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popthebutterfly
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (some violence and gore).
Favorite Quote: “I suppose you have a choice to make. You can continue along in the life you have been living, you can identify yourself with your job, but I see in your eyes that this is not who you are. This is not what makes you happy.”
I received a free copy of this book for the purposes of hosting the blog tour and giving an honest review.
After the death of his father, Tucker gave up his dreams to take care of his mother. Reluctantly he followed in his father's footsteps and became a truck driver. Every day was as predictable as his truck route and Tucker slowly gave up his hopes for a different life until he finds a girl in the middle of the road. Evil threatens to destroy Ravinna's world unless Tucker chooses to believe her and accept her challenge to become a dragon slayer. - Amazon.com
I, like many kids, were told many tales of dragons while growing up. But they were just stories... right? That's the situation Tucker finds himself in when picking up a hitchhiker leads to an adventure he could not have imagined. I read this book wide eyed and with enthusiasm. I found the writing superb and the character development wonderful. The characters each had a distinct "voice" and I could "hear" them perfectly. The writing was well done as well. You don't feel as if you're reading an almost 400 page book because the words envelope you completely.
The only thing I had issue with about this book was that I felt the book was a little fast paced and the overall plot a bit confusing. The ending was a tad confusing for me and I felt I had more questions then answers. I also didn't like how the magic wasn't explained very well in the book and how nonchalant the book was in concerns with the overall world building. I felt the book would have benefitted from being slowed down, having the world a bit more explained, and having the plot and climax dragged out a bit more so the audience had time to contemplate it and understand it. However, I did enjoy the book and I loved that the book was told from two male perspectives. You don't see that in many YA books and I'm glad to have found a book that does so in a sea of female pov stories. I recommend this book for any child or adult (male or female) who has ever wandered what would happen if the old tales of dragons were actually true.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (some violence and gore).
Favorite Quote: “I suppose you have a choice to make. You can continue along in the life you have been living, you can identify yourself with your job, but I see in your eyes that this is not who you are. This is not what makes you happy.”
I received a free copy of this book for the purposes of hosting the blog tour and giving an honest review.
After the death of his father, Tucker gave up his dreams to take care of his mother. Reluctantly he followed in his father's footsteps and became a truck driver. Every day was as predictable as his truck route and Tucker slowly gave up his hopes for a different life until he finds a girl in the middle of the road. Evil threatens to destroy Ravinna's world unless Tucker chooses to believe her and accept her challenge to become a dragon slayer. - Amazon.com
I, like many kids, were told many tales of dragons while growing up. But they were just stories... right? That's the situation Tucker finds himself in when picking up a hitchhiker leads to an adventure he could not have imagined. I read this book wide eyed and with enthusiasm. I found the writing superb and the character development wonderful. The characters each had a distinct "voice" and I could "hear" them perfectly. The writing was well done as well. You don't feel as if you're reading an almost 400 page book because the words envelope you completely.
The only thing I had issue with about this book was that I felt the book was a little fast paced and the overall plot a bit confusing. The ending was a tad confusing for me and I felt I had more questions then answers. I also didn't like how the magic wasn't explained very well in the book and how nonchalant the book was in concerns with the overall world building. I felt the book would have benefitted from being slowed down, having the world a bit more explained, and having the plot and climax dragged out a bit more so the audience had time to contemplate it and understand it. However, I did enjoy the book and I loved that the book was told from two male perspectives. You don't see that in many YA books and I'm glad to have found a book that does so in a sea of female pov stories. I recommend this book for any child or adult (male or female) who has ever wandered what would happen if the old tales of dragons were actually true.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: "'Since that day, the world we live in has become a very dark and dangerous place.'"
“Are you really ready to condemn all those people to death?” he asked.
“Because they will die. I can promise you that.”
A new evil has arisen, to take the throne of Kaimaira, but trapped within their prison the once great Elders of Valista cling to their last glimmer of hope, a hero from another land.
Lizzie Somers always dreamed of escaping her life but when she finds herself transported through the Borders into another world, she soon realises that the reality doesn’t always live up to the expectation.
Dragged into a terrifying quest and hunted throughout by a deadly enemy, Lizzie must learn to trust the one person she never thought she could in a desperate fight for survival.
But as her journey spirals out of control will Lizzie run and hide or will she find the strength to face her fears.
Because Beyond Fear there is courage and her life will never be the same again.
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my opinion of the book in any way.
I love reading books in which me and the characters can be transported to a fantasy world. And I love when that literally happens in a book. This book is a fun tale about Lucas and Lizzie who are taken from their world and placed inside one that seems ripped straight out of a fantasy novel. Is it fate that they’re there? I can’t answer that, but I can say that this book is a fun, exciting tale that you won’t want to miss out on. The main characters are fairly well developed and the writing is fantastic. The writing is also very age appropriate and would even be suitable for younger audiences dependent on how well they handle certain material.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was very fast for this book. I also felt that because of the pacing the book was zooming through major plot points without giving them time to sort themselves out. The pacing really threw me out of the book many times because I felt that as soon as I was introduced to a character I was saying goodbye to them. I think that if the book was slowed down and the actions, backstories, and scenery were explained better then the book would have not been as disconnecting and that all of the characters would have been better developed.
Overall, I felt the book was a great inspirational piece on finding strength and it would be a great read for children in the middle grade or teen age group, as that’s the age when most children begin experiencing bullying. It’s a fast read and it’s a fun one as well. I found it enjoyable and if you enjoy fantasy reads then you will too!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: "'Since that day, the world we live in has become a very dark and dangerous place.'"
“Are you really ready to condemn all those people to death?” he asked.
“Because they will die. I can promise you that.”
A new evil has arisen, to take the throne of Kaimaira, but trapped within their prison the once great Elders of Valista cling to their last glimmer of hope, a hero from another land.
Lizzie Somers always dreamed of escaping her life but when she finds herself transported through the Borders into another world, she soon realises that the reality doesn’t always live up to the expectation.
Dragged into a terrifying quest and hunted throughout by a deadly enemy, Lizzie must learn to trust the one person she never thought she could in a desperate fight for survival.
But as her journey spirals out of control will Lizzie run and hide or will she find the strength to face her fears.
Because Beyond Fear there is courage and her life will never be the same again.
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my opinion of the book in any way.
I love reading books in which me and the characters can be transported to a fantasy world. And I love when that literally happens in a book. This book is a fun tale about Lucas and Lizzie who are taken from their world and placed inside one that seems ripped straight out of a fantasy novel. Is it fate that they’re there? I can’t answer that, but I can say that this book is a fun, exciting tale that you won’t want to miss out on. The main characters are fairly well developed and the writing is fantastic. The writing is also very age appropriate and would even be suitable for younger audiences dependent on how well they handle certain material.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was very fast for this book. I also felt that because of the pacing the book was zooming through major plot points without giving them time to sort themselves out. The pacing really threw me out of the book many times because I felt that as soon as I was introduced to a character I was saying goodbye to them. I think that if the book was slowed down and the actions, backstories, and scenery were explained better then the book would have not been as disconnecting and that all of the characters would have been better developed.
Overall, I felt the book was a great inspirational piece on finding strength and it would be a great read for children in the middle grade or teen age group, as that’s the age when most children begin experiencing bullying. It’s a fast read and it’s a fun one as well. I found it enjoyable and if you enjoy fantasy reads then you will too!
Warning: Language.
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (triggering scenes, mature scenes, gore, violence)
Favorite Quote: “Hey, you fucking creep, in this shithole! I’ve got a monopoly on that one.”
Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.
I, like everyone else, had heard about this bestseller when it first came out. I just thought the summary sounded weird. Until recently I didn’t have an urge to pick up the massive book and read it. And I’ve technically still not read it. I listened to it by audio tape instead. But I now regret not reading the book first because from what I heard on the audio tape the book is extraordinary. The main cast of characters are highly develop and complex, the plot is very well laid out and developed, and the pacing is perfection. While the pacing can be slow most of the time, the explanation of the case requires the pacing to be that slow. There is a lot that goes on in this book and while it can be confusing at first, it all comes together beautifully in the end.
My only concerns are that there is quite a number of secondary characters, which makes it confusing to keep everyone straight, and not every lose end is tied up. There are some minor strands that are left open at the end. I know this is part of a trilogy, but it just felt strange since every other plot strand was solved. My main complaint is that when you walk away from this book you tend to forget some of the plot and thus have to read or listen back over previous parts. There is a massive amount of information that the book covers, sometimes in a short period of time, and that is also very overwhelming for the reader. I also found that the author seemed to have a fascination with breasts. I’ve never read or listened to anything that mentioned breasts so much!
I also thought the book did a good job at being an inspiration for women. The book made a ton of mentions and brought up a lot of statistics about violence, especially sexual violence, against women. It presented a multitude of women who handled their sexual violations in different manners and it also showed women in a high seat of power. In some ways that’s very inspirational, but I felt that the book could have done a bit more to be diverse. The book also only touched upon, but did not openly discuss, sexual violence against men. Overall I found the book highly enjoyable. I’d recommend it for mystery/thriller buffs and for anyone who likes kick-ass female characters!
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (triggering scenes, mature scenes, gore, violence)
Favorite Quote: “Hey, you fucking creep, in this shithole! I’ve got a monopoly on that one.”
Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.
I, like everyone else, had heard about this bestseller when it first came out. I just thought the summary sounded weird. Until recently I didn’t have an urge to pick up the massive book and read it. And I’ve technically still not read it. I listened to it by audio tape instead. But I now regret not reading the book first because from what I heard on the audio tape the book is extraordinary. The main cast of characters are highly develop and complex, the plot is very well laid out and developed, and the pacing is perfection. While the pacing can be slow most of the time, the explanation of the case requires the pacing to be that slow. There is a lot that goes on in this book and while it can be confusing at first, it all comes together beautifully in the end.
My only concerns are that there is quite a number of secondary characters, which makes it confusing to keep everyone straight, and not every lose end is tied up. There are some minor strands that are left open at the end. I know this is part of a trilogy, but it just felt strange since every other plot strand was solved. My main complaint is that when you walk away from this book you tend to forget some of the plot and thus have to read or listen back over previous parts. There is a massive amount of information that the book covers, sometimes in a short period of time, and that is also very overwhelming for the reader. I also found that the author seemed to have a fascination with breasts. I’ve never read or listened to anything that mentioned breasts so much!
I also thought the book did a good job at being an inspiration for women. The book made a ton of mentions and brought up a lot of statistics about violence, especially sexual violence, against women. It presented a multitude of women who handled their sexual violations in different manners and it also showed women in a high seat of power. In some ways that’s very inspirational, but I felt that the book could have done a bit more to be diverse. The book also only touched upon, but did not openly discuss, sexual violence against men. Overall I found the book highly enjoyable. I’d recommend it for mystery/thriller buffs and for anyone who likes kick-ass female characters!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature scenes)
Favorite Quote:“Were they really so insignificant to the men around them that their absence could go unnoticed for so long?”
Naseby, England.Baroness Margaret Elizabeth De Meaux knows exactly where she fits in the hierarchy of society, of her family, and in her life. However, one thing sets her apart from all those she loves: her visions. They have always shown her wondrous lands, but she accepted long ago they were strictly illusions.
Despite the fact that they are pure fantasy, she relies on them to provide solace from the monotony of her existence. When her mother suddenly passes away her own grief pushes her to the brink of insanity. It leaves her questioning just how far apart her two contradicting worlds really are from one another.
Can Margaret reconcile her past, her agony, and what she assumes is her imagination? Or will she give into the myths and tales from her childhood to shape both history and the future? Despite it all, she knows that one truth is universal through the ages. Trust is hard-won and easily broken when you don't know who’s on your side.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and I was a Beta Reader for this book. This did not influence my review in any way possible.
You know what’s something that I don’t get to read a lot about? Time Travel. I am a huge believer in time travel and I’m also a big believer in the three theories of time travel. While I’m not going to out which theory I believe this book to fall under I will say that you are in for a ride through time like you’ve never been before. We’re introduced to Margaret on the day she says goodbye to her mother. When Margaret can’t seem to get control of her grief her life starts to quickly spiral downwards. It’s only when she gets a visit from someone she seems to have met previously that her life may begin to make sense after all.
Let me just say that this book was amazing. Not only did I LOVE beta reading for Dylan, but I loved this story from the get-go and I’m so happy I got a chance to make it into what it is today. I got to see the evolution of these characters and the plot. I feel that I can honestly say that the character development and the plot were amazing. The characters were so well developed that you don’t expect some of the twists and turns that come from these characters. The plot is also well done for a novella. A novella is a book that is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story, so there are some very strict page/word count limits on these types of books. Usually when I’ve read novellas I’ve found them to be messy, but with this book it was put together well. The writing is also another thing I want to brag about. The writing in this story is really well done. When the author writes quotes from these characters in the 1600s she beautifully writes like how they would talk and even the narration itself is written in that same way. However, the writing is not hard to understand and I found myself flying through the book because it flows so well.
The only concerns I had with this book was that I had more questions than answers at the end of the novella, BUT this is supposed to be a companion novella to the rest of the Rare Sunshine series so I will have to wait for the rest of the series to come out and then reread this book along with the novels (oh goodness the humanity! *sarcasm*). I also felt the pacing was fast with all the time jumps, but the book is a novella and thus they have to be fast.
Honestly, this was a marvelous book and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the main series! I thought the book was very inspirational for women and I also thought that the book had a good message about how to deal with grief and how to change your "fate".
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature scenes)
Favorite Quote:“Were they really so insignificant to the men around them that their absence could go unnoticed for so long?”
Naseby, England.Baroness Margaret Elizabeth De Meaux knows exactly where she fits in the hierarchy of society, of her family, and in her life. However, one thing sets her apart from all those she loves: her visions. They have always shown her wondrous lands, but she accepted long ago they were strictly illusions.
Despite the fact that they are pure fantasy, she relies on them to provide solace from the monotony of her existence. When her mother suddenly passes away her own grief pushes her to the brink of insanity. It leaves her questioning just how far apart her two contradicting worlds really are from one another.
Can Margaret reconcile her past, her agony, and what she assumes is her imagination? Or will she give into the myths and tales from her childhood to shape both history and the future? Despite it all, she knows that one truth is universal through the ages. Trust is hard-won and easily broken when you don't know who’s on your side.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and I was a Beta Reader for this book. This did not influence my review in any way possible.
You know what’s something that I don’t get to read a lot about? Time Travel. I am a huge believer in time travel and I’m also a big believer in the three theories of time travel. While I’m not going to out which theory I believe this book to fall under I will say that you are in for a ride through time like you’ve never been before. We’re introduced to Margaret on the day she says goodbye to her mother. When Margaret can’t seem to get control of her grief her life starts to quickly spiral downwards. It’s only when she gets a visit from someone she seems to have met previously that her life may begin to make sense after all.
Let me just say that this book was amazing. Not only did I LOVE beta reading for Dylan, but I loved this story from the get-go and I’m so happy I got a chance to make it into what it is today. I got to see the evolution of these characters and the plot. I feel that I can honestly say that the character development and the plot were amazing. The characters were so well developed that you don’t expect some of the twists and turns that come from these characters. The plot is also well done for a novella. A novella is a book that is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story, so there are some very strict page/word count limits on these types of books. Usually when I’ve read novellas I’ve found them to be messy, but with this book it was put together well. The writing is also another thing I want to brag about. The writing in this story is really well done. When the author writes quotes from these characters in the 1600s she beautifully writes like how they would talk and even the narration itself is written in that same way. However, the writing is not hard to understand and I found myself flying through the book because it flows so well.
The only concerns I had with this book was that I had more questions than answers at the end of the novella, BUT this is supposed to be a companion novella to the rest of the Rare Sunshine series so I will have to wait for the rest of the series to come out and then reread this book along with the novels (oh goodness the humanity! *sarcasm*). I also felt the pacing was fast with all the time jumps, but the book is a novella and thus they have to be fast.
Honestly, this was a marvelous book and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the main series! I thought the book was very inspirational for women and I also thought that the book had a good message about how to deal with grief and how to change your "fate".
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature scenes)
I received a free e-book copy of this book from NETGALLEY in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
The incredible true story of the women who fought America's Undark danger
The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.
Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive ― until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.
But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.
Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives… - Amazon.com
While I enjoy fantasy so so much, I do enjoy reading about historical events. I actually used to be a history major! So I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book on NETGALLEY! Thanks Sourcebooks! Anyways, when I read it I was expecting the dry history books of my college days… but I was highly impressed by this book! Not only was it totally engaging, but it was very educational without being pushy (which is pretty rare for some books especially for younger children). What really made this book was the character development. The characters in this book seem to just come alive and you really become invested in these characters and their plight. The writing is superb and is extremely enjoyable as well.
However, while I am freshly out of college I did try to keep in mind how this book would be for younger children, especially those that would pick this book up for a book report. Keeping that in mind, I did find that the pacing was a bit slow and that the plot was a bit drawn out because of it. However, very enjoyable book, very educational book, and very inspirational book because while this is a book about women who were poisoned by the radium fad it does show the strength of these women who could be a role model to many.
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature scenes)
I received a free e-book copy of this book from NETGALLEY in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
The incredible true story of the women who fought America's Undark danger
The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.
Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive ― until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.
But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.
Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives… - Amazon.com
While I enjoy fantasy so so much, I do enjoy reading about historical events. I actually used to be a history major! So I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book on NETGALLEY! Thanks Sourcebooks! Anyways, when I read it I was expecting the dry history books of my college days… but I was highly impressed by this book! Not only was it totally engaging, but it was very educational without being pushy (which is pretty rare for some books especially for younger children). What really made this book was the character development. The characters in this book seem to just come alive and you really become invested in these characters and their plight. The writing is superb and is extremely enjoyable as well.
However, while I am freshly out of college I did try to keep in mind how this book would be for younger children, especially those that would pick this book up for a book report. Keeping that in mind, I did find that the pacing was a bit slow and that the plot was a bit drawn out because of it. However, very enjoyable book, very educational book, and very inspirational book because while this is a book about women who were poisoned by the radium fad it does show the strength of these women who could be a role model to many.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature scenes such as violence and some innuendos)
I received a free e-book copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Hetta is a Tightrope Walker. A leader of armies. She has been one all her life. But Hetta has just turned thirteen, and there has never been a thirteen year old Tightrope Walker. Ever. Is she too old to do her duty? Is she too old to walk upon the field of battle and survive? - Amazon.com
I like female characters that don’t have a love interest. So when I read this book I was super excited to have that! Not a lot of books seem to have that a lot of days, but that’s a rant for another time. ANYWAYS, let’s talk about this book. I liked this book for a variety of reasons. I liked the whole premise around the book and the plot. The plot was very well developed and it had me guessing what would happen til the end. The pacing was also very well done. It was a tad slow at times, but mostly it was very well done. The writing was excellent and it was a very easy read.
There were some concerning areas of this book as well. I didn’t feel that the characters were very well developed. I didn’t understand why some of the characters did the things they did. I felt that the book had a lot of unnecessary parts in it. I also felt that the book was weird for the sake of being weird. It’s not bad that a book is weird. Some of the more enjoyable books I’ve read have been in the genre of weird fiction. The concerning part is when they are weird for the sake of shock value. I felt that the book could have made some more inspirational connection with these weird moments, and if they did then I completely missed it. While I did have some concerning things regarding this book I did enjoy it overall and I liked Hetta as a solo character. I’d definitely recommend this for any reader who likes fantasy.
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature scenes such as violence and some innuendos)
I received a free e-book copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Hetta is a Tightrope Walker. A leader of armies. She has been one all her life. But Hetta has just turned thirteen, and there has never been a thirteen year old Tightrope Walker. Ever. Is she too old to do her duty? Is she too old to walk upon the field of battle and survive? - Amazon.com
I like female characters that don’t have a love interest. So when I read this book I was super excited to have that! Not a lot of books seem to have that a lot of days, but that’s a rant for another time. ANYWAYS, let’s talk about this book. I liked this book for a variety of reasons. I liked the whole premise around the book and the plot. The plot was very well developed and it had me guessing what would happen til the end. The pacing was also very well done. It was a tad slow at times, but mostly it was very well done. The writing was excellent and it was a very easy read.
There were some concerning areas of this book as well. I didn’t feel that the characters were very well developed. I didn’t understand why some of the characters did the things they did. I felt that the book had a lot of unnecessary parts in it. I also felt that the book was weird for the sake of being weird. It’s not bad that a book is weird. Some of the more enjoyable books I’ve read have been in the genre of weird fiction. The concerning part is when they are weird for the sake of shock value. I felt that the book could have made some more inspirational connection with these weird moments, and if they did then I completely missed it. While I did have some concerning things regarding this book I did enjoy it overall and I liked Hetta as a solo character. I’d definitely recommend this for any reader who likes fantasy.
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature love scenes and a bit of gore and violence)
Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map―the key to a legendary treasure trove―seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.
More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.
In Daughter of the Pirate King, debut author Tricia Levenseller blends action, adventure, romance, and a little bit of magic into a thrilling YA pirate tale. – Amazon.com
Arghhhh ye mateys! Ye be comin’ to my blog to read ‘bout this book? Well, I’ll tell ya ye land-lubber all that I can ‘bout this here book. Okay, now that I have that out of my system, I can talk about Daughter of the Pirate King. First of all this book did so well with the characters. I got to read about a brave girl named Alossa who is fiercely independent, strong, courageous, and quick witted. This character is so well written that the other supporting characters do little to help Alossa out. This is not to say that the other characters are poorly written however, as each had somewhat of a backstory and had a shining moment here and there. Each character, besides a few little background ones, were very well developed and written. The plot was very well paced and developed. The twists and turns weren’t too obvious and the build-up was fantastic. The book as a whole was very well-written and very easy to understand.
The only issues I had with the book was that there were a ton of characters, which could make it harder for some readers to keep everyone straight, and the book ended at a rather crucial point. While this can be an excellent trick to make your readers want more it’s also somewhat infuriating for them to have to wait for the next book to be released.
Verdict: Overall, I felt the book was amazing and an excellent first book for those who are just getting into the YA genre upon graduating from the middle grade genre. It’s a really good transitional book. The book is also very inspirational to young women as Alosa is the type of female character we all need to read about. Her personal strength and bravery are very admirable as are all of her other qualities, except maybe her inclination to be quick to anger. I recommend this book to any beginning YA reader, any YA reader, any adult, and any pirate lover!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some mature love scenes and a bit of gore and violence)
Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map―the key to a legendary treasure trove―seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.
More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.
In Daughter of the Pirate King, debut author Tricia Levenseller blends action, adventure, romance, and a little bit of magic into a thrilling YA pirate tale. – Amazon.com
Arghhhh ye mateys! Ye be comin’ to my blog to read ‘bout this book? Well, I’ll tell ya ye land-lubber all that I can ‘bout this here book. Okay, now that I have that out of my system, I can talk about Daughter of the Pirate King. First of all this book did so well with the characters. I got to read about a brave girl named Alossa who is fiercely independent, strong, courageous, and quick witted. This character is so well written that the other supporting characters do little to help Alossa out. This is not to say that the other characters are poorly written however, as each had somewhat of a backstory and had a shining moment here and there. Each character, besides a few little background ones, were very well developed and written. The plot was very well paced and developed. The twists and turns weren’t too obvious and the build-up was fantastic. The book as a whole was very well-written and very easy to understand.
The only issues I had with the book was that there were a ton of characters, which could make it harder for some readers to keep everyone straight, and the book ended at a rather crucial point. While this can be an excellent trick to make your readers want more it’s also somewhat infuriating for them to have to wait for the next book to be released.
Verdict: Overall, I felt the book was amazing and an excellent first book for those who are just getting into the YA genre upon graduating from the middle grade genre. It’s a really good transitional book. The book is also very inspirational to young women as Alosa is the type of female character we all need to read about. Her personal strength and bravery are very admirable as are all of her other qualities, except maybe her inclination to be quick to anger. I recommend this book to any beginning YA reader, any YA reader, any adult, and any pirate lover!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (language, a mature sexual scene, trigger warnings for death and suicide-like behavior)
I received a copy of the e-book version of this book for free from NetGalley as provided by the publisher and then I won a free copy of the print arc in a giveaway. Neither of these events changed my opinion of the book.
Coming from a race of highly-evolved humans, Julia Jaynes has the perfect life. The perfect family. The perfect destiny. But there’s something rotten beneath the surface–dangerous secrets her father is keeping; abilities she was never meant to have; and an elite society of people determined to keep their talents hidden and who care nothing for the rest of humanity. So when Julia accidentally disrupts the Jaynes’ delicate anonymity, she’s banished to the one place meant to make her feel inferior: public high school.
Julia’s goal is to lay low and blend in. Then she meets him–John Ford, tennis prodigy, all-around good guy. When Julia discovers a knack for reading his mind, and also manipulating his life, school suddenly becomes a temporary escape from the cold grip of her manipulative father. But as Julia’s powers over John grow, so do her feelings. For the first time in her life, Julia begins to develop a sense of self, to question her restrictive upbringing and her family prejudices. She must decide: can a perfect love be worth more than a perfect life? – Amazon.com
Ever thought that you were different? Julia sure has and she’s already in a selective group of people! She’s a part of this culture of people who have extraordinary abilities and no we’re not talking about X-Men although it’s clear she should join them. Regardless of my stance on that topic, I believed this book will be the underdog to look out for come October. It’s a decent Halloween-type book and a good book for any YA lover. The character development is amazingly written as we learn about two characters simultaneously through Julia’s inner connection to John and all of the main and important side characters have a distinct personality. The plot is also very well done. The writer does not spend time on minute details about the mundane activities of public high school and the reader becomes involved in the core topic of the book fairly early on. The book is also very well written and it’s proving to be a very easy read. While the book is 350+ pages, I flew through the book faster than any other book I’ve ever read this year not counting Illuminae.
However, I did find some very prominent issues in the book. For starters, the whole identity of Julia and her people are not explained until very late in the book and even then there are small questions the reader is left with that are never really fully explored. The book is also paced a bit weird. The book jumps forward in time quite a bit and without warning, so the reader must remain alert throughout the book in order to avoid confusion. And there is a bit of a quasi-love triangle/square, so fair warning if you absolutely hate those.
Verdict: Overall, I thought this was an incredible book. This was definitely one of my favorite reads of 2017 and I was hooked from the get-go. I think that the book was incredibly inspirational for anyone who’s ever felt different or unwanted or has been ostracized for one reason or another. As someone who has felt that way before and still struggles with it I felt empowered by Julia and I cheered for her every difficult step of the way. I hope you feel the same towards her because I strongly urge anyone who likes YA Fantasy to take a few days to read this book.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (language, a mature sexual scene, trigger warnings for death and suicide-like behavior)
I received a copy of the e-book version of this book for free from NetGalley as provided by the publisher and then I won a free copy of the print arc in a giveaway. Neither of these events changed my opinion of the book.
Coming from a race of highly-evolved humans, Julia Jaynes has the perfect life. The perfect family. The perfect destiny. But there’s something rotten beneath the surface–dangerous secrets her father is keeping; abilities she was never meant to have; and an elite society of people determined to keep their talents hidden and who care nothing for the rest of humanity. So when Julia accidentally disrupts the Jaynes’ delicate anonymity, she’s banished to the one place meant to make her feel inferior: public high school.
Julia’s goal is to lay low and blend in. Then she meets him–John Ford, tennis prodigy, all-around good guy. When Julia discovers a knack for reading his mind, and also manipulating his life, school suddenly becomes a temporary escape from the cold grip of her manipulative father. But as Julia’s powers over John grow, so do her feelings. For the first time in her life, Julia begins to develop a sense of self, to question her restrictive upbringing and her family prejudices. She must decide: can a perfect love be worth more than a perfect life? – Amazon.com
Ever thought that you were different? Julia sure has and she’s already in a selective group of people! She’s a part of this culture of people who have extraordinary abilities and no we’re not talking about X-Men although it’s clear she should join them. Regardless of my stance on that topic, I believed this book will be the underdog to look out for come October. It’s a decent Halloween-type book and a good book for any YA lover. The character development is amazingly written as we learn about two characters simultaneously through Julia’s inner connection to John and all of the main and important side characters have a distinct personality. The plot is also very well done. The writer does not spend time on minute details about the mundane activities of public high school and the reader becomes involved in the core topic of the book fairly early on. The book is also very well written and it’s proving to be a very easy read. While the book is 350+ pages, I flew through the book faster than any other book I’ve ever read this year not counting Illuminae.
However, I did find some very prominent issues in the book. For starters, the whole identity of Julia and her people are not explained until very late in the book and even then there are small questions the reader is left with that are never really fully explored. The book is also paced a bit weird. The book jumps forward in time quite a bit and without warning, so the reader must remain alert throughout the book in order to avoid confusion. And there is a bit of a quasi-love triangle/square, so fair warning if you absolutely hate those.
Verdict: Overall, I thought this was an incredible book. This was definitely one of my favorite reads of 2017 and I was hooked from the get-go. I think that the book was incredibly inspirational for anyone who’s ever felt different or unwanted or has been ostracized for one reason or another. As someone who has felt that way before and still struggles with it I felt empowered by Julia and I cheered for her every difficult step of the way. I hope you feel the same towards her because I strongly urge anyone who likes YA Fantasy to take a few days to read this book.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: New Adult Contemporary/Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (mature scenes, some gore, trigger warnings for rape and depression)
Fame.
Money.
Glory.
These were all the things that you would expect from being famous. The bait that the producers of the industry would tempt you with to get you on their side.
What they don't tell you though are all the inner tragedies that come along just as quickly. They don't tell you about the heartache that occurs when you realize that this wasn't what you wanted at all.
They don't tell you about the pressure that's always on the verge of crushing you when you're forced to do everything that the public demands for and not what you truly desire.
They don't tell you about the self hatred that would soon take over your entire being at the thought that you will never be good enough.
No - they don't tell you these things at all.
But, Lilith Rose will.
When Lilith Rose, lead singer to one of the most famous rock bands around gets tired of all the lies and secrets that comes with being famous.
She decides that it's time for all of it to stop and ends up revealing everything on a Facebook live stream.
The result...
"Part of me wants to die tonight, part of me wants it to be an accident, and part of me wants someone to notice and save me." - Lilith Rose. - Amazon.com
If you had everything, would you be truly happy? This is one of the many questions Lil asks herself on a daily basis. She has everything but the one thing she truly wants and she's being kept away from it. Depression and suicidal ideation takes control and what unfolds is a this book. This book is a tragic yet hopeful story on one girl's spiral and triumph out of depression. It has a good plot point that needs to be written about more and the pacing was well done. The writing is also easy to follow and understand and the writing style fits the book.
However, I did have some concerns about this book. I felt that the characters weren't very well developed and that only when you continued to read the book did you understand the personalities of the characters and what the characters looked like. I felt that overall the book could have focused more on Lil's depression and there could have been more issues that made her depressed then just that she wasn't allowed to be with Alec. I also felt that the book should have focused on the depressive and suicidal episode rather than just have that be the opening. I was output by some of the things that went on after the first half of the book and I felt very angry that those things happened. I don't want to spoil anything on here for those that do want to read the book, but if you DM me I'll tell you what made me angry.
Verdict: The book is good. It's a sweet romance story and it makes you think about depression and suicide in a way that only Thirteen Reasons Why only has for me, but I think that the book should have focused on the depression and the suicidal event and had some of the later half of the book shortened. I think this book can be a good resource for those who want an inside look into what depression and suicide looks like. And while I have been where Lil has been and I've thought the same as Lil did, I didn't feel a connection with her. However, I do think this book is good and that people who like contemporary reads and those who are okay with reading about material like this.
Genre: New Adult Contemporary/Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (mature scenes, some gore, trigger warnings for rape and depression)
Fame.
Money.
Glory.
These were all the things that you would expect from being famous. The bait that the producers of the industry would tempt you with to get you on their side.
What they don't tell you though are all the inner tragedies that come along just as quickly. They don't tell you about the heartache that occurs when you realize that this wasn't what you wanted at all.
They don't tell you about the pressure that's always on the verge of crushing you when you're forced to do everything that the public demands for and not what you truly desire.
They don't tell you about the self hatred that would soon take over your entire being at the thought that you will never be good enough.
No - they don't tell you these things at all.
But, Lilith Rose will.
When Lilith Rose, lead singer to one of the most famous rock bands around gets tired of all the lies and secrets that comes with being famous.
She decides that it's time for all of it to stop and ends up revealing everything on a Facebook live stream.
The result...
"Part of me wants to die tonight, part of me wants it to be an accident, and part of me wants someone to notice and save me." - Lilith Rose. - Amazon.com
If you had everything, would you be truly happy? This is one of the many questions Lil asks herself on a daily basis. She has everything but the one thing she truly wants and she's being kept away from it. Depression and suicidal ideation takes control and what unfolds is a this book. This book is a tragic yet hopeful story on one girl's spiral and triumph out of depression. It has a good plot point that needs to be written about more and the pacing was well done. The writing is also easy to follow and understand and the writing style fits the book.
However, I did have some concerns about this book. I felt that the characters weren't very well developed and that only when you continued to read the book did you understand the personalities of the characters and what the characters looked like. I felt that overall the book could have focused more on Lil's depression and there could have been more issues that made her depressed then just that she wasn't allowed to be with Alec. I also felt that the book should have focused on the depressive and suicidal episode rather than just have that be the opening. I was output by some of the things that went on after the first half of the book and I felt very angry that those things happened. I don't want to spoil anything on here for those that do want to read the book, but if you DM me I'll tell you what made me angry.
Verdict: The book is good. It's a sweet romance story and it makes you think about depression and suicide in a way that only Thirteen Reasons Why only has for me, but I think that the book should have focused on the depression and the suicidal event and had some of the later half of the book shortened. I think this book can be a good resource for those who want an inside look into what depression and suicide looks like. And while I have been where Lil has been and I've thought the same as Lil did, I didn't feel a connection with her. However, I do think this book is good and that people who like contemporary reads and those who are okay with reading about material like this.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: MG/YA Psychological Horror
Recommended Age: 13+ (some scary moments)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not sway my opinion.
A Dark Game is a romantic thriller about a high school boy being plagued by the sinister vendetta of Shamara Ringwood - his best friend's girlfriend. Prologue “I don’t know!” he shouted through gritted teeth. The big man at the other side of the table winced, exhaling through his nose. The light hanging from the middle of the room was bright. Rick could feel the man’s glare piercing through his own and the dried blood on his upper lip became exceedingly bothersome. “Mr. October, you have a record. This has been going on since 10th grade at school. Breaking and entering, harassment, damage to property, invasion of priva –“ “Yeah, I get it!” “Some of these aren’t taken lightly. Not only that but you want me to believe that it was all in self-defence… all because of this one person -” “Girl.” “-this girl that is making your life hell?” “Well, I’m sitting here, am I not?” “This is hardly similar to hell, Mr October. Now, do you mind starting from the very beginning?” “I don’t feel like telling stories.” The man sighed again. “I can’t help you if you don’t make me understand…” “It’s not like you’ll believe me,” Rick sighed. “Try me,” The man said slowly and leaned forward in his chair. The sound of the metal chair’s feet screeched and echoed in the tiny room and the light seemed to sway as the man moved. Suddenly, it seemed as if a staring competition was about to ensue; and not a friendly one at that. The pressure started swelling. “It all started the day I met Shamara Ringwood.” – Amazon.com
Ever since I’ve watched Secret Window (yea that one with Johnny Depp in a random cabin in the woods) I’ve been hooked on psychological horrors. I have always loved being scared and this book scared me. The plot and pacing are excellent in this book. The main key in any horror or psychological horror book is the pacing and the plot. If either fail then in my opinion the book isn’t as good as it could be. The plot and pacing work well together and make for an unbelievably amazing book. The book is very well written and is very easy to understand as well. The characters are also very realistic and charming for the most part. While there is a wide array of characters in the book, the writer did an awesome job of keeping each personality unique. The twist in the book is a real twist and it makes the reader want to read the book a second time through!
The only issues I had with the book was that in the first read-through the reader can find the main character Rick to be a bit off and the amount of women drawn to him a bit unrealistic. It’s only when you successfully complete the book that you realize why it seemed the way it did and that you were supposed to feel that way towards. The only other issues I could possibly point out are that there is some formatting error in the book copy I have but that could be because of the way my nook read the file.
Verdict: HOLY COW I LOVE THIS BOOK! Seriously it is so good and it put me in the mood for Halloween! Not only was the book amazing, but it was inspirational in teaching the reader in how to deal with grief or traumatic events. The book is also from a guy’s perspective, which I have to give credit for because not a lot of books are from a guys perspective nowadays. Definitely one of my 2017 favorites and definitely a book you should check out if you want to be scared this Halloween season. I’ve already added the paperback copy of this book to my wishlist and I can’t wait to reread it at some point!
Genre: MG/YA Psychological Horror
Recommended Age: 13+ (some scary moments)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not sway my opinion.
A Dark Game is a romantic thriller about a high school boy being plagued by the sinister vendetta of Shamara Ringwood - his best friend's girlfriend. Prologue “I don’t know!” he shouted through gritted teeth. The big man at the other side of the table winced, exhaling through his nose. The light hanging from the middle of the room was bright. Rick could feel the man’s glare piercing through his own and the dried blood on his upper lip became exceedingly bothersome. “Mr. October, you have a record. This has been going on since 10th grade at school. Breaking and entering, harassment, damage to property, invasion of priva –“ “Yeah, I get it!” “Some of these aren’t taken lightly. Not only that but you want me to believe that it was all in self-defence… all because of this one person -” “Girl.” “-this girl that is making your life hell?” “Well, I’m sitting here, am I not?” “This is hardly similar to hell, Mr October. Now, do you mind starting from the very beginning?” “I don’t feel like telling stories.” The man sighed again. “I can’t help you if you don’t make me understand…” “It’s not like you’ll believe me,” Rick sighed. “Try me,” The man said slowly and leaned forward in his chair. The sound of the metal chair’s feet screeched and echoed in the tiny room and the light seemed to sway as the man moved. Suddenly, it seemed as if a staring competition was about to ensue; and not a friendly one at that. The pressure started swelling. “It all started the day I met Shamara Ringwood.” – Amazon.com
Ever since I’ve watched Secret Window (yea that one with Johnny Depp in a random cabin in the woods) I’ve been hooked on psychological horrors. I have always loved being scared and this book scared me. The plot and pacing are excellent in this book. The main key in any horror or psychological horror book is the pacing and the plot. If either fail then in my opinion the book isn’t as good as it could be. The plot and pacing work well together and make for an unbelievably amazing book. The book is very well written and is very easy to understand as well. The characters are also very realistic and charming for the most part. While there is a wide array of characters in the book, the writer did an awesome job of keeping each personality unique. The twist in the book is a real twist and it makes the reader want to read the book a second time through!
The only issues I had with the book was that in the first read-through the reader can find the main character Rick to be a bit off and the amount of women drawn to him a bit unrealistic. It’s only when you successfully complete the book that you realize why it seemed the way it did and that you were supposed to feel that way towards. The only other issues I could possibly point out are that there is some formatting error in the book copy I have but that could be because of the way my nook read the file.
Verdict: HOLY COW I LOVE THIS BOOK! Seriously it is so good and it put me in the mood for Halloween! Not only was the book amazing, but it was inspirational in teaching the reader in how to deal with grief or traumatic events. The book is also from a guy’s perspective, which I have to give credit for because not a lot of books are from a guys perspective nowadays. Definitely one of my 2017 favorites and definitely a book you should check out if you want to be scared this Halloween season. I’ve already added the paperback copy of this book to my wishlist and I can’t wait to reread it at some point!