Book Review: Out of the Blue by Sophie Cameron

Out of the Blue
by Sophie Cameron
Release Date: May 15th, 2018


SYNOPSIS:

Sometimes, I imagine alternate endings to the story: last-minute miracles, touches of magic. I picture how things might have gone, if I wasn’t there. If I’d left just a few minutes later. If I hadn’t been alone. It doesn’t make any difference. One way or another, the crash always comes.

Ten days after Jaya Mackenzie’s mum dies, angels start falling from the sky. Smashing down to earth at extraordinary speeds, wings bent, faces contorted, not a single one has survived.

Hysteria mounting with every Being that drops, Jaya’s father uproots the family to Edinburgh intent on catching one alive. But Jaya can’t stand this obsession and, struggling to make sense of her mother’s sudden death and her own role on that fateful day, she’s determined to stay out of it.

When her best friend disappears and her father’s mania spirals, things hit rock bottom and it’s at that moment something extraordinary happens: An angel lands right at Jaya’s feet, and it’s alive. Finally she is forced to acknowledge just how significant these celestial beings are.

Set against the backdrop of the frenzied Edinburgh festival, OUT OF THE BLUE tackles questions of grief and guilt and fear over who we really are. But it’s also about love and acceptance and finding your place in this world as angels drop out of another.

REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this from Fierce Reads in exchange for an honest review.

To say that this writer is brilliant would be an understatement. Out of the Blue is so raw and full of emotion. It takes a lot to hit me in the way that this story did and I can't wait to read more of Sophie's work. The main character struggles with misplaced guilt and regret throughout the book and I can relate to that. We all struggle with that though, right? There are key moments in all of our lives that you look back on and say, "What if I had done things differently?" WHAT IF? I struggle with this constantly and this very realistic story with a touch of fantasy really got me thinking. I think it's great that books such as this exist and feel that it fits a wide audience. While this story seems like it will turn out one way it surprises you in the most beautiful way.

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book Review: The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas

The Supervillain and Me
by Danielle Banas
Release Date: July 10th, 2018

SYNOPSIS:

As witty as it is heartpounding, this fresh take on the beloved superhero genre is all about finding your own way to shine even when it seems everyone else around you is, well... super.

Never trust a guy in spandex.

In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees―they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.

That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.

After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Supervillain and Me is a hilarious, sweet, and action-packed novel by debut author Danielle Banas that proves no one is perfect, not even superheroes.

REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this from Fierce Reads in exchange for an honest review.

I always gravitate towards superhero stories and this definitely didn't disappoint. I could not put this book down! When I started it I felt like I knew who the guy behind the mask was and I am so glad I was wrong. I enjoyed the progression of every character and the ending. Hopefully there's a second book soon because I need more! I also need and Iron Phantom artwork in my life...I'm just saying. *wink wink* I won't post spoilers as this hasn't been released yet, but if you like superhero stories I believe you will enjoy this. The Supervillain and Me felt in many ways reminiscent of the Playstation show Powers and I loved that show. Danielle's writing style is fun and easy to follow and I definitely think you all should check her out! Since this comes out on my birthday I may have to put a finished copy of this on my wish list.

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book Review: ANIMUS by Antoine Revoy

ANIMUS
by Antoine Revoy
Release Date: May 8th, 2018


SYNOPSIS:

The residents of a quiet Japanese neighborhood have slowly come to realize that inauspicious, paranormal forces are at play in the most unlikely of places: the local playground. Two friends, a young boy and girl, resolve to exorcise the evil that inhabit it, including a snaggle-toothed monster.

In Animus, a beautiful but spooky young adult graphic novel of everyday hauntings, Antoine Revoy delivers an eerie tale inspired by the Japanese and French comics of his childhood.

REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this from Macmillan/First Second Books in exchange for an honest review.

In the same day that I received this, I immediately dove in! Being a fan of dark tales and Japanese comics told me right away that I would love it. After finishing this I am left very confused, yet intrigued. Most of the time I hate when stories leave me wondering what happened, but I think that is what makes this so special. It's not fluffy at all and can definitely give some chills. This is a quick and fun read that I really enjoyed. Also, the artwork is gorgeous! Seriously though, what just happened ? ? ?

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book Review: Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)

by Marie Lu

Published: January 2nd, 2018


SYNOPSIS:


Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.


REVIEW:

My friend Heather sent me a signed copy of this book as a Christmas gift and I LOVED IT!

I have long been a fan of Batman's origin story and Marie Lu’s take on teenage Bruce Wayne is refreshing, beautifully written, and true to his character. You can deeply feel the deep moral conflict he is going through and can see him gradually working his way towards his Batman persona. From the way that Bruce is written I can definitely see a few similarities to the version David Mazouz plays of him on the show Gotham. I really enjoyed the character Madeleine as well and by the end of the story I was gripping the edge of my seat. She was such a tricky character that made you couldn't help but care for and I would definitely like to see more of her in a future Batman book. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of Batman! 

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️  

Book Review: Bound to You by Alyssa Brandon

Bound to You

by Alyssa Brandon

Release Date: April 10th, 2018

SYNOPSIS:

A teen werewolf finally meets her destined soulmate only to discover that he's not quite what she expected in this steamy debut romance.

She's met her mate . . . and he's met his match.

Megan Ross has been waiting her whole life for her mate to come and sweep her off her feet. But the wolf she meets on the beach is NOT the sweet gentle boy she's been dreaming of. Instead, he's a warrior, one whose suffering has led him to lock his heart away in a prison as cold and hard as a diamond, who fights to resist the bond and their deep sexual attraction.

Far from home, with a soulmate who is still a stranger, Megan learns that the path to true love isn't quite as straight and easy as she thought . . . 

REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this from Fierce Reads in exchange for an honest review.

In my early twenties I used to read a lot of shifter romances and going back to it was quite fun. My main hesitation was my worry over it ending up like every other werewolf romance I've ever read. Now, while there were many similarities to other stories I have read in the past, I enjoyed it. Megan and James seem like a real couple with very real issues that created a depth to their relationship. It wasn't just a, "We're mates, lets get it on now," type of thing. Well, on Megan's end it was, but James' emotional scars kept him closed off for a great deal of the book and their gradually growing love felt genuine. One of the only things I felt was a bit lacking was some more insight into the other characters. I really hope there is a sequel because... I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT LUCY!

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Book Review: Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor

Night of Cake & Puppets

by Laini Taylor

Published: September 12th, 2017

SYNOPSIS:

In this stand-alone companion to the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone series comes the story of Mik and Zuzana's fantastical first date—as a gorgeously illustrated gift edition with bonus content included.

Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her "rabid fairy," her "voodoo eyes" are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or "Violin Boy," her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to make the first move, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It's a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter's night before leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy is not going to know what hit him.

New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Originally published as an ebook, this new print edition will include breathtaking black and white illustrations, plus bonus content in a gorgeous package perfect for new and current fans of the series. 

 REVIEW:

I was sent a copy of this for review from NOVL and I can't rave enough about this book!

First off, I have a confession... I have never read anything by Laini Taylor so this was my first introduction to her writing style as well as these two characters. Laini has such a compelling style that I just blazed through this story. I also couldn't get enough of the stunning artwork included by Jim Di Bartolo. Experiencing the romantic hesitation on both ends between Zuzana and Mik was so endearing. They may be young and new to love, but they really put a lot of thought into making their two paths collide and when they do...it's MAGICAL!

I will definitely be picking up the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series very soon!

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book Review: The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding

by Alexandra Bracken

Published: September 5th, 2017

SYNOPSIS:

"I would say it's a pleasure to meet thee, Prosperity Oceanus Redding, but truly, I only anticipate the delights of destroying thy happiness."

Prosper is the only unexceptional Redding in his old and storied family history — that is, until he discovers the demon living inside him. Turns out Prosper's great-great-great-great-great-something grandfather made — and then broke — a contract with a malefactor, a demon who exchanges fortune for eternal servitude. And, weirdly enough, four-thousand-year-old Alastor isn't exactly the forgiving type. 

The fiend has reawakened with one purpose — to destroy the family whose success he ensured and who then betrayed him. With only days to break the curse and banish Alastor back to the demon realm, Prosper is playing unwilling host to the fiend, who delights in tormenting him with nasty insults and constant attempts trick him into a contract. Yeah, Prosper will take his future without a side of eternal servitude, thanks.

Little does Prosper know, the malefactor's control over his body grows stronger with each passing night, and there's a lot Alastor isn't telling his dim-witted (but admittedly strong-willed) human host. 

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a tale of betrayal and revenge, of old hurts passed down from generation to generation. Can you ever fully right a wrong, ever truly escape your history? Or will Prosper and Alastor be doomed to repeat it?

SPOILER FREE REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this for review from Disney Books and I must say, it was one of my top reads of the year!

I've always loved a good middle grade book and this did not disappoint. Alexandra has quite a way with words and kept me thoroughly entertained throughout this story. I can relate to Prosper on so many levels and those that struggle with impressing others and feeling seen will as well. This story takes place during Halloween and everything was described so vividly that I could picture it all. The other character in this book that was a shining star was Nell, a young witch who just wants her mother back at whatever cost...until she fully realizes that it's a cost she can't live with. Even with the revelations at the end of this book I feel we will be seeing a lot more of her in book two. This is going to be a hit series! To say that the end of this book threw me for a loop would be an understatement. I can't wait for the sequel and more of Alastor's antics!

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

The Wicked Deep
by Shea Ernshaw
Release date: March 6th, 2018

SYNOPSIS:

Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW:

I was sent an early copy of this for review from SimonTEEN and I have to say this was one of my favorite reads of 2017! 

When I dove into The Wicked Deep I expected things to go one way and then they went completely different. Misdirection is a powerful tool in a writer's arsenal that I sadly don't see enough of and Shea used it brilliantly. The rug was pulled out from under me at the moment that I was about ninety percent through the book and it blew my mind! I adore the main characters Penny and Bo so much and the deep love stories touched me. Even though some may say I shouldn't, I empathized with one of the witches and understand the rage and the sense of righteousness the sisters felt in their vengeance. Shea has a lovely writing style that I really can't compare to another author. I've always found myself drawn to stories that jump between different points in time and it was frequently done here and in such a way that I could visualize everything. If you enjoy reading about young love and delving into the wrongful persecution of witches,  you will LOVE this book!

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

WHERE TO BUY: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Books-A-Million

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS: Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan.... But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she's really good at it. She and her twin, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

MY REVIEW: This was such a FUN read! And a fast one at that! By far my favorite Rainbow Rowell book! Cath is definitely me in college. I wrote fanfiction, I was socially awkward, I was (and still am) weird around boys. It was fun to read about the experience from an outside perspective! I really enjoyed how passionate she was about fanfiction and Simon Snow. She didn't let anyone try to talk her out of what she was passionate about, not even her professor. She was witty, funny, and all around fun to learn and read about.

Reagan, Cath's roommate, was a huge star of this book. She was SO funny and sarcastic. Her dry humor and her interactions with Cath made the book for me a lot of the times. She was so brash in her approach to life, but it was so endearing to me.

Wren, Cath's twin sister, took a long while for me to warm up to. I did not like this girl for a majority of the book. Mainly because of how she treated Cath, but then it turned into because she was stupid. The way that she was living her life made me cringe. As I was reading about Wren, I thought that her lifestyle was going to get her into trouble sooner or later. She had no buffer and was constantly taking jabs at Cath for various things. While I understand the need for independence, especially as freshmen in college -- Cath was her twin sister and she shouldn't have been treating her like some stranger. It wasn't cool.

Levi, oh my sweet adorable Levi, what on earth to say about this guy? Other than he was absolute flawed perfection on paper. Levi was so fun! He was energetic, friendly, supportive, vulnerable, honest -- everything you could want in a first boyfriend. Sure, he made his fair mistakes but overall, he was a really great character. Developed well and fun to follow. I really loved his interactions with Cath. He really was enamored with her. And it was fun to witness her become just as enamored and not know how to handle it.

Rowell did a fantastic job on painting an accurate picture of the fangirl transition -- from high school to college -- where people most likely wouldn't understand why fanfiction, midnight book releases, etc. are so important. Witnessing Cath come into herself was one of the most rewarding things about this book. She grows so much throughout the book, but by the end of the story, you really sit back and think of how far she has come. WIth the help of Reagan, Levi, Wren and even her professor. There's a character, Nick, that teaches the not-so-fun college lesson to Cath. And I was so proud of her for how she handles him at the end. She's just a different, though the same, girl at the end of this book.

I loved it. Fantastically written, fun, friendly, adorable -- all of the words!  

MY RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Book Review: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

WHERE TO BUY:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Book Depository

SYNOPSIS:

Sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba interweaves the story of his Polish legacy with the story of how he and his best friend , Robby, brought about the end of humanity and the rise of an army of unstoppable, six-foot tall praying mantises in small-town Iowa.

To make matters worse, Austin’s hormones are totally oblivious; they don’t care that the world is in utter chaos: Austin is in love with his girlfriend, Shann, but remains confused about his sexual orientation. He’s stewing in a self-professed constant state of maximum horniness, directed at both Robby and Shann. Ultimately, it’s up to Austin to save the world and propagate the species in this sci-fright journey of survival, sex, and the complex realities of the human condition.

MY REVIEW: 

Seriously… WTF was this book?

I bounced between a 4-star and a 5-star rating for about 12 hours. Mainly because this book was a lot to process, but not in a bad way. Andrew Smith is crazy. This book is crazy. The plot is crazy. The characters were extremely hormonal (they’re teenagers – boys, at that!). I cannot begin to count how many times Smith used the word ‘horny’ while we were in Austin’s, the main character, head!

Anyway, this story follows the life of Austin Szerba and his confusion over his sexual orientation. That, to me, was the primary focus. He was in love with his girlfriend (since the 7th grade), Shann and also with his best friend, Robby. Through his trying to figure out his preferences, he and Robby accidentally unleashed a plague upon the small town of Ealing, IA. People become infected/infested with parasitic “stuffs” and mutant grasshoppers hatch from within their bodies. Gross, I know!

This is definitely a weird adventure. And I don’t use that term lightly. While the grasshopper part was interesting enough, I found myself more interested in Austin and his relationship struggles. He is a comical, though horny boy who likes to feel good and he always has sex on the brain. I laughed out loud at times, especially when he was telling stories about getting in trouble for reading specific books or when he and Robby were “experimenting”. It felt awkward because it was, but it was also one of my favorite moments in the book.

The characters DID fall a bit flat for me at time, while I really enjoyed Robby, I didn’t come to learn too much about him. Shann — I really knew nothing about her personally. Austin was the only one that I can say that I kind of knew the most, but that’s because we were in his head the entire time.

This time around, I feel that Smith focused on the weird, complex plot of mutant grasshoppers and Austin’s sexual orientation experimenting. Not a bad thing, but I do kind of feel like something was sacrified for the sake of the weird plot.

With that being said, I enjoyed the book. I like how weird it was, I like Austin’s confusion over Shann & Robby. While this book is primarily about a boy’s adolescence and self-discovery, Smith threw in some Storm Trooper crap to make it more interesting. And it was absolutely more interesting. I 100% like “Winger” a lot better, but this one was not a bad read at all!

MY RATING: 4 out of 5 stars!

Book Review: Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

WHERE TO BUY: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million

GOODREADS SUMMARY: 
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

MY REVIEW: 
This was such an interesting take on humans & aliens! I liked it a lot. This is only my second Jennifer L. Armentrout book, but I am simply adoring this woman! The way that she develops her characters is unlike a lot of authors I read.

The main characters in this story, Katy & Daemon, are the perfect duo. They play off of each other so well and I just how their stories intertwine throughout the book. Originally, Katy got on my nerves, just a little bit. She was constantly making "unsmart" decisions and I couldn't quite understand why. But then again, I actually could. It was just frustrating at times. But as the book went on, she turned into this kick ass woman/girl. With such ambitious and fight in her. I definitely appreciated her character, especially her fierce loyalty and love for Dee (and the other aliens). She is definitely a character I love.

Moving on to Daemon -- it is very apparent that Jennifer likes her bad boys. Very apparent, indeed. Daemon is deemed a bad boy from page one. He is snarky, sarcastic, flirtatious. But he's also fiercely protective and loyal to those that he cares about, especially his sister, Dee. I enjoyed him from the second I was introduced to his character. And the cool part about him is that he developed quite well throughout the book, but not to the point where you barely recognized him from the beginning. He's still a jerk, which I love.

His interactions with Katy, Dee, or anyone were so much fun to read about. Didn't matter who you were, he was going to be himself. And I love that.

Obsidian is the perfect introduction to the Lux series, I honestly couldn't put this book down. I read it in about 5 hours. Definitely a five-star book for me!

MY RATING: 5 out of 5 stars!

Book Review: Evertrue by Brodi Ashton (Everneath, #3)

Where To Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository
 
Goodreads Summary: Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

**Do NOT read this review if you have not read the first TWO books. There are SPOILERS!**

 My Review: The final third of this book is what decided the rating. Had my rating been based on the first two-thirds, I'd have given it a 3.5 or 4 stars. This book ended perfectly, first of all. I still say that the second book was my favorite of the trilogy, because it's the one that shocked me and grabbed me the most, but the ending to this book was heartfelt, sad, yet appropriate at the same time.

We pick up with the decision of Nikki deciding she needs to destroy the Everneath because Cole tricked her into beginning her transformation into an Everliving. Throughout this entire book, I was suspicious of Cole yet I enjoyed him at the same time. I kept wondering what he had up his sleeve now that Nikki and Jack knew what he did. But then Brodi Ashton decides to throw me a curve ball and give Cole something quite big to deal with throughout the entire book. When I found out about Cole's situation, I was PISSED! I couldn't believe that Ashton would even allow me to be confused over how I was feeling about Cole. I mean, I will continue to say that he was the best developed character of the entire series, but that didn't mean I had to like him. Or feel sorry for him. But Ashton has me questioning.

Having Jack back in the picture was great, but at times I felt like he was a little too much. Especially when Nikki had to feed off of Cole, which we all knew was necessary in order for her to stay alive. Jack needed to chill. Just a little.

Then Nikki, having been through hell & high water with the Everneath and with Cole, still made a few rash decisions that had me scratching my head. But by the end of the book, I honestly just settle in the fact that this was who she was. She's a compassionate person, and sometimes even when you've been scorned, you can't help having that compassion, even if you could potential get burned again.
Can I just say that I love Will? That's all. No particular reason, other than I just love how dedicated he is and how he is always willing to help.

For me, the middle of the novel dragged a bit. Especially when Nikki & Jack are trying to deal with Cole. Once again, there's the struggle with the decision to trust Cole or to not trust Cole. And I was struggling with it too.

Throughout the entire series, regardless what Cole has done to Nikki, you can tell that he cares about her. But he's also acting out of his own selfish desires. You see it in Everneath, you see it in Everbound, and you see it in Evertrue. It's just obvious. He loves her, which means he wants her happy, but he's also selfish.

The queen -- she was boring to me. In the previous book and this one. The Shades were scarier than she was. I kept thinking "Can you just die? Please? I'm over you." I think the queen could have been written a little better. I always expect more out of female characters, so I just wasn't feeling this queen.

My favorite scene in the entire book? Not the romance, not the fighting, not anything Cole-related. Nope. It was the frickin' BEETLE scene! Can you say EWWWWWW???! I cringed as I read that scene. The fact that Nikki had to walk across a bed of beetles, each the size of half of her foot?? What the hell, man?! I would have just laid down to die. I couldn't do it. That scene gave me hives just thinking about it!

Overall, this was a great story. There are things within the entire series that I wish were written better, but I am not going to nitpick over this trilogy. I'm just glad that Ashton ended the story in a way that was satisfactory. At least for me, and I'm sure for others as well.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5!

Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Where To Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Books-A-Million

Goodreads Summary: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned-to her old life, her family, her boyfriend-before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance-and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.

My Review: Wow oh wow. What a fabulous story. It was better than I expected it to be. The plot was quite an interesting concept. It's kind of like the retelling of the myth of Persephone, which is one of my favorite stories!

Nikki has basically returned for the underworld, which is called the Everneath. She "returned" because she didn't want to stay away from her love, Jack. Because she is meant to stay in the Everneath, she only has a limited time to immerse herself back into her old world. The Everneath will come after six months to take her back.

It's quite a predicament she gets herself into, because for a while, Nikki does absolutely nothing in regards to Jack, so I'm wondering why the heck she even bothered. It was almost like she enjoyed torturing herself, but remaining around him -- but not being with him. She didn't even really engage in conversation with him, until he put in her a position to. So, for a majority of the book, Nikki pissed me off.

Then there's Cole -- the asshole we all know and hate. Cole is the reason why Nikki is involved in this whole Everneath experience to begin with. And he's so unapologetic for everything he puts her through. He clearly witnesses how much Nikki loves Jack, but he tries to cut her off at every turn. I personally think it's jealousy due to love, but that isn't necessarily specified because it is understood that Cole can't feel love.

Throughout the entire book, I'm naturally rooting for Nikki and Jack to just be together. I want her to be honest with him and I want him to just protect her against Cole, who just continues to act so petty. There's an underlying reason why Cole wants Nikki. He wants to take over ruling the underworld and feels that Nikki is very crucial in making that happen because she's so powerful.

I really enjoyed Jack's character, but I honestly think he was underplayed. I would have loved to hear more about his backstory, especially more on his experience after Nikki left him (for the Everneath). I feel like there's a hidden gem in his backstory.

Nikki's character was a little flat for me, mainly because she kept letting Cole take the reins on how she was going to spend her six months in her old life. Cole dominated Nikki's everything and it got annoying, fast. But I have a feeling that due to the happenings at the end of the book, Nikki will be back and ready for action. I think book one's happenings will force her to get a better head in the game. 

Cole's character does everything I needed it to do -- make me hate him. He was so underhanded in his handling of Nikki, of his own affairs. Of everything. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him, so I'm interested to see what happens with him.

Overall, I was pleased with the book. The ending was such a cliffhanger for me that I NEED to pick up the second book now! I need to know what Nikki's plan of action is.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars! 

The review for the sequel, Everbound, will be coming next week! 

TRAILER RELEASE: The Fault in Our Stars

It's here, everybody! The debut of the first official trailer for Josh Boone's The Fault in Our Stars starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort!

For those of you who may have been living under many rocks, The Fault in Our Stars is a film based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name written by one half of TheVlogBrothers, John Green.

For me, personally, this is my second most anticipated film of 2014 -- so when I heard the trailer was being released today, I made all of the necessary arrangements to not be disturbed.

I've seen the trailer about 10-15 times now and I am just in awe of Boone (he directed one of my favorite films of 2013 - Stuck in Love) and Woodley & Elgort look to have done a phenomenal job. I cried during a two-minute trailer, you guys. What's going to happen to me during the actual film?!

I can only hope that the film is as good as the trailer is. But I trust Josh Boone, as well as John Green. Shailene Woodley has never given me any reason to trust her with this role (I've never liked any of her previous work), but after seeing this trailer -- I believe.

Nat Wolff, who is playing my favorite character from the book Isaac, has all of my trust. He was in Stuck in Love and has obviously worked with Boone before.

Ansel Elgort had me believing his acting from the minute I saw him on screen.

I am SO excited! I'm ready to fall in love, I'm ready for heartbreak, but most of all I'm ready to be taken on a journey. To bear witness to John Green's story coming to life on the big screen!

What are your thoughts on the trailer??

Book Review: 'Cinder' by Marissa Meyer

Where To Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Author Website

Goodreads Summary: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

U.S., Italian, and Spanish covers

My Review: This was seriously the most creative twist on a fairytale! Wow. I've never been the biggest fan of Cinderella, mainly because I simply cannot handle how her stepmother and stepsisters treat her. The essence of the fairytale is very much present in this book, but there is so much more to it than just that. The cyborg take on it was a fabulous tangent. 

I really enjoyed the story as a whole, more so than the individual characters themselves. Cinder, Prince Kai, Peony, etc. were a great bunch of characters, but I honestly found myself looking more into what was going to happen to the people of Earth once the Lunar Queen Levana got hold of the earthly throne.

I got so angry with Adri and Pearl because there was simply NO justification for their treatment of Cinder. Jealousy, resentment, and plain old bitterness. Cinder was a firecracker of a character and I really enjoyed her interactions with everyone she came across -- Prince Kai, Adri, Pearl, Queen Levana, Dr. Erland, anyone. She was a spunky girl. Didn't take crap from anyone. Of course that attitude got her into more trouble than not, but I was really entertained.

What happened to Peony, the nicer stepsister who Cinder actually really loved, was an emotional experience. Especially since Cinder was SO close to being able to help her. But I think it motivated Cinder to do more than just focus on saving Peony. There were bigger problems at hand, especially after the chip inside of Kai's android was discovered and accessed.

Moving onto the nasty, but brilliantly written, Queen Levana. This witch is seriously the worst of the worst. She put Kai and the Commonwealth between a rock and a hard place and smiled while she did it. I found myself yelling at her in my head. The way that she can manipulate people into doing/seeing what she wants is a scary, scary thing.

The ball scene was an all over emotional MESS for me. I was happy, sad, angry, scared, anxious... everything! I just couldn't believe that everything Cinder experienced was really happening. It honestly read like a bad nightmare that she just needed to wake up from. I felt so bad for her. Especially with what Adri and Pearl did. And the situation/ultimatum that Kai was presented with, I felt my heartstrings tug. Although, once he found out what Cinder was, his reaction to it and his decision on how to handle it made me a little mad. I just don't know how to feel about Kai by the end of the book, to be honest. I DO feel it'll get better, though.

So, what I actually did see coming (and it still made my mouth drop) was when Dr. Erland came to Cinder and told her who and what she truly was. 

I'm happy that everything is finally out in the open, but now it begs the question -- now what?

And that's where book two comes in!

Rating: 5/5 stars!