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.

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!!

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.

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 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.

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.

Paper Towns by John Green

Synopsis

Who is the real Margo?

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew...

Rating: DNF'd

Review:

I finally decided to pick up my first John Green book after having it on my shelf for 3 years and I dnf'd it after 43%. I just couldn't take the slow moving plot anymore.

I didn't understand why John Green felt the need to literally tell us which characters were black. I just felt like he could have described them better than just flat out using African American as a description. Also, it was so annoying to see Quentin constantly count down his reasoning for every single thing. It's all just quite ANNOYING.

I honestly don't like Margo as a character and I'm not sure if I was supposed to. She's snooty, entitled, selfish, and a bad influence but I did like her vindictive attitude. It made for a nice journey in the beginning before things turned completely boring. I didn't care for Quentin either because he was too old, in my opinion, to be such a push over and doormat. I didn't think any of the characters had any real growth because I read the last couple of chapters and Margo still seemed like the same asshole she was the beginning and Quentin is still her personal doormat. It's sad to say but I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters.


I did get some humor from this but then it started to feel like John Green didn't know when to end the jokes and it got dryer the longer it drug on. I finally decided to end my Paper Towns journey when I realize that the clues took entirely way too long to get through and I quickly lost interest. This the end of my journey for Paper Towns but not the end of my John Green experience.

Fresh Ink: An Anthology by Lamar Giles

Synopsis:

In partnership with We Need Diverse Books, thirteen of the most recognizable, diverse authors come together in this remarkable YA anthology featuring ten short stories, a graphic short story, and a one-act play from Walter Dean Myers never before in-print. 

Careful--you are holding fresh ink. And not hot-off-the-press, still-drying-in-your-hands ink. Instead, you are holding twelve stories with endings that are still being written--whose next chapters are up to you. 

Because these stories are meant to be read. And shared.

Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes ten short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and color outside the lines. All you need is fresh ink. 

Publishing Co.: Random House Children's Crown Books for Young Readers
Rating:★★★

Review:

I received this eARC copy from the Random House Children's via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 

I really enjoyed seven out of the twelve stories, four I thought were just "okay", and one I skipped entirely because I just wasn't feeling it. I love the different messages, in all of the different walks of life that this collection puts out. Most of these were so good that I just want a whole novel wrapped around those characters and their stories alone.

To get specific about a couple of my favorite stories:

I really liked Don't Pass Me by Eric Gansworth for two specific reasons: 1. We don't get to see too many Native American stories often & 2. I love how it's telling you to be yourself no matter what, even if it might make life a little harder on you than it is on others (A.K.A our Caucasian brothers and sisters)

Tags by Walter Dean Myers is the 1 act play included the anthology and I love that it is focused on gun violence and gang retaliation. I like the whole concept and the ending of the play but I didn't care too much for how it started out. I wish it would have started out a little more cleaned up then it did.

One of my top three stories was Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan and it is also one of the lgbt stories. I was happy that I felt a connection with all of the characters but I felt my strongest connection with Yasaman's grandma almost like she was very my own. Also, I really enjoyed how cute and gradually progressive this story was, and I'm not usually a fan of "cute" romance. There was something about it that didn't just slap you in the face and it wasn't at all insta-lovey. 

A Boy's Duty by Sharon G. Flake is another of my top three. The main thing that made this story stand out from the other eleven was how in depth it went for a short story and how touching it was. This particular story is set back in WWII days so you can't help but want to hug, love, and build up the characters.

"Words matter as much as actions," I added. "They might only be letters on a wall, but I feel like the graffiti claimed my mental space." Melissa de la Cruz's One Voice: A Something in Between Story did not disappoint the masses!! I loved this story and it's message so much. In today's society people have it stuck in their heads that if someone is not PHYSICALLY touching you then it is then not causing you harm...and by now we should all know that is a load of bull. What made this so amazing and mind grabbing to me was that Melissa didn't say anything particularly spectacular or anything that we already haven't heard but it really leaves it's mark. Sometimes words leave a bigger scar the an actual knife will and we see it happen every day, sad but true. I think it goes without saying that this was my number one. 

I think this anthology is for many that feel like they're not included in YA or in the book world and I would really love an Adult collection like this. 

What Lies Beneath by Richard P. Denney

Synopsis:

What would you do if you thought your psycho ex-boyfriend was haunting you from beyond the grave? 

When Blair Lewis is left for dead in a freezing lake, she can't get over the fact that her boyfriend tried to kill her. And when she begins to receive disturbing gifts and letters from her supposed dead boyfriend, she attempts to figure out what is going on before the darkness consumes her. Nothing is as it seems and the startling truth is going to rip Blair right out of this world. 

Is Blair simply losing her mind? Or is something vicious and dark after her sanity and soul?

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

Oh my damn! Don't read this before bed or if you're alone because you will be very paranoid. 

I loved that the plot was held at the perfect pace, not dragging on but also not rushing through. I think this is perfect for everyone's Halloween TBR or if you just want something creepy RIGHT NOW and you should. My only problem was that the closer I got to the end I could kind of see what was going to happen. 

I really liked how all of the characters were used throughout the story. I love when an author puts their characters in specific roles and keeps them playing it for the entirety of the story. Also, I loved that we have a trans character in the story, Max, but I love it even more because Max isn't put on a pedestal just for being trans. We still get to read and not be reminded on every page that he's mention on about his sexual orientation. 

This is one of the creepiest books I've ever read and it ended in true horror movie fashion. 

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Synopsis:

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orleans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orleans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. But it's not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orleans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision. With the future of Orleans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever. Dhonielle Clayton creates a rich, detailed, decadent world of excess and privilege, where beauty is not only skin-deep, but a complete mirage. Weaving deeper questions about the commodification of women's bodies, gender equality, racial identity, and vanity with high-stakes action and incredible imagery, The Belles is the must-read epic of the season. 

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: Feb. 20, 2018

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I received this novel from Disney Hyperion and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is officially one of my favorite novels of the year and may go down as one of my all time faves. The Belle world was so beautiful, though it was not ideal, it was still set up as a very colorful and magical world. The attention to detail that the author gave in in this book was so freaking phenomenal I could cry. Sometimes I did feel like the imagery in some areas was a bit in the overkill zone but on the other hand everything was described with such A-1 detail it really makes you wonder how creepy it would be if people really came out looking like the Gris and depended on beings like the belles to make them beautiful. Beauty hurts.

Even though I really appreciated all of the world and character building sadly, I think this made the plot take off a little slow for me. I thought the tale of how "The Belles" came to be in the beginning of the book was really cute and a good way to start the book off. By starting off in a light hearted manner then slow getting more intense throughout the plot really has a way of keeping your attention in the story.

Character wise I'm glad that we kind of glanced over most of the older Belles seeing that it wouldn't have made sense to go into detail about characters that weren't going to make a difference in the plot. Thank you Dhonielle for not wasting our time. Cameilla is definitely a love to hate character as in everyone can relate to her but at the same time everyone will also judge her for the exact same reasons why they relate to her. My favorite character, hands down, had to be Remy. He's 100% fictional husband material and I'm not even sure if my attention was supposed to be drawn to him but I love him 😍😍!!! Also, being in the presence of Princess Sophie was like walking on nail and trying not to breathe too hard because it might piss her off and I'm going to leave it at that.

I really hated reading this and seeing these girls be legit slaves their entire existences to people that act like they're more of objects than human beings.(Que the flashback to slavery times) And I'm using the word hate as in it hurt my feelings to know from the time they were created, they never got to live and do what they truly wanted and never got the chance to learn from their mistakes.

The betrayal was so real, even though I caught a hint of it from the start, with everything going on it slipped my mind and it really hurt to see it play out. I loved the climax at end so much. There was just so much tension and action going on I felt like I couldn't breathe until I read the last word. I think it goes without saying I can't wait for book two and I hope I don't have to wait too much longer.

The Good Braider by Terry Farish

Synopsis:

In spare free verse laced with unforgettable images, Viola’s strikingly original voice sings out the story of her family's journey from war-torn Sudan, to Cairo, and finally to Portland, Maine. Here, in the sometimes too close embrace of the local Southern Sudanese Community, she dreams of South Sudan while she tries to navigate the strange world of America a world where a girl can wear a short skirt, get a tattoo or even date a boy; a world that puts her into sharp conflict with her traditional mother who, like Viola, is struggling to braid together the strands of a displaced life.

Terry Farish's haunting novel is not only a riveting story of escape and survival, but the universal tale of a young immigrant's struggle to build a life on the cusp of two cultures.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I really enjoyed reading this, even though when I first started off I wasn't too sure about it. I think the best thing an author can do when writing a book like this is to be very raw and real, and that is what I got & that has to be my favorite thing about this book. Also, this is written is verse which I always love in a book because it makes you feel like you're reading at a much faster pace, boosting your reader's self of steam.

The only thing I had trouble with while reading this was my attention span. I had a hit and run type of relationship between my attention span & this book, on and off, and I honestly can't say exactly what it was that kept making my mind disengage from this story.

I loved that I was emotionally invested in the characters throughout the story & all of the loss Viola had to experience. Viola's character did a lot of growing, as well as her mother, from the beginning to the end of the book, so it's safe to say there is character growth present in this story. Also, you get to see how different Sudanese people take different roads once they get to American & reinvent themselves in different ways. ❤

I just loved that Ms. Terry came with her receipts to prove the authenticity behind her book. She let you know how many people she interviewed & what materials she studied to make sure her story was as real as it could get. And I really liked the historical facts she put at the end about Southern Sudan & its colonizing, I think that just added an nice extra touch.

I would recommend this because I loved learning about a culture I don't get to read about too often & you get the chance to see & understand their practices from their point of view & not just from the outside looking in.

Even though my attention was not always held captive I still would recommend this for readers who enjoy learning about other cultures and also if you are a fan of verse.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Rating: ★★★★★

Review:

"Bravery doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you go on even though you're scared."

I loved this so much to the point that I would be willing to propose to Angie Thomas if I were single and if I played for that team!!! In order to make a girl want to switch teams you know you have to do some bomb ass work and so help me god did she ever!!! 

I was grasped into the story from chapter 1 and I'm so happy I didn't have to wait a quarter of the way or midway through the book before I actually got into it the story. Even though I knew Khalil was going to get shot that still didn't soften the blow from it. I still had a hurt & shocked expression sitting on my face, which of course I'm not mad at, because obviously that reflects the emotion & understanding I received from the characters.

I just loved that I could relate with so many things going on throughout the book; messy friends/sisters, family dynamics, life lessons(aka the cop talk), and so much more. I especially identified with Starr's reasoning about why she wasn't ready to loose her virginity because at that time in my life, I felt the exact same way as she did. I didn't want to be another statistic because that's how I saw my race represented around my school quite often once I got to high school.


I laughed the most I could remember while ever reading any book because I truly got it, I understood where Starr was coming from, especially the Holy Ghost Two Step comment(I died, met Jesus, he told me it wasn't my time, and I came back to life). I really can not wait for June 5th to roll around because that's when On The Come Up will make it's grand entrance into the YA Universe on into my heart!!! 

Solo by Kwame Alexander

Synopsis:

When the heart gets lost, let the music find you.

Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming—like many—that Blade will become just like his father.

In reality, the only thing Blade has in common with Rutherford is the music that lives inside them. But not even the songs that flow through Blade’s soul are enough when he’s faced with two unimaginable realities: the threat of losing Chapel forever, and the revelation of a long-held family secret, one that leaves him questioning everything he thought was true. All that remains is a letter and a ticket to Ghana—both of which could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.

Publishing Co.: Blink
Release Date: July 25, 2017
Rating:★★★

Reveiw:

I received this book from Netgalley and Blink Publishing in exchange for my honest review. 

First, I just loved that this was written in verse because one, it definitely made me feel like I was breezing through the book, and two, being in verse made the writing seem so beautiful. Although, there were two parts where the same words were repeated over and over, adding one word every line until it made a sentence and I hated that the most. ( Ex: After the, After the rain, After the rain comes, After the rain comes a, After the rain comes a rainbow.) It was just really annoying!

I thought the characters were delightfully obnoxious, which is a plus seeing that is how they were meant to be perceived. I immediately hated Chapel, Blade's girlfriend, and picked her out as a gold digger upon meeting her and immediately wanted him to see it too, and drop her ass. There was also a part where Blade said he started thinking about how dangerous it felt to love someone so much when they can't be with you and the whole time I'm reading this I'm thinking about how dangerous it is to love someone who loves what you can do for them more than you care to admit seeing.

His father was just as unbelievable as it gets to the point where you're asking, who raised him? But I did enjoy the piece of karma that was received by a very worthy recipient. I hate that Blade was the "hopeless romantic" type. For me, it really tarnished his character and I took it as a shot at him for being "young", since the stereotype is young people don't hold common sense and lack restraint and/or good judgement. 

I felt like Blade was in a ticking time bomb situation because he was surrounded by toxic relationships. I really liked the big family secret but I'm mad and a little disappointed we didn't get to see it fully play out. Also, I didn't really care for the song bios and I gradually started to feel like it weighed the pages down.

I only thought the book was alright so I can't really say if I would or wouldn't recommend this but of course the choice is all yours. 

Allerleirauh by Chantal Gadoury

Synopsis:

In the kingdom of Tranen, a king makes a promise to his dying wife that he'll only remarry a woman who possesses her golden hair. In time, the king's eyes are turned by his daughter. Realizing her father’s intentions, Princess Aurelia tries to trick him by requesting impossible gifts: dresses created by the sun, moon and stars, and a coat made of a thousand furs. But when he is successful, Aurelia sacrifices her privileged life and flees her kingdom, disguised by the cloak and a new name, Allerleirauh. 

She enters the safe haven of Saarland der Licht, where the handsome and gentle Prince Klaus takes her under his care. Hoping not to be discovered by her father’s courtiers, Allerleirauh tries to remain hidden under her new identity when she finds unexpected love with Prince Klaus, even though his arranged marriage to the princess of a neighboring kingdom approaches. Risking everything, Allerleirauh must face her troubled past and her fears of the future along her journey to self-acceptance in this triumphant retelling of the classic Grimm Fairy Tale.

Publishing Co.: The Parliament House
Release Date: August 22, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I was sent an eARC copy of this book from the author, Chantal Gadoury, and Parliament House publishing company in exchange for my honest review. I waited to read this book until December because it seemed like good 'wintery' type read to get me in the winter spirit.

I loved some many things about this book but there were a few things that I didn't like. I loved all of the rising action leading up to the climax of the story and I mean you could really see the build up to the big bang. I really feel like the amount of imagery used in this was very well done because I could close my eyes and visualize just about everything I was reading.

I genuinely caught feelings for the characters, good for some & bad for others. Chantal did a good job of making you want to get involved in the story, just to slap some sense into some of the characters. I got pretty emotional for some parts, especially the rape scene because it was a quite graphic and brutal scene. *Which brings me to warn those of you who may have rape triggers, even though there's only one scene I wouldn't feel right not mentioning it* I really appreciated the fact that Allerleirauh didn't open up right away to prince Klaus instead she actually was relatable and struggled with the fear of revealing herself and her past. 

Now lets get into what I didn't like about this book. I just find it really hard to believe that no one recognized her once she was out of the coat, it was just too much naiveness for me to handle. I also started to grow tiresome and bored of Klaus and Allerleirauh's courtship of sorts, it started to drag on in some places and it felt a bit dry. But at the same time I'm glad it was not love at first sight and there was no love triangle, which I was expecting to happen. 

I was expecting more of a search party from Tranen once Allerleirauh disappeared, seeing that she was only in the next town over, but it's almost like she was forgotten by the kingdom until it was convenient for the story. I stared to feel like I was reading almost an entirely different book once Allerleirauh escaped from what I was reading when she was still in Tranen. I also wish I got more of that feeling of urgency to actually hide from Allerleirauh, mind you it had only been a few days, not months, before she decided to do away with the coat.

Thankfully, by the end of the book I was grinning from ear to ear at 2:30 in the morning. Also, the ending reminded me a lot of One Night With the King. 

To sum everything up, this was savage yet swoon worth, and sorry but a little of the story was expected(but it didn't really bother me). I think the good of this story outweigh's the bad, or at least balances it out, so I definitely recommend this wonderful retelling.

A Christmas Gift by Stella Wilkinson

Synopsis:

Holly and Caleb had been best friends as children, growing up on the same street, but as teenagers they couldn't be further apart. When Caleb unexpectedly asked Holly to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, neither of them anticipated where it would lead. 
A young adult romantic comedy, from Stella Wilkinson, acclaimed author of The Flirting Games Series. 

A Christmas Gift is a "clean" romance, suitable for ALL ages

Rating:★★★½

Review:

This was really cute but also really cheesy, but I guess that's to be expected when this is a holiday love story. I felt like this took me on a trip back to high school, just seeing all of the drama unfolding and seeing Holly struggle between wanting to remain herself and wanting to be accepted.

There was one thing I didn't agree with and I felt was just the worst thing you could ever tell a 16 year old or a person period and that was the advice from Holly's mother to Holly. She told her she should changer her appearance to be more acceptable for a boy. You should never teach a girl that it is okay to change the way you look just for the acceptance a boy or for anyone for that matter. I feel like that's teaching girls not to be comfortable in their own skin or with themselves.

Besides that I think this was a cute but predictably cheesy short story.