Review: Wrecked by Maria Padian

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review. 

Genre: Contemporary
Publication: October, 4/2016 by Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 368 Pages
Format: eARC
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary
Everyone on campus has a different version of what happened that night.

Haley saw Jenny return from the party, shell-shocked.

Richard heard Jordan brag about the cute freshman he hooked up with.


When Jenny accuses Jordan of rape, Haley and Richard are pushed to opposite sides of the school’s investigation. Now conflicting versions of the story may make bringing the truth to light nearly impossible—especially when reputations, relationships, and whole futures are riding on the verdict.

My Thoughts
I feel I like I start a lot of reviews saying this, but I don't know where I stand with this book. It handles a very important topic, sexual assault. These are important stories to tell but this wasn't my favourite book. I found most of the characters were quite flat, and stereotypes of different types of university students. Especially, the character Carrie. She was offended by everything and was the activist trope to a T. Every scene she was in, she rubbed me the wrong way.

However, I felt the actual sexual assault was handled well. I found the proceedings to be the most interesting part of the story and trying to piece together what really happened to Jenny. I liked that you were shown small bits of the night in question between Haley and Richard's chapters. I did like that the story was told from Haley and Richard's POV's. It gave a different perspective to the whole situation. I felt like their reactions were both very realistic. Sometimes standing by your friends is exhausting and hard and to what extent can you trust your friends?

I think this covers really important topics and it's an interesting way to tell the story. However, it's not the most impactful story. It got a little lost in the romance and the problems of the other students. It's still a good novel addressing the problem of sexual assault and what is consent. It helps to spread awareness and adds to the conversation which is important.

Top 10 Tuesday: Books I Recently Added to my TBR

TTT is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

As readers we know that we have an endless TBR. There are too many books to read and not enough time. I feel like I am adding a new book to my TBR everyday. So here are the last 10 books that I recently added to my TBR.

Of Fire and Stars
Audrey Coulthurst

This book follows a Princess Mynaria who is betrothed to a Prince for another Kingdom to create an alliance. However, in this kingdom magic is forbidden and Mynaria has a growing talent for magic. On top of all that, she may be falling for the Prince's sister.

This book sounds amazing! I comes out later this month and I am very excited to check it out.

A Head Full of Ghosts
Paul Tremblay

Marjorie is a 14-year-old who starts to show the signs of schizophrenia and the doctors can't seem to control her illness. He family is unraveling and they ask a priest for help. Could she be possessed by a demon? Or is it really just a mental illness.

I love ghosts and demons. I think a thriller that's trying to figure out what's really wrong with this girl and the family as a whole could be awesome.

Sucktown, Alaska
Craig Dirkes 

Eddie needs an adventure, so he takes a job in Bethel, Alaska as a reporter. When he realizes it's not what he expected he can't seem to pack up and go. He's tied to the relationships he's made and doesn't have the money to leave. He might end up in trouble trying to get home.

I just got an ARC of this book and I am pretty excited to read it. It isn't released until May 2017 but it sounds awesome.

The Bone Witch
Rin Chupeco

Tea accidentally discovers she's a Bone Witch by resurrecting her brother from the dead. Her community fears and ostracizes her. She goes to a distant land to train to become an Asha which is a person who can use elemental magic. But there is a dark force coming and choices will have to be made.

I always get excited about a new fantasy and this one is definitely on my radar.

As I Descended 
Robin Talley

This is a retelling of McBeth, set in high school with a lesbian romance. It's also a gendered swapped, so our main character is a female. If you know the story of McBeth, you get an idea of what this book is about.

I have heard so many people talking about this one, and I am excited to check it out. I read McBeth in high school and enjoyed it so I am interested in this one.

Romeo and/or Juliet
Ryan North

This is a choose your adventure, Romeo and Juliet style. You can play as Romeo or Juliet (or both). There is apparently MANY different storylines, including taking over Verona with Robots or Juliet getting really buff.

As a kid I used to love choose your own adventures and as soon as I saw this one I needed to have it. I don't have it yet... BUT I WILL.

Misery
Stephen King

Novelist Paul Sheldon is involved in a car accident and his nurse Annie Wilkes is his biggest fan. But she's mad about his last book and holds him hostage until he writes the book that she wanted. And she has ways to get him to write.

I saw a few people talking about this book during Halloween and I got super excited to read it. I have enjoyed King in the past, so I really want to read this one.

Flame in the Mist
Renee Ahdieh

This book may be hard to explain in a quick blurb but it sounds very inspired by Mulan. It follows Mariko but because she is a female he future is out of her hands. She's being forced into a political marriage but on her way she gets attacked. She dresses as a boy to track down her attackers.

Just the idea of a girl dressing as a boy to get what she wants is one of my favourite tropes. I love Mulan and I can't wait to get a different story along that same vein.

What have you added to your TBR lately? Are any of these books on your TBR? 

Let me know.

Current Library Holds List

I love my library and it always feels like I have something on hold that I am waiting for. Since I am a student on a limited budget, the library has been my saving grace. The one I go to is especially beautiful and has an awesome collection. This will likely become a regular post on my blog, but here is what I have on hold currently. This includes both physical books from the shelves as well as the ebooks and audiobooks on overdrive.

Physical Books

   

   

Ghosts by Raina Telemeier - This one is still in processing but I am very excited to read it. It's a children's graphic novel about siblings, one of which has cystic fibroses, move to a new place that is suppose to have ghosts. 

Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur Vol 1: BFF - This graphic novel just seems perfectly up my alley. I typically get all the graphic novels I read from the library and I can't wait for this one to come in.

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee - I just recently put this one on hold. I have been looking for something different than what I normally read and I think this one will do the trick.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake - I have been interested in this one since people started to get ARCs of it back at BEA. I am very excited to see what this fantasy has in store for me. I think it's also still in processing but it will be in my hands soon.

Overdrive

   

The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer - I am waiting for the audiobook of this one. I feel like audiobooks are the best way to experience memoirs or celebrity novels. This way be a long wait tough...

Gotham Academy Vol 2: Calamity - Why did my library buy this in ebook instead of physical? I have no idea but I am dying to read the second book in this comic book series. I am next in line and very excited.

Misery by Stephen King - I was watching The Goldbergs this week and they were talking about this book and I needed to read it after. I am a King fan, so I can't wait to read this.

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan - How long have I been saying I was going to read this? I even had the audiobook out once and just didn't get to it. I am ready now and excited to continue this series. 

Do you use your library? What's on your holds right now?

Review: The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: September. 2/2016 by Henry Holt and Co.
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #3
Pages: 679 Pages
Format: Library/ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary:
Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it.

With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down.


In this conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance.

My Thoughts:
I finally finished this book AND I finished a series. Woohoo! The slump was real when I started reading this book but I persevered and finished it. This was an awesome ending to a solid series. It's hard to talk about the details because it is the last book in a series, however it wrapped everything up as needed.

The main reason I took this one down a star was because I felt like the middle was quite slow. The battle was only the last few chapters, and the rest of the book wasn't high action. Instead there was a lot of politics involved and planning. Which is interesting and important but I found it slowed down near the middle. But I absolutely loved how the story wrapped up and where all the characters ended up. I was hoping that Lia ended up where she did so I was super happy to see it.

In the end, this series was awesome. I found it got much better as it went along. For me, the second book was my favourite in the series which doesn't often happen. I just loved the setting in that one just a little bit more, plus the Komizar is an amazing villain (and still is in this book). I highly recommend this series to fantasy lovers, I am very happy to have read it.

September and October In Review

It's been a long time since I have sat down and written a blog post. I have had a tough semester, which has given me a very intense blogging and reading slump. It's definitely been a struggle but I feel like I want to read again. Woohoo! And maybe even blog. I have enjoyed what I read these last few months, so let's talk about it.

  

  

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab {5 out of 5 Stars}

Princess in Training by Meg Cabot {3 out of 5 Stars}

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski {3 out of 5 Stars}

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling {5 out of 5 Stars}

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling {5 out of 5 Stars}

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson {4 out of 5 Stars}

Favourite of the Month: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (besides Harry Potter)

Least Favourite of the Month: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

General Thoughts: More than half of these I listened to on audiobook but that doesn't matter. I feel like I am getting in a YA Fantasy rut and I need to take a break from it for a bit. Too many in a row, just need to take a bit of a break. Besides that and the slump from school hell, all was well.

   

Sunday Post #14: Happy Halloween

Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

I have been a shit blogger lately, I am blaming it on school. It's the best part of going to University, nobody ever questions you when you're busy. The slump was real but I am getting back in my groove. Besides that my life has been fun. Last night was out at a Halloween party, I was Minnie Mouse. Unfortunately no pictures to document the experience, but you can be assured I was a damn cute Minnie. If you dressed me up, let me know what you were below.

Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

September & October in Review

Review: The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

 

I am finally getting to my review books, the semester is has really been real. So far, so good though. I also picked up the audiobook of Afterworlds from the library and it's pretty good too. 

 

Both were great. Review for A Beauty of Darkness is coming this week. Harry Potter is always amazing clearly. Let me know what you read this week. 

Happy Halloween!

Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Fantasy
Publication: March 12, 2014 by Farrar Straus Giroux
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #1
Pages: 355 Pages
Format: Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Summary:
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.


Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

My Thoughts:
I am not completely sure where I stand at the end of this book. This is one of a the few times I felt like I needed a half star. But I am going to stick to my system and give this a solid 3 stars. I think the hype got to me with this one. I have been hearing amazing things for years now and I was left feeling like I was missing something. I was just a bit underwhelmed.

There were lots of things that I liked. Kestrel was a great character. She wasn't the character that was amazing at everything. She isn't a strong warrior, and is often gossiped about. She is intelligent and an extremely good strategist.  I love smart women, because brains is often better than brawn. Intelligence is often underestimated.

However, I felt like I knew the story line from early on. There wasn't a whole lot of surprises for me. The story never truly wowed me and I still don't completely understand the romance. I do plan to continue this series, there is lots of potential. It's just not on the top of my list. I think I have been reading too much fantasy lately and need a break.