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popthebutterfly
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, sexual lingo)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinons are my own.
As addictive, cinematic, and binge-worthy a narrative as The Wire and The Killing, Two Girls Down introduces Louisa Luna as a thriller writer of immense talent and verve.
When two young sisters disappear from a strip mall parking lot in a small Pennsylvania town, their devastated mother hires an enigmatic bounty hunter, Alice Vega, to help find the girls. Immediately shut out by a local police department already stretched thin by budget cuts and the growing OxyContin and meth epidemic, Vega enlists the help of a disgraced former cop, Max Caplan. Cap is a man trying to put the scandal of his past behind him and move on, but Vega needs his help to find the girls, and she will not be denied.
With little to go on, Vega and Cap will go to extraordinary lengths to untangle a dangerous web of lies, false leads, and complex relationships to find the girls before time runs out, and they are gone forever. - Amazon.com
I've had a mystery kick for the past few months, so I picked this book up when I saw it on Netgalley. For the most part I thought this book was really good! It was a good mystery with a twist I didn't see coming. The plot was wonderfully well done and thought out and for the most part the main characters were very well developed. I really think that this book would do well in a series as apart of an ongoing mystery, Scooby-Doo type crime solving gang. However, I did have a bit of issues of with this book.
I really thought that while the main characters were developed, they felt a little awkward around each other, especially in how one character talks to another. I also felt that there were too many characters in the story who were not pertiant to the story. There were also a lot of loose ends that weren't solved by the end of the book and the book had some lull periods where it felt like the author went off on tangents.
Verdict: Awesome mystery, but lots of loose ends. I like my mysteries to wrap up completely at the end and for everything to be eventually connected and I'm a little disappointed that this one wasn't. It's a preference though and some readers might not care. It definitely was a good mystery novel and it comes out on January 9th! Make sure to grab your copy if your a mystery lover!
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, sexual lingo)
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinons are my own.
As addictive, cinematic, and binge-worthy a narrative as The Wire and The Killing, Two Girls Down introduces Louisa Luna as a thriller writer of immense talent and verve.
When two young sisters disappear from a strip mall parking lot in a small Pennsylvania town, their devastated mother hires an enigmatic bounty hunter, Alice Vega, to help find the girls. Immediately shut out by a local police department already stretched thin by budget cuts and the growing OxyContin and meth epidemic, Vega enlists the help of a disgraced former cop, Max Caplan. Cap is a man trying to put the scandal of his past behind him and move on, but Vega needs his help to find the girls, and she will not be denied.
With little to go on, Vega and Cap will go to extraordinary lengths to untangle a dangerous web of lies, false leads, and complex relationships to find the girls before time runs out, and they are gone forever. - Amazon.com
I've had a mystery kick for the past few months, so I picked this book up when I saw it on Netgalley. For the most part I thought this book was really good! It was a good mystery with a twist I didn't see coming. The plot was wonderfully well done and thought out and for the most part the main characters were very well developed. I really think that this book would do well in a series as apart of an ongoing mystery, Scooby-Doo type crime solving gang. However, I did have a bit of issues of with this book.
I really thought that while the main characters were developed, they felt a little awkward around each other, especially in how one character talks to another. I also felt that there were too many characters in the story who were not pertiant to the story. There were also a lot of loose ends that weren't solved by the end of the book and the book had some lull periods where it felt like the author went off on tangents.
Verdict: Awesome mystery, but lots of loose ends. I like my mysteries to wrap up completely at the end and for everything to be eventually connected and I'm a little disappointed that this one wasn't. It's a preference though and some readers might not care. It definitely was a good mystery novel and it comes out on January 9th! Make sure to grab your copy if your a mystery lover!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, adult situations, and lots of robots. Like seriously, if you have automatonophobia I would highly suggest you not read this book).
I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley! My opnions are my own.
Alainn's father is not a bad man. He's a genius and an inventor. When he's hired to create the robot Rose, Alainn knows taking the money is a mistake.
Rose acts like a human. She looks exactly like Alainn. But, something in her comes out wrong.
To save her father from a five year prison sentence, Alainn takes Rose's place. She says goodbye to the sun and goes to live in a tower no human is allowed to enter. She becomes the prisoner of a man no human is allowed to see.
Believing that a life of servitude lies ahead, Alainn finds a very different fate awaits her in the company of the strange, scarred recluse. - Amazon.com
Another book I had to DNF. Beauty and the beast is my favorite fairytale and Disney movie. I pride myself on being like Belle (except I probably would have kicked Gaston's ass on my own but that's another thing entirely). That being said I was so excited to see this book on Netgalley and I jumped at the chance to review it! While reading it I thought the concept of the book was really intriguing. I also thought that the plot and the pacing were well done and that the writing was really good. This book should have been a 5/5 for me, but for a few reasons it just wasn't.
Firstly, a couple of the characters felt a little flat and one of them did not have any character development at all. I also thought that while this book is set in the "near future" there was still not enough world building to it. It really made me confused in some spots because I wasn't sure about how the world was and how it was laid out. I also thought that because of the massive boom in retellings, especially Beauty and the Beast retellings, that I just could not get into this book. I tried multiple times, but failed every time. I felt like I knew all the of the surprises and things that would come from this book.
Verdict: Will I try this book out again? Yes definitely. I'm still intrigued by it and I want to read it. Will I give it a second shot anytime soon? No. As of right now I'm Beauty and the Beast worn out and I want to wait a few years before I attempt anything like this book again. I'd still highly recommend this book for any fairy tale lovers and any sci-fi lovers and especially those that belong in both categories.
Genre: YA Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, adult situations, and lots of robots. Like seriously, if you have automatonophobia I would highly suggest you not read this book).
I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley! My opnions are my own.
Alainn's father is not a bad man. He's a genius and an inventor. When he's hired to create the robot Rose, Alainn knows taking the money is a mistake.
Rose acts like a human. She looks exactly like Alainn. But, something in her comes out wrong.
To save her father from a five year prison sentence, Alainn takes Rose's place. She says goodbye to the sun and goes to live in a tower no human is allowed to enter. She becomes the prisoner of a man no human is allowed to see.
Believing that a life of servitude lies ahead, Alainn finds a very different fate awaits her in the company of the strange, scarred recluse. - Amazon.com
Another book I had to DNF. Beauty and the beast is my favorite fairytale and Disney movie. I pride myself on being like Belle (except I probably would have kicked Gaston's ass on my own but that's another thing entirely). That being said I was so excited to see this book on Netgalley and I jumped at the chance to review it! While reading it I thought the concept of the book was really intriguing. I also thought that the plot and the pacing were well done and that the writing was really good. This book should have been a 5/5 for me, but for a few reasons it just wasn't.
Firstly, a couple of the characters felt a little flat and one of them did not have any character development at all. I also thought that while this book is set in the "near future" there was still not enough world building to it. It really made me confused in some spots because I wasn't sure about how the world was and how it was laid out. I also thought that because of the massive boom in retellings, especially Beauty and the Beast retellings, that I just could not get into this book. I tried multiple times, but failed every time. I felt like I knew all the of the surprises and things that would come from this book.
Verdict: Will I try this book out again? Yes definitely. I'm still intrigued by it and I want to read it. Will I give it a second shot anytime soon? No. As of right now I'm Beauty and the Beast worn out and I want to wait a few years before I attempt anything like this book again. I'd still highly recommend this book for any fairy tale lovers and any sci-fi lovers and especially those that belong in both categories.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA/New Adult Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, language)
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own.
Beneath the boy’s thumb, my blood bubbled in reaction to the implant. Hot stinging moved through my flesh for a helping of seconds before subsiding. The boy felt it too, for when it was done, he removed his thumb and inspected my hand. Beneath my skin was a green glow, roughly the size of a coin. It was done. Their people were born with extreme lust for ours, and just as my grandfather had warned all those years ago, one of them had come for me. I, Zillow Stone, had been marked by an unholy one. While I digested the truth of it, the boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, “Run.”
At the end of time, the world is divided. In the west reside the Markers, in the east, the Marked.
On a massive gameboard, scattered with discotheques and giant mechbeasts, Zillow Stone’s sole purpose is to serve as prey. But she is fastest, strongest, smartest . . . and she won’t go down without a fight.
Who will win in a death game to survive? And when it’s every player for herself, who can Zillow trust?
In the wasteland, where the Markers play with their prey like it's food, not everything is as it seems.
Includes all four thrilling acts for the first time in one volume. Discover the truth of the desert. Order now to start the chase. - Amazon.com
I can never get enough dystopians. Never. Ever. But I do have favorites and ones I like less than others. This one? I love better than all the others. This was a mix between The Hunger Games and The Walk (written under Stephen King's pen name. You should really check it out). The thing I loved about it was that it was fast paced, but it didn't skip on any of the important world building details or anything like that. This was one of the better built worlds I've read this year! I could picture everything clearly and I could see the actions of the characters. All of the characters were believable and acted more human than some characters I've read. All very well developed as well and they each have a distinct voice. The plot developed phenominally well. I thought that because the book was fast paced that the book's plot would not be fully developed, but I was so so wrong. I also thought the writing was phenominal and very easy to read. Perfect for young reads and old.
The only thing I didn't like was that the fighting did get repeatitive after awhile, but this is a book where characters are fighting to the death so it's a necessary evil. Zillow is also a very closed off character for the first parts of the book and as the book develops she opens up. Some readers might find her hard to love at first but I promise the more you stay with her the better it gets!
Verdict: If you are a dystopian lover this is a book you NEED to read! Wonderful, fast paced, quick read that will leave you wanting more in the end. Check this book out today!
Genre: YA/New Adult Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, language)
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own.
Beneath the boy’s thumb, my blood bubbled in reaction to the implant. Hot stinging moved through my flesh for a helping of seconds before subsiding. The boy felt it too, for when it was done, he removed his thumb and inspected my hand. Beneath my skin was a green glow, roughly the size of a coin. It was done. Their people were born with extreme lust for ours, and just as my grandfather had warned all those years ago, one of them had come for me. I, Zillow Stone, had been marked by an unholy one. While I digested the truth of it, the boy leaned over, placing his lips nearly to my ear, and whispered, “Run.”
At the end of time, the world is divided. In the west reside the Markers, in the east, the Marked.
On a massive gameboard, scattered with discotheques and giant mechbeasts, Zillow Stone’s sole purpose is to serve as prey. But she is fastest, strongest, smartest . . . and she won’t go down without a fight.
Who will win in a death game to survive? And when it’s every player for herself, who can Zillow trust?
In the wasteland, where the Markers play with their prey like it's food, not everything is as it seems.
Includes all four thrilling acts for the first time in one volume. Discover the truth of the desert. Order now to start the chase. - Amazon.com
I can never get enough dystopians. Never. Ever. But I do have favorites and ones I like less than others. This one? I love better than all the others. This was a mix between The Hunger Games and The Walk (written under Stephen King's pen name. You should really check it out). The thing I loved about it was that it was fast paced, but it didn't skip on any of the important world building details or anything like that. This was one of the better built worlds I've read this year! I could picture everything clearly and I could see the actions of the characters. All of the characters were believable and acted more human than some characters I've read. All very well developed as well and they each have a distinct voice. The plot developed phenominally well. I thought that because the book was fast paced that the book's plot would not be fully developed, but I was so so wrong. I also thought the writing was phenominal and very easy to read. Perfect for young reads and old.
The only thing I didn't like was that the fighting did get repeatitive after awhile, but this is a book where characters are fighting to the death so it's a necessary evil. Zillow is also a very closed off character for the first parts of the book and as the book develops she opens up. Some readers might find her hard to love at first but I promise the more you stay with her the better it gets!
Verdict: If you are a dystopian lover this is a book you NEED to read! Wonderful, fast paced, quick read that will leave you wanting more in the end. Check this book out today!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian
Recommended Age: 17+ (religion, politics, some violence)
I received a free copy of this book from Black Chateau and the author Nanishka Torres! Go check them out if you have a chance! All opinions are my own.
In the realm of Fenrir, the royal family reigns with peace and justice. Science and reason are the driving forces behind every diplomatic decision. Religion is not allowed in the political arena.
Most people respect that decree.
The radically religious group known as Staxeons do not.
Prince Callum is diplomatic. That is until Staxeons kidnap the man he loves. Then he will do anything required to make sure he is returned safely.
That includes seeking the help of the enemy.
The world knows what Fenrir's prince is capable of.
The Staxeons are about to learn first hand. - Amazon.com
Even the shortest books can have a huge story behind them. A good example of this is this book! At only a little more than 100 pages you wouldn't think that this book would have a huge story behind it. But this book is one of the best books I've read this year! The characters are very well developed for the story being so short, the plot is intriguing, and the writing is well done. The book also includes an lgbt relationship and the book is full of action and adventure! There's hardly any down spots in the book, but it doesn't feel sped up or off.
The only issues I found that bugged me were that I wanted more world building in the book and I think the book could have benefitted from heading up the chapters with who the narrators were. The book is wrote from 3 POVs and figuring out who was talking does take you out of the book for a bit.
Verdict: If you're looking for a quick read with tons of action in it I highly suggest this book! The story is great, the writing is good, and the characters are relatable. Hopefully there are more books in this series because I would definitely read more of them!
Genre: Fantasy/Dystopian
Recommended Age: 17+ (religion, politics, some violence)
I received a free copy of this book from Black Chateau and the author Nanishka Torres! Go check them out if you have a chance! All opinions are my own.
In the realm of Fenrir, the royal family reigns with peace and justice. Science and reason are the driving forces behind every diplomatic decision. Religion is not allowed in the political arena.
Most people respect that decree.
The radically religious group known as Staxeons do not.
Prince Callum is diplomatic. That is until Staxeons kidnap the man he loves. Then he will do anything required to make sure he is returned safely.
That includes seeking the help of the enemy.
The world knows what Fenrir's prince is capable of.
The Staxeons are about to learn first hand. - Amazon.com
Even the shortest books can have a huge story behind them. A good example of this is this book! At only a little more than 100 pages you wouldn't think that this book would have a huge story behind it. But this book is one of the best books I've read this year! The characters are very well developed for the story being so short, the plot is intriguing, and the writing is well done. The book also includes an lgbt relationship and the book is full of action and adventure! There's hardly any down spots in the book, but it doesn't feel sped up or off.
The only issues I found that bugged me were that I wanted more world building in the book and I think the book could have benefitted from heading up the chapters with who the narrators were. The book is wrote from 3 POVs and figuring out who was talking does take you out of the book for a bit.
Verdict: If you're looking for a quick read with tons of action in it I highly suggest this book! The story is great, the writing is good, and the characters are relatable. Hopefully there are more books in this series because I would definitely read more of them!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Recommended Age:
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of OfTomes Publishing. All opinions are my own.
Seventeen-year-old Maggie Ellmes is dogged by a case of chronic bad luck. She figures that’s just her lot in life—that is, until the psychic at Blackheath’s annual carnival reveals that Maggie’s problems are caused by more than just ordinary misfortune; she’s actually been cursed.
Desperate to shake the hex, Maggie has no choice but to seek out the help of Joel Tomlins, a rebellious classmate who’s descended from Blackheath’s most powerful line of witches. After breaking all of his coven’s conventions to help her, Joel discovers that the curse isn’t as bad as Maggie fears. In fact, it’s much, much worse. - Amazon.com
The one thing I can say about Gabriella Lapore's writing is that it is truly beautiful. Not beautiful like Laini Taylor's, because honestly heres sometimes goes over-flowery, but beautiful as in it's simple, pleasent, and easy on the eyes and senses. I also felt that the character development for some of the characters was great and it really made me like Joel in particular. However, I did have a lot of dislikes about this book.
I really disliked how this book reminded me of Twilight. I have read the entire series and I don't really enjoy the series. I know a lot of people do, but personally I didn't like it. I also didn't like Maggie. She was very rude and mean for no reason. I've read books from the POV of a rude and mean person before and usually there's a very decent backstory to explain it and you end up feeling for the character, which I hope happens in the next book because I'm not liking Maggie at all. The book is told through multiple POVs and I thought the book could have done better to just be told through one. The book also failed to grab my attention until I was 1/3 of the way through. It just felt kind of dry until then and there wasn't anything intriguing for me.
Verdict: In short, if you like Twilight or if you like Gabriella Lapore, then you might like this book! It's a decent book and a ton of paranormal romancers would love this type of book. Personally though this book didn't fit my reading style.
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Recommended Age:
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of OfTomes Publishing. All opinions are my own.
Seventeen-year-old Maggie Ellmes is dogged by a case of chronic bad luck. She figures that’s just her lot in life—that is, until the psychic at Blackheath’s annual carnival reveals that Maggie’s problems are caused by more than just ordinary misfortune; she’s actually been cursed.
Desperate to shake the hex, Maggie has no choice but to seek out the help of Joel Tomlins, a rebellious classmate who’s descended from Blackheath’s most powerful line of witches. After breaking all of his coven’s conventions to help her, Joel discovers that the curse isn’t as bad as Maggie fears. In fact, it’s much, much worse. - Amazon.com
The one thing I can say about Gabriella Lapore's writing is that it is truly beautiful. Not beautiful like Laini Taylor's, because honestly heres sometimes goes over-flowery, but beautiful as in it's simple, pleasent, and easy on the eyes and senses. I also felt that the character development for some of the characters was great and it really made me like Joel in particular. However, I did have a lot of dislikes about this book.
I really disliked how this book reminded me of Twilight. I have read the entire series and I don't really enjoy the series. I know a lot of people do, but personally I didn't like it. I also didn't like Maggie. She was very rude and mean for no reason. I've read books from the POV of a rude and mean person before and usually there's a very decent backstory to explain it and you end up feeling for the character, which I hope happens in the next book because I'm not liking Maggie at all. The book is told through multiple POVs and I thought the book could have done better to just be told through one. The book also failed to grab my attention until I was 1/3 of the way through. It just felt kind of dry until then and there wasn't anything intriguing for me.
Verdict: In short, if you like Twilight or if you like Gabriella Lapore, then you might like this book! It's a decent book and a ton of paranormal romancers would love this type of book. Personally though this book didn't fit my reading style.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 15+ (murder, death, and morality)
I received a free copy of this book thanks to KidLitExchange. All opinions are my own.
Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island.
With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends to join her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can foresee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret--something they'll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.
As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends' troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby's choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure--or merely with their lives. - Amazon.com
I have never been one for treasure hunting books. The Goonies? Never watched it. Treasure Island? I have read the book (surprisingly when I was 8!) but did I really enjoy it? No (but I did learn how to curse. That was an exciting time for my mother and me). That being said I thought this would be the book that would break my non-excitement of treasure hunting books, but it didn't. The book was really hard to get through and I basically skimmed the last 150 pages of it. For it's benefit the book is exciting for those who like slow burning mysteries and who enjoy the journey rather than the prize. But for me there were too many dislikes about this book.
I felt that the characters were very flat. They didn't seem to have any depth to them in my opinion. The beginning, which should be the part that sucks you into a book, was horribly slow for me. And the book hinted at magical realism, but I didn't see any. This book focused a lot on Ruby's turmoil over her sister's death and I get she's upset but the amount of times it's brought up and mentioned makes what could have been a fun book about treasure and friendship into a book you read to have a good cry with.
Verdict: This was definitely not the book I expected it to be and I didn't enjoy the surprise of what I got instead. If you really enjoy contemporaries or slow burning mysteries or books you can cry over, then this book is for you.
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 15+ (murder, death, and morality)
I received a free copy of this book thanks to KidLitExchange. All opinions are my own.
Right before Sadie died, she begged her sister, Ruby, to do the one thing she could never do herself: Find the treasure on Gray Wolf Island.
With just a mysterious treasure map as a guide, Ruby reluctantly allows some friends to join her on the hunt, each of whom is touched by magic: a boy allegedly born to a virgin, a girl who never sleeps, a boy who can foresee his own death, and a boy with deep ties to the island. Each of them is also keeping a secret--something they'll have to reveal in order to reach the treasure.
As the secrets come to light, Ruby will have to decide: Can she make peace with her friends' troubled pasts and continue to trust them? Can she forgive herself for doing the unspeakable? Deep in the wilderness of Gray Wolf Island, Ruby's choices will determine if they make it out with the treasure--or merely with their lives. - Amazon.com
I have never been one for treasure hunting books. The Goonies? Never watched it. Treasure Island? I have read the book (surprisingly when I was 8!) but did I really enjoy it? No (but I did learn how to curse. That was an exciting time for my mother and me). That being said I thought this would be the book that would break my non-excitement of treasure hunting books, but it didn't. The book was really hard to get through and I basically skimmed the last 150 pages of it. For it's benefit the book is exciting for those who like slow burning mysteries and who enjoy the journey rather than the prize. But for me there were too many dislikes about this book.
I felt that the characters were very flat. They didn't seem to have any depth to them in my opinion. The beginning, which should be the part that sucks you into a book, was horribly slow for me. And the book hinted at magical realism, but I didn't see any. This book focused a lot on Ruby's turmoil over her sister's death and I get she's upset but the amount of times it's brought up and mentioned makes what could have been a fun book about treasure and friendship into a book you read to have a good cry with.
Verdict: This was definitely not the book I expected it to be and I didn't enjoy the surprise of what I got instead. If you really enjoy contemporaries or slow burning mysteries or books you can cry over, then this book is for you.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Pages: 335
Amazon
Author
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
In a magical tale of adventure, eight cousins sneak through forbidden treehouse doors only to find themselves separated from each other and lost in strange worlds. In their quests to return home, they must unravel mysteries, escape snares and villains, find one another, and search for the elusive Oracle. The Peacock Door is a rich story of camaraderie, courage, and determination with a bit of whimsy sprinkled throughout. - Amazon.com
I love reading middle grade novels because they make the world so much simpler. Same thing with this novel. This tale of eight cousins is so sweet and amazingly well done. The character development was very well done and you could tell that each character had their own voice. The plot and pacing were very well done as well and the story kept my interest throughout the whole book. The writing was also very well done and very age approrpriate for middle graders.
The only issue I could find with the book is that so many characters could overwhelm some readers. While the book is really well written and it's easy to tell when each character speaks or does something, it might still be slightly overwhelming for some readers to remember all of these seperate characters.
Verdict: Phenominal book and one that I'll keep for my kids. Definitely recommend if you have a young child who loves fantasy reads.
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Pages: 335
Amazon
Author
I received a free copy of this book from the author for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
In a magical tale of adventure, eight cousins sneak through forbidden treehouse doors only to find themselves separated from each other and lost in strange worlds. In their quests to return home, they must unravel mysteries, escape snares and villains, find one another, and search for the elusive Oracle. The Peacock Door is a rich story of camaraderie, courage, and determination with a bit of whimsy sprinkled throughout. - Amazon.com
I love reading middle grade novels because they make the world so much simpler. Same thing with this novel. This tale of eight cousins is so sweet and amazingly well done. The character development was very well done and you could tell that each character had their own voice. The plot and pacing were very well done as well and the story kept my interest throughout the whole book. The writing was also very well done and very age approrpriate for middle graders.
The only issue I could find with the book is that so many characters could overwhelm some readers. While the book is really well written and it's easy to tell when each character speaks or does something, it might still be slightly overwhelming for some readers to remember all of these seperate characters.
Verdict: Phenominal book and one that I'll keep for my kids. Definitely recommend if you have a young child who loves fantasy reads.
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 223
Amazon
Author
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author! All opinions are my own.
Marley Craw is dead. Dead as a deadbolt DEAD. But death is only the beginning for our deceased heroine. When it comes to the afterlife, Marley’s fate is unclear. Having lived a good-but-not-GREAT, selfish-but-not-WICKED life, Marley’s landed herself on the UNDECLARED list. Now, this before-her-prime beauty will spend her nether-days under the watchful eye of two grim reapers.
And the reapers?
They’re hot as Hell.
Two sexy reapers, one unfortunate ghost, and enough heat to wake the dead. WHO will win Marley’s SOUL? - Amazon.com
I want to start this review by saying that this book was outside of my normal realm of reading. I have been burned by many angel/devil/afterlife tales like Hush Hush, The Lovely Bones, and Firstlife and so I was very hesitant to read this book. But Brindi Quinn wrote this book and she's one of my faves so I gave it a try. I will say that the first half of the book I was not feeling it. It focused a lot on the love triangle and ever since Firstlife by Gena Showalter I have hated love triangles. But I kept with it and it got a ton better in the second half of the book. Marley was not a lovestruck girl anymore, she had amazing character development in the second half of the novel and I felt for her. I can't really say anyone else had character development, but Marley... omg my heart broke for her. I felt the pacing of the book was also really good and the writing was excellent. While this book wasn't my favorite by Brindi I can't fault her on her writing. The book is wrote from the inner monologue of Marley and her writing is how a 17 year old girl would talk.
However, I did feel that while this book was good it could have been better. I think this book really could benefit from a prologue from the viewpoint of Pine and/or Minx to explain more about the rules of this universe and I think there could have been more of Beck in the novel as well. He seemed to just be a plot device and I don't really like plot device only characters lol. I only say that the book needed a prologue because I spent the whole first half of the novel very frustrated with the book. It felt like a typical love triangle book and I know Brindi does better than that. What saved the book was the explantion of the rules, Marley's backstory, etc. and I think that if we had that before the second half of the novel I would have liked it more.
Verdict: Overall, it's a decent story, I've just been burned by one too many love triangle books. If you like afterworld books this book is for you and it's a very sexy tale, but it didn't light up any fires for me unfortunately. Brindi has other amazing books if you don't think you'd be a fan of this one though that you should totally check out. Here's the review links for Zillow Stone and Lightborne to highlight the other two I've read and reviewed.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 223
Amazon
Author
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author! All opinions are my own.
Marley Craw is dead. Dead as a deadbolt DEAD. But death is only the beginning for our deceased heroine. When it comes to the afterlife, Marley’s fate is unclear. Having lived a good-but-not-GREAT, selfish-but-not-WICKED life, Marley’s landed herself on the UNDECLARED list. Now, this before-her-prime beauty will spend her nether-days under the watchful eye of two grim reapers.
And the reapers?
They’re hot as Hell.
Two sexy reapers, one unfortunate ghost, and enough heat to wake the dead. WHO will win Marley’s SOUL? - Amazon.com
I want to start this review by saying that this book was outside of my normal realm of reading. I have been burned by many angel/devil/afterlife tales like Hush Hush, The Lovely Bones, and Firstlife and so I was very hesitant to read this book. But Brindi Quinn wrote this book and she's one of my faves so I gave it a try. I will say that the first half of the book I was not feeling it. It focused a lot on the love triangle and ever since Firstlife by Gena Showalter I have hated love triangles. But I kept with it and it got a ton better in the second half of the book. Marley was not a lovestruck girl anymore, she had amazing character development in the second half of the novel and I felt for her. I can't really say anyone else had character development, but Marley... omg my heart broke for her. I felt the pacing of the book was also really good and the writing was excellent. While this book wasn't my favorite by Brindi I can't fault her on her writing. The book is wrote from the inner monologue of Marley and her writing is how a 17 year old girl would talk.
However, I did feel that while this book was good it could have been better. I think this book really could benefit from a prologue from the viewpoint of Pine and/or Minx to explain more about the rules of this universe and I think there could have been more of Beck in the novel as well. He seemed to just be a plot device and I don't really like plot device only characters lol. I only say that the book needed a prologue because I spent the whole first half of the novel very frustrated with the book. It felt like a typical love triangle book and I know Brindi does better than that. What saved the book was the explantion of the rules, Marley's backstory, etc. and I think that if we had that before the second half of the novel I would have liked it more.
Verdict: Overall, it's a decent story, I've just been burned by one too many love triangle books. If you like afterworld books this book is for you and it's a very sexy tale, but it didn't light up any fires for me unfortunately. Brindi has other amazing books if you don't think you'd be a fan of this one though that you should totally check out. Here's the review links for Zillow Stone and Lightborne to highlight the other two I've read and reviewed.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Pages: 240
Amazon
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. Thank you so much! All opinons are my own.
After having the same strange dream, siblings Rachel and Eric find themselves being transported to another world where Rachel's special powers come into play to help free the children that have been captured by the evil Dragwena. - Amazon.com
So to start this review off I do want to say that I do love books that have that Harry Potter/Narnia type feel to them and I felt this book fit that perfectly. The book was highly imaginative, the world building was fantastic, and the characters felt like real children instead of mini adults who know how to solve all the world's issues.
However, I did feel like the book didn't keep my interest. I'm not sure why but I could walk off from the book and not feel a need to go back to it. I blame my funky mood I've been in lately. I also felt that the plot was a bit similiar to other middle grade books I've read.
Verdict: If you're looking for a middle grade book that your child might love if they like magical books like Narnia then this book is for you! If you're an older reader this book might drag a bit for you.
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Pages: 240
Amazon
I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. Thank you so much! All opinons are my own.
After having the same strange dream, siblings Rachel and Eric find themselves being transported to another world where Rachel's special powers come into play to help free the children that have been captured by the evil Dragwena. - Amazon.com
So to start this review off I do want to say that I do love books that have that Harry Potter/Narnia type feel to them and I felt this book fit that perfectly. The book was highly imaginative, the world building was fantastic, and the characters felt like real children instead of mini adults who know how to solve all the world's issues.
However, I did feel like the book didn't keep my interest. I'm not sure why but I could walk off from the book and not feel a need to go back to it. I blame my funky mood I've been in lately. I also felt that the plot was a bit similiar to other middle grade books I've read.
Verdict: If you're looking for a middle grade book that your child might love if they like magical books like Narnia then this book is for you! If you're an older reader this book might drag a bit for you.
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: YA Thriller
Pages:336
Amazon
Author
I was provided an arc of this book by KidLitExchange. All opinions are my own.
Flight.
All Kayla Asher wants to do is run. Run from the government housing complex she calls home. Run from her unstable mother. Run from a desperate job at No Limits Food. Run to a better, cleaner, safer life. Every day is one day closer to leaving.
Fight.
All Betsy Hopewell wants to do is survive. Survive the burner phone hidden under her bed. Survive her new rules. Survive a new school with new classmates. Survive being watched. Every minute grants her another moment of life.
When fate brings Kayla and Betsy together, only one girl will survive. - Amazon.com
If you ever wanted a YA book that didn't have typical dimwitted female characters then this is the book for you. I felt the characters of this book were phenominally well written and the writing style as a whole was amazing. I also thought that the pacing was very well done. Thrillers have been my hit or miss spot this year and for the most part this book really did the right things for me as a reader.
But there were a couple of things that I had issues with that definitely lowered the rating for me. The first part of this book was horribly confusing. The first part of the book really did make me want to just put it down and walk away, but I persisted. The first part is also kind of choppy as well, but the writing and the plot do get better as you progress throughout the book. I do think that the book could have been structured better and that the tension could have been built up better in the beginning of the book.
Verdict: I think this book was a good thriller, but the beginning made me question how much I really wanted to read this book. If you like thrillers this is a definite must read, but if you're a fairweather reader then this may not be for you.
Genre: YA Thriller
Pages:336
Amazon
Author
I was provided an arc of this book by KidLitExchange. All opinions are my own.
Flight.
All Kayla Asher wants to do is run. Run from the government housing complex she calls home. Run from her unstable mother. Run from a desperate job at No Limits Food. Run to a better, cleaner, safer life. Every day is one day closer to leaving.
Fight.
All Betsy Hopewell wants to do is survive. Survive the burner phone hidden under her bed. Survive her new rules. Survive a new school with new classmates. Survive being watched. Every minute grants her another moment of life.
When fate brings Kayla and Betsy together, only one girl will survive. - Amazon.com
If you ever wanted a YA book that didn't have typical dimwitted female characters then this is the book for you. I felt the characters of this book were phenominally well written and the writing style as a whole was amazing. I also thought that the pacing was very well done. Thrillers have been my hit or miss spot this year and for the most part this book really did the right things for me as a reader.
But there were a couple of things that I had issues with that definitely lowered the rating for me. The first part of this book was horribly confusing. The first part of the book really did make me want to just put it down and walk away, but I persisted. The first part is also kind of choppy as well, but the writing and the plot do get better as you progress throughout the book. I do think that the book could have been structured better and that the tension could have been built up better in the beginning of the book.
Verdict: I think this book was a good thriller, but the beginning made me question how much I really wanted to read this book. If you like thrillers this is a definite must read, but if you're a fairweather reader then this may not be for you.