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popthebutterfly
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Contemporary/ YA Romance
Recommended Age: 13+
Favorite Quote: "I'm not totally sure when talking to myself stopped being weird. Maybe when half a million people started listening."
I received this book for free on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not change my opinions of the book in any way, shape, or fashion.
Do you have a Youtube channel? A bookstagram account? A huge twitter following? Any other social media that has gained you a few hundred, thousand, or million subscribers? Then you can relate to this story! This is the story of a girl named Lacey who creates makeup tutorials on YouTube to half a million subscribers every day. Her dream has become her reality: she's nearing a million subscribers, she's obtained an internship at On Trend Maganize, and she's so close to the Glass Cube and a sponsorship! But sometimes your dream job isn't what it seems and when Tyler Lance, a famous musician, comes into her life she'll have to decide between her YouTube life and her real life. Who is Lacey Robbins and where does LaceyBlushes end and Lacey Robbins begins?
Let me just say I thought this book would be something else when I read the summary many moons ago... but I'm glad that my first assumption was completely wrong! This is a wonderful YA romance/contemporary book and I absolutely loved it! The pacing and plot development were both on point. The book was not too slow nor was it too fast. The chapters had adorable chat messages that made the reader feel like they were reading some of Lacey's online chat messages on her Youtube channel. The writing was wonderful and it really made the story come alive and the book was a very easy read. The author also had well developed characters for the most part and the book had a very important message about finding/discovering who you are especially in an age where almost every teen/preteen/child has at least one social media account and has more than family members following them. It's very important to know in this day and age that you can have the online persona and be the next Pewdiepie or the next Zoella, but it's of the upmost importance that you figure out who you are outside of Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, etc. That's why a book like this is important to read. It doesn't lecture you on the dangers of the internet nor does it give you a horror story about someone selling their soul to the internet devil. It's a very cute, romantic tale about a young girl who is living the Youtube "dream life" and how maybe it's not the right fit for everyone.
In all honesty there wasn't a lot I was disappointed about because this book was so wonderful! Some of the characters like Felicia and Jordan could have been more developed and some more information on Lacey's parents and why they did the things they did could have been great, and I think that the author could have incorporated more of the online messages Lacey was receiving to bring more of that side to the story. Overall though this was a well-rounded book with an amazing message. It's a beautiful book and it should be a must read for anyone who wants to be an online persona or is already one.
Genre: YA Contemporary/ YA Romance
Recommended Age: 13+
Favorite Quote: "I'm not totally sure when talking to myself stopped being weird. Maybe when half a million people started listening."
I received this book for free on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not change my opinions of the book in any way, shape, or fashion.
Do you have a Youtube channel? A bookstagram account? A huge twitter following? Any other social media that has gained you a few hundred, thousand, or million subscribers? Then you can relate to this story! This is the story of a girl named Lacey who creates makeup tutorials on YouTube to half a million subscribers every day. Her dream has become her reality: she's nearing a million subscribers, she's obtained an internship at On Trend Maganize, and she's so close to the Glass Cube and a sponsorship! But sometimes your dream job isn't what it seems and when Tyler Lance, a famous musician, comes into her life she'll have to decide between her YouTube life and her real life. Who is Lacey Robbins and where does LaceyBlushes end and Lacey Robbins begins?
Let me just say I thought this book would be something else when I read the summary many moons ago... but I'm glad that my first assumption was completely wrong! This is a wonderful YA romance/contemporary book and I absolutely loved it! The pacing and plot development were both on point. The book was not too slow nor was it too fast. The chapters had adorable chat messages that made the reader feel like they were reading some of Lacey's online chat messages on her Youtube channel. The writing was wonderful and it really made the story come alive and the book was a very easy read. The author also had well developed characters for the most part and the book had a very important message about finding/discovering who you are especially in an age where almost every teen/preteen/child has at least one social media account and has more than family members following them. It's very important to know in this day and age that you can have the online persona and be the next Pewdiepie or the next Zoella, but it's of the upmost importance that you figure out who you are outside of Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, etc. That's why a book like this is important to read. It doesn't lecture you on the dangers of the internet nor does it give you a horror story about someone selling their soul to the internet devil. It's a very cute, romantic tale about a young girl who is living the Youtube "dream life" and how maybe it's not the right fit for everyone.
In all honesty there wasn't a lot I was disappointed about because this book was so wonderful! Some of the characters like Felicia and Jordan could have been more developed and some more information on Lacey's parents and why they did the things they did could have been great, and I think that the author could have incorporated more of the online messages Lacey was receiving to bring more of that side to the story. Overall though this was a well-rounded book with an amazing message. It's a beautiful book and it should be a must read for anyone who wants to be an online persona or is already one.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (discussion of sex, mature themes, and some cursing.)
Favorite Quote: "Of course Rose knew that this Liddy James was a brand - the Superlawyer! Supermother! Barbara had described - and her success was based on this image of Supercompetence! that allowed her to dispense advice on chat shows, represent celebrity clients, and write best-selling books."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Dayle for the purposes of writing this review. This did not influence my decisions about this book at all.
Liddy James is forty-four, fit, and fabulous. She's one of New York's top divorce attorneys, she's a bestselling author, and a mother of two. With her ruthless reputation of being a shark and her capsule wardrobe, she glides through the courtrooms and salons with ease. Her secret? She doesn't do guilt! However, when Rose, her ex-husband's new girlfriend, announces that she's pregnant, Liddy's nanny quits, the roof starts leaking, a high-profile divorce becomes too personal, and more, Liddy will have to decide whether she really can continue to not do guilt any longer or if she'll have to face the skeletons in her closet head on.
For the most part, this book was very enjoyable. The book offered insight on how even the most controlling person can easily lose control. There is never such a thing as having total control in this life. I also really enjoyed how the POV switched between the two main characters, Liddy and Rose, and how the reader is privileged to hearing the story from two different sides. Sadly while I have some good things to say about this book, such as it's an empowering read for women and it maintains a good deal of realism with custody issues and legal matters, I have a lot of bad things to say about it as well.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part, towards the end of the story I found myself very bored with the tale. The pacing grows slower and slower as your progress through the book. The book also seems to have great plot development until you get towards the end. Certain important elements to the overall plot seem to be horridly rushed towards the end and there isn't much harmony with the beginning of the book. Yes, I love plots that harmonize. I'm that weirdo who was disappointed by the lack of harmony between the original trilogy in Star Wars and the chronological first three movies of the series. I feel that a really good story will call back to the beginning of the story and there will be a sound resolution. This book ends rather abruptly and it's very upsetting that you aren't privy to the end of Liddy James. Maybe the author wanted to leave room for a sequel, but this book didn't read like a series. It read like a stand-alone so hopefully it will remain as such.
Another one of my complaints was that while Rose and Liddy were well developed characters for the most part, the other characters dulled in comparison. I feel the story could have benefitted from some more background information on Peter, Matty, Cal, etc. so that their actions would be better understood. Sometimes when any character outside of Liddy or Rose acted in what I would define as a strange manner, I had to stop and wonder why they did such an odd thing. For instance, Matty is Liddy's teenage son and while I could figure out why he did some of things he did in the book, I had to wonder why he did others when they seemed so out of character for him.
The last complaint I had was the biggest complaint I've had about this book. The book was not very easy to read in certain areas. Liddy is a divorce attorney and a lot of her story revolved around her office environment, which I could understand completely. Liddy is a workaholic and I wouldn't want a big chunk of her life to not be wrote about. However, a LOT of legal terms were used and a lot of the jargon would easily go over a good amount of people's heads. I work and have worked in Courthouses and the lawyer talk still went over my head. Sometimes I would have to reread the passages and sometimes I just completely gave up and skipped sections, hoping that what was said was not very pertinent to the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I feel that this book would be a good read for someone who loved adult contemporary novels and loved books about strong, independent women then this book is for you! If you like romances, then this book might be for you as well since there are slight romances throughout the book. Or if you're someone whose looking to take a break from the YA fantasy/dystopian genre, then this book might be a nice break for you! While I had a lot of complaints about it my overall enjoyment of the book and the fact that the book was so insightful and inspiring outweighed a lot of the nit-picking I had with this book, and I think it would be like that for you as well.
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (discussion of sex, mature themes, and some cursing.)
Favorite Quote: "Of course Rose knew that this Liddy James was a brand - the Superlawyer! Supermother! Barbara had described - and her success was based on this image of Supercompetence! that allowed her to dispense advice on chat shows, represent celebrity clients, and write best-selling books."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Dayle for the purposes of writing this review. This did not influence my decisions about this book at all.
Liddy James is forty-four, fit, and fabulous. She's one of New York's top divorce attorneys, she's a bestselling author, and a mother of two. With her ruthless reputation of being a shark and her capsule wardrobe, she glides through the courtrooms and salons with ease. Her secret? She doesn't do guilt! However, when Rose, her ex-husband's new girlfriend, announces that she's pregnant, Liddy's nanny quits, the roof starts leaking, a high-profile divorce becomes too personal, and more, Liddy will have to decide whether she really can continue to not do guilt any longer or if she'll have to face the skeletons in her closet head on.
For the most part, this book was very enjoyable. The book offered insight on how even the most controlling person can easily lose control. There is never such a thing as having total control in this life. I also really enjoyed how the POV switched between the two main characters, Liddy and Rose, and how the reader is privileged to hearing the story from two different sides. Sadly while I have some good things to say about this book, such as it's an empowering read for women and it maintains a good deal of realism with custody issues and legal matters, I have a lot of bad things to say about it as well.
While I enjoyed the book for the most part, towards the end of the story I found myself very bored with the tale. The pacing grows slower and slower as your progress through the book. The book also seems to have great plot development until you get towards the end. Certain important elements to the overall plot seem to be horridly rushed towards the end and there isn't much harmony with the beginning of the book. Yes, I love plots that harmonize. I'm that weirdo who was disappointed by the lack of harmony between the original trilogy in Star Wars and the chronological first three movies of the series. I feel that a really good story will call back to the beginning of the story and there will be a sound resolution. This book ends rather abruptly and it's very upsetting that you aren't privy to the end of Liddy James. Maybe the author wanted to leave room for a sequel, but this book didn't read like a series. It read like a stand-alone so hopefully it will remain as such.
Another one of my complaints was that while Rose and Liddy were well developed characters for the most part, the other characters dulled in comparison. I feel the story could have benefitted from some more background information on Peter, Matty, Cal, etc. so that their actions would be better understood. Sometimes when any character outside of Liddy or Rose acted in what I would define as a strange manner, I had to stop and wonder why they did such an odd thing. For instance, Matty is Liddy's teenage son and while I could figure out why he did some of things he did in the book, I had to wonder why he did others when they seemed so out of character for him.
The last complaint I had was the biggest complaint I've had about this book. The book was not very easy to read in certain areas. Liddy is a divorce attorney and a lot of her story revolved around her office environment, which I could understand completely. Liddy is a workaholic and I wouldn't want a big chunk of her life to not be wrote about. However, a LOT of legal terms were used and a lot of the jargon would easily go over a good amount of people's heads. I work and have worked in Courthouses and the lawyer talk still went over my head. Sometimes I would have to reread the passages and sometimes I just completely gave up and skipped sections, hoping that what was said was not very pertinent to the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I feel that this book would be a good read for someone who loved adult contemporary novels and loved books about strong, independent women then this book is for you! If you like romances, then this book might be for you as well since there are slight romances throughout the book. Or if you're someone whose looking to take a break from the YA fantasy/dystopian genre, then this book might be a nice break for you! While I had a lot of complaints about it my overall enjoyment of the book and the fact that the book was so insightful and inspiring outweighed a lot of the nit-picking I had with this book, and I think it would be like that for you as well.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Adult Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (or younger if you have permission to read about graphic murder and rape).
Favorite Quote: “Because she had purposefully burnt the pads of her fingertips long ago, incriminating fingerprints left behind were never a concern.”
I was provided a free copy of this book by Karyn Rae/Karyn Rae Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my decision in anyway.
Tommy has been Dom Denarios’ consigliere for most of his life. Lena was sold between different men until landing behind a bar in a secretive nightclub. Hardy works for the government and is trying to arrest Chicago’s biggest crime bosses. How are all of these people connected? By State 51 of course! Together they will experience what few do and find truths that might be too unbearable to know. But in the end, will they fight it or will they accept it?
Did you ever watch The Sopranos? The Godfather? Pulp Fiction? Do you like organized crime and conspiracy theories? Well then we’d probably make great friends, but more importantly this is the book for you! This book is an interesting exploration at different conspiracy theories and at organized crime, with the most intriguing connection being between the two. It was one of those books I didn’t want to put down and I consumed the book in 2 days! The book had a very natural pace to it and I never felt like the book was lagging or was speeding through some of the more important details. The plot development was also excellently executed. I looked very critically at this area because the book does involve some sort of mystery and I like for mysteries in books to be solvable and not totally outside of the realm of possibility. That being said, while I can see how all the pieces fit for the most part (the book does seem to indicate that there will be a sequel maybe?) I don’t see the puzzle as unsolvable.
The characters were also very well developed and nothing between the characters was sped up for plot’s sake. Everything: the dialogue, the actions, and the way each character described their individual situations, felt natural. There were a few surprises, but upon reflection nothing felt out-of-character. The book was a very easy read and anyone, even if you know nothing about mob bosses and don’t know who Al Capone is, would be able to understand this book and it’s topics because the quality of writing makes the book very easy and fun to comprehend. The only flaw I can see in the book is that the book ends on a cliffhanger and I need more now!
Needless to say, I enjoyed this book greatly and I can’t wait to read more from this publishing agency! This book is coming out soon so stay tuned and follow Karyn Rae on Instagram (@karynraewrites) for more!
Genre: Adult Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (or younger if you have permission to read about graphic murder and rape).
Favorite Quote: “Because she had purposefully burnt the pads of her fingertips long ago, incriminating fingerprints left behind were never a concern.”
I was provided a free copy of this book by Karyn Rae/Karyn Rae Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my decision in anyway.
Tommy has been Dom Denarios’ consigliere for most of his life. Lena was sold between different men until landing behind a bar in a secretive nightclub. Hardy works for the government and is trying to arrest Chicago’s biggest crime bosses. How are all of these people connected? By State 51 of course! Together they will experience what few do and find truths that might be too unbearable to know. But in the end, will they fight it or will they accept it?
Did you ever watch The Sopranos? The Godfather? Pulp Fiction? Do you like organized crime and conspiracy theories? Well then we’d probably make great friends, but more importantly this is the book for you! This book is an interesting exploration at different conspiracy theories and at organized crime, with the most intriguing connection being between the two. It was one of those books I didn’t want to put down and I consumed the book in 2 days! The book had a very natural pace to it and I never felt like the book was lagging or was speeding through some of the more important details. The plot development was also excellently executed. I looked very critically at this area because the book does involve some sort of mystery and I like for mysteries in books to be solvable and not totally outside of the realm of possibility. That being said, while I can see how all the pieces fit for the most part (the book does seem to indicate that there will be a sequel maybe?) I don’t see the puzzle as unsolvable.
The characters were also very well developed and nothing between the characters was sped up for plot’s sake. Everything: the dialogue, the actions, and the way each character described their individual situations, felt natural. There were a few surprises, but upon reflection nothing felt out-of-character. The book was a very easy read and anyone, even if you know nothing about mob bosses and don’t know who Al Capone is, would be able to understand this book and it’s topics because the quality of writing makes the book very easy and fun to comprehend. The only flaw I can see in the book is that the book ends on a cliffhanger and I need more now!
Needless to say, I enjoyed this book greatly and I can’t wait to read more from this publishing agency! This book is coming out soon so stay tuned and follow Karyn Rae on Instagram (@karynraewrites) for more!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "But if only one of us can be saved, save my sister"
I was provided a free copy of this book and compensated for my time by Ahelia Publishing. This did not change my opinion of the book at all, I promise you with all of the promises I can muster.
"The Gates of Solstice have opened, but while the Shailmas have summoned the Travelers, King Shrailzhar, too, has gathered his warriors. The King has finally found the portal gate and set a mystifying trap to keep the curse breakers out of his dark land. Getting into Trilleah will test the strength of Judah, Jennifer, and the others; getting back out will require a part of themselves they might not be willing to give.
Caught in a Labyrinth that even the Living Maps overlooked, this might be as far as the Travelers ever get to breaking the curse of Malleana Forest. Once trapped in Shrailzhar's impervious Labyrinth, only one will see the way out. Only one will hear the voice telling the way. Only one will believe the unbelievable. Only one will know that, to move ahead, they must go all the way back.
Will the others follow? Or, will that one have to go alone?" - Back cover blurb was obtained by Amazon.
Once again, you're entering dangerous waters. If you haven't read the first two books you might be spoiled by this review. As always, I try to keep my reviews spoiler free, but I might discuss some things that might be considered spoilery to some. You've been warned.
So, very immediately after I finished the second book I picked this one up and started my third adventure into Trilleah! This time King Shrailzhar will not be tricked! He will find the Travelers and put an end to their search for the clay tablets. Which means he's playing dirty. He has traps for the Travelers, especially Jennifer, right inside the Solstice Gates and even right outside the twins' home! This is where our heroes will have their trust and belief in their Shailmas in order to make it out of Trilleah alive. If I sound tense, it was because I was while reading this book! The stakes are higher and new truths are revealed and then for the book to end on another cliffhanger!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!
The author continues to write the book with multiple POVs, so not only do we continue to see the story through Jennifer's and Bella's eyes, but now through Judah's eyes and a bit of Miriam's as well! I was so hyped when I realized I was reading the story through Judah's eyes because he's previously not had a lot of attention in the book even though he is Jennifer's twin... and I absolutely fell in love with Judah. Judah has now become my favorite character in this series and I will cry and scream if anything befalls him or Jennifer. I love how Kimm Reid is continuing to add more character POVs in the stories because not only does that develop previously undeveloped characters, but it adds more depth to other characters that have already been the focus of the story. I feel like I know so much more about Judah and Jennifer and I just adore them so much more.
But the character development wasn't the only thing that I loved about this book. The pacing was a bit slower in this book, which I enjoyed because the story was a very tense book. The plot development was also a bit slower, but nevertheless magnificent. I feel like the story wasn't just slow to be slow. The action happened in the appropriate places and nothing lagged unnecessarily, but the tension was the best part about this book. As the characters were feeling something was off in this story, so the readers can experience as well.
The book was also very insightful. The book continued with the theme of trust, but it added strength for this new adventure. The book continues to show readers how to recognize truth and trust, but with this new book I feel it empathized what true strength really is. There was a great David and Goliath story towards the end that had me on edge the entire time I read it, but besides the excellent writing I feel the book was teaching the readers, especially young children since that's the target audience, that they are never too little or too weak to succeed. To echo the words of my favorite musical "even if you're little you can do a lot, you mustn't let a little thing like little stop you." No one is too little or too weak or too anything to not do anything. The sky is always the limit and you must never let anything you don't feel is right rule you. Even if you're facing down a foe who is far more powerful than you, you can still win.
The only thing that I disliked about the book is that it ended. Seriously. This book was amazing, I greatly enjoyed it, it's very well-written and the series just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to see more of the story and to find out how the loose ends at the end of the second and third book will be wrapped up in the upcoming stories.
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "But if only one of us can be saved, save my sister"
I was provided a free copy of this book and compensated for my time by Ahelia Publishing. This did not change my opinion of the book at all, I promise you with all of the promises I can muster.
"The Gates of Solstice have opened, but while the Shailmas have summoned the Travelers, King Shrailzhar, too, has gathered his warriors. The King has finally found the portal gate and set a mystifying trap to keep the curse breakers out of his dark land. Getting into Trilleah will test the strength of Judah, Jennifer, and the others; getting back out will require a part of themselves they might not be willing to give.
Caught in a Labyrinth that even the Living Maps overlooked, this might be as far as the Travelers ever get to breaking the curse of Malleana Forest. Once trapped in Shrailzhar's impervious Labyrinth, only one will see the way out. Only one will hear the voice telling the way. Only one will believe the unbelievable. Only one will know that, to move ahead, they must go all the way back.
Will the others follow? Or, will that one have to go alone?" - Back cover blurb was obtained by Amazon.
Once again, you're entering dangerous waters. If you haven't read the first two books you might be spoiled by this review. As always, I try to keep my reviews spoiler free, but I might discuss some things that might be considered spoilery to some. You've been warned.
So, very immediately after I finished the second book I picked this one up and started my third adventure into Trilleah! This time King Shrailzhar will not be tricked! He will find the Travelers and put an end to their search for the clay tablets. Which means he's playing dirty. He has traps for the Travelers, especially Jennifer, right inside the Solstice Gates and even right outside the twins' home! This is where our heroes will have their trust and belief in their Shailmas in order to make it out of Trilleah alive. If I sound tense, it was because I was while reading this book! The stakes are higher and new truths are revealed and then for the book to end on another cliffhanger!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!
The author continues to write the book with multiple POVs, so not only do we continue to see the story through Jennifer's and Bella's eyes, but now through Judah's eyes and a bit of Miriam's as well! I was so hyped when I realized I was reading the story through Judah's eyes because he's previously not had a lot of attention in the book even though he is Jennifer's twin... and I absolutely fell in love with Judah. Judah has now become my favorite character in this series and I will cry and scream if anything befalls him or Jennifer. I love how Kimm Reid is continuing to add more character POVs in the stories because not only does that develop previously undeveloped characters, but it adds more depth to other characters that have already been the focus of the story. I feel like I know so much more about Judah and Jennifer and I just adore them so much more.
But the character development wasn't the only thing that I loved about this book. The pacing was a bit slower in this book, which I enjoyed because the story was a very tense book. The plot development was also a bit slower, but nevertheless magnificent. I feel like the story wasn't just slow to be slow. The action happened in the appropriate places and nothing lagged unnecessarily, but the tension was the best part about this book. As the characters were feeling something was off in this story, so the readers can experience as well.
The book was also very insightful. The book continued with the theme of trust, but it added strength for this new adventure. The book continues to show readers how to recognize truth and trust, but with this new book I feel it empathized what true strength really is. There was a great David and Goliath story towards the end that had me on edge the entire time I read it, but besides the excellent writing I feel the book was teaching the readers, especially young children since that's the target audience, that they are never too little or too weak to succeed. To echo the words of my favorite musical "even if you're little you can do a lot, you mustn't let a little thing like little stop you." No one is too little or too weak or too anything to not do anything. The sky is always the limit and you must never let anything you don't feel is right rule you. Even if you're facing down a foe who is far more powerful than you, you can still win.
The only thing that I disliked about the book is that it ended. Seriously. This book was amazing, I greatly enjoyed it, it's very well-written and the series just keeps getting better and better. I can't wait to see more of the story and to find out how the loose ends at the end of the second and third book will be wrapped up in the upcoming stories.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Thriller/ YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (some language and some mature scenes)
Favorite Quote: "Leah Briar pushed too hard, made Rose disappear, and one day she snapped."
I was provided a free copy of this book as a rep for Blaze Publishing. This did not sway my opinions in any way.
"To cure fear, you must use fear." Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be. - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Have you ever had nightmares? Ever see something that no one else seems to? Ever have bruises randomly appear on your body that you don't remember obtaining? Have you ever questioned your sanity? Rose Briar is now. After an unfortunate night in which her friend's prank ended in police, ambulances, and her parents arriving to save her Rose's life was never the same. Now Rose is on her way to a mental institution deep in the heart of the Smokey Mountains, but her determination to run away, to not be what her mother wants her to be or expects her to be still runs strong in Rose and she doesn't lie down when committed. And that's what I loved best about Rose, she didn't take things lying down. In fact, all of the characters in this book were very well developed and I could see them existing in this world! The pacing and the plot development were phenomenal. I was confused, disoriented, and intrigued all at the same time as Rose was in the story. The mystery enveloped me and kept my interest until the very last page. The questioning about Rose's sanity also kept me questioning if she was or wasn't until the last page as well. I was literally reading this and in my head I kept thinking "oh nope she's crazy.... wait yea maybe she's not? No, no definitely insane. Oh wait what the heck?! Okay she's totally sane! I DON'T KNOW!!!"
The book was also very well written and the author has a gift for writing thrillers and mysteries. I can sometimes guess the ending of books with some ease, but I was guessing every movement, everything everyone said trying to figure out in my head how Rose's story would end. The book was also a very easy book to read and besides the language and some of the mature-ish scenes, I would say that this book would be well suited for any child who loves thrillers and mysteries, especially the more modern ones in which the author has to think their way around cell phones and technology. I also loved how this author set the book in the Smokey Mountains! I feel that not a lot of books take place in Tennessee, especially from an area I practically grew up in and cherish so I'm overly excited when I read something set in that area. I also have a sense of "OH! I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN REAL LIFE!!!" lol. I loved that about this book.
The only thing I had an issue about was that I wanted to know more about the downfall, the end result, and Phillip, but I feel that this left room for a possible sequel or a side story from Phillip's point of view. The book is easily one of my favorites of May so far and I can't wait to see more of Rose's story and see more from this author! Definitely a must read for any thrill seeking reader!
Genre: YA Thriller/ YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (some language and some mature scenes)
Favorite Quote: "Leah Briar pushed too hard, made Rose disappear, and one day she snapped."
I was provided a free copy of this book as a rep for Blaze Publishing. This did not sway my opinions in any way.
"To cure fear, you must use fear." Rose Briar claims no responsibility for the act that led to her imprisonment in an asylum. She wants to escape, until terrifying nightmares make her question her sanity and reach out to her doctor. He’s understanding and caring in ways her parents never have been, but as her walls tumble down and Rose admits fault, a fellow patient warns her to stop the medications. Phillip believes the doctor is evil and they’ll never make it out of the facility alive. Trusting him might be just the thing to save her. Or it might prove the asylum is exactly where she needs to be. - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Have you ever had nightmares? Ever see something that no one else seems to? Ever have bruises randomly appear on your body that you don't remember obtaining? Have you ever questioned your sanity? Rose Briar is now. After an unfortunate night in which her friend's prank ended in police, ambulances, and her parents arriving to save her Rose's life was never the same. Now Rose is on her way to a mental institution deep in the heart of the Smokey Mountains, but her determination to run away, to not be what her mother wants her to be or expects her to be still runs strong in Rose and she doesn't lie down when committed. And that's what I loved best about Rose, she didn't take things lying down. In fact, all of the characters in this book were very well developed and I could see them existing in this world! The pacing and the plot development were phenomenal. I was confused, disoriented, and intrigued all at the same time as Rose was in the story. The mystery enveloped me and kept my interest until the very last page. The questioning about Rose's sanity also kept me questioning if she was or wasn't until the last page as well. I was literally reading this and in my head I kept thinking "oh nope she's crazy.... wait yea maybe she's not? No, no definitely insane. Oh wait what the heck?! Okay she's totally sane! I DON'T KNOW!!!"
The book was also very well written and the author has a gift for writing thrillers and mysteries. I can sometimes guess the ending of books with some ease, but I was guessing every movement, everything everyone said trying to figure out in my head how Rose's story would end. The book was also a very easy book to read and besides the language and some of the mature-ish scenes, I would say that this book would be well suited for any child who loves thrillers and mysteries, especially the more modern ones in which the author has to think their way around cell phones and technology. I also loved how this author set the book in the Smokey Mountains! I feel that not a lot of books take place in Tennessee, especially from an area I practically grew up in and cherish so I'm overly excited when I read something set in that area. I also have a sense of "OH! I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN REAL LIFE!!!" lol. I loved that about this book.
The only thing I had an issue about was that I wanted to know more about the downfall, the end result, and Phillip, but I feel that this left room for a possible sequel or a side story from Phillip's point of view. The book is easily one of my favorites of May so far and I can't wait to see more of Rose's story and see more from this author! Definitely a must read for any thrill seeking reader!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Contemporary/Mystery
Recommended Age: 12+
Favorite Quote: "'Nikka I'm a hacker, I'm above the Yellow Pages. And I looked it up online, she's unlisted anyways.'"
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. This did not influence my decision in any way.
"15-year-old Nikka is invited to attend Wildwood Academy, a prestigious but secret boarding school for talented youth located deep in the Californian mountains. Once there, Nikka quickly falls in love with her bizarre classes, the jaw-dropping scenery and... two very different boys.
However, Wildwood Academy has a dark and twisted secret, one that could cost Nikka the one thing she had never imagined she could lose, the one thing that money can’t buy. It is this very thing that Wildwood Academy was created to steal.
Nikka can stay and lose everything, or she can risk death and run." - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Everyone has a talent, even if it's just a little bit of one... but do you excel at a certain talent? Do your friends and family think that you're a computer wiz? Can you draw like Michelangelo? Can you act like Bette Davis? Or can you design like Ralph Lauren? Even if you can't you can read about talented teens that can in this book... and maybe find a way to get some of their talent on your own. But, before we can worry ourselves with finding out these tiny details, we first need to get accepted into the prestigious Wildwood Academy. Jacqueline Silvester (who is one of the nicest people I've met on the internet) has wonderfully crafted a beautiful tale through the eyes of Nikka, a teen who has been gifted with an eidetic memory, which is an ability to recall details after a few moments of exposure sometimes down to their most minute detail even years after seeing the details. The quality of writing is amazing and it really makes for an easy reading experience, which is perfect for children in the younger teen ages.
The author also had wonderfully developed and memorable characters. I'm already wanting to read the second book because I miss Sums. I even choked up on the surprising deaths towards the end. The book also had a decent plot and the ending left me hungry for more.
Unfortunately, I did have some slight issues with the book. These were more because the story didn't fit my needs as a reader rather than the book being a bad book (because honestly this book is really good). I felt that there wasn't a need for the love triangle in the story and I wasn't invested in either of the choices of the men. Honestly, Nikka can do better than both of them and I somewhat shipped her and Sums. Another thing is that the pacing was really really good in the beginning, but then became a bit rushed at the end. I felt that the book could have either ended early or easily expanded into a 400-600 page novel. I feel that because the ending had a lot of stuff was thrown at the reader that the reader didn't have a lot of time of process or couldn't reflect on because of the forced pacing.
However, this book left plenty of room for a sequel and I'm excited to see where the sequel will take us. Overall the book was enjoyable and I recommend it for anyone looking for a good contemporary mystery book.
Genre: YA Contemporary/Mystery
Recommended Age: 12+
Favorite Quote: "'Nikka I'm a hacker, I'm above the Yellow Pages. And I looked it up online, she's unlisted anyways.'"
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. This did not influence my decision in any way.
"15-year-old Nikka is invited to attend Wildwood Academy, a prestigious but secret boarding school for talented youth located deep in the Californian mountains. Once there, Nikka quickly falls in love with her bizarre classes, the jaw-dropping scenery and... two very different boys.
However, Wildwood Academy has a dark and twisted secret, one that could cost Nikka the one thing she had never imagined she could lose, the one thing that money can’t buy. It is this very thing that Wildwood Academy was created to steal.
Nikka can stay and lose everything, or she can risk death and run." - back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Everyone has a talent, even if it's just a little bit of one... but do you excel at a certain talent? Do your friends and family think that you're a computer wiz? Can you draw like Michelangelo? Can you act like Bette Davis? Or can you design like Ralph Lauren? Even if you can't you can read about talented teens that can in this book... and maybe find a way to get some of their talent on your own. But, before we can worry ourselves with finding out these tiny details, we first need to get accepted into the prestigious Wildwood Academy. Jacqueline Silvester (who is one of the nicest people I've met on the internet) has wonderfully crafted a beautiful tale through the eyes of Nikka, a teen who has been gifted with an eidetic memory, which is an ability to recall details after a few moments of exposure sometimes down to their most minute detail even years after seeing the details. The quality of writing is amazing and it really makes for an easy reading experience, which is perfect for children in the younger teen ages.
The author also had wonderfully developed and memorable characters. I'm already wanting to read the second book because I miss Sums. I even choked up on the surprising deaths towards the end. The book also had a decent plot and the ending left me hungry for more.
Unfortunately, I did have some slight issues with the book. These were more because the story didn't fit my needs as a reader rather than the book being a bad book (because honestly this book is really good). I felt that there wasn't a need for the love triangle in the story and I wasn't invested in either of the choices of the men. Honestly, Nikka can do better than both of them and I somewhat shipped her and Sums. Another thing is that the pacing was really really good in the beginning, but then became a bit rushed at the end. I felt that the book could have either ended early or easily expanded into a 400-600 page novel. I feel that because the ending had a lot of stuff was thrown at the reader that the reader didn't have a lot of time of process or couldn't reflect on because of the forced pacing.
However, this book left plenty of room for a sequel and I'm excited to see where the sequel will take us. Overall the book was enjoyable and I recommend it for anyone looking for a good contemporary mystery book.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "Sometimes wounds must get deeper, and pain must become unbearable before the healing can begin... if it is to begin at all."
I was compensated by Ahelia Publishing for my time in reading this book and I was also provided a free book in exchange for my honest review. I promise that this did not change my opinion of the book in any way and my opinion would remain the same if I found the series and paid for it with my own money. Also, if you haven't read the first three books in this series there will be slight spoilers of the previous books, but no spoilers for this book. You've been warned.
"This journey might very well be the Elliot twins’ last. With King Shrailzhar’s Armies chanting, “Jennifer must fall, never again to rise,” and flying savages that keep circling Asphelia’s Hollow, it would seem that the traps and snares might finally be too much to overcome … even for them.
Perhaps, this is the reason that the sun has veiled itself; it cannot bear to look upon the demise of the Travelers. Surely, the moon knows a secret that can only be whispered in the great drops of blood that it throws down.
If Jennifer can be dragged into the Adder's pit, even while the others fight to keep her out of such a diabolic dungeon, how will any of the Traveler's ever trust the Shailma's for their own deliverance?
Trust in the unseen must become greater than the fear of the seen if the Travelers are to have any hope at all. While this is the end for one, it will be only the beginning for another." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
We're back in Westlock and Trilleah with the Elliot Twins and changes beyond the children's growth have been made. King Shrailzhar has commanded his armies to be on the lookout for Jennifer and has set traps specifically for her... or so Kaija Mae warns Judah and Bella. But why? What is it about Jennifer that the King and Miriam hate so much? And will Jennifer even survive this latest trip to Trilleah or will she join her mother as a part of the Waiting Ones?
As always the book was an amazing read. Easy to read with excellent writing and fantastic character development. Not only do we have our POVs from Judah, Jennifer, and Bella, but we hear a bit more from Sam, Matt, and Pierce. We also learn more about Kaija Mae and her group and Miriam, unfortunately, in passing from the other POVs. The characters are becoming more complex and the author is developing a great mystery involving trust within the group for the reader. There is also a mystery surrounding Jennifer and why the King and Miriam want to destroy her so badly. The author also writes Jennifer's dilemmas beautifully. Jennifer is a very complex character and the situations the author forces the character into make Jennifer's personality shine and her struggles feel more brutal for the reader. The reader is also privy to seeing a more emotional side of Judah when an unexpected turn of events takes place. This allowed the reader to connect with the twin on a much deeper level and it allowed for Judah's personality to become much more developed for the reader. The author also did a terrific job with the plot development of the story. The story feels very even in plot. The book is about split in half, with the first half being devoted to the twin's lives in Westlock and then the second half being centered around their journey to Trilleah. The book was also a very insightful read. It felt that it was a story about facing death and coming to terms with death.
However, while the pacing doesn't feel rushed in the book I felt that the book lagged a little in the beginning. But, the beginning was set up to develop some more backstory for the reader and allowed for the reader to explore more about Kaija Mae, which I feel was much needed. Beyond that, I don't have any complaints at all about this book. As always, it was a fantastic and enjoyable read and I'm hungry for the next installment in the series.
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "Sometimes wounds must get deeper, and pain must become unbearable before the healing can begin... if it is to begin at all."
I was compensated by Ahelia Publishing for my time in reading this book and I was also provided a free book in exchange for my honest review. I promise that this did not change my opinion of the book in any way and my opinion would remain the same if I found the series and paid for it with my own money. Also, if you haven't read the first three books in this series there will be slight spoilers of the previous books, but no spoilers for this book. You've been warned.
"This journey might very well be the Elliot twins’ last. With King Shrailzhar’s Armies chanting, “Jennifer must fall, never again to rise,” and flying savages that keep circling Asphelia’s Hollow, it would seem that the traps and snares might finally be too much to overcome … even for them.
Perhaps, this is the reason that the sun has veiled itself; it cannot bear to look upon the demise of the Travelers. Surely, the moon knows a secret that can only be whispered in the great drops of blood that it throws down.
If Jennifer can be dragged into the Adder's pit, even while the others fight to keep her out of such a diabolic dungeon, how will any of the Traveler's ever trust the Shailma's for their own deliverance?
Trust in the unseen must become greater than the fear of the seen if the Travelers are to have any hope at all. While this is the end for one, it will be only the beginning for another." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
We're back in Westlock and Trilleah with the Elliot Twins and changes beyond the children's growth have been made. King Shrailzhar has commanded his armies to be on the lookout for Jennifer and has set traps specifically for her... or so Kaija Mae warns Judah and Bella. But why? What is it about Jennifer that the King and Miriam hate so much? And will Jennifer even survive this latest trip to Trilleah or will she join her mother as a part of the Waiting Ones?
As always the book was an amazing read. Easy to read with excellent writing and fantastic character development. Not only do we have our POVs from Judah, Jennifer, and Bella, but we hear a bit more from Sam, Matt, and Pierce. We also learn more about Kaija Mae and her group and Miriam, unfortunately, in passing from the other POVs. The characters are becoming more complex and the author is developing a great mystery involving trust within the group for the reader. There is also a mystery surrounding Jennifer and why the King and Miriam want to destroy her so badly. The author also writes Jennifer's dilemmas beautifully. Jennifer is a very complex character and the situations the author forces the character into make Jennifer's personality shine and her struggles feel more brutal for the reader. The reader is also privy to seeing a more emotional side of Judah when an unexpected turn of events takes place. This allowed the reader to connect with the twin on a much deeper level and it allowed for Judah's personality to become much more developed for the reader. The author also did a terrific job with the plot development of the story. The story feels very even in plot. The book is about split in half, with the first half being devoted to the twin's lives in Westlock and then the second half being centered around their journey to Trilleah. The book was also a very insightful read. It felt that it was a story about facing death and coming to terms with death.
However, while the pacing doesn't feel rushed in the book I felt that the book lagged a little in the beginning. But, the beginning was set up to develop some more backstory for the reader and allowed for the reader to explore more about Kaija Mae, which I feel was much needed. Beyond that, I don't have any complaints at all about this book. As always, it was a fantastic and enjoyable read and I'm hungry for the next installment in the series.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Fantasy/ Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature scenes, language, and some gore)
Favorite Quote: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"
"In 1514 Hungary, peasants who rose up against the nobility rise again – from the grave. In 1633 Al-Shouf, a mother keeps demons at bay with the combined power of grief and music. In 1775 Paris, as social tensions come to a boil, a courtesan tries to save the woman she loves. In 1838 Georgia, a pregnant woman's desperate escape from slavery comes with a terrible price. In 1900 Ilocos Norte, a forest spirit helps a young girl defend her land from American occupiers.
These gripping stories have been passed down through the generations, hidden between the lines of journal entries and love letters. Now 27 of today's finest authors – including Tananarive Due, Sofia Samatar, Ken Liu, Victor LaValle, Nnedi Okorafor, and Sabrina Vourvoulias – reveal the people whose lives have been pushed to the margins of history. " - back cover blurb provided by Amazon
This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who love to read about history whether it be fictional or nonfictional. This book is a series of short stories that are historical fiction and also blur the lines between reality and fantasy. For the most part I loved this book. I loved the different takes on different historical points and I loved how the authors Incorporated fantasy elements into the stories, but I had a lot of issues with this series.
Some of the stories were really really well written and could have easily been made into full books, but some of the others were really bad. The characters weren't developed and the stories were confusing. The pacing was off on a lot of stories, but this is a collection of short stories.
Overall about half of the stories were very enjoyable and exciting and you might like some of the ones I didn't! That's the joy of books: no one reads the same book twice.
Genre: Fantasy/ Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature scenes, language, and some gore)
Favorite Quote: "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"
"In 1514 Hungary, peasants who rose up against the nobility rise again – from the grave. In 1633 Al-Shouf, a mother keeps demons at bay with the combined power of grief and music. In 1775 Paris, as social tensions come to a boil, a courtesan tries to save the woman she loves. In 1838 Georgia, a pregnant woman's desperate escape from slavery comes with a terrible price. In 1900 Ilocos Norte, a forest spirit helps a young girl defend her land from American occupiers.
These gripping stories have been passed down through the generations, hidden between the lines of journal entries and love letters. Now 27 of today's finest authors – including Tananarive Due, Sofia Samatar, Ken Liu, Victor LaValle, Nnedi Okorafor, and Sabrina Vourvoulias – reveal the people whose lives have been pushed to the margins of history. " - back cover blurb provided by Amazon
This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who love to read about history whether it be fictional or nonfictional. This book is a series of short stories that are historical fiction and also blur the lines between reality and fantasy. For the most part I loved this book. I loved the different takes on different historical points and I loved how the authors Incorporated fantasy elements into the stories, but I had a lot of issues with this series.
Some of the stories were really really well written and could have easily been made into full books, but some of the others were really bad. The characters weren't developed and the stories were confusing. The pacing was off on a lot of stories, but this is a collection of short stories.
Overall about half of the stories were very enjoyable and exciting and you might like some of the ones I didn't! That's the joy of books: no one reads the same book twice.
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Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some language and gore)
Favorite Quote: "Demons live among us. Angels too."
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not sway my opinion in any way.
"When it came time to grieve her mother’s death, Lilly Guthrie didn’t let Penthus, the spirit of grief in. She bottled up her feelings, closed her doors, and packed up her life to travel across the country to her mother’s alma mater. Little did Lilly know, she would find Penthus and every other disgruntled spirit waiting for her at Wakefield High; that her decision to attend Wakefield would start a war between good and evil, human and spirit, angel and demon. The only question, would Lilly fight the battle she started or run?" - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Since we've been young we've been told the stories of angels and demons... but what if there was something in-between? And what if there were humans that kept the peace between the two legendary rivals? Well this is where we meet Lilly Guthrie! She's about to discover that nothing is at it seems in this world and that she has a heavy, important role to play in it... whether she wants to or not. I feel like this book was a good read. The overall story was very intriguing and unique. The plot was absolutely enthralling and the book was easy to read and follow along, but I had some issues with the book.
I feel that the book's pacing was very fast and that if slowed down the book would have greatly benefitted from it. Because the pacing was off, I felt that I didn't get to know the characters as well as I could have. The amount of different characters was also very overwhelming and I feel that a lot of the names were too similar for the reader. I also feel that some of the way the quotes were wrote was very confusing for the reader. I'm very picky with how I like quotes and I also sometimes get very confused reading if the quotes are not the way I prefer them, so my biases might have played a role in this part of the review. Overall the book was an enjoyable, quick read and I suggest giving it a go if you're interested in angels and demons.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some language and gore)
Favorite Quote: "Demons live among us. Angels too."
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not sway my opinion in any way.
"When it came time to grieve her mother’s death, Lilly Guthrie didn’t let Penthus, the spirit of grief in. She bottled up her feelings, closed her doors, and packed up her life to travel across the country to her mother’s alma mater. Little did Lilly know, she would find Penthus and every other disgruntled spirit waiting for her at Wakefield High; that her decision to attend Wakefield would start a war between good and evil, human and spirit, angel and demon. The only question, would Lilly fight the battle she started or run?" - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
Since we've been young we've been told the stories of angels and demons... but what if there was something in-between? And what if there were humans that kept the peace between the two legendary rivals? Well this is where we meet Lilly Guthrie! She's about to discover that nothing is at it seems in this world and that she has a heavy, important role to play in it... whether she wants to or not. I feel like this book was a good read. The overall story was very intriguing and unique. The plot was absolutely enthralling and the book was easy to read and follow along, but I had some issues with the book.
I feel that the book's pacing was very fast and that if slowed down the book would have greatly benefitted from it. Because the pacing was off, I felt that I didn't get to know the characters as well as I could have. The amount of different characters was also very overwhelming and I feel that a lot of the names were too similar for the reader. I also feel that some of the way the quotes were wrote was very confusing for the reader. I'm very picky with how I like quotes and I also sometimes get very confused reading if the quotes are not the way I prefer them, so my biases might have played a role in this part of the review. Overall the book was an enjoyable, quick read and I suggest giving it a go if you're interested in angels and demons.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "Certainly, if the twins had not listened to their Shailmas and followed their direction, none of them would be here now, and the clay tablets would have never been collected."
I was provided a free copy of this book and was provided compensation for my time. This did not influence my decision in any way.
"Since there was not to be a journey to Trilleah for this Winter's Solstice, Bella and the Twins made marvelous plans to instead, spend that time visiting the other Travelers at Matt's lake house. It seems Bella enjoyed spending time with Matt more than the others knew. However, when Kaija Mae shows up unannounced and tells of the goings-on in the Dark Land—of the King's instructions to destroy Trilleah before the Travelers could find the last of the clay tablets—it's clear there is no time to waste!
Straightaway, the Shailmas whisk their riders back to Trilleah where the Travelers would find broken gates, a crumbling Hollow, and discover that not all souls are salvageable. Some, in fact, have traded their soul for a throne and a promise. Blood Covenants between King Shrailzhar and mysterious Travelers prove to be unbearable ... and deadly.
As the mists rise, uncovering the sea and what it's hiding, all they discover will take the very breath from those onlookers, and perhaps, the last of the tablets will remain buried in the bottom of the sea." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
If you haven't read the previous books then you might not want to read this review because there will be slight spoilers from the other books. You have been warned.
After our last journey it seemed certain that Jennifer would not want to journey back to Trilleah, but something in Jennifer has changed and so we must travel with her back to this horrible land because Jennifer is precious and we must protect her at all costs. Jennifer is my cinnamon roll character. Anyways, we're back and the land itself is ready to fight and scare off Jennifer and the other Travelers. The King has decided something more awful than trapping souls in Trilleah and if our heroes don't act fast they will never be able to free the souls of their loved ones. The stakes are high and the tension is real. The book was wrote so beautifully that I felt very tense while reading this book. I kept repeating in my head "Hurry! Hurry!!!" and this ending did nothing to calm my nerves about my favorite cinnamon roll character and her twin in this land! The pacing and plot development were also beautifully written, which helped convey the tension of this story. The character development was also very expanded in this story. I learned so much more about Pierce and Miriam and now I feel like I know about pretty much all of the Travelers save for Kaija Mae and her group... and I'm even more stressed out about the events of the next book! I don't feel like anyone is safe anymore!
The only issues I had with this book was that I felt that the author could have been expanded in terms of Jennifer's emotional and mental state after their last journey and how not only Bella and Judah had to deal with it but the other Travelers when they were reunited with her, but this is a children's novel so I feel that for the target age range it was written very well. I have a minor in psychology and sociology with a master's in criminal justice so I would have liked a more in-depth look at Jennifer's mental well-being but for the purposes of this book I feel that it was perfect the way it was. I feel I have to point out, especially for parents who are reading this review to see if the book is suitable for their child, is that there is a character death in this book and that the death is a little violent. I just like to warn parents and readers in advance to prevent triggers. Overall the book and this series is very enjoyable and the book is an easy read. I have fallen in love with this series and my stress about my favorite characters have not been this high since I read the Harry Potter books when I was little. This series has a way of totally enveloping you in its story and not letting you go. I can't wait to read the last two books of this series!
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "Certainly, if the twins had not listened to their Shailmas and followed their direction, none of them would be here now, and the clay tablets would have never been collected."
I was provided a free copy of this book and was provided compensation for my time. This did not influence my decision in any way.
"Since there was not to be a journey to Trilleah for this Winter's Solstice, Bella and the Twins made marvelous plans to instead, spend that time visiting the other Travelers at Matt's lake house. It seems Bella enjoyed spending time with Matt more than the others knew. However, when Kaija Mae shows up unannounced and tells of the goings-on in the Dark Land—of the King's instructions to destroy Trilleah before the Travelers could find the last of the clay tablets—it's clear there is no time to waste!
Straightaway, the Shailmas whisk their riders back to Trilleah where the Travelers would find broken gates, a crumbling Hollow, and discover that not all souls are salvageable. Some, in fact, have traded their soul for a throne and a promise. Blood Covenants between King Shrailzhar and mysterious Travelers prove to be unbearable ... and deadly.
As the mists rise, uncovering the sea and what it's hiding, all they discover will take the very breath from those onlookers, and perhaps, the last of the tablets will remain buried in the bottom of the sea." - Back cover blurb provided by Amazon.
If you haven't read the previous books then you might not want to read this review because there will be slight spoilers from the other books. You have been warned.
After our last journey it seemed certain that Jennifer would not want to journey back to Trilleah, but something in Jennifer has changed and so we must travel with her back to this horrible land because Jennifer is precious and we must protect her at all costs. Jennifer is my cinnamon roll character. Anyways, we're back and the land itself is ready to fight and scare off Jennifer and the other Travelers. The King has decided something more awful than trapping souls in Trilleah and if our heroes don't act fast they will never be able to free the souls of their loved ones. The stakes are high and the tension is real. The book was wrote so beautifully that I felt very tense while reading this book. I kept repeating in my head "Hurry! Hurry!!!" and this ending did nothing to calm my nerves about my favorite cinnamon roll character and her twin in this land! The pacing and plot development were also beautifully written, which helped convey the tension of this story. The character development was also very expanded in this story. I learned so much more about Pierce and Miriam and now I feel like I know about pretty much all of the Travelers save for Kaija Mae and her group... and I'm even more stressed out about the events of the next book! I don't feel like anyone is safe anymore!
The only issues I had with this book was that I felt that the author could have been expanded in terms of Jennifer's emotional and mental state after their last journey and how not only Bella and Judah had to deal with it but the other Travelers when they were reunited with her, but this is a children's novel so I feel that for the target age range it was written very well. I have a minor in psychology and sociology with a master's in criminal justice so I would have liked a more in-depth look at Jennifer's mental well-being but for the purposes of this book I feel that it was perfect the way it was. I feel I have to point out, especially for parents who are reading this review to see if the book is suitable for their child, is that there is a character death in this book and that the death is a little violent. I just like to warn parents and readers in advance to prevent triggers. Overall the book and this series is very enjoyable and the book is an easy read. I have fallen in love with this series and my stress about my favorite characters have not been this high since I read the Harry Potter books when I was little. This series has a way of totally enveloping you in its story and not letting you go. I can't wait to read the last two books of this series!