Review: The Iron Trial by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Genre: Fantasy
Publications: 09/09/2014 by Scholastic
Series: The Magisterium #1
Pages: 295 Pages
Format: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.
Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .

My Thoughts:
I was really surprised with this book. I didn't have extremely high expectations because I have heard lots of mixed reviews about it. But this book grabbed my attention from the beginning and I was drawn right into the story. A lot of people compared it to Harry Potter, which I didn't see (at least in this first book). I felt that it had a unique magic system and the Magisterium itself was an interesting setting. 

This story took some really interesting twists and turns. Some of them were predictable, but considering this book is targeted for middle grade audiences they made sense. However, I was surprised by most of the plot twists. I also really enjoyed the characters. Their motivations were strong and I am excited to see where the series takes them.

I think this will be a really interesting series and I am planning on picking up The Copper Gauntlet soon from my library. I would highly recommend this book to lovers of middle grade adventure books. I have high hopes for this series, 2 thumbs up.

Review: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 02/24/2015 by Tor Books
Series: Shades of Magic #1
Pages: 400 Pages
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Kell is one of the last Antari, a rare magician who can travel between parallel worlds: hopping from Grey London — dirty, boring, lacking magic, and ruled by mad King George — to Red London — where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire — to White London — ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne, where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back — and back, but never Black London, because traveling to Black London is forbidden and no one speaks of it now.

Officially, Kell is the personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see, and it is this dangerous hobby that sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to take her with him for her proper adventure.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save both his London and the others, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive — a feat trickier than they hoped.

My Thoughts
This was the kind of book I have been looking for. I have been craving some really good fantasy and this did the trick. It's in a rich and exciting fantasy world with some serious adventure. I really enjoyed my time listening to this story, it kept me interested the whole time. 

One thing that was a bit confusing (especially in the audiobook) was keeping track of the different worlds and who was the monarchy of each. Each different London has different levels of magic which is easy to confuse. But it was less confusing than I anticipated, especially where alternatives world are involved.

What I really enjoyed was the cast of characters in the this book. Kell and Lila were fantastic leads. I often have a hard time connecting with characters but I didn't have an issue with this book. Even the side characters were fantastic. I really enjoyed this book, and if you are looking for a good high fantasy book check this one out!

Review: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 01/05/2016 by Tor Teen
Series: The Witchlands #1
Pages: 416 Pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

My Thoughts: 
This was a ride, a long ride. A lot happened from where we began to where this book ended, this series is really going to be an awesome journey. There was a lot that I liked about this book but I also found that there were certain parts that dragged. It took me a really long time to read this book, but there was a lot to learn about this new world and it took me some time to get into it. The world was built slowly as you read and this world has a lot of elements that it took me some time to get used to. 

In general, I had a lot of fun reading this book. I see a lot of potential in this series and there is a lot of stuff to still learn. We were left with a lot of unanswered questions and you just know that many more things are going to happen before we get any resolution. What I like the most about this book is the characters. All of the characters have a lot of depth and are well developed. They are all very different and you can form connections with them. Safi and Iseult have an awesome friendship and they both have extremely strong powers which they still need to harness. There is so much power between them which is going to cause a lot of explosive events. 

This was a strong beginning to an new series. I felt that it dragged a bit in the middle and that's where the story lost me for awhile but the rest of the book was strong. I am predicting that this series is going to get very intense along the way and I am excited to continue reading on when the next book comes out. High recommend this book if you are a fan of fantasy. 

Review: Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 09/01/2015 by Feiwel & Friends
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy #2
Pages: 352 Pages
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Lily Proctor has made it back to her own universe, and she’s ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the pyre that fueled their escape, and they must hide her new magic or risk endangering the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.

“You think I’m a monster, but…my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.”

Unfortunately, Lillian, malevolent ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. Lily is the closest version of herself she’s ever seen in all her worldwalking, and Lillian’s running out of time. If she can’t persuade Lily and Rowan to return to her world, she’ll have to find a way to make them come back.

My Thoughts:
This series is kind of addictive. It's not great but I enjoy it while I'm reading it. I think the concept is unique and I haven't read anything else like it. However, I also find the world somewhat confusing. Especially, since the book jumped right back into the story right from where Trial by Fire left off. It took me some time to remember what happened in the first book but once I did I was good to go. 

These books are fast paced and they are pretty quick to get through. What I don't really enjoy as much about the story is that Lily is essentially helpless without her coven with her. I prefer my leading ladies to be strong in their own right. To make up for it, at least Lily is smart and can make logical decisions. I also have a weird love/hate relationship with the romance at this point. Rowan made some seriously harsh decisions and that hurt my ship. But I did like that this book approached sex, and didn't hold back because it was "young adult". 

I am excited to see how this series ends, the story ended on an emotional cliff hanger and it's time to get some closure. This is a fun series but not going to make any of my top lists. I would recommend this to people who are into witch books because this is an interesting take on a witch story. 

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, YA
Publication: 05/07/2012 by Bloomsbury
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Pages: 404 Pages
Source: Library Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My Thoughts:
I was honestly very surprised by this book. I went into it knowing the hype around the series and I thought that I was just going to think it was mediocre. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I was really enjoying reading this book.  I understand where people were coming from when they say they love it because it's definitely a fun read. 

I really enjoyed Celaena, she didn't have your typical assassin tropes which was awesome. She could be badass and a girl all at the same time. She made reasonable decision and you can understand where she was coming from. I really enjoyed how she approached the romance aspect, she was realistic and I applaud her for it. 

I am very excited to see where this story goes, because I am so late in the game I know there are so many twists and turns ahead of me. That's what interested me most while reading this first book, I kept thinking about how different the story could end up in the future. I am excited to continue on and experience this world deeper. 

Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Hero's of Olympus #1
Publication: 10/12/2010 by Disney Hyperion
Pages: 557 Pages
Source: Overdrive
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary
Jason has a problem.
He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper, and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret.
Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare about his being in trouble. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits during the school trip, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools.
When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about, and some camper who;s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god. Does this have anything to do with Jason's amnesia, or the fact that Leo keeps seeing ghosts?


My Thoughts: 
Rick Riordan is always super fun to read but I have never been blown away by any of his books. Does this mean I am getting old? The Lost Hero is another series in the Percy Jackson universe and just like Percy Jackson it's packed full of adventure. That's what I like most about Riordan's books is that there is always something new going on. They're full on adventure books and I wish I had read these when I was younger. 

Since I am older now, I find these books to be very formulaic. They're is always a quest, followed by madness and adventure. But I always gravitate to these books when I need something fun and easy to read. I have never had a bad time with Riordan and he's always a safe bet for a fun book and an interesting story. I know I would have enjoyed this more when I was younger, and I highly recommend this to young teens everywhere. But if you're like me and not a young teenager this is still a fun book but it's not going to be ground breaking. 

Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 07/04/2014 by Henry Holt
Series: The Remnant Chronicles
Pages: 492 Pages
Format: Overdrive Audiobook
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Summary:
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

My Thoughts:
I have been waiting to read this forever! When I saw that it was available on audiobook through my library, I grabbed it. I wasn't as impressed by this book as I wanted to be. I did enjoy this book but I wasn't completely blown away. I really liked the concept: princess runs away, and is followed by an assassin and the prince she was suppose to marry. I do think that this was done very well, and I didn't guess who was who until it was relieved. It always kept you on your toes, especially when she was with these guys. However, this set up does end up creating love triangles which I felt strange about. I knew going in that it would happen but I just wanted Leah to be with one of these guys. I think she only truly has feelings for one and not the other. 

Leah was an awesome character. I really enjoyed her character development and I really enjoy that her strength isn't a physical strength. She isn't a total badass, but she still is very brave and intelligent. She understands the repercussions of her actions, and allows them to shape who she is becoming. 

I found the pacing in this book to be slow. There wasn't as much action as I expected, it's mostly character driven story with lots of politics between different nations in the world. The world building was interesting but not much different than other fantasy books I have read. I think I was even getting it confused with other worlds in different books. I like my fantasy worlds to be distinct, sure there are going to be some similarities but I don't want to confuse worlds. 

Conclusions: Enjoyable story with a very interesting premise. I can see great things coming from the sequel, but I was slightly underwhelmed by this one. If you like fantasy with some romance, check this one out. 

Quote: "Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods…
But even the great can tremble with fear.
Even the great can fall"

Review: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: 07/25/06 by Tor Fantasy
Series: Mistborn
Pages: 643 pages
Format: Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary:
Once, a hero arose to save the world. A young man with a mysterious heritage courageously challenged the darkness that strangled the land.

He failed.

For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist ruled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably.

Yet somehow, hope survives. Hope that dares to dream of ending the empire and even the Lord Ruler himself. A new kind of uprising is being planned, one built around the ultimate caper, one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine, a street urchin who must learn to master Allomancy, the power of a Mistborn.

My Thoughts:
This was awesome. It may have taken me forever to read, but it really is an interesting story. It might have been a huge book but I never felt bored. I was engaged with the story while I was reading it and the world that Sanderson created was so clear and mystical. I felt like I had a good grasp on the world and how Allomancy worked. Often when I read fantasy, I get lost and don't understand the world. This definitely didn't happen with The Final Empire. 

I have had this problem where I haven't been able to get into the characters while I read. This hasn't always been the case, but recently I just haven't cared enough about any character to really get invested. Until I read this book. I am attached to all of the characters. Vin is an amazing lead, and her growth throughout this novel was stellar. I can't wait to see how far she comes in the next 2 books. I even shipped her hard with Elend. I fell hard for the 2 of them together and I have strong feelings regarding them together. This doesn't happen to me! Where are all these feels coming from. 

I am dying to know how the story continues in the next few books. For now, I am going to take a break and get some of the mess that built up read. This book has really shown me how interested I am in the fantasy genre and that I shouldn't back down from serious high fantasy. I definitely recommend this book to everyone. It's fantastic. 

Quote: 
“Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope.” 

Review: Snow Like Ashes - Sara Raasch

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication: 10/14/14 by Balzer + Bray
Series: Snow Like Ashes Series
Pages: 416 Pages
Format: Library Audiobook
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Goodreads Summary: 
Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since. Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.


My Thoughts: 
I absolutely loved Snow Like Ashes! I haven't been so excited about a book for a long time. The story was beautifully crafted and I loved the world this took place in. I really enjoyed the combination of the rhythm kingdoms and the season kingdoms, it added a lot of depth to the story. Tension and political intrigue is present between all the kingdoms adding a whole extra element to the story. Winter had been enslaved by the Spring Kingdom. So you really feel for the Winterians' and throughout the book I had no idea how they'd be rescued from slavery.

Meira was an awesome main character. She didn't have the "I'm so special" main character complex which I appreciated. She was strong, brave and just wanted to mean something to Winter. It was interesting to see her internal struggles to feel connected to a kingdom she had never really known. This book does however have a slight love triangle, however it is one that makes sense. I am not sure how this will play out in the rest of the trilogy but I hope it never becomes the prominent story line. Both of these boys however are very swoon worthy. Prince Theron is the charming, gentleman you dream of sweeping you off your feet and making you a Princess.

The ending was fantastic. It wrapped things up in this story but leaves so much open to happen in the following books. I don't know how the sequel is going to play out but I already have it pre-ordered! I am dying to know what's going to happen to these characters and their kingdom.

Conclusions: Clearly, I loved this book. It easily became one of my favourites this year. If you are a fan of fantasy, seriously try this one out. It's got great characters and amazing world building. Read it!

Reveiw: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication: 08/28/15 by Razorbill
Series: An Ember in the Ashes
Pages: 446 pages
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Laia is a slave.

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy. There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

My Thoughts: 
Whenever I start a a first book in a new series I tend to feel like this:

An Ember in the Ashes was no exception. I was fucking confused in the beginning and I wasn't drawn into the characters. There was a lot to learn about the world and it took me awhile to a handle on it. However, this is unlike any other YA book I have ever read. It definitely would appeal to a more mature audience. There was a lot of references rape, violence and general abuse. 

The biggest thing that took away from the book was how long it took me to get into it. I wasn't connected with any of the characters in the beginning. But as I kept reading, around 200 pages I finally started to feel something.

That last little bit is what really sold me on this novel. I really started to fall for the characters and the romances that are present. The plot was interesting and I really enjoyed the turns it took. However, I am getting tired of the one ruling empire vs the rebels dynamic. I feel like that's what every second I read is book is about and it's getting old. 

In Conclusion: I started this book pretty bored. It was only just okay until over halfway. After that it actually became pretty awesome. I was nether blown away or disappointed by this one. If fantasy is your thing, check this out. 

Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling, Romance
Published: 05/12/15 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn
Pages: 388
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Amazon | Goodreads | Indigo

Goodreads Summary
Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all. 

Review:
This book seriously makes me want to watch Aladdin again. 

The Wrath and the Dawn is a fun, exotic, and interesting retelling of 1001 Nights. Even though I don't really even know the original... oppies. Ever since starting this book I have had the song "Arabian Nights" from Aladdin stuck in my head. I did really enjoy this book. My biggest problem with it was that I found the beginning quite slow. I wasn't invested in the story or the characters until after the first 1/4 of the book. However, I did eventually buy into the story and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I am a sucker for romance, I accept that as a fact in my life and don't deny myself cheesy romance. I really enjoyed Shazi and Khalid together, it might not be the easiest romance to buy into but I really enjoyed them. They definitely have chemistry, and you can really tell from the way the author described them together. However, I am going to be super annoyed if there is a love triangle going on in the next book. Shazi and Tariq have history but she knows she loves Khalid and doesn't feel any connection to Tariq anymore. 

Shazi is also a strong female character which is really good to see. She doesn't have to become strong, she just is from page one. I liked seeing her be brave at every turn because becoming Khalid's bride was incredibly brave. I also like how she doesn't want to be Khalid's possession, I am like that in my relationships too so I loved seeing that. Khalid is your fairly typical distant romantic interest. You know he is keeping a secret and most of the book which you are craving to find out what that is. I did like this plot point, I kind of guessed it early on but I still enjoyed it. You really learn why he is the way he is and you definitely feel for him.

One thing that I really loved in this book was the description of the food they were eating. OMG, it made me starving. I have been craving flat bread dipped in oil for days now. If Renee Ahdieh gives up on fiction, she could make a killing as a food blogger. 

Conclusion: The Wrath and the Dawn was pretty awesome. I can see why so many people enjoy it. If you love romance with substance this is for you. I can really see this book taking some interesting turns in the next instalment. I would definitely recommend this book, 2 thumbs up! 

Review: Trial By Fire - Josephine Angelini

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published: 09/02/14 by Feiwel & Friends
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy
Pages: 374
Format: Library Hardback
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 Stars
Amazon | Goodreads | Indigo

Goodreads Summary 
This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear. Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.
What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

My Thoughts
Look at me, finally finishing a book! 

Trial by Fire took me forever to read. Not because it was bad but just because it did. Happens to the best of us. I enjoyed the ride that this novel took me on. It was very different from most of what I had read and it has witches. Very powerful witches. 

There were things that I really enjoyed about Trial by Fire and there were things that I didn't enjoy. I found that the narration of the story was confusing at times. It is told in Third Person but sometimes I feel like it switched to First Person and I got confused. Mostly it was third person which was refreshing at times. I enjoyed seeing multiple views without hearing everyone in first person. 

Now onto the plot, which for the most part I did enjoy. It follows Lily, who ends up being brought into an alternate version of Salem. My biggest problem while reading was that I didn't completely understand WHY she was brought into this world. I feel like there wasn't a solid reason, or if there was one I missed it. 

The romance however was awesome. It was exactly what was needed and worked well with the story. You can understand the motives of both the characters. In addition, there is some bromance that adds to the storyline. I enjoyed the side characters and all the magical elements. Very interesting.

I am a bit unsure of the science element in this novel. On one hand I absolutely loved it, I have my Bachelor's of Science and really enjoyed the use of the laws of thermodynamics in this novel. However, the villain was a crusade to eliminate science. Which I don't know if I liked. I love science and I makes me worried when fiction creates misconceptions about some of our greatest developments. I hope people know this a fictional world and before you draw conclusions please research the science in our world. 

Conclusions: Grips aside this was a very interesting novel and I am very interested to see where the series goes.  I found the magic system unique and I am attached to some of the characters. The second book in this series comes out in September and I will definitely be picking it up. 

Review: The Ugly Stepsister - Aya Ling

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retelling 
Published: 06/12/15 
Pages: 452
Format: ARC ebook, Netgalley
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Indigo

Goodreads Description: 

When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she's magically transported into the world of Cinderella--as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she'll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?

My Thoughts: 

Yup, I loved the shit out of this book. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did which makes the reading experience even better. This book is like when Pride and Prejudice meets Cinderella. It is a retelling of Cinderella but it is a version of Cinderella similar to Ever After (the movie) and less of the original tale. Kat, our leading lady, is a avid reader and makes hilarious references to books we all know and love (aka Harry Potter, Narnia, Jane Austin's). 

There was little that I didn't like about this book. The first I felt like the pacing at the beginning was very rushed but I didn't mind since that got us into the retelling super quick and that's what I was really there for. My biggest issues was the pretences that Kat was brought into "Story Land".  The book was made by goblins so when she broke it she was transported into the story. To get home she has to complete the story, I just found this a bit weird but I could overlook it for what actually happens during the story.

Now, what I love is everything else. I think I just love royalty but I  ship Prince Edward so hard it hurts. Kat describes him as Mr. Darcy but better looking. He is most definitely swoon worthy. There is a slow burn romance that literally killed me. My heart still hurts and I might have had a huge lump in my throat at the end. The romance is everything, and it hurts. 

The characters are all interesting and I really liked that it took place during the Social Season with all the ladies looking for suitors/husbands. There was also a good political subplot that gives this books so much more than just your basic retelling. I really loved this version of Cinderella. Highly recommend! 

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Oh man, this was definitely fun and a pretty good start to a new series. A Court of Thorns and Roses, is a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast but instead of a standard "Beast" there is faeries. This books has been everywhere and everyone seems to love it. However, in the beginning it took me some time to get into and I wasn't 100% sold on this novel. 

I found the first 100 pages quite slow, and it took me a decent amount of time to become invested in the story. But I do understand the need for a slow build. It is the first in a new series so you do need to set the stage for the rest of the books. Once the story, got going it didn't take a lot of time to get invested in the characters. 

And the characters in this book are pretty awesome. Our lead, Feyre, is "a normal human". I did like Feyre, she is strong and quite sure of herself. I enjoyed how she wasn't self conscious and remained true to herself and her feelings. The leading man in this book is Tamlin. I had a hard time picturing Tamlin, but I think I just wanted him to be tall dark and handsome instead of blond and etherial. However, there was some steamy scenes between Feyre and Tamlin. 

ACOTAR is classified as "New Adult" so there definitely is steamy. But I was a little let down and was expecting more steamy. I feel like I missed the part where Feyre went from hating Tamlin to loving him because I totally forget why it even happened. However, I think I just find the Beauty and the Beast story a bit far fetched to start with. 

The best part of this novel is end. I love the turn that the story took and how the Beauty and the Beast story intertwines with the story of the faerie kingdom. However, I am not sure about the potential love triangle that may be introduced. It may not happen but it may. I feel like what Feyre went through for Tamlin means they are meant to be together. 

(cough cough, this means you Rhys) 

Conclusions: Solid start to a new series and it's definitely enjoyable. Slow to start but the ending makes up for that. A solid steamy romance and lots of world building/politics. I can see this becoming a fantastic series with 2 more badass books. 

Rating: 4/5 Stars 

Review - Anglefall by Susan Ee

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Angelfall is a post-apocalyptic novel that takes place after the world has been destroyed by Angels. The story follows Penryn and her family trying to survive in this new world. When her sister is taken, Penryn needs the help from someone she thinks could be her enemy to get her back. 

I was actually very surprised with this book. It was filled with action and the story never took a dull turn. However, it isn't your traditional YA. You were painted a picture of the violence and gore. The the author didn't hold back on the bloody and disturbing descriptions, which I appreciated because that is what a post-apocalyptic world would look like. I really liked the main character, Penryn. She was a girl that could defend herself and didn't need anybody to carry her through life. She was a strong female lead and I didn't feel like she made any unwise or unrealistic decisions. I also found that Raffe was a good male lead, but I still feel like his character needs more time to grow. I feel like there is still a lot of mystery surrounding him and the other angels which I am excited for in the further novels. The romance (or not so romance) I feel was handled perfectly. You could see how conflicted they were but couldn't help but have some sort of loyalty to each other after what they went through. I also enjoyed how Susan Ee handled the mental illness of Penryns mother which I think added more depth to the story and the characters. 

Conclusions: 2 thumbs up from me. Angelfall is exciting and action packed. Very good solid characters and the story didn't slow down during any part. However, if you are not a fan of violence or bloody scenes during your books I would avoid this one. It reads like YA but with more adult content. I will definitly be continuing with the series.

Rating: 4/5 (Perfect for fans of post-apocalyptic books)

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me follows a teenage girl named Juliette who had a special power, her touch is lethal. Our story begins where she is locked up in a prison/mental institution and hasn't spoken to anyone in nearly a year. Juliette is broken and believes herself to be a monster. She spends her days looking out her window at the destroyed world outside. Which has changed due to environmental impacts caused by humans. When Juliette gets a roommate, her life is changed forever. 

Honestly, in the beginning I wasn't enjoying this book. I had a very hard time getting into the writing style. I found the metaphors were overused along with certain phrases being crossed out. However, as the story went along it grew on me and I did enjoy it at the end. Once you get passed the beginning and into the meat of the story, it takes lots of interesting turns and keeps you interested. 

One other issue I had was with the love story (because no book can go without a love story :s). There was a lot of love, and not as much action as I would have hoped. I like to read dystopian because of the world building; however, Juliette and Adam were the center of the story. I also found it annoying that they kept thinking about having sex while on the run. Who has time to make out and have sex while running for their lives. Nobody! 

Don't get me wrong I did still enjoyed this book. Warner is a great villain, he is powerful and persistent. I want to know more about him and about what his plans really are for Juliette. Another thing I really like is that I don't know who to trust. You think Warner is the bad guy but is that really the truth? We shall see in future books.

Conclusions: I did actually enjoy this book. It was hard to get into but worth it once you get into it. I see a lot of potential in the rest of the series. I already own them so hopefully I get to them soon. I can see why lots of people love this book, and how others hate it as well. If you want to read it I recommend you give it a shot! 

Rating: 3.5/5  (Anyone else getting an X-Men Vibe?)

The Scorch Trials - James Dashner

 

     The Scorch Trials is the squeal to the Maze Runner, therefore I am not going to say too much about the plot. Since it is a sequel, it takes place after the events in The Maze Runner and the Gladers have a new phase of challenges to face from "Wicked".

   

    I liked The Maze Runner, but I didn't love it. I feel the way same about The Scorch Trials. It was okay, but I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. I felt like the action in this book was slow and I had a hard time getting into the story. My biggest gripe with this book was that I had a really hard time envisioning the descriptions that Dashner was giving us. Especially during the final action sequences, I had a very hard time picturing and even understanding what was even going on. It took me a lot longer than it should have to read just on these gripes alone. I am going to continue with the series, just because this book still leaves you with so many unanswered questions it will drive me nuts if I don't read The Death Cure. (and maybe even The Kill Order).

    Conclusions: I can see this series going downhill quickly. I am very worried about the amount of unanswered questions I'll have at the end. The Scorch Trials were suppose to be exciting and I just couldn't get into it. It will be unlikely that I recommend this series to anyone.

   Rating: 2.75/5 Stars (Do I even like this series?)