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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Anomalies is the first book in the young adult dystopian/ Sci fi series by Sadie Turner & Colette Freedman. While it felt like a lot of other dystopians to me, I ended up enjoying Anomalies because it was a good story. I think it would be perfect for fans of Divergent and Matched. (other people have also been comparing it to Delirium, but I haven't read that series yet- I know! Shame on me!- so I can't speak to that.)I love the concept and cover of Anomalies. I think it is perfectly fitting for the story. Sadie Turner and Colette Freedman created a solid world that I want to travel back to for the next installment. I enjoyed this book a lot.
Dystopians are such a hit or miss for me. The idea of them sounds awesome, and the summary of Anomalies sounds like such a freakin' cool story, and it was, but my issue is not an issue with the writing or with this book in general, it is a bigger issue that I have with dystopians. They just all feel the same to me, and I start to get bored because I feel like I have read the book before. Which, obviously is silly, because I haven't read the book before and the characters and plot details are all different. And here is the thing, I really liked the characters and plot of Anomalies. I think Sadie Turner and Colette Freedman did a great job with the world building and twists and everything. The issue is just with me, and the genre of books. That being said, Anomalies will be such a huge hit with die hard fans of sci fi and dystopians. It is a well executed concept.
I was a little confused at the very beginning because everything seemed so foreign to me, but once we forwarded to when Keeva was 15 and ready to shown her intended partner I felt like I was back on solid ground and I became much more interested in the story from that point forward. I really liked Keeva. She is one tough cookie, and someone that you have no problem admiring.
I was a little surprised at how dark of turn Anomalies took, and honestly that is what made me like the book more. (that makes me sound kind of twisted.) But the choices that the authors made in this regard felt unexpected and that is a huge plus for me in sci fi/dystopian stories. I don't want to give away too much more. The summary tells you everything you need to know to see if this is a book that will interest you or not, plotwise. The rest, plotwise, is more fun to figure out as you go.
Bottom line: Die hard fans of dystopians will love Anomalies. If you are bit burned out on the genre, this book will probably feel like more of the same to you, so you might want to steer clear. If you are on the edge, though, I would encourage you to try it out because the characters, writing, world building and plot turns are all really well done. I loved this author pairing and would definitely read more form the two of them.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Dystopians are such a hit or miss for me. The idea of them sounds awesome, and the summary of Anomalies sounds like such a freakin' cool story, and it was, but my issue is not an issue with the writing or with this book in general, it is a bigger issue that I have with dystopians. They just all feel the same to me, and I start to get bored because I feel like I have read the book before. Which, obviously is silly, because I haven't read the book before and the characters and plot details are all different. And here is the thing, I really liked the characters and plot of Anomalies. I think Sadie Turner and Colette Freedman did a great job with the world building and twists and everything. The issue is just with me, and the genre of books. That being said, Anomalies will be such a huge hit with die hard fans of sci fi and dystopians. It is a well executed concept.
I was a little confused at the very beginning because everything seemed so foreign to me, but once we forwarded to when Keeva was 15 and ready to shown her intended partner I felt like I was back on solid ground and I became much more interested in the story from that point forward. I really liked Keeva. She is one tough cookie, and someone that you have no problem admiring.
I was a little surprised at how dark of turn Anomalies took, and honestly that is what made me like the book more. (that makes me sound kind of twisted.) But the choices that the authors made in this regard felt unexpected and that is a huge plus for me in sci fi/dystopian stories. I don't want to give away too much more. The summary tells you everything you need to know to see if this is a book that will interest you or not, plotwise. The rest, plotwise, is more fun to figure out as you go.
Bottom line: Die hard fans of dystopians will love Anomalies. If you are bit burned out on the genre, this book will probably feel like more of the same to you, so you might want to steer clear. If you are on the edge, though, I would encourage you to try it out because the characters, writing, world building and plot turns are all really well done. I loved this author pairing and would definitely read more form the two of them.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Saving Maverick is the first book in the new adult Outlaws of baseball series by Debra Elise. I love the bloomsbury spark line, but for some reason I was under the impression that it was for more young adult line of books, but this was most certainly a new adult romance. I am really excited that the spark line is branching out into (or maybe has always done) new adult romances as well. Saving Maverick is a really yummy first book in the Outlaws of baseball series. It is a fluffy romances with depth. And I can't wait to read some more of the players stories. I already have a feeling as to another pairing, and if I am right, it is going to be a great one!
Saving Maverick is told in dual narrative between Maverick and Kelsey. I really liked both Kelsey and Mav. I love a guy that knows exactly what he wants and goes after it relentlessly. I admired the heck out of Mav for just that. He never once wavered in his goal- getting Kelsey, and he was never dissuaded. He is a loyal guy. And I liked Kelsey a lot too. She is brought on to the team to raise Mav's horrible public image. And while she ended up fake dating him to raise his reputation, my one complaint about the book is that we never really saw too much PR in play. We didn't see how their relationship affected his reputation, and I didn't see her doing too many things to help his reputation, other than having him work with the kids (but that wasn't really publicized)
The bulk of the story in Saving Maverick was centered around Mav and Kelsey's relationship. For that reason, I think this book will resonate a lot more with character driven readers than plot driven ones. I think there were a couple of areas, like the one I mentioned above, where I would have liked the plot to have been fleshed out a bit more, but the relationship aspect of this book was wonderful. I really loved getting to know Mav and Kelsey and both of their pasts. Mav totally surprised me at the end of the book, when he found out some bad news. Up until that point I had thought of him as a really strong guy, but the way he reacted was a little disappointing to me. Then again, it was not a light matter that he was dealing with.
Bottom line: if you are a character driven reader and you love a good sports romance, Saving Maverick and the Outlaws of Baseball series is a going to be a wonderful book for you to check out. I think you will completely fall for Maverick.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Saving Maverick is told in dual narrative between Maverick and Kelsey. I really liked both Kelsey and Mav. I love a guy that knows exactly what he wants and goes after it relentlessly. I admired the heck out of Mav for just that. He never once wavered in his goal- getting Kelsey, and he was never dissuaded. He is a loyal guy. And I liked Kelsey a lot too. She is brought on to the team to raise Mav's horrible public image. And while she ended up fake dating him to raise his reputation, my one complaint about the book is that we never really saw too much PR in play. We didn't see how their relationship affected his reputation, and I didn't see her doing too many things to help his reputation, other than having him work with the kids (but that wasn't really publicized)
The bulk of the story in Saving Maverick was centered around Mav and Kelsey's relationship. For that reason, I think this book will resonate a lot more with character driven readers than plot driven ones. I think there were a couple of areas, like the one I mentioned above, where I would have liked the plot to have been fleshed out a bit more, but the relationship aspect of this book was wonderful. I really loved getting to know Mav and Kelsey and both of their pasts. Mav totally surprised me at the end of the book, when he found out some bad news. Up until that point I had thought of him as a really strong guy, but the way he reacted was a little disappointing to me. Then again, it was not a light matter that he was dealing with.
Bottom line: if you are a character driven reader and you love a good sports romance, Saving Maverick and the Outlaws of Baseball series is a going to be a wonderful book for you to check out. I think you will completely fall for Maverick.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**YA ReviewMy Thoughts
The Blood of the Hydra is the second book in the young adult fantasy series by Michelle Madow, called Elementals. I love a mythology book and this series is extra interesting because it combines elemental magic, typically reserved for witches, along with mythology gods and demigods. I enjoyed the first book, but the second installment is so much better than the first book in my opinion. I loved The Blood of the Hydra. I liked all of the characters more, yes even Blake, and the quest in this installment was so great.
One of my issues, though minor, with book one was that I was not into Blake and his romance with Nicole. At all. And I am still not 100% sure that I am on board with them, it didn't bug me nearly as much as it did in the first book. Maybe because it wasn't as much of a focus. Instead we got to go on a super awesome quest, that fans of Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey will love. And we not only get to see the whole gang, but we are also introduced to a few new characters. Chris, Kate and Danielle are my favorite characters in the book. (Yes, I said Danielle.) I think they are the most well rounded, interesting and relate able. I like Nicole enough, and oddly enough my favorite thing about her is the thing that she hates the most. I am super intrigued by her special power.
Let's talk about this quest. Nicole and the gang head off to Greece and this is where I really started bouncing up and down in my seat with excitement. I love a quest! And to get to see some of my favorite classic myth stories get revisited was a real treat. I think Michelle Madow did an excellent job with the Land of the Lotus Eaters. And I mean, really excellent. It was by far, my favorite part of the story. I cannot wait to see what is in store for our characters next. I hope to see more classic quests incorporated into the book and I hope to see some romance in store for Kate...ahem coughchriscough.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of YA mythology, this is a series you do not want to miss. Even if you were meh about the first book, I really urge you to pick up the second book because it is really, really great. Better than the first book. Fans of Percy Jackson will really dig this series. I can see the parallels more in this book than the first because this one was so focused on the greek gods and myths and the first book incorporated more of the elemental powers while laying the groundwork for the story and world. I am so happy that I loved The Blood of the Hydra as much as I did because I went from enjoying the series to need-to-get-my-hands-on-the-next-book-right-now.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Blood of the Hydra is the second book in the young adult fantasy series by Michelle Madow, called Elementals. I love a mythology book and this series is extra interesting because it combines elemental magic, typically reserved for witches, along with mythology gods and demigods. I enjoyed the first book, but the second installment is so much better than the first book in my opinion. I loved The Blood of the Hydra. I liked all of the characters more, yes even Blake, and the quest in this installment was so great.
One of my issues, though minor, with book one was that I was not into Blake and his romance with Nicole. At all. And I am still not 100% sure that I am on board with them, it didn't bug me nearly as much as it did in the first book. Maybe because it wasn't as much of a focus. Instead we got to go on a super awesome quest, that fans of Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey will love. And we not only get to see the whole gang, but we are also introduced to a few new characters. Chris, Kate and Danielle are my favorite characters in the book. (Yes, I said Danielle.) I think they are the most well rounded, interesting and relate able. I like Nicole enough, and oddly enough my favorite thing about her is the thing that she hates the most. I am super intrigued by her special power.
Let's talk about this quest. Nicole and the gang head off to Greece and this is where I really started bouncing up and down in my seat with excitement. I love a quest! And to get to see some of my favorite classic myth stories get revisited was a real treat. I think Michelle Madow did an excellent job with the Land of the Lotus Eaters. And I mean, really excellent. It was by far, my favorite part of the story. I cannot wait to see what is in store for our characters next. I hope to see more classic quests incorporated into the book and I hope to see some romance in store for Kate...ahem coughchriscough.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of YA mythology, this is a series you do not want to miss. Even if you were meh about the first book, I really urge you to pick up the second book because it is really, really great. Better than the first book. Fans of Percy Jackson will really dig this series. I can see the parallels more in this book than the first because this one was so focused on the greek gods and myths and the first book incorporated more of the elemental powers while laying the groundwork for the story and world. I am so happy that I loved The Blood of the Hydra as much as I did because I went from enjoying the series to need-to-get-my-hands-on-the-next-book-right-now.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
The Player and the Pixie is the second book in the Rugby by author duo L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid. I am so excited that I read this book. Yes, I loved the first book in the series, but even more so this is my first 5 star book in a while. I have been on a 3.5 star reading kick for about a month now it feels like. It isn't what I would call a reading slump by any means, because I have actually been reading a ton lately, and I have been enjoying the books, but I just haven't really been crazy in love, over the top excited about a book for what feels like a while (but in reality might only be a couple of weeks AKA about 20 books ago.) The Player and The Pixie changed all of that! I freakin' loved this book. We are talking top books of 2016, loved! I liked it more than the first book in the series, which was also excellent by the way.
The Player and the Pixie is the story of Lucy and Sean. Sean is the resident jerk on the rugby team and Lucy is the sister of the guy that Sean is the biggest jerk to- Ronan. (you might remember him as the guy that broke up Ronan and his ex girlfriend from book one.) Yeah, there is no love lost between those two. But Lucy is like a breath of fresh air. She is just so sweet, with a side of spunk, that it was adorable to watch her get under Sean's skin. There is just something about the two of them together that I could not get enough of.
Penny Reid is one of my favorite romance authors to read because she is so incredibly talented at creating chemistry and fantastically real characters. Every single one of her books should be made into RomComs. I would marathon watch them all! And as much as I love Penny Reid, I equally love her writing with L.H. Cosway. I told myself this after I read the first book in the series, The Hooker and the Hermit, and I am telling myself it again. I need to read her other books! In fact, they are going on my wishlist this moment.
Ok, this is about to get weird. One of the things that I loved the most about Sean and about this book, was the premise. You can tell from the summary, but I just think it was so totally unique that this huge player and sports athlete womanizer would have this problem. I just loved that this was the route that the authors chose to go. It was unexpected. I have not read a book that took this tack, and I completely loved it.
Bottom line: Sean and Lucy, and The Player and the Pixie, are one of my favorite books couples of the year. They are so great together. I honestly can't imagine anyone not loving them. If you have not read this book, you are missing out. It is as simple as that. This book is a must read for fans of romantic comedies and contemporary romances. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. It will be a re-read of mine for years to come.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Player and the Pixie is the second book in the Rugby by author duo L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid. I am so excited that I read this book. Yes, I loved the first book in the series, but even more so this is my first 5 star book in a while. I have been on a 3.5 star reading kick for about a month now it feels like. It isn't what I would call a reading slump by any means, because I have actually been reading a ton lately, and I have been enjoying the books, but I just haven't really been crazy in love, over the top excited about a book for what feels like a while (but in reality might only be a couple of weeks AKA about 20 books ago.) The Player and The Pixie changed all of that! I freakin' loved this book. We are talking top books of 2016, loved! I liked it more than the first book in the series, which was also excellent by the way.
The Player and the Pixie is the story of Lucy and Sean. Sean is the resident jerk on the rugby team and Lucy is the sister of the guy that Sean is the biggest jerk to- Ronan. (you might remember him as the guy that broke up Ronan and his ex girlfriend from book one.) Yeah, there is no love lost between those two. But Lucy is like a breath of fresh air. She is just so sweet, with a side of spunk, that it was adorable to watch her get under Sean's skin. There is just something about the two of them together that I could not get enough of.
Penny Reid is one of my favorite romance authors to read because she is so incredibly talented at creating chemistry and fantastically real characters. Every single one of her books should be made into RomComs. I would marathon watch them all! And as much as I love Penny Reid, I equally love her writing with L.H. Cosway. I told myself this after I read the first book in the series, The Hooker and the Hermit, and I am telling myself it again. I need to read her other books! In fact, they are going on my wishlist this moment.
Ok, this is about to get weird. One of the things that I loved the most about Sean and about this book, was the premise. You can tell from the summary, but I just think it was so totally unique that this huge player and sports athlete womanizer would have this problem. I just loved that this was the route that the authors chose to go. It was unexpected. I have not read a book that took this tack, and I completely loved it.
Bottom line: Sean and Lucy, and The Player and the Pixie, are one of my favorite books couples of the year. They are so great together. I honestly can't imagine anyone not loving them. If you have not read this book, you are missing out. It is as simple as that. This book is a must read for fans of romantic comedies and contemporary romances. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. It will be a re-read of mine for years to come.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
http://bookbriefs.net/2016/04/22/reviewgiveawaycrazy-stupid-fauxmance-by-shelleeroberts/This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
http://bookbriefs.net/2016/04/22/reviewgiveawaycrazy-stupid-fauxmance-by-shelleeroberts/This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
YA ReviewMy ThoughtsRomancing the Nerd is the second book in the Nerd series by Leah Rae Miller. Each of the books can be read as a standalone, and while the first book looks really cute and has been on my TBR pile since its' release, I have yet to read it. However, I had no problem jumping right in with this book. I think the connection with the two is Dan. He was a minor secondary character in The Summer I became a Nerd. I loved Dan. I really liked Zelda too, but Dan held a special place in my heart.
As is my preference with contemporary romances, Romancing the Nerd is told in dual narrative between Zelda and Dan. This book is cute and really funny read. Zelda and Dan are both nerds at heart, and while Zelda is also a what she would consider a nerd on the outside, Dan is a nerd turned popular jock. They each have had a crush on the other for years, which is adorable. Zelda does come off as pretty mean to poor Dan. Dan never lets that discourage him though, which I loved. He knows that his Zelda is stubborn, and darn nit if he doesn't like that about her. He is just so enamored with her.
RTN-Teaser1
Romancing the Nerd is one big chase full of laughs, bickering and non stop quips. And as much as I enjoyed that, I wanted to see more time for Zelda and Dan to actually be together. I am kind of hoping that we get to see more of them for just that reason. I love their wittiness...and their bantering. I really enjoyed them. And I loved all the nerdy goodness in Romancing the Nerd. I consider myself a proud member of the nerd club, and love it when my books feature fellow nerds. I will say that the whole revenge concept made the book and characters feel a little on the younger side. Still, it was a very, very enjoyable read. I had a lot of fun with this one.
Bottom line: Romancing the Nerd is a great book for younger, young adult readers and readers that like books full of fun and witty dialogue.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
YA ReviewMy ThoughtsRomancing the Nerd is the second book in the Nerd series by Leah Rae Miller. Each of the books can be read as a standalone, and while the first book looks really cute and has been on my TBR pile since its' release, I have yet to read it. However, I had no problem jumping right in with this book. I think the connection with the two is Dan. He was a minor secondary character in The Summer I became a Nerd. I loved Dan. I really liked Zelda too, but Dan held a special place in my heart.
As is my preference with contemporary romances, Romancing the Nerd is told in dual narrative between Zelda and Dan. This book is cute and really funny read. Zelda and Dan are both nerds at heart, and while Zelda is also a what she would consider a nerd on the outside, Dan is a nerd turned popular jock. They each have had a crush on the other for years, which is adorable. Zelda does come off as pretty mean to poor Dan. Dan never lets that discourage him though, which I loved. He knows that his Zelda is stubborn, and darn nit if he doesn't like that about her. He is just so enamored with her.
RTN-Teaser1
Romancing the Nerd is one big chase full of laughs, bickering and non stop quips. And as much as I enjoyed that, I wanted to see more time for Zelda and Dan to actually be together. I am kind of hoping that we get to see more of them for just that reason. I love their wittiness...and their bantering. I really enjoyed them. And I loved all the nerdy goodness in Romancing the Nerd. I consider myself a proud member of the nerd club, and love it when my books feature fellow nerds. I will say that the whole revenge concept made the book and characters feel a little on the younger side. Still, it was a very, very enjoyable read. I had a lot of fun with this one.
Bottom line: Romancing the Nerd is a great book for younger, young adult readers and readers that like books full of fun and witty dialogue.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Ain't She Sweet is the 6th book in adult contemporary romance series, called the Green Mountain series by Marie Force. While, I have not read any of the previous books in the series, I now have to go back and get my hands on every single one of the first five because this is exactly the kind of series I have been loving lately. The Green Mountain series is about a big family with a ton of siblings. Throw in a meddling father and grandfather who like to do some covert match-making, and you have a great time. I love big family books where each of the installments is focused on a different family member.
Aint' She Sweet is the story of Charley (she's the family member) and Tyler. Tyler has had a crush on Charley for forever, and she is constantly shooting him down. But Tyler is crazy persistent and he never gives up. I actually really admired that about him, because I sure as heck wouldn't keep going back for rejection after rejection. But, strangely enough, it is an injury kind of caused by Tyler - at least in his mind- that ends up bringing him and Charley together.
I flippin' loved Tyler. The book should have been called Ain't he sweet because he is seriously one of the most thoughtful guys ever. He is so good to Charley. You can't help but like him. Charley never stood a chance. I really enjoyed watching the two of them together, and as soon as Charley saw that she was being ridiculous for turning down Tyler, they had undeniable chemistry. I also loved getting to see all of the other members of her overly large and very close family. I can't wait to read each and every one of their stories.
Bottom line: Ain't She Sweet is the very definition of a feel good romance. Read this book when you are looking to be cheered up, whether it is in bed on a rainy day or poolside on a perfect summer day, Ain't She Sweet is the perfect read. And can someone please hand over books 1-5 in the series, so I can binge read them?
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Ain't She Sweet is the 6th book in adult contemporary romance series, called the Green Mountain series by Marie Force. While, I have not read any of the previous books in the series, I now have to go back and get my hands on every single one of the first five because this is exactly the kind of series I have been loving lately. The Green Mountain series is about a big family with a ton of siblings. Throw in a meddling father and grandfather who like to do some covert match-making, and you have a great time. I love big family books where each of the installments is focused on a different family member.
Aint' She Sweet is the story of Charley (she's the family member) and Tyler. Tyler has had a crush on Charley for forever, and she is constantly shooting him down. But Tyler is crazy persistent and he never gives up. I actually really admired that about him, because I sure as heck wouldn't keep going back for rejection after rejection. But, strangely enough, it is an injury kind of caused by Tyler - at least in his mind- that ends up bringing him and Charley together.
I flippin' loved Tyler. The book should have been called Ain't he sweet because he is seriously one of the most thoughtful guys ever. He is so good to Charley. You can't help but like him. Charley never stood a chance. I really enjoyed watching the two of them together, and as soon as Charley saw that she was being ridiculous for turning down Tyler, they had undeniable chemistry. I also loved getting to see all of the other members of her overly large and very close family. I can't wait to read each and every one of their stories.
Bottom line: Ain't She Sweet is the very definition of a feel good romance. Read this book when you are looking to be cheered up, whether it is in bed on a rainy day or poolside on a perfect summer day, Ain't She Sweet is the perfect read. And can someone please hand over books 1-5 in the series, so I can binge read them?
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Curse of the Sphinx is the first book in the young adult, Sphinx series by Raye Wagner. What I liked the most about Curse of the Sphinx is that this is not a mythology lite book. This is full fledged mythology in all its' glory. You get dropped right into the action, so you would best be served if you have some kind of background knowledge on the players and workings of the worlds in Greek Mythology. One of my minors in college was greek mythology, and another minor was world mythology, so I knew a lot about the set up of the worlds, and a lot of the gods. Raye Wagner not only includes the big hitters, like Hera Hades, Hermes, Thanos, etc, but she also includes some of the lesser known gods, like the god of sweet talk and flattery- Hedylogus. I loved that. The mythology nerd in me was totally geeking out the whole time I was reading Curse of the Sphinx.
Curse of the Sphinx is about Hope, who as the name suggests is Sphinx, and you guessed it- is under a curse. I really liked Hope, but her mother had her so sheltered that she seemed a bit naive to me. I know that sounds strange, since she is what most people would consider to be a creature of myth that does not exist, but still she seemed too naive. Much of the first part of the story is told in a timeline that was based on the amount of days it had been since Hope's last move. I found this to be a cool concept, but a bit confusing. I didn't always know which move they were talking about. Was she at the same school? Was this still the same move? Or a different one? I would have really liked to have seen locations, along with the number of days. But the story still flowed really well, and moved at a brisk pace.
Athan is another main character in the Sphinx series, and the story starts out in a scene with him and his father in the underworld. I was very intrigued by Athan. I hope we get to see some more build between him and Hope in the next book. I think they have a lot of potential. Curse of The Sphinx is a book where you get bits and pieces of the answers as you go along. This first book did a good job setting the stage, and building the world. I love that the Greek gods are still running the show in modern times. It was a unique concept for sure, and there is a lot of promise for the second book. I think there are great things to come in the Sphinx series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Curse of the Sphinx is the first book in the young adult, Sphinx series by Raye Wagner. What I liked the most about Curse of the Sphinx is that this is not a mythology lite book. This is full fledged mythology in all its' glory. You get dropped right into the action, so you would best be served if you have some kind of background knowledge on the players and workings of the worlds in Greek Mythology. One of my minors in college was greek mythology, and another minor was world mythology, so I knew a lot about the set up of the worlds, and a lot of the gods. Raye Wagner not only includes the big hitters, like Hera Hades, Hermes, Thanos, etc, but she also includes some of the lesser known gods, like the god of sweet talk and flattery- Hedylogus. I loved that. The mythology nerd in me was totally geeking out the whole time I was reading Curse of the Sphinx.
Curse of the Sphinx is about Hope, who as the name suggests is Sphinx, and you guessed it- is under a curse. I really liked Hope, but her mother had her so sheltered that she seemed a bit naive to me. I know that sounds strange, since she is what most people would consider to be a creature of myth that does not exist, but still she seemed too naive. Much of the first part of the story is told in a timeline that was based on the amount of days it had been since Hope's last move. I found this to be a cool concept, but a bit confusing. I didn't always know which move they were talking about. Was she at the same school? Was this still the same move? Or a different one? I would have really liked to have seen locations, along with the number of days. But the story still flowed really well, and moved at a brisk pace.
Athan is another main character in the Sphinx series, and the story starts out in a scene with him and his father in the underworld. I was very intrigued by Athan. I hope we get to see some more build between him and Hope in the next book. I think they have a lot of potential. Curse of The Sphinx is a book where you get bits and pieces of the answers as you go along. This first book did a good job setting the stage, and building the world. I love that the Greek gods are still running the show in modern times. It was a unique concept for sure, and there is a lot of promise for the second book. I think there are great things to come in the Sphinx series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**Demigods and Monsters is the second book in the young adult, Sphinx series by Raye Wagner. This is a series that must be read in order, so if you have not read Curse of the Sphinx yet, you need to check that out first. (you can find my review for Curse of the Sphinx HERE). Just like with the first book, in Demigods and Monsters,the mythology nerd in me was totally geeking out the whole time. I really, really love how much classic mythology is woven into the story. Raye Wagner clearly knows what she is talking about.
Hope impressed me more in this book than she did in the first book. She is really coming into her own. I didn't love her in the first book. I found her to be a little wimpy, and too much of a follower. She has proven me wrong.Now that we know a little bit about Apollo's curse and who the players in the story are, Hope really can dive into the actual work of breaking the curse in this story. In fact, it was because of Hope, and a change up to the writing style (this book just felt different than the first one.) that I can easily say that I liked Demigods and Monsters a lot more than I liked Curse of the Sphinx. There is obviously still work to be done on the curse front, but book two made me really anxious to get my hands on book three.
The pacing was better, there was more action. There was a trip to the Olympian library...umm hello huge points on this one!...and we get to see even more players from the mythology world. I just knew there was so much potential after reading book one, and I am so happy to see that book two stepped up to the plate big time. Raye Wagner raised the bar with this one. I can't wait for the next book.
P.S. There will be a bigger discussion of guys in the next review because I am still sorting out all of my thoughts on that front. Just note...there are two guys in this story, although I think it is pretty clear who Hope likes. Before I get sidetracked into a long love triangle discussion, just know that I am holding off on joining a team until the next book. More on this to come. :p
Bottom line: this book is a great series for mythology lovers. The books each end on a cliffhanger, so grab both of them and buckle in for a wild ride. I think book two is much better than the first book, so if you are on the fence at the end of book one, keep reading!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Hope impressed me more in this book than she did in the first book. She is really coming into her own. I didn't love her in the first book. I found her to be a little wimpy, and too much of a follower. She has proven me wrong.Now that we know a little bit about Apollo's curse and who the players in the story are, Hope really can dive into the actual work of breaking the curse in this story. In fact, it was because of Hope, and a change up to the writing style (this book just felt different than the first one.) that I can easily say that I liked Demigods and Monsters a lot more than I liked Curse of the Sphinx. There is obviously still work to be done on the curse front, but book two made me really anxious to get my hands on book three.
The pacing was better, there was more action. There was a trip to the Olympian library...umm hello huge points on this one!...and we get to see even more players from the mythology world. I just knew there was so much potential after reading book one, and I am so happy to see that book two stepped up to the plate big time. Raye Wagner raised the bar with this one. I can't wait for the next book.
P.S. There will be a bigger discussion of guys in the next review because I am still sorting out all of my thoughts on that front. Just note...there are two guys in this story, although I think it is pretty clear who Hope likes. Before I get sidetracked into a long love triangle discussion, just know that I am holding off on joining a team until the next book. More on this to come. :p
Bottom line: this book is a great series for mythology lovers. The books each end on a cliffhanger, so grab both of them and buckle in for a wild ride. I think book two is much better than the first book, so if you are on the fence at the end of book one, keep reading!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
4.5/5
Painting Sky is a new adult contemporary romance standalone from Rita Branches. It is hard to believe that this is Rita's debut novel because she really captured the essence of the characters so vividly. I didn't initially know what to think of the story. On one hand, I was immediately drawn into the little bubble that seemed to be created around Keith and Jane every time they came in contact with each other. But on the other hand, I was hoping for something a little more drastic from his brother. I mean yes he was a jerk, but it didn't seem so clear cut to me. In the end, it didn't matter because I was completely, head-over-heels in love with Keith and Jane, who seems so much more like a Sky to me.
Painting Sky is told entirely from Sky's point of view, and while I loved watching her sort out her feelings for Keith and come into her own, I really really wanted to hear some snippets from Keith. He is such a deep individual, that I wanted to peak inside of his head so very badly. This book wrapped me up tight in their little bubble and whisked me away from the world. I very nearly was late coming back from lunch because I forgot all about the time. I had withdrawal symptoms when I had to tear myself away from the story. And even when I doing other things, my thoughts kept straying back to Keith and Sky. That is the mark of a great book. I love it when characters and their story can affect me like that.
The only gripe I had with the story was with the other character's opinion of Keith. I hated how everyone other than Sky seemed to think he was the worst person on the planet. Even Sky's brother, Ryan, who is supposed to be his best friend, thought he was no good. That really bothered me, because no one seemed actually interested in getting to know who he was as a person. I didn't see anything to justify the kind of treatment he was receiving from everyone. It was disappointing, and unsupported with facts from the story, that Keith was portrayed that way to everyone. Obviously, you can tell that I am a huge Keith fan. I loved the way he was always looking out for Sky. It was very sweet.
Bottom line: if you love tortured character driven romances that will rock your world to its' very core, read Painting Sky. This is a book that will deeply affect you. I want more from Keith. I loved Painting Sky so much.
P.S. I just found out that this is not a standalone and the next book will be about Sky's brother Ryan. I hope we get to see more of Keith in that story.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
4.5/5
Painting Sky is a new adult contemporary romance standalone from Rita Branches. It is hard to believe that this is Rita's debut novel because she really captured the essence of the characters so vividly. I didn't initially know what to think of the story. On one hand, I was immediately drawn into the little bubble that seemed to be created around Keith and Jane every time they came in contact with each other. But on the other hand, I was hoping for something a little more drastic from his brother. I mean yes he was a jerk, but it didn't seem so clear cut to me. In the end, it didn't matter because I was completely, head-over-heels in love with Keith and Jane, who seems so much more like a Sky to me.
Painting Sky is told entirely from Sky's point of view, and while I loved watching her sort out her feelings for Keith and come into her own, I really really wanted to hear some snippets from Keith. He is such a deep individual, that I wanted to peak inside of his head so very badly. This book wrapped me up tight in their little bubble and whisked me away from the world. I very nearly was late coming back from lunch because I forgot all about the time. I had withdrawal symptoms when I had to tear myself away from the story. And even when I doing other things, my thoughts kept straying back to Keith and Sky. That is the mark of a great book. I love it when characters and their story can affect me like that.
The only gripe I had with the story was with the other character's opinion of Keith. I hated how everyone other than Sky seemed to think he was the worst person on the planet. Even Sky's brother, Ryan, who is supposed to be his best friend, thought he was no good. That really bothered me, because no one seemed actually interested in getting to know who he was as a person. I didn't see anything to justify the kind of treatment he was receiving from everyone. It was disappointing, and unsupported with facts from the story, that Keith was portrayed that way to everyone. Obviously, you can tell that I am a huge Keith fan. I loved the way he was always looking out for Sky. It was very sweet.
Bottom line: if you love tortured character driven romances that will rock your world to its' very core, read Painting Sky. This is a book that will deeply affect you. I want more from Keith. I loved Painting Sky so much.
P.S. I just found out that this is not a standalone and the next book will be about Sky's brother Ryan. I hope we get to see more of Keith in that story.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs