Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (The Illumiinae Files_01)

Synopsis:

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I literally CAN NOT breathe after reading this! For short this is an action packed, futuristic, war in space, with artificial intelligence times 1000, and a zombie like outbreak. Make of it what you will!!

Plot wise although it started off in the heat of things, it still took off a little slow for me with getting used to the unique format. I was a bit iffy with how engaged I was during the first section of the book but once I got in the groove of the different formats the book was in, I took off and was fully invested in the story. I loved all of the action and having to see the characters deal with more than one problem at a time and by doing this I wasn't allowed to get bored with one task. I felt really involved in the plot even though I wasn't physically doing anything, mentally I felt like I was problem solving with Kady, Ezra, and the crew. 

I found myself really, and shockingly, emotionally attached to the characters. Even though it started out with me not really being a fan of Kady because I drew no connection from her, as the book went on I had more time to build a solid relationship with her. Ezra on the other hand was my love at first sight character, not in a romantic aspect but a friendship view point. I loved his personality and he made me laugh numerous time throughout the book even in time where I probably shouldn't have been laughing. 

I loved the relationship growth between the main characters and getting to watch them put their differences aside and grow, not just as book characters per se, but as people. The one thing Ezra's and Kady's character have in common, that I love, is their sarcasm. It was a perfect mix with the all of the drama going on that really lightened the mood at the perfect times. 

I really enjoyed...liked...loved, but not LOVED(in caps), this book, if that makes sense.

P.S. I also absolutely loved the ending it really showed Kady's spunk and overall attitude.

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Synopsis:

Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.

A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

Rating:★★★½

Review:

Necromancy + Royalty + Zombies = An amazing Fantasy!!

I loved the immediate jump into action from the opening of the book. Also, I liked how we get bits and pieces of the world building here and there piecing it all together instead of taking two and three chapters to do it all at once. Avoiding brain overload!

I felt like the characters were missing something and needed a little more development. I don't feel like I have a real relationship with the characters but at the same time when something bad happens to them, I'm somehow emotionally tied to them. I wish I had more of a background on the other Necromancers, seeing as they are a part of the main cast it would make more sense. I hate that Odessa had a suicidal attitude, like Bella & Tris, but I like that I got to see her hit rock bottom then pull herself together without needing help from another love connection like most YA books. Speaking of love connections I'm not a fan of the romance AT ALL!! Not because of how it was built but because of who it was built between. I just think it's weird, but not far fetched, and disrespectful and you'll see why once you read the book.

I think Sarah Marsh did a good job setting up and explaining how the Necromancers retrieved the spirits. She set up a really good adventure just from taking us through the gates to traveling through the Deadlands, and that's not mentioning the time spent in the real world. However, I wish she went into more detail about the other types of Mages. We only get a real lesson on Necromancers and Beast Masters but that's only 2 out of 5 of the KNOWN/BASIC Mages, not including however many hybrid mages there are that were also mentioned but we know nothing about. We get a crash course on Weather Mages but only mentioning that they can manipulate the weather and I have no idea what the other mages even are. Why mention something you're not going to explain or use? 

But I hope it's different in book 2 because overall I did really like this book.

Plastic by Doug Wagner

Synopsis:

Retired serial killer Edwyn Stoffgruppen is in love with Virginia, a girl he "met online." Her affection quiets his vile urges. 

Together, they tour the back roads of America in their LTD Crown Vic, eating doughnuts and enjoying their insatiable appetites for each other. Life is good...until a Louisiana billionaire kidnaps Virginia, forcing Edwyn to kill again in exchange for her freedom. 

And the twist to all of this? Virginia is a sex doll.

Writer DOUG WAGNER teams up with artists DANIEL HILLYARD and LAURA MARTIN for a chilling new crime series that ROBERT KIRKMAN (THE WALKING DEAD) reviewed as: "This is the weirdest s**t I've ever read. I love it!"

Collects issues 1-5.

Rating: ★★½

Review:

I didn't hate it but it did not live up to my expectations! The graphics were nice, especially the few extra at the end, but the "save-the-damsel-in-distress" plot wasn't as exhilarating as I wanted it to be. I loved the whole idea of this graphic novel following a serial killer main character and his sex doll girlfriend but it could have been handled better. It felt like it was lacking in the dialogue department because I often found myself getting bored during non aggressive scenes. 

Also, the characters had very little to no development, basically they were your average criminals and everyone that wasn't a criminal seemed like they didn't belong. It almost seems like they were only added to have a full roster of characters but they didn't have a purpose and ultimately weren't really needed.   

Although, this is definitely a gruesome and weird story, I just wish I would have been more invested in the story itself instead of being bored 50% of the time. To sum it up I guess you can say I'm simply disappointed. 😞😞

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Synopsis:

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon—the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I loved this so much!!!! This trilogy has been on my radar for so long and I honestly don't know what took me so long to actually start reading this. 

It's been a while since I read a time traveling novel that I actually like and I really really REALLY liked this one. The time travel itself, how it was incorporated into the story and how it evolved throughout the whole of the book, was handled with perfection. I loved how it started out uncontrolled but at same time it was explained where we as readers knew what was happening and we weren't left confused because of bad transitioning.  

I also loved the family dynamic. Not speaking of the obvious favoritism for whoever they thought had the time traveler gene but because it was a relatable family. Being that they're not perfect but not overly cruel, they just have the normal ups and downs of a real life family.

I love the friendship between Gwen and Leslie and how the author kept their friendship constant throughout the book, not letting it fade into the background or be over shadowed by everything going on with the plot. Their relationship is just so pure and I want it to stay that way. #FriendshipGoals 👭

I don't really care for Gideon or his an Gwen's budding "romance" and I pray for it not to be a thing. I don't feel like this book needs a romantic relationship, at least not between these two characters. I almost feel like it's a forced relationship and it just makes things awkward. #HellNaawwToTheNawNawNaw 👎🚫 #NoThankYou 🙅😷 #NotONMyWatch ⌚


I absolutely loved the Narrator! She made me laugh so hard when she voiced some of the characters and she just did an amazing job with everyone in general. The epilogue blew my mind and I'm still sitting here mind blown to pieces wondering what in the hell's going on and what did I just hear. I already downloaded Sapphire Blue and I'm ready to jump back into the mystery ASAP!!

Inchor by Aladea

Synopsis:

This book will permit you to defy all the sorrow you once buried deep within you, now riddled within your bones, in order to reach ecstasy and bury seeds instead of persons and gather flowers instead of sorrowful thoughts. 

Fragments of what once made your eyes weep but now make your tears dry. Broken pieces put together to create wholeness within you. 

Based on the genre of milk and honey; Inchor is a poetry book that will delicately unlace the legion of intertwining cords enfolding your brain, in which thoughts are rummaging at all times, to bring out calm from the chaos dominating your soul. You will find the victory of all your previous battles in its poems and it will glorify the shields you have used and act as a weapon to your current daily battles. A mix of metaphors and meanings destined to make you feel the way you've never felt before.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I loved the intro! I don't think I've ever had an introduction quite like this for a collection of poetry! Also, I loved that her poems weren't directed at someone in particular or a particular situation. They were universal and I loved that that lets you apply any of the poems to whatever situation you may be going through. 

The only problem I had with this book was that sometimes, because of the way the book's edited, I couldn't decipher when one poem ended and the other began. It didn't happen often maybe twice or three times throughout the entire collection but it did happen.

This book lacked no depth, emotion, or understanding. I absolutely loved it and I 100% recommend picking this up because it is a wonderful quick read.

**The author did contact me with a preview of this book and offer to read and review but I did purchase with my own money and have given my honest opinion.**

The Bear by Claire Cameron

Synopsis:

A powerfully suspenseful story narrated by a young girl who must fend for herself and her little brother after a brutal bear attack. While camping with her family on a remote island, five-year-old Anna awakes in the night to the sound of her mother screaming. A rogue black bear, 300 pounds of fury, is attacking the family's campsite, pouncing on her parents as prey.At her dying mother's faint urging, Anna manages to get her brother into the family's canoe and paddle away. But when the canoe dumps the two children on the edge of the woods, and the sister and brother must battle hunger, the elements, and a dangerous wilderness, we see Anna's heartbreaking love for her family--and her struggle to be brave when nothing in her world seems safe anymore.Told in the honest, raw voice of five-year-old Anna, this is a riveting story of love, courage, and survival.

Rating: ★★½

Review:

I had higher expectations for this book because the synopsis sounded like it was going to take me on an emotional field trip. The beginning started off on a strong note but once the bear attack was over that's when things started going down hill.

Anna is a very frustrating character to follow. I understand she's only 6 but I don't understand how a 6 year old can not know the difference between a dog and a bear, even tho she brings up multiple past conversations discussing bears, but coincidentally knows what a beaver is. Her mind is portrayed as more of a 4 year old than a 6 year old and to come to think about it her 4 year old brother, Stick's, personality and actions doesn't match his age either.

Also, most of Anna's flash backs have nothing to do with the main event at hand and it truly hurts the plot. It makes the story feel longer than needed and that mixed with the frustrating personalities of the main characters makes me loose interest and ultimately makes me want to bail on the whole book but I stuck it through till the end. After the kids were rescued I wish the author would have elaborated more on their therapy and how they came to term with everything they had just experienced but I did like the epilogue more than any other part in the book, besides the beginning. 


I don't know what possessed me to pick up a book where the POV (point of view) character is 6 but most likely it'll never happen again.

Starflight by Melissa Landers

Synopsis:

Solara Brooks needs a fresh start, someplace where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. The outer realm may be lawless, but it's not like the law has ever been on her side. Still, off-world travel doesn't come cheap; Solara is left with no choice but to indenture herself in exchange for passage to the outer realm. She just wishes it could have been to anyone besides Doran Spaulding, the rich, pretty-boy quarterback who made her life miserable in school.

The tables suddenly turn, though, when Doran is framed for conspiracy on Earth, and Solara cons him into playing the role of her servant onboard the Banshee, a ship manned by an eccentric crew with their own secrets. It's been a long time since Solara has believed in anyone, and Doran is the last person she expected to trust. But when the Banshee's dangerous enemies catch up with them, Solara and Doran must come together to protect the ship that has become their home and the crew that feels like family.

.

Rating:★★★★★

Review:

YA never fails to surprise me! I loved the pace of the plot, not too slow, not too fast, but a nice steady pace that slowly built up tension. I feel like the action scenes were well spaced out throughout the book and not all at once so you don't overdose or get bored.

Character wise I loved Solara's and Doran's bickering, it got a giggle or two out of me. I have mixed feelings about Solora seeing that she's somewhat of a hypocrite but at the same time she's also remorseful and try's to grow over time and not all at once which makes her relatable. 

I actually really liked the fact that Doran was this little naive spoiled rich kid that didn't change his ways overnight because I appreciated his character growth and the realization of his wrong doings. I could grow to truly like him as a character. 

The plot twist blew my fucking mind!!! So with that being said I 100% recommend this book and I'm more than excited to read the next book.

Second Draft (Men with Wood, #1) by C.M. Seabrook

Synopsis:

It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen her, the only woman that’s ever gotten under my skin, and made me wish I was a better man. More than just the washed up hockey player, turned sports journalist whose body is almost as scarred as his soul. 

Layla Harper made me hope again. But life has a warped sense of humor, and I wasn’t the only Bennett brother that fell for the girl with the caramel colored eyes. 

The night I saw Travis with her I knew I’d lost, even before I had the chance to fight. Because one thing I never compete with my brother over is women. Even if the woman stole my breath, and my heart with one single kiss. 

And damn, what a kiss it had been. 

Now, she’s pregnant with my brother’s baby. A baby he wants nothing to do with. And he’s asked me to clean up his mess. 

What he doesn’t know is that I’m in love with her, and I have no intention of offering her the deal he’s laid out. I have a deal of my own. One that will finally make her mine.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I was 0.5 seconds away from loving this book!! The plot was definitely different, revolving around a very awkward and sticky situation but it had no trouble keeping me engaged. I found myself having emotional outburst while reading this. I smiled and laughed like a little school girl, I gasped & gave a lot of well deserved side eye, but I could not put the book down.

There were some things that I felt were unrealistic and earned a good eye roll but were not completely unbelievable. At times throughout the book the relationship between Layla and Carter seemed liked it was moving too fast in some areas and in others seemed like they were at a standstill. Their relationship lacked the consistency I was looking for but I still couldn't help but root for them.

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

Synopsis:

Believe in the possible . . . with this brilliantly quirky, thought-provoking novel from New York Times bestseller, three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm

 

Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.

Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?

 

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?

 

With a lighthearted touch and plenty of humor, Jennifer Holm celebrates the wonder of science and explores fascinating questions about life and death, family and friendship, immortality . . . and possibility.

Rating: ★★★½

Review:

I really liked this as a middle grade novel! Character wise you really forget that Ellie, our main character, is only eleven throughout most of the book but at the same time she still stayed true to her age characteristics. Which was awesome for two reasons, one because I've noticed recently in the middle grade genre characters act way above their age range and you really can't sympathize with them being early or preteen age. And two, it's a good thing for older audiences like myself because it doesn't always feel like I'm reading a children's novel, which keeps it interesting. 

I wish Melvin had better development because I really felt like there was so much more to be done with his character by the end of the book and I feel like there's more of his story to be told.

I loved how fast paced the plot was and the bigger learning experience young readers can get from this. I was unsatisfied with how the book ended. I just feel like the story was left undone and cut short to throw a bow on it and i'm left with so many questions.

As a whole I wouldn't say it was one of the best I've read but I do think this is a good middle grade novel. I can see me adding this to my daughter's book shelf when the time comes.

Black Butterfly by Robert M. Drake

Synopsis:

This book is a collection of memories and experiences Drake lived after the death of one of his brothers. He promised he would write him a few words after he failed to complete the task while his brother was alive. This book is everything… this book is for all who are breathing and for all who are no longer here. This book is for you.

Rating:★★★

Review:

I liked this but I didn't love it. I loved the sketches, I thought the poems were written beautifully, and I connected with and related to some of them but I still feel like something's missing. I originally added this book to my TBR because the cover caught my eye since it had a butterfly on it but once I read the synopsis of what the collection was about I was set on reading it. I wish I would have been more emotionally connected with the book as a whole. I still want to read more from Robert Drake and even though this isn't one of my favorites I still recommend it. 

Favorites: No Ears, I Am the Fire, Love Moments, Violent Storms, Not a Tomb, Forever Falling, Robin Williams, A Lover's Smile, & Live Die Less 

The Complete Collected Poems by Maya Angelou

Synopsis:

For the first time, the complete collection of Maya Angelou's published poems-including "On the Pulse of Morning"-in a permanent collectible, handsome hardcover edition.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

Maya Angelou is my poetry grandmother and since her death I've always had the goal to read everything touched by her and I'm so happy to have completed all of her collections of poetry. Ms. Angelou had such a rich and perfect story time voice so I loved how automatically the voice in my head switched to her while I was reading. 

I always knew Maya Angelou to tell it how it was but this 100% made me realize just how much she never sugar coated anything that came out of her mouth. Looking at the time period she lived through and everything she experienced throughout the entirety of her life, I loved the rawness and realness she put in her poems because that's the real way to feel a poets emotions, happy or sad, and see from their point of view.

A few of my favorites were; Take Time Out because it's relevant to my current life situation, the whole collection of And Still I Rise because it was very uplifting as a black woman, and Our Grandmothers, which has accidentally added the name Zenobia to my future baby name list. And of course I can't forget the fan favorites Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise! I have nothing but love for this book and Maya Angelou in general.

Hot & Bothered (Out of Uniform #1 - 3) by Elle Kennedy

Synopsis:

Three sizzling-hot stories from New York Times and international bestselling author Elle Kennedy! 

Give a SEAL an inch, and he’ll take your heart. 

Heat of the Moment 

For almost a year Shelby has lusted over swoon-worthy Garrett, but she can’t figure out why he’s not interested…until she overhears him saying she’s too vanilla for his taste. When a heat wave sends the sexy Navy SEAL into her bakery, she finally has the opportunity to show him exactly what he’s missing… 

Heat of Passion 

Holly has too much on her plate to think about a serious relationship. A hot fling with a SEAL, though, is the perfect way to take the edge off. The last thing she expects is to run into her gorgeous one-night stand weeks later, and to discover that Carson wants the one thing she doesn’t: more. In the face of his methodical seduction, her resistance is crumbling… 

Heat of the Storm 

Will has waited fifteen years for the storm that sends Mackenzie into his arms. He’s the one man not scared of her psychic gift, and their one night of passion is enough to convince this tenacious SEAL that they are much, much more than friends. Now he just has to convince her of that… 

Warning: Contains dangerously hot Navy SEALS, and heroines not afraid to take them on one—or two—at a time.

Rating:★★★★

Review:

I can't believe I really enjoyed reading this. My thoughts for this book will be quick and simple because my thoughts are pretty straight forward for each story. 

Heat of the Moment followed Garret & Shelby and it was really steamy, unrealistic at some points, but overall a pretty cute adult romance story. 

Heat of Passion follows Carson & Holly and it was funny, unrealistic at some points, but the were the more relatable couple out of the book. 

Finally, Heat of the Storm follows Will & Mackenzie, which was basically porn on a page, but it also had it's funny moments despite being dry and lacking in it's non porn parts. Overall. I loved how they all intertwined together but I have to admit I ran out of steam by the time we got to Will's story and it seems like the author did, too. I noticed she didn't really focus on the actual plot of his story as much as she did the previous two, it seemed she focused more on the sex scenes more than anything else.

All in all I enjoyed the book as a collection.

Burned (Burned, #1) by Ellen Hopkins

Synopsis:

I do know things really began to spin out of control after my first sex dream. 

It all started with a dream. Nothing exceptional, just a typical fantasy about a boy, the kind of dream that most teen girls experience. But Pattyn Von Stratten is not like most teen girls. Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, a simple dream may not be exactly a sin, but it could be the first step toward hell and eternal damnation. 

This dream is a first step for Pattyn. But is it to hell or to a better life? For the first time Pattyn starts asking questions. Questions seemingly without answers -- about God, a woman's role, sex, love -- mostly love. What is it? Where is it? Will she ever experience it? Is she deserving of it? 

It's with a real boy that Pattyn gets into real trouble. After Pattyn's father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control until Pattyn ends up suspended from school and sent to live with an aunt she doesn't know. 

Pattyn is supposed to find salvation and redemption during her exile to the wilds of rural Nevada. Yet what she finds instead is love and acceptance. And for the first time she feels worthy of both -- until she realizes her old demons will not let her go. Pattyn begins down a path that will lead her to a hell -- a hell that may not be the one she learned about in sacrament meetings, but it is hell all the same. 

In this riveting and masterful novel told in verse, Ellen Hopkins takes readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride. From the highs of true love to the lows of abuse, Pattyn's story will have readers engrossed until the very last word.

Rating:★★★★½

Review:

I had the privilege of listening to the audiobook version of this and it was one of the best narrations I've ever heard. I've loved all of Ellen Hopkins books I've read so far and this one was no different. No matter what situation Ellen Hopkins decides to sink her teeth in she always elicits so much emotion and energy it breaks your heart and heals it all at the same time.

I'm not an emotional person but Pattyn's situations really tugs on your heart strings and gets you involved in the story. I found myself cheering her on even though something like breaking someone's nose isn't something to cheer on, I had to assess the situation.


What I like most about Pattyn's character is that she wasn't afraid to nor was she hesitant to admit her wrongs or her confusions about things going on in her life. She is one of the most relatable and likeable characters I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know, and not in a cliche kind of way. I thought Pattyn's dad was bad at the beginning of the story (classic abuser) but it was nothing compared to what we found out about the fall out between him and aunt J. And speaking of Aunt J, she's like america's own personal aunt, she's just that amazing as a person.

Even though I though the puppy love relationship was cute, I wasn't a fan of the insta-love that lead up to it. I wish Pattyn and Ethan  had more time as friends before they jumped right into being "in love". Also, the love square or relationship square, which ever you want to call it, was cute but a little awkward taking in the account the people that were involved.

I loved this and I recommend this to everyone!! Beware the heartbreak💔💔💔😭😭

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti

Synopsis:

After years spent living on the run, Samuel Hawley moves with his teenage daughter, Loo, to Olympus, Massachusetts. There, in his late wife’s hometown, Hawley finds work as a fisherman, while Loo struggles to fit in at school and grows curious about her mother’s mysterious death. Haunting them both are twelve scars Hawley carries on his body, from twelve bullets in his criminal past—a past that eventually spills over into his daughter’s present, until together they must face a reckoning yet to come. This father-daughter epic weaves back and forth through time and across America, from Alaska to the Adirondacks. Both a coming-of-age novel and a literary thriller, The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley explores what it means to be a hero, and the cost we pay to protect the people we love most.

Publisher: The Dial Press
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Rating: ★★★

Review

***I received this eARC from netgalley in exchange for my honest review***

Character wise, my first impression of Hawley is that he needs professional help. You can tell he never allowed himself to grieve or let go of Loo's mother, Lily, judging by the amount of memories he's kept and how he basically builds this shrine to her everywhere they move. I love Loo's attitude! She just has this "take-no-shit-attitude" and I love girls and women like that. Sadly, I didn't start to love the characters until after about 45% of the book. I loved their relationship as father and daughter but I hate that it took so long for me to actually get to know them and love them.

Plot wise, I didn't like how the chapters detailing how Hawley got each bullet wound were squeezed into the book. There was no transition between bullet chapters and the rest of the book so, it felt like they were added last minute. I felt like I was reading two different books, one being a prequel and the other being the current book, smashed together. #PeanutButterAndJelly I feel like the plot moved really slow and I wasn't seeing the purpose or the end goal of the book.

Also, I didn't get any of the thriller vibes seeing that this is classified as being a thriller and to say that this is supposed to be a duel perspective novel, you get way more of Loo's point of view than Hawley and I wish I had an equal serving of both.

Baby's in Black: Astrid Kirchherr, Stuart Sutcliffe, and The Beetles by Arne Bellstorf

Synopsis:

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A fascinating, exhilarating portrait of the Beatles in their early years.

Meet the Beatles . . . right at the beginning of their careers. This gorgeous, high-energy graphic novel is an intimate peek into the early years of the world's greatest rock band.

The heart of Baby's In Black is a love story. The "fifth Beatle," Stuart Sutcliffe, falls in love with the beautiful Astrid Kirchherr when she recruits the Beatles for a sensational (and famous) photography session during their time in Hamburg. When the band returns to the UK, Sutcliffe quits, becomes engaged to Kirchherr, and stays in Hamburg. A year later, his meteoric career as a modern artist is cut short when he dies unexpectedly.

The book ends as it begins, with Astrid, alone and adrift; but with a note of hope: her life is incomparably richer and more directed thanks to her friendship with the Beatles and her love affair with Sutcliffe. This tender story is rendered in lush, romantic black-and-white artwork.

Baby's In Black is based on a true story

Review:★★.

Review:

I thought I was going to be more interested in this than I was but I wasn't. The graphics weren't mind blowing and the plot was boring. Maybe I'm just not that into the Beetles but it probably would still be enjoyable to you Beetle fanatics.

I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 1: Madly Ever After by Skottie Young

Synopsis:

From superstar writer and artist SKOTTIE YOUNG (Rocket Raccoon, Wizard of Oz, Fortunately, The Milk), comes the first volume of an allnew series of adventure and mayhem. An Adventure Time/Alice in Wonderland-style epic that smashes its cute little face against grown-up Tank Girl/ Deadpool-esque violent madness. Follow Gert, a forty-year-old woman in a sixyear- old's body, who has been stuck in the magical world of Fairyland for nearly thirty years. Join her and her giant battleaxe on a delightfully bloodsoaked journey to see who will survive the girl who HATES FAIRYLAND. Collects I HATE FAIRYLAND #1-5.

Rating:★★★

Review:

I thought I was going to like this way more than I did but I still got a good kick out of it. The graphics were really cutesy, even though the content was adult-ish, and it was very detailed. The plot is super light hearted mixed with some light giggles and some full out laugh out loud moments. There were moments where I felt uninterested in the story but not to far away there was a pick me up waiting reel me back in. This was overall really enjoyable and I would recommend it.

I will be reading volume 2.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: Her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.”

Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.

Rating:★★★.75

Review:

This book needs a new synopsis because the story I thought I was getting and the actual story I got were two different things. I felt cheated out of some magic because I expected more magic throughout the entirety of the book when sadly we didn't start to see any magic until a little past fifty percent of the way through. I hate that it took so long for the magic to take off but at the same time I still liked how the story started, just not for this book. The first half of the book did a good job giving us background on Alice and her mothers but it stretched on longer than needed. 

Alice is okay as a character, unlikable but relatable. She can be annoying and selfish, constantly voicing her anger issues as if that's supposed to scare people away or as if it can be used as an excuse for her outburst. I wish Finch's character had more to go on and more to do in the book. I also feel like he was forgotten about and his development lacked. 

I loved the thriller like elements that were thrown into this story; characters going missing, the paranoia, and the look-over-your-shoulder feeling you get in the pit of your stomach. The world building was wonderful as well, I just wish a little more was done when we reached the Hinterland. There I wish Melissa Albert went the extra mile because I know the Hinterland could have been so beautiful & creepy if it was described in better detail. At the end the tales started mushing together and I was unimpressed with the "shocking secret" because it was obvious from it first being mentioned in the story. 

I enjoyed this but I don't know how I feel about a book two. I kind of like where book one ended, I feel like it pretty much wrapped itself up, and I'm okay with stopping my Hazel Wood journey here.

Saga, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan

Synopsis:

Collects SAGA #1-6 

From New York Times bestselling writer BRIAN K.VAUGHAN (Y: THE LAST MAN, EX MACHINA) and critically acclaimed artist FIONA STAPLES (MYSTERY SOCIETY, NORTH 40), SAGA is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in a sexy, subversive drama for adults. This specially priced volume collects the first arc of the smash hit series The Onion A.V. Club calls "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it could make."

Rating:★★★★★

Review:

I had high expectations for this, given all of the hype surrounding this series, and it did not disappoint. My first impressions of this was, "Damn I love these characters and I don't even know them yet!". For some odd reason I was instantly drawn to Alana and Marko from the first scene, which honestly never happens to me. I usually have to get to know my characters before I can be attached and surprisingly that was not the case with this. I loved seeing into Hazel's, the baby, thoughts as well, which is a very different point of view to take, and in my opinion a risk, but in this case it was a risk well taken.

I loved the graphics and you can really tell that the world was well thought out and not just thrown together with a bow wrapped around it. Even though this world was nothing nice, I loved how alive it was. Everything was something to either be afraid of or to be intrigued by. 

I laughed, I related, I freaking loved this!

Snotgirl Vol. 1: Green Hair Don't Care by Bryan Lee O'Malley, Leslie Hung, Mickey Quinn

Synopsis:

From bestselling BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY (Scott Pilgrim) and superstar newcomer LESLIE HUNG! Lottie Person is a glamorous fashion blogger living her best life—at least that’s what she wants you to think. The truth is, her friends are terrible people, her boyfriend traded her up for someone younger, her allergies are out of control, and she may or may not have killed somebody! SNOTGIRL VOL. 1 is the perfect introduction to one of 2016’s most buzzed-about titles! Collects SNOTGIRL #1-5.

Rating:★★½

Review:

I'm not sure where I want to settle on the rating radar so I'm just going to let it sit at the 2.5 mark. I don't have much to speak on except that I didn't hate it but I'm definitely underwhelmed by this. Basically Lottie is this conceited, whiny, privileged, blogger without a single worry in the world except her killer allergies. Clutch the pearls and hide the kids, her life is over because for heaven's sake it's so unnatural for someone to have allergies. I know it's meant not to be taken seriously but it makes for one annoying shitty character that I can't be sympathetic towards and a shaky plot foundation.

I have no clue where this is going or even what the overall point of it all is. I would say the graphics are average because they don't suck but they aren't mind blowing. This has left me with a "meh" type feeling so I'm a little confused as to why some people love this so much. I may pick up the second volume just to see where the plot is headed and then call it quits.

Coyotes Vol. 1 by Sean Lewis, Caitlin Yarsky

Synopsis:

Women are going missing in the City of Lost Girls, a border town in the desert. Officer Frank Coffey is trying to get to the bottom of this when he meets Red, a thirteen girl with a katana blade and a mission: murder the Werewolves stalking the border picking women off one by one. When it's discovered that the Wolves are the men of these villages, both Red and Officer Coffey are thrown together in a thriller of mythic proportions with he lives of their friends and loved ones in the balance.

KILL BILL meets THE HOWLING in this epic by creators SEAN LEWIS and CAITLIN YARSKY.

Collects issues 1 through 4.

Rating:★★★

Review

Since I loved the cover so much, and this was 100% a cover read, I was worried that the story was going to S-U-C-K but thankful it was pretty good. It wasn't the best graphic novel I've read but it was so entertaining. 

I really appreciated all of the action that lasted throughout all 4 comics and the graphics were good but on the verge of great. I also like the mugshots at the end and they did make me laugh so nice move with that. There were times where I drifted between interested and uninterested territory but I absolutely loved the underlying messages thrown throughout the story; police corruption, the amount of violence against women that are constantly ignored everyday, and the get out of jail free cards that are handed out if you're privileged enough.

I'm not sure if this is marketed as a Red Riding Hood retelling but if it is, it's definitely a bad ass one. I wasn't blown away but I will be waiting for Volume 2!

King's Cage (Red Queen #3) by Victoria Aveyard

Synopsis:

When the Lightning Girl’s spark is gone, who will light the way for the rebellion?

Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightning, tormented by her lethal mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. Now a king, Maven Calore continues weaving his dead mother’s web in an attempt to maintain control over his country—and his prisoner.

As Mare bears the weight of Silent Stone in the palace, her once-ragtag band of newbloods and Reds continue organizing, training, and expanding. They prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows. And Cal, the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare’s heart, will stop at nothing to bring her back.

When blood turns on blood, and ability on ability, there may be no one left to put out the fire—leaving Norta as Mare knows it to burn all the way down.

Rating:★★★★

Review:

** POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT** 
I started off physically reading this book about half way through then, I picked up the audiobook so my husband could stop rushing me because he wanted to start reading it. Audiobook wise: it was okay but one of the narrators sounded really mechanical, almost like a machine talking and not an actual person, and unfortunately they did the voice of Mare. Also, the narrators didn't do the best jobs voicing the male characters so in actuality I would have to give the audiobook 3 stars.

I don't have much to say seeing that this is the 3rd book but I'm relieved because what I thought was going to happen didn't happen, thank god you saved me from a knife in my back, but oh my word did I love all the action! I loved the fight scenes, especially the last battle, I was on the edge of my seat and all I could keep thinking was that this would make an awesome movie if Marvel got it's hands on it. (Just throwing that in the universe, do with it what you will!!)

Character wise: I feel like all of the characters have grown immensely since Red Queen and it's hard to believe that it's only been a couple of months and that these are not adults but still teenagers. I was really shocked by Evangeline's whole situation she had going on but I loved it. I just hope that her sexuality has always been apart of her backstory from the beginning and not something that was thrown in just because the big "diversity" movement is going on. And I hate to say it because I love Victoria Aveyard but I can't help but be honest with how I feel. But on a more positive note, I'm kind of craving a novella about Evangeline now.

P.S. Evangeline I wasn't expecting to hear from your point of view but I loved it. I can understand why you are the way you are but I still don't trust you and I'm still giving you the side eye.

***Nothing to do with the book but don't y'all think it would be really cool if there was a limited collectors edition guide where there are select new bloods and silvers that we get a chapter long backstory detailing how they found out about their abilities and what their life was like before all the craziness started happening?

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Synopsis:

Today is Leonard Peacock’s birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather’s P-38 pistol.

But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate, Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school’s class on the Holocaust. Speaking to each in turn, Leonard slowly reveals his secrets as the hours tick by and the moment of truth approaches.

In this riveting look at a day in the life of a disturbed teenage boy, acclaimed author Matthew Quick unflinchingly examines the impossible choices that must be made—and the light in us all that never goes out.

Rating:★★★

Review:

I liked it but I didn't love it. This definitely opens the mind to a shooter's perspective. The author is not making excuses nor is he trying to justify the actions of a possible shooter. He's only giving the possible other side to the situation.

I felt terrible for Leonard because he is a product of his upbringing and surroundings.. He was literally begging for help and everyone ignored him. His mother, who should have been his biggest supporter, out right refused to acknowledge his need for professional help on more than one occasion because she didn't quote "want to be blamed for his problems". Mother of the year folks 🏆!

I really liked the subnotes that were at the bottom of the pages. It really added some insight and back stories to some of the things Leonard was experiencing. There are also chapters that are labeled letters from the future, which I didn't understand their purpose at first until it was later on in the book explained and I wish it would have been explained earlier. 

I hate how it ended! The unknowing is painful and not in a good suspenseful type of way. I just felt like the book was unfinished. I need to know how these issues were solved; if people were confronted, how did life change, did some relationships fix themselves or did they all crash and burn, basically what the fuck happened??

I'm 50/50 on the recommendation scale. I would still recommend this as a good read but not a great one. It definitely could use some work but I do feel like it is one of a kind in dealing with the topic it's centered around. It could help bring awareness to teens and preteens with dealing with bullies and their victims but at the same time I wouldn't have the highest expectations for this one. 

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Synopsis:

A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

Rating:★★★★★

Review:

I really loved this!!!

It was honestly hard to pick favorite pieces out of this novel because the entire book was amazing. 
While I was reading this, I felt like I was having a one on one interview with Xiomara. I felt like I was the leather journal she was writing her poems in and she did not sugar coat a thing. I'm not a Dominican from Harlem but I felt like I have so much in common with Xiomara. 

I love that she wasn't afraid to question her faith, because I at times do the same. I love that sexuality was bought up and I don't just mean in a sexual preference way. Sexuality as in her experience with her first period was, how puberty bought to light new obstacles and new but confusing feelings, first love, heartbreak, and thinking about the future in general.

The family drama also kept me well on my toes and hyped up. I found myself laughing one minute, angry the next, and then shortly after wanting to cry tears for Xiomara herself. I got the Target exclusive edition so I did get a few extra poems, some originals from Xiomara's journal and some that didn't make it in the collection, at the end and I enjoyed those as well. This is such a relatable read, at least for females, and reading this does put your emotions in a blender but it is such a lovely feeling. I had a "aha" moment reading the last page of this book so don't waste any more time picking it up.