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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (strong language, mature scenes, and trigger warnings for depression.)
I received a free copy of this book from KidLitExchange. All opinions are my own. Want to join? Check them out on their new website!
Reggie isn’t really a romantic: she’s been hurt too often, and doesn’t let people in as a rule. Plus, when you’re dealing with the Three Stages of Depression, it’s hard to feel warm and fuzzy. When Reggie meets Snake, though, he doesn’t give her much of a choice. Snake has a neck tattoo, a Twizzler habit, and a fair share of arrogance, but he’s funny, charming, and interested in Reggie.
Snake also has an ex-girlfriend who's seven months pregnant. Good thing Reggie isn’t a romantic.
Definitions of Indefinable Things follows three teens as they struggle to comprehend love, friendship, and depression—and realize one definition doesn’t always
cover it. – Amazon.com
I have never had a book that I received for free that I’ve pressed the “Add To My Wishlist” button on so fast! From the very beginning this book grabs you by your t-shirt collar and forces you to listen to it. It’s a beautiful book, but more of an open letter, to readers about what true depression and mental illness looks like. I thought the character development was amazingly well done and the plot developed amazingly well. The pacing wasn’t too fast or too slow, and flowed very well. The writing also flows very nicely and the writing is very easy to understand. For a book that seeks to be different than other contemporaries out there, it certainly does so.
The only complaint I have is a spoiler in the book. I will say that I do not like how the author wrote that scene and I don’t like how that scene was handled (and how that character was wrote, but hey she was very realistic to how some people feel about mental illness sadly enough). I also was not a big fan of the twist and the appearance of one of my most hated clichés in the YA genre, I did like how that was handled and how it was so strikingly different then other YA novels in that regard. Yes I realize how much this paragraph does not make sense, but I do NOT want to spoil this novel for you!
Verdict: I thought this book was amazingly well done and was so inspiring to someone who has struggled with depression and could be equally or more for younger readers who have went or are going through what Reggie is. The book also was very realistic and while some of the moments in the book might be too mature for younger readers, it deserves to be read. I also want to praise this book for its inclusion of diverse LGBT characters and in different families. I don’t often read books which have wide variety in what a family is and to read one that has different examples of how families can look like is very refreshing and real. I can’t tell you enough to read this book, so I’ll do it again: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (strong language, mature scenes, and trigger warnings for depression.)
I received a free copy of this book from KidLitExchange. All opinions are my own. Want to join? Check them out on their new website!
Reggie isn’t really a romantic: she’s been hurt too often, and doesn’t let people in as a rule. Plus, when you’re dealing with the Three Stages of Depression, it’s hard to feel warm and fuzzy. When Reggie meets Snake, though, he doesn’t give her much of a choice. Snake has a neck tattoo, a Twizzler habit, and a fair share of arrogance, but he’s funny, charming, and interested in Reggie.
Snake also has an ex-girlfriend who's seven months pregnant. Good thing Reggie isn’t a romantic.
Definitions of Indefinable Things follows three teens as they struggle to comprehend love, friendship, and depression—and realize one definition doesn’t always
cover it. – Amazon.com
I have never had a book that I received for free that I’ve pressed the “Add To My Wishlist” button on so fast! From the very beginning this book grabs you by your t-shirt collar and forces you to listen to it. It’s a beautiful book, but more of an open letter, to readers about what true depression and mental illness looks like. I thought the character development was amazingly well done and the plot developed amazingly well. The pacing wasn’t too fast or too slow, and flowed very well. The writing also flows very nicely and the writing is very easy to understand. For a book that seeks to be different than other contemporaries out there, it certainly does so.
The only complaint I have is a spoiler in the book. I will say that I do not like how the author wrote that scene and I don’t like how that scene was handled (and how that character was wrote, but hey she was very realistic to how some people feel about mental illness sadly enough). I also was not a big fan of the twist and the appearance of one of my most hated clichés in the YA genre, I did like how that was handled and how it was so strikingly different then other YA novels in that regard. Yes I realize how much this paragraph does not make sense, but I do NOT want to spoil this novel for you!
Verdict: I thought this book was amazingly well done and was so inspiring to someone who has struggled with depression and could be equally or more for younger readers who have went or are going through what Reggie is. The book also was very realistic and while some of the moments in the book might be too mature for younger readers, it deserves to be read. I also want to praise this book for its inclusion of diverse LGBT characters and in different families. I don’t often read books which have wide variety in what a family is and to read one that has different examples of how families can look like is very refreshing and real. I can’t tell you enough to read this book, so I’ll do it again: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Paranormal
Recommended Age: 14+ (some strong language, some mature topics but just briefly mentioned)
I received a free copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own. Thanks Black Chateau and Sean Patrick Traver!
Christabel is a Victorian phantom with a tragic past, attached to a piece of antique mourning jewelry.
Ta-senet-net-hor (her name means 'Sister of Neith and Horus') is a three-thousand-year-old Egyptian, attached to a mummy on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Neither of them knows another ghost who's anything more than an emotional echo, nor do they understand why they linger on when others fade away. They meet up at a restaurant near the museum now and then, to speculate about the nature of their afterlife and pretend to have a few drinks.
Until the day Derren Gray arrives in their midst. The brand-new ghost of an elderly architect provides them with answers they've sought for centuries, but the things they learn mean the afterlife won't ever be the same, not for any of them.
Join the WRAITH LADIES WHO LUNCH as they address eternal questions both large and small with surreal humor, historical depth, and a hint of mystical intrigue. – Amazon.com
Do you ever feel that you’re being watched at a museum? Well, you might just be! In this book we are introduced to three ghosts who are able to roam the Earth long after their death due to their attachment to this world. I thought the story was very unique. I thought it would be more like Night at the Museum, but I was very surprised by how unique it actually was. I thought the character development was very well done and the book was very well written.
I did think that the book’s plot was a bit lost in the book. I also thought that the ending didn’t provide a lot of closure for my personal tastes. While the book was a very exciting read, I just felt that the book left me with more questions than answers.
Verdict: While I did feel like I didn’t get a proper ending, I did enjoy the book overall and I loved how unique it was. I hope that there is a continuation to this book because I feel like there could be some room for a sequel and I feel like ours characters tales are not done yet. This book would be excellent for any history buff and anyone who wants a quick read that would get them out of a slump.
Genre: Paranormal
Recommended Age: 14+ (some strong language, some mature topics but just briefly mentioned)
I received a free copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own. Thanks Black Chateau and Sean Patrick Traver!
Christabel is a Victorian phantom with a tragic past, attached to a piece of antique mourning jewelry.
Ta-senet-net-hor (her name means 'Sister of Neith and Horus') is a three-thousand-year-old Egyptian, attached to a mummy on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Neither of them knows another ghost who's anything more than an emotional echo, nor do they understand why they linger on when others fade away. They meet up at a restaurant near the museum now and then, to speculate about the nature of their afterlife and pretend to have a few drinks.
Until the day Derren Gray arrives in their midst. The brand-new ghost of an elderly architect provides them with answers they've sought for centuries, but the things they learn mean the afterlife won't ever be the same, not for any of them.
Join the WRAITH LADIES WHO LUNCH as they address eternal questions both large and small with surreal humor, historical depth, and a hint of mystical intrigue. – Amazon.com
Do you ever feel that you’re being watched at a museum? Well, you might just be! In this book we are introduced to three ghosts who are able to roam the Earth long after their death due to their attachment to this world. I thought the story was very unique. I thought it would be more like Night at the Museum, but I was very surprised by how unique it actually was. I thought the character development was very well done and the book was very well written.
I did think that the book’s plot was a bit lost in the book. I also thought that the ending didn’t provide a lot of closure for my personal tastes. While the book was a very exciting read, I just felt that the book left me with more questions than answers.
Verdict: While I did feel like I didn’t get a proper ending, I did enjoy the book overall and I loved how unique it was. I hope that there is a continuation to this book because I feel like there could be some room for a sequel and I feel like ours characters tales are not done yet. This book would be excellent for any history buff and anyone who wants a quick read that would get them out of a slump.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (some violence and some mature scenes, trigger warning for one particular scene that seemed a bit like the main character was going to be raped. It was probably just my inference of that scene, but just be safe and know your limits if you’re upset by that).
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any manner. Thanks OfTomes Publishing for the review copy!
Courage comes from a shadowed place in our hearts; a blurred line that straddles love and sheer stupidity.
To seventeen-year-old Ava, wild woodcats, hungry stragglers, and simple-minded townsfolk are the evils she's grown accustomed to. But when Ethan, an unusual man with eyes of smoke and fire opal, enters her world she quickly understands that there are worse things out there than drunken men and carnivorous forest creatures. She's a specialised liar and a hell of a fighter, but against a group of animalistic men called Berserkers she struggles to survive the encounter as the desperate swing of a dagger is all it takes to change her life for good.
Half-dead and hunted by the Berserker's leader when he forms a monstrous obsession with her, Ava escapes his pursuit in an unfamiliar land full of impossible creatures, unlikely allies, and the man she doesn't know whether to kiss or kill.
But after dreadful news of her missing brother surfaces, Ava becomes more involved in the centuries-long war and begins to unravel the reasons behind her relentless nightmares, discovering truths long-buried in a violent history of love, loss and betrayal. – Amazon.com
In the aftermath of the Sarah J Maas’ destruction on the YA fantasy genre there rises a book that promises to be just as wonderful and enticing. And this is the book! I honestly loved this book. I thought the book was very well done and a bit unique. The characters felt real and not like they were unnaturally strong or powerful. I also loved how Ava engineered Cedar instead of totally relying on Roan. I loved how the plot developed, even if some of the twists were a bit predictable, and I loved how the author did the pacing. The writing had a nice flow to it and it’s very easy to read.
There were some little things in this book that I didn’t like however. I felt that the character development wasn’t as good as it could have been and there were too many love interests for my liking. And as I stated before, some of the twists in the book are predictable.
Verdict: Overall, I really liked the book. Despite my critics I felt like the book was really well done and unique. I also feel that Ava is an inspirational figure. Her never-give-up, pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps personality is very admirable. This is definitely a book for Maas lovers and other fantasy lovers alike.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (some violence and some mature scenes, trigger warning for one particular scene that seemed a bit like the main character was going to be raped. It was probably just my inference of that scene, but just be safe and know your limits if you’re upset by that).
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any manner. Thanks OfTomes Publishing for the review copy!
Courage comes from a shadowed place in our hearts; a blurred line that straddles love and sheer stupidity.
To seventeen-year-old Ava, wild woodcats, hungry stragglers, and simple-minded townsfolk are the evils she's grown accustomed to. But when Ethan, an unusual man with eyes of smoke and fire opal, enters her world she quickly understands that there are worse things out there than drunken men and carnivorous forest creatures. She's a specialised liar and a hell of a fighter, but against a group of animalistic men called Berserkers she struggles to survive the encounter as the desperate swing of a dagger is all it takes to change her life for good.
Half-dead and hunted by the Berserker's leader when he forms a monstrous obsession with her, Ava escapes his pursuit in an unfamiliar land full of impossible creatures, unlikely allies, and the man she doesn't know whether to kiss or kill.
But after dreadful news of her missing brother surfaces, Ava becomes more involved in the centuries-long war and begins to unravel the reasons behind her relentless nightmares, discovering truths long-buried in a violent history of love, loss and betrayal. – Amazon.com
In the aftermath of the Sarah J Maas’ destruction on the YA fantasy genre there rises a book that promises to be just as wonderful and enticing. And this is the book! I honestly loved this book. I thought the book was very well done and a bit unique. The characters felt real and not like they were unnaturally strong or powerful. I also loved how Ava engineered Cedar instead of totally relying on Roan. I loved how the plot developed, even if some of the twists were a bit predictable, and I loved how the author did the pacing. The writing had a nice flow to it and it’s very easy to read.
There were some little things in this book that I didn’t like however. I felt that the character development wasn’t as good as it could have been and there were too many love interests for my liking. And as I stated before, some of the twists in the book are predictable.
Verdict: Overall, I really liked the book. Despite my critics I felt like the book was really well done and unique. I also feel that Ava is an inspirational figure. Her never-give-up, pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps personality is very admirable. This is definitely a book for Maas lovers and other fantasy lovers alike.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Recommended Age: 5+
I received a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision. Thanks for the free copy! Also, since this is a review for a children’s picture book this will be in a different format than my other reviews.
Are you afraid when you go to bed? This book will put good thoughts in your head. – Amazon.com
We have all been afraid of at least one thing at some point or another. And it’s sometimes really hard to conquer those fears. This is the book you want to read to help with that. This adorable book sweetly tells a tale about the narrator’s fears, many of which all of us can remember being afraid of when we were little. Combined with amazing artwork, this story about conquering fear follows as the narrator tells how he eventually conquered the fear. The writing in the book and the story itself were amazing. The book is very easy to understand for beginning readers and the pictures tell the story beautifully.
Verdict: This is definitely a book I would read to my children and would give my children to read on their own. I thought it was very inspirational and it was a very appropriate book for children of any age at any stage of their life. It’s even a good reminder for adults, although our fears are based on true things… bills…. Anyways, check out this book if you have a young one! You won’t regret it!
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Recommended Age: 5+
I received a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision. Thanks for the free copy! Also, since this is a review for a children’s picture book this will be in a different format than my other reviews.
Are you afraid when you go to bed? This book will put good thoughts in your head. – Amazon.com
We have all been afraid of at least one thing at some point or another. And it’s sometimes really hard to conquer those fears. This is the book you want to read to help with that. This adorable book sweetly tells a tale about the narrator’s fears, many of which all of us can remember being afraid of when we were little. Combined with amazing artwork, this story about conquering fear follows as the narrator tells how he eventually conquered the fear. The writing in the book and the story itself were amazing. The book is very easy to understand for beginning readers and the pictures tell the story beautifully.
Verdict: This is definitely a book I would read to my children and would give my children to read on their own. I thought it was very inspirational and it was a very appropriate book for children of any age at any stage of their life. It’s even a good reminder for adults, although our fears are based on true things… bills…. Anyways, check out this book if you have a young one! You won’t regret it!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (racism, sexual content, language, violence. Trigger warnings for those who may have been victims of extreme racism or prejudice)
I received this book for free from KidLitExchange in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. – Amazon.com
I knew racism still existed. I’m from the South and while I grew up around it I still knew it was bad and I chose to study it extensively in college. So to hear people say that racism doesn’t exist anymore really makes me angry. That being said I immediately fell in love with this book from the moment I picked it up. The book was a very blunt story on racism in America, specifically regarding young African-American men. The reader sees the world through Justyce’s eyes and I think I’m better for reading this book. I loved how complex all the characters were in the book and that there were different types of racism or prejudice shown in the book by almost all of the characters. I loved how the plot developed and that heartwrecking twist! The pacing was also very well done and the writing was simply amazing! I probably could have read 600 more pages of Nic Stone’s writing and that would have been fine by me.
I absolutely love this book, but I do feel that this book can be polarizing for some readers. Some readers might not see the world as Justyce and the author. This book talks about a very hot-button topic as well as including scenes with recent-events that can be upsetting to some readers.
Verdict: I think this is a very important read in today’s world. Racism is only going to get worse and the divisive attitude some people have in this country needs to be dealt with. The only way we’re going to start moving away from racism for the final time is if we start putting each other in our own shoes, especially those who do not know what it’s like to be African-American in America. I also thought that even though Justyce makes a lot of mistakes in the book, he is an inspirational character and his journey is just as inspiring. Definitely recommended reading for everyone in America. I’m ready for change. Are you?
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (racism, sexual content, language, violence. Trigger warnings for those who may have been victims of extreme racism or prejudice)
I received this book for free from KidLitExchange in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.
Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack. – Amazon.com
I knew racism still existed. I’m from the South and while I grew up around it I still knew it was bad and I chose to study it extensively in college. So to hear people say that racism doesn’t exist anymore really makes me angry. That being said I immediately fell in love with this book from the moment I picked it up. The book was a very blunt story on racism in America, specifically regarding young African-American men. The reader sees the world through Justyce’s eyes and I think I’m better for reading this book. I loved how complex all the characters were in the book and that there were different types of racism or prejudice shown in the book by almost all of the characters. I loved how the plot developed and that heartwrecking twist! The pacing was also very well done and the writing was simply amazing! I probably could have read 600 more pages of Nic Stone’s writing and that would have been fine by me.
I absolutely love this book, but I do feel that this book can be polarizing for some readers. Some readers might not see the world as Justyce and the author. This book talks about a very hot-button topic as well as including scenes with recent-events that can be upsetting to some readers.
Verdict: I think this is a very important read in today’s world. Racism is only going to get worse and the divisive attitude some people have in this country needs to be dealt with. The only way we’re going to start moving away from racism for the final time is if we start putting each other in our own shoes, especially those who do not know what it’s like to be African-American in America. I also thought that even though Justyce makes a lot of mistakes in the book, he is an inspirational character and his journey is just as inspiring. Definitely recommended reading for everyone in America. I’m ready for change. Are you?
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, mature content, violence, gore, trigger warnings for mentions of rape)
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.- Amazon.com
Audible has amazing sales sometimes. They’re called the $4.95 sales and they can sometimes have awesome books on there. One of those awesome books I bought in a recent $4.95 sale was Six of Crows. While I own the book in hardback, I read so many review books that I do not have time to read many of the other books on my bookshelves and I recently purchased the Six Of Crows box from Enchanted Book Box (check out their November box btw! It’s gonna be awesome!) so I felt like I had to get to know these characters that everyone raves about! The audio book was fantastic! The voice actors they casted for this audio book were perfect. The character development of this book was well done. At once point I thought that I wouldn’t know about the back story of Jesper or Wylan, but their development came and it was as equally well done. The plot development was also well done. It twisted and turned where I didn’t expect it to. The writing was superb and while it had a air of high fantasy, it was still very easy to follow along.
While I did enjoy the book immensely and I feel like I NEED the second book now, I did think that this book might not be for everyone. For starters, the pacing is a bit slow. There are multiple POVs (7 throughout the whole book) and each POV can start where another one ended or where another one began, meaning you could be hearing what each of the 6 were doing at the same time while they were all split up. The other thing is that the ending of the book became a little confusing for me. Maybe I just became confused and didn’t understand what all went on, but I had to listen to it twice to understand it.
Verdict: Leigh Bardugo is one of the most talked about author’s I see on instagram and I can now see why that is. She’s an amazing writer and this book has easily became a favorite of mine. I loved how the story took place from the perspective of the “bad” guys rather than the “good” guys, which really made the reader question who are the good and bad guys in this fight and if there are any totally good or bad guys at all. I’d totally recommend this book for any YA Fantasy lover and anyone who’s looking for an action-packed book!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, mature content, violence, gore, trigger warnings for mentions of rape)
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price--and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction―if they don't kill each other first.- Amazon.com
Audible has amazing sales sometimes. They’re called the $4.95 sales and they can sometimes have awesome books on there. One of those awesome books I bought in a recent $4.95 sale was Six of Crows. While I own the book in hardback, I read so many review books that I do not have time to read many of the other books on my bookshelves and I recently purchased the Six Of Crows box from Enchanted Book Box (check out their November box btw! It’s gonna be awesome!) so I felt like I had to get to know these characters that everyone raves about! The audio book was fantastic! The voice actors they casted for this audio book were perfect. The character development of this book was well done. At once point I thought that I wouldn’t know about the back story of Jesper or Wylan, but their development came and it was as equally well done. The plot development was also well done. It twisted and turned where I didn’t expect it to. The writing was superb and while it had a air of high fantasy, it was still very easy to follow along.
While I did enjoy the book immensely and I feel like I NEED the second book now, I did think that this book might not be for everyone. For starters, the pacing is a bit slow. There are multiple POVs (7 throughout the whole book) and each POV can start where another one ended or where another one began, meaning you could be hearing what each of the 6 were doing at the same time while they were all split up. The other thing is that the ending of the book became a little confusing for me. Maybe I just became confused and didn’t understand what all went on, but I had to listen to it twice to understand it.
Verdict: Leigh Bardugo is one of the most talked about author’s I see on instagram and I can now see why that is. She’s an amazing writer and this book has easily became a favorite of mine. I loved how the story took place from the perspective of the “bad” guys rather than the “good” guys, which really made the reader question who are the good and bad guys in this fight and if there are any totally good or bad guys at all. I’d totally recommend this book for any YA Fantasy lover and anyone who’s looking for an action-packed book!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian
Recommended Age: 14+ (some language, violence)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
In a country ravaged by years of war, plague, and death, witches and wizards are blamed for the state of the world and hunted by the U.S. government. Kenadee Coria was only a young girl when her brother was taken prisoner for having magical powers.
Now sixteen years old, Kenadee discovers she too has magical powers and must face the facts: the government is watching, and they have plans for her. She’s given a deadly mission and an impossible ultimatum: the lives of a hidden group of magic refugees, or the safe return of her long-lost brother. – Amazon.com
A book about witches in a dystopian setting? Sign me up! I had actually heard about this book before I was offered a chance to review it and so I was very excited to read this book. I liked the book well enough. I thought the plot development was well done and the writing was very easy to follow. I also thought the book had a very interesting concept.
Unfortunately, I did have a lot of negatives I came across in this book. I thought the characters weren’t very well developed outside of Harlow. A lot of the characters were just there for the main character to converse with and I felt they didn’t have a lot of personality behind them. I thought the book jumped around quite a bit, which made it confusing for me to follow along. There was also one part in the book where the characters said one thing was going to happen, said another thing the next page, and then went with their original wording the page after that. I read that passage over and over again to try and figure out what might have happened, what I might have skipped, but I now think it might just be an error in the book, maybe two revisions that got spliced together accidentally? I also thought that the book could have been written better. I think the main character’s magical abilities could have made an appearance in the book earlier on. I also think more of her backstory should have been discussed in the book to give the reader a better foundation of the world we’re in. I also think that the most interesting character in this book was Harlow and I would love a spin-off book from her POV or the rest of the books from her POV. The author built Harlow to be such a complex and interesting character and I’m excited to see where Harlow goes from here.
Verdict: While I did have more negatives to say about this book then positives I still enjoyed this book and I would recommend it just because it’s very unique and because it’s a pretty good book beyond the flaws. If you’re looking for an unique book to read and you’re a fan of dystopian books, this might be the book for you. This book comes out on November 14, 2017!
Genre: YA Fantasy/Dystopian
Recommended Age: 14+ (some language, violence)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
In a country ravaged by years of war, plague, and death, witches and wizards are blamed for the state of the world and hunted by the U.S. government. Kenadee Coria was only a young girl when her brother was taken prisoner for having magical powers.
Now sixteen years old, Kenadee discovers she too has magical powers and must face the facts: the government is watching, and they have plans for her. She’s given a deadly mission and an impossible ultimatum: the lives of a hidden group of magic refugees, or the safe return of her long-lost brother. – Amazon.com
A book about witches in a dystopian setting? Sign me up! I had actually heard about this book before I was offered a chance to review it and so I was very excited to read this book. I liked the book well enough. I thought the plot development was well done and the writing was very easy to follow. I also thought the book had a very interesting concept.
Unfortunately, I did have a lot of negatives I came across in this book. I thought the characters weren’t very well developed outside of Harlow. A lot of the characters were just there for the main character to converse with and I felt they didn’t have a lot of personality behind them. I thought the book jumped around quite a bit, which made it confusing for me to follow along. There was also one part in the book where the characters said one thing was going to happen, said another thing the next page, and then went with their original wording the page after that. I read that passage over and over again to try and figure out what might have happened, what I might have skipped, but I now think it might just be an error in the book, maybe two revisions that got spliced together accidentally? I also thought that the book could have been written better. I think the main character’s magical abilities could have made an appearance in the book earlier on. I also think more of her backstory should have been discussed in the book to give the reader a better foundation of the world we’re in. I also think that the most interesting character in this book was Harlow and I would love a spin-off book from her POV or the rest of the books from her POV. The author built Harlow to be such a complex and interesting character and I’m excited to see where Harlow goes from here.
Verdict: While I did have more negatives to say about this book then positives I still enjoyed this book and I would recommend it just because it’s very unique and because it’s a pretty good book beyond the flaws. If you’re looking for an unique book to read and you’re a fan of dystopian books, this might be the book for you. This book comes out on November 14, 2017!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 13 (violence, slight gore, death)
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of KidLitExchange for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
If an impending invasion by savages threatened to destroy your home, would you risk your life to save it?
Millennia ago, an alien race granted the citizens of Levitor a stone of vast energy that saved their race from tyranny. They built a dome to shield their city from the dangers outside. But now the stone is unstable. A crack has appeared in the shield, a looming threat to the city's ruin.
Seventeen-year-old Kallum Farron is no hero. He wants nothing more than to win the heart of the girl he loves and lead a normal life. But, after a simulation test unexpectedly leaves him reeling and he loses his guardian, what is normal takes a whole different meaning. He fears he's turning into his worst nightmare -a Crazy. He discovers he's gifted with a powerful legacy, and he alone can save Levitor.
But his cursed gift comes at a cost. When Levitor's rulers and the alien race hunt him, Kallum must choose: where he belongs, and what is really worth sacrificing for the greater good.- Amazon.com
I never really got into science fiction until I met my husband. When he heard of my lack of reading in the genre, it became his mission in life to get me to read at least one science fiction novel. The novel? Ender’s Game. Read it, loved it, and now I love reading science fiction. While I enjoy the genre I do feel like I’m still a newbie in the field and I consider myself very picky on the science fiction books I choose to read. When I read the excerpt of this book I thought it would be very enjoyable. And for the most part it was a very well written book and an excellent beginning book to a series. The plot was very well developed, the characters were also developed and there were plenty of strong female characters, and the pacing was also perfect for the plot. The author has a genuine knack for describing a setting as well, as this world is amazingly well detailed.
However, even the most well developed book can have errors. From the beginning of the book I was very lost and extremely confused. The author just throws you into the story and you’re left wondering what the crap is going on for a good portion of the novel. I prefer for a sci-fi novel to gently ease me into the setting so I become accustomed to it. The writing was also very weird in my opinion. It wasn’t very easy to follow and it made following along in the novel very hard.
Verdict: I honestly would have enjoyed this book more if the first chapter was a bit slower and “dumbed down” for the audience to get accustomed to the world and if the wording was altered a bit. However, this book is very well done and is beautiful. Any sci-fi fan would love this book!
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 13 (violence, slight gore, death)
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of KidLitExchange for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
If an impending invasion by savages threatened to destroy your home, would you risk your life to save it?
Millennia ago, an alien race granted the citizens of Levitor a stone of vast energy that saved their race from tyranny. They built a dome to shield their city from the dangers outside. But now the stone is unstable. A crack has appeared in the shield, a looming threat to the city's ruin.
Seventeen-year-old Kallum Farron is no hero. He wants nothing more than to win the heart of the girl he loves and lead a normal life. But, after a simulation test unexpectedly leaves him reeling and he loses his guardian, what is normal takes a whole different meaning. He fears he's turning into his worst nightmare -a Crazy. He discovers he's gifted with a powerful legacy, and he alone can save Levitor.
But his cursed gift comes at a cost. When Levitor's rulers and the alien race hunt him, Kallum must choose: where he belongs, and what is really worth sacrificing for the greater good.- Amazon.com
I never really got into science fiction until I met my husband. When he heard of my lack of reading in the genre, it became his mission in life to get me to read at least one science fiction novel. The novel? Ender’s Game. Read it, loved it, and now I love reading science fiction. While I enjoy the genre I do feel like I’m still a newbie in the field and I consider myself very picky on the science fiction books I choose to read. When I read the excerpt of this book I thought it would be very enjoyable. And for the most part it was a very well written book and an excellent beginning book to a series. The plot was very well developed, the characters were also developed and there were plenty of strong female characters, and the pacing was also perfect for the plot. The author has a genuine knack for describing a setting as well, as this world is amazingly well detailed.
However, even the most well developed book can have errors. From the beginning of the book I was very lost and extremely confused. The author just throws you into the story and you’re left wondering what the crap is going on for a good portion of the novel. I prefer for a sci-fi novel to gently ease me into the setting so I become accustomed to it. The writing was also very weird in my opinion. It wasn’t very easy to follow and it made following along in the novel very hard.
Verdict: I honestly would have enjoyed this book more if the first chapter was a bit slower and “dumbed down” for the audience to get accustomed to the world and if the wording was altered a bit. However, this book is very well done and is beautiful. Any sci-fi fan would love this book!
Rating: 2/5
Genre: YA Fantasy/Horror
Recommended Age: 15+ (gore, murder, violence, nightmares)
After escaping a harsh school where punishment was the lesson of the day, seventeen-year-old Louisa Ditton is thrilled to find employment as a maid at a boarding house. But soon after her arrival at Coldthistle House, Louisa begins to realize that the house’s mysterious owner, Mr. Morningside, is providing much more than lodging for his guests. Far from a place of rest, the house is a place of judgment, and Mr. Morningside and his unusual staff are meant to execute their own justice on those who are past being saved.
Louisa begins to fear for a young man named Lee who is not like the other guests. He is charismatic and kind, and Louisa knows that it may be up to her to save him from an untimely judgment. But in this house of distortions and lies, how can Louisa be sure whom to trust?
Featuring stunning interior illustrations from artist Iris Compiet, plus photo-collages that bring Coldthistle House to chilling life, House of Furies invites readers to a world where the line between monsters and men is ghostly thin. - Amazon.com
I was reading this book in the car and when I would take a nap or two I would legit have nightmares. So this book was the perfect choice of my October TBR! It was so gory and haunting that it would be an injustice to the book to read it in any other month. I thought the character development was fairly well done and the pacing was very well done as well. I liked that the character wasn’t handed the secret to what she was in the first few chapters and she and the reader were left to guess the secret until almost all the way through the novel. Unfortunately this is all that I really liked about the novel.
I thought that the book was told in a very discombobulated manner. While the plot was very well done and it could have been a good book, I thought that the way it was told was not streamlined at all. It made it very hard to keep reading this book. I thought there was room for improvement on the characters backstories as well. We never do find out some of the more important details of the book and a lot of the magic of the book is not explained. I also had issue with the way the book was wrote. The mix of internal monologue and talking made it difficult to follow throughout the book and it made the book not very easy to read.
Verdict: Would I read this book again? No I don’t think I will. In my opinion while it was very gorey and Halloween appropriate, it reminded me more of a B-rated horror film. However, you might feel different! If you do or read this book later on and love it please tell me in the comments below! I’d love to hear someone who thought this book was good!
Genre: YA Fantasy/Horror
Recommended Age: 15+ (gore, murder, violence, nightmares)
After escaping a harsh school where punishment was the lesson of the day, seventeen-year-old Louisa Ditton is thrilled to find employment as a maid at a boarding house. But soon after her arrival at Coldthistle House, Louisa begins to realize that the house’s mysterious owner, Mr. Morningside, is providing much more than lodging for his guests. Far from a place of rest, the house is a place of judgment, and Mr. Morningside and his unusual staff are meant to execute their own justice on those who are past being saved.
Louisa begins to fear for a young man named Lee who is not like the other guests. He is charismatic and kind, and Louisa knows that it may be up to her to save him from an untimely judgment. But in this house of distortions and lies, how can Louisa be sure whom to trust?
Featuring stunning interior illustrations from artist Iris Compiet, plus photo-collages that bring Coldthistle House to chilling life, House of Furies invites readers to a world where the line between monsters and men is ghostly thin. - Amazon.com
I was reading this book in the car and when I would take a nap or two I would legit have nightmares. So this book was the perfect choice of my October TBR! It was so gory and haunting that it would be an injustice to the book to read it in any other month. I thought the character development was fairly well done and the pacing was very well done as well. I liked that the character wasn’t handed the secret to what she was in the first few chapters and she and the reader were left to guess the secret until almost all the way through the novel. Unfortunately this is all that I really liked about the novel.
I thought that the book was told in a very discombobulated manner. While the plot was very well done and it could have been a good book, I thought that the way it was told was not streamlined at all. It made it very hard to keep reading this book. I thought there was room for improvement on the characters backstories as well. We never do find out some of the more important details of the book and a lot of the magic of the book is not explained. I also had issue with the way the book was wrote. The mix of internal monologue and talking made it difficult to follow throughout the book and it made the book not very easy to read.
Verdict: Would I read this book again? No I don’t think I will. In my opinion while it was very gorey and Halloween appropriate, it reminded me more of a B-rated horror film. However, you might feel different! If you do or read this book later on and love it please tell me in the comments below! I’d love to hear someone who thought this book was good!
Rating: 2/5
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (adult content, torture, violence, trigger warnings for torture)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.
The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .
Never mention The Pact to anyone.
Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples.
And then one of them breaks the rules.
The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule.
For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare. - Amazon.com
Let's start off with my need for thrillers is completely gone now. I had to DNF this book because it got way to weird and uncomfortable for me. While I thought that the characters were well developed and the writing was pretty good, I got a Stepford Wives and The Gift vibe from this book and it really creeped me out to a point where I had a few nightmares about it. When that happens that's when I call it quits on a book. Aside from the nightmares and the overall creepy vibe of this book, I felt that the books plot and pacing were off. It was probably my being uncomfortable that made this book too weird for me.
Verdict: I can't really give a detailed review like I normally do because of how quickly I DNFed the book, but if you enjoy thrillers and if you loved reading The Stepford Wives or loved watching The Gift you might like this book!
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (adult content, torture, violence, trigger warnings for torture)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.
The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .
Never mention The Pact to anyone.
Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples.
And then one of them breaks the rules.
The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule.
For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare. - Amazon.com
Let's start off with my need for thrillers is completely gone now. I had to DNF this book because it got way to weird and uncomfortable for me. While I thought that the characters were well developed and the writing was pretty good, I got a Stepford Wives and The Gift vibe from this book and it really creeped me out to a point where I had a few nightmares about it. When that happens that's when I call it quits on a book. Aside from the nightmares and the overall creepy vibe of this book, I felt that the books plot and pacing were off. It was probably my being uncomfortable that made this book too weird for me.
Verdict: I can't really give a detailed review like I normally do because of how quickly I DNFed the book, but if you enjoy thrillers and if you loved reading The Stepford Wives or loved watching The Gift you might like this book!