This past month has been my foray back into Maggie Stiefvater's work, and I forgot how absolutely lyrical her writing is. She's often given the title "Master Storyteller" and for good reason. Every single one of her books is woven so smoothly together, giving the reader all of the right pieces at the right time, inserting a magical quality that's entirely believable.

One thing I specifically like about this final book in the series was the way that you could see the development in the characters. The well-developed characters help to flesh out the emotions that emanate from the book, the emotions that draw you into the story and won't let you go until it's over. Stiefvater expertly shifts between characters throughout the text, showing how the darkness seeps into each aspect of the story. Stiefvater's plot is poetic and original, living through the complex characters she creates. Overall, a fantastic ending to a well-crafted series.

See more of my thoughts at Between-the-Shelves.com!

I'll start with this: the premise of this book is fascinating, the first third to a half of the book easily pulls you into the world of Min, Noah, and Fire Lake, Idaho. You're in the dark, much like Min is, and you desperately want to figure out why she has to go through these gruesome murders every two years. Reichs unfolded information at the right pace in the beginning to keep me invested in the story. However, once I got to about the halfway point, the book started to get a bit repetitive for me. Min and Noah just kept asking why, without getting any real answers until the very last 50 or so pages.

The eventual apocalyptic event also seemed a bit unbelievable to me. While I'm not expert in space and asteroids, this particular dystopic/post-apocalpytic novel didn't seem to have roots in reality like most do. Linking it more to our society would have made it more successful. Despite its flaws, Nemesis was action packed with lots of twists and turns, making it a quick, entertaining read.

Read more of my review at Between-the-Shelves.com!

All her life, the only thing Cason Martin has known is dancing. She's been working toward one goal--becoming a ballerina in a dancing studio in New York. But lately, Cason's been having trouble with her leg, an injury that she's done her best to hide from everyone. When the injury gets to be too much, Cason learns that it was hiding something much more sinister: she has an aggressive form of cancer.



First of all, the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. It was one of the reasons I requested it from Net Galley (I know, I know, don't judge a book by its cover. But how can you not like this one?). Luckily, the story ends up being just as beautiful as the cover. Throughout the novel, we switch between Cason's and Davis's points of view. Cason is just starting her cancer journey, where Davis is in remission from his, now recovering from a drug addiction. The two meet, and inevitably, romance brews.



Overall, not much plot wise happened in the book; it was a much more character driven story. While I'm all for character driven books, adding a plot point or two would have pushed this book even further. However, Cason's voice in particular felt so authentic that the extra plot wasn't completely necessary.



The author herself is a cancer survivor, and she said that she wanted to write a book that reflected her own experiences. Her book stands out from other cancer young adult texts, especially since it is filled with such hope; hope that is infectious long after the book has ended.



All in all, a deeply character driven book that will tug at your heartstrings the entire time.

Virginia Shreeves is still trying to figure out how to deal with her brother's date rape charge and suspension from Columbia. Meeting Sebastian, a New York tourist/artist, helps a bit--and the two make a pact not to share their personal dramas. But hiding their personal lives starts to take a toll--one that might end their relationship forever.

Virginia's voice feels very realistic throughout the text, from her insecurities to her nerdy love of popular culture. She constantly feels like she doesn't fit in, with her classmates and her own family. Her story is one of triumph, finally finding her voice and that she fits into her family in ways that she never though possible. Virginia's, and her family's, growth within this book is what makes the story most appealing.

Though the romance at the core of the story feels a bit fairy tale-esque, readers will get swept up in the New York adventures that Virginia and Sebastian have. They are scenes almost taken right out of a romantic comedy, which definitely will make this book a fun summer beach read.