Review: Priest of Bones by Peter McLean

PRIEST OF BONES by Peter McLean

Release date: October 2, 2018

Publisher: Ace Books

Pages: 352

Reading level: Adult 

Series: War for the Rose Thorn Book 1 

Genre: Dark Fantasy 

Source: First to Read 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon  

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars 

It's a dangerous thing, to choose the lesser of two evils.
The war is over, and army priest Tomas Piety finally heads home with Lieutenant Bloody Anne at his side. When he arrives in the Stink, Tomas finds that his empire of crime has been stolen from him while at war. With his gang of Pious Men, Tomas will do whatever it takes to reclaim his businesses. But when he finds himself dragged into a web of political intrigue once again, and is forced to work in secret for the sinister Queen's Men, everything gets more complicated.
When loyalties stretch to the breaking point and violence only leads to violence, when people have run out of food, and hope, and places to hide, do not be surprised if they have also run out of mercy. As the Pious Men fight shadowy foreign infiltrators in the backstreet taverns and gambling dens of Tomas's old life it becomes clear; the war is not over.
It is only just beginning.

Review: 

I'm so glad I took a chance on this one because it was a fast paced and exciting read. PRIEST OF BONES follows Tomas Piety and his gang of Pious Men as they work to reclaim what was stolen from him when he was off fighting the Queen's war. He calls himself a "businessman", but he and his gang are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their businesses and the people of his hometown, Ellingberg. I have never seen Peaky Blinders which it has gotten some comparison towards, but I am a big fan of more modern gangster dramas like The Godfather and The Sopranos. I flew through this book and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Tomas Piety is an excellent main character. We get to see and experience everything through his eyes and while he may be a violent criminal, he only wants the best for his people. Tomas Piety cares about protecting the innocent and values the opinion of women, which is rare in those days. The fight scenes are riveting. Sword fights, explosions, and sneak attacks kept me hooked. Piety is incredibly loyal and hardworking and doesn't just sit back while others fight his fights. Religion is also explored as Tomas Piety is an army priest.

There are a ton of secondary characters, but they are all so distinctive it doesn't take too long to tell them apart. Still, since the story is through Piety's eyes we only know what he sees and hears, so many of the characters are still a bit mysterious. I especially liked the character of Bloody Anne, his second. Bloody Anne is one of the few other characters who has a fairly well developed back story and after reading about what she has been through, it made me admire her even more. Character development is so important and McLean does a great job of really drawing the reader in to Piety's head. In that sense, we are able to witness everything as he does. And he certainly witnesses some dark things.

PRIEST OF BONES is not light on the violence and the Pious Men are constantly fighting to protect what is theirs. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the inclusion of magic. It was very subtle, but magicians do play a role and I only wish there was more time in this book to delve into that even deeper. Hopefully the rest of the series will explore this further. There is so much to this world that I am curious about. As a whole this was an incredibly well written and engaging read. I highly recommend it! 

Review: The Similars by Rebecca Hanover

The Similars by Rebecca Hanover 

Release date: January 1, 2019

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 352

Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Science Fiction 

Source: NetGalley 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

When six clones join Emmaline’s prestigious boarding school, she must confront the heartbreak of seeing her dead best friend’s face each day in class.
The Similars are all anyone can talk about at the elite Darkwood Academy. Who are these six clones? What are the odds that all of them would be Darkwood students? Who is the madman who broke the law to create them? Emma couldn't care less. Her best friend, Oliver, died over the summer and all she can think about is how to get through her junior year without him. Then she comes face-to-heartbreaking-face with Levi—Oliver's exact DNA replica and one of the Similars.
Emma wants nothing to do with the Similars, but she keeps getting pulled deeper and deeper into their clique, uncovering dark truths about the clones and her prestigious school along the way. But no one can be trusted…not even the boy she is falling for who has Oliver's face.

Review: 

I really enjoyed THE SIMILARS! It was a unique concept and kept me engaged all the way through. The main setting of the story is Darkwood Academy. The school is meant for the best and the brightest young scholars and is also considered one of the most inclusive schools in the world. So, it makes sense that this would be the school to welcome six (controversial) young clones. I haven't read any books (that I can recall) about clones and while this one only touched the surface of the science behind their creation, I am interested in seeing more of that in the sequels. Cloning is already controversial now, so it makes sense that there would be such diverse opinions about actual clones attending school. The main character, Emmaline, has recently lost her best friend and is shocked when she realizes one of the clones is of her late best friend, Oliver. Emma is quickly caught up in the mystery surrounding the six clones and who they actually are.

For me, the first thing I thought of with the clones is Twilight. They were all raised by a foster father in the middle of nowhere and are basically siblings even though they aren't related. Thus, it seems weird that some of them are couples. The six clones all hang out together and are very mysterious. It all just made me think of the Cullen family and people's reaction to them at school. Anyway, beyond that, I found the idea very new and intriguing. The clones all have a "twin" at Darkwood and while some of the students welcome their clones, others are hostile and worried about how to handle this new version of themselves. There is romance, but it's not the main focus until closer to the end. Friendships have more of a key role. There were quite a few twists and turns in the plot and Emmaline quickly realizes many of the adults and peers in her life are not what they seem. The ending left me with a lot of questions, but I know a sequel is already in the works.

Maybe I missed it, but I'm not entirely sure what year this is supposed to be. There were mixes of new technology beyond the clones such as self driving buses, but I'd be interested in seeing more of this new world in future books. I definitely recommend checking out Rebecca Hanover's debut especially if you enjoy futuristic settings with a strong female character. 

Review: Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis

Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis

Release date: September 28, 2018

Publisher: Razorbill 

Pages: 456

Reading level: Young Adult 

Genre: Fantasy 

Source: First to Read 

Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island's wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn't quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.

All, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that's for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it's making its way toward the cities. With her family's life--and the lives of all of Lunar Island's citizens--on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.

Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy's most dangerous corners--and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.

Review:

Beth Revis' ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy was one of my favorites. I loved how unique and engaging it was. So, of course, I was eager to read GIVE THE DARK MY LOVE. While I didn't love this one quite as much, I still found it to be a great read. Fast paced, dark, and mysterious this was a great start to a new series. The story follows Nedra as she leaves her small town and family behind to attend school for alchemy. Meanwhile, there is a deadly plague ravaging the country and Nedra quickly becomes caught up in how she can find a cure for this disease, protect her family, and succeed as an alchemist.

The book was told in semi-alternating chapters between Nedra and fellow-student Greggori Astor. To me, this was Nedra's story though and I didn't get too much out of Greggori's character or felt he contributed much. It was sweet to see her be vulnerable with him, but beyond that I didn't love this part of the story. Nedra is incredibly strong-willed and independent and knows what she wants to accomplish. I enjoyed reading about her experiences at school, but even more so when she became more involved in directly combating the plague. What a horrible disease! Beth Revis did not hesitate to describe gruesome surgeries, slow deaths, and painful amputations. The practice of alchemy was interesting to me, but I would like to know more about the reasoning behind the rats and other aspects of alchemy that I didn't feel were fully explained.

The last half of the book was especially exciting and we get to see certain characters begin to descend more and more into the darkness. At almost 500 pages this is not a short book, but I read it fairly quickly. There are several plot twists that kept me guessing and while the ending wasn't necessarily a cliffhanger, I am interested in seeing what the sequels will bring. I am hoping to learn more about the world and how alchemy and necromancy will continue to shape the characters. 

Review: Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

SEAFIRE (Seafire, #1) by Natalie C. Parker 
Release date: August 28, 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 384
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: First to Read
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 4.25 out of 5 stars 

After her family is killed by corrupt warlord Aric Athair and his bloodthirsty army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx is left to chart her own course on the dangerous and deadly seas. She captains her ship, the Mors Navis, with a crew of girls and women just like her, whose lives have been turned upside down by Aric and his men. The crew has one misson: stay alive, and take down Aric's armed and armored fleet.
But when Caledonia's best friend and second-in-command just barely survives an attack thanks to help from a Bullet looking to defect, Caledonia finds herself questioning whether or not to let him join their crew. Is this boy the key to taking down Aric Athair once and for all...or will he threaten everything the women of the Mors Navis have worked for? 

Review: 

SEAFIRE was great! I loved the characters, the plot, and all of the exciting adventures. The story opens with Caledonia and her best friend losing their families to the evil Aric Athair and then continues with Caledonia captaining a ship full of fellow women as they fight to preserve their lives and stop Aric Athair. I've always enjoyed novels and movies that take place on ships. Pirates of the Caribbean is one of my favorite series on film and I've loved the Bloody Jack books for years. SEAFIRE was not historical fiction, but was taking place in an alternate world. Natalie C. Parker did an awesome job bringing this world to life. While the majority of the novel took place at sea, we also got to learn about different communities and groups of people on land. The ending was a big cliffhanger, so I am eager to read the second book when it is released.

Caledonia was an awesome main character. She was dealing with significant trauma because of her role in the loss of her family, but she was also a brave and well-liked captain. The relationships Caledonia had with her fellow crew members was my favorite part. You don't often come across a book with so many strong female characters and the relationships varied from close friendship to love. I especially enjoyed seeing Caledonia and Pisces (her oldest friend) challenge each other to be their best selves. Redtooth, Hyme, and Amina were all great secondary characters. There is romance, but it is not the main focus of the story and is more in the background. Caledonia is focused on getting revenge and protecting her crew first and foremost.

The beginning was a little slow, but the last half of the book was very exciting. We didn't get to see much of their enemy, Aric Athair, but I am sure he will make an appearance in the rest of the trilogy. Aric brainwashes and kidnaps kids from around the world and uses them to do his dirty work. This was an interesting concept, and I'm interested in seeing how that will play out. It only took me a day to read SEAFIRE and while I wish the ending gave more clarity, it left me eager for the sequel (which I'm sure won't be out for quite some time). If you are a fan of fast-paced adventure novels with a strong female cast of characters, this will not disappoint. 

Review: The Dry (Aaron Falk, #1) by Jane Harper

The Dry by Jane Harper
Release date: January 10, 2017
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 326
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Source: Gift
Series: Book 1
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.
Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets.

Review:

I'm torn between 4/4.5 stars because I did genuinely enjoy this one. I've been flying through thrillers lately and this one had some of the best reviews I'd seen. Right off the bat, one of the most unique aspects of THE DRY was simply the fact that it was from the male perspective. I realized I have not read many thrillers with a male main character in awhile. I liked it! Aaron Falk lives in Queensland, Australia and works as a federal agent, having left his small town out in the country many years ago. A funeral with mysterious circumstances brings him back and Aaron quickly becomes caught up in the action. Not only because the victim is his childhood best friend, but because of his own secrets that are starting to come to light.

Now, I understand if that description makes you hesitate a bit. There are quite a number of mystery novels (SHARP OBJECTS and ALL THE MISSING GIRLS immediately come to mind) in which the main character returns to their hometown and become caught up in the current situation all while battling their past. And yet, THE DRY felt different. Perhaps it was the setting that stood out. A small town in Australia facing the worst drought in years. The secondary characters are all very well-developed and it was neat to see the intersection between the new residents that were unfamiliar with Aaron's past and the old residents who were not too welcoming.

Aaron becomes involved in the case at the request of the victim's parents. It was a little strange how easily Aaron was able to "unofficially" get involved even if he was a federal agent, but maybe that's just how things work in the middle of nowhere Australia! He assists a local police officer in gathering clues and determining what actually happened. I liked seeing how each new twist was revealed and I have to say I was definitely surprised by the ending. Aaron faced quite a few challenges and lost the trust of almost every character at one point, but he persevered. I liked Aaron's toughness and how diligent he was in focusing on solving the murder even while his past was coming back to haunt him. THE DRY did have quite a few flashbacks as this was a sort of "two mysteries in one".

Overall, I enjoyed THE DRY. It was twisty and suspenseful and a start to a series I am definitely interested in continuing. My only faults were that some aspects of the plot seemed a bit unbelievable and there were a few overused mystery tropes.

Review: The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines

The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
Release date: July 19, 2011
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 352
Reading level: Young adult
Genre: Historical fiction/mystery
Series: Book 1
Source: Gift
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars 

Iris Anderson is only 15, but she's quickly mastering the art of deception in this YA novel for fans of Veronica Mars.
It's the Fall of 1942 and Iris's world is rapidly changing. Her Pop is back from the war with a missing leg, limiting his ability to do the physically grueling part of his detective work. Iris is dying to help, especially when she discovers that one of Pop's cases involves a boy at her school. Now, instead of sitting at home watching Deanna Durbin movies, Iris is sneaking out of the house, double crossing her friends, and dancing at the Savoy till all hours of the night. There's certainly never a dull moment in the private eye business.

Review:

This book has been sitting on my shelf for years and I am surprised at that. I love mysteries and historical fiction, plus the cover is very alluring. I can't say for sure whether I would have enjoyed this more if I had read it when I was 15, but I felt that it had a lot of promise that didn't ultimately deliver. THE GIRL IS MURDER is supposedly the first in a series, but I think this could have been a standalone. At 15, Iris lives alone with her father in New York and longs to be involved in his private detecting work. He forbids her, but Mr. Anderson's war injury combined with the fact that his latest case involves a missing student from her daughter's school, makes it hard for him to completely keep his daughter uninvolved. What follows is a quick read that involves Iris sneaking out and immersing herself in the case all while trying to help her dad without his knowledge.

The plot seemed promising and I loved the idea of a mystery set in Manhattan in the early 1940s. The author seemed intent on clearly defining the setting with a lot of slang and other references to the time. Iris did seem to want to actually help her dad, but it seems she might have been more helpful if she wasn't always sneaking out and lying to him and her friend(s). I can't imagine how difficult it was for Iris to know her father was struggling financially and thinking his only option was her help. Iris was adventurous and an entertaining main character, but the plot often fell flat. I wasn't particularly invested in learning what happened to the missing boy, Tom, and the ending also seemed a bit too easy, while definitely not what I was expecting.

There were a multitude of supporting characters and I enjoyed reading about what they did for fun and hearing the slang they used. All in all, this was a fast paced and entertaining mystery that doesn't get too in-depth. Iris was sweet in her dedication to solving the mystery and helping her family, but beyond that I do not think I will be picking up the sequel. Reviews do mention that it was much more plot driven than this one so that is a bit appealing.

Review: Allegiant (Divergent, #3) by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Release date: October 22, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages:526
Reading level: Young adult
Genre: Dystopia
Source: Purchased
Series: Book 3 (Divergent, Insurgent)
Links: Author • Goodreads • Amazon

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars 

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.
But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningliess. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Review: 

What the heck! This was so... not good? I read INSURGENT in 2012 and never got around to ALLEGIANT until now. I blame college, but also maybe I somehow felt this would be disappointing. I have been reading a lot of 600+ page nonfiction books lately, so I felt like ALLEGIANT would be a quick and enjoyable break. Unfortunately, it took me more than two weeks to read. I figured it would take me a couple chapters to get reconnected to the characters and the world since it had been such a long time since I had started the series, but I just could not get into it. I started and finished other books all while letting this one sit half read. When I finally got around to finishing it the ending was just so random and messed up that I felt completely disappointed in this promising series.

I know I loved DIVERGENT and recommended it frequently. The world-building, the characters, the romance...everything was so unique and exciting. I even enjoyed INSURGENT. Tris is finally able to venture beyond the walls and explore the outside world (as is the reader). She has been through so much and I was interested to see where this new experience would take her and Tobias. I don't want to spoil anything (although I'm sure most of you have read this by now) but there were so many aspects to the outside world that felt forced, uninteresting, and just plain confusing. The war over genetic purity, Tris's mother's connection, the new characters... it was a lot to take in, but also a lot that just didn't make much sense.

The chapters alternated between Tris and Four's perspectives. This seemed interesting in theory, but didn't play out so well. I wanted more of Tris and was used to being in her head. Four's chapters didn't feel any different and I often lost track of who I was reading about. I also felt both characters were acting totally out of character and made decisions that didn't fit their narrative. There was a lot of promise for ALLEGIANT and I was eager to see how Veronica Roth would conclude this story. That brings me to the ending. My surprise and disappointment was not necessarily because of what happened, but because of how unnecessary and pointless it seemed.

All in all, ALLEGIANT was not what I had hoped. The big reveals and conflict did not make sense to me in relation to the rest of the story, the characters were not themselves, and I did not get much of a resolution. If you are debating starting the series I still highly recommend it. DIVERGENT was incredible and had such a unique and compelling premise. Tris is also an admirable heroine. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the series was not enjoyable, but I am still glad I got to see how Veronica Roth chose to end it. This is a truly one of a kind series and I only wish this final book was not so disappointing.

Mini-Reviews: School Spirits and Shades of Earth

I have gotten behind in reviews the past year since beginning college and I figured doing some mini-reviews would be the perfect way to share some quick thoughts on those titles I never got around to fully reviewing. Enjoy!

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School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
Release date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 297
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Book 1
Source: Publisher
Links: Author's Website/Goodreads 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy's mom decides they need to take a break.
Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who's always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.
Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? 

Mini-Review:

I am a huge fan of the Hex Hall series, so I was beyond excited when I found out Rachel Hawkins was writing a spin-off about Izzy. While I did enjoy this one, it wasn't as good as I had hoped. Izzy was a fun and likable heroine. Her family history of hunting magical creatures leads to her sister's disappearance and from there Izzy's life changes forever. She starts attending a new high school and quickly learns that there is something dark plaguing the students there. While Izzy expects to figure out the problem and prove herself to her mother, she does not expect to make close friends and meet a cute, but unique, boy. I enjoyed the mystery angle of this story and watching Izzy navigate her new life. She was a character I could root for and I liked how different the secondary characters were- it made them stand out a lot. While I did enjoy School Spirits, some things felt a little rushed to me, particularly the ending. I also found myself not as engaged in the story as I would have hoped. For such a short read this one took me awhile to finish. The characters and plot were fun, but the rushed pace and lack of connection I felt to the story at times left me disappointed. Hopefully news of the sequel will be released soon because I think this series does have the potential to develop into something better.

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Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
Release date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 369
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 3
Source: Publisher
Links: Author's Website/Goodreads

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.
But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.
Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.
FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.

Mini-Review:

I can easily say that this is one of my all-time favorite series. I devoured Across the Universe, A Million Suns, and Shades of Earth and was left feeling quite sentimental when I turned the last page in this action-packed and romantic trilogy. Just when things seem to be working out for Amy and Elder and the rest of the passengers aboard Godspeed, they land on Centauri-Earth. The joy of reaching their new home is quickly shattered when the planet reveals it's darker side. Nature is attacking them and it seems they are not the only ones calling the planet home. I think this was definitely the most intense read of the series, especially because I was so attached to the characters at this point. Amy and Elder are put to the test over and over again and I was worried they might never find happiness. Beth Revis is an incredible writer and story-teller and I am heartbroken that this series has come to an end. I don't want to give anything away, but if you read and enjoyed the first two books in this series you will love this final addition to what is easily one of my favorite new series. I can only hope Beth's next offering will offer up such brilliant plot twists, lovable and strong characters, and sweet romance as the Across the Universe series did. 

Review: Hidden (Firelight, #3) by Sophie Jordan

Hidden by Sophie Jordan
Release date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 260
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Book 3 (Firelight, Vanish)
Source: Gift
Links: Author's Website / Goodreads 

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.
The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....
Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

Review:
* may contain spoilers for the first two books in the series 

In an effort to tackle the pile of unfinished series I have sitting in my room, I started with Hidden, the conclusion to the Firelight trilogy. I read and loved the first two books in this series and, for some reason, never got around to reading the last book. Hidden was a heart-pounding and emotional conclusion, but I did not enjoy it as much as the previous two installments.

It's been awhile since I finished Vanish, so it took me a couple of chapters to get into this one and realize where things had left off for Jacinda and company. The action kicked off right away with Jacinda posing as a prisoner to try and rescue Cassian's sister, Miram, who was already captured. It was sad to see how inhumanely the human captors treated their draki captives. Jacinda is only in captivity for one night, but she already is struggling. Although I didn't want to see any of the draki imprisoned, I think it would have been fascinating to learn more about the enkros and their motivation.

Hidden allowed us to get to know Jacinda, Tamra, Cassian, and Will even more and to see new sides of all of them. All of the characters had to face a lot of challenges and encountered new threats. I did not always feel as connected to Jacinda as I would have liked and her constant back-and-forth with Will and Cassian was kind of frustrating.

A few new characters were introduced in this addition to the series, but their story lines ended way too fast. I was left wondering what had happened to them and about how other draki lived. Hidden was by far the shortest book in the series and I think the length worked against it. I still had questions and wanted to know more.

The plot was definitely fast-paced and there were several shocking twists that I was not at all expecting. The Firelight series started off as one of my favorites and while I was disappointed by the conclusion, I am still satisfied with the ending. I will definitely be recommending this trilogy to any paranormal romance fan!

Review: Deep Blue (Waterfire Saga, #1) by Jennifer Donnelly

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
Release date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Disney Press
Pages: 340
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1
Source: Publisher
Links: Author's Website / Goodreads

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

The first in a series of four epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world.
Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.
When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin's arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence.

Review:

When I first began reading Deep Blue, I was overwhelmed with all of the information getting thrown at me and the variety of made-up words and names I had to keep track of and I was worried I was going to DNF this one. Luckily, I stuck it out because Deep Blue ended up being an exciting and magical start to a series I'm excited to continue.

Deep Blue opens with the mermaid Serafina preparing for an important royal event. Unfortunately, she's constantly being distracted by the mysterious dreams she's been having. When the day comes for her betrothal to a mer prince from a nearby sea, all hell breaks loose. Serafina is forced to grow up very quickly and take charge as the threat of war approaches and her dreams prove to be extremely important. While the beginning of it started out a little slow and confusing, the plot quickly picked up and was action packed until the very end. I've always been a fan of mermaid stories, but often they bring the same thing to the table. This was not the case with Deep Blue. I liked all of the original elements Donnelly combined, from Atlantis to dragons.

There were quite a few characters introduced in this series-starter and I had a bit of a hard time keeping track of them all, but hopefully we'll get to know them better as the series continues. The main group of mermaids definitely stood out to me and I'm looking forward to learning more about each of the girls and their backgrounds.

Deep Blue did have a slow start and the made-up language (I discovered the glossary at the end too late!) was often frustrating, but, overall, I really enjoyed this book and am eager to read the next addition to the series. This isn't your typical mermaid tale at all. I have heard such amazing things about Donnelly's previous releases, so will definitely be checking those out soon!

Review: Wild Cards (Wild Cards, #1) by Simone Elkeles

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles 

Release date: October 1, 2013

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers 

Pages: 342  

Reading level: Young Adult 

Genre: Contemporary 

Series: Book 1 

Source: BEA (ARC)

Links: Author's Website/Goodreads

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Review:

Simone Elkele's is a name almost synonymous with young adult literature, so it is probably surprising that this is only my second book by Simone. I read Perfect Chemistry a couple of years ago and loved it, but for some reason didn't get around to reading anything else by her until Wild Cards--her latest release. While I definitely enjoyed Wild Cards, it won't be joining Perfect Chemistry on my favorites shelf.

Wild Cards was told in alternating points of view between Derek Fitzpatrick and Ashtyn Parker; two characters that initially seemed like complete opposites. Derek was the sarcastic bad boy while Ashtyn was the withdrawn football player. Both of them had been through a lot and after random circumstances bring them together, neither of their lives will ever be the same. I enjoyed getting to know both Ashtyn and Derek through their own points of view, but I found myself liking Derek over Ashtyn. She tried to portray herself as the closed off, tough girl but she was much more weak and emotional than she wanted others to believe. Derek was more to the point and didn't play games-- he said what he thought and didn't let anyone tell him what to do.

This was a fast-paced read that I had a hard time putting down, not only because the chapters were short. While I always enjoy a good fantasy or historical fiction read, contemporary is my favorite because the characters and situations they encounter are often very relatable. Although I can't say I've ever played high school football.

The characters in Wild Cards had me feeling a bit mixed. I liked Derek a lot and almost looked forward to his chapters more than Ashtyn's. I didn't feel for her like I had hoped I would and her personality was a bit frustrating at times. I appreciate a girl who doesn't take crap from anyone and who can take care of herself, but sometimes her standoffish attitude was more annoying than admirable. The secondary characters often had a bigger impact; from Derek's stepbrother to Ashtyn's teammates, I liked getting to know them and to see how their relationships with the other characters developed.

All in all, this was another passionate and complex read by Simone Elkele's with relatable characters dealing with real issues. I would definitely recommend this to any contemporary fans, and while this didn't live up to my love for Perfect Chemistry, I am looking forward to seeing what's next for Derek and Ashtyn in the sequel.

Review: Bad Luck Girl (The American Fairy, #3) by Sarah Zettel

Bad Luck Girl by Sarah Zettel 

Release date: May 27, 2014

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Pages: 368

Reading level: Young Adult

Genre: Historical fantasy

Series: Book 3 (Dust Girl, Golden Girl)

Source: Publisher

Links: Author's Website/Goodreads

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners will love the blend of fantasy and jazz-hot Chicago in this stylish series.
After rescuing her parents from the Seelie king at Hearst Castle, Callie is caught up in the war between the fairies of the Midnight Throne and the Sunlit Kingdoms. By accident, she discovers that fairies aren't the only magical creatures in the world. There's also Halfers, misfits that are half fairy and half other--laced with strange magic and big-city attitude. As the war heats up, Callie's world falls apart. And even though she's the child of prophecy, she doubts she can save the Halfers, her people, her family, and Jack, let alone herself. The fairies all say Callie is the Bad Luck Girl, and she's starting to believe them.
A strong example of diversity in YA, the American Fairy Trilogy introduces Callie LeRoux, a half-black teen who stars in this evocative story full of American history and fairy tales.

Review:

Historical fantasy has always been one of my favorite genres and so when I heard about Bad Luck Girl I was immediately intrigued. I especially enjoy books featuring faeries (such as Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange series) so this seemed like it was going to be right up my alley. Luckily, this book did not disappoint and I highly enjoyed the ending to this trilogy. One thing I should point out is that I did not realize this was the third in a series at first, so I have not read the first two in the series. 

To start off, since I hadn't read the first two in the series, the author did a great job of introducing the characters and what they had been through thus far. I never felt lost, although I was wondering about a couple things that were mentioned casually, but that can be expected. I love anything to do with faeries and the Seelie/Unseelie courts and it was fascinating how the author blended it with historical fiction. Not only did we learn about the various fantastical aspects of the faeries, but Bad Luck Girl also features such dark issues as racism, poverty, and bootlegging. 

Callie was a great main character. I loved how strong and independent she was. Although she had already been through so much, she never backed down from a challenge. At times she did seem a little young, but since she was only fifteen that is understandable. I liked getting to know her family and her best friend, Jack. There was another group of characters, the Halfers, that were introduced in this book and they represented the unloved and misunderstood members of the faerie race. Callie, being mixed race herself, understood their struggle and wants to do whatever she can to save them. 

The plot was very fast paced and action packed after a semi-slow start. Although I hadn't gotten to know these characters over the course of two other books, I quickly found myself rooting for them and hoping for their success. Sarah Zettel has written a series with a wonderful blend of magic and history and I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in the series when I get the chance. Although I didn't have trouble getting into this third book in the series, I would recommend reading the other two first!