The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

Thank you so much Simon Teen for sending me an ARC of TOGETHER WE CAUGHT FIRE to read and review!

***Trigger Warnings: Mentions of suicide, graphic flashbacks of suicide, drug overdose, death & self harm***

How do you put into words how much a book impacted you, how beautifully it is written and how days later you are still thinking about it, all with out sounding stupid because there are still tears in your eyes from all the feelings this book gave you? This has been my struggle since I finished Together We Caught Fire. Sexy, raw, beautiful and thought provoking Eva V. Gibson did not let readers down in her debut novel about love, loss, obsession, healing and finding yourself when you think you are too far gone to be found.

Lane has been in love with Grey since the moment they had to dissect a frog together when they were children. But the attraction is about to grow more complicated when Grey moves in and becomes Lane’s new step bother. Their attraction which is already forbidden is even more so do to Grey’s long time Girlfriend, Sadie, who also happens to be Lane’s friend. Needing a distraction from Grey on the the impending explosion at home Lane befriends Connor, Sadie’s older brother, who is the black sheep of the family. Connor who is a metal artist pushes Lane like no one has ever before, forcing her to face her past traumas head on. But as their attraction grows, Lane is just convinced that a Connor is a distraction to the real issue: Grey. The explosion that Lane is waiting for doesn’t happen at home, but rather at a party that her, Sadie, Grey and Connor are all at, now forcing her to confront her painful past and untangle her feelings for these two boys.

There is so much so talk about, but so much I can spoil and I honestly don’t know where to begin. Together We Caught Fire is not an easy book to read, not because of the writing but because it faces such raw and triggering things. (I attached trigger warnings to the top of my review for those who would like to check them out or needs them.)

You don’t see reproductive disorders mentioned in YA nor do you ever see a character suffering from it. Lane suffers from endometriosis, a painful and often times debilitating disorder that is effects hundred of thousands of woman. There were several instances in Together We Caught Fire that Lane would be doubled over in pain, sick to her stomach or vomiting because of this. I was diagnosed with endometriosis my first year out of high school and I have never seen this part of myself represented in a book before, so getting to see a character suffering from something I do as well made me feel seen and not so alone.

Eva created a cast of characters that were far from perfect and all needed work. The story is set in Lane's POV, but we see the struggle of Grey's insomnia and the toll it takes on him, Sadie's controlling relationship with her father and Connor building a life for himself after being kicked out. This book is so much more then just a romance story. Its about hitting rock bottom, finding yourself, healing and accepting those around you.

Overall I adored every page and moment of this book. This cast of characters will forever hole a special place in my heart, especially because they are so real. I can't wait to read more from Eva in the future and to see what she is going to bring readers next!




Immediately Post Reading Thoughts:

I took me a lot long then I hoped to finish this. But holy shit. This book is raw and real and something so incredibly different. Full RTC!

I’m not sure what I expected. I didn’t hate this book but I didn’t love it. Full review to come!

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

After the ending of Contagion I was screaming for the next book because: THAT ENDING! There were so many unanswered questions, things that happened and so many "what the hell" moments that it was almost painful to wait for Immunity. But I can tell you that that wait was worth it. Immunity was everything I hoped for it to be and more and was a perfect ending to an amazing series.

Thea, Coen and Nova thought their nightmare was over, having been rescued from a deadly planetary virus outbreak on Achlys, but really its only beginning of a bigger problem. Instead of being rescued they are actually imprisoned upon a derelict space station on the fringes of their galaxy and being used to test the virus and it effects. Coen and Thea are both immune to the virus and the doctors aboard the space station are desperate to know more. What are the perfect conditions? What are their capabilities? Soon they learn that the horrors on Achlys is the beginning of something much bigger then what they thought. The threat they left behind is a lot closer then they thought and now it isn't a matter of just saving themselves. It is saving the galaxy from an interstellar catastrophe.

Immunity is told in four point of views: Thea, Coen, Nova and Amber. Amber is a medic student on board the space station, her father is the head of the team of doctors that are experimenting on Thea and Coen. She is tasked with taking care of Nova who in the first few chapters of the book is in a coma. I ended up liking Amber a lot more then I was expecting to. She didn't just blindly follow her father, she questioned him and resisted his orders. She knew between right and wrong and the things that were moral and ethical. Amber proved her character to be strong, resilient and knowing that sometimes the sacrifice of one saves the lives of many.

At the end of Contagion I was curious if there was going to be a future between Thea and Coen. After all, Coen infected Thea with the virus. Through their point of views we see them go through vigorous exercises, horrify experiments and inhumane treatment as the doctors desperately search for the answer to the Hosts. (Hosts are people who have been infected with the virus and now are immune.) Their bodies are weapons and the doctors want to know how to recreate that. But through out their sections we see how their feelings change and begin to shift. The romance aspect of Immunity wasn't used at the forefront of the story though, which was nice. Sure, I routed for them to be together and I may have thought "Yo Coen, go get your woman" once or twice. But so much more happened in this book then just the romance.

There is so much more I wish to say but I won't because of spoilers. But considering this book was published yesterday I won't have to wait to long before talking about it with other readers. Bowman wrapped up this duology amazingly. All the loose ends were tied up and as the reader I was content. BUT that last chapter has stuck with me and is giving me lingering hope...

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

**Thank you so much NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the oppurtunity to read and review REVERIE!**

I was so bummed when I had to miss the Friday of BookExpo because I had broken my ankle the previous morning leaving our hotel. I literally have the best co-bloggers because they surprised me by snagging a copy of Reverie that is one of my anticipated reads for 2020. Ryan La Sala a debut author, did not disappoint. This book was everything I hope for it to be and more. I don't know about everyone else but I am obsessed with the cover and I think it captures the vibes of Reverie relativity well. Side Note: Ursula would have this cover with a burning passion, why you may ask? Well you'll have to read to find out. But I hope Ursula isn't too disappointed in the cover.

I'm still trying to find the correct words to describe this book, because I don't think that the words I write down will even do it an ounce of justice. Reverie is unlike any book I have read before, and I have read a lot of books. Ryan La Sala’s debut fantasy is an #OwnVoices novel about Kane, a gay teen living in Connecticut who is trying to piece his life back together after loosing most of his memories. Only, Kane loosing his memories isn't simply amnesia as everyone thinks and there are darker things at play.

"Inception meets The Magicians, except with better wigs and a maniacal drag queen sorceress attempting to unravel the reality of Connecticut (yes, the state) and replace it with something…well something better than Connecticut."

What are Reveries you ask? Reveries are basically someone's dreams, nightmare or inner fantasy that becomes a reality that sucks in the people around it. Each Reverie has its own unique plot to follow and if you don't follow them they become extremely dangerous and unstable. There is a set of rules and they must be followed, at all costs. The only way to unravel a Reverie is by resolving the conflict. But what happens what the evil maniacal drag queen sorceress gets a hold of the Reveries? Well, lets just say it isn't pleasant.

I liked Kane from the start of the novel. Part of me felt bad for him. Kane explains early on in the book that he was outed at a young age and because of that he was always distant from his peers and other people his age. Has some memories start coming back and her begins to learn new things, he finds out that the people who were suppose to have his back: Ursula, Adeline and Elliot betrayed him by wiping his memories and all but setting him up to be found at the scene of his "accident." You can imagine how much that betrayal probably hurt. Kane and his friends are part of a group called The Others and they deal with Reveries. (But that is all I am going to tell you because I don't want to spoil the book for those who plan on reading!)

I want to take a moment to say that even though Posey is the villain in this novel I LOVED her character with all my heart. Posey is the villainous drag queen that we have heard all about. Sassy, eccentric and ruthless there was part of me that couldn't hate her even though I probably should have.

I loved every moment of this book and the intricate and creative worlds Ryan was able to create. As I said earlier, this book is everything I hoped for plus more and I super eager to see what Ryan has in store for his readers next. Reverie is a not to be missed novel of 2020 and Ryan is an author who should be on your radar.

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

Thank you so much Simon Teen for sending me an ARC of GIRLS WITH RAZOR HEARTS to read and review!

I adored Girls With Sharp Sticks, it was the one book that I read in 2019 that I couldn’t stop talking about. So, when a copy of Girls With Razor Hearts appeared in my mailbox I had to dive into it right away. It’s been a couple of days but all I can say is: wow. Girls With Razor Hearts was a thrill ride from page one and did not let up till the last page. Speaking of the last page: WHAT. THE. HECK. How can Suzanne leave us like that?!

Girls With Razor Hearts starts right where Girls With Sharp Sticks ended. Mena and the girls are fleeing from Innovations Academy after learning a devastating secret: they aren’t human. Coming to terms with the fact that they are AI, created by men to be controlled and dominated, they are devastated and shell shocked. But underneath the devastation they are desperate to get the other girls out of Innovations Academy. Leandra, the head master's wife appears to be a double agent and tells the girls to track down Winston Weeks, an investors in the academy. If Mena and the girls can identify the heads of the corporations they could shut down innovations for good. Their first lead is that a member is laundering money through Stoneridge academy, a private school in which their son attends. The goal is simple: get close to the investor’s son, get him to spill and get his father out of the way. Only, things aren’t that simple.

I talked about in my Girls With Sharp Sticks review that if a book doesn’t make you angry, then it isn’t doing it’s job. Girls With Sharp Sticks did that for me and now I am adding Girls With Razor Hearts. It makes me angry in a sense that some of the examples in Girls With Razor Hearts is something we see day to day, whether in real life or on the news. The dystopian setting or this novel is very close to our current world and as a woman that is unsettling.

Viewing not only how Mena and the other girls who escaped Innovations Academy but the girls who attend Stoneridge are treated is appalling. Mena is witnessing sexism and racism first hand for the first time and where many woman in this society have learned to back down and keep their heads down, she refuses too. Essentially, she escaped the Academy to be in another dangerous game.

The twists and turns that this book takes doesn’t slow down for a second. Every time I thought my heart was going to stop racing and things were going to calm down Suzanne threw another plot twist in to keep her readers on their toes. A lot of my questions from Girls With Sharp Sticks were answered but this book left me with so many more that I can’t wait to see answered in the next book.

Overall I really enjoyed Girls With Razor Hearts and I am eagerly awaiting news on the next book. I highly recommend this book to all sci-fi fans but also people who want to read about girls standing up for themselves and not taking anymore shit from the men who try to control them.

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

*Thank you so much HMH Books and NetGalley for letting me read and review CUT OFF*

First things to know about me: Lost is my favorite TV show and Warcross is one of my favorite books of all time. If you tell me that a book is going to appeal to fans of that show and book, you know for a fact I am going to read it. Here is my dilemma with Cut Off, I think the idea behind it is really cool. You have the Lost vibes, I can see why they compare it to Warcross and at some points I even got The Hunger Games vibes from it. It has that thrill and mystery factor to it that had me wanting to keep reading. But the bad points outweighed the good ones with Cut Off. I had no interest in the characters at all and I could form no connection with any of them. I mention it in tons of my reviews, if I can't connect with any characters, I am going to struggle with the book. Second, I DNFed Cut Off at 35%, that far in and nothing had enticing happened that pulled me into the story more. I was ready for all of the science fiction aspects and the mind bending I was promised and just nothing. I am sad I had to DNF this one because I was really excited for it, but sadly it just wasn't for me.

Ohhh I have a lot of thoughts

I didn’t think I was going to get emotional when I read the last page but I did and I cried. This series has a special place in my heart and it’s bittersweet that it’s over.

RTC!

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz


I am a huge Jay Kristoff fan, so imagine my dismay the first time I tried to read LIFEL1K3 and hated every second of it. I made it about 200 pages in and called it quits. I was quite dissapointed and questioned the fact I considered myself such a big fan. Fast forward to 2020 and I decided it was time to give LIFEL1K3 another chance and what would you know, I LOVED it this time around. Jay as usual is the master of world building and shattering his readers hearts.

In what's left of the country after World War 4.0, Eve lives on a scrap of land of what used to be the West Coast. Living life looking over her shoulder, Eve isn't looking for trouble. She spends her time building bots and then fighting them in the dome, until one night the fight goes horribly wrong and she destroys the opposing bot with her mind and screaming. Now with the Brotherhood (A band of religious men who believe that people with abnormal abilities are abominations) Eve just wants to keep her head down, but all the changed when Ezekiel, a Lifelike (an robot that resembles as human, with the capability to make its own choices) literally crash lands at her feet, insisting that she is this mysterious "Ana." With her best friend Lemonfresh, her robot companion named Cricket and Ezekiel she is on a quest to save the ones she loves. But in the process, Eve uncovers secrets that change everything.

I liked Eve's character a lot, I found her fearless and determined. She's rough around the edges and snarky and will do anything for the ones she loves and cares about. As the story unfolds you begin to see a change in Eve, it's subtle but it is there and the more you read the clearer it becomes. In the climax of the book everything is explained.

I really loved all the secondary characters as well, we get to see some of the story from Lemonfresh's point of view and she is just as sassy and loyal as Eve is. Ezekiel is such a complicated character, in the sense as there is so much more of him that needs to be developed. He is one of the twelve Lifelike's that were created several years earlier and it is easy to tell that his understanding of the world and emotions aren't developed, which I've come to learn was purposely done. (I'm writing this review after having read the whole trilogy, so you will see more of this addressed and discussed in the upcoming novels.)

Jay will always be my favorite when it comes to world building, from Nevernight, Illuminae and Aurora Rising there wasn't one world that he built or helped build that I didn't like. LIFEL1K3 was unique and different and though I wished that the past of what is left of the "yousay" was explained it doesn't change the story. My only complaint was I wish there was a glossary of the slang that Jay has created, at some points it was a little hard to follow because I wasn't sure what the characters were actually meaning. But again, it is only a tiny thing and nothing more.

Overall I really enjoyed LIFEL1K3 and I am glad I gave it another shot. Like I said above, this review is being written after I I have finished this series so all I have to say is this: Buckle up, because you aren't expected what is going to happen next.