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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from JustReadTours and the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (slight violence, slight romance, and scary moments)
Pages: 320
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Angels are real.
So are demons.
Being a teenager in Shady Creek, WI just got a whole lot harder... and a whole lot scarier.
Julia received a necklace containing the songs of the angels from her dad when she was four. When she was eleven, he abandoned her family and the necklace went silent. Broke and heartbroken, Julia, along with her mom and little brother, moved from hotels to trailers until her mom finally found an apartment above the café she now owns.
At seventeen, Julia's doing everything she can to maintain security for her family, but now her necklace seems to have come to life once again. And that's not all that's changing.
When a robber attempts to steal from their diner, the necklace blazes and burns her chest. Pain in her back is nearly unbearable as the thief transforms before her eyes... into something demonic.
When demon after demon threaten her home, family, and friends, Julia realizes there may have been something more behind her dad's disappearance. And wherever he went, there may be something--or someone--dangerous now after her.
Facing an explosion, a kidnapping, and battles in a realm other than Earth, with a Guardian angel who's as infuriating as he is attractive, Julia has to come to terms with the fact that she's not quite human, and fending off demons is nothing, once the devil comes for her.
But it may be too late to save the ones she loves by the time she accepts the challenge he's putting before her.
I had sworn off angel books until this book and for the most part it was fairly enjoyable. The plot was fairly well done and the writing was excellent. The pacing was also really consistent. I felt that overall the book would be great for someone who likes books with demons and angels in it.
Unfortunately, that isn’t me. I felt that the romance was a bit wonky in the book and the main character was really annoying to me. She made some really questionable decisions and it kinda of didn’t make sense overall with her character.
Verdict: If you like angel/demon books this is the series for you!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (slight violence, slight romance, and scary moments)
Pages: 320
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Angels are real.
So are demons.
Being a teenager in Shady Creek, WI just got a whole lot harder... and a whole lot scarier.
Julia received a necklace containing the songs of the angels from her dad when she was four. When she was eleven, he abandoned her family and the necklace went silent. Broke and heartbroken, Julia, along with her mom and little brother, moved from hotels to trailers until her mom finally found an apartment above the café she now owns.
At seventeen, Julia's doing everything she can to maintain security for her family, but now her necklace seems to have come to life once again. And that's not all that's changing.
When a robber attempts to steal from their diner, the necklace blazes and burns her chest. Pain in her back is nearly unbearable as the thief transforms before her eyes... into something demonic.
When demon after demon threaten her home, family, and friends, Julia realizes there may have been something more behind her dad's disappearance. And wherever he went, there may be something--or someone--dangerous now after her.
Facing an explosion, a kidnapping, and battles in a realm other than Earth, with a Guardian angel who's as infuriating as he is attractive, Julia has to come to terms with the fact that she's not quite human, and fending off demons is nothing, once the devil comes for her.
But it may be too late to save the ones she loves by the time she accepts the challenge he's putting before her.
I had sworn off angel books until this book and for the most part it was fairly enjoyable. The plot was fairly well done and the writing was excellent. The pacing was also really consistent. I felt that overall the book would be great for someone who likes books with demons and angels in it.
Unfortunately, that isn’t me. I felt that the romance was a bit wonky in the book and the main character was really annoying to me. She made some really questionable decisions and it kinda of didn’t make sense overall with her character.
Verdict: If you like angel/demon books this is the series for you!
Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of the book thanks to JustReadTours and the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, destruction, angels, demons, slight romance)
Pages: 346
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the aftermath of an explosion and Homecoming battle, Julia tries to form some semblance of a routine: work, study, and visit her brother who remains hospitalized. Unable to confide in anyone about her double life of being both human and angel, and fearful she'll bring more death and destruction to those she loves, she pulls away from her family and best friend.
When demons once again start to show up at every turn, seemingly bringing about her brother's deepening depression, she demands her sword from Nicholas. Ever the stern Guardian Angel, he forbids her from using it. Isolated, she takes protecting her brother into her own hands. But when demons show they have evils hidden within their weapons in addition to their ability to siphon souls from the living, Julia's not sure she knows the best way to handle saving him any longer. Especially when ash-colored lines begin to appear on humans, lines of demonic poison that travel through their veins toward their hearts and alter their moods.
Thrust into a dark world of conspiring demons, Julia is in more danger than she ever imagined possible. To stop evil from spreading and overtaking those she loves, she'll have to seek out the one person she mistrusts most--especially when a line appears on her own arm, and her apathy toward doing much of anything, including saving anyone, grows.
For a sequel this was actually better than the first one. I feel like I got to see the main character grow more and her character development was amazing. I felt the plot is more developed and the pacing is very consistent. The writing is still very well done and the author does very well at immersing the reader into the story.
However, I felt that the book kinda went too cliché for me personally. I felt that there was definitely a love triangle and I’m really over those. I also felt that some of the background characters weren’t that well developed and there are still some concepts from the first book that the book repeats, which is a tad annoying.
Verdict: Much better than the first book and an amazing continuation of our favorite angel/demon story.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, destruction, angels, demons, slight romance)
Pages: 346
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the aftermath of an explosion and Homecoming battle, Julia tries to form some semblance of a routine: work, study, and visit her brother who remains hospitalized. Unable to confide in anyone about her double life of being both human and angel, and fearful she'll bring more death and destruction to those she loves, she pulls away from her family and best friend.
When demons once again start to show up at every turn, seemingly bringing about her brother's deepening depression, she demands her sword from Nicholas. Ever the stern Guardian Angel, he forbids her from using it. Isolated, she takes protecting her brother into her own hands. But when demons show they have evils hidden within their weapons in addition to their ability to siphon souls from the living, Julia's not sure she knows the best way to handle saving him any longer. Especially when ash-colored lines begin to appear on humans, lines of demonic poison that travel through their veins toward their hearts and alter their moods.
Thrust into a dark world of conspiring demons, Julia is in more danger than she ever imagined possible. To stop evil from spreading and overtaking those she loves, she'll have to seek out the one person she mistrusts most--especially when a line appears on her own arm, and her apathy toward doing much of anything, including saving anyone, grows.
For a sequel this was actually better than the first one. I feel like I got to see the main character grow more and her character development was amazing. I felt the plot is more developed and the pacing is very consistent. The writing is still very well done and the author does very well at immersing the reader into the story.
However, I felt that the book kinda went too cliché for me personally. I felt that there was definitely a love triangle and I’m really over those. I also felt that some of the background characters weren’t that well developed and there are still some concepts from the first book that the book repeats, which is a tad annoying.
Verdict: Much better than the first book and an amazing continuation of our favorite angel/demon story.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from JustReadTours and the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, angels/demons)
Pages: 236
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Hell is nothing like Julia imagined and beyond everything she feared.
The little town of Shady Creek is under attack by Lucifer and his demons. To save the people she loves, human-angel Hybrid Julia must rescue their kidnapped Guardian Angels, even when it means defying her father.
Trouble is, he knows only too much about Hell's perils. When a demon sucks Julia into a cosmic vacuum, the experience leaves an indelible blight she dares not mention for fear of losing her place on the angelic rescue team.
As a growing demon army surrounds Shady Creek, Julia's feelings for her own Guardian become all too real and dangerous. But the cosmic imbalance fueled by Hybrid Angels, Rogue Guardians and Warriors is already depleting the strength of the rescue team. And there's no room for distraction when the mission is to get into Hell--and out again.
For the sake of the mission, Julia must face the truth of the Hybrids' existence. Because nobody will be safe unless she can trust the gift of free will--for others and for herself--in this end-of-the-world finale to The Legend of Shady Creek Trilogy.
Wow. I loved reading this series back to back and I really felt that I got to see an author and a character grow tremendously during the process. This book very well written and the characters are well developed. I loved the almost nonstop action and I loved how immersive this book was as well. I absolutely flew through this book.
However, I did feel that the book was a bit quick and the pacing was a bit off. It wasn’t too fast, but I felt that the book could have been a bit longer if the author described more of what was happening.
Verdict: An excellent series with tremendous character growth.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, angels/demons)
Pages: 236
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Hell is nothing like Julia imagined and beyond everything she feared.
The little town of Shady Creek is under attack by Lucifer and his demons. To save the people she loves, human-angel Hybrid Julia must rescue their kidnapped Guardian Angels, even when it means defying her father.
Trouble is, he knows only too much about Hell's perils. When a demon sucks Julia into a cosmic vacuum, the experience leaves an indelible blight she dares not mention for fear of losing her place on the angelic rescue team.
As a growing demon army surrounds Shady Creek, Julia's feelings for her own Guardian become all too real and dangerous. But the cosmic imbalance fueled by Hybrid Angels, Rogue Guardians and Warriors is already depleting the strength of the rescue team. And there's no room for distraction when the mission is to get into Hell--and out again.
For the sake of the mission, Julia must face the truth of the Hybrids' existence. Because nobody will be safe unless she can trust the gift of free will--for others and for herself--in this end-of-the-world finale to The Legend of Shady Creek Trilogy.
Wow. I loved reading this series back to back and I really felt that I got to see an author and a character grow tremendously during the process. This book very well written and the characters are well developed. I loved the almost nonstop action and I loved how immersive this book was as well. I absolutely flew through this book.
However, I did feel that the book was a bit quick and the pacing was a bit off. It wasn’t too fast, but I felt that the book could have been a bit longer if the author described more of what was happening.
Verdict: An excellent series with tremendous character growth.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from KidLitExchange and Simon Pulse. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature themes, sex)
Pages: 432
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.
But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.
What could go wrong?
With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?
I never read a lot of YA Books where there are a lot of mature themes in it. It’s not that they’re out of place, but it’s out of the YA norm and I like it. The book was unique and the plot was very refreshing for someone who’s tired of the same old clichés all the time.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was really too slow for the book and it was a bit repetitive for me. The descriptions were also lacking and the world building wasn’t so good.
Verdict: Overall it was a sweet and unique story.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (mature themes, sex)
Pages: 432
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.
But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.
What could go wrong?
With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?
I never read a lot of YA Books where there are a lot of mature themes in it. It’s not that they’re out of place, but it’s out of the YA norm and I like it. The book was unique and the plot was very refreshing for someone who’s tired of the same old clichés all the time.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I felt that the pacing was really too slow for the book and it was a bit repetitive for me. The descriptions were also lacking and the world building wasn’t so good.
Verdict: Overall it was a sweet and unique story.
Disclaimer: I received this book from KidLitExchange and the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 13+ (football!)
Pages: 268
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Jeremy Savage, an 8th grade quarterback phenom, has just been given the offer of a lifetime from Coach Robert Fletcher, a local icon-to come and play football for him at St. Michael's Preparatory, the best football program in the state. As Jeremy struggles with this choice, the decision becomes increasingly difficult for him as situations arise in which the deep bonds he has with his friends become stronger and stronger. While Jeremy continues to work through his thoughts, it becomes apparent that there are other forces at play which have a vested interest in his decision. Will he ultimately elect to attend St. Michael's? Or, will he stay with his friends at Centerville High and attempt to become a local legend?
You know what we need more of in the literature world? Books where the football player isn’t the bad guy. It’s a tired cliché. My cousin actually played football for a semester (he’s a quitter so staying that long was an accomplishment in itself), so I know not all jocks are horrible. Jeremy is a good example of this! He’s a very well developed character and his plight is intriguing and heartbreaking. The plot and the pacing was also very well done and I felt the author did amazing with making this feel real.
The only issue I had was the length was too short for my likes and I felt that the author could have done more in the end.
Verdict: If you want a book about football for your football season THIS IS YOUR BOOK!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 13+ (football!)
Pages: 268
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Jeremy Savage, an 8th grade quarterback phenom, has just been given the offer of a lifetime from Coach Robert Fletcher, a local icon-to come and play football for him at St. Michael's Preparatory, the best football program in the state. As Jeremy struggles with this choice, the decision becomes increasingly difficult for him as situations arise in which the deep bonds he has with his friends become stronger and stronger. While Jeremy continues to work through his thoughts, it becomes apparent that there are other forces at play which have a vested interest in his decision. Will he ultimately elect to attend St. Michael's? Or, will he stay with his friends at Centerville High and attempt to become a local legend?
You know what we need more of in the literature world? Books where the football player isn’t the bad guy. It’s a tired cliché. My cousin actually played football for a semester (he’s a quitter so staying that long was an accomplishment in itself), so I know not all jocks are horrible. Jeremy is a good example of this! He’s a very well developed character and his plight is intriguing and heartbreaking. The plot and the pacing was also very well done and I felt the author did amazing with making this feel real.
The only issue I had was the length was too short for my likes and I felt that the author could have done more in the end.
Verdict: If you want a book about football for your football season THIS IS YOUR BOOK!
Disclaimer: I was provided this book for free from KidLitExchange and Creston Books. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (drugs, violence, mature content)
Pages: 350
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: How do you know who to trust? Can you even trust yourself, your own instincts, and choices? Andrea, or "Bones" as her mom calls her, thinks of herself as smart, but intelligence only gets you so far and she finds herself nowhere near as smart or as tough as she thought.
"All Out of Pretty" is a gripping, thoughtful look at one girl's journey to figuring out what really matters to her and how to take care of herself in a world where there are no responsible adults for her to rely on. Do you use your looks or your brains? Your stubbornness or flexibility? How do you survive a drug-addict mother and her dealer boyfriend? Andrea's voice will pull you along from the first sentence of this emotional roller-coaster of a book.
I’ve never felt for someone’s struggles as much as I did Andrea. I felt that her character development was very well done and that the book did very well making the reader feel for Andrea and all of these characters. The character development for all of the characters was so well done! I also felt that the book was a very fast read.
However, I did feel that the ending really didn’t resolve anything and that this book might be a bit too tough of a read for some younger YA readers.
Verdict: A realistic look at the harsh realities of life.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (drugs, violence, mature content)
Pages: 350
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: How do you know who to trust? Can you even trust yourself, your own instincts, and choices? Andrea, or "Bones" as her mom calls her, thinks of herself as smart, but intelligence only gets you so far and she finds herself nowhere near as smart or as tough as she thought.
"All Out of Pretty" is a gripping, thoughtful look at one girl's journey to figuring out what really matters to her and how to take care of herself in a world where there are no responsible adults for her to rely on. Do you use your looks or your brains? Your stubbornness or flexibility? How do you survive a drug-addict mother and her dealer boyfriend? Andrea's voice will pull you along from the first sentence of this emotional roller-coaster of a book.
I’ve never felt for someone’s struggles as much as I did Andrea. I felt that her character development was very well done and that the book did very well making the reader feel for Andrea and all of these characters. The character development for all of the characters was so well done! I also felt that the book was a very fast read.
However, I did feel that the ending really didn’t resolve anything and that this book might be a bit too tough of a read for some younger YA readers.
Verdict: A realistic look at the harsh realities of life.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from JustReadTours and Thomas Nelson Publishing. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: YA Historical Fiction Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, plague, cult like things, and hearing voices)
Pages: 440
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.
Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.
But what if death finds him first?
Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.
The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.
The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.
No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.
I love Nadine and I love her writing. She has an unique ability to immerse the writer into unique worlds and to build something from nothing in our minds. I loved how she transformed this book from a children’s nursery rhyme (and maybe a bit of V for Vendetta) and I love the concept she grasped. She made this world and made me almost believe it was real for awhile. The characters were all unique and well developed. The plot was intriguing and engaging. And the pacing was spot on.
However, I did feel that in some parts of the book the author treaded a thin line between what was politically correct to say and what wasn’t. They were hard for me to read because those words had hurt some of my friends in the past and I can imagine that maybe they might hurt someone today too. However, there was a bit of a reason for it (debatable) and the book turned out fantastic in the end.
Verdict: If you liked V for Vendetta or if you like masks definitely check out this book!
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: YA Historical Fiction Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, plague, cult like things, and hearing voices)
Pages: 440
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.
Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.
But what if death finds him first?
Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.
The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.
The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.
No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.
I love Nadine and I love her writing. She has an unique ability to immerse the writer into unique worlds and to build something from nothing in our minds. I loved how she transformed this book from a children’s nursery rhyme (and maybe a bit of V for Vendetta) and I love the concept she grasped. She made this world and made me almost believe it was real for awhile. The characters were all unique and well developed. The plot was intriguing and engaging. And the pacing was spot on.
However, I did feel that in some parts of the book the author treaded a thin line between what was politically correct to say and what wasn’t. They were hard for me to read because those words had hurt some of my friends in the past and I can imagine that maybe they might hurt someone today too. However, there was a bit of a reason for it (debatable) and the book turned out fantastic in the end.
Verdict: If you liked V for Vendetta or if you like masks definitely check out this book!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from TheNovl! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, bombs, war, prejudice, Nazism, and consequences)
Pages: 336
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It's 1944, and World War II is raging across Europe and the Pacific. The war seemed far away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado--until they were uprooted to dusty Texas, all because of the places their parents once called home: Germany and Japan.
Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for those accused of colluding with the enemy. The teens discover that they are polar opposites in so many ways, except for one that seems to override all the others: the camp is changing them, day by day and piece by piece. Haruko finds herself consumed by fear for her soldier brother and distrust of her father, who she knows is keeping something from her. And Margot is doing everything she can to keep her family whole as her mother's health deteriorates and her rational, patriotic father becomes a man who distrusts America and fraternizes with Nazis.
With everything around them falling apart, Margot and Haruko find solace in their growing, secret friendship. But in a prison the government has deemed full of spies, can they trust anyone--even each other?
Oh. My. God. Can I just say this is one of my favorites of 2018?? Definitely going to be a very popular book in the near future! This book was outright stunning. It discussed an event in history that many history books seem to gloss over. It incorporated a lesbian romance. It expertly showed prejudice on multiple levels and sides. And at the end it was hard to say who was right (and no I don’t mean between the Nazis and everyone else). The character development was strong and amazingly well done. The plot was intriguing and entertaining. The pacing was spot on. And from what I could research in the short time I’ve had it seemed to stick with the facts much better than another book I’ve read on WW2 that we shall not name and only side-eye.
The only issue I have is that the book didn’t feel complete (which might be for a reason) and the book could have tackled some more of the tough topics head on, but for what we got I think it was absolutely amazing.
Verdict: I loved this book. And it loved me too.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, bombs, war, prejudice, Nazism, and consequences)
Pages: 336
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It's 1944, and World War II is raging across Europe and the Pacific. The war seemed far away from Margot in Iowa and Haruko in Colorado--until they were uprooted to dusty Texas, all because of the places their parents once called home: Germany and Japan.
Haruko and Margot meet at the high school in Crystal City, a "family internment camp" for those accused of colluding with the enemy. The teens discover that they are polar opposites in so many ways, except for one that seems to override all the others: the camp is changing them, day by day and piece by piece. Haruko finds herself consumed by fear for her soldier brother and distrust of her father, who she knows is keeping something from her. And Margot is doing everything she can to keep her family whole as her mother's health deteriorates and her rational, patriotic father becomes a man who distrusts America and fraternizes with Nazis.
With everything around them falling apart, Margot and Haruko find solace in their growing, secret friendship. But in a prison the government has deemed full of spies, can they trust anyone--even each other?
Oh. My. God. Can I just say this is one of my favorites of 2018?? Definitely going to be a very popular book in the near future! This book was outright stunning. It discussed an event in history that many history books seem to gloss over. It incorporated a lesbian romance. It expertly showed prejudice on multiple levels and sides. And at the end it was hard to say who was right (and no I don’t mean between the Nazis and everyone else). The character development was strong and amazingly well done. The plot was intriguing and entertaining. The pacing was spot on. And from what I could research in the short time I’ve had it seemed to stick with the facts much better than another book I’ve read on WW2 that we shall not name and only side-eye.
The only issue I have is that the book didn’t feel complete (which might be for a reason) and the book could have tackled some more of the tough topics head on, but for what we got I think it was absolutely amazing.
Verdict: I loved this book. And it loved me too.
Disclaimer: None needed, I bought this on my own.
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (mature content, romance, violence, dystopian, slavery)
Pages: 466
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.
It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.
Okay so I read this with a huge group of people who kinda all loved this book and gushed about the characters and stuff… but I just didn’t feel any connection with this book. I thought the book was really good in a lot of areas. The characters were interesting and complex. The writing was fantastic. And the world building was amazing.
However, I feel like the plot was really really out there. It’s already a strange book and it somewhat makes sense, but as I went on through the book I just kept getting more and more confused. The pacing was also really too slow for me.
Verdict: If you have the time and patience for this book I think it would be worth it.
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (mature content, romance, violence, dystopian, slavery)
Pages: 466
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.
It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.
Okay so I read this with a huge group of people who kinda all loved this book and gushed about the characters and stuff… but I just didn’t feel any connection with this book. I thought the book was really good in a lot of areas. The characters were interesting and complex. The writing was fantastic. And the world building was amazing.
However, I feel like the plot was really really out there. It’s already a strange book and it somewhat makes sense, but as I went on through the book I just kept getting more and more confused. The pacing was also really too slow for me.
Verdict: If you have the time and patience for this book I think it would be worth it.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Updated Review:
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author and then I paid for my own copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Threatening Souls
Author: N.M Lambert
Book Series: Threatening Souls Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: paranormal , horror, mystery, thriller
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: Paranormal Horror (characters are MG age)
Recommended Age: 18+ (Child abuse, Torture, Gore, Violence, Romance, Language, Religion, Cult, Sexual assault Drug use, Possession, Abelism)
Explanation of CWs: Child abuse is prevalent throughout the texts as the main antagonist of the book tortures and harms the children of the town and even his own kids. There is a lot of gore and violence. There is a scene where the characters are trying to cure mental health. There is some very slight romance. There is some cursing. Religion and cultism play into this book heavily as well as possession. There is also a scene where a child is almost sexually assaulted and there is talk about that when remembering it. There is also some small drug use.
Publisher: Green Tree Press
Pages: 480
Synopsis: The sacrifices, the drama, the horror within.
In the year of 1860, a curse was performed over the suburb of Roseway, Washington, which rests about twenty miles south of Seattle, that killed nearly every living resident. After coming back to Earth as spirits, they form a twisted plan that not only provides them with bodies of their own but also kills off all who venture into Roseway in the future.
Thirteen-year-old Rebekah Jensen has lived a fine life in Marywood, Florida with two best friends, a clique that strives to make her one of them, and a boyfriend who happened to be one of the most popular guys in her school. But all that is about to change when the date of her arrival nears, when she starts to see things that she presumes are spirits—and she is sure that she has gone insane.
After moving to Roseway, she gets sucked into an illusion of the dead, coming to regard Roseway as some sort of cult in which they worship a mysterious being that is introduced to her as the Master. Within the months of enduring Roseway, she finds out more about herself and her purpose in the suburb. Teaming up with a friend, who has a dark secret, Rebekah must put an end to the curse before she ends up like the rest of the victims.
In the year of 1860, a curse was performed over the suburb of Roseway, Washington, which rests about twenty miles south of Seattle, that killed nearly every living resident. After coming back to Earth as spirits, they form a twisted plan that not only provides them with bodies of their own but also kills off all who venture into Roseway in the future.
Thirteen-year-old Rebekah Jensen has lived a fine life in Marywood, Florida with two best friends, a clique that strives to make her one of them, and a boyfriend who happened to be one of the most popular guys in her school. But all that is about to change when the date of her arrival nears, when she starts to see things that she presumes are spirits—and she is sure that she has gone insane.
After moving to Roseway, she gets sucked into an illusion of the dead, coming to regard Roseway as some sort of cult in which they worship a mysterious being that is introduced to her as the Master. Within the months of enduring Roseway, she finds out more about herself and her purpose in the suburb. Teaming up with a friend, who has a dark secret, Rebekah must put an end to the curse before she ends up like the rest of the victims.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The book is full of scary and horror elements that make this a great read for Halloween. The book has some cult stuff that rivals the Stepford Wives in it. It’s multi POV and the story has a lot of potential. The plot overall is constant throughout the book and the character development was really well done. I also loved that the CWs were in the front of the book and I am appreciative for that as a reader with triggers.
However, I do feel like the book could be perfected some more. The characters are wrote older than what they really are in the book (they’re 12 in the book, but they read as if they’re 18-19). I think this is the biggest reason for my confusion about the book because 10-12 (sometimes 13/14 depending on the content of the book) is for middle grade readers. Middle Grade isn’t really a genre, but an age range, and when you have a book that has middle grade aged characters but the story is for 18+ than book sellers don’t know what to do with the book and readers don’t know how to read it. This book is extremely horrific and gorey and contains a lot of content warnings that’s nor appropriate for even most YA book sections, but the characters are too young to be placed in general horror… so where do you shelf it?
Along with that, there are some things in the book that aren’t really possible. I know, I know, real world doesn’t apply to books sometimes, but if the book had some sort of throwaway line like “nothing in this situation seems normal” or “this world feels out of place doesn’t it?” than it would have helped to explain to the reader that a lot of the scenarios in this world aren’t commonplace. The issues I’m speaking about are like how all of the children got through security by themselves as minors in an airport when that’s not realistic. Taxis also can’t take minor children by themselves if their policies don’t allow for it and most of them don’t allow for it out of an abundance of caution (and insurance liabilities).
There are some other little things about the book that I feel need to be worked on. The book also has an issue with things for the plot being revealed too early or the characters just knowing certain things. The two Rebecca’s in the book are very confusing, especially for someone who sometimes doesn’t comprehend which one is talking. I had to skim Holly’s chapters towards 40% and onward because the material kept repeating itself. When I did that, the book kind of got better which makes me wonder how much is needed of her chapters at all. My biggest problem with her chapters are that the magic in this book is not very well explained. There’s this whole other plotline about Holly and the magical world and this royal family and all of the things with Henri, but I don’t understand most of it because the book jumps from point A to point V without B-U. I also find it funny that whenever the characters mention where they are from, everyone acts like they know where that is. It’s funny because the two main cities mentioned are across the continent from one another and I got the vibe that they were both fairly normal sized towns of no great importance on the outside.
There’s a lot going on in this book and while the plot of this story is good and the story overall is great, I really think that the story needs to be either simplified more for a middle grade aged book or it needs to be rewritten for adult audiences with adult characters. Most adults don’t want to read books with middle grade characters unless they’re looking in the middle grade section. They want to stick with a book that is targeted to their age range or group. This book won’t have a good home or foundation unless it conforms to one of the age groupings that normal books fall into. I also think that the book needs to be broke up into two or more parts, maybe with Holly’s viewpoints and chapters in a separate prequel book that would explain the magic system and each book showing the viewpoint of the story through only one character’s eyes only throughout. There’s a ton of material and information that is presented in this book that make it a chore to get through and there’s so much to understand that isn’t available in the read. Either way, the book feels too packed with material and it needs to breathe, especially when you consider that the second book takes place in a totally new area and time, standing alone from this one.
Verdict: it’s good, just needs more work.
Old Review:
Disclaimer: None. I bought my own book yo!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (slight gore, slight violence, cults, weird people)
Pages: 425
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The sacrifices, the drama, the horror within.
In the year of 1860, a curse was performed over the suburb of Roseway, Washington, which rests about twenty miles south of Seattle, that killed nearly every living resident. After coming back to Earth as spirits, they form a twisted plan that not only provides them with bodies of their own but also kills off all who venture into Roseway in the future.
Thirteen-year-old Rebekah Jensen has lived a fine life in Marywood, Florida with two best friends, a clique that strives to make her one of them, and a boyfriend who happened to be one of the most popular guys in her school. But all that is about to change when the date of her arrival to Roseway nears, when she starts to see things that she presumes are spirits—and she is sure that she had gone insane.
After moving to Roseway, she gets sucked into an illusion of the dead, coming to regard Roseway as some sort of cult in which they worship a mysterious being that is introduced to her as the Master. Within the months of enduring Roseway, she finds out more about herself and her purpose in the suburb. Teaming up with a friend, who has a dark secret, Rebekah must put an end to the curse before she ends up like the rest of the victims.
I like a good dark book and for the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt the story was engaging and the characters were very interesting. The book is well written and it’s the perfect book for a spooky Halloween.
However, I do have some qualms about the book (as I always do about every book… hey no book is perfect!). I feel that the book’s plot is a bit muddled and the pacing is really slow for this type of book. I also felt that the world building could have been better. Overall though I really enjoyed the book.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a spooky read, this is it!