 5.7.13

Originally posted on my blog, Books Forget Me Knot.

Revived is written beautifully, exploring life and death with a fitting amount of sympathy and delicacy that will keep you captivated from start to finish.

A few moments will be dedicated to awe and wonder over the beautiful cover. Just look at it ^^^ It’s just so beautifully intriguing. It’s one of the reasons why I choose to buy this book at YAllapollooza back in February. Plus, the premise of the novel just seemed captivating.

And it was.

Revived was everything I wanted and more.

When fifteen-year old Daisy Appleby gets stung by a bee and has a severely, horrible allergic reaction – she dies. Luckily, Daisy is a part of a handful of test subjects for a government made drug called Revive. The drug is medically advanced that it can bring back a person from death without any harm to their mind. Daisy has been brought back to life five times. Every time Daisy is Revived, her family unit is relocated to a new place with new names. All Daisy knows is constant change, so much so that she looks forward to decorating her room at the beginning of each move.

Daisy has never been a social butterfly, at least at her old home she wasn’t. But in a new town, Daisy turns a new leaf and decides to be social. She befriends Audrey McKean and soon also forms a friendship with Audrey’s brother Matt.

But there is something dark revolving the Revived program. Something Daisy never thought possible. As she delves deeper into the mystery, Daisy also discovers a shattering truth and learns of friendship, life, and loss.

Here I was thinking that this would be a really nice stand alone novel that consisted of a secret government organization. Revived was anything, but nice. I didn’t expect this book to be so completely and irrevocably gripping and insightful. Beneath the surface of a book that revolves around friendship and a blossoming romance, there are serious undertones of life and death.

Daisy was a adorable and an all around girl-next-door protagonist. Her character was really likeable and I loved her unexpected relationship with Audrey. She was sometimes careless and reckless to her own life – that was a flaw to her character. But it’s the way she was raised. Her actions were not intentional. Were they thoughtless? To some extent. But they weren’t malicious. Just impulsive. This flaw actually shapes Daisy’s way of thinking not just what is known, what is factual, but digging deeper and breaking the surface.

I also really liked the relationship that Daisy has with Mason, her “pretend” father who is actually a disciple of God – the creator of Revive – and yes, that is what they call him. Mason cares about Daisy very much, but he’s also very withdrawn and highly involve with his work. I liked that Daisy truly cared about Mason, even though there was no blood relationship between them. Daisy also lives with Cassie, her “pretend” mother and also a disciple of God. Her relationship with Cassie is the complete opposite. Cassie is cold and not at all nurturing like Mason.

Finally, we have Matt. Oh, how I loved Matt. He was just…so sweet and caring. He is also so, so broken. There’s something he’s hiding. There’s something both him and Audrey are hiding and it’s heart-shattering. As the reader, I saw how broken and lonely he was – at one point, even pushing Daisy away. In the beginning, their relationship was slow and so, so cute. I couldn’t help but wish I had a guy like Matt. Or just an overall good and sweet guy in general. Their relationship goes through a period of trial and tribulation, but in the end it is the most stable and concrete love.

I absolutely loved the pace of this book as it kept me actively engaged and wanting more with each chapter I read. It also was very thought-provoking as I thought about life and death, about friendships and loss. Revived is filled with creativity, mystery, and dash of romance. It’s definitely more a book about relationships, which I liked a lot, and how those relationships move forward after a terrible and jarring event.

Highly recommend this book to you all as Revived,/i> is written beautifully, exploring life and death with a fitting amount of sympathy and delicacy that will keep you captivated from start to finish.

There are no words to fully describe how thought-provoking and brilliantly written Thirteen Reasons Why left me. I was rendered speechless with Asher’s raw and realistic writing.

When Clay begins to listen to the mysterious tapes he finds on his porch after school, the last thing he expects is to hear Hannah Baker’s voice. Clay’s confusion further deepens as he realizes that he is one of the reasons – one of the thirteen reasons why Hannah committed suicide. As he listens, Clay tries to find his reason, bracing himself for the tape where Hannah will say his name. As he listens to the ghost of the girl he may have loved, Clay’s view of life and the world changes in the course of one night.

If there is one thing that I took away from reading this novel is that our actions have a snowball effect onto others lives. I’ve always had a sense of that as I was teased mercilessly when I was in middle school. I watch what I say, I have a heavy filter, which may be one of the reasons why I’m not an eloquent speaker as I am in writing.

One of the things that I loved about this novel was Jay Asher’s mastery of dual narration. Hannah’s story is told throughout the tapes that Clay listens to. It’s done in a very intricate and simply way. We get to know Hannah based on the tapes, and we get to know and feel what Clay is going through as he listens. It’s just brilliantly done.

The book also literally broke my heart. When it came to Clay’s tape I just broke down. I was at school, waiting for my dad to pick me up, and as I waited I read. I guess my advice here is to not read this book in public unless you want people to openly stare at you, wondering what is wrong with you.

I don’t want to reveal Clay’s reason for Hannah ending her life, but it’s heartbreaking. Sad. The other people who contributed to one of Hannah’s reasons may be seen as small events, but they spiraled into actions where Hannah was ridiculed and thought of in a negative connotation than who she really was. No one knew her entirely. Not even Clay.

When Clay finishes the tape, he regrets not being able to reach out to her. The signs were all there. It’s constant and reoccurring mantra (in a way) that appears throughout the novel. It’s very heart felt. And like I said before, it makes you realize how you treat people because it effects them and how fragile we are as humans.

Suicide is not something to take lightly. It’s not something that people do for attention as it is said to be. People who consider the thought of suicide are individuals who seek someone to just listen and to help. You never know if a person is trying to reach out to you.

The ending of the novel left me with a tinge of hope as Clay takes a step into unknown territory and does something rather than standing on the sidelines. It’s hard for him, and Asher coney’s his emotions at the end (not just the end but the entire novel!) so very well that I physically could see Clay in that hall as I hide a wry smile.

This has to be one of the most compelling novels I have ever read. It gnawed at my heart with every fiber, leaving me completely and utterly spellbound. Jay Asher is a true storyteller, giving Thirteen Reasons Why a true sense of the heavy subject. I should have read this sooner, and I’m glad that I did read it. I believe that it’s a book that everyone should read. It’s brilliantly powerful and will transform you like it changed Clay.

Ohmysweetgoodness. THIS BOOK.



I finished Of Poseidon last night and it was just such a wonderful, fast-paced, and intriguing read. I will try to be as coherent as possible as I write this because I’m still trying to let it sink in. I’ll also try not to fangirl, but I make no promises.

Of Poseidon is told from two perspectives, Galen and Emma’s. Galen is a Syrena prince who is an ambassador from his people to humans. Galen is a mermaid, err merman, but they don’t like the term “mermaid.” He gets a bit hurt – in a comical sense – when anyone uses that term to describe his people. All Syrena can form between having a fin and legs. The reason Galen is on land more than usual is because he is trying to find a girl who has the gift of Poseidon.

That girl undoubtedly is Emma after a deadly run-in with a shark.

Emma is thrust into Galen’s world as she tries to understand her gift and where she comes from. There is mystery surrounding here genetics and how Emma could be possible because she’s a half-breed. There are theories that Galen concludes, but they are no match for the inevitable truth discovered at the end of the novel.

This novel was just so much fun and captivating. From the very first page, I was laughing so hard. I loved Emma. She’s sarcastic, stubborn, feisty, and temperamental. Her voice was strong and very real. Her usage of “ohmysweetgoodness,” “fan-flipping-tastic,” and “un-freaking-belivable” made her sound like a real teen. They became my new favorite words, by the way.

Emma also reminded me of myself so much, especially when it concerned her ability to trip over her own feet and injury herself. Totally me. The other day I lost my footing on the stairs and fell. Yeah. Not one of my greatest moments.

Anyways, back to Emma. She goes through a lot in the beginning. She loses her friend, finds out that she can hold her breath underwater at an inhumanely rate, and can talk to fish. She handles it as any normal person would. Freaks out, denies it, and accepts it at the end. Galen is a constant presence and it’s because of him that Emma begins to realize her gift and who she is.

There’s a pull that Emma and Galen both sense towards one another. They both know of it, but don’t begin to feel something for each other until later. I really liked this because it’s not insta-love. I’m a hopeless romantic, but there has to be some sense of realism embedded into the characters on how it occurs. Their relationship starts as a ploy to keep up appearances and Emma is dead set on the idea that Galen has no feelings for her, that it is all an act. Oh, boy, is she ever so wrong. Galen likes her…a lot. He just won’t let himself admit it because well, there are circumstances surrounding Emma and what her gift means to his people.

I won’t go into too much detail because it’s an important aspect of the story and I don’t want to spoil the book.

Let’s move on to Galen. I freaking LOVED Galen. He was so cute and very machismo. Like he’s this brawny guy who fought for the things he believed were right. I also loved his similes. His similes were great. He would compare things to things from the sea like lobsters and sharks. I loved it so much because it was unique and creative. Galen in a way is also selfless because he denies the one thing/person he wants most: Emma. He does it for a good reason as well and he even admits at some point that he’d give up his life to be with her.



Since I”m gushing, I will mention Toraf and Rayna. I love these two. They are supporting characters in the novel, but they are individuals as well. For the Syrena, once a male comes of age they sift – which means they date until they find a girl who will be their mate. Well, Toraf has always known that he wants Rayna (Galen’s twin sister). Rayna is not so happy when she finds out that Toraf wants her to be his mate. She shows her anger by well, hurting Toraf on more than one occasion. Emma even stands up beside Rayna on the whole “mate” issue. If a person does not want to be “mated” then they shouldn’t be. Rayna and Toraf have a dysfunctional relationship at the beginning, but it grows into something more and we see how Rayna truly feels about Toraf as the story progresses.

The other secondary characters such as Rachel, Grom, Dr. Milligan, and Mrs. McIntosh (Emma’s mom) offered a relatively and pivotal importance in the novel. I liked this because they all had a purpose and moved the novel forward.

Lastly, I want to mention the perspectives of the novel. I’ve only seen this once before where one perspective (Emma’s) was written in first person, while the second (Galen’s) was written in third and worked. Anna Banks uses this set up rather nicely and offers a deeper understanding in Galen. Writing in a male’s perspective isn’t easy when you are a female, and I like how Banks writes in third to show more than just how Galen feels. She shows us his world through him and it’s something that I loved about this novel.

Of Poseidon is a refreshing spin to merfolk stories, tinged with humor, romance, and mystery. It’s also very unique and creative when it concerns mermaids. But then again, I have only ever read one mermaid book and I was around 12 and hardly remember. So maybe I’m not the best judge concerning this topic. In any event, I highly recommend this novel. It’s a fun and moving novel that will leave you speechless and wanting more.

Plus, you’ll be gushing. Promise.



I will be buying Of Triton, the sequel very soon because I NEED to know what adventure awaits Emma, Galen, and their friends next!

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.

This book was interesting. So very interesting and different. I was completely enthralled and captivated from the first page. Plus, who can ignore the sudden pique of interest at the opening line? ^^



Karou is an orphan. Sorta. She has a foster grandmother and lives in Prague, where she attends an art school. The only family she's ever known are monsters - chimera. She lives a double life, having a seemingly normal life on one hand, but also running mysterious errands from Brimstone to inquire teeth. Yes, you read that right folks. Brimstone deals with an underground market that supplies teeth for him. Their purpose? Well, that's a mystery to Karou. And it's not the only one.

When scorched black handprints begin to appear on the doors to the chimera world, Karou doesn't give it another thought until it proves to be too late. The handprints are made by seraphim who are set to end the age old war with the chimera. When Karou meets one of the angels who caused her to lose everything, she does not expect to become entangled in a forbidden romance nor does she expect to learn the truth about herself.

When I finished the novel two nights ago, I was completely surprised. I loved the beginning of Daughter and Smoke & Bone. Taylor's writing style is beautiful with prose that just seeped through the pages. I could see the world through Karou's eyes and I so desperately wished that I was an artist. Her drawings sounded beautiful and I wanted to see them physically for myself. It goes without saying that I really liked Karou. She was kind, strong, and brave. She loves her chimera family through and through and there isn't anything or anyone that will stand in her way in order to save them.

Then there is the seraphim, Akiva who I deeply sympathized with. He's very withdrawn and shields his true emotions. He's a solider, trained from a very young age to fight the chimera. He's ignorant. But there was a time where he believed that he could remake the world. Where he dreamed of peace. That is shattered when the love of his life is executed for treason. Akiva's world is shattered after than and he goes forth and lives a life of vengeance. That is, until he lays eyes on Karou.

In my opinion, I thought that the love in this novel was well done. There was something drawing Akiva to Karou and he openly admits that to her. He doesn't understand it, he just knows. Then there is Karou who is physically attractive to him. He is a fine specimen, being an angel and all. As they spend time together, Karou sees more in Akiva, and it is then that she discovers the truth of who she is; something she's always wondered about.

It's at this point where the story takes a twist. It wasn't sudden, but it was my least favorite. Throughout the novel there was foreshadowing of a possible past between Karou and Akiva, though it was never fully explained. When Karou discovers who she is, who she was, we are thrust into the past. I liked reading about their shared past, the mystery surrounding the teeth Brimstone collects, and the inevitable demise of a shattered life. But I didn't love it as much as I did the first half of the story. I don't mean to say that it wasn't important, because it was; offering an integral part to the story itself. I just feel like it could have been done differently, without having to delve chapters into that past and forget about the present.

The ending also felt a bit rushed. Maybe it was because I stayed away until 3 in the morning to finish, but I felt unsatisfied. I remember closing the book and just saying, "Well. Okay, then." There are still so many unanswered questions like...what happened to Akiva? GAH- which is good - and I hope that they are given in the sequel.

These last two points are the reason why it's a 4 star rating rather than a 5 star.

Not too focus too much on what I didn't like, I will add that I absolutely loved the p.o.v's. Karou and Akiva's voice were completely different and there was never any doubt whose perspective I was reading. I also loved the foreshadowing and the mystery. It kept me on the edge of my toes, waiting for the answers.

I also liked the secondary characters. Zuzanna gave Karou's life a semblance of normality. Her chimera family in Brimstone, Issa, and Twiga all showed an unconditional love towards Karou. They also offered the second half to the story as all stories have.

Lastly, I really liked the contrast of good and evil. I also liked that there were shades of gray because nothing is ever black and white.

Overall, this was a fantastic read! I highly enjoyed it and recommend it to fantasy and supernatural book lovers. I assure you that it's nothing like you've ever read before. There is also an immense amount of folklore immersed into the Daughter of Smoke & Bone that I loved! Hopefully, I will be picking up the sequel, Days of Blood and Starlight soon!

I was very excited to start reading this novel. Why? Well, I was kind of in a reading slump. I was very tired of reading dystopian and supernatural reads. After a while, they all blur together and feel like it’s all the same, which is the last thing I want to think. I love the dystopian and supernatural genres. They are my absolute favorite. But I have to admit that it gets tiring sometimes.

So, I plunged into this contemporary novel and….well, loved it!

Eighteen-year-old Lexi Larrabee is a spoiled heiress. All her life she has been given everything she’s ever wanted. But as any spoiled heiress, Lexi has taken it all for granted. When she crashes her new state of the art Mercedes into a convenience store while under the influence, her father, Richard Larrabee, decides to put Lexi’s trust fund on hold until she completes the 52 jobs – one for every week of the year. If that’s not bad enough, her father hires a babysitter, nay – liaison to keep a close eye on Lexi.

At first, Lexi is totally against the idea, trying to get out of it in any way possible. But as the weeks past by, she begins to realize things she’s never considered.

At the beginning, I wasn’t Lexi’s biggest fan. She kind of irked me and brought feelings of absolute hate and disbelief towards the rich. But Lexi grows on me. I can’t entirely blame her and her ignorance towards how the other half lives. It was funny seeing how Lexi doesn’t know how to do simple household chores like vacuuming and ironing. She had to YouTube how to vacuum, which went well at first but was a totally disaster in the end.

The thing I liked most about her approach to working these jobs was the way she pretended to be someone different at every day. It was creative and just fun. Plus, it kept her real identity a secret, which helped her undergo and develop a new sense of appreciation for each job without having the lights and flashes of cameras.

I also very much liked how Lexi grows and blossoms throughout the novel. She’s spoiled and bitter, throwing temper tantrums when things do not go her way. Her anger and fear towards her father is tangible and at some points I sympathized with her. There are so many sides to Lexi. She isn’t one dimensional. Lexi is stubborn and entitled, but she also cares a lot and is beyond funny. If there is something she wants more than money and fame it’s her father’s love. Deep down inside she knows she’s a disappointment and continues to be just that because it’s what everyone expects of her. She reflects on that very thing; her sense of self startling and deeply profound.

Her character development is definitely one of my favorites I’ve ever read and I give huge props to Jessica Brody for writing Lexi so deeply profoundly.

There’s also that liaison I mentioned in Luke Carver. Ahh Luke. He’s so…unexpected. Not his character or the possible blossoming love between him and Lexi. He’s different. For one, he doesn’t really like Lexi at the beginning. He grows to like her and I see Luke as the embodiment of us, the reader. It sounds strange, yes, but he genuinely starts to like her when she begins to see things in a new light. I liked this because with most YA novels, the guy already has liked the female protagonist for some time or vice versa. There is never any building to the possible romance between them. With Luke and Lexi there was and it was just so sweet and *le sigh* Luke offers contrast between Lexi’s old love, Mendi. You can see the obvious differences between the two and there was never any doubt in my mind who was the better partner for her. Luke brings out the good in Lexi. All Mendi does is enable her.

There is also depth in Luke. He comes from a middle-class background and has ambitions and dreams to be successful. He isn’t your normal college guy who likes to go to Frat parties and have sex with a different girl every week (as is the cliched version in NA novels). No, Luke is average, normal, and cannot reflective a guy in his age group more realistically than that.

One more thing: He’s also so cutely awkward. I may have swooned a bit.



The ending was one of my favorite parts because it’s very endearing and heartfelt. Lexi discovers the truth about her mother – which was a reoccurring theme throughout the story – and chooses to be selfless. There are so many aspects of the novel that I adored towards the end. Things were resolved, new opportunities opened, and Lexi gained a life-changing experience.

I highly recommend 52 Reasons To Hate My Father. It’s funny, unexpected, fast-paced, and full of heart. It’s especially great if you want to read something other than the norm, like I did :) It’s one of those stories that you’ll remember because of the creative spin to a classic and maybe cliche premise. It also may be contradictory saying, but it’s also something I guarantee you’ve never read.

Uniquely creative, Smoke and Bone is a riveting adventure that will take readers to a beautiful and dangerous far away land.

There are no words to describe how much I absolutely adored this book. I dived into this fantastic read with no exceptions or knowledge of what it was about. All I knew was that this book had raving reviews and that a lot of my friends loved it.

I am so glad I picked this up. I regret nothing. It was definitely a win and one of the most alluring and uniquely creative stories I’ve ever read.

The world that Leigh Bardugo creates is absolutely intriguing and spellbinding. I was completely enraptured by the intricate ways in which the world was founded upon. Bardugo’s world is set in a once great nation called Ravka, where it has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a place of impenetrable darkness where monsters live and feast on the flesh of humans who dare enter. There is also the creation of a class structure. I liked the names of the titles because they were Russian (I think) and it showed that Bardugo set time to research these details. To me, it showed that she wanted to make this story as realistic and concrete as possible when it came to the foundation of it. The other thing I really liked was the parallel’s I saw between the government of Ravka with the government conflict of Russia in the 19th century. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I want to say Imperial Russia, but that sounds very wrong. I just loved the world building in this novel. It was absolutely phenomenal and nothing like I’ve ever read.

For the characters, I absolutely loved Alina Starkov. I thought that she was a kickass heroine. She was strong, yet naive and unsure at the same time. At the very beginning she was weak and full of doubt. But as she grows into her power, so does her confidence. It’s one of the things that I loved about her because it was plausible. There’s a moment towards the end of the novel where Alina loses or there is a sense of her losing. Faith seems lost. Even though it was a very disheartening time, I also thought that it was brilliantly written. Why? Because it was realistic. The hero (in this case heroine) does not always win. There is a loophole, of course. Not everything is as it seems, which is GOOD BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED FOR ALINA AND MAL.

I also like that Alina’s thoughts are raw and true. Her worries and insecurities. Her strengths and views. Throughout the novel, I got a true sense of who she was and I felt and sympathized with her very much. It’s been a while since I’ve truly felt this way about a character and it’s one of the many attributes of the story that I loved.

Moving on to Mal…I really loved his character. He was cocky, brooding, and strong. He’s Alina’s childhood friend and also the first boy she ever loved. Mal is an orphan like Alina and part of the Second Army. He’s a Tracker, which means that he is good at tracking game and people. There were quite a bit of hints about Mal’s ability and how it may be more…like how he could possibly be a Grisha, like Alina. But that is more of a theory and it may be bias because I love them together and will ship them until the ends of the earth. For me, Mal kind of reminded me of your average, indifferent guy. Yano, the kind that you secretly love, but is blind to your feelings? Yep. That is Mal for you. But I adored him. His relationship with Alina is played in a different dynamic; one that I don’t often see in YA novels. It all plays out so nicely without a possible collusion because it’s going too fast. Everything is set for the right time and I just love, love, loved it!

Then, there is the Darkling…*CUE SWOONING*

The Darkling’s character is well, swoon worthy WOW EMMA, WAY TO COME UP WITH SOME SYNONYMS. His dialogue, his actions. Everything about him makes you trust him and just love him. He wants to right what his ancestor caused centuries ago, which was create the Shadow Fold. When he finds Alina, it is the only glimpse of faith he’s had in a long time. Because of her power, she can help him right the wrongs and give him salvation.

If Leigh Bardugo was here, she would probably be laughing diabolically at my description above ^^^

Let’s just say that things aren’t always what they seem. Bardugo seems to do that throughout the entirety of the novel and I fell for it! Well, you know what, I will not fall for such trickery in the sequel. I will not wear my heart on my sleeve and let fictional characters stomp on my heart.

*breathes in, breathes out*

Okay, I’m alright. Got a little bit crazy there, didn’t I?

Overall, Shadow and Bone was a thrilling and beautiful read. The story line kept me actively engaged and wanting more within every sitting. Reading this book actually took a little over a week and it was because I wanted to let it sink in. There were many aspects of the world that I wanted to completely understand and in the end the effort was worthwhile. Uniquely creative, Shadow and Bone is a riveting adventure that will take readers to a beautiful and dangerous far away land. I definitely recommend this fierce read!

It has successfully earned a spot in my TOP 13 READS of 2013 so far and I cannot wait to get my copy of the sequel, Siege and Storm in the mail Saturday. I have been coveting it every since I finished Shadow and Bone.

An ARC copy was provided by the author in return for an honest review.

Can we first marvel at how beautiful this cover is? ^^ I just love everything about it. From the beautiful gold scripture to the captivating portrayal of Allison on the cover. I love how beautifully simplistic and wonderful it turned out. I had been coveting this novel for months (because of the beautiful cover) and when I saw the author ask on FB if anyone would like to have an ARC copy in exchange for a review, well, I jumped at the chance.

The story revolves around twenty-one year old, Allison O’Malley. She leads as normal a life as she can with loving grandparents and her mother, who suffers from mental illness. For most of her life, Allison has had to sacrifice (in my opinion) having a life. She’s withdrawn and shy, especially when it concerns her life time crush Ethan. When her long, lost father returns, Allison discovers the truth behind her mother’s illness and about the secret power surfacing within her.

I thought this book was good. It may even land in the category of “okay.” By the end of the novel, all I thought was, “Well, that was anti-climactic.” It ended on a sort of cliff-hanger; the revelation already known a chapter or two before the conclusion of the story. It was just:



There was, of course, things that I really liked about the novel. I really liked the unique spin on faeries and the Irish lore involved within the story. I’ve never read a faerie story that involved Irish mythology and I thought it was a cool concept. I like reading new and different things, which instantly grabbed my attention. It was good, but I thought that it could have been developed a little more. I felt like it was a bundle of washed clothing thrown in my face with the perpetrator running away and not explaining why they just did that. Odd analogy, I know.

When Allison finds out the truth about the Danaan from Liam, her father, the story takes a sudden spin – like someone hit fast-forward on the remote. Things began to happen way to fast for my liking. I understand the domino effect of Liam’s presence, but I just thought that Allison was too quick to believe anything he said. There was never a “doubt” phase for her, which would have made it believable.

As the protagonist, I thought that Allison was okay. There wasn’t anything striking or memorable about her. Okay, I take the latter back. She was memorable in the sense that she annoyed me when it concerned Ethan. GAH. THE BOY TRIED SO HARD TO WIN HER HEART BUT HE COULD NEVER CATCH A REAL BREAK. I just wanted to reach out and shake some sense into her.

Ethan is your typical bad boy. Sorta. He definitely reflects that typical persona of a player. But for some reason he has always had his heart set out on Allison. He’s reliable and loyal. He always there for Allison whenever a crisis happened concerning her mom. I liked that about him. He was a good guy besides that front he put on involving other girls.

As for secondary characters…well, I thought they weren’t relevant to the overall dynamic of the story. The characters who come into play in the second portion of the novel do play a significance importance, but those in the beginning…not so much.

Lastly, the plot line was good. I liked discovering the truth about Allison’s mother and what happened to her mind. I liked the small twist at the end involving Liam and the faerie who entrapped him in the mystical land. I did not see that coming and that was definitely an interesting revelation.

Overall, The Forgotten Ones was a relatively good read. I liked the unique spin to faerie lore and mildly interesting plot line. I’d recommend this to those who are seeking to read something different and don’t mind reading something fluffy (?).

P.S. This novel is currently a FREE ebook on Amazon, so why not? There’s nothing left to lose! :)

Deeply moving, The Fault In Our Stars, is a story that will live on with you forever.

Today I started and finished a journey with Hazel Grace. It hasn't even been an hour since I read those last words written in the novel, and yet, I write this because the story is still raw and freshly engraved into my soul.

The Fault In Our Stars is Hazel's story, a story about a girl who is terminally ill with stage IV cancer. Her world is shaken up a bit when a new boy joins Cancer Kid Support Group. Augustus Waters is handsomely charming, charismatic, witty, and alarmingly funny. He is a survivor, with a prosthetic leg and with an intellect that immediately interests Hazel. Thus, begins their star-crossed story filled with moments of unprecedented giddiness and happiness, but also heart-wrenching pain.

First, let me say that I picked up this novel because I was having a terrible reading slump. The two books that I was currently reading, that I had not read in two days, didn't seemingly intrigue me. I needed something. Something different from my normal book reads. That is why I chose one of the few contemporary novels sitting on my shelf, and needless to say, it was a wise decision and I do not regret it for a second. I spent most of the day reading and enjoying this story, so much so that as I write this, there are still fresh tears matted on my cheeks.

There's something striking and beautiful about John Green's writing. It's raw and fresh and deeply moving. It strikes a deep resonating chord within one's being and it's just so painfully beautiful.

I loved Hazel Grace from the beginning. She's extremely intelligent and honest. She never once compromises her beliefs, her morals. There are often times within the story where she disagrees with Augustus and tells him so. I loved that about her because it's so different from most female contemporary MC's. Her love for An Imperial Affliction resonates deeply to any reader who has every loved a novel so much that it becomes a part of your story. Hazel is also strong and so very realistic. She doesn't rile her thoughts with hopes of a cure. Because there will never be one. There are only ways to prolong her life. And she knows this. Yet she lives her life and she lives it the way she wants to. I never once pitied Hazel because she never pitied herself and that for me shows true heroism and strength. Have I also mentioned how incredibly witty she is? She's just amazing and one of the strongest female characters I have ever read in my life.

This (the wittiness) of course comes into play and seen often with the dynamic relationship between her and Augustus Waters. I couldn't help but like him (and grow to love him) from his stage entrance into Hazel's world. He's incredibly charismatic and funny. Gus offered those moments of comic relief that burst full of vibrant color and was a stark contrast in the event of tragedy. As a reader, I needed that and John Green does it seamlessly. Augustus also get's Hazel in ways that no one has before. It's one of the reasons why I loved him so much. He managed to steal her heart (as well as mine) in the small time that he had with her.

I also liked the dynamic between Hazel and her parents. It was really endearing and heart warming to see the relationship she had with her mom and dad. I chocked up a bit in those times where she was alone with each of them and shared a special moment of comfort and strength. With that said, I also very much liked the relationship she had with Gus's parents as well. Lastly, I liked the friendship she formed with Issac before, during, and after Augustus.

As an English major, I loved the bursting use of literary terms used within this novel. There are universal themes of death - of remembrance - that we often, as human beings, think about. They are deeply embedded into this novel, especially at the end where things get rough; when the battle is nearly over. There is also a lot of metaphors (due to Augustus's character) that I just *sigh* I just loved it so much, okay.

There are so many wonderful things about this novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. If I hadn't then I wouldn't have finished the entire book in less than 12 hours. My advice? Whenever you have a day off and need something different to read, pick up this book. Go on Hazel's adventure of love, happiness, loss, and grief. Become widely profound by the beautiful litany of themes, characterization, and wonderful writing that John Green brings to us. Deeply moving, The Fault In Our Stars, is a story that will live on with you forever. It will gnaw at your heart strings and make you appreciate those small infinite moments in life.

John Green may never see this but I thank him nonetheless, for giving us Hazel's story, and allowing me to know and also fall in love with Augustus Waters.

All Lydia has ever wanted was to be a part of the Deep Water Research Command Endure. She’s always been captivated by the marvels of the sea. When her dream of joining Endure come true, Lydia jumps at the chance. There is no where else she’d rather be and meeting Daniel Brewer is an extra perk. But when startling revelations surface, it is up to Lydia and Daniel to delve into further research where every single perception Lydia held changes.

Can we talk about the cover? It’s absolutely stunning! I really love the simplicity, yet, mystery surrounding the story. When I first read the synopsis I was immediately intrigued. It sounded like my kind of book. This did not disappoint and I was so glad to have jumped on board the train for this!

I really liked that the book is told from two perspectives: Lydia’s and Daniel’s. Their voices are creatively unique and quite infectious. There were points throughout the novel that I could not stop myself from reading no matter how late it was. The thing about two person perspectives within a story that I really like is that the reader gets to see both sides of the story. I got the chance to see both of them grow and blossom from who they were from the first page to the last. It’s something that Huchton does very well.

The other factor that I liked about both characters was their development throughout the story. Especially, Daniel’s. He’s seen as the resident playboy, but when he meets Lydia it changes. He realizes what he may have needed. And she in turn learns what love is and the feelings that come with it.

Their romance was gradual and very well developed. No insta-love here, which is refreshing. I love, love, loved this aspect of the story. It made it believable and relatively well written. Huchton’s writing is impeccable and captivating. I really liked this futuristic world that she created. It’s creative and unique – two things that I love to see in stories!

The book is categorized as Sci-fi/Romance but I think it’s much more than that. There is mystery and politics involved. The latter is subtle, but nonetheless there. The mystery is what drove this story. Okay, so it was also the romance. I really liked that too!

You’re probably wondering why this is getting 4 stars rather than 5, right? Well, I was in a terrible reading slump and there were times where I did not want to read this. The beginning was hard for me to get by and probably delayed my timing. But it get’s so much better after the first 7 or so chapters. It is at this point that it saddened me to turn of my Kindle because it was so late.

I thoroughly enjoyed Starla Huchton’s new series and cannot wait to read the sequel! There are so many things left unsolved that I cannot wait to discover! I also want some more of Daniel….. Hey, what can I say? I love me some hot techy boys. Can you blame me? No. Definitely recommend this NA indie novel. It is sure to be captivating and enthralling the sinker you delve into the world of the Endure research facility.

Review will be up next week after the Summer Lovin' Read-a-thon concludes :)