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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from TheNovl/Little Brown Young Readers. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: October 8th, 2018
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 15+ (slightly sexual scenes, romance, violence, death, terrorist activities and threats)
Pages: 374
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Reeling from the latest attack by a mysterious enemy, the Quatra Fleet Academy is finally admitting students from every planet in the solar system after centuries of exclusivity.
Hotshot pilot Vesper, an ambitious Tridian citizen, dreams of becoming a captain - but when she loses her spot to a brilliant, wisecracking boy from the wrong side of the asteroid belt, it makes her question everything she thought she knew. Growing up on the toxic planet Deva, Cormak will take any chance he can get to escape his dead-end life and join the Academy - even if he has to steal someone's identity to do it. Arran was always considered an outsider on icy Chetire, always dreaming of something more than a life working in the mines. Now an incoming cadet, Arran is looking for a place to belong - he just never thought that place would be in the arms of a Tridian boy. And Orelia is hiding a dark secret - she's infiltrated the Academy to complete a mission, one that threatens the security of everyone there. But if anyone finds out who she really is, it'll be her life on the line.
These cadets will have to put their differences aside and become a team to defend their world from a cunning enemy - but the danger might be lurking closer to home than they think...
Oh. My. God. That's what I have to say about this brand new series from the amazing Kass Morgan. She's an absolute powerhouse when it comes to impactful and remember-able sci-fis and she's created yet another series in which I want to be apart of (and that I can see a TV series for hint hint TV producers out there). The writing was fantastic, it just pulls you into this amazing plot and the characters are super well developed. I'd probably say this series is better than her 100 series. I also loved the LGBT+ characters and the diversity of them as well. I feel like if you liked Ender's Game, then you would love this book. The book also feels realistic. One of the first things you learn about this book is that the this is the first year other planets/cultures are allowed to enter this prestigious academy. This is very true to history and even modern time (and unfortunately, the oppression of one or many groups by one dominant group will never completely die). While it broke my heart to read about the oppression of these other planets, it added a realistic feel to the book.
The only concern I had about the book was that I felt the relationship one of the characters has with her teacher feels a bit weird and can be concerning for younger readers to see considering that there are teachers out there who prey on young children. Other than that slight concern, I felt the book was completely fantastic and well paced. It'll definitely be a hit when it comes out!
Verdict: I smell a TV series in the making!
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: October 8th, 2018
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 15+ (slightly sexual scenes, romance, violence, death, terrorist activities and threats)
Pages: 374
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Reeling from the latest attack by a mysterious enemy, the Quatra Fleet Academy is finally admitting students from every planet in the solar system after centuries of exclusivity.
Hotshot pilot Vesper, an ambitious Tridian citizen, dreams of becoming a captain - but when she loses her spot to a brilliant, wisecracking boy from the wrong side of the asteroid belt, it makes her question everything she thought she knew. Growing up on the toxic planet Deva, Cormak will take any chance he can get to escape his dead-end life and join the Academy - even if he has to steal someone's identity to do it. Arran was always considered an outsider on icy Chetire, always dreaming of something more than a life working in the mines. Now an incoming cadet, Arran is looking for a place to belong - he just never thought that place would be in the arms of a Tridian boy. And Orelia is hiding a dark secret - she's infiltrated the Academy to complete a mission, one that threatens the security of everyone there. But if anyone finds out who she really is, it'll be her life on the line.
These cadets will have to put their differences aside and become a team to defend their world from a cunning enemy - but the danger might be lurking closer to home than they think...
Oh. My. God. That's what I have to say about this brand new series from the amazing Kass Morgan. She's an absolute powerhouse when it comes to impactful and remember-able sci-fis and she's created yet another series in which I want to be apart of (and that I can see a TV series for hint hint TV producers out there). The writing was fantastic, it just pulls you into this amazing plot and the characters are super well developed. I'd probably say this series is better than her 100 series. I also loved the LGBT+ characters and the diversity of them as well. I feel like if you liked Ender's Game, then you would love this book. The book also feels realistic. One of the first things you learn about this book is that the this is the first year other planets/cultures are allowed to enter this prestigious academy. This is very true to history and even modern time (and unfortunately, the oppression of one or many groups by one dominant group will never completely die). While it broke my heart to read about the oppression of these other planets, it added a realistic feel to the book.
The only concern I had about the book was that I felt the relationship one of the characters has with her teacher feels a bit weird and can be concerning for younger readers to see considering that there are teachers out there who prey on young children. Other than that slight concern, I felt the book was completely fantastic and well paced. It'll definitely be a hit when it comes out!
Verdict: I smell a TV series in the making!
Disclaimer: I received this book from Rockstar Tours and The Parliament House. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2018
Genre: Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, mature scenes)
Pages: 289
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Despite being an art history student, Summer isn’t thrilled to be stuck with her archeologist family all summer in Greece. While the rest of her college friends are posting a million selfies by the pool together, Summer is stuck alone, trying to entertain herself alone in a place where she doesn’t even speak the language.
Upon her arrival to Greece, strange dreams and even stranger shadows seem to haunt Summer, leaving her to ponder the meaning of pomegranate seeds and twisted, darkened faces.
Suddenly, her stay abroad leads to tragic twists, leaving Summer in the arms of a dark stranger, who claims to be the god, Hades, whom she feels like she knows from another life. In a whirlwind through the busy streets of Athens, Summer is seduced to the lowest point of Greece where Hades’ lair awaits…the Underworld. Determined to find out who she is and where she belongs in an age-old myth, Summer joins Hades to discover that the secrets about her past life are beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
For the most part I thought this was a good book. I love the Hades and Persephone retelling aspect and I feel that there’s not enough books out about this. I felt that for the most part the author did well with the retelling and it kept me intrigued throughout the book. The concept of this book is entirely fascinating, I really like the flashbacks and how the story is told, and I felt that the romance was very realistic.
However, I do think that the characters weren’t as developed as I would have liked them to be. I would have liked for more of the different characters we get to see throughout the book and I would have liked for the pacing to be a bit slower.
Verdict: I solid romance for the Greek loving kind.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 2nd, 2018
Genre: Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, mature scenes)
Pages: 289
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Despite being an art history student, Summer isn’t thrilled to be stuck with her archeologist family all summer in Greece. While the rest of her college friends are posting a million selfies by the pool together, Summer is stuck alone, trying to entertain herself alone in a place where she doesn’t even speak the language.
Upon her arrival to Greece, strange dreams and even stranger shadows seem to haunt Summer, leaving her to ponder the meaning of pomegranate seeds and twisted, darkened faces.
Suddenly, her stay abroad leads to tragic twists, leaving Summer in the arms of a dark stranger, who claims to be the god, Hades, whom she feels like she knows from another life. In a whirlwind through the busy streets of Athens, Summer is seduced to the lowest point of Greece where Hades’ lair awaits…the Underworld. Determined to find out who she is and where she belongs in an age-old myth, Summer joins Hades to discover that the secrets about her past life are beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
For the most part I thought this was a good book. I love the Hades and Persephone retelling aspect and I feel that there’s not enough books out about this. I felt that for the most part the author did well with the retelling and it kept me intrigued throughout the book. The concept of this book is entirely fascinating, I really like the flashbacks and how the story is told, and I felt that the romance was very realistic.
However, I do think that the characters weren’t as developed as I would have liked them to be. I would have liked for more of the different characters we get to see throughout the book and I would have liked for the pacing to be a bit slower.
Verdict: I solid romance for the Greek loving kind.
Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own! Yay!
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: February 28th, 2017
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, police brutality, mention of drugs, gun violence, rioting, the feeling that we’re not doing enough for kids, the anger of seeing an innocent cut down by someone who’s supposed to be protecting people not killing people, unfair and unjust death, racial profiling, racist attitudes and racism, acceptance, love, and oh my god just read this book ASAP)
Pages: 438
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: "What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?"
Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.
Holy shit what can I say about this book that hasn’t been said? From page one I knew that I would love this book and I’ve been purposely avoiding reviews so as to not taint my opinion of it. But for the THUG-athon hosted by @ninetieslibrary I had to read it (also because the movie is coming out on October 19th) and I just instantly fell in love. Starr is a character that you feel like could and would be your best friend. She has such honesty in how she speaks and she’s so realistic. At times when I was sobbing in this book I just wanted to hold Starr. I loved how diverse the characters were and how developed each of them were. The writing was powerful and you can tell Angie Thomas has a wonderful gift with words.
The only thing I wish the book had in it was more of a conclusion, but it was realistic in how the book ended. Things weren’t perfect, but they were okay for the time and that’s how life is.
Verdict: Go. Read. This. Book. Today.
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: February 28th, 2017
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, police brutality, mention of drugs, gun violence, rioting, the feeling that we’re not doing enough for kids, the anger of seeing an innocent cut down by someone who’s supposed to be protecting people not killing people, unfair and unjust death, racial profiling, racist attitudes and racism, acceptance, love, and oh my god just read this book ASAP)
Pages: 438
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: "What's the point of having a voice if you're gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn't be?"
Sixteen-year-old Starr lives in two worlds: the poor neighbourhood where she was born and raised and her posh high school in the suburbs. The uneasy balance between them is shattered when Starr is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. Now what Starr says could destroy her community. It could also get her killed.
Holy shit what can I say about this book that hasn’t been said? From page one I knew that I would love this book and I’ve been purposely avoiding reviews so as to not taint my opinion of it. But for the THUG-athon hosted by @ninetieslibrary I had to read it (also because the movie is coming out on October 19th) and I just instantly fell in love. Starr is a character that you feel like could and would be your best friend. She has such honesty in how she speaks and she’s so realistic. At times when I was sobbing in this book I just wanted to hold Starr. I loved how diverse the characters were and how developed each of them were. The writing was powerful and you can tell Angie Thomas has a wonderful gift with words.
The only thing I wish the book had in it was more of a conclusion, but it was realistic in how the book ended. Things weren’t perfect, but they were okay for the time and that’s how life is.
Verdict: Go. Read. This. Book. Today.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Razorbill/Penguin! Thanks! All opinions are my own!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 31st, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, slight gore, sin)
Pages: 298
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts – lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt.
Taj is the most talented of the aki, young sin-eaters indentured by the mages to slay the sin-beasts. But Taj’s livelihood comes at a terrible cost. When he kills a sin-beast, a tattoo of the beast appears on his skin while the guilt of committing the sin appears on his mind. Most aki are driven mad by the process, but 17-year-old Taj is cocky and desperate to provide for his family.
When Taj is called to eat a sin of a royal, he’s suddenly thrust into the center of a dark conspiracy to destroy Kos. Now Taj must fight to save the princess that he loves – and his own life.
A gritty Nigerian-influenced fantasy.
I had seen this cover in like every book store and I’ve always been so intrigued by it. I will say that the cover very accurately matches the tone and the happenings of the book. The character development in this book is very well done and the plot is interesting throughout the book. I felt like this book was really well written and I think the whole plot was a very interesting concept.
However, I did feel that there were a lot of characters in this book, some of them with similar names, which made it hard for this reader to keep them all straight in her head. I also feel that this book was a tad too slow paced for me.
Verdict: Overall, a very well written and solid read! Definitely recommend.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 31st, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, slight gore, sin)
Pages: 298
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the walled city of Kos, corrupt mages can magically call forth sin from a sinner in the form of sin-beasts – lethal creatures spawned from feelings of guilt.
Taj is the most talented of the aki, young sin-eaters indentured by the mages to slay the sin-beasts. But Taj’s livelihood comes at a terrible cost. When he kills a sin-beast, a tattoo of the beast appears on his skin while the guilt of committing the sin appears on his mind. Most aki are driven mad by the process, but 17-year-old Taj is cocky and desperate to provide for his family.
When Taj is called to eat a sin of a royal, he’s suddenly thrust into the center of a dark conspiracy to destroy Kos. Now Taj must fight to save the princess that he loves – and his own life.
A gritty Nigerian-influenced fantasy.
I had seen this cover in like every book store and I’ve always been so intrigued by it. I will say that the cover very accurately matches the tone and the happenings of the book. The character development in this book is very well done and the plot is interesting throughout the book. I felt like this book was really well written and I think the whole plot was a very interesting concept.
However, I did feel that there were a lot of characters in this book, some of them with similar names, which made it hard for this reader to keep them all straight in her head. I also feel that this book was a tad too slow paced for me.
Verdict: Overall, a very well written and solid read! Definitely recommend.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Razorbill/Penguin. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 16th, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, romance, slight mature scenes, sins, and slight gore)
Pages: 336
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Taj is headed west, but the consequences of leaving Kos behind confront him at every turn. Innocent civilians flee to refugee camps as Karima's dark magic continues to descend on the city. Taj must return, but first he needs a plan.
With Arzu's help, Taj and Aliya make it to the village of her ancestors, home of the tastahlik—sin-eaters with Taj's same ability to both battle and call forth sins. As Taj comes to terms with his new magic, he realizes there are two very different groups of tastahlik—one using their powers for good, the other for more selfish ends.
Aliya is struggling with her own unique capabilities. She's immersed in her work to uncover the secret to Karima's magic, but her health begins to mysteriously deteriorate. With the help of a local western mage, Aliya uncovers her true destiny—a future she's not sure she wants.
As Taj and Aliya explore their feelings for each other and Arzu connects with her homeland, the local westerners begin to question Taj's true identity. Karima is on his heels, sending dark warnings to the little village where he's hiding. Taj will have to go back and face her before she sends her mostly deadly weapon—Taj's former best friend, Bo.
I felt like for a sequel this book was well done. The writing was still as strong as it was in the first book and the plot was so interesting. I liked the relationships that were explored in this book and I liked how the characters are more developed in this book. I feel that this was a solid book and I would love to see more of this series.
However, I do feel that the ending was very rushed and it felt that there were things that were left unsaid. Some of the parts of this book could have used a bit more fleshing out. I also feel that this book had some continuality issues. It felt that there were some parts of this book that didn’t seem to line up with the first book.
Verdict: Overall, I think this is a solid read and the series is fantastic despite my nitpicking. Definitely pick up book 1 and 2 this Halloween season!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 16th, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, romance, slight mature scenes, sins, and slight gore)
Pages: 336
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Taj is headed west, but the consequences of leaving Kos behind confront him at every turn. Innocent civilians flee to refugee camps as Karima's dark magic continues to descend on the city. Taj must return, but first he needs a plan.
With Arzu's help, Taj and Aliya make it to the village of her ancestors, home of the tastahlik—sin-eaters with Taj's same ability to both battle and call forth sins. As Taj comes to terms with his new magic, he realizes there are two very different groups of tastahlik—one using their powers for good, the other for more selfish ends.
Aliya is struggling with her own unique capabilities. She's immersed in her work to uncover the secret to Karima's magic, but her health begins to mysteriously deteriorate. With the help of a local western mage, Aliya uncovers her true destiny—a future she's not sure she wants.
As Taj and Aliya explore their feelings for each other and Arzu connects with her homeland, the local westerners begin to question Taj's true identity. Karima is on his heels, sending dark warnings to the little village where he's hiding. Taj will have to go back and face her before she sends her mostly deadly weapon—Taj's former best friend, Bo.
I felt like for a sequel this book was well done. The writing was still as strong as it was in the first book and the plot was so interesting. I liked the relationships that were explored in this book and I liked how the characters are more developed in this book. I feel that this was a solid book and I would love to see more of this series.
However, I do feel that the ending was very rushed and it felt that there were things that were left unsaid. Some of the parts of this book could have used a bit more fleshing out. I also feel that this book had some continuality issues. It felt that there were some parts of this book that didn’t seem to line up with the first book.
Verdict: Overall, I think this is a solid read and the series is fantastic despite my nitpicking. Definitely pick up book 1 and 2 this Halloween season!
Disclaimer: I got this book on my own! Yay!
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 30th, 2017
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (mentions of sex, mature scenes, violence, gore, death, suicide, attempted suicide, cyberbullying, mentions of drugs, a slightly abusive relationship, and mentions of school shootings)
Pages: 361
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.
Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.
Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose?
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.
From the first page I was hooked and really intrigued by this story. I felt that this might be an easily predictable book, but it kept me guessing from page one to page 361. Karen McManus not only has a talent for writing, but also a talent for thrilling and unguessable mysteries. The voice that she uses with each of the kids are unique and compelling as well. This book also perfectly captures the trials and tribulations of high school and adolescence and it doesn’t shy away from tough topics. Other than that, the characters are well developed and the pacing is spot on.
However, I do feel like we could have got more backstories from the suspects families and we could have had a more conclusive resolution with Cooper and Addy. But the open-ended ending feels that the author left room for there to be more books set in this universe, so maybe we’ll get a resolution one day.
Verdict: A thriller that will scare you this Halloween season!
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 30th, 2017
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (mentions of sex, mature scenes, violence, gore, death, suicide, attempted suicide, cyberbullying, mentions of drugs, a slightly abusive relationship, and mentions of school shootings)
Pages: 361
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.
Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.
Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose?
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.
From the first page I was hooked and really intrigued by this story. I felt that this might be an easily predictable book, but it kept me guessing from page one to page 361. Karen McManus not only has a talent for writing, but also a talent for thrilling and unguessable mysteries. The voice that she uses with each of the kids are unique and compelling as well. This book also perfectly captures the trials and tribulations of high school and adolescence and it doesn’t shy away from tough topics. Other than that, the characters are well developed and the pacing is spot on.
However, I do feel like we could have got more backstories from the suspects families and we could have had a more conclusive resolution with Cooper and Addy. But the open-ended ending feels that the author left room for there to be more books set in this universe, so maybe we’ll get a resolution one day.
Verdict: A thriller that will scare you this Halloween season!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Rockstar Tours and The Parliament House. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 9th, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (mature scenes, slight gore, violence, curses, evillllll)
Pages: 377
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Twin Sisters: one destined to rule, one cursed to destroy.
Some say blood is thicker than water. But for twin sisters, Adie and Aura, their connection runs even deeper than blood.
After investigating a surprise attack carried out by dark souls controlled by the Wicked Willow, an evil residing in a neighboring region, Aura uncovers a family secret: she is the fulfillment of a curse placed upon her family centuries ago.
While Aura is destined to destroy their planet, Thindoral, Adie is fated to follow in their mother’s footsteps and become Ruler, but even Adie’s path comes with revelations. Dangerous premonitions plague her dreams, all depicting Thindoral’s demise at the hand of her sister.
As darkness takes control of her mind, Aura must determine whether defying fate and time is the choice that will seal her destruction, or if self-sacrifice will save all she holds dear. Meanwhile, Adie is faced with an impossible decision: save her sister, or protect their world?
I felt like this was a very solid and intriguing book. The plot was intriguing and the world building was amazing. I felt like the characters were pretty well developed and they had interesting backstories. I feel that I’m a sucker for sibling stories with curses and this book doesn’t disappoint in that department.
However, I do feel that this book had something missing. The writing didn’t let the reader see the events, but rather just showed us everything that was happening, and the book’s pacing was lacking. It was jarring and uneven in pace. I didn’t like the insta love in this book and for all of its good, I felt that the book could have been better in these areas.
Verdict: Good solid read for the most part.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 9th, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (mature scenes, slight gore, violence, curses, evillllll)
Pages: 377
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Twin Sisters: one destined to rule, one cursed to destroy.
Some say blood is thicker than water. But for twin sisters, Adie and Aura, their connection runs even deeper than blood.
After investigating a surprise attack carried out by dark souls controlled by the Wicked Willow, an evil residing in a neighboring region, Aura uncovers a family secret: she is the fulfillment of a curse placed upon her family centuries ago.
While Aura is destined to destroy their planet, Thindoral, Adie is fated to follow in their mother’s footsteps and become Ruler, but even Adie’s path comes with revelations. Dangerous premonitions plague her dreams, all depicting Thindoral’s demise at the hand of her sister.
As darkness takes control of her mind, Aura must determine whether defying fate and time is the choice that will seal her destruction, or if self-sacrifice will save all she holds dear. Meanwhile, Adie is faced with an impossible decision: save her sister, or protect their world?
I felt like this was a very solid and intriguing book. The plot was intriguing and the world building was amazing. I felt like the characters were pretty well developed and they had interesting backstories. I feel that I’m a sucker for sibling stories with curses and this book doesn’t disappoint in that department.
However, I do feel that this book had something missing. The writing didn’t let the reader see the events, but rather just showed us everything that was happening, and the book’s pacing was lacking. It was jarring and uneven in pace. I didn’t like the insta love in this book and for all of its good, I felt that the book could have been better in these areas.
Verdict: Good solid read for the most part.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Updated Review:
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author, but I then bought my own copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Bleeding Misery
Author: N.M. Lambert
Book Series: Threatening Souls Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: paranormal, horror, mystery, thriller
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
Genre: Paranormal Horror (should be MG due to character’s ages but this is not a MG book)
Recommended Age: 18+ (Attempted Sexual Assault, Gore, Violence, Anxiety, Panic attacks, Self harm, Attempted suicide, Emotional abuse, Slavery, School Violence, Death, Torture, Drug use, Parent death, Grief)
Explanation of CWs: Attempted sexual assault is mentioned in this book in reference to the first book. The book mentions slavery in relation to two girls that a character thinks she owns because she’s the popular girl at school. The book mentions a gun being brought to a school. There is gore and violence and death in this book. The book shows some anxiety moments and mentions a panic attack. There is self-harm mentioned and an attempted suicide via sacrifice. There is emotional abuse shown. There is torture in this book shown. There is drug use shown in the book. There is parent death mentioned and grief is discussed.
Publisher: Green Tree Press
Pages: 466
Synopsis: A world of light overpowers a world of darkness.
The ICW—it stands for the International Clique Wars. It is being hosted by Jason Speirs this year, and Eternal Division has been accepted to participate.
Rebekah Jensen had returned to Marywood after just surviving the curse of Roseway along with Holly, her witchy best friend. Except for her and a few others, everyone else's memory of Roseway had been wiped, convincing her that she can now live a normal life. But Holly informs her that things are far from being over and that she will not only be hunted by Rebecca Johnson, the name of her supposed true soul, but by Henri Anderson as well.
Rebekah's situation worsens when the gruesome bodies of a few clique participants are found. To make matters worse, the deaths are happening the same way as the many deaths in Mandy's self-published novel, Bleeding Misery. With the threat of the Bewitched lurking within the ICW halls, Rebekah starts to fear that the events in Mandy's horror novel are becoming reality.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book much more than the first book. It was way more cohesive and the plot was more centralized in this one. The characters were better written and they sounded more middle grade in this one. They were also further developed. The book is also a lot more easier to get through and the plot is well done.
However, I did have some issues with the book. The book refers to Rebekah’s father by their first name, which I thought was a weird choice considering that POV was kind of from her viewpoint and a middle grader wouldn’t normally do that, but that’s mainly an example of how some of the writing in this book is a little wonky like that. The book doesn’t have anything in the beginning that would help the reader with a sum up of what happened in the previous book. Likening slavery to internship/being apart of a clique is a bit weird to me and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. The plot wanes a bit throughout the book and the magic system is still not explained fully. Also, the parameters of the kids in this book don’t make sense because they’re off in another country by themselves without parental guidance.
Verdict: Overall, it was good.
Old Review:
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 31st, 2017
Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, mature scenes)
Pages: 466
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A world of light overpowers a world of darkness.
The ICW—it stands for the International Clique Wars. It is being hosted by Jason Speirs this year, and Eternal Division has been accepted to participate.
Rebekah Jensen had returned to Marywood after just surviving the curse of Roseway along with Holly, her witchy best friend. Except for her and a few others, everyone else's memory of Roseway had been wiped, convincing her that she can now live a normal life. But Holly informs her that things are far from being over and that she will not only be hunted by Rebecca Johnson, the name of her supposed true soul, but by Henri Anderson as well.
Rebekah's situation worsens when the gruesome bodies of a few clique participants are found. To make matters worse, the deaths are happening the same way as the many deaths in Mandy's self-published novel, Bleeding Misery. With the threat of the Bewitched lurking within the ICW halls, Rebekah starts to fear that the events in Mandy's horror novel are becoming reality.
I feel that for the most part this is a pretty good book. The plot is intriguing and the characters are fairly well developed. This continues from the first book, but feels almost like a standalone as well. This book was unique. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in which events are predicted in a book that was already written… and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything about clique wars… but the book is interesting in those ways.
However, I did have some qualms about the book. I felt that while the characters were well developed that they didn’t sound like how middle graders are supposed to sound. They either sounded like high schoolers or like old people. There was no difference in their voices so they blended together. The pacing was off. The book goes by fast for the most part, but then it slows down significantly in some parts, which made my interest waiver throughout the book. The writing, while well done, was also a bit off I think. I didn’t find the concept of “clique wars” to be realistic or plausible. It was kind of odd how that was used in the book and it almost makes the book sound like a cute middle grade contemporary read at first. It’s just really out of place in this spooky book.
Verdict: Overall, I liked it but there’s always room for improvement.
Challenge Score: 21.5
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author, but I then bought my own copy. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Bleeding Misery
Author: N.M. Lambert
Book Series: Threatening Souls Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: paranormal, horror, mystery, thriller
Publication Date: October 5, 2021
Genre: Paranormal Horror (should be MG due to character’s ages but this is not a MG book)
Recommended Age: 18+ (Attempted Sexual Assault, Gore, Violence, Anxiety, Panic attacks, Self harm, Attempted suicide, Emotional abuse, Slavery, School Violence, Death, Torture, Drug use, Parent death, Grief)
Explanation of CWs: Attempted sexual assault is mentioned in this book in reference to the first book. The book mentions slavery in relation to two girls that a character thinks she owns because she’s the popular girl at school. The book mentions a gun being brought to a school. There is gore and violence and death in this book. The book shows some anxiety moments and mentions a panic attack. There is self-harm mentioned and an attempted suicide via sacrifice. There is emotional abuse shown. There is torture in this book shown. There is drug use shown in the book. There is parent death mentioned and grief is discussed.
Publisher: Green Tree Press
Pages: 466
Synopsis: A world of light overpowers a world of darkness.
The ICW—it stands for the International Clique Wars. It is being hosted by Jason Speirs this year, and Eternal Division has been accepted to participate.
Rebekah Jensen had returned to Marywood after just surviving the curse of Roseway along with Holly, her witchy best friend. Except for her and a few others, everyone else's memory of Roseway had been wiped, convincing her that she can now live a normal life. But Holly informs her that things are far from being over and that she will not only be hunted by Rebecca Johnson, the name of her supposed true soul, but by Henri Anderson as well.
Rebekah's situation worsens when the gruesome bodies of a few clique participants are found. To make matters worse, the deaths are happening the same way as the many deaths in Mandy's self-published novel, Bleeding Misery. With the threat of the Bewitched lurking within the ICW halls, Rebekah starts to fear that the events in Mandy's horror novel are becoming reality.
Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book much more than the first book. It was way more cohesive and the plot was more centralized in this one. The characters were better written and they sounded more middle grade in this one. They were also further developed. The book is also a lot more easier to get through and the plot is well done.
However, I did have some issues with the book. The book refers to Rebekah’s father by their first name, which I thought was a weird choice considering that POV was kind of from her viewpoint and a middle grader wouldn’t normally do that, but that’s mainly an example of how some of the writing in this book is a little wonky like that. The book doesn’t have anything in the beginning that would help the reader with a sum up of what happened in the previous book. Likening slavery to internship/being apart of a clique is a bit weird to me and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. The plot wanes a bit throughout the book and the magic system is still not explained fully. Also, the parameters of the kids in this book don’t make sense because they’re off in another country by themselves without parental guidance.
Verdict: Overall, it was good.
Old Review:
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: October 31st, 2017
Genre: YA Paranormal/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, mature scenes)
Pages: 466
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A world of light overpowers a world of darkness.
The ICW—it stands for the International Clique Wars. It is being hosted by Jason Speirs this year, and Eternal Division has been accepted to participate.
Rebekah Jensen had returned to Marywood after just surviving the curse of Roseway along with Holly, her witchy best friend. Except for her and a few others, everyone else's memory of Roseway had been wiped, convincing her that she can now live a normal life. But Holly informs her that things are far from being over and that she will not only be hunted by Rebecca Johnson, the name of her supposed true soul, but by Henri Anderson as well.
Rebekah's situation worsens when the gruesome bodies of a few clique participants are found. To make matters worse, the deaths are happening the same way as the many deaths in Mandy's self-published novel, Bleeding Misery. With the threat of the Bewitched lurking within the ICW halls, Rebekah starts to fear that the events in Mandy's horror novel are becoming reality.
I feel that for the most part this is a pretty good book. The plot is intriguing and the characters are fairly well developed. This continues from the first book, but feels almost like a standalone as well. This book was unique. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in which events are predicted in a book that was already written… and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything about clique wars… but the book is interesting in those ways.
However, I did have some qualms about the book. I felt that while the characters were well developed that they didn’t sound like how middle graders are supposed to sound. They either sounded like high schoolers or like old people. There was no difference in their voices so they blended together. The pacing was off. The book goes by fast for the most part, but then it slows down significantly in some parts, which made my interest waiver throughout the book. The writing, while well done, was also a bit off I think. I didn’t find the concept of “clique wars” to be realistic or plausible. It was kind of odd how that was used in the book and it almost makes the book sound like a cute middle grade contemporary read at first. It’s just really out of place in this spooky book.
Verdict: Overall, I liked it but there’s always room for improvement.
Challenge Score: 21.5
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Little Brown Young Readers and The Novl. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 16th, 2018
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 14+ (hacking, the digital apocalypse, some language, some romance)
Pages: 403
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Believing they have been recruited by the CIA, six teen hackers arrive in LA for a hacking aptitude test with the promise of a college scholarship and a job with the CIA after graduation. But one of the teens, Owen, walks out, refusing to participate. The other five decide to stay and complete the tests. When they finish, they leave feeling equally accomplished and unnerved.
Then silence-until they receive a text from Owen: You've been played. He's uncovered evidence that the hackers created "Phantom Wheel," the most devastating virus ever made. Jacento, the corporation behind it all, plans to use this virus to gain unprecedented access to personal data. And that's just the beginning of the devastation. Can the teen hackers stop Phantom Wheel-and protect their own secrets from being revealed-before it's too late?
Ever since being with my husband I’ve developed a fascination with hacker novels. I love asking Ethan if stuff in the books are possible or not and what his opinions on things are and this book wasn’t any different. For the most part, I enjoyed the book. I loved the dynamic between the cast of characters, I loved how developed each of the characters were, and I felt that the plot was intriguing enough to keep me interested throughout the book. I felt that the pacing was level throughout the book as well.
The only things that concern me about this book are the time jumps. At times they seem uneven and awkward. The way the kids talk about different computer things and hacking items can be confusing to people who aren’t into that or who haven’t read books like this before. There’s no explanation to the stuff they talk about or do. There are also things the kids do that don’t have an explanation to them and the way their written can be confusing. For example, at one point the kids break into a building with a plan to gather something (trying to not be spoilery). The heist goes off like how it would in a movie, but there’s no prior explanation to the readers, which is a bit confusing at first. It’s like you’re an outsider looking in throughout this book and at times it works, but sometimes it really doesn’t.
Verdict: A excellent hacker novel that makes you want to binge.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 16th, 2018
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 14+ (hacking, the digital apocalypse, some language, some romance)
Pages: 403
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Believing they have been recruited by the CIA, six teen hackers arrive in LA for a hacking aptitude test with the promise of a college scholarship and a job with the CIA after graduation. But one of the teens, Owen, walks out, refusing to participate. The other five decide to stay and complete the tests. When they finish, they leave feeling equally accomplished and unnerved.
Then silence-until they receive a text from Owen: You've been played. He's uncovered evidence that the hackers created "Phantom Wheel," the most devastating virus ever made. Jacento, the corporation behind it all, plans to use this virus to gain unprecedented access to personal data. And that's just the beginning of the devastation. Can the teen hackers stop Phantom Wheel-and protect their own secrets from being revealed-before it's too late?
Ever since being with my husband I’ve developed a fascination with hacker novels. I love asking Ethan if stuff in the books are possible or not and what his opinions on things are and this book wasn’t any different. For the most part, I enjoyed the book. I loved the dynamic between the cast of characters, I loved how developed each of the characters were, and I felt that the plot was intriguing enough to keep me interested throughout the book. I felt that the pacing was level throughout the book as well.
The only things that concern me about this book are the time jumps. At times they seem uneven and awkward. The way the kids talk about different computer things and hacking items can be confusing to people who aren’t into that or who haven’t read books like this before. There’s no explanation to the stuff they talk about or do. There are also things the kids do that don’t have an explanation to them and the way their written can be confusing. For example, at one point the kids break into a building with a plan to gather something (trying to not be spoilery). The heist goes off like how it would in a movie, but there’s no prior explanation to the readers, which is a bit confusing at first. It’s like you’re an outsider looking in throughout this book and at times it works, but sometimes it really doesn’t.
Verdict: A excellent hacker novel that makes you want to binge.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Book Publicity Services and the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: April 26th, 2018
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 15+ (suspense, violence, slight gore, kidnappings)
Pages: 327
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the mid 90s, Elizabeth Booth is a young British college student studying Arabic at Durham University. With some travel and work already under her belt, she excels at her studies and is sent to Damascus to immerse herself in the language. Taken aback by the generosity and kindness of the people there, she easy slips into a life in the ancient city. She has friends, her studies, and even a handsome boyfriend. But things aren't always what they seem. Soon, in a world where mistrust and disloyalty are commonplace, Elizabeth finds herself navigating a web of lies, betrayals, and even murder involving MI6, deadly terrorist factions, and the shadowy Syrian secret police.
I feel like this book is really well written and you can tell that the author has a knack for painting beautiful pictures. The way she writes the locations makes me want to go visit them and you can see she really has a love for this land. I felt for the most part this book was intriguing.
However, the way the book is wrote is really confusing. We have an opening scene from one point in time and then we go back in time to a different time. The book is very unevenly paced and the time jumps are weird. The first 200sih pages are really slow and methodical while the rest of the book is super fast paced and leaves you breathless. I felt that the relationship between the daughter and the father was concerning. The father was said to have called the girl a slut for kissing her love interest and it’s never really addressed again and at the end she pretty much longs for him. Nothing was really resolved in that regard and I felt uneasy about their relationship. I also felt uneasy about the whole family dynamic and I felt that was why the character is so naïve, but I also feel that she maybe shouldn’t have been that naïve in so many different areas. The book also didn’t feel that resolved at the end.
Verdict: A decent book with beautiful descriptions.
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: April 26th, 2018
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 15+ (suspense, violence, slight gore, kidnappings)
Pages: 327
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the mid 90s, Elizabeth Booth is a young British college student studying Arabic at Durham University. With some travel and work already under her belt, she excels at her studies and is sent to Damascus to immerse herself in the language. Taken aback by the generosity and kindness of the people there, she easy slips into a life in the ancient city. She has friends, her studies, and even a handsome boyfriend. But things aren't always what they seem. Soon, in a world where mistrust and disloyalty are commonplace, Elizabeth finds herself navigating a web of lies, betrayals, and even murder involving MI6, deadly terrorist factions, and the shadowy Syrian secret police.
I feel like this book is really well written and you can tell that the author has a knack for painting beautiful pictures. The way she writes the locations makes me want to go visit them and you can see she really has a love for this land. I felt for the most part this book was intriguing.
However, the way the book is wrote is really confusing. We have an opening scene from one point in time and then we go back in time to a different time. The book is very unevenly paced and the time jumps are weird. The first 200sih pages are really slow and methodical while the rest of the book is super fast paced and leaves you breathless. I felt that the relationship between the daughter and the father was concerning. The father was said to have called the girl a slut for kissing her love interest and it’s never really addressed again and at the end she pretty much longs for him. Nothing was really resolved in that regard and I felt uneasy about their relationship. I also felt uneasy about the whole family dynamic and I felt that was why the character is so naïve, but I also feel that she maybe shouldn’t have been that naïve in so many different areas. The book also didn’t feel that resolved at the end.
Verdict: A decent book with beautiful descriptions.