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

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye is my favorite read of 2016 thus far!!! It has everything I could ever want in one book. Russian setting, myth, a little folklore, some romance and magic….are you convinced yet? When I first came across this book over six months ago, I was intrigued. Needless to say, the book has lived up to its hype!

Vika Andreyeva is a determined leading lady. At sixteen, she’s trained her whole life to be one thing: the Imperial Enchanter. But quickly things spiral out of her control. There can only be one enchanter alive at any given time and there is another one. Law dictates the tsar hold a competition: the Crown’s Game. The winner will become the Imperial Enchanter, the loser….well let’s just say you don’t want to lose this game! Vika is determined, powerful and plans to win at any cost.

Then there’s Nikolai, the orphan boy who is the other enchanter. Since he was taken in by a cruel lady of the court, he has trained to become the Imperial Enchanter. But he is soft-hearted, too caring, and too naive according to Galina, his guardian. Nikolai only wants to work with his best friend Pasha, the heir to the throne. He wants to prove his worth even if it means he will have to kill.

But neither Vika nor Nikolai expected what the game will do to them both physically and psychologically. Each turn in the game challenges them in ways they cannot predict and tests the very essence of their character. I fell in love with both Vika and Nikolai. Vika is vibrant and full of life. Nikolai is charming and kind. They are each other’s opposite, like two ends of the same string. They are inexplicably tied together and only one can survive.

The story from start to finish had me on the edge of my seat. I was heart-broken for the characters and torn by their story. I loved the author’s inclusion of the historical aspects of Russia at the time (early 1800s) and the setting of St. Petersburg. I ADORED it!!! The magical elements of the enchanters just added to the overall fantasy. I loved every word!

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough! If you enjoy historical fiction, fantasy, or you’re just looking for an exciting read, I highly suggest you grab a copy of this book!

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.

Initial Reaction



I knew starting The Queen of All that Lives it would be an intense read. How could it NOT be after the previous books?! But Laura Thalassa gutted me over and over again while reading the conclusion to The Fallen World. I can’t even handle how I feel right now!!! Seriously during my marathon read of the book I laughed, I swooned, I cried, I screamed, and I sobbed. There was one moment where I had to put the book down and go for a walk around the apartment I was so upset. I’m not even sure I can put into words just how this book made me feel.



The Queen of All that Lives starts with Serenity being woken up and doesn’t stop! It’s a thrill ride from the first word to the last. Laura Thalassa has created a masterpiece, one that I want to devour over and over again so I can relive every horrific moment and every swoon-worthy kiss. From the beginning when hate and revenge was all that consumed Serenity to the very end when love waged war against Serenity’s resolve this series tops the list as an all-time favorite.

Serenity ♥︎ Montes



Serenity Freeman, now Queen Lazuli of the East, is a character that will live on in my mind for a very long time. She was so relatable and easy to empathize with. I understood her plight as she fought her growing feelings for the undying king, the man that has haunted her nightmares since she was a kid, her husband. I bled with her as she learned of the toll this war has taken on the people she’s pledged to serve. I raged with her as she finally begins to take her vengeance in this last installment of the series. Watching Serenity change from the angry soldier to the savage queen is an adventure that as a reader was amazing to be a part of.



And Montes *swoon* what an amazing transformation this man went through in the series!!! I loved him to begin with, this broken monster of a man who needed to be in control of everything. BUT gah!! This installment, this Montes that lived lifetimes without Serenity, spent lifetimes trying to find a cure for her cancer, stole my heart. I was dumbfounded by the difference and loved the subtle ways Laura Thalassa showed how and why he changed. He’s still the arrogant, undying king, but he’s been humbled by the woman he loves.

End of War
Throughout the series, the world has been at war, a war that was started by Montes as he gained control in the East. But the world Serenity wakes up to (104 years later) is still at war, but not because of Montes. No, Montes wants to stop it and will do whatever it takes to do so, including allowing his queen to rule AND fight by his side. I loved the world-building in this series and it really culminates in what is seen in this book. Imagine for a second what a world that’s been at war for over a century looks like. THAT is what Laura Thalassa has created and it was horrific and haunting and memorable.



There is a lot of planning and scheming for the characters in this book, but also a lot of action. Montes learned from Serenity and built her into a myth, a martyr and he has used that to his advantage, much to her chagrin. I was stunned to learn of what had taken place the 104 years Serenity slept. BUT I was even more shocked at the peoples reaction to Serenity. It was epic!

My Conclusion
If it isn’t obvious from my above gushing, I LOVED this book!! It was the perfect conclusion to a series that has rooted itself into my heart. Serenity and Montes’s journey is one that I won’t soon forget and hope to reread very soon. For fans of dystopia, romance, action and adventure, I think you’ll love this series!!!!

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.

Saven: Denial by Siobhan Davis is a novella that bridges the gap between [b:Saven Disclosure|25820846|Saven Disclosure (Saven #2)|Siobhan Davis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455875419s/25820846.jpg|45677893] and [b:Saven Defiance|25820867|Saven Defiance (Saven #3)|Siobhan Davis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442959869s/25820867.jpg|45677918] by answering some much needed questions about Sadie.

Please note that if you have not read [b:Saven Disclosure|25820846|Saven Disclosure (Saven #2)|Siobhan Davis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455875419s/25820846.jpg|45677893] there are minor spoilers ahead.

While Denial is short (just over 100 pages) it was nice to have some answers after the awful cliffhanger in Disclosure. There are answers….BIG answers in this novella so if you are a fan of the series it is a MUST read. For once Sadie is the center and only character from the rest of the series to appear in this book. It was a great change of pace to see Sadie independent of Logan, Haydn and Jared.

Sadie has not been my favorite character (I’m not gonna lie) but this novella took her to a new level for me. She’s by herself with someone she doesn’t know and who she believes is the enemy. She’s confronted with things from her past that are not pleasant and answer so many of her own questions about herself, her insecurities, and her family.

I’ll be honest that going into this book I had an idea of what was happening, but I loved how Siobhan Davis played it out. She is the master of foreshadowing and dramatic irony. We readers pick up on what is happening and we have to watch as poor Sadie catches up.

I really enjoyed the new characters brought into the story, two in particular. I really feel they add so much to the story and if I may say I might have jumped ships though Sadie hasn’t (no worries for you #TeamLogan girls). These two characters answer so many questions for Sadie and really change her outlook. I hope to see more of them going forward in the series.

World-building wise, this novella packs a big punch in 100+ pages! There are so many hints about the alien technology, the on-going war and what started it that I don’t know where to start. It was amazing to be able to finally connect so many dots and answer so many of the questions that have been lingering.

Overall I really enjoyed Sadie’s adventure in this novella. It answers a lot of questions while bringing up more. It adds tension to an already tense series plot. I can’t wait to see what Siobhan Davis has in store next for our Sadie!

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



I really wanted to like this one BUT it didn’t happen!!!! Nirvana by J.R. Stewart was not at all what I expected it to be. I struggled to connect with the characters, understand the plot and fall into the dystopian world the author created. At first I thought it was just me. There are some really good reviews on Goodreads from some of my own friends. I realized 40% in that I was reading an old, unedited draft. I had the nice, new shiny copy on my kindle so I restarted it…..it still failed.

Larissa Kenders (Kenders from here on out because that’s what she goes by) is a seventeen year old punk rockstar. Yep you read that right. At 17, she’s famous for her music which was against “the man” and brought awareness to the bee extinction. I personally had a hard time liking and relating to this character. She’s already been to university, had a successful music career and is living with her fiancé….um….isn’t she just seventeen?! For me her character would have been more believable if she was older.

Spoiler

In the original draft she was 25 and doing these things. Not sure why the author felt the need to lower her age but leave the other characters and details the same.

OR if she’s 17, I don’t know, maybe doing 17 year old things like finishing high school, playing in her parents’ basement, that sort of thing.

But it wasn’t just Kenders that bothered me. It was the plot which was SO confusing. If I hadn’t read the old draft I really would have been completely lost. Kenders is living with her fiancé Andrew in a Hexagon complex, working in a Nirvana lab. Nirvana is a virtual reality experience and the peoples only escape to the world that no longer exists. With the extinction of bees, plant life died off and eventually the animals. Earth is a barren desert now. This premise originally drew me to the story. I was curious to see what occurred and how the bees died off, how humans are surviving. I can’t resist a good survival story, BUT that does not happen. The plot is more focused on the disappearance/death of Andrew and Kenders determination to find out what happened. The dystopian portion takes a backseat and the story feels more like a political message than an actual young adult dystopian.

Overall the story was just okay for me. I struggled and wound up having to force myself to finish it. As I finally got invested in the story and was actually excited to see what would happen, the author ends in an unnecessary cliffhanger, one that negates the entire plot of this book. The hidden message of the story, the inappropriate age of the main character (though not that the age is inappropriate her situation doesn’t match the age), and the lack of character development left me underwhelmed. I wouldn’t recommend this one….

I’m pretty sure I didn’t breathe at all during Mike Mullin's Ashen Winter, the second book in the Ashfall series. Like [b:Ashfall|13590690|Ashfall (Ashfall, #1)|Mike Mullin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342414005s/13590690.jpg|14531613], this book moves at a break neck speed with one bad thing happening after another. It’s been almost a year since the Yellowstone caldera blew its top and Alex is living at his uncle’s farm in Warren. His parents are still missing, scurvy is rampant, and flensers are a scary reality. When a gang of flensers arrives at the farm toting the shot gun his uncle gave Alex’s parents, Alex and Darla make plans to head back into Illinois in search of them. You know what they say about the best laid plans?!

Alex is one of my favorite male leading characters. The author has done a great job of balancing a teenage boy who has had to grow up way too soon. Alex thinks like an adult but still has the hormones of a teen. He’s a quick thinker, kind, and loyal. Despite the awful things he has witnessed so far in the series, Alex has kept his morality and his sense of decency. He cares for others and tries to do the right thing above all else.

Spoiler

However, doing the right thing is what gets him and Darla split up so I can’t help but wonder how this will affect his moral compass in [b:Sunrise|15741928|Sunrise (Ashfall, #3)|Mike Mullin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1380716236s/15741928.jpg|21429037].

The plot moves at a rapid fire pace. When I opened this review saying I didn’t breathe while I was reading it, I’m almost 100% sure that is accurate. I caught myself multiple times holding my breathe, then gasping with relief or shock. I was fully engaged with Alex’s adventures. I even caught myself hunkering down a few times like that would help him or something. Alex and Darla set off to find his parents at the opening of the book. Like [b:Ashfall|13590690|Ashfall (Ashfall, #1)|Mike Mullin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342414005s/13590690.jpg|14531613], I was numb to the violence. It’s hard to imagine a life like they live. Another blogger (this was a group read for me) mentioned that it gave her The Walking Dead vibes and I whole-heartedly agree. It was one thing after another, violence begetting violence and it was all I could do to tear my eyes away.

I liked that Darla and Alex revisit several of the areas they crossed through in [b:Ashfall|13590690|Ashfall (Ashfall, #1)|Mike Mullin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342414005s/13590690.jpg|14531613]. It made their journey more realistic for me. I enjoyed seeing Worthington surviving and held my breath when Black Lake resurfaced. The flenser gangs were the boogie man in the first book and reality in this one. It was horrific and I felt the author did a fantastic job of creating horror and edge of your seat action when facing the cannibal gangs.

Spoiler

At one point Darla and Alex are separated in the book. I actually enjoyed this. I know many readers may not. BUT I liked seeing Alex alone and how he handles it. He relies SO much on Darla that I was curious to see if he could actually survive without her.

Overall I really enjoyed this installment to the series though I’ll admit not as much as the first. The violence keeps getting me. There’s so much and it is SO violent that I’m numb to it. But as I type that I believe it is an ingenious ploy of the author’s as this is how the characters are feeling as well. Brilliant!! If you enjoy post-apocalyptic, dystopia, or you’re looking for a thrilling read, I highly recommend this one.

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

The Cathedral of Cliffdale by Melissa Delport is the first in a new paranormal series that reminds me a lot of Anne Bishop’s series The Others. In Delport’s Guardians of Summerfeld, a Guardian is dead and for the first time in a millennium a replacement hasn’t come forward. Quinn Harden is the twin sister of the dead Guardian and feeling a responsibility to her niece and nephew, she leaves her post as a Guardian to raise them. But it’s never that simple. A Guardian cannot leave her post without repercussions and now her niece and nephew are gone. Quinn will stop at nothing to find them.

Quinn is an easy character to love. She’s fiercely loyal, a determined and natural leader, and loves with her whole being. She’s never questioned her calling as a Guardian until her sister dies and leaves two children to raise. Not wanting them to have the same life she had living in the confines of Summerfeld, she leaves the fold to raise them in the realm of man. She refuses to return and denies an important part of herself that yearns for her wards to care for the children. She uses her grief and hatred of their father as an excuse until that no longer stands as a reason. When the Guardians take the children against Quinn’s will, she vows to get them back and promises her sister’s missing crystal in return.

Quinn isn’t the only character though and for once I loved the omniscient 3rd person POV that Melissa Delport introduces in this series. I’m not usually a fan of this type of POV. I’d rather the story be told from one perspective or flip between the two main characters, BUT it really works for this book/series. I enjoyed knowing what the other characters were thinking, what drove them and their actions, and it flowed naturally. While Quinn is the main focus as the death of her sister is the catalyst for the events in the book, I loved the other characters and found myself drawn to them and their story.

Drake is perhaps my favorite character next to Quinn. He is a vampire and has been living since the Blood Wars. He is peaceful, not participating in the vampires quest for Summerfeld. While he is vicious and a tad scary, I think he’s a big softy, especially where Quinn is concerned. I found it intriguing and cannot wait to find out more about him and his life in the next books of the series.

The world-building in this book is the biggest draw for me. as much as I love the characters, it’s their world that I love most. Delport has created an amazing paranormal world that exists within our own. Vampires walk among us while the inhabitants of Summerfeld are hidden by the magic of the Fae. There are creatures ranging from unicorns to dragons to werewolves and Fae. If it’s paranormal, it’s in this book! There are gypsies like you’ve never seen them before and ordinary humans caught in the midst. Like I already mentioned, reminiscent to Bishop’s The Others but wholly unique in its execution.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. Once I started it, I found every reason I could think of not to sit it down. And when I finished it….let’s just say I’ve bought the rest of the series to read. If you enjoy paranormal, urban fantasy, and a tiny touch of romance, I highly recommend you pick up a copy ASAP! You won’t be disappointed.

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

The Hunt by Megan Shepherd picks up where [b:The Cage|16071187|The Cage (The Cage, #1)|Megan Shepherd|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414088833s/16071187.jpg|21864995] left off. Cora and her friends escaped their enclosure only to find that they played right into the Kindred’s hands. They wanted them to escape and for Cora to use her perceptive abilities. Now Cora, Lucky, and Mila are moved to a menagerie that is modeled after an early British colonial safari, Nok and Rolf are in a giant dollhouse, their every move observed 24/7, and Leon is mysteriously missing, hiding with a black market Mosca gang. They all still have one goal, and that is to get home to Earth, that is if it still exists.

To be completely honest, this book lived up to its potential and did not suffer (too badly) from second book syndrome. The teens are in over their heads, but their ability to think outside the box and the fact that their morals are different from that of their captors gives them an edge. The majority of the book is told from Cora’s POV (again in that awkward 3rd person) with every 3rd chapter told from a different characters’ perspective. During the first book, this bothered me. I wanted the author to pick a character and stick with him/her OR alternate the POVs more consistently or even do an omniscient 3rd person. However, it really works well in The Hunt. The characters are split up in different locations yet are still inexplicably linked through their bonds of being human.

I struggled with Cora again this book. She’s a hard character to like. She keeps this tough girl attitude but is extremely naive. Cora relies heavily on her year in juvie to help her in her escape. AND let’s not forget the fact that she’s out for revenge in this book. Cassian betrayed her, he betrayed all of them. He is the Warden, he’s the reason they are there instead of home, and yet he is still their best chance to survive. Cora is so conflicted. She’s attracted to him but so blinded by her anger she refuses to see any good he does.

Then there’s Lucky (my ship from the previous book) who takes a bit of a step back. He’s still present, he’s Cora’s constant and friend. Her rock as she describes him at one point. Without him, I’m not sure she’d have the drive to continue.

Nok and Rolf have bigger roles this book as we get to see them outside of the group on their own. Their biggest concern is their baby and what will happen to her. They comply as much as possible, but both are planning escape. During [b:The Cage|16071187|The Cage (The Cage, #1)|Megan Shepherd|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414088833s/16071187.jpg|21864995], these two went a bit crazy so it was nice to see them redeem themselves in this book.

Leon….he is such a softy!! He’s out and free(ish), living with a Mosca gang, doing whatever they ask of him. But when he stumbles across the menagerie that Cora is being held in, he changes his mind. “Kin don’t leave kin behind” is his philosophy, what was drilled in his head growing up and now Cora and the other teens are his kin.

The plot of this book is similar to the last. Cassian tells Cora that the only way for humans to be free would be for her to run the Gauntlet, a test that if she passes will make humans the next intelligent species. Everything hinges on Cora learning what she needs to defeat the Gauntlet. However Cora and the others have different plans. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, and edge-of-your seat suspense. I read this book in one day! The world-building is much better in this book than [b:The Cage|16071187|The Cage (The Cage, #1)|Megan Shepherd|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414088833s/16071187.jpg|21864995]. It’s no secret I was disappointed, but then again the teens were kept in a zoo during the first book. Now they are out in the open and Cassian is more forth-coming with his information. He tells them everything they need to know and the rest they learn on their own. It’s truly unique!

Overall I enjoyed this book! I’m a sucker for science fiction and this one is that coupled with dystopia. If you enjoyed the first book, I highly recommend you continue the series!

Sanctum by Cameo Renae picks up right where book one left off. After surviving an Arvy attack, Finn and Abi are recuperating in the government bunker’s medical wing. A mass evacuation is planned as an army of Arvies start taking out fuel stations and surrounding the bunker. They are heading for the larger bunker in the foothills of the Black Mountains. The medical wing is evacuated on the first helicopter, and Abi and Finn are on it. When the mechanical system fails short of their destination, Abi, Finn and the other survivors must find a way to survive 30 miles in the desert heat and reach the drop-off point if they have any hope of seeing their families again.

I really adore Abi and Finn! Abi is hardcore. She’s tough for a seventeen year old. She was trained to survive and fight and that is just what she does. Finn is her constant and grounds her. When she feels the strain of their situation, he shoulders the burden with her. You know it’s always a little unbelievable for me when there is a young romance like this, a soulmate type romance, but the circumstances surrounding Abi and Finn’s lives makes it realistic. They have always only had each other and their parents, no one else. They rely on each other, always have each other’s backs, and the love they have for each other is pure. I love them!

In Sanctum, Abi and Finn have to rely on each other again to survive and this time they have others they do not know to help. Their helicopter crashes about 15 miles outside a remote town. A town means shelter from the desert heat, but it also means Arvies. When they arrive in the town, they find other survivors and a means to make their drop-off point. The trade-off: help the survivors rid their town of Arvies. I have to say I’ve enjoyed the world-building and sense of camaraderie that Renae brings to each of these books. I love Abi and Finn but the other characters are just as important.

Overall I really enjoyed this installment to the series. The world-building is mostly done, so the characters drive this novel. Abi and Finn’s situation and their love for one another is beautiful to read. I love survivor stories and this is that! There’s a ton of action, some suspense, and a touch of passion. If you enjoy dystopia, clean young adult, you need to add this book to your TBR.

Initial Reaction



I LOVED this conclusion!!!! I have seen (and read) a lot of negatives for Kiera Cass's The Crown and I’m not sure we read the same book. I thoroughly enjoyed every word of the last installment of The Selection series. Eadlyn who was a bit pretentious and hard to stomach in [b:The Heir|22918050|The Heir (The Selection, #4)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422993526s/22918050.jpg|42484814] came out a shining star and my ship sailed away into the land of happily ever afters. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Eadlyn is a Rock Star
So I’ll admit after reading [b:The Heir|22918050|The Heir (The Selection, #4)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422993526s/22918050.jpg|42484814] I was confused as to how Eadlyn was a product of Maxon and America. She was a spoiled princess, concerned only for herself or so I thought. In this book, we see a different Eadlyn. She’s been crushed by the events that have occurred since her Selection started. Her brother’s crushingly honest letter was a wake up call for her. I think the contents of the letter were true and she needed to hear them, but not in the way she does. It causes Eadlyn to question her every move and overanalyze everything. She loses her confidence and the book is about her regaining it.

Eadlyn is an entirely different princess. Her responsibilities have increased tenfold after the events at the end of the last book. (Trying to not spoil it for those that haven’t read [b:The Heir|22918050|The Heir (The Selection, #4)|Kiera Cass|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1422993526s/22918050.jpg|42484814] yet) She is running the kingdom with only her trusted few advisors while her father tends to other matters and all the while her Selection is still going on. She needs to make a decision on a husband and soon.

The Elite
During the second (maybe even the first) chapter, Eadlyn cuts her men down to 6. This is a huge decision and she plans to make a choice within the next two weeks. She’s trying to stave off a rebellion, an attack on the castle. She wants to be seen as taking the Selection seriously and she does. It’s her one chance at happiness, finding her happily ever after as her parents did. The men she choses she can see a life with and how each would fit into it. I was happy with who she kept around. In fact, there was only one I didn’t remember from the last book.



Of the men she kept around, I was already rooting for three of them: Hale, Kile, and Henri. Hale is the boy that promised her one thing every day to prove his affection. From that first very bold line, I was entranced by him. This boy doesn’t know her and yet he sees her vulnerability. Kill is the boy who grew up in the castle alongside her. He is more her best friend than anything else and I kind of love that. And then Henri ♥︎ Henri is a Swendish refugee, who speaks little English and requires his translator Erik. He’s sweet and always makes Eadlyn smile.

Political Unrest
With her twin’s elopement and her mother’s condition, Eadlyn is left virtually alone with the exception of the men left in the Selection, her advisor, and her maid turned lady in waiting and best friend. The advisors are calling for war with France, the people are uncertain of Eadlyn’s leadership, and then enters Marid Illéa. Marid is the son of the August Illéa who staged the rebellion during Maxon’s Selection and then helped the new king during his first years of reign. Marid offers the same to Eadlyn, offers to be her liaison to the people. BUT he’s a little sneaky and causes way more problems than you’d imagine. I didn’t like him, I found him too convenient and Eadlyn too vulnerable with recent events to see through him.

My Conclusion
I felt that The Crown was a perfect conclusion to The Selection series. I think that Kiera Cass made the right choices in ending her series and I loved seeing the growth of Eadlyn throughout her two books. And her choice for husband? Let’s just say it was perfect and one I didn’t think was going to happen. My heart broke for the couple and for Eadlyn who always placed the well-being of the kingdom ahead of her own happiness. Bravo Mrs. Cass!!! I didn’t want it to end, but I’m wholly satisfied with the conclusion.