Blog Tour: Truly, Madly, Deadly by Hannah Jayne

Goodreads Blurb

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

I loved this so much more than I thought I would! It was so absolutely creepy. And you guys. I read this in one sitting at midnight. Oh the SHUDDERS.

But I did have a few problems: While it got to a great start, so many "convenient" things just happened to make things fall into place and that sort of annoyed me. And Sawyer made some really...not-so-smart decisions sometimes which made me want to shake her.
I also sort of wanted to delve more into Kevin and Sawyer's abusive relationship and there were also a few plot holes, now that I think about it, but it didn't in any way affect the reading enjoyment!

But the atmosphere was absolutely chilling and haunting. Oh ugh. The note was absolutely creepy and wonderful. The atmosphere felt a bit psychological thriller and I loved the way I doubted the character at several moments. There were also so many suspects, but as they each went six feet under...well it got a bit obvious after a little after the halfway mark, but it still shocked me. Completely and absolutely. Like, HOLY CRAP.

There is a ridiculous amount of suspense and it had a great pacing, though a (very) few parts were slightly rushed. There were just so many creepy things that just accumulated until I was completely and utterly spooked. I even considered the fact that our Sawyer WAS the killer. This book just messed with my brain sometimes (and I was literally looking over my shoulder. Having a dark hallway at your back while reading a thriller, by the way, is not a good idea.)

Truly, Madly, Deadly, was absolutely suspenseful, absolutely creepy, and had so many twists. Recommended for thriller fans and people who are in love with these kind of stories!

One word description: INTENSE

Pages: 272
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Mystery
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Rating: 4.5-->4 stars

Author Bio

Hannah is the author of the UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY CHRONICLES from Kensington books and the upcoming young adult thrillers TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY and SEE JANE RUN available from Sourcebooks, Inc. When she's not battling the demons of the

Underworld or tackling a murderer at Hawthorne High, Jayne kicks her feet up in her San Francisco bay area home and attempts to share

couch space with two enormous cats.

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Ink by Amanda Sun

Goodreads Blurb

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.
Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

I had two issues with Ink, so I might as well get them over with. First was the romance--it sort of reminded me of Twilight, to be honest. I mean first, there was the insta-love. Katie sees Tomohiro and suddenly can't get him, or the strange things that happen out of her mind. And then, for someone who kept pushing her away because he was "dangerous" (Twilight-ian), Tomo warmed up to Katie pretty quickly. 32% in, Katie realizes she loves him, even though their relationship was short at the point.
The second was Jun. How was Katie not wary of someone who she met at a train station and pops up randomly in all the wrong places? She was so at ease with him and...it was sort of weird.

But after the initial bad start, Ink completely blew me away. I fell in love with our characters and the writing. Or, rather, one character. Tomo was really your typical bad boy and I loved him. So much. What can I say? I love me some YA bad boys! More than that, he didn't try to keep Katie in the dark which was automatically ten points in his favor. When it was inevitable that she would get mixed in, he knew that keeping her in the dark was dangerous. THANK YOU TOMO.
Katie was a...complex sort of character to me. At times, she annoyed me (only a few times! 1/30 I promise), but in the end she always makes the right decision! I couldn't really connect with her, but she was a decent YA heroine!

The plot oh my God I died I am dead it killed me. So much run ons in that! I absolutely adored the plot which completely blew me away. I loved everything--the pacing, the twists, how you never knew who you could trust or what was going on. It was wonderful. Until my heart broke near the end. BROKEN.

The worldbuilding was definitely the strong point of the novel. Both the fantasy world Sun created and the Japan we read. You could tell how well researched Ink was and you really were transported. It's the little details that count, and the author didn't slack on those at all! And the fantasy world, OH, I loved it so so so much! It was fascinating and kind of haunting at the same time--a perfect mix!

Ink was a fantastic read with a world I loved to explore alongside our characters. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a book that'll transport you to other places or to anyone who needs an exciting fantasy/paranormal read!

Pages: 377
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Mythology
Series: Paper Gods #1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Rating: 4 stars

Blog Tour: Stung by Bethany Wiggins

Goodreads Blurb

There is no cure for being stung.
Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.
Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.
Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

I'm so excited that I got to read this book early! I loved it! And who knew bees were so important?

The worldbuilding was just amazing! There are scientific explanations for this apocalyptic world and there were no questions I had that weren't answered one way or another. The world was thought out and well written and is definitely an original concept--the bee apocalypse! I loved the way it was realistic (well, you know what I mean!) and that it was a possible disaster for the real world.

Fiona's character wasn't the best, honestly. Sure, she had those typical qualities--determined, stubborn, loyal, but she was also pretty stupid. I mean, she shot one of her friends. Point blank. What? Not to mention that in the beginning, she assumes she's 13 year sold, when the world's clearly changed. I felt like she imagined all that happening in one night. It was idiotic. Also, she didn't seem to really understand why she had to be protected from men who haven't seen a pretty female in a long time at first. I don't want to sound snarky, but SERIOUSLY.
Bowen was a pretty awesome love interest. He was smug, a bit of a scowler, but the bad thing about him? Oh my lord, he said the cheesiest things. It was adorable, but I sort of cringed.

The romance was sweet and a little typical in the bad-boy-next-door way. Except, you know, after the world ends. Bowen used to make fun of Fiona, but truth is? "It was the only way I could talk to you." Which I so awwwwed at. I've always been a little I love with loving from afar stories!

This plot was epic in all the ways the word means. It was action packed, it was fast paced, it had me at the edge of my seat, it did all of that. Is it any surprise I read it in one sitting while my eyes were droopy? It made me forget the time until I realized three hours had passed. (Then again, that could've been Summer Saving. So technically, two.) But wow. I honestly expected none of that. *insert wide eyed stare*

STUNG is an amazing post apocalyptic/dystopian book that had my heart racing. It's an original idea and one that was definitely captivating!

Pages: 304

Genre: Dystopia/Post Apocalyptic

Series: Stand alone (for now)

Publisher: Walker childrens

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Rating: 4.5--->4 stars

Author Bio 

Bethany Wiggins has always been an avid reader, but not an avid writer.  She failed ninth grade English because she read novels instead of doing her homework. In high school, she sat alone at lunch and read massive hardback fantasy novels (Tad Williams and Robert Jordan anyone?). It wasn't until the end of her senior year that the other students realized she was reading fiction--not the Bible.Once upon a time, Bethany's sister dared her to start writing an hour a day until she completed a novel. Bethany wrote a seven-hundred page fantasy novel that she wisely let no one read--but it taught her how to write.  She is the author of SHIFTING, STUNG (April 2013), and CURED (2014).

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Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Goodreads Blurb

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.
In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.
Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

Okay, so after my review of Beautiful Disaster, I'm not quite sure why I was so desperate to read this, or why I requested. I guess it was the "addictive" part! And yet, what I happened to like reading in Beautiful Disaster seemed to be completely gone in Walking Disaster.

So, I don't want to be mean, but Walking Disaster was so cheesy and so cliché. I cringed so much and had to roll my eyes. In the prologue, Travis is a little boy and his mom's dying. And her final words to her son? "Fight for what you love." and then he's told "she will always be with you, even if you can't see her." I guess that could be sweet, but it's just so overused and it was basically that. There was no originality, honestly, in this book (in the prologue and in general.)

Walking Disaster was, for me, more of a highlight of why Beautiful Disaster was so awkward for me. I always felt like Travis was a bit crazy, and seeing the story from his point of view pretty much confirmed it. He was such a horrible person and their relationship was definitely more dysfunctional in this version than the other. Travis had so many anger issues and it was so frustrating. I mean, I'd like my boyfriend to get a little jealous, but punching a guy who was just talking? I can see why Abby got angry at him. But Travis saw absolutely nothing wrong with his actions, which made me want to slam my face into my table a few times. I hate to be so snarky, but...

Anyways. Something I seemed to forget about Beautiful Disaster was how indecisive Abby was. She'd argue with him, yell at him, and then do a few dirty things with him. Awkward. I really couldn't get used to that at all and it was a bit disturbing. Meep.

So I'm really not a fan of this series, but if you are I guess you'd enjoy it. It was...huh. I have no words to describe it in it's fullness. Well, I really wouldn't recommend the series, though you may like it if you're into the whole break up thing. Similar books? I can only think Crash by Nicole Williams!  

Pages: 448
Genre: Contemporary/New Adult
Series: Beautiful #2
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Rating: 1.5--->1 star

Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar

Goodreads Blurb

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.
Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?
But Oliver is more than just a genie -- he's also a sophomore at Margo's high school, and he's on the run from a murderer. As he and Margo grow closer, she discovers that it will take more than three wishes to save him.
A whole lot more.

Going into this, I had a lot of iffy feelings. I mean, genies? It sounded very...fluff like. And the cover didn't exactly make me scream want. Yeah, I'm a horrible person, judging a book by its cover. I'M SORRY. But I did end up loving it! Maybe not as much as I'd hoped, but it was still pretty good.

While adorable, the romance felt a bit...quick. Okay, not a bit. Margo kisses Oliver maybe after their fifth conversation, and was really only spurred on by the fact that he granted her wish. Not to mention Margo knew almost nothing about this guy except that he was a genie, and fell so quickly. Also, Oliver literally fell in love at first sight. After getting that initial bump, though, I loved the romance, which was so sweet (though it did have some quirks, and a few uncommon love quarrels!)

The plot was less exciting than I was hoping for. Oliver keeps hinting that  the assassin will show up soon, but he stays just one day, just two days, just five days more, before he hides from this killer. I have no words for the stupidity of that. When we do meet the killer, the plot wasn't really as exciting as I'd hoped. Sure, there were a few thrilling scenes, but they were few. There were no plot twists that really shocked me and the ending was fairly predictable, and it was...easy. There was almost no hesitation and that was...like I said, too easy.

I adored the originality of this book though. Ribar creates her own unique lore that I loved reading about and it was definitely one of the most fascinating kind of world building (fiction building?) I've seen! It was definitely different from djinn books I've read. Totally different from genies by the way. At least, the lore was.
But it was well built so that (good) genies could grant the wish that people MEANT instead of loopholing like the fey we know so well. If you read those.

I loved Oliver. He may have molded himself to Margo's image, but still. He was sweet and endearing, a little cocky at times, and an all around perfect love interest! Though there is this one part where we find out he's bi and Margo seems totally at ease. Go Margo! Though its sort of unlikely.
Margo was a bit petty at first, but slowly became a relatable character that was fun to read about! Her snark gave a humorous touch to the book, which I loved. She seemed a little flat to me, but it wasn't really that big a deal as it usually is, which was weird...

Pages: 314
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Series: Art of Wishing #1
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 21, 2013
Rating: 3.5--->4 stars

How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller

Goodreads Blurb

A meth dealer. A prostitute. A serial killer.
Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to graduate. The rest disappear.
Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame. They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?

How to Lead a Life of Crime surprised me. In all honesty, I was anxious to read this, but I definitely didn't expect anything so conniving!
This book was...wow. A bit of romance, a bit of acting, a bit of betrayal, a bit of sacrifice, a bit of lying, a bit of stealing...well, a bit of everything really! Even a little scientific theory that this entire plot is based on.


There's really no good place to start this review. But let's start with the originality of How to Lead a Life of Crime, because I love its idea. The way Miller pulled this idea off was stunning and original with an engaging plot that captivates you from the first theft. There's a lack of original plots in the YA market, so the fact that I haven't read anything like this is definitely a shock in itself!

Because of the unique idea, the plot ultimately had me twisted in knots. I couldn't predict anything, and these characters' actions were so unpredictable and cold. My heart was beating furiously and if a fire was burning down my house, I don't think I'd really notice; I'd be too busy trying to figure everything out! There were so many complexities, and no question was left unanswered. There was a cause and affect for everything that happened and nothing happened for no reason: that's what happens when you deal with socio/psychopaths.

The characters...I can't even describe how manipulative, cruel, and calculating they were. Miller created the perfect criminals and they were terrifying. They made you realize just how deceiving and cruel criminals could be, and how some criminals may just be pretending to be as cold. The characters weren't lovable, but they were amazing and seemed real, albeit a bit intimidating. Flick, our narrator who had a great, compelling voice, was smart and sneaky, but not necessarily cruel—just desperate, in the way that a lot of people are capable of. He brought a lot of dry humor into the story and was a strong believer in sarcasm which made me smirk, despite of whatever situation he was currently in. However, Joi was by far my favorite character. Her abilities were shocking, to say the least. She could see what Flick couldn't and knew what was wrong and what was right and, unlike many other characters, acted on those instincts.

What was beyond different with How to Lead a Life of Crime was that enemies were allies, allies were enemies, and you never knew whether a friend was a real one or one who'd stab you straight in the back. It was a game of cat and mouse, but you never knew who was in what role. And, while fictional (for all we know!), there's something about this book that just makes you realize just how evil the world can be and how the people we look up to, how almost everyone, has a secret they're willing to kill for. 


Pages: 358
Genre: Thriller/Action
Series: Stand alone
Publisher: Razorbill
Release: Feb. 21, 2013
Rating: 5 stars

Senshi by Cole Gibson

Goodreads Blurb

After learning she is a reincarnated samurai, nearly getting killed (several times), and reuniting with a past-life soul mate, Rileigh Martin decides to put her warrior life on hold to focus on her senior year of high school. But a reincarnated kunoichi (female ninja) has other plans--including destroying the world if Rileigh doesn't stop her! When evil ninja assailants nearly kill Rileigh and kidnap her best friend Quentin, she must choose between saving the world and saving him. Rileigh's only ally in this impossible quest: the spirit of a man who killed her in a past life.

if you've been with me for a while, you know that I absolutely loved Katana, so when I hear that book 2 was on NetGalley? Of course I rushed to get it! I admit, I had my doubts. Would it go through the Sequel Syndrome? Here's the answer: It really didn't. Senshi was just as intriguing and hilarious as Katana and I loved every page of it!

Rileigh (or as I like to call her, Riley) is probably somewhere in my Top 10 Heroines list somewhere! She's hilarious to the nth and she has some seriously awesome comebacks. I'm pretty sure she can shock anyone into speechlessness! I loved her sassiness and how she could make light of most situations. But at the same time, she was more than just a girl who knew words. There are tons of things in Katana that I think would've broken her, but she stayed strong. Poised at the edge, but still strong. I'm extremely glad to say that Rileigh hasn't changed a bit since Katana!

The romance. Heh, that was about half the plot and instead of being annoyed by it like I usually would, I kept waiting for more of the romance bits to show through the actual plot. Not that it wasn't good! But in Senshi, Sumi (you remember her?) has awakened and she turns out to be Yoshido's old fiance, the one who supposedly died before he met Senshi. Things got even more complicated when Kim says that he's honor bound to Sumi and can't see Rileigh anymore. And when I say complicated? I meant heartbreaking. There were so many times when I could literally feel a pang in my chest and I wanted to strangle Sumi for doing this to Kim and Rileigh. If she were real...

Plot-wise, can any story with samurai in it be boring? Definitely not. Senshi was filled with ninja attacks, brainwashing, new concepts (Healers and soul mates) discovered and it was just so fun! I actually read this, entirely on the computer, in less than 3 hours. Of course, that has something to do with how fast paced Senshi was. And I loved it! Ri was a seriously awesome fighter and I, personally, love reading detailed fights. I know, I'm weird! 

If you felt a bit iffy about Katana, I'd still give Senshi a try! and if you just haven't read Katana...READ IT! It was one of my favorite books of the old year, and you know you can't resist the Nikki Puppy Dog eyes. Please? I can promise that it'll be sassy, fun, and insanely filled with action! 

Pages: 408
Series: Katana #2
Genre: Fantasy(?)/Romance
Publisher: Flux
Release Date: March 8, 2013
Rating: 5 stars

Hooked by Liz Fichera

Goodreads Blurb

HE said: Fred Oday is a girl? Why is a girl taking my best friends spot on the boy's varsity golf team?
SHE said: Can I seriously do this? Can I join the boys' team? Everyone will hate me - especially Ryan Berenger.
HE said: Coach expects me to partner with Fred on the green? That is crazy bad. Fred's got to go - especially now that I can't get her out of my head. So not happening.
SHE said: Ryan can be nice, when he's not being a jerk. Like the time he carried my golf bag. But the girl from the rez and the spoiled rich boy from the suburbs? So not happening.
But there's no denying that things are happening as the girl with the killer swing takes on the boy with the killer smile...

Meh. That's really all I can say. The beginning had me pretty pissed off, and, if you followed me on twitter when I read this (in December...according to Goodreads, Dec 17), you would see my tweets about my irritation at how cliche this was, how racist and sexist it seemed (I know, I know, that's the point, but still. Irritation? Plus, I have friends in the US who have friends on the "rez". Doesn't sound very accurate...maybe?) and how perfect Ryan seemed. It was just...meh. Not to say it wasn't good! I'd read an insanely good book right before starting this, so I think it just raised my standards!

Bad things first, like usual:
Ryan seemed like a perfect guy, and, as someone pointed out on Twitter, looks like a human Ken doll according to the cover. So he was just a bit messed up in the beginning, but there were only really 2 or 3 incidents where he didn't seem perfect, or, as perfect as a literary character gets. I mean, he was rich, his family was a bit broken, he was dating possibly the most popular girl in school, he was the best on the team (until Fred came), etc. and as much as I hate to admit it, he was pretty much the epitome of perfection. And...it really bothered me. I love real characters and if you haven't caught that by now...well, then.

Also, how does golf make you popular? At least, in my area, only football and basketball raise your social status here. Is it different somewhere else? Anyone? Curiosity calls!

I wanted to smack a lot of these characters' heads, no joke. Fred was so optimistic and judging sometimes, that I wanted to shake her. Seth (Ryan's best friend) was so racist and sexist, I wanted to run him over with a car, and Ryan was so hurtful sometimes, he's the only one I actually wanted to smack. Not to sound rude. I mean, besides these it was a pretty decent book, of course!

So what was good?

The romance. It was cliche (the outcast with the popular?) but I do enjoy fluffs! Also? those hate/love relationships make me giddy and squee, and even though it's cheesy, I always love when a guy rescues a girl. Even though sometimes, if it's done wrong, I hate the girl looking like a DID (Damsel in Distress). But in this case, Fred was good enough! In the end, I did love her.

It was unique in the way of backgrounds and I didn't have a problem with it--what I did have a problem with was how prejudiced the characters were! But I loved how they were so different, but so alike, and it made sense to me that'd they'd fall in love. Even if I was a bit indifferent at first.
And I did like how Fred felt--lost and alone, but determined to do what she loved. THAT'S the kind of character I'm talking 'bout!

Hooked was a book I was excited about, but definitely fell flat of m y expectations. It was okay--just not one I really liked or loved. It went uphill in the second half, but by then, my interest was barely there and the only thing keeping me reading was the review I'd be writing. Thankfully, I did finish, and I did enjoy the ending which wrapped up the book perfectly!

Pages: 368
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Standalone
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Release Date: Jan 31, 2013
Rating: 2.5 stars (exactly)

Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Goodreads Blurb

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

Hysteria was an absolutely amazing read! Before I started this, I was a bit hesitant to read it--it had an excellent premise and all (and I did like Fracture!), but the reviews I saw were...let's just say, less than positive.But after reading it...I just don't understand. But we're all entitled to our opinions, right?

But for me, Hysteria was spectacular! It really did have me at the edge of my seat and I was definitely frantic throughout almost the entire book! A thriller this definitely is. I swear. Whenever the words "Boom. Boom.Boom" appeared on the screen (by the way, I accidentally typed scream there at first. See how creeped out this book made me? I'm such a puss) I swear that was my own heart beating. I couldn't believe some of the developments and if you were there when I was reading...I would apologize for putting  you through my continuous gasps and shouts of "NO!"

Mallory was without a doubt an unreliable character and we all love those. Sometimes I had no idea whether I could trust her since all this evidence was just pointing at her. I was almost a hundred percent sure that she was guilty of these crimes, but I could never be certain. Not to mention it seemed as if she'd been hallucinating quite a bit. Oh the creepiness.
There were a lot of flashbacks that really added to the story, and I almost started liking the flashbacks more than the actual plot! Only for ten pages though, I swear!

So there were a few things I didn't really like, but I didn't hate either.

I couldn't really connect with Mallory as a character, but I definitely didn't find her as annoying as some. She was honestly a bit flat but I did love watching her interactions with other characters and how she reacted to things. She didn't really let anyone under her skin, but I think that as a result, we didn't really get to know her as well as I would've liked either.

The romance was also, in my opinion, rather underdeveloped. Reid just kept believing that Mallory was innocent of the, let's say, disturbing events. I'm not saying she wasn't or was, but I sure as hell wouldn't think her innocent. And he believed her all because of one meeting at a funeral? But that scene was really touching I guess.

Hysteria is a compelling read that I'd recommend to all thriller and possibly a few paranormal fans as well, if you're looking for something new! Hysteria is an eye catching book that has an interesting premise and definitely lives up to the hype! Fans of Megan Miranda's debut, Fracture, will definitely adore this one!

Pages: 336
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Series: Stand alone
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: Feb 5, 2013
Rating: 5 stars

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Goodreads Blurb

Love or life.

Henry or their child.

The end of her family or the end of the world.

Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

Is it possible to have a book blow away your expectations but be disappointing at the same time? Because The Goddess Inheritance was.

But let's work our way up. Why was it disappointing? Kate, Kate, Kate. She was such an annoying character in Goddess Inheritance. While I can understand her situation, she just wasn't the same fearless heroine we had in the last two books, though that may be because of Milo. But I just couldn't grasp how different and weak she was, how dependent she was, and that irritated me to no end. She was so...ugh. She always thought she could help with something, and ended up messing everything up. She thought she knew everything and then she knew nothing at all. She would be so angry at her friends then it turns out the reasons wasn't plausible. In short she was naive, irritating, useless, and weak. I wanted to throttle her so much. However...

I still loveloveloved how the original Greek gods could be portrayed in these modern people who know the going ons! Carter did a perfect job of transferring old fashioned stuffy gods into still stuffy modern people who represented their...realms? Well. The worldbuilding was wonderful guys! and we finally got to see Olympus and more of the Underworld! As creepy as it seems, I love seeing how an author writes the Underworld/afterlife. They're all completely different and completely filled with imagination! 

Psh, as if this book could be slow in any way! There were barely any breaks between the action scenes or the ginormous twists or the sweet little baby scenes. So I say "as if!" to anyone who even suggests that the plot was disappointing and slow. It really wasn't. It really, really wasn't. I think that's all I can say! But don't worry, it's not done in a way that just throws information at you, promise!

What else, what else? Everything else was just so wonderful already. Except for the romance, which irritated me since this time around, I didn't really feela s if Kate deserved Henry. No, it has nothing to do with Henry himself! Him with the baby was too cute for words!

Pages: 384
Series: Goddess Test #3
Genre: Greek Mythology/Romance
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Release Date: February 26
Rating: 3.5 -->4 stars

Nobody But Us Kristin Halbrook

Goodreads Blurb

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. 

Oh my GOODNESS. This was such an amazing book that made me tear up in the end. But, you know, sometimes I'm a rare crier, other times I'm the biggest wuss ever. But that ending. I just kept thinking "Please don't let what I'm think about to happen happen." 

When people talk about a raw and gritty story, I'm now going to always think about Nobody But Us.We have two teens who're running away from their harsh lives and while running away can sound stupid...it can definitely happen. No one said teens were smart, and teens with a hard life are desperate. I sympathized with them and both characters definitely had their own problems and were far from perfect...they were, perhaps, the most broken characters I've read about and my heart ached for them. The way this story is told, from both point of views, gives us more information, and more reasons to shed a few tears over what's happened to these teens. 

As for their trip, I enjoyed it? If that's the right word. I don't think I've ever read about runaways and I'm shocked by how...dangerous it was and how much risk they were taking. Trouble and suspicion became their companions and I found myself squeezing my eyes and hoping everything turned out okay in the end. Here's a spoiler--it doesn't. 

Zoe and Will's love was so real, but I feel it may have been born out of desperation for understanding. They were both broken and they were both reaching out for someone to get them. The result? A real love, but one that made them both a bit dysfunctional. Will and Zoe...wow. I think my only complain was how dysfunctional they got and how...well, how alike they were to Beautiful Disaster's characters. Travis and...Abby?  

The thing about this book is, well, it passes by so quickly. Their trip seemed so short, and by the time over 200 pages had passed by, I was shocked by how far I had read. I felt as if only maybe a hundred or so pages had passed before I finished and closed the book, shocked. It was just... exhilarating. This is, perhaps, one of the more raw books I've read, ever.

Pages: 272

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Stand alone

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Jan 29, 2013

Rating: 4.5-->4 stars

Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Goodreads Blurb

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .
Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . . 
Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Josh, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . .

I had incredibly, incredibly high expectations for this, which may have something to do with the absolutely gorgeous cover, so I wasn't very surprised when it just fell flat of them, but I was a bit disappointed.

What disappointed me was how completely...shallow Vanessa was. And not in that personality sense. We never got to learn much about Vanessa really, and what we did learn irritated me. From what we see, she misses her sister, she thinks she knows it all, she's naive, and she's stubborn, and not a good sense. But apart from that I didn't really get much from Vanessa and her character seemed to be there only to move the plot forward. In other words, her character just seemed...well, fake and the same honestly goes for the other characters as well. Their personalities only pushed on the plot and honestly, were very stereotypical.

The romance was also a bit annoying. Vanessa seemed to fall for Zep right when she saw him and (SPOILER) seemed to fall for Justin (a.k.a. Josh, but in the eARC it was Justin, so I'll call him that for now) only when Zep was gone, even after bitching at Justin for so long. It was annoying and I really just wanted to say "Really?" She was so desperate and pining for Zep and I just wanted to smack her for being so weak.

The only redeeming things were the plot and world-building, in all honesty. 

The plot was a perfect pacing where it didn't go too fast for this type of supernatural, but it wasn't exceedingly slow. There were many twists I was shocked by, though I admit there were also a lot I had predicted beforehand, but it was still intriguing to see how things played out with this demonic dancing. 
I think that the premise of this is completely original. Since when have you heard of a dance that can destroy you? Never. At least, not that I've heard of! I loved the idea of it, I loved the sinister feeling the school gave off, and I loved each abnormal thing mentioned in the book! 

Dance of Shadows, while it does have it's weak points, was dark and stunning and will steal your breath just as ballet would. The sinister atmosphere, mysterious disappearings, and more will keep rapture you and you'll find this book hard to put down! 

Pages: 447
Series: Dance of Shadows #1
Genre: Supernatural/Romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Rating: 3.5--->4 stars

Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum

Goodreads Blurb

Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn’t be missed.

Just got to say, THANK YOU Eileen for convincing me to get the ARC before preordering. Oh Thank God. And Eileen.

Not to say this was completely bad, it just wasn't for me. You guys know I try to find as many good things as possible, but everything was...less than average. Not completely bad, but...not that good which I'm completely depressed about--this used to be one of my most awaited books. The premise you guys! Killer robots! 

First things first: Characters. Wow did I want to facepalm. Nick was completely reckless and hypocritical, Kevin was just too under-self-confident, and Cass was just deluded sometimes. They all got each other in life threatening situations and I gave them FIVE total chances to redeem themselves, but nothing prominent really happened...I ended up just marking them up as annoying turned almost average characters, but I really feel like they were...flat. They were just boring characters who I read about in 3rd person. Maybe if it'd been done in 1st person, it would've been better...?

The killer robots were...well, less killer, more robot. They didn't seem like the heartless creatures who destroyed everything in their path like I thought (and hoped for). The only time they seemed as creepy as I hoped was in Nick's Re-education time which was basically the only main plot point I liked, possibly loved! I mean, sure chips in your neck tracing your every move and robots everywhere can be scary...if it's written right, and I guess...Revolution 19 just wasn't. Using other books, instead of a wasteland along the lines of The Immortal Rules,  it was more like Matched--a society where each move was tracked and not that severe punishments for any infractions. I was...disappointed to find that the robots were actually ruling an almost civilized world. They were more...bullies on the playground than Terminator material.

Yeah, I'm in a simile mood. English got to me.

Plot wise this book was lacking throughout most of the novel. Only the last 50 pages or so had exciting action and twists (that were slightly predictable) and the pages before had me completely bored. I finished this book through sheer will, honestly, and it may have taken me three days to read this (2 days longer than normal) to finish this since I err...fell asleep. Though that could also have something to do with it being midnight. But the action? Lacking in that area, and I'm sorely disappointed. 

Anyone looking for romance, not here. Go. SHOO! There was a little bit (which ha, you could totally see coming. It was adorable!) of romance and I found the couples absolutely cute! (Though the fact that they admitted their feelings right before they thought they were going to die...) Lexi and Nick vs. Cass and Farryn. Cass and Farryn were so much better, especially in that last scene! I swear I squealed!

Also, for a book that's apparently a stand alone, I'm in desperate need of an actual ending. No offense, but I'm not an open ended person. I need CLOSURE. Sure, I can be fine with it, but...what happens to their parents? What happens to their friends? What about that Epilogue?! 

So even though it sounds like I absolutely hated this, it did slightly redeem itself in the end, and I just didn't get that vibe to give it 2 stars or lower. I'm sticking to exactly 2.5. And you guys! My .5s are special.

Pages: 272

Genre: Sci-fi/Dystopia

Series: Stand alone (I think?)

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: January 8, 2013

Rating: 2.5

Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George

Goodreads Blurb

When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it's not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse. The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.

I was...a bit disappointed by Princess of the Silver Woods. Not to say it wasn't good! Just...not what I expected and not in a good way.

I was just blown away by the other two books in the series: Princess of Glass and Princess of the Midnight Ball, so I had high hopes for this one! But then...it fell flat, and I just didn't love it the way I loved the other two. I'm not sure if it was simply because I haven't read the other two in a while, so my impression faded, or it just wasn't written as well, or what. But there were a few disappointing things, though there were TONS of things I still loved!

The character's (or rather, Oliver and Petunia) personalities irked me a bit. Petunia wasn't as likeable (in my opinion) as Rose or Poppy. She didn't really had her own distinguished personality, but acted more like Poppy, then a little bit of Rose. I think I would've liked it more if Petunia was...less her sisters and more her, although I get that she had to be a strong heroine or we'd be complaining about her damsel-in-distress -ness.

Oliver...well, this is an interesting case. I had a pretty love/hate relationship and this was one of the things I was a bit let down by. I thought Oliver would be fierce or have one of those cold/smug attitudes. Actually, I was hoping for that. It would've fit the Red Riding Hood story and the Robin Hood story as well, in my opinion. 

I also felt as if the characters hadn't been very well developed. And while I get it, I mean duh. 12 princesses and their husbands/beaus? But Petunia and Oliver...well, even with my complaints about them, they weren't very well developed, I'm afraid.

The plot was...twisty at times, predictable at others, and a tad redundant. (the redundance being the "Oh! She's one of the Nine Princesses of Rashka (that's the name right)). There were so many things I didn't expect, others I did. I knew something was wrong with the Grand Duchess and her son (it even hints so in the synopsis), but I didn't know what would happen. And that was one of the most surprising things. 

And that ending? Definitely the best part of the entire book. It was basically where you were at the edge of your seat, wanting to know what happened, your eyes scanning the page quickly. So the plot definitely earns some points!

The romance was...too insta-lovey for my tastes. So Petunia and Oliver met when Oliver attacks Petunia's carriage, and Petunia holds a gun to his face. And then they fall in love? It was just out of the blue and too sudden. 

Not to mention, I kept wanting Petunia to end up with one of the antagonists, her own prince, Kistalin (heh. Probably got the wrong name!). I've always actually liked the princes. ALL OF THEM, except whoever's currently King Under Stone. Because, seriously. Having that title is like a drug. It sucks the life out of you. So while I knew it wasn't going to happen, I kept rooting for Petunia to fall in love with her (literally) prince, even if he was evil. And couldn't go in the sun. And tried to capture her forever and ever. 

The world building is always my favorite thing in Jessica Day George's books! It's so vivid and fresh and I loved being back in Under Stone (I have no idea if that's what it's called? I forgot! But I dub thee Under Stone if it isn't already). I love how George can seamlessly weave two very different faery tales into one, and still have it all make sense, in the way that makes you think "OF COURSE!". And I love the worldbuilding and storytelling because the world matches the original's descriptions, just giving the items/places different meanings and the storytelling really just merges two fairy tales and, like I said, pretty much makes you feel stupid for not seeing the connection before!

P.S. I have written this at 1 A.M. so if there are any redundant phrases, confusing sentences, or just weirdness, I'm sorry!

Pages: 336

Series: Princess #3

Genre: Retelling/Romance/Fantasy

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Release Date: December 11, 2012

Rating: 3 stars