Imposter by Susanne Winnacker

Pages: 288

Genre: Thriller/Sci-fi

Series: Variants #1

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again. Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

Damn, Imposter, I really didn't expect you or what happened.

Okay, so I absolutely loved the plot. While it wasn't very dark as a thriller, it was still a great mystery that absolutely hooked me. The first line? It starts with "The straitjacket corseted(...)" Umm, hello? Even before we're told about our mission, things are interesting. After? Oh God, everything just speeds up and has me flipping through excitedly (and a bit anxiously). It was absolutely kickass and I loved every second. Remember expect the unexpected? Well the unexpected is the expected...which could be the unexpected. And yes, I'm being confusing on purpose. But know that I could not guess who our killer was. At all. 

And oh, I loved the romance! We have Tess, our main character. We have Alec, our love interest. And we had Kat, the girlfriend. Things get...interesting. But the romantic tension between Tess and Alec? It made everything the better! I loved them the entire time and I really wanted to push Alec towards Tess! They were just too adorable with each other and, though we don't focus on the romance, you just can't help but love them. Even if Alec was a...tad overprotective.

Okay, so a bit more than a tad. He sometimes got a bit annoying, and I still don't understand why he's with Kate (thought I'm sure we'll find out in the sequel! There seems to be...something behind it.) but when he was with Tessa...you just can't help but love him a little more.
And oh Tessa. She was such a dynamic character and I absolutely loved her. But...it was so sad and a bit horrible to see how much she changed, from this bubbly and half carefree person to someone who was so hard on herself who was, while stronger, a bit colder and weighed down. It was a beautifully terrible transformation, but hopefully Alec warms her up...eventually. I loved how while she was a bit in the dark about some things, she wasn't naive or ignorant and she did whatever she could to help and was logical about it. That's sort of rare in these books, you know!

I do wish we'd delved into the Variants more, discovering why they were, why there were so many of them, how their powers developed, etc. And it did get a bit typical when we learned of the "rebellion" of Variants, though I'm hoping the sequel will be much more interesting than the cliches!

Imposter was a book that I didn't want to finish, for the sake of not having it end. But when it did, it left me absolutely astonished! I loved the originality, I loved how ended, I loved pretty much everything. I can not wait to get my hands on the sequel and to discover more about Tessa, Alec, and every secret that the government seems to be hiding (oh those governments. You know how they are.) Definitely pick this up for a fun read that's light on the sci-fi but heavy on the action! 

---

---

The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

Pages: 512

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology

Series: Into the Dark #1

Publisher: Egmont

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

I'll admit, going into it, I didn't really know what to expect. From the synopsis it seemed like a typical, cliche paranormal story, but it's so much more than that! The Shadow Prince was actually quite the enchanting read and I actually kept reading until lo and behold, it was 7 AM.

The worldbuilding is the first thing that I noticed. Bree Despain takes Hades and Persephones' myth and twists it into her own creation, somehow making this retelling so much more fascinating. The Underworld had it's own hierarchy system with it's own backstory that set this book apart from all the other retellings. The world was dark and haunting and was quite fascinating. We got to see all the workings of the Underworlder court and how it came to be that way and it was all original and, by the way, a breath of fresh air when we learn that Orpheus plays a rather large role compared to Helen of Troy or Achilles.

As for our characters, I felt like Daphne was a bit flat at times, but she was definitely one of those stubborn and spitfire heroines! She doesn't really dive headfirst into impulsive decisions, but she makes rational choices and decisions, and that's what really won me over.
Haden was quite an interesting character, especially since he was in the mortal world. He was so adorably clueless, but you knew he had an arrogant and dangerous side--after all he was raised in the Underworld. But being in "our world" left him a bit helpless and it was so cute seeing him try to understand how the world worked. Or, more specifically girls.
EX: "My online research into "how to get a girl to like me" had suggested, time and time again, that to win a human girl over, I had to be mean to her. I'd spent the bulk of classes either ignoring her, contradicting her, or acting like a "bad boy", which I gather meant showing off my muscles and leaning back in my chair after saying something sexually derogatory." 
Yep, that sort of summed it up! It was hilarious seeing him navigate the minds of females--or rather, one female. Daphne.

Of course, that leads us to romance. The romance was a bit rushed and I honestly had no idea where it came from. I honestly think that without the romance, Shadow Prince may have been a lot better, but the sudden burst of "I love you" sort of ruined it. Though Haden and Daphne did have a rather interesting relationship that made me laugh out loud one too many times!

The Shadow Prince is told in alternating POVs and I really love how Bree Despain writes. She managed to capture two completely different voices into this story and it was unbelievably easy to see how different Haden's way of thinking was. His POV especially was brilliantly written, especially with the fact that we could actually see him slowly getting more human, bit by bit. That takes talent y'all!

The plot was filled with twists, though I do admit most of them were pretty predictable, but that didn't take away the thrill of figuring out you were right! There were so many little mysteries that weaved themselves into a bigger, more sinister plot, and it was enthralling, trying to untangle all the threads!

While the synopsis seems a bit overdone, the book is far from it and wonderfully executed too! The Shadow Prince was a mesmerizing read that had me on my toes for hours as I flipped through the pages anxiously.The Shadow Prince is  a book I'd recommend to any paranormal/fantasy fans and is definitely one to pick up!

---

---

Promise of Shadows by Justina Ireland

Pages: 371

Genre: Greek Mythology/Fantasy

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Zephyr Mourning has never been very good at being a Harpy. She’d rather watch reality TV than learn forty-seven ways to kill a man, and she pretty much sucks at wielding magic. Zephyr was ready for a future pretending to be a normal human instead of a half-god assassin. But all that changes when her sister is murdered—and she uses a forbidden dark power to save herself from the same fate.
Zephyr is on the run from a punishment worse than death when an unexpected reunion with a childhood friend (a surprisingly HOT friend) changes everything. Because it seems like Zephyr might just be the Nyx, a dark goddess made flesh that is prophesied to change the power balance. For hundreds of years the half-gods have lived in fear, and Zephyr is supposed to change that.
But how is she supposed to save everyone when she can’t even save herself?

Going into Promise of Shadows, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The cover was unbelievably eye catching and the premise sounded unique and completely riveting! 

Unfortunately, it wasn't as captivating as I thought it'd be. 

From the first chapter, I was fascinated by the worldbuilding--seeing a new twist on Greek mythology is always captivating! The world is my favorite bit of the book, managing to be completely original, something that's actually pretty hard with this genre nowadays. Learning about the Vaeter and the Aetherals was enchanting and it just pulled me into the world filled with harpies and Fates, Greek gods and the Nix. And, beyond the Greek gods, there wasn't much that tied the book to Greek mythology, something I found interesting and pleasantly surprising! 

We start out in Tarturus with Zephyr, making us hooked and enthralled. There's a sense of intrigue from chapter one, and you just automatically want to know more about what happened to Whisper, how Zephyr got thrown into Tarturus, and all of that. But after that, things started for a downward spiral. 

There were a lot of secrets revealed in the first few chapters, but Zephyr never seemed to be that surprised or that hurt, despite the fact that in years of knowing these people and that she just know learns of these things. She only seemed to be affected when it suited the plot--or when she wanted to be whiny.

Speaking of whiny...Zephyr wasn't exactly the best character. She didn't listen at all, and sometimes the characters went along with it, even if she was in the wrong and they were in the right. She was impulsive and ignored everyone's warnings, thought that she knew everything when she knew nothing at all, and she always did what she wanted, even though she knew perfectly well that it would put everyone she loved in danger. 

She was also hypocritical and seemed to always be itching for a fight. She was, really, just a terrible character and I wasn't exactly the biggest fan.

The other characters were a bit flat and didn't have much character. We never really got to know them well, besides the fact that they either worshipped, feared, or hated Zephyr. 

The plot was a bit predictable and a bit typical too, though it did manage to surprise me now and then. I wasn't a giant fan of the storyline, though it may have been overshadowed by my not so big love of Zephyr. It was a bit rushed, but it was still a bit fun. I do wish it was a bit more edgy and dark though, but I'm not totally unhappy with it! 

The romance was forced to me, and I really didn't feel like Tallon and Zephyr fit each other besides their affinity for erobos (essentially, the "darkness"). Although maybe they do since while Zephyr kept screwing things up and directly disobeying Tallon's instructions (that would've saved them a whole lot of trouble), and yet, Tallon kept on forgiving her, saying he was wrong all the time. It irritated me that he didn't seem to do anything besides support her the entire time or get grumpy. 

Promise of Shadows honestly wasn't my favorite book and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Though if you loved Justina Ireland's Vengeance Bound, you may love this one too! 

---

---

BOOKCEPTION

BOOKCEPTION. THE NOVEL. 

This is not a review because I did not read the entire thing. I read about 35%. I didn't DNF it because it was horrible. You'll see. I just wanted to share my reaction to this book. Also, this was before the official synopsis came out. So.

(CLICK TO EMBIGGEN ALL GRAPHICS)

Guys. I have no words. White Space was confusing in a way that you could still sort of understand, but just confused you when you read it and still confuses you. That makes no sense does it. Or does it? 

^That's basically what the book was like. 

Did I like it? Did I not? I have no idea. It was just...it was just. I have no clue how Ilsa J. Bick managed to write such a complicated thing, but guys, it must've taken her ages to plot. And worldbuild. And everything else. 

If there was one word to describe this book, it would be BOOKCEPTION. Because. It really was bookception. I even made a schmancy graphic of the first 35% of the book for you. Yes. Only the first 35%. 

(Click to enlarge)

Yeah. Basically. At least, that's how I read it. Maybe I read something wrong...? Maybe I didn't. But that. That is basically the general idea of the entire story. It was definitely interesting. And confusing. So...what?

I have no idea whether I would recommend this or not. Because I just can't even. I mean, it was definitely interesting, but my brain hurt a bit, but at the same time I wanted to know what the hell was going on. 

I never did find out because like I said. I lost the ability to think. So I decided to not finish it. 

HOWEVER. White Space was pretty creepy. So horror fans, you guys will love this. I think a few hardcore sci-fi may too. People who are easily confused and lose their will quickly? I'd skip this one. 

But dear God it was fascinating. 

Pages: 560

Genre: I don't even know

Series: Dark Passages #1

Publisher: Egmont USA

Release Date: Feb 11, 2013

Rating: EVERYTHING

I'm so disgruntled, I'm using my old format.

---

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Pages: 344
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: Alienated #1
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: Feb 4, 2013

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

This is officially the first alien book I've read that I liked. At first, I was a bit wary because, honestly, I haven't had the best luck with these. But Alienated was WONDERFUL. Absolutely, wonderfully, amazing.

I loved, especially, the sci-fi part. The worldbuilding for L'eihr was fascinating and I loved learning about this planet. While we didn't get to see it, we did learn a lot about it, and I was scrambling for every morsel. (Did you know their plants don't have photosynthesis? Instead, they draw nutrients from the air, making the plants grey-ish instead of bright green. FASCINATING ISN'T IT.) Everything was so well thought out and it wasn't as cheesy or as geeky as some. Not that I have a problem with geekery, but it tends to lean towards the unbelievable, while Alienated presented a very believable world. I also loved the words and the names that were only slightly different! Love for the world. So much love.

In the beginning, I was a bit irritated by Cara. She was such an opportunist and I didn't really like her attitude. After the first impression, though, I fell in love with her character. She was a loyal person who stood for what she believed was right and wouldn't abandon Aelyx and believed in him till the very end. And that definitely took some guts, considering everything.

Aelyx was such a swoony character! He was so stoic throughout most of the book, but reading things from his POV definitely shed some light on his feelings. I loved how slowly he evolved from a held off kind of character to such a...well, human, one. Seeing him interact with Cara was adorable. Plus, hilarious. For example, his "compliment": "Hips of that width are likely to pass live offspring without complications." BAHAHAHA. THE TEARS. THE LAUGHTER. It was hilarious. So, so, so hilarious.

The romance. Ummm, wow. I've never seen a couple so reluctant to fall in love! (I think) They fell in love so slowly it was barely noticeable sometimes, but the tension between them was just so adorable. They were so easy with each other, at least for an alien-human pairing. They had so many hilarious moments that I reread over and over, laughing again and again. And then the kissing scene. Oh my gosh. Cara may not have gotten cardiac arrest, but I definitely did. 

The plot was definitely a high point for me as well. So many things happened that made my head spin. The HALO (Human Against L'eihr Occupation) members were so cruel and just horrible to Cara, Aelyx, and anyone associated to them. The entire town ignored her family, shunned them, and did everything they could to make their lives a living hell. It was terrible and I wanted to cuddle our characters. They were so strong throughout the ordeal and I just can't stop loving them enough for staying loyal, especially Cara. 

Alienated is an original, one of a kind book that was an amazing read! I loved it and I can not wait for the sequel! I definitely recommend it to all sci-fi fans and to those that want a...different sort of Romeo and Juliet. Except, without the dying. Maybe.

Get it, read it, love it! 

---

---

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Pages: 384

Genre: Dystopian/Sci-fi

Series: Uninvited #1

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: Jan 28, 2014

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.
Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

I loved the Firelight trilogy, so hearing about Sophie Jordan's new series, and about serial killers with a sci-fi twist? Oh my gosh, yes! And it didn't disappoint.

The thing Uninvited, I think, is that if you'd replaced the HTS with something like LGBT or color, and taken away the dystopian bits, Uninvited would've been a completely real contemporary. The way that Jordan writes the prejudice in the story is heartbreaking and feels real. It's "punish and ask questions later" and it just got to me, how they treated those with HTS genes with fear and suspicion and hate--sound familiar?

Either way, I loved seeing Davy grow as a character. In the beginning, she's sheltered, protected, and it doesn't feel like a dystopian story at all--until Davy is told she has the HTS gene. That's when things slowly start to spiral down for her (but up for us, because the story just turned even more amazing.) She's not a decidedly strong character in the typical sense, but she had a strong will and she wasn't one of those characters that just automatically learned to be the best. She was...well, not relatable, but she was a character I could sympathize and love with all her flaws.

Obviously, a book like Uninvited is going to be action packed, and it, while it wasn't all fights and rebellion, was just as captivating. I was absolutely caught up in Davy's story as she became accustomed to HTS life and how things were at her...reformation camp? Uninvited was filled with twists and fighting, though I do wish Davy herself had beaten someone in a fistfight. The story is thrilling and completely enraptured me from start to finish--which made me anxious for the sequel. Seriously--need.

Romance is a background element in the story, but I absolutely adored it. Sean seems, at first, like the brooding bad boy in the story, and maybe he was, but I loved him nevertheless. Their relationship, at first, seems a bit insta-lovey (or insta-likey?) since Sean seems to take just a sudden liking to Davy and, while that irritated me at first, it grew on me as Sean and Davy stayed friends through most of the story. Although, c'mon, there's always some romance, and by the end, they did kiss (and thank God! I was getting tired of mentally pushing their faces together, no matter how much I liked their platonic relationship.)

As for the sci-fi aspect, it was pretty light, and I do wish that they'd talked more about how the kill gene was discovered, how they find it in genes, etc, but it didn't really bother me when I was reading and didn't take away from the fun of the book!

Uninvited is an amazing read that I'll definitely recommend, especially to people who are looking for a book light on dystopian and sci-fi or any fans of Firelight (though Uninvited, in my opinion, is a much better read, if not just as heart pounding!)

---

---

Control by Lydia Kang

Pages: 400

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: Control # 

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Release Date: Dec 26, 2014

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren’t like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

I discovered Control way, way before the cover was released (the first one? The first cover that showed up on Goodreads was actually this white background with red blood cells, I remember!), when it had a completely different synopsis on Goodreads, and when there were only a few adds. I pretty much immediately needed it and once I got my hands on a copy, I dropped everything and started reading.

Control is a rather fascinating book. It feels like it doesn’t happen too much in the future, but enough so that there’s a lot of new technology and secret scientific projects at work (although who knows, those may be going on today!)

The biggest thing about this book is how much of the plot relies on the science of the characters’…abilities? Genes? A lot of it is explained to the reader and I’m thoroughly impressed with the level of research and gene/DNA knowledge in the story—having a brainy main character can be hard, especially in sci-fi, but Lydia Kang does a masterful job pulling it off enough so that, while I didn’t get lost in the explanation, it sounded legit and completely real. If, you know, it was genetically possible.

The characters were amazing, though maybe a bit cliché.

Zelia was a wonderful main character who was smart when it came to lab work, but was a bit less so when it came to real life application, but more on that later! I loved how grounded she was, how much passion she had for experimenting, and how absolutely loyal she was. Zelia didn’t get overly emotional at the worst times like some characters, and she tended to look everything straight on, winning me over with her logic and passion.

There was Dyl, the prettier, younger sister, and I sort of hated her. Dyl was naïve, impulsive, and seemed completely reckless to me, although we didn’t get to see her often throughout the story. (Also, I hated how she started drooling over a boy immediately after finding out her dad was dead. What?)

Cy was the resident bad boy with a sweet side and I absolutely loved him. He was just as passionate about his work as Zelia and they made an amazing team. He was as loyal as Zelia and a bit arrogant besides. I suppose he is the typical bad boy of a story, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with him, especially when he was with Ana.

The romance was absolutely swoon worthy and I was practically at the point where I wanted to smash Zelia and Cy’s faces together and force them to kiss, before they kissed. Their relationship was a slow buildup that I loved reading (talk about sexual tension!) and watching their animosity turned into romance was absolutely thrilling! And the things Cy did for Zelia were just so adorable and sweet.

The twists, the shocking revelations, the secrets! There were so many in Control, it’s a bit hard to keep track of, but each of them just shocked me to the core. I loved the pacing of the book, especially near the end when everything pretty much exploded! (And holy crap that ending.)

The only thing I was bothered by was that, in the beginning, Zelia trusted Micah even though it was evident that he was the enemy and she trusted him more than she trusted her new family, who had only tried to help and protect her.  It made our heroine seem impulsive and naïve and it bugged me throughout the entire story that she trusted him. Eventually, we learn the truth, but she still trusted him to keep his promise? Even though he’d broken his promises a thousand times before?

Control was a thrilling start to a new series with a heart racing plot and a killer ending. Lydia Kang’s debut is a sci-fi that’ll capture your attention and make you fall in love with most of the characters while breaking your heart a little bit throughout the story.  Betrayals, mutations, secret organizations, familial love, and a hot love interest? What more can you ask for?

---

---

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Pages: 336

Genre: High Fantasy

Series: Defy #1

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: Jan 7, 2014

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.
The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Defy! Defy, Defy, Defy. I don't really know what to write for the introduction, so can I just get on with the review? Yeah? Yeah.

I'm an absolute giant fan of High Fantasy novels, especially those that have something to do with court betrayals, political reasoning, and princes. (Let's be honest, mainly the princes.) so I was so happy that, while the kingdom was in a jungle (and how often do we see that?) there was still a bit of politics involved with all the happenings and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love that. I sound like a boring person, don't I?
Wait until I tell you about the kidnappings and the killing side of politics.

Defy is filled with kickass plot twists--some that killed me and some that made me want to strangle someone, because seriously? Seriously? Plot twists are in abundance here, especially towards the end. I'm not kidding, every few pages or so. But even in the first half of Defy, the pages were filled with fights, attacks, and a lot of secrets were revealed and while some were totally obvious, some shocked me and put me in a coma. (Metaphorically, of course.)
This book is filled with action and the story is fast paced with not much room to breathe. Because we had the ass kicking, the fights, the magic, and then...we had the sexual tension. And testosterone. Lots of testosterone.

Which leads me to the romance of course. But let's start of with our love interests.
Damian, the dark and uncouth prince. Yeah I'm on his team. How can I resist? Damian's the one with secrets and the one who has a duty to his country. Meaning that Alexa and his romance isn't going to be as simple as one would think with a prince and a guard-who-everyone-thought-was-a-boy-but-wasn't. Meaning that their romance is a whole lot of complicated.  But you have to love Damian anyways with his snark and his iciness that seems to wear off around Alexa.
Rylan was...not my favorite. He definitely didn't compare about Damian at least! I actually felt like he wasn't really needed as a love interest. As a best friend, sure, but the romance? I just felt like he never got to see the real Alexa before pronouncing his love. After all, she'd been pretending to be the most anti her for all the years he'd known her.
But really, I felt like both romances were pretty rushed and the words that came out of their mouths were a bit cheesy, and I wasn't a big fan of the love triangle. I do wish there was a bit of a Mulan moment where one of the love interests had a "fuck, am I gay?" moment, though.

However, our main character? Talk about badass! Alexa's the best fighter in a group of guys, and that has to say something. She puts duty first and she knows where her loyalties lie firmly. You can't help but love her for her fierceness and her scarily good skills with a blade. She's that kind of heroine that just surprises you. And who doesn't love that?

So yeah, I would recommend Defy. As Belle once said, "Far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!" That pretty much sums up Defy.

Take it from Beauty. 

---

---

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Pages: 320

Genre: Sci-fi/Thriller

Series: Fire & Flood #1

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: Feb 25, 2014

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Fire and Flood was one of my more anticipated reads of 2014, so getting a review copy was a dream come true. And after loving The Collector so much, well, my expectations were pretty high (especially after hearing how amazing Pandoras were.)

Tella was quirky. That's the best way to describe her at first. She had that certain quality to her that reminded me of Scott's former heroine, Charlie, something that made you love her and all her awkward faults--which slowly start to fade the longer she's in the Brimstone Bleed. Tella hardens, strengthens, but still manages to maintain that compassion and kindness that made you love her throughout the race. Her sheer will made her even more endearing.

I got completely attached to all the characters--Victoria Scott just somehow manages to make us fall in love with them (every single one of them), despite their sheer numbers. All of them had their own personalities and quirks (though none quite like Tella) and I adored all of them. In the end, they were all there, risking their lives to save someone they loved. Even the antagonist who was amazingly well written in the most evil, disgusting, and twisted way was fighting for someone (I'm assuming) and it made me a bit more sympathetic towards them. A bit.

There was romance in Fire and Flood but it was pretty slight and a bit rushed in my opinion--or, not rushed, but pretty sudden. I loved it though, especially because I had no idea that our love interest was the love interest and because, well, he was pretty badass. He was pretty awesome and swoony, if not hardened and a little...aloof.

The storyline was absolutely thrilling and exciting and I was always wincing whenever I felt like our characters were in trouble. Or, you know, were going to die. The author is pretty ruthless with readers' feelings and I felt like I died several deaths. There were a lot of unexpected twists that broke my heart or made me cheer and what I found amazing was that the Brimstone Bleed...well, it wasn't over. And now I can't say anything or else I'm going to squeal all over this review and spoil everything.

The Brimstone Bleed was a seriously original plot line/setting and I loved the story and the history behind it that made everything all the more interesting and cutthroat. It was a bit predictable, I guess, but it's truly original.
My favorite part of the whole story was definitely the Pandoras and I have an unnatural love of foxes now. The Pandoras were as diverse as the characters and I loved how all their talents pushed the plot along. Talk about creativity!

Fire and Flood was a brilliant read that was exciting, amazing, and is definitely one of a kind. It's, dare I say, a better version of The Hunger Games and I absolutely adored it. So the question of "Is it worth the read?" Answer: Yes. 

P.S. THE PANDORAS!!!

---

---

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Pages: 432

Genre: Sci-fi

Series: Avalon #1

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: Jan 2, 2014

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

I'll admit, going into this, I was just a bit unsure. I'm not one for alien/otherworldly sci-fi, but Mindee Arnett? Galactic thieves and mercenaries? I was willing to risk it--and I am so glad I did.

Avalon is one of those stories that starts off with a bang and just keeps climbing up. The plot was one of those that doesn't let you rest, doesn't give you any worry-free time, and just intrigues more and more. Excluding all the plot twists (which were more than shocking) what surprised me was that what I thought was going to be the main conflict was resolved in only a few pages. Curiouser and curiouser, right?
Either way, it was what happened after that made everything even more interesting and even more cutthroat.

I will say that there was a twist I did predict from the first half of the book, but it was how I was right that made me gape. You have to hand it to Arnett--she sure knows how to keep you hanging and coming back for more! I read maybe a chapter of Avalon and then read the rest in one sitting. Because who can resist something like this book (that felt like an intergalactic horror story for a few chapters!)

And then the worldbuilding! I'm just blown away by all the science and every meticulous detail and research that probably went into this book. From dimensions to spaceships to lost planets and genetics, Avalon pretty much covers all your sci-fi needs! It's really just a gorgeous book.

There's a rather large cast of characters, but you just fall in love with each and every one of them (them being the good guys, I mean!) It was amazing how the team operated and how well they worked together and laughed together, more family than just some random teens stuck together. What I loved so much though, was how different each character was from one another. Some were more somber, most always joking, but each of them had their own quirks and habits that just made them stand out a bit and just make you love them, especially Jeth.
I don't read many male POVs, but props to Arnett for making a pretty believable voice and a protagonist you couldn't help but cheer for! Jeth was a rather complex character who had his faults and strengths and, like I already said--you can't help but fall in love with him!

Speaking of falling in love, the romance was the only thing I wasn't so sure on. While I did love the fact that romance took a back seat on this one, with only a kiss or two at most, I still felt a bit irritated by it in the beginning, especially considering that there's a bit of insta love when they first met, Jeth remarking on how beautiful Sierra, our love interest was, or something like that. I also felt a bit awkward because of a certain other character I felt like (almost wished) had feelings for Jeth. Then again, I'd probably have an issue with love triangles, so maybe not?

Avalon is an absolute must read for fans of hardcore (or not!) fans of sci-fi. I can almost guarantee you'll love this book with it's unbelievable twists and jaw dropping turns! I really just loved this read because honestly. Intergalactic thieves. 

---

---

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Goodreads Blurb

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

So you guys know, I'm not usually an MG (Middle Grade) person, but I have to say, I think I've changed my mind about that! You'll probably find me raiding the library for some more soon enough! It reminded me what kind of books I LOVED before getting addicted to YA. Better start reading this stuff again!

The False Prince was unbelievably amazing and there's just something about MG that makes you realize how different it is from YA! There's no insta-love worries, there's no romance taking away from the plot, and there are no ridiculous things going on--it's just wonderful writing, amazing plot, action packed adventure, a crown to be fought for, and conspiracies of the best. Or wait. Is that just The False Prince?

Because this book had all of that and so much more!

This was so fun to read! Immediately, we get a sense for just how troublesome Sage is and he's a character you'll immediately like! He's clever,an absolute troublemaker, and he's just an amazing character who makes every boring thing something of interest! Not to say that the other 2 boys were less interesting! Not at all! they're all so completely different that there's no way you can fully hate one. Tobias is educated and smart, but not as strong or willful as Roden, but Roden, in turn, is pretty hard headed and a bit thick. If we're talking stereotypes, Tobias would be the nerd, Roden the jock, and Sage? He's somewhere in between all that. I think his only flaw, really, was that he never knew when to quit or when things were to dangerous. He was strong-willed and COMPLETELY stubborn and I'd love him less if he weren't!

The plot is by far the best thing about The False Prince! It can seem pretty slow at first, but when you get used to the pace, you'll love how the plot just slowly unfurls, throwing twists and turns at  you along the way (I, for one, COULD NOT believe that ending!). It's a captivating read that'll please everyone, no matter what the age or gender!

The False Prince is a book that's hard to dislike and easy to love! Fit for literally everyone and anyone, I'd recommend it to anyone who's getting tired of reading the same old over and over again!

Pages: 342
Genre: Fantasy/Middle Grade
Series: Ascendance Trilogy #1
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Rating: 5 stars

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Pages: 374

Genre: Sci-fi/Romance

Series: Starbound #3

Publisher:Disney Hyperion

Release Date: Dec 10, 2013

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever? Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

I got These Broken Stars a little after release, and by then people were fawning over it, talking about how much they loved it, how amazing it was so suffice to say, I had high expectations. Very high expectations. So high I screwed studyimg for finals and read it instead.

And you know what? I loved it. Right from the start I loved it and it broke my slump of starting 8 books and finishing none of them. That's how amazing These Broken Stars was. Plus, that cover! 

So I actually have no idea how to start this review. It's always hardest to write about a book you loved, I guess? But let's start with characters. 
I adored Lilac as a character. She was brilliant character who was completely amazing throughout the entire book. She was smart, witty, and was willing to do what she could. She pretended to be the flighty heiress everything thought she'd be, but her reasons for doing so was heartbreaking and I actually felt heartbroken by page twenty. She was a character I could sympathize with and it's amazing that Lilac went through some character growth without losing my admiration. 
Tarver was swoony. Can I leave it at that? Fine. He was sweet and swoony and amazing and swoony and I loved him and his swooniness. In all seriousness though, Tarver was just as brilliant as Lilac, though more street smart than book smart, and it showed. I loved how caring he was towards Lilac and how badass he was, though not without his vulnerability. 

The romance was swoon worthy, but I think I've already used that word too much. I'm always a fan of hate/love relationship which is definitely how their relationship seemed when they crashed. I adored how they first met though, although it did seem a bit insta lovey, but the romance after that was entirely amazing. And I actually loved the insta love part of it too, surprisingly. I'm pretty sure there's a meme that's like "True love is when you take care of each other even if you're angry." or something like that and it definitely applies to the book. Also? Let me just say that I couldn't contain my squeals (and screams) at all. 

The worldbuilding and the vivid descriptions were a giant part of the novel and the science part was...mind blowing and just...brilliant. It was amazing, the things behind the whispers, behind the mysterious terraformed planet and it's definitely a creative, if not somewhat original, idea. 

These Broken Stars is, at it's core, a survival story and I loved that. I never knew watching people walk could be so fascinating. Of course, that's not all that happens. There was a mystery on the edges of the book and you couldn't help but get enraptured, wondering, dying to know what was happening, what was causing this or that, whether they were going crazy, or if there really was something...other.
What I think I loved the most was that our characters reached the conclusion before we did, which is actually pretty hard to do. And it wasn't just some wild leap, there was actually evidence to back it up and it was...interesting, seeing where we'd be taken next.

These Broken Stars is, perhaps, one of my favorite sci-fi books out there and I can't wait to read book two, which I'm hoping will at least have a Lilac or Tarver cameo! (It has to guys, it has to.) Heartbreaking and awe inspiring, These Broken Stars is just one that'll have to  make it to the top of your TBR, no matter how towering it already is!

---

---

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Goodreads Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.
Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.
When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Okay, you know those books that you have such high expectations for, but they just fall flat? This was so not one of those. I officially love anything Shannon Messenger writes. I absolutely loved her MG book, Keeper of the Lost Cities and the same definitely goes for Let the Sky Fall! She's just a genius with worldbuilding and plot!

Seriously. Worldbuilding first. The world of the sylphs/Windwalkers was so completely vivid and so well thought out! It was stunningly real and beautifully breathtaking (pun intended). I probably wouldn't make a lot of sense if I tried to explain the complexities of the world, but trust me, you;ll get it when you read it! It was definitely took a ton of creative power though, I'll say that!

Audra was such a strong character. I know I say that a lot, but she really was. She took the blame for her father's death but she never, not once, wallowed in self pity. Instead, she honored her promise to protect a boy, who was unbelievably stubborn, with her life. She sacrificed her own wants and needs for him and always put Vane first. She's a hardworking character who, even though she belongs in the air, is actually pretty down-to-earth.
Vane was...a guy. Or, like the stereotypical guys you roll your eyes at sometimes. He made a few perverted jokes throughout the series that really irritated me sometimes, but he really came through in the end. If anything, he's loyal to a fault, but it's one of the best things about him!

The romance was a bit insta-lovey, honestly, but you can quickly forget that once you see how perfect Vane and Audra are! They just complete each other so well, but ugh, forbidden love strikes again! So much conflicting feelings on Audra's part! Like I said, majorly strong character here.

The plot. Oh God, this killed me. The ending. The ending. Talk about a twist! I never saw it coming. Actually, I never saw a lot of things coming! Shannon Messenger has a way of throwing things at you that you never see coming. I wanted to curl into a ball and cry for out main characters. It was horrible. 

Let the Sky Fall was absolutely captivating from start to finish. I never wanted to put it down and throughout the entire thing, I was both dreading and anticipating the ending. (Which, again, nearly killed me.) With the ultimate sacrifices, the ultimate betrayal, this one's going to send you in an explosion of feelings. Trust me. I've been there.

Also, couldn't Raiden (that's his name, right) just google Vane Weston? He never changed his name and it's rather...unique.

Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Let the Sky Fall #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date:  March 5, 2013
Rating: 4.5-->5 stars

Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Goodreads Blurb

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye. 
Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed in Shadowlands. I mean, I was expecting so much from its creepy premise, but it really didn't meet my expectations. Too bad, it sounded really good! (But thanks to that killer *heheheh* ending, I'm definitely buying the sequel. I can't believe she just cut it off there!)

I had...issues with the characters. Rory was a weak character who didn't really seem to have an outstanding personality and wasn't exactly as broken as Nell thought, in my opinion. She was a flat character that I really wish was more well written than she was--she definitely would've been a better heroine then. She wasn't completely bad, but I couldn't connect with her at all.
Her sister, Darcy, on the other hand, was fiery, but she was so shallow. She was basically in love with a guy and ditched, manipulated, and did every other horrible-sister things to see him. When said guy blew Darcy off and Rory tried to (gently) tell her that, Darcy basically had a tantrum and I was facepalming myself mentally quite a bit throughout.

The romance was pretty annoying as well. While there honestly wasn't much, I still have to point out that Rory seemed a bit attracted to Tristan at first sight and, while they never really fell in love or anything, it was still pretty annoying to me. And I already told you about Darcy, so...well, yeah.

The plot had some twists that did shock me, but at the same time, were completely predictable. The biggest twist, though, actually seemed a bit cliche, but it was definitely unexpected! There were definitely a ton of creepy parts of the book that chilled me to the bone, but I can't say there was enough to keep me interested. We had two big scenes in the first half, but after that, nothing really happened from then until the second half, when things got just a tad more engaging. There were enough chilly hints to keep me reading, but not enough to make me want to sit down and furiously flip the pages like I'd hoped.

Overall, I guess it was a decent read, but it's not something I'd recommend immediately to someone. Maybe to someone just getting into thrillers would enjoy this, but definitely not someone who has a lot of trouble with flat characters. I liked it okay enough, but...well.

Pages: 336
Genre: Suspense/Thriller/Paranormal-ish
Series: Shadowlands #1
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: Jan 8, 2013
Rating: 2.5-->3 stars