Four Reasons Why You Should Read The Fixer Immediately

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Published on July 7, 2015 by Bloomsbury - Goodreads

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publishing Date: May 5, 2015
Page Count: 416 pages
Summary: When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Review: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publishing Date: February 4, 2014
Page Count: 592 pages
Summary: Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker; unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

This is a review of a sequel, so beware of spoilers! If interested in the series, you kind find the review of the first book, Cinder, here.

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Publishing Date: February 5, 2013
Page Count: 452 pages
Summary: Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

This is a review of a sequel, so beware of spoilers! If interested  in the series, you kind find the review of the first book, Cinder, here. 

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publishing Date: February 10, 2015
Page Count: 383 pages
Summary: The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers. To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change. Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control. But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
Publishing Date: October 14, 2014
Page Count: 416
Summary: Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since. Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Publication date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Page Count: 416 pages

Summary: It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we've never been before.

I've seen a lot of hype for this series. A loooot. Not just from bloggers but even from people I follow on tumblr. So much passion for this series and it's characters. Especially it's characters. I'd heard about Richard Gansey III way before I even learned where he was even from. And the fan casts and graphics people on tumblr made were absolutely flawless. (For example, some I've loved recently are here, here, and here). What I'm trying to say is, I had expectations. Lots of them, more than I've had for a book in a long time. I also thought I knew how the book would go because of a lot of what I heard. But I was wrong. This book was nothing like I expected it to be. 

And I loved it.

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Publication Date: Semptember 27, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page Count: 456 pages

Summary: Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can. She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is. She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. She's wrong. (via goodreads)

So, I've known about this series for quite a while now. At first I didn’t realize the last book had come out until recently but it’s been around and I've seen all sorts of mixed reviews for it, which left me intrigued because I more often see a collective love or dislike of a lot of books from the reviewers/bloggers I follow. Then Jess from My Reading Dress reviewed the series and I decided I had to finally give it a try. I have to say, I ended up enjoying the first book.

Review: I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
Publication Date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Dial Books
Page Count: 371 pages

Summary: Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

I’ll Give you The Sun is the second young adult novel by Jandy Nelson, her debut being The Sky Is Everywhere. I enjoyed her debut so much; the imagery in her writing captures the emotions of her characters so well and the writing is beautifully poetic, which gives a certain feel to the words on the page. It’s almost overwhelming to read her prose and the emotions that are evoked. I can say the same for this one as well. She so easily makes my chest tighten for Lennie, Noah, and Jude.

Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

While this review isn't full of spoilers I don't recommend reading it unless you've read the previous books. Unless of course, you're a rebel, then read on!

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (Book Three)
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 562 pages

Summary: Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat–and his own toughest enemy. While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love? (via goodreads)

A Return to Erilea: Review of Crown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Book Two)
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 420 pages

Summary: From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil. Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart. Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for. (via goodreads)

Review: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

(short note: Sorry for the major delay in posts! Busy times so I didn't have much time available for putting together posts. So I'm getting back into the groove of things with this review, so it's on the short and simple side.)

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Publication Date: May 4, 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Page Count: 344 pages

Summary: Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour is my first journey into the world of Morgan Matson novels. I've had this one on my to read list for a while now but I just hadn't brought myself to read it yet. Then Since You've Been Gone (will be reviewed in the future) came out and all the excitement and love over this book and for Matson in general had me deciding, I just have to give her books a try! I have to say, I wasn't disappointed with this one at all. I love discovering new voices who come to be some of my favorites.  

The novel starts off with Amy, who's left alone in her old house for the last month before summer and the new beginning in a new place, as per her mother's choice. Due to some things that have yet to be revealed in the story, instead of Amy driving herself across country to get to her new home, she's joined by Roger. Roger agreed to drive her because he's also going to the east coast to visit his father after finished his semester at school. Both are meeting for the first time right before heading off on their little adventure.  

Amy and Roger's Detour was a delightful little read about learning how to deal with grief and letting go for the sake of the future as well as emotional healing. Amy and Roger both have their fair share of emotional turmoil and incidents to come to terms with and together they grow as they continue to travel from state to state, ignoring the itinerary made by Amy's mother. While it doesn't take long to understand what Roger is dealing with, Amy's story is revealed slowly within the novel, within length of her acceptance and understanding. I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship with each other, and the growth of their friendship and the camaraderie that builds on the road trip. It's not forced or superficial, nor is it something that moves too fast. For me, it was just right and unique to them. Both were also great characters to read about outside their relationships. Amy specifically, with what we see of her and her brother and his own healing as well. I wish we'd gotten to see more between Amy and her mother, how they were able to work through things together but the book still had a great end to it.  

Overall, this was a great first novel to start by Morgan Matson. Second Chance Summer will be the next one I'll try.

Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Publication Date: December 1, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Page Count: 374 pages

Summary: Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland--known as The Death Shop--are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild--a savage--and her only hope of staying alive. A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile--everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

What I Liked: The world Veronica Rossi created. It wasn't just a dystopian young adult novel, but there was such underlining science fiction aspects to it, and it was an interesting telling of the world after great disaster. Such as the world of Reverie and how everyone who lived there could go anywhere they wanted in the world, create realms filled with the things the love most, do what they wanted most, just with a thought. It's a world that seems almost perfect on the surface, a paradise that the people who run Reverie want others to crave. Then we have the world of the outsiders, a world aptly named The Death Shop. It's a place of many dangerous things, and stories are past around Reverie about what lives out there. Cannibals, Savages, and the deadly Aether Storms that are feared by all in the pods. And the outsiders aren't the same as those in Reverie, biologically. This was a really interesting aspect of the story, especially when it comes to Perry and his sense of smell descriptions of Aria and the others from Reverie. 

Perry. Oh Perry. From the moment he was introduced I was intrigued by him, even if Aria wasn't quite fond of him. He's the complete opposite of Aria in the way he grew up and the life he's used to. It's a lot harsher, and he's learned to survive danger in a way only Aria has been able to imagine. There's not much to condemn when it comes to how Perry and his village has had to survive (outside the certain events). I couldn't help but feel for him either when you get to know him and his full story. Outside the circumstances of where he lives, he's not had an easy life emotionally. And the way his feelings of distaste for Aria gradually changes, had my heart going soft big time. 

Roar. This character was a delightful surprise to find in Under The Never Sky. He's the kind of charming character who makes you smile when things get tough, and provides the laughs when you need him to. But he's not just a comic relief, he's a character that I fell for just as much as I did for Perry, especially when you get to see what's under the funny and charm he exudes constantly. His fondness for Perry and eventually Aria evolved so nicely. I don't think I can even fully describe the evolution of feelings that built for this character, he was just there in my heart by the end of it. All of his scenes in the book were some of the best. 

What I didn't really like: The lack of world building. Rossi creates a universe that's pretty amazing but there isn't enough descriptors when it comes to making sense of things for the reader. You have to pretty much assume what certain things mean or how certain things look like. When it comes to dystopian/fantasy novels there should be more building for the setting to pull the reader into your story. Reverie was just brushed on, as well as the Death Shop and the extent of the world outside the pods. This part of the novel could have been added to. 

Lastly, I wasn't too fond of Aria. At least, in the beginning. It was very annoying to see her prejudices and emotions over her situation being pushed onto Perry. I couldn't sympathize for very much until she finally quit it with her preconceived ideas and thoughts to see what was really in front of her. That's when I began to see how things changed between her and Perry, and her relationships with Roar and the others along the way in the novel. 

However, it was an enjoyable novel overall and there were plenty of things I enjoyed enough that the weak points didn't greatly impact how I felt about the story. I will definitely be continuing the series and most of what I see from others say that it gets even better in the next book of the trilogy.

Enter the world of Erilea: Review of Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date: August 7th 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Page Count: 404 pages

Summary: After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

I started Throne of Glass excited about what this story would bring because, once again, I'd seen a lot of positive things being said by other people, bloggers included. I definitely get excited when I see a big amount of people loving the same book! I also like the fantasy genre, though it's a genre I don't read heavily because I can be a bit picky. However this series did not disappoint! It was like a mixture of game thrones and a bit like some fantasy novels I've read by Tamora Pierce. It also took me a bit longer to read because I made the mistake of starting right before finals week. It seriously took all my willpower to study and write papers instead of reading this book.

Throne of Glass gives us Celaena, a trained assassin at 18 years old, forced to slave away in a place called Endovier for her crimes. She gets an opportunity for freedom when Dorian asks her to be his champion in a battle of sorts for the choice of being the King's chosen assassin for 4 years and eventual freedom. Celaena was a really interesting character to read about, to be honest. She was young but she didn't had the opportunity to truly be young since the start of her training as assassin from such an early age. Yet she still managed to laugh, have sass, be confident, and have strength in her character, considering the trials she's faced in her short life.

I enjoyed the fact that she didn't fall all over Dorian Havalliard from the start, considering his good looks and the charm he exuded. However, when their relationship started progressing, it seemed so stale on her end. It was easy to see his feelings and the progression but even when she stopped hating him I just didn't feel she was on his level. Dorian was still an enjoyable character on his own. His humor lightened up many moments and his affection that built for her was sweet to witness. Especially nice to read, was his rebellion against the King in such little ways. The dynamic between her and Chaol, however, was perfect. I feel like there was more between them under the surface. The build up of their camaraderie was done so well. However there still wasn't a huge focus on romance in the series and I can't say I have an actual preference in choice for her (though I do really like Chaol). Nehemia was also spectacular. There was so much going on for her and her friendship with Celaena and I can't wait to see her continued part of the series. And it was great to see another strong female who was fighting in her own way just as Celaena did.

The actually plot of the book was amazingly done. I like the set up and the complexity of the world Celaena lived in. The whole politics behind the King's treacherous behavior was easy to grasp, as well as the hate that builds for him and all the destroying he's done over the years. You sort of build up a hate for him along with her. The whole championship thing was frustrating and intense, especially the way the others (mostly Cain) treated her. The whole murder mystery plot with the other contestants was a bit predictable though. There was only a split second where I doubted the culprit or the story behind what was happening but it wasn't too hard guessing who. The how or why though, that was tricky indeed. And Kaltain. Lord, I felt more anger for her than the rest. The King being close behind.

Overall, Throne of Glass was the perfect fantasy read for me. The characters were enjoyable and complex and the plot didn't bore me to tears in any parts. I was able to take it slow and enjoy the ride. There was even well done humor in several parts of the book. It was also nice for the book to end without a massive cliffhanger. I will definitely be continuing this series when I can.

Review Time: Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Publication Date: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Walker Children's
Page count: 342 pages

Summary: After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Open Road Summer was something I'd been greatly anticipating after hearing about it while going around visiting book blogs ( you've probably heard enough of it by now but I just have to talk about it). Whether it was people who had already read it or wanted to read it, I saw nothing but good things and my hype was quickly building. I even attempted to wait it out because school had me so busy and I was also currently reading something else. Alas, I'm not good at denying myself what I want! I started it....and I was immediately drawn into the book.

What I liked about it: Reagan O'neill, for starters. She was heart weary and a bit shattered emotionally after too many mistakes in her life, but she wanted to change things and to become a better version of herself. She didn't make excuses about her actions and she didn't take anyways crap. I also enjoyed that this was another female character in the young adult genre who wasn't squeaky clean; Reagan has had her fair share of fun with boys and other things and she's had her moments of carelessness.

“I wanted to reach back into my history with a grade-school pink eraser, scrubbing away my decisions like mistakes on a math test. Too bad I drew my mistakes in ink.”

Dee Montgomery was another great character. She was the complete opposite of Reagan in so many ways but she didn't judge Reagan for who she was or what she did. She was a sweetheart but she wasn't a bland one; you couldn't not love her and you certainly couldn't go without loving their friendship. It's one that most of us yearn for or are lucky enough to have ourselves.  They love each other to death, they trust one another so much with everything they have, and they support each other without a second of hesitancy when something goes wrong. Even if they're mad at each other. However, this doesn't mean their friendship was “perfect”. You can't be as close as they are and not occasionally butt heads. What's important is they don't let their fights get in between what's important to them: their friendships.

The third reason I liked it is the Romance of course! And Matt Finch. Thinking his name gives me warm feelings because he was such a beautiful addition to this novel. Reagan was hooked on him the moment they meet and so was I. But, Reagan being her new and improved self who doesn't want to do anything stupid, doesn't let him now just how much he affects her. They clash in the best of ways and his teasing is so perfect when it comes to breaking down Reagan's walls. His songs, his feelings, his actions, everything about him is so genuine and different than what Reagan believes she deserves so seeing the romance between them as they fell harder and harder was beyond any words I can type to try and explain. Did I mention he sings?

“Do you want me to beg you? Do you want me to say please? Then this is the rest of my pride, girl. This song is me down on my knees. Just give in, give in to me, girl. I'll give everything I've got.”

Overall, I enjoyed everything about this book. All of the characters, the plot, the dialogue and all the beautiful quotable words. Emery Lord gave me a contemporary young adult novel that I'll be thinking about for a long time, and will be making me switch up my list of favorites! Go forth and read it immediately!

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #1)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: MacMillan
Page count: 387 pages

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.

In the novel Cinder, Meyer gives us the story of Cinderella but with lots of twists. First, the novel is set in a dystopian type world where the countries are split between commonwealths. Cinder is set in the commonwealth of New Beijing. Cinder is cyborg (strange I know but it's amazing!), and because of this she has to face discrimination and class difference because of how others perceive those who are part machine. Cinder's identity is a mystery from the beginning, with her original guardian (her stepmothers husband) gone, she has no idea why she was turned cyborg or where she came from and the origin of her parent's. I liked this part of the story the most, with her discovery of her past and just how important she is with the help of Dr. Erland.

Some of the common attributes of the fairytale kept in the book were the stepmother and stepsister from hell. However, her other stepsister Peony was kind and Cinder considered her a friend. Cinder works as a mechanic for the people of Beijing to make money for her family. She's loyal to a fault even with such a bitter guardian. And the prince. Of course, we've got the prince, but one much more swoon worthy and amazing than any before. Prince Kai is charming from the start, and I love that while Cinder had a hard time not falling for him, she didn't simply fall at his feet. She keeps her wits about her, and she's good at surviving. It kept to the original fairytale with Cinder being below Kai in class but this wasn't a book focused just on the struggling romance; the problems that Kai has to deal with to help the people of the commonwealth and to try to successfully build an alliance with the Lunar Queen.

The Lunar Queen...what a doozy. It's not often Young Adult authors create a foe so deadly and capably of destruction with such ease as this one. Kai and Cinder have to walk a fine line to keep New Beijing safe but it's difficult when the Queen wants the impossible from the Prince and who knows If it's all a ploy to further advanced her true intentions. She drove me insane with just how cunnin and evil she was, but it made for a much more interesting story.

Then, there's the ball. Yes, there's still a ball! But lets just say this was a ball much more eventful than you'd expect it to be. The equivalent of the glass slipper scene in the end of the book was much more heartbreaking to read than anything Disney could create. I just wanted to hug Kai and take away his sadness. Meyer really gets you wishing that things could work between Cinder and Kai, but there's much to do to save the world and Cinder becomes as much a part of that fight as Kai does, and I can't wait to see how that will go!

I fell for the world Meyer created from the beginning, and I love the imagination behind the first installment of the Lunar Chronicles. There's so much going on in the background of Cinder's story but it's not distracting, it works with the scene of Beijing and the troubles that she has to face.

What I Thought Was True by Huntley FitzPatrick (Arc Review)

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Publication Date: April 15, 2014
Publisher: Dial (Penguin)
Page Count: 416 Pages

Summary: Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and house cleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

I was beyond excited to start this book before I had even received it. Excited because I'd won the giveaway and excited because I was so satisfied with My Life Next Door I couldn't wait to see what else Huntley Fitzpatrick had written and if she had the ability to get me hooked on another story. She did, with such ease. 

What I Thought Was True is one of those stories about summertime. It's about the lives of people who live year round on an island and what it's like for them outside the vacation frenzy of the rich people, as well as how important those people can be for them. I immediately fell for the setting and how Ms. Fitzpatrick so easily has you lured into the beauty of Seashell Island. Less so for the occasional bout of snobbish ways for a few of the characters.

Gwen and Cass (Especially Cass, one of my favorite boys of YA now) were both such wonderful and delightful characters to read about and get to know. Their back story was more complicated than I at first was expecting, but I enjoyed the back and forth between them. It was another thing so well done when usually it's something that leaves me annoyed with the characters. They were so hooked on each other and just didn't know what to do about it with their past mistakes hanging over them and so much fear to go forward. I was rooting for them from the very start. I enjoyed the chemistry (so much), and the dialogue, and especially the sweetness.

The side characters were also very enjoyable, more specifically Gwen's family. These were lovable and supportive people with their own problems and experiences into the story. They balanced so well with the drama and plot of the story. They were as important in Gwen's life as Cass and even her relationship with Mrs. Ellington. The book was so specific in every little detail, there isn't anything I didn't love about it. It's almost as if you're learning about life and what the future holds right along with Gwen, Cass, and the rest of the gang.

Definitely 5 stars for this one, I think in many ways I enjoyed it even more than My Life Next Door. I can't wait for what Huntley Fitzpatrick has prepared next.

Review - Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
Publication Date: November 13, 2012
Publisher: Atria Books
Page Count: 380 pages

Summary: Full of rage and without a purpose, former pianist Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone discovering her past and to make the boy who took everything from her pay. All 17 year-old Josh Bennett wants is to build furniture and be left alone, and everyone allows it because it’s easier to pretend he doesn’t exist. When your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space. Everyone except Nastya, a hot mess of a girl who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. The more he gets to know her, the more of a mystery she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he may ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding or if he even wants to.

I picked up this book with excitement because I saw so many good things being said about it, and that is always a reason to try a book out. I started it with certain expectations and it turned out to be a complete 180 in regards to these expectations. Sea of Tranquility is a story about two lonely teenagers who've each had their own tragedies to survive through before they've even had time to grow up. Nastya is still closed off and angry after a brutal incident took away something that was more important to her than her life. Josh is floating through life convinced that being alone is his only option after everyone he loves dies. Things change when Nastya is enrolled at his school.

This one started off slow for me. There was so much inner dialogue in the beginning and it was a bit harder to work through, but it was still good and I was too curious about Nastya and Josh to skim or flounce. Both of them are almost emotionless or numb in the beginning, and it was another tough thing to push through. However, their interactions and all the little scenarios that gradually morphed into more important feelings and moments were exciting and had me on the edge.

Drew, on the other hand, kept interrupting the excitement. I'm glad he ended up caring about Nastya but all the playing around he did was annoying and had me frustrated on more than one occasion. One of my favorite moments, though, was between him and his sister when she exploded on him with some kind of wake up call. I like that it showed he cared, and we did get to see his growth on the sideline along with Nastya's and Josh's.

Nastya's tragedy was more complicated and random than I expected—even if she said it herself in the story. My mind couldn't conjure up something as brutal as the truth. And the emotions and problems that Josh had to work through himself, seemed to correlate so smoothly with everything going on in Nastya's world. While her family struggled when it came to coping with what happened to her and her feelings since that horrible day, I wasn't fond of the birthday scene. Such an unnecessary ambush.

The very last page though....insane. I don't even think I can put into words how that last scene made me feel but it was delightfully amazing.