Review: Legendary - Stephanie Garber

Legendary
Stephanie Garber
Series: Caraval, #2
Genre/Age: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads 

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.

Series Review: The Grisha Trilogy - Leigh Bardugo

The Grisha Trilogy
Leigh Bardugo

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Shadow and Bone | Siege and Storm | Ruin and Rising

This review covers the entire Grisha Trilogy. It contains a minor spoiler for Shadow and Bone (in the characters section), but is spoiler free for the rest of the series.

I got all three of The Grisha Trilogy books as Kindle Daily Deals at some point or another (not all together but randomly on different days), but I never got around to reading them. This year, I decided to finally read them. After having finally read Shadow and Bone, I am upset with myself for waiting so long to read it - I absolutely loved it!

Shadow and Bone takes place in a world were some people are Grisha: people born with the ability to manipulate the elements, the human body, or other materials. The Grisha are led by a fierce leader, the Darkling, who is immensely powerful and can control darkness. Alina is just an average girl until she finds out that she is, in fact, Grisha - she can control light.

I absolutely loved the world that Leigh Bardugo built in Shadow and Bone. She carefully crafted a world with an interesting power dynamic between Grisha and ungifted people. While the king controls the first army, the Darkling controls the more powerful second army of Grisha. On some level, Grisha are resented for their powers - not as much in Ravka, the setting of this book, as in other places, but there is still resentment.

Once I started Shadow and Bone, I couldn't stop. I wanted to know more and more about the world and the characters, especially as the bigger plot of the series started to unfold. I was shocked by some of the revelations near the end, and anxious to get to Siege and Storm.

Unfortunately for me, Siege and Storm was a bit of a let down as the second book in the series. I felt like it moved a little slowly, partially because a lot of the time was spent on a plot line that I just wasn't that interested in (more on this and the characters later). The beginning and end of the book were strong, but the middle lagged. Luckily, Ruin and Rising was such a phenomenal conclusion that it made up for the sophomore slump.

Ruin and Rising was such a satisfying conclusion! Filled with action, twists, and more, I sped through this finale. AND THE EPILOGUE! That epilogue was so perfect and fitting as a conclusion to the series.

Now that I've gone through my overall opinions of the books, I'll dig into some of the nitty gritty: the characters.

Alina was a great, strong protagonist for this series. She was somewhat self sacrificing to a fault - she understood what she wanted to accomplish, and she was willing to do anything to get the job done (including causing her own near death). Her persistence was incredible.

Mal is Alina's main love interest throughout the series, and while some people really love him, I'm sadly not one of them. Mal annoyed me to no end in Siege and Storm. He was like Four in Allegiant - whiny and irritating - but he did get past it in Ruin and Rising, and I ultimately really enjoyed where his story arc went and how it impacted the greater plot.

The Darkling was really a great villain. I'm not one of those people who fell in love with the Darkling and shipped him with Alina, but I enjoyed how truly despicable he was. It was kind of amazing to see how far he would go for anything. In a lot of ways, he was very similar to Alina - the dark side of her light, but still filled with endless determination.

The supporting characters were equally great. I LOVED Nikolai!!!!! Favorite character in this series hands down. I really wish there had been more of him in this series, but I'm holding out hope that he'll make an appearance in the Six of Crows series. Genya was an interesting character because she was so driven by revenge and it shaped her decisions so much. I wasn't sure how I felt about her for a while, but I ended up liking her and her dynamic with David. Also just wanted to give a shoutout to Zoya, who is the absolute sassiest and has one of my favorite lines in the entire series about missing pretty things.

All in all, I can't believe I waited so long to read the Grisha Trilogy, but I'm glad I finally did because now I can join in on the Grishaverse love, especially with the Six of Crows series. This series is packed with action in such a wonderfully built world. I can't wait to read more in this world!

On a side note, I think an anime series about the adventures of Harshaw and Oncat during Ruin and Rising would be hilarious and the best thing ever. I'd settle for fan-made comics. Someone please make this happen please.

What series did you wait a long time to read?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: Whatever. - S.J. Goslee

Whatever.: or how junior year became totally f$@ked
S.J. Goslee
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads 

Thanks to Roaring Brook Press for the ARC won through a Goodreads giveaway!

I must admit that Whatever is the first book focused on coming out that I've read - it's not because I'm opposed to reading this kind of book, I just seem to gravitate more towards dystopian and fantasy, which usually doesn't focus on this topic. Though I can't compare it to other books on the topic, I thought Whatever was awesome!

Mike Tate is such a teenage boy. I'm serious. I swear I was friends with Mike Tate in high school. He doesn't (externally, at least) care about much - he just wants to be cool, hang out with his friends, live his life, and all that. Unfortunately, one of his best friends has other plans for him: student council! On top of this, apparently he drunkenly made out with a boy at a party. Basically, things are getting Confusing for Mike.

I absolutely loved Mike and the other characters in Whatever. Mike kind of reminded me of Scott Pilgrim in the way he was super casual and low key, but also internally freaking out. He kind of just went with the flow, figuring things out when he needed to. And his inner monologue was so fun to read.

All the guys in Mike's friend group had distinctly different personalities, but they were still teenage boys through and through. Cam was my favorite of these friends - he wore Hawaiian shirts, wanted to bring back the fanny pack, and frequently injured himself while attempting death-defying stunts. Basically, he was hilarious.

Lisa was such a great female character to compliment Mike - she was definitely a spitfire, and wouldn't take no for an answer. It was also nice to see college as something Lisa was thinking about as a junior. The reason Mike gets involved in student council is because Lisa wants to be president for her college applications. I recently read a thread on Twitter about how college is a Big Deal for high school students (which it is), so seeing it in this book made me like !!!!this!!!!

As for the plot of the book itself, I really enjoyed how it had a sort of meandering quality. It wasn't fast paced, at a full spring towards a specific journey - it helped support how Mike didn't really have a destination in mind, because life doesn't really work like that. In terms of the coming out aspect, I liked how S.J. Goslee mixed the reactions of the people in Mike's life. Sometimes people have trouble adjusting to changes, but the main point that Mike made was that him being gay or bisexual (not entirely sure what he landed on in the end) didn't change his friendships, it just changed him.

All in all, Whatever is definitely a must read! It reads so natural, and it's honestly so funny. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mike's journey, especially since he's so different from any character I've ever read before. I can't wait to read more from S.J. Goslee in the future!

Also, I posted a pretty ~rad~ (in my obviously objective opinion) photo of this book on Instagram (@wlabb), so you should check it out :)

- Kiersten

What are some of your favorite LGBT+ reads?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies - Laura Stampler

Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies
Laura Stampler
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Thanks to Simon Pulse for the eARC I received via NetGalley!

When Harper gets the chance of a lifetime to intern at Shift magazine in New York City for the summer, she couldn't be more excited; however, there's a catch: she's going to be the dating expert. This wouldn't be a problem if Harper actually knew something about dating, but she doesn't - that was always more of her best friend Christina's expertise. But now, Harper is off to the city to fake her way through this internship.

Harper is a shy girl who has never really stood out, but now, thrown completely out of her comfort zone, Harper has to try to find the confidence to show how extraordinary she really is. Fortunately for Harper, being in a new city surrounded by new people allows her to reinvent herself with the help of "Aunt" Vee, her mother's college roommate with whom she's staying for the summer. Aunt Vee helps Harper learn what's what when it comes to fashion so she can survive at Shift. Aunt Vee also has an overweight pug named Princess, who is the main reason Harper connects with her first friend in New York.

Ben is the boy who walks Princess in an attempt to get her into shape for the pug prom at the end of the summer. Harper and Ben almost immediately hit it off and his friendship is invaluable in helping her figure out what she's doing while Christina's busy working back home.

At Shift, Harper doesn't get along well with the other interns at first, but she gradually becomes very close with them, helping her with her dating conquests. Harper is finally starting to find her place after always feeling like a misfit.

I really enjoyed all the characters of Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies - there were so many different personalities in play, but something about all of them made sense for the city and their internships at Shift. Even their boss was amusing, always coming through with a Miranda-Priestly-esque critique.

The entirety of Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies was a fun ride. There was never a dull moment, sticking with the fast pace of New York City. It reminded me a lot of the TV shows Jane by Design and The Carrie Diaries, which I absolutely loved. It was such an adorable coming of age story!

If you're looking for a fun, quick read this summer, Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is a great choice. I loved reading Harper's blog posts and going along with her on her crazy adventures. This book is full of great humor and sweet moments. I highly recommend this incredible debut, and I can't wait to read more from Laura Stampler!

- Kiersten

What are some books set in New York City that you love?

Let us know in the comments!

Series Review + Giveaway: The Lunar Chronicles - Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles Series

Marissa Meyer

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Retelling, Romance

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Overall Series Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads: Cinder | Scarlet | Cress | Fairest | Winter

I apologize in advance for how long this is, but it does encompass a review for five books, so bear with me :)

When I first heard about The Lunar Chronicles, I'll admit that I wasn't particularly interested - a cyborg Cinderella story? It just seemed a little too sci-fi for me at the time - I was expecting all these robots and things, and it didn't appeal to me. As the buzz was building around this series, I decided to give it a shot and ended up getting a few of the books as Kindle Daily Deals. I'm glad that I eventually gave this series a chance because it was absolutely incredible!

I read the first three books in the series last summer and finally read Fairest and Winter this summer, so the review will probably lean towards those two books; however, this review will be spoiler free for the entire series!

Starting with Cinder, I was pleasantly surprised that this series was nothing like I expected. Yes, it has a cyborg main character and it's set in a futuristic world, but it's also infused with a lot of feeling and a dystopian feel at times. Cinder was the first fairytale retelling that I read, and I really enjoyed the way Marissa Meyer brought the sci-fi elements into the classic fairytale.

Before I read Cinder, I thought all the books in this series were just companions - different fairytales told in the same world - but I was so wrong. Going into Scarlet, I wasn't sure how much of the characters of Cinder there would be, but it ended up being a fusion of both of the stories! While Cinder's plot line was continuing, we were also introduced to Scarlet and a Little Red Riding Hood retelling. As Scarlet progressed, I realized that this series was so much more than I had initially expected - there were MANY THINGS happening and HUGE REVELATIONS on what to expect in the rest of the series.

Next in the series is Cress, and I think that this book is where things really start to happen in terms of the overall story arc of the series. Throughout Cress, the remaining main characters of the series are introduced, and we finally see where things will be going in terms of the ultimate end of the series. I liked how Marissa Meyer incorporated elements of the Rapunzel story in Cress, but I'd say this book was the farthest from the traditional story (at least the story of Rapunzel that I know). Nonetheless, the great thing about this book was how much perspective readers gained about The Lunar Chronicles world. In Cinder and Scarlet we get a glimpse of the countries where they live, but in Cress we get to see another country as well as more information on Luna, the civilization on the moon.

At this point, a year passed before I finally read Fairest and then Winter. Fairest is a short, prequel novel to The Lunar Chronicles, and it's the main villain Levana's origin story. At first, after having waited a year to finally read Fairest, I had trouble getting into it, especially since it was from Levana's point of view; however, as I got into it I really liked it. I've seen people often talk about the nature of human beings and whether they are inherently good or evil. In my opinion, I've always felt like people were inherently righteous - doing what they think is right, which they would typically think is good or would benefit the greater good. Fairest is a great example of this. It's clear through the story that Levana has done everything she has because she thinks it's the right thing to do for her country. Reading Fairest really humanized Levana but did not dismiss how misguided and wrong her actions were. Overall, I think that Marissa Meyer was so successful in the way she wrote Fairest.

Besides just giving insight on Levana, Fairest also allowed even more insight into Luna's culture. Having this information before going into Winter was really helpful in understanding and anticipating what would happen in the series finale, so I highly recommend reading the prequel before finishing the series.

Winter is a Snow White retelling, and it shows us where Levana really fits in as the evil queen in this story. I didn't realize how long Winter was until I started reading it, but the pacing in this book, as well as for the entire series, continues on at a good pace, mixing action and heartfelt moments to create a vivid representation of the characters and the situation they've been thrown into.

One thing that Marissa Meyer does so brilliantly in all the books in this series is the way she structures the book. Within each book, there are "books" of chapters that she heads with big plot points from the original fairytale. Using these dividers, she foreshadows what will happen next, which adds to the excitement when continuing to read. It's really fun to see the juxtaposition between the original story and how Marissa Meyer modifies it to fit into her world.

Like I said when talking about Scarlet, as each book and set of new characters were added to the series, the plot lines became more and more complex. I'm honestly in awe over how complex this entire series became. I never expected all the different stories to intertwine so fluidly, ending up all fitting together like a big puzzle. The way Marissa Meyer found a way to tie all these stories together was just so cool, and I really loved it.

Besides the plot being so epic and complex, the characters are also equally interesting and complex. Not only do we get strong female characters and charming princes, but all the characters are so much more than they seem on the surface. From different prejudices that some of the characters face, to mental illness, to having to be fully submissive to a leader you don't believe in, all the characters have so many layers of complexity, coming so much farther than the characters they are based on.

Overall, I must say that The Lunar Chronicles was so much more than I ever expected. I didn't know how complex and immersive this world would be, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. If you have reservations about this series because of the sci-fi element, I'd definitely say to give it a chance because you might be surprised by how much you like it like I was. The series as a whole was so satisfying, and I highly recommend it!

- Kiersten

Giveaway

I happened to have picked up a signed copy of Cress at a Fierce Reads tour a long time ago to do a giveaway with but I never got around to it - until now!

All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open US only, unless you are willing to pay the shipping, and is open through August 1st. You must be 13 or older to enter or have a parent enter for you. The winner will be selected shortly after and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.

Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What's one series you're glad you gave a shot?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: Persuasion - Martina Boone

Persuasion
Martina Boone 
Series: The Heirs of Watson Island, #2
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal, Southern Gothic
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads 

Thanks to Simon Pulse for the eARC I received via Edelweiss!

After reading Compulsion a while back (review here), I was anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, Persuasion. Admittedly, it took me longer than I wanted to get around to reading this book, and even longer for me to write this review, but all in all, I'd say Persuasion was a solid second book in this series and definitely worth the wait!

After the events of Compulsion and a trip to San Francisco, Persuasion picks up on Barrie trying to navigate event more of the strange magic of Watson Island. While Compulsion spent a lot of time on the mystery of her ancestors and the Watson gift, Persuasion continued to expand on the history of the magic, diving more into the Beaufort gift as well as the Colesworth curse. The addition of Obadiah and his unique magic was also really great. The magical element in the plot of Compulsion is one of the things I loved the most about it, and it was great to get even more of that in Persuasion.

While the character building was really great in Compulsion, Martina Boone went even farther in Persuasion, incorporating more relationship building between all of the different characters. Barrie's relationships with Eight, Pru, Cassie, and Seven were really put up for examination in this book, showing Barrie's continued growth into this new life. Additionally, there was even more about the Beaufort and Colesworth family dynamics, which added more to the way Eight and Cassie are understood.

Overall, I'd say Persuasion is a little bit slower than Compulsion in terms of action, but it did a great deal to delve deeper into the magical history of Watson Island and set up what will happen next. Persuasion was definitely a satisfying second book in The Heirs of Watson Island series, and I can't wait to see what Martina Boone has in store for Illusion!

- Kiersten

Would you rather be able to find lost things or sense other people's desires?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: The Diviners - Libba Bray

The Diviners
Libba Bray 
Series: The Diviners, #1
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

According to Amazon, I purchased The Diviners at the beginning of 2014 as a Kindle Daily Deal; however, I just recently got around to reading it, mostly because I picked up an ARC of Lair of Dreams at BEA. Regardless, I'm happy I finally joined the party on this one because it was pos-i-tute-ly fantastic!

The Diviners takes place in the 20s and follows Evie O'Niell, a young girl from a small town, as she's sent away to New York City to live with her uncle. While in New York, Evie's uncle becomes involved with an occult murder investigation, and Evie ends up more invested in the investigation than she ever imagined.

I have this odd habit of reading blurbs really far in advance before actually starting a book, so when I read a book, I usually have no idea what it's about. That was definitely the case with The Diviners. Since I don't really read blurbs, the fact that The Diviners takes place in the 20s was an unexpected and very pleasant surprise for me. I'm pretty sure the only other book I've read that takes place in the 20s is The Great Gatsby, which wasn't a favorite school read of mine. The Diviners, while maintaining a similar 20s feel, had a much different take on the time period, very much influenced by the infusion of supernatural elements in the story.

While it took me some time to adjust, I really enjoyed the language of this book. Libba Bray obviously did vast research to make sure the slang used by the characters was accurate as well as to make sure the customs and behaviors of the characters fit with the time period. In school we covered some information about the culture of the 20s, but Libba Bray absolutely brought it to life in The Diviners. The complete emersion of the reader into this time period, especially through the eyes of a teenage girl, was one of my favorite aspects of this book.

The 20s, while providing a rich backdrop for the story, also contributes heavily to how the action comes across. There's something very mystical about a time with very little technology - with characters having to use landlines and having no quick way to communicate with someone from afar - especially in this story, where a character in sudden danger can't simply pick up a cellphone to call for help. As well as the technology, the general ideology of people during the 20s was very different than it is now. There's a difference between learning about how immigrants and people of color were treated during the 20s at school and seeing it "first hand" in a book. I loved the way every aspect of the 20s felt so real and genuine - when I think of the book I kind of book that old movie filter over the image in my mind, as though it was actually from the 20s.

As for the characters, I found Evie O'Neill to be utterly charming. She's very much a small town girl trying to make it big in the city, but she comes across so cutting edge and modern even in New York City. Although she didn't experience the depths of emotion I usually look for in a main character, I felt like her character, while on the lighter side, was still well rounded. Out of her friends, I found Theta to be exactly how she wants to portray herself: mysterious and intriguing. As the story went on, there were gradually more details about Theta's past revealed. Going into Lair of Dreams, she's one character I'm really interested in learning more about.

Even though Evie hangs out with her friends Mabel, Theta, and Henry, Evie is most often surrounded by her uncle Will, Sam Lloyd, and Jericho. Sam Lloyd (for some reason it just feels more appropriate to use his full name) literally gives Evie a run for her money - he picks her pocket the first time they meet. He, like Evie, is a modern characterization of the 20s. Sam Lloyd's story seamlessly lays the groundwork for one aspect of what Lair of Dreams will be about while simply appearing as his story. He's definitely a spitfire character like Evie is, and it's fun to see them banter together.

Jericho, on the other hand, is much more old fashioned than Sam Lloyd. Jericho wants no parts in the underground parties that Evie goes to, nor does he want to live on the edge - he just wants to stay out of trouble and for good reason. Jericho has a secret that I definitely found unexpected. Jericho really grew on me throughout The Diviners, and I'm definitely rooting for him in Lair of Dreams.

One of the other main characters in the story is Memphis. Memphis lives a very different life from Evie - living in a black community with his God-fearing aunt - and rarely crosses paths with Evie. Even though there was plenty of Memphis in the story, I didn't find him as compelling as Evie. He definitely had a story to tell and I'm interested in what will happen with him next, he was just sort of there for me. However, I definitely appreciated how his point of view contributed to rounding out the portrayal of 20s culture throughout the story.

Libba Bray weaves together a very complex story in The Diviners, layering different characters, memories, background histories, and an unwavering magic that is present through it all. While capturing the distinct feeling of the 20s through the story and language, she maintains an elegant prose in her descriptions while infusing a mystical feeling through it all. I really liked The Diviners, and I highly recommend this book for fans of young adult with 20s culture, supernatural mysteries, and the occult.

- Kiersten

What books have you read that take place in the 20s?

Let us know in the comments!

Review: Zodiac - Romina Russell

Zodiac
Romina Russell 
Series: Zodiac, #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Thanks to Razorbill for the ARC I received at Book Expo America!

When jumping into Zodiac, pretty much all I knew about it was that it had something to do with the zodiac - the twelve astrological star signs that are popular for telling your horoscope. After starting the book, I realized there was going to be more to this book than I had imagined.

Zodiac follows Rhoma Grace as her world seems to be falling apart. In her society, people live among the stars on planets in the different constellations of the zodiac - Rho being from Cancer. After an unexpected tragedy that Rho predicted, she's whisked onto a journey to save the entire zodiac from an unknown power.

At the start of Zodiac, I was a little confused. Right from the start, Romina Russell throws you right into the world of the book, using terms specific to the world. There is a lot of information that the reader has to internalize quickly to understand what's going on with the world. While it was a bit to wrap my mind around, I actually really liked the way it all came together. Romina Russell puts things into context and explains the things that need explaining in order to follow what's going on without making the reader feel stupid. It's a fast paced story, but I definitely didn't feel like I was getting lost along the way.

Speaking of fast paced, this story definitely is. There is so much that happens in Zodiac! While it is whirl wind, I didn't feel like the story was rushed when it didn't want to be. When something needed time to develop, the time was taken; when something was quick, the story moved right along. That being said, there really is a lot that happens in Zodiac. From space travel and world destruction to intrigue and deception to romance and friendship, Zodiac kept me excited and involved from cover to cover. This is a pretty heavy story, but it's totally worth it.

When it comes to the characters in Zodiac, I really liked Rho, Matthias, and Hysan. I thought the interaction between the two boys was nothing short of comical and the relationship between Rho and the two boys was very sweet. While there was a love triangle, I didn't think it took over the story. Saving the world definitely trumped finding a boyfriend for Rho.

All in all, I really enjoyed Zodiac! It's an action packed science fiction with great characters and thought provoking plot. I highly recommend this for lovers of interstellar science fiction with a splash of romance.

- Kiersten
Aquarius

What's your zodiac?
Let us know in the comments!

Double ARC Review: Trial by Fire - Josephine Angelini

Trial by Fire
Josephine Angelini 
Series: The Worldwalker Trilogy, #1
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Something different
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

I picked up a signed ARC of this book at BEA this year after immediately being drawn in by the premise. A young girl, Lily, who suffers from life-threatheting allergies that keep her from doing anything and everything lives in present day Salem, a normal, every-day town. Until she gets transported to a different Salem in which there's a different version of Lily, who is powerful and evil and cruel. Also there are witches and things, how cool does that sound?

Anyway, the very beginning of the book was honestly kindof disappointing and I really thought I was going to be in for something cringe-worthy but once you get past the part where she's in normal Salem and gets to witchy-Salem, it gets exponentially better so just hang in for those first two chapters. They're only 40 pages out of the 374 the book possesses but they are probably the weakest point of the book and definitely do not showcase Angelini's writing abilities at all. I thought the descriptive technique and the writing style itself was just off and lacking in these two parts, especially the way she described the characters' appearances. Also, I wasn't a fan of what was going on, with the whole typical being in love with your best friend and then him noticing you and then hurting you scene, it all just felt so dramatic and made the book seem like it was going in a different direction than it was and I'm really glad those two chapters weren't representative of the rest of the book.

It's clear that once she started worldbuilding, Josephine Angelini really got into her element because as soon as Lily goes from her Salem into the other Salem, the writing gets so much better. The writing itself increases in quality and the descriptions flow better and really help set the tone of the world and what's about to happen. I enjoyed how the book felt very paranormal but also historical at the same time which had a lot to do with its being set in Salem and everything thats associated with it. Also, going back to the worldbuilding, she did a good job of not just adding typical witch tropes, and adding in things that would make her book different, such as the concept of willstones, which I thought was one of my favorite parts.

The characters were all very interesting as well, especially the ones we see exist in both worlds. I definitely really enjoyed Rowan but I don't think that's a stretch to say. Lillian was also one of my favorites to read because of how fleshed out she was. I think some of the minor characters were a little too two-dimensional even for minor characters but that wasn't a huge hindrance to the way the book read.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would from just the beginning and I think it was refreshingly different from a lot of other paranormal, witchy books out there!

- Noor

Kiersten's Review of Trial by Fire
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Extremely well thought out

While attending BEA this year, I decided to pick up an ARC of Trial by Fire after reading the description - the idea of a Salem witch trial retelling definitely intrigued me.

After a few months between first reading the description and actually starting the book, imagine my surprise when the first glimpse into this world was to that of Lily Proctor, a modern day girl with really bad allergies. What? This was not what I signed up for. However, as slow as the portion of the book that takes place in modern time is, the story gets infinitely better when Lily gets sent to a world of magic and witches.

The thing that is the most impressive about Trial by Fire is indubitably the world that Josephine Angelini builds throughout the book. While reading it, I could not get over how much thought went into this story - the background of the concept is just so well rounded out. Josephine Angelini thought of everything, from how magic works to the social order to what magic can do.

Besides the incredible world building, I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters.

Lily has a great sense of humor throughout the story. Her modern references juxtaposed with a bunch of people who don't understand them was truly comical. Besides that, Lily is an overall well balanced character. She is a character who is well balanced between being willing to sacrifice for the greater good and being worried about her own interests. She can be strong, and she can be weak; she can be brave, and she can be cowardly. Lily has so many dimensions, making her feel so real - she's put in such an odd position throughout the story, and I really enjoyed seeing her grow into the role she chose to play.

Besides Lily, Rowan is AWESOME. I loved seeing the dynamic between Rowan and Lily throughout the story. Even though Rowan isn't thrown into a different world that he has to adjust to, he's still put in an awkward position when he has to watch over ex-girlfriend's alternate world persona. Yes, it is as complicated as it sounds.

All in all, I really liked Trial by Fire! While it was far from the fastest paced story in the beginning, once it got going, I really got into it and loved it. The enormity of Josephine Angelini's idea is something I can barely wrap my mind around because it is so complex and well developed. I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on the next book - I can already tell this wait will be too long!

- Kiersten

What would an alternate version of you be like?
Let us know in the comments!

Review + Giveaway: Landline - Rainbow Rowell

Landline
Rainbow Rowell
Series: N/A
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: So sweet
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

It's hard for me to admit this, but Landline was actually the first Rainbow Rowell book I've ever read.

I know.

Basically, I'm a hardcore slacker and I need to get on that. Fortunately, I have Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, so hopefully I'll get to read those soon!

Anyway, back to Landline. While both Eleanor & Park and Fangirl follow teenagers finding love, Landline is an entirely different story, following Georgie and her husband Neal as their marriage seems to be falling apart. However, the way I see it, this story is about so much more than that. Yes, it's about how their marriage is falling apart, but it's also about how they met, how they fell in love, how they had children, and everything in between. It's about building relationships of all kinds and knowing when to give and take. It's about Georgie figuring out what's worth fighting for.

Another aspect of the book, as many of you may have heard by now, is that there is a magic phone that allows Georgie to call Neal in the past in Landline. Let me tell you something about this magic phone. As Rainbow Rowell herself said at the launch event, just go with it. I'm serious. If you try to read too much into it, asking questions like, "But how does it work?" or, "Where did it come from?", or nitpick with tiny details, you're going to drive yourself crazy. It's such an effortless and unimportant part of the story, to be completely honest. While it adds to Georgie's sort of self discovery, there's so much more to this book than the magic phone (as stated above).

I really loved Georgie throughout the whole book - even though I've never been in Georgie's situation, I felt that she was a very relatable character. Georgie is such a determined, stubborn, and sensitive person - while her determination to achieve her dreams sometimes blinds her from seeing what truly matters, she goes through everything and evaluates all the times she was wrong and asked too much of Neal, especially this time. Georgie's journey of discovery isn't exactly self discovery since she knows who she is, but rather a discovery of which faults she needs to change in order to be happy. I felt Georgie's sorrow, confusion, and regret so deeply throughout Landline and thoroughly enjoyed seeing Georgie's growth throughout.

As for Neal (oh, sweet Neal), he (in the present) isn't around for most of the book. In fact, I'd say he's almost completely absent, allowing for Georgie to have to figure everything out on her own. Even without Neal being around in the story, his absolute sweetness and romanticism bleeds through. Stories of Neal and Georgie in their early relationship were so sweet! Since the story sort of takes place in the past and the present, you really see the evolution of Neal as well despite his absence.

The other big character in this story is Georgie's friend and writing partner Seth. The friendship between Georgie and Seth was an interesting one. Since they'd met, they'd been bouncing comedy ideas and jokes off of each other. After knowing each other almost 20 years, you'd expect them to be extremely close, but they're not really. Sure, Seth can read Georgie well but they have "rules", as Georgie would say, and they don't talk about the important stuff. While Landline is primarily about Georgie's relationship with Neal, I'd say her relationship with Seth was also a interesting journey to follow.

All in all, I really did enjoy Landline. Rainbow Rowell's writing style was so compelling, drawing me into Georgie's head. I found that even as an unmarried and childless 19-year-old girl I could still find ways to relate to this story and the characters in it. There are so many layers to Landline - the deep parts, the sweet parts, and the absolutely comical parts. While I am certainly unqualified to speak on whether this is a truthful portrayal of a marriage in trouble, it felt truthful to me while I read. I highly recommend this book to people who like contemporary and are intrigued by a sort-of-time-travel aspect (BUT REMEMBER TO ROLL WITH IT). I'm happy to have enjoyed my first Rainbow Rowell read so much and I can't wait to read more of her work!

- Kiersten

Giveaway!

As I mentioned briefly in my review, I was lucky enough to attend the Landline launch event in New York earlier this month. It was so much fun to hear Rainbow Rowell speak - she has so much personality and I can see how her humor plays out in the books. And she's so sweet! I hope that I'll be able to go to more of her events in the future because I seriously could not get enough of her talking!

Also, David Levithan was there to introduce Rainbow Rowell and I got to take a selfie with him, which was cool.

AND, if you haven't figured it out yet, I picked up a signed copy of Landline to giveaway!

To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open US only, unless you are willing to pay the shipping, and is open through August 9th. The winner will be selected shortly after and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Best of luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Untold - Sarah Rees Brennan

Untold
Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: The Lynburn Legacy, #2

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Mystery

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Word Rating: Craziness
On Goodreads

Hello, everyone! I read Unspoken, the first book in the Lynburn Legacy series, earlier this year. With the cliffhanger ending of that book (grrr…), I was anxiously awaiting the release of the second book. Unfortunately, college happened and I found myself unable to read Untold until now. I really loved Unspoken and Untold did not disappoint.

It’s hard to talk about Untold without having any spoilers for the first book in the series because the plot has everything to do with a secret that isn’t revealed in Unspoken until about 75% through the book. That being said, here’s a spoiler-free summary of my full review:

Untold has great character development of the main character, Kami, as well as several of the minor characters. Sarah Rees Brennan does a lot to elaborate on the way the characters think so we can understand what they do. This book is darker than Unspoken, but still has it’s funny moments in the dialogue. Overall, I really enjoyed Untold. I’m really interested to see where the next installment goes with all the craziness that occurred in this book and I can’t wait to read it!

I know, super brief and completely unexplained, but spoilers are mean! Anyhow, onto the full review!

**This review is spoiler-free for Untold but includes MAJOR SPOILERS for Unspoken. Read at your own risk.**

Untold picks up right where Unspoken left off. Rob Lynburn and his band of sorcerers want to make Sorry-in-the-Vale how it used to be – controlled by sorcerers who spill blood for power. Of course, Kami Glass is willing to do anything it takes to stop him.

Since Kami broke her link with Jared, there relationship is as strained as ever. Even though Jared is certainly more dramatic about being without the link, Kami has to adjust as well. I liked seeing how Kami thought about her choices more in this book. Without Jared in her head all the time, she doesn’t always have someone commenting on her every thought before she makes a decision. This changes the way she thinks a lot throughout the book. The best thing about it is that even though she’s struggling with this self-doubt and lack of Jared, she still does what she needs to do and makes important decisions. Kami is so strong and it’s even more apparent in this story since she is separated from Jared and has to deal with so many other things in her life while attempting to foil an evil sorcerer.

While Kami’s struggle to live without the link is explored, we get far more insight into the minds of her friends as well. From the way Ash behaves and sees things to Holly trying to figure out her situation with Angela to Jared facing his intense longing for Kami’s voice in his head, there is so much development in these characters.

But the character who stood out to me most was Rusty. I thought he was cool in the first book, but he becomes really interesting in Untold. Rusty does things in this book that really made me question what his motives were. Who is he? We know that he’s Kami’s best friend’s older brother and that he looks after her, but there’s a lot more to him than that, which is starting to be explored in this book. I’m really looking forward to seeing where Sarah Rees Brennan goes with his character in the next book.

Once again, Sarah Rees Brennan delivers an interesting and well-paced story. This installment certainly provided more about sorcery (since we actually know that the Lynburns are sorcerers for the whole book) but it was also a lot darker in nature than the first. Near the end of the book, there are a lot of really dark and horrible things happening. Unspoken was certainly dark at times, but Untold has a lot less of the light and whimsical moments that were in the first book. (Of course, there are still a lot of funny times in Untold – I laughed so hard at some of the dialogue.) This is a good example of ignorance is bliss when It comes to knowing what’s up with the Lynburns.

Overall, I very much enjoyed Untold. I was so happy to finally get a chance to read it and I’m happy, for the most part, about where Sarah Rees Brennan took the story. Although the characters didn’t really get much accomplished during this book in regards to saving the town, I’m sure the next installment will be packed with their fight to save the town. With all the craziness that occurred in this book (I’d tell you, but that would be spoiler-y and you should read this series if you haven’t already), there is so much for Unmade to cover. I can’t wait!

- Kiersten

Do you read reviews for books in a series if you haven't read the previous book?

Let us know in the comments!

Double Review: Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures
Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Series: Caster Chronicles, #1
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult, Romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Fantastic
On Goodreads

Oh yes. Oh yes. Beautiful Creatures. My advice: watch the movie, and then stop about halfway, pick up the book, and finish where you left off. I am quite aware this is akin to sacrilege in the world of books, but honestly, the movie does so much better in introducing the characters and establishing their connections. If you're too hardcore for that option, however, the book's introduction only trails behind by a couple of stars.

Beautiful Creatures begins somewhat . . . predictable, yet at the same time not at all. The introduction of Gatlin immediately individualizes our narrator, separating him from the intolerable sameness that is his home. He wants what all teenagers would want: to get out. And immediately we have a connection. So far, so good. Then:

There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave. I never even saw it coming. (Garcia and Stohl, 3)

I immediately thought this a bit tacky and lame . . . but by the end of the book I wholeheartedly stuffed those words back into my mouth. This is mainly because the authors are just brilliant at making the commonplace turn into something magical, to make the most boring town in history a perfect battleground. The authors do really well on tying these two extremes together. For example, I knew from the very beginning that Ethan and Lena were a thing, and that the world would do everything in its power to tear them apart . . . but I was still fascinated by how these two fall in love, and what exactly it was that the world had for in store for them.

Speaking of Ethan: it is a bloody relief to have a male narrate a romance. Props to the authors for that; romances are not one sided ordeals. Ethan does what humans usually do in a mysterious and magical novel: he keeps us grounded and gives us a view we can understand. And his view is quite special. In fact, Ethan's voice is what makes the romance so powerful.

Is that her name? Lena. . . . Did you hear anything else about her? (26)

It's adorable reading the scene around this excerpt. He's so flustered and absorbed by the thought of her. She's different. She's not Gatlin, and that excites him, and draws the line further between him and the others in his town. They hate her, he can't. He's immediately caught up on her, even when his most trusted authority, Amma, tells him to stay away from her. With a dead mother and a recluse for a father, he doesn't need more trouble. But he can't help himself. This is the start of a romance that builds and builds throughout the book, slowly at first and then bursting, blinking out and flaring up constantly. Soon enough, they're inseparable.

Say the word and we'll go, Lena. (150) 

Soon enough, he's willing to do anything for her. And it's not overwhelming. In effect, Ethan's feelings allow us a way to understand Lena, who can be so far out of Gatlin and the world of us ordinary humans. And that makes it so much more real. What's amazing about this novel is that it keeps the romance a focus and centerpiece rather than constantly letting it gush out disgustingly. What assists this is the back story (Ethan vs. history), the social commentary (Lena vs. bigotry), and the captivating lore of Casters.

And let's not forget Uncle Macon. Brilliant, brilliant character. Imagine if Gandalf was just cranky and snappy all the time, and you've got Uncle Macon. He acts, initially, as just comic relief and mystery along with Amma, and I won't tell you how it escalates because Macon is a journey you have to trek yourself. In fact, most of the secondary characters are just brilliant. Marian delivers the best line of the book:

Teenagers -- everything's so apocalyptic. (320)

Amma's the nanny you wish you had, Ridley is a kind of evil you've got to get addicted to.

By the middle of the novel, everything has picked up and mysteries are unfolding and suspense is pouring and basically everything hates Lena except the things that want to kill Lena. It's brilliant, and how it unfolds . . . well, go and find out (hint: it's flawless and roiling with emotions and my applause goes to the authors for tying everything in this novel so well together at the end because Ethan is right: you never see it coming).

- Marlon

Kiersten's Beautiful Creatures Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Awesome

I'm inclined to disagree with Marlon on the part about the movie being much better than the book. Sure, the movie has magnificent dialogue, but so much was changed in the movie adaptation. The movie had much less of the magnificent mystery that Garcia and Stohl worked up and much more of a dramatic love story. Don't get me wrong, I loved both the movie and the book, but the book just adds a lot more onto the characters than the movie. For example, one of my favorite characters Ridley. In the movie, you see the confident side of Ridley and her cowardly side, but you don't see her sensitivity or her relationships with the other characters like you do in the book.

Anyway, this book pulled me in from the second I started reading all the way until the end. Even though my initial thought of the book, based on the synopsis and the movie advertisements, was that it was simply a love story about a Caster and a normal boy, once I started reading, I realized how wrong I was. The mystery aspect of the book really kept me enticed and anxious to find out the secrets behind Lena's family. I, also, really enjoyed the characters, especially nearing the end. Ridley and Amma really became fuller characters at the end of the book.  Overall, I really loved Beautiful Creatures. It was unlike anything I've ever read before and gave a really interesting twist on witches.

Oh, and random thought. The soundtrack for the Beautiful Creatures movie is so amazing. You should definitely check that out. Alice Englert (Lena) has a song on it and it is A+mazing.

- Kiersten

Have you ever been the new kid in town?

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Review: Trail of Dead - Melissa F. Olson

Trail of Dead
Melissa F. Olson
Series: Scarlett Bernard, #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Word Rating: Awesome
On Goodreads

After buying Dead Spots as a Kindle Daily Deal and absolutely loving it, I was anxiously awaiting Trail of Dead – with the ending of the first Scarlett Bernard book, it’s a miracle I made it until the release! I wasn't quite as drawn in with this book as I was with its predecessor, but, nonetheless, I was very happy after reading Trail of Dead – with action, mystery, sarcasm, and subtle romance, it did not disappoint!

Scarlett Bernard is a null – someone who can nullify all supernatural beings within her "radius". That means within a certain distance of Scarlett, all vampires and werewolves become human and no witch can cast a spell. I love the mythology of the Scarlett Bernard series largely in part because of nulls. The idea of nulls plays such a huge part in both Dead Spots and Trail of Dead, and Melissa F. Olson does a wonderful job explaining how it works and how nulls play into the larger picture of supernatural society.

*For the sake of keeping this spoiler free for both Dead Spots and Trail of Dead, I will be using “the villain” in place of a particular character’s name.

At the beginning of Trail of Dead, I was anxiously waiting to see what the villain had in store for us, and the mystery was set up almost right away. I loved the way the mystery of this book built because it gave me the sense of the way Scarlett and the other characters were trying to evaluate all the information and figure out what was going on. Another great aspect of this book was the psychology of the characters. Scarlett went through a lot in Dead Spots, and this was not forgotten in book two of the series – Scarlett is still recovering from some of the trauma during the events of book one while she delves into this mystery. It’s good to see that she doesn’t just get over everything – that she truly was affected by what happened to her.

But by far the most interesting psyche was that of the villain. The villain was just… psychotic, for lack of a better word. There were just layers upon layers of crazy in that character. The more I learned about the villain and the villain’s past, I was even more disturbed, freaked out, and happy the villain wasn’t after me. Melissa F. Olson did a wonderful job building the villain’s history and portraying how the villain’s mind worked.

Besides all the mystery stuff, we also got a lot more of the Scarlett Bernard world’s mythology on witches and a bit more on nulls – a lot of the plot was driven by the way witch magic works and how magic affects nulls. Besides that, we had a small taste in romance, but I wish there had been more interaction between Scarlett and Eli (although I see how that didn’t quite fit into the plot).

The ending of Trail of Dead, although much less inclined to make you want to tear your hair out waiting for the next book than Dead Spots, left me craving the next book and anxious to see what is in store for Scarlett. Overall, I highly recommend the Scarlett Bernard series to anyone looking for a paranormal mystery with a sarcastic female lead.

- Kiersten

What's your favorite paranormal creature?

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