Initial Reaction:



So despite my initial reaction to The Cage by Megan Shepherd I REALLY enjoyed this book! Cora Mason is 17 when she wakes up in what can only be described as a zoo with 5 other teenagers. They are all scared, have no clue what's happened to them, and then this gorgeous alien appears out of thin air telling them that they are there to "save" the human race.



Yep you read that right. So the concept of the story is really cool. You have six teenagers (3 girls, 3 boys) in a simulated Earth environment...again just like a zoo. The teens can walk from one environment to the next seamlessly. There's a farm, mountains, a beach, a jungle, a quaint little town...you get the picture. Each with it's own weather and climate which adds to the teens freakout factor. In each environment there are puzzles to keep them entertained but also they get tokens (which reminded me of the tokens you get at places like arcades) to buy things like popcorn at the movie theater or music in the diner. It's all a bit creepy and you can tell the aliens really did their homework as outside observers of our society.



So Cora Mason is the main character and a majority of the story is told from her POV, though I will warn you that it is an awkward 3rd person POV and a handful of chapters are told from the other characters' POV. Cora is the daughter of a senator, who through no fault of her own just got out of juvie for involuntary manslaughter. She's a bit hard to like. She's got this tough girl attitude, but also kind of naive. She's very trusting and very determined to get home. It's this determination that lands her in serious trouble with the aliens.

Then there's Cassian...the alien and the teen's caretaker. He's basically like their handler (again think zoo). He makes sure they stay healthy, follow the rules, and he takes a particular shining to Cora. His whole character is a bit curious to me. I'd like to know more about him and hope to in the next book. But Cassian sets up a little love triangle between himself, Cora, and Lucky.



Lucky is an army kid and one of the other teens that finds himself in the Cage. He sides with Cora immediately, he knows her from the news stories and finds he just can't help himself when he is around her. He follows her everywhere and he is sort of like her constant, her rock...that is until the place starts to get to him. Then he like everyone else goes a bit crazy.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. I obviously have my ship....Lucky....but I'm super curious about the aliens, why the kids were taken, and what is going to happen to them. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes and no. It did in that it kept me wanting more, turning each page faster and faster until I reached the end. It's fast-paced with a ton of suspense. And yet it didn't quite measure up. Once I reached the end I felt a bit put out. There's a ton of buildup and then it just ends. I know, I know there's going to be a second one so I'll get more and maybe the buildup will pick up in book two. BUT I felt like I was left with more questions than answers and really not a clear picture of the characters, except Cora. Everyone else fell flat and were forgettable. Despite all that though, I'm really looking forward to the next book! AND if you enjoy science fiction in young adult, I highly suggest you check it out.

Initial Reaction:



WARNING: There will be copious amounts of fangirling in this review. Graceling by Kristin Cashore is by far one of my favorite reads ever!!! I'm a fantasy lover, that's not a secret, so how this book went under my radar for so long I don't know. It has all the elements I love: strong female heroine, gorgeous male lead, complex plot, unique world-building, and stunning imagery. Again how did I miss this book?!

Katsa is the king's niece, born with the killing grace (meaning that she can kill anyone, anyway without meaning to). She's strong-willed, competent, and independent. But that's not what I love about her. I love that she fights what she is. She doesn't like killing, but has been forced her whole life to do so for the king. BUT now she's had enough.

Prince Po is also a graceling but his life has been very different from Katsa's. He plans to show her what she can do out from under the king. He's charismatic, kind, and loved which makes loving him (and in our case shipping him) all the easier. His role in Katsa's life is significant and by far one that I enjoyed.

The plot centers around finding out why Po's grandfather was kidnapped, who was behind it, and stopping the person from gaining more power. The author does an amazing job of building the world, the characters, and immersing the reader in their lives. I just....WOW!!! That's all I have to say. If you enjoy young adult (though I personally would classify this one as 16+), fantasy, and of course a dash of romance, this book is a must read!

I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Girl Wife Prisoner by Hanna Peach is a heart-breaking story about love and the things you are willing to do for that love. It’s dark, haunting and I just can’t get my mind off it!

Noriko is a young Japanese woman when she is sold in marriage to Drake Blackwell. She is naive, hoping for the best, and unprepared for the reality of her marriage. Honestly I’m not sure how I feel about Noriko. At times I really liked her. Her character was devoted to her family and she seemed to really want to make her marriage work. At other times I felt she was immature and didn’t give her husband a chance…at all! So yeah I’m torn between liking her and just meh.

And Keir…the beautiful gardener who is the cause of all this trouble. He’s handsome, a bit arrogant, and well if I’m honest…there was too much insta-love going on between him and Noriko. I just didn’t feel the connection I should have between the two of them. Keir is selfish in his want for her…a married woman and has no regard for the consequences if they are caught.

Drake is portrayed as the antagonist to Noriko. While I felt this is true, at times I really rooted for him. I wanted this broken man to have happiness with the wife he bought. Drake is controlling, has anger issues, and obviously doesn’t trust easily. His relationship with Noriko is tenuous at best. And Drake’s character…he was a bit 2-dimensional. There was very little about him revealed in the book. I wanted more.

The plot revolves around Noriko and her feeling of being trapped at the Blackwell manor. She is a prisoner of her husband – not allowed to leave the property, at times she is even locked in her room. Drake is inattentive to her and it is in Keir she finds solace. Honestly the story is heartbreaking for many reasons, but the main reason is its predictability. As the reader you see the mistakes Noriko makes and intuitively know what fate she will meet. One reviewer on Goodreads related the book to Daphne du Maurier’s [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne Du Maurier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663] and the author even mentions it briefly in the text. I can see the correlation and it works well! This book is full of suspense and the thrill that comes with hiding an affair.

Overall despite the predictability I really enjoyed this book! I read it in less than 24 hours, not really wanting to break for sleep. I was anxious for the characters (a feat only achieved by good writing!) and desperate to know the outcome. However I do want to warn you this book is not for the faint of heart. There’s violence and sexual scenes that I would say is only for the 18+ crowd. If you enjoy new adult romantic suspense, then it’s the book for you!

HOLY WOW!!!! Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas is the page turning fourth book of the Throne of Glass series. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I LOVED this book!

Aelin Ashryver Galathynius has returned and she is out for blood. After spending a few months in Wendlyn, Aelin is ready to fight for her kingdom, her crown and her friends. The broken girl from the previous books is gone. This girl, this queen will blow your mind. This Aelin is who I always pictured her to be (especially after reading The Assassin’s Blade): fierce, cunning, loyal, and demanding. And she is all these things and more.

The plot really focuses on overthrowing and killing the king of Adarlan. To do this though Aelin has a list of things she must accomplish first: save Aedion, kill Arobynn, gain the trust of the rebels, repair her fractured relationship Chaol…you get the picture. It’s fast-paced, page-turning, can’t-read-it-fast-enough! I loved every word on every page!

While Aelin and her goals are the main focus, the author has built wonderful side characters and side plots, the witches specifically. Manon Blackbeak is first introduced in Heir of Fire as the ruthless leader of the Thirteen and heir of the Blackbeak coven. This character is truly fascinating to me. I’ll admit I didn’t like her in the beginning. In fact during Heir of Fire I had a hard time not just skimming her chapters. But wow….did that change this book! The Wing Leader is evil BUT she’s learning that what she has been told her whole life may be wrong. This brings up a ton of questions and “what-if” scenarios.

Truly Maas’s ability to tie the witches subplot into the main action is sheer genius! It is done seamlessly and in such a way that the witches and their story is a big part of the main story. And remember Celaena’s encounter with Baba Yellowlegs? Yeah that comes back to haunt her.

Now the romance….I will admit I was worried going into this book that Maas had set up our Aelin in a dreaded love triangle. But fear not…this is handled really well AND I was quite pleased with its resolution.

Overall I LOVED this book….have I said that too much already? Seriously though if I could give it more than 5 ‘s I would. I would give it 10+!!! If you are already a fan of Maas’s Throne of Glass, you will be delighted to read this addition. If you haven’t read the prequel novellas I suggest you do before reading this one. The Celaena you meet in The Assassin’s Blade is very similar to the Aelin that develops in this book. If you enjoy high fantasy, romance, and just epic adventures, READ THIS SERIES!!!

My only complaint: I HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE YEAR TO READ THE NEXT ONE?!?!

Opposition by Jennifer L Armentrout is the explosive conclusion to the Lux series. Questions are finally answered, the true nature of the Luxen is revealed, and Katy and Daemon must find a way to stop his race before they destroy the entire planet.

***Please Note that if you have not read the series up to this point that there are minor spoilers ahead.***

It’s taken me a few weeks to recover from reading this book before I could attempt to even write a review. Opposition is a fantastic conclusion to the Lux series, encompassing everything I’ve loved up to this point AND answering some intriguing questions. At the beginning of the book, Katy is lost without Daemon. It’s been two days since the Luxen arrived (see end of [b:Origin|13644052|Origin (Lux, #4)|Jennifer L. Armentrout|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398100888s/13644052.jpg|19259997]) and Daemon, Dee and Dawson have not returned. Daemon is at his wits end, trying to hide his true nature from the Luxen and protect Katy from a distance in the process. It’s intense, trust me!

There is so much character growth for Katy and Daemon since the first book to now. Neither are the same character they were in the beginning. Both are stronger together than apart and Katy will stop at nothing to rescue Daemon, even risking her own life.

In addition to Katy and Daemon, Armentrout doesn’t skimp on the secondary characters. Dee, Dawson, Beth…each of them is important and integral to the main story. Like Katy, Dee has changed. She is no longer the bubbly next door neighbor, Katy’s best friend. She’s dark, broken, and fully believes the Luxen’s reason for being on Earth. Her transformation in this book brought me to tears and I still can’t believe the difference in her character!

The plot revolves around the Luxen’s arrival and plan for take over. The entire series has built to this book! Katy and Daemon have to find a way to work together to save the planet they know and love. It’s highly suspenseful, full of new threats and people, and of course there’s a touch of romance for our two main characters.

Overall I loved this book. I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion. FYI…keep some tissues handy…you’ll need them. If you enjoy science fiction, fantasy, and of course some romance, than this is the book for you! PLUS as a bonus if you get the paperback version, it comes with Dawson’s story in the prequel novella Shadows. BIG PLUS!!!

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Fated is the last book in the Servants of Fate series by Sarah Fine and follows the story of Aislin Ferry and Jason Moros. The entire series has been building to this book! It’s action-packed, full of suspense and just enough romance to be considered New Adult.

Up to this point, Aislin Ferry had been my least liked character. She was snooty, emotionless, and dang right mean at times. But in this book, she is portrayed in a different light and she won me over instantly! She is still kinda snooty and uptight, but that’s an integral part of her character. She’s also fiercely devoted to her family, her role as Charon, and her duty as a servant of fate. She’s resigned to the fact that there is no one she can share her life with, no one that is except Death himself.

Jason Moros has been one of my favorite characters and he remains my favorite after having read this book. In the last two, the Lord of the Kere has played a pivotal role as first an antagonist and then as a partner. Now he gets his own story, complete with tragic past and pining love. He’s still dark and brooding, but he also loves with his whole self. This series has really been building up to him and the betrayals that occur within this book.

The plot focuses on two main things: first the attraction between Aislin and Moros and second the overarching plot of the series the unraveling of fate. The romance is this book is lighter than in the previous two in the series, but also steamier (so 18+ only!). The real draw for me in the book is the mythology. Fine has built a fantastic dystopian world full of Greek/Roman mythology with the sisters of Fate, keepers of Heaven and Hell, the Ferrys, Death, and Chaos. It’s full of suspense, surprising twists and betrayal. My head is still spinning!

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a fantastic conclusion to the series, answering a majority of my questions and still making me want more. I’ll miss these characters and the world they live in. I do believe I’ll be rereading it soon.

Initial Reaction



Fire by Kristin Cashore is a prequel of sorts to the first book in Graceling Realm. Set roughly 25 or so years prior to Graceling, Fire takes place in the Dells where monsters exist and the country is on the eve of war.

Fire is seventeen, a monster girl (human monster hybrid), and can control people’s thoughts and feelings with a thought of her own. However she doesn’t use this power of hers unless needed for self defense. She’s sheltered, a bit backwards, and an old soul trapped in a girl’s body. Honestly I had a hard time connecting with her. She was whiny and self centered, yet she was courageous when she needed to be and fiercely loyal. When Fire is asked to travel to the King’s City to assist in finding spies within the court, she’s both intrigued and reluctant. She wants to see the city but is hesitant with the prince sent to retrieve her.

Brigan is the prince and commander of the King’s army. He’s stoic, inspires loyalty, and doesn’t trust easily. So naturally he finds the monster girl a threat. I like Brigan! He’s honest and straightforward without being cruel.

Like with Graceling, the romantic aspect of the novel is gradual and built slowly. I like this! There’s no insta-love between Fire and Brigan. In fact neither can stand to be in the same room together at first. As a reader it’s nice to see the building of a relationship and how attraction between two characters begins.

The plot revolves around the building war in the Dells and Fire’s involvement. Honestly I wasn’t that impressed with the book itself. However the world building and how it ties into Graceling is fascinating. I enjoyed the surprise of seeing Leck as a young boy, coming into his powers. It’s a nice lead up to Bitterblue.

Overall the book was good, just not as good as its predecessor. I was slightly disappointed that it took place so long before Graceling. I felt like King Leck’s background could have been a novella and then this book a standalone with no relation to Graceling Realm. However it is still good. If you enjoyed the first book, like high fantasy, than this book is for you.

I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Blood Tree – Part Two by Scarlett Dawn tells Juliet’s story – why she’s an outsider, who Kenna’s father is, etc. And if I’m being perfectly honest I liked this one better than Kenna’s story.

Juliet is a strong character and easily likable. She was raised a Light Elf, followed all the rules, until the night of her Blood Tree. Celebrating she has a one night stand, unfortunately that one night stand happened to be a Dark Elf. So Juliet’s life is upturned. She is forced to leave the only life she’s known by her parents who she thought she could turn to. She is now going to live in the human realm as a single mother AND she has to keep the father a secret. Juliet is a devoted mother, whose sole focus is protecting her daughter and ensuring she is Light.

The plot centers around Juliet and Kenna’s father. It fills in gaps that are left in part one of this novella series but also humanizes her mother and father. It’s listed in the New Adult category for a reason, there is definitely steamy romance in this book! (So please 18+ only!) But the author goes further than just romance, in my opinion. She tackles the good vs evil dynamic and nature vs nurture which is done very well.

There isn’t as much world building in this book as I would have liked, but that is perhaps because it’s covered during part one. That being said, I still really enjoyed the book! I loved Juliet and could relate to her desire to protect her daughter at any cost. While this book can be read as a standalone, I feel that in order to fully appreciate the world and characters created by Dawn you should read part one first. If you enjoy paranormal romance, new adult or you’re just looking for a quick read (this book can be read in under 2 hours), this is the book for you.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

The Thirteenth World by A.N. Willis is the exploding conclusion to The Corridor duology. I’ll admit I was slightly disappointed that this wasn’t a trilogy. I felt that some aspects of series were rushed due to only having two books. BUT overall I really enjoyed them both. Trust me this book doesn’t suffer from second book syndrome.

Stel Alaster starts the book very broken. The last time we saw her

Spoiler

she had just killed a man by using her portal to take his heart!!! Now she’s in custody on First Earth.

Stel is a remarkably strong character and goes through quite a transformation from the first book to this one. She was mild, invisible, and afraid of her portal. In this book, she’s done a 180! Stel is confident in her powers and her ability to assist, she’s not afraid to stick up for what she feels is right, and she WILL fight for her home and friends.

The plot really revolves around the Corridor itself, the possible destruction it can cause, and how to close it. Everything and everyone relies on Stel and her powers. It’s a lot of pressure for her, understandably. The world-building though is really the heart of this series. There’s just enough plausibility in this world to make you ask “what if.” The author does a wonderful job of tying up the loose ends of the series, leaving you with very few questions but wanting more.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and series! Stel is a phenomenal character and the world is chaotic and suspenseful. My only real complaint is that the secondary characters felt flat. They didn’t have much of a personality which left no spark for the love interest…at least for me. If you enjoy young adult, science fiction, fantasy, and a touch of romance, this book is for you.

I received an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review

Initial Reaction:



I’ll be completely honest with you…I was REALLY disappointed with An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet. I thought I was getting this post-war era book. I thought it was along the lines of historical fiction…”strange war down south” signifies to me the civil war. This was my first mistake. It didn’t take me long to realize I was way off base. The characters had modern technology. So yay! I thought I was getting a dystopian. I LOVE dystopians! This was my second mistake. Yes to some degree, it is a dystopian, BUT it has none of the traditional things we all know and love. An Inheritance of Ashes is actually a poorly done fantasy.

Harsh statement I know, especially coming from me because I REALLY wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t. There are so many things wrong with this book. Let’s break them down…

First, the world-building…it’s basically nonexistent. It wasn’t until I was roughly 25% into the book that I realized it was set in a post-modern time as the main character describes the ruins of the “great cities.” This was a big problem for me as I was – as I stated earlier – expecting civil-war era. The tone I had set for the book, the way I viewed the characters and their surrounds, had to change. Then there’s the monsters in the book. What are they?Why are they there? Why is there a war against them? None of this is really addressed until the next to last chapter. I was baffled and confused!

Then Hallie…Hallie is the main character and the entire book is told from her perspective. She’s an odd-ball, but I liked her. She’s the younger sister and part-owner of the farm they live on. Her sister is pregnant so it is up to her to run the farm. This is a huge responsibility for a barely 16 year old. The weight really crushes her. My problem with her though is there is little insight on why she does the things she does. She makes some very bad choices involving her sister and then tries to cover it up. There’s really not much remorse and then when she does FINALLY come to the conclusion that what she did was bad, she completely loses it! Who does that?! Suck it up and be a woman!

Lastly the war…the entire story revolves around this war that occurred down south. Soldiers have been home for a while yet there’s really no explaining what they did or saw down there. They don’t talk about it AND when one of the characters finally does it seems there wasn’t a war at all. So why all the injuries and deaths? Makes no sense!!!

The book’s saving grace is it’s secondary characters. While I liked Hallie, I really liked her friends Nat and Tyler. They are fully developed and bring out the best in Hallie. Nat adds levity while Tyler adds a touch of romance to the story.

Overall, I would whole-heartedly recommend you skip this book. It has a lot of problems that need to be fixed, mainly the actual plot of the story which again is nonexistent. The only positive I can think to say about the book is that for a young adult book it is a clean read (so yay for that!). Also the premise of the story had a lot of potential, it just wasn’t carried out. If you enjoy young adult, dystopia, and fantasy, then maybe give it a try. If you do, come back and let me know how you liked it!