eARC Review: Scorched Souls by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef {Book 3 in Chosen Series}

Title: Scorched Souls
Author(s): Jeff Altabef; Erynn Altabef
Series: Chosen, book 3
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Genre: Scifi, YA thriller, paranormal, action
Source: received from authors, Novel Publicity, ebook, 13+



Synopsis:

Fate and destiny clash in the explosive, heart-pounding conclusion to the award-winning Chosen series.~~~~~Survival is not enough.Alliances will be formed.Loyalties tested.A choice made.My name is Juliet Wildfire Stone and I’m not just a Chosen, I’m the Alpha… and the fate of Earth rests in my hands.When I finally met the Prime Elector, he wasn’t anything like I expected. He was supposed to be our mortal enemy, a monster I needed to destroy to fulfill my destiny, yet he was nothing like that—he’s young, brilliant, and looks like an angel.Caught in the middle of a conflict between two ancient foes, which threatens to rip Earth apart, I must do what is right at all costs. To choose my fate, and Earth’s future, I will need to navigate a new path, form unlikely alliances, and solve ancient mysteries forgotten for centuries.Yet I cannot do it alone. Will the other Chosen follow me? Do I have the strength to make the right choice, or will the people of Earth be enslaved for all time?

My Thoughts:

It's finally here! The last book in the series, Chosen, by Jeff and Erynn Altabeff, a father daughter author team!! Scorched Souls is such a perfect title to this story.  It is literally the embodiment of how the characters feel; how I feel after reading this! 

I want to thank the authors for sending me the e-book, and also a huge shout out to Novel Publicity for thinking of me too. You guys rock!!

Now, I need you to remember that this is the last book in the series.  I try my best not to reveal spoilers, but sometimes when you are discussing the last book, that is impossible to do.  So if you haven't read the other two books then please run and grab those books before you even read this.  

Scorched Souls picks up around about where Brink of Dawn leaves off.  All of the Chosen are together, having survived a battle and losing their mentor, Stuart.  They are all a little shaken, but Juliet, our main protagonist, seems to be feeling the effects of her choices.  She still feels guilty for killing and she worries more and more about the other Chosen.  

There is also  a budding relationship between Juliet and Connor that seems to give her strength when she needs it most.  

I am grateful the authors did not make this into a love triangle with Troy.  I love Troy and I believe what he and Juliet shares transcends any physical love.  Troy is her best friend, her brother, maybe even her Jimny Cricket, or her conscience.  Their relationship is magical and I appreciate the fact that it wasn't lessened by turning it into a love triangle.  Thank you!

I believe this book is a literary masterpiece because of the utmost care that is put into creating characters that are believable, realistic, and lovable.  Yes, our main characters have powers and abilities that most of us don't, but that doesn't take away from us being able to relate to them.  It just shows us more of how human they become when they are forced to bear such responsibility.  

These people are wracked by fear, anxiety, guilt, and self-doubt; yet they overcome all of this to protect each other every day.  They also show us love, respect, honor, intelligence and bravery in every choice they make.  I honestly believe lots of teens today could learn from Juliet and her friends.

I know I have, even being a lot older than these characters.  

There is a quote that Juliet's grandfather tells her and I absolutely love it:

"The Wind Spirit isn't always good, and Coyote isn't always bad." 

Honestly, I believe that  sums up life perfectly.  Every person has both inside them.  You have to look at their actions and try to find their soul to see the "goodness" that you need to find.  Wonderful quote!

There are lots of concepts discussed through the book, including the American Indian culture, as well as the essence of souls, and forgiveness.  I think an important concept that gets addressed is death.  There are different aspects and beliefs out there and I like that the book caters to other beliefs as well.  And of course, I love how there are many common similarities to the Spirit World in different beliefs.  Great job!

There  is non-stop action in Scorched Souls, and we are traveling to England this time, Connor's hometown.  So we get to explore a little more about our resident good bad boy's past. 

I have always wanted to visit England and through the beautiful and detailed descriptions, I feel like I was right there with everyone.  

I feel like a great way to sum up Juliet and her progression is a quote from our friendly neighborhood hero, Spiderman:

"With great power, comes great responsbility."

Juliet continues to get stronger and stronger and struggles with controlling the power as it flows through her body.  She is faced with a difficult decision that could destroy everything she holds dear.  Even throughout all of this, though, she doesn't lose sight of her humanity.  She continues to grasp what it means to be human, to contain a soul.  

And of course as well as being introduced to some new characters, we are allowed a reunion with some returning characters from the other two books.   

I will warn you that the ending is a hard one.  We do lose people and you will shed some tears.  But I also understand the need for this ending and I think you will too.  

The Takeaway:

Scorched Souls is a fantastic ending to a wonderful series that combines aliens, faith, American Indian culture, and secret societies to give us a story that is wholly satisfying and soul embracing. 

Don't forget to check out the sponsored giveaway posted here. And remember to grab your own copy at:

Purchase:

Amazon

Connect with our Authors:

Jeff Altabef:

Twitter|Website| Facebook | Newsletter

Erynn Altabef:

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The Extraordinary October Tour: Extraordinary October by Diana Wagman

Hi All!  Today is my stop on the Extraordinary October Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Reads.  The minute I saw this beautiful cover and read the synopsis for the story, I knew I had to have this book.
A huge shout out goes to Giselle from Xpresso Reads allowing me to be a part of this tour.  And thanks to Diana Wagman for sharing the protagonist, October Fetterhoff, with the world. I think you will enjoy her as much as I did.

Title: Extraordinary October
Author: Diana Wagman
Publisher: Ig Publishing
Date of Publication: Oct. 11, 2016
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult


Synopsis:

October is an ordinary girl. From her plain looks to her average grades, there seems to be nothing special about her. Then, three days before her eighteenth birthday, she develops a strange itch that won’t go away, and her life is turned upside down. Suddenly, she can hear dogs talk, make crows fly, and two new and very handsome boys at school are vying for her affections. After she starts “transplanting” herself through solid rock, October learns that she is not ordinary at all, but the daughter of a troll princess and a fairy prince, and a pawn in a deadly war between the trolls and the fairies. Now October will have to use all of her growing powers to save her family, and stop a mysterious evil that threatens to destroy the fairy world.
In the fantastical vein of authors such as Julie Kagawa and Holly Black, Extraordinary October takes us on a magical journey from the streets of Los Angeles to the beautiful and mythical underground fairy kingdom.

My Thoughts:

Extraordinary October is an interesting book that's about a young girl about to turn 18, who gets a terrible itch and her whole world she knows gets flipped on its head! She slowly starts to realize elves, fairies, trolls, and magic is real.  And she, October, finds herself embroiled in all of it.  

First off, the protagonist's name is pretty cool and unique : October.  It's hip, fun, and festive!  

The one thing that I really admired about our main character, October, is that she isn't perfect.  She is immature, hormones going 100 miles an hour, and she makes mistakes.  Sometimes a lot.  There are times that she can learn from her mistakes; other times she doesn't.  I think this trait makes her more relatable to most teenagers than any other characters.  

Speaking of other characters, the supporting ones are very entertaining.  There were times I enjoyed them more than our main one. Especially, Luisa and Chris or Green.  They were honest and kind.

I also enjoyed seeing the magical world through October as she slowly accepted what she was seeing.  The little scenes that played out while she was out and about: the man talking to little buzzing creatures, the woman with the elf on her shoulder, and of course hearing animals talk.  

Who wouldn't want that little power?!!?  

Extraordinary October seems to be a character driven plot solely relying on our characters to get the story moving along.  Therefore at times I found it to be exciting but others it moved a tad bit slower than usual.

There were times I thought the "Ha, ha, ha" after every joke got old.  I would have liked less of those and more credit giving to the reader to reach the inference to the joke without the explanations pointed out each time.  

I also wasn't too happy with the obvious love triangle that was put out there from withing the first few chapters.   There was also a huge insta-love concept that could have been toned down a good amount and we could have still developed the blossoming relationship found there.

Other than these techniques, I found Extraordinary October to be a fun read, with a surprising twist about the villain and even her own parents.   The ending, I felt, was overall an enjoyable one with no noticeable cliffhanger.  It was well rounded and could be a stand alone or even the first book in a series.  

I would have to give this book a 3 heart rating!

Want to pick up your own copy?

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Get to the know the Author:

Author Bio: 

I have always written and always wanted to be a writer, but didn’t think I could make a living at it. So I became a mime. (You can imagine what my father had to say about that.) I worked on the streets of NYC with two partners, stopping traffic in front of the Met and annoying tourists. When, to my great surprise, that didn’t work out, I returned to school in film–thinking screenwriters made a living. And when I had ten scripts and my agent had stopped returning my calls, I wrote a novel. I did it just because I wanted to love writing again and not think about selling or casting or marketability. That novel was Skin Deep, and it’s a testament to writing from your heart that the first person to read it, bought it. I’ve been trying to write from the heart ever since.

 Author links: 

http://www.dianawagman.com/

https://twitter.com/dianawagman

Giveaway Time:

We are super lucky today to be a part of this amazing giveaway going on right now!  You have up for grabs some beautiful fairy lights to help light your way in your darkest hour.  

Be sure to click on the link below to be taken to the rafflecopter for the giveaway!

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251231433/

Book Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date of Publication: Jan. 13 2015
Source: bought, hardcover, 324 pages, YA
Get your own copy:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Book Synopsis:

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.
Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.
At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.
Until one day, he does…
As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

My Thoughts:

I love Holly Black!!!!!

I mean how can you not love her?? She takes these simple concepts, like fairy tales, that we have all read growing up and she flips them upside down to create something all new.
And scary.
I always feel so free and sophisticated reading her books; which I know doesn't make sense.  But her books just gives me these awesome feelings when I get immersed in her world building.
The Darkest Part of the Forest is simply beautiful!  I find myself slipping into my childhood memories wandering around in the woods behind my parents' house.  I remember pretending to  battle evil forces while riding my pretend white stallion as I rescued everyone that needed it.
Relating so strongly to the premise of this story, I found myself trying to savor each and every part of the story.  But being that I love the story so much I actually ended up reading through it within two days.

Holly Black does this amazing job of developing characters that can be so complex; so intriguing you wish they were real.  I adore Hazel and Ben; I think Jack is Prince Charming in a nutshell; and the Horned Boy is eerily seductive and mysterious.
She has this immense imagination and comes up with such creative creatures that it is hard not to wish there really was a Fairfield where magic happens all the time.  Black makes magic seem like it really can come true; even if it contains more of a darker side to it.

Besides doing a fantastic job of creating characters, Black has this incredible talent to paint a world that seems so real as if you could just reach out and touch it.  Her storytelling skills is unparalleled.  Through her imaginative storytelling she is able to make the words on the pages come to life and adds a more intimate dimension to the story.

The Darkest Part of the Forest channels some of our basic imaginations concerning fairy tales but then it delivers something else entirely.  It gives us the allure of the magic; but it also forces us to see the darkness the power can bring as well.  I love this book and I honestly wanted to read more and more with these characters.  I really hope that Ms. Black will take us back to Fairfield one more time in the future.
It is definitely a magical experience.

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Book Review: Sweet Sleep { The Children of Ankh} by Kim Cormack

Title: Sweet Sleep
Author: Kim Cormack
Series: The Children of Ankh
Publisher: Corvallis Press
Date of Publication: Aug. 5 2014
Source: received from author in exchange for my honest opinion



Book Synopsis:

What would you do if you discovered that everything you’ve ever known to be your reality was a lie? What if…The things that go bump in the night, things you thought were simply a figment of your wild imagination are in fact very real? Would you live your life differently if you knew you were going to be corrected…erased from this world sometime around your sixteenth birthday? You and your twin sister were never meant to be born. There will be no place to run…No place to hide…You won’t even know they’re coming…Do you have what it takes to survive your Correction? Do you have what it takes to leave your humanity behind?If your answer is yes then hold on tight... …it’s going to be one hell of a ride!

My Thoughts:

As soon as the first chapters begin to unfold in Sweet Sleep, we are thrust into a tumultuous event that really sets the stage for the dark future our main characters are running into headlong.  It is gruesome incident that rocks the small town as well as everyone that is close to the twins, Kayn and Chloe.
But that is just the beginning.

Sweet Sleep explores the concepts of destiny, reincarnation, and magic in a way that I haven't seen before.  The Children of Ankh are a new and creative way of digging into the "immortals" and the magic they hold.
Although the plot was extremely interesting, I did feel like there was, at times, information overload. Some of the explanations were too long, and others seemed to be repeated a few times throughout the book.

Kayn and Chloe, the twins and main characters, were intriguing characters.  I have twin sons, so I  always love to read stories that involve some type of twin interaction.    Kayn and Chloe seem to share some intense abilities that are imaginative and interesting as well as a tad sad too.  I also enjoyed the other characters in the Ankh group, including Frost and Grey.  They were interesting and also added humor to the dark story.
I didn't really cozy up to Kevin at all.  I liked him as the friend, but anything else and it just didn't play out for me.
Even though I enjoyed the characters I did feel like there were just too many characters being introduced, especially towards the end.  I didn't get to really  know some of these characters because I was trying to keep up with all the others that were being brought into the story at an alarming rate.
The story was also really long and I would have liked it to have been shortened or perhaps, made into another short story?  I'm not sure how that could have played out.

There is a love triangle involved (or perhaps a love square) but it is not like the other triangles we have seen in other romance novels.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out for the major characters.

All in all, Sweet Sleep is an originative journey into the magical characters we are introduced to as they sort through the physical and emotional pain they have to experience to become even greater.

Pick your own copy up: 

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Book Review: Never Fade {Book 2 in The Darkest Minds Series} by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Never Fade

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: The Darkest Minds
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Date of Publication: Oct. 15 2013
Source: bought, paperback, Apocalypse, YA

Synopsis:

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

My Thoughts:
So Never Fade is one of those books that really reaches down deep and clenches your heartstrings with all the strength it has; and you are left wondering if you will survive reading it.  

Well,  you do survive.  But you have definitely lost some tears on it. 

Of course, this is an apocalyptic book and it does seem to follow the certain ideals that are associated with stories from this genre: the crushing despair the characters have, and the terrible situations kids are put into to survive.  
But with Never Fade it seems to take it up even a notch or two.  The crap that these characters have to go through is just awful.  And yet there is always that one character that seems to be able to hold out hope that something will change.  God bless that character!     Because without him/her, this story would be depressing.  

Now I am not saying that Never Fade was bad; on the contrary, it was a deep read that left me questioning society as a whole even now.  Seeing the bad things that are happening in the country today, it made me wonder if this is what our country is heading for in the future, sans the supernatural powers the kids have.   Never Fade has a gritty storyline that makes the reader take a closer look at the lies the government tells in this story.  

And I, personally, really liked our main protagonist, Ruby.  She is a fighter and a lover.  She tries to be distant and hard but she can't help but connect with the other kids on her team.  And when she does, I believe Ruby becomes stronger for it.  It is a big change from what she was in the first book, Darkest Minds.  In Never Fade, Ruby is more in charge of her powers and more confident of herself.  She is still in pain and still scared but she doesn't let the fear control her.  Ruby also learns more about her "power" and finds out more secrets that help her throughout the book.  
However, I had already figured out some of these secrets much earlier than Ruby did and thought she was a little slow to catch on to some things.  
We see old characters and are introduced to some new characters in the second installment so there is really never a dull moment in the plot lines.  

If you enjoyed Hunger Games or even Divergent, then you should give The Darkest Minds series a try.  It has elements of both of those two books mentioned above but also sprinkles in some "X-Men-esque" ideas into the intense emotional threads that go along in the story.   

Want your own copy?
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Book Review: Florence by Ciye Cho

Title: Florence
Author: Ciye Cho
Series: The Florence Waverly Series
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: July 2012

Book Synopsis:

"Seventeen-year-old Florence Waverley is out of her depth. Literally. Kidnapped and brought down to Niemela--the hidden world of mermaids and mermen--Florence is the ultimate gift for Prince Kiren: a human familiar tied to his side. But nothing is what it seems amid the beauty and danger of the dark ocean.
Every Niemelan has a role to play, from the mermaids who weave towers out of kelp to the warriors who fight sea monsters. But in trying to survive, Florence will end up in the middle of a war between the mer and the Darkness. A conflict that will push her between two brothers: Kiren, the charmer inexplicably drawn to both her and the monsters; and Rolan, the loner who has been pushing her away since the day they met. But in order to take a stand--and find out where she belongs--Florence will have to risk it all: her life, her heart... and her very soul."

My Thoughts:

I received a copy of Florence in exchange for my honest opinion of it.  The views are entirely my own.

I have never been a huge mermaid fan, although, I have never really read that many mermaid stories either.  So I was willing to get out of my comfort zone and try something that I don't normally gravitate to, in the case of this interesting new read.
The cover first caught my eye before I even read down to the blurb.  It is absolutely beautiful!  I love the colors: green, golden orange, aquamarine.  Honestly, I am a huge fan of the colors of the sea but not of the actual sea.  I know!  It doesn't make any sense, right?  But I can't swim.  Yep, I am a thirty-something woman who can't swim.  So I have never really been a beach person.
I always wanted to see the adventure and beauty of the beach and ocean, but the fear always seemed to lurk behind me, keeping me far away.
Glancing at the cover of Florence,  I see the beauty now.  The colors compliment each other so well and the rendering of Florence is the visual equivalent of the beauty that  the ocean has beneath the waves.
So yeah the cover actually made me have to read this story.  But the blurb did get me a little excited too.
The world building is magical, to say the least.  The author has a true talent for painting a beautiful life like picture in our minds, whether it is a beach in Australia or a fantasy world under the ocean.  The descriptions of land of Niemela are so realistic, I still think that there might be a real Mer world near Australia.
You can tell that the author, Cho, has an immense love for art, visual and literary.  It shows in this wonderful story.
Of course, the world building isn't the only thing that is great about this book.
Our main character, Florence, is adorable.  The first few pages I fell in love with her so strongly because I seen myself in her.  I remember being in high school and feeling like I was on the outside looking in.  Right then, I knew that I was going to be an advocate for Florence through this story book adventure.
The characters are pretty complex and we see growth for each of the characters throughout the book.  But the best growth we see is what Florence finds when she looks within herself.

And then of course the plot is also done very tastefully too.  At first, we are led to believe this is  love triangle between the two brothers and Florence; but it is much more than that.  In fact, I believe it is more than just a love story.  Its more about  finding yourself and loving the person you find there.

I really enjoyed Florence.  It had just the right amount of romance but with a huge pack of action too.  The characters have this surreal beauty to them that portrays danger and yet  a calmness too.    I was whisked away with the plot lines as Florence tries to find a place among a world of mer people, all the while trying to find a place within herself too.

I am glad that I was asked to review this story because I now have found another series that I am in love with.  And Florence has opened my eyes to an exciting new world of mermaid folklore in new ways.

I challenge anyone who thinks Mermaid stories are not their cup of tea to definitely read this book.  It is a surprisingly light and fun read that will transport you to another world under the ocean.  But it will also change your views on the Mer folklore out there.

Get your own copy at:


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Connect with Ciye Cho:

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Book Review: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Title: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date of Publication: Sept. 3 2013
Source: bought, paperback, YA, Horror,




Book Synopsis:

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

My Thoughts: 

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is really fantastic!  It delivers so much more than just horror but it also gives us a big dose of that too!  I am pretty much loving this book and could read it over and over again.  

It encompasses every facet of what we love about the old vampire classic books, while still adding something new and original to the mix.  And if you read the acknowledgments, you will see that Holly Black gives thanks to all the masters of vampire literature and this book is somewhat of an ode to them.  
As you read, you will notice the similarities with the classic authors but Black does add her own voice to this masterpiece and we get something wholly different and terrifyingly perfect.   The way that Black interprets vampire culture was an eye-opener.  She showed us the love affair that this society has with the vampires; but then gives us the grisly side of them also.  It makes us take off our rose colored glasses and see what is really there- monsters.  
And in doing that, made the story a thousand times better!  I loved the gritty raw side to it all.  There is gore and there is destruction and it just enhances the story so much more.  

Black takes our society right now and our fascination with the undead monsters and adds an supernatural element to it.  She gives her story the perfect setting and a strange and frightening alternate universe.  The nightmare, then, has come to life.  

I am also a huge fan of Holly Black's writing style.  She uses pretty awesome phrases that tend to give the reader a couple of different ideas as they read.  For example, her use of the word "orgy" was a plus for me, because I haven't heard it used in this way:

"orgy of grief"

"orgy of death"

In using such phrases, I can really feel the intensity of the scenes she is trying to convey to us.  She also introduces us to more symbolism in the story.  I love how she personifies Death and makes it the main theme of the book.

"Every night in Coldtown, people die. People are fragile.  They die of mistakes, of overdoses, of sicknesses.  But mostly they die of Death."

page 247

Death seems to be almost as important as our main character, Tana, is.  In fact, it seems all of the characters share a few traits with each other, like their being flawed, but they also seem to have Death shadowing them everyday.  Some of their flaws are simple and some are so strange and frightening that it makes them seem so disconnected from society.  

   And of course, I can't forget the many beautiful and hypnotizing poetry that she puts at the beginning of each chapter.  I am huge fan of poetry, so I was literally writing down poets I loved so I could learn more about them.  

Besides all of this, there is this morbid and creep chill factor that sets the scenes in all of their horrific glory.  It is pure macabre and I was in love every minute as I cringed and eagerly wanted more and more.  And what added to this display of terror was the foreshadowing in the novel.  Like this one here that just makes tingles run down my spine:

"The clerk took a long look at Tana.  

"You're never getting out, honey.  So don't you worry about it."

page 152

Is this a dire warning or is it just the prejudice of a mundane character?  I don't know but that just really gives me the creeps.  There is no hope in that person's outlook.  Sad.  

Through all these wonderful additions to the story, there is an even more important detail to the book and it is the plot.  While reading The Coldest Girl in Coldtown I was thrown for a loop so many times.  There are many of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting in a million years, but am glad that they were there.  

Simply put, Holly Black is one of the most fantastic, most amazing, and decidedly one of the best storytellers this generation is lucky enough to read.  I look forward to more from her and I am in awe of the creativity that was put into this book.  Hands down this is a five heart book!

Pick up a copy of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown:

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Connect with Holly Black:

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Book Review: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake {Book 1 of The Goddess War}

Title:  Antigoddess
Series: Goddess War
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Tor Teen
Date of Publication: Sept. 10, 2013
Source: bought, Kindle, 337 pages
Rating: YA, mythology, 


Goodreads Summary:

The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.
Old Gods never die…
Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.
Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.
The Goddess War is about to begin.

At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.

My Thoughts:
 I  love how Kendare Blake can take something that is always been written about and create  something that seems timeless and new at the same time.  She takes these age old myths and turns them on their heads.  There are some amazing twists and turns in this story, it is like being on a roller coaster.

Who would have thought that the gods could truly die?  Well Blake does!  This author is very creative in finding ways for the gods and goddesses to die, according to their powers.  Whether it be consumed by feathers from the inside out or driven to madness, Antigoddess brings out the darker and more twisted aspects of the Greek deities we have come to know over the years. 

And the cover!   I love the feather falling dripping blood as it floats downward.  The cover is a great depiction of what the novel is about and it really grabs the reader's attention.  

The novel really just jumps right into the world and we are thrown into Athena's ailment along with Hermes' sickness.  I felt Athena's suffering with her as I imagined feeling feathers growing inside of the body, puncturing your organs.  I love that Blake didn't have a leading up to what and why of their sicknesses but instead we are thrown together with the little that they know as they travel to get the answers they seek.  

I am a huge fan of Kendare Blake's writing style.  She understands that life isn't wrapped up in a neat little bow; instead it is crude and raw and difficult.  She pushes the envelope, like you wouldn't believe, for young adult and I always feel like I am getting more than I expected.  Depending on the situation, she will use curse words and very graphic ways to describe it but she never goes over the line of being too much.  Everything she does is in proportion to the story she is telling.  

Another great aspect of this book is the characters.  All of the characters, mortal and gods, are intense and complex.  With Cassandra, she brings the concept of reincarnation to the forefront and adds just another awesome thread to an already great story line. And Aidan! Oh my dear Aidan.  He is such a romantic and it is hard not to fall in love with him.    We get to see what really makes all of these characters tick as they go through the reality of what is coming.  I love this story but some of the twists did make me scream out loud!  

I guess I am gushing but I am really in love with this story!  I was satisfied completely with Antigoddess and I am so ready for the next book!  If you are a fan of Greek mythology with some super twists and modernizing aspects, I highly suggest you pick this up!  You might even find out you are a huge Kendare Blake fan too!

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A Quick Book Review: For the Love of a Vampire by M. Leighton {Blood Like Poison book # 1}

Title: For the Love of A Vampire
Series: Blood Like Poison
Author: M. Leighton
Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Date Published: April 20, 2011
Source: bought, Kindle, 278 pages


Goodreads Synopsis:

Like most seventeen year olds, Ridley Heller thought she had her future all planned out. What she wanted most in life was to get out of small town Harker. Her only goal was to keep her mouth shut and her grades high so she could win a cheerleading scholarship to Stanford. But that was before she met Bo.

In Ridley’s wildest dreams, she could never have planned for someone like Bo, for a love so intense it left her breathless. No human girl could.
A haunting stranger that watched her from afar, Bo stole Ridley’s heart from the moment she laid eyes on him. But he has secrets. Bo’s a vampire. Both his past and his present are a danger to Ridley, but the biggest threat is not her blood; it’s her heart. He’s feeding a thirst for revenge that will cost him his life, and it may already be too late.

The more darkness Ridley uncovers, the more she realizes that her life will never be the same—with or without Bo. Can she sacrifice her future and her heart for someone who has a death wish?

 My Thoughts:
I first fell in love with M. Leighton when I read Madly.  It was this short little novella, and yet it totally captured me and I just had to have more and more.   Sadly, I still haven't read the rest of those books yet ( but I swear I am going too!!!)  There is just something about this author that really can bring out some intense emotions for me!  
In For the Love of a Vampire, we are thrown right in to this crazy, wild ride that Ridley is on when she meets Bo.   And then we realize how much Ridley has been an actor in her own life.  She is actually a very strong character but she has to find her strength, and sometimes it is in tragedy that we find our inner self.  
So I have to give this book much love for that simple fact.  
I did see a small, tiny, comparison to Twilight.  But I feel like Ridley really wasn't a Bella.  Actually, most young girls all have a little streak of self consciousness; at least I know I did when I was much younger.  So I didn't see Ridley in that way at all.  I thought that she stood up for herself much sooner and learned a lot about herself in the book.  
The plot was an interesting one as well.  It seems vampires have been done over and over again and for some ( not me though) it may get old.  This was a twist on the typical vampire love story.  And that twist definitely brought a tear to my eye.  I didn't find myself balling; but I did have a few moments there where I had a sniffle or two, especially at the end.  
And I have many questions left unanswered which will force me to seek out book 2 for those answers.  
There were parts that I felt lacked substance, though, and I felt myself wanting.  I think there is much more to this story and maybe as it progresses through the series, we will find it.  
I don't think For the Love of a Vampire is as good as Madly, but it does have heart and it will grab you and make you want to read it.  If you are an M. Leighton fan, as I am, then you should at least give it a try.  

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Book Review: Gated by Amy Christine Parker

Title: Gated
Author: Amy Christine Parker
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Date of Publication: August 6, 2013
Source: bought, and received from publisher for review




Goodreads Summary:

A fast-paced, nerve-fraying contemporary thriller that questions loyalties and twists truths.
Appearances can be deceiving.
In the Community, life seems perfect. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pioneer invited Lyla’s family to join his group and escape the evil in the world. They were happy to be chosen, happy to move away from New York and start over in such an idyllic gated community. Now seventeen, Lyla knows that Pioneer is more than just their charismatic leader, he is their prophet . . . but his visions have grown dark.
Lyla is a loyal member of the Community, but a chance encounter with an outsider boy has her questioning Pioneer, the Community—everything. And if there’s one thing not allowed in the Community, it’s doubt. Her family and friends are certain in their belief. Lyla wishes she could feel the same. As Pioneer begins to manipulate his flock toward disaster, the question remains: Will Lyla follow them over the edge?
From the outside looking in, it’s hard to understand why anyone would join a cult. But Gated tells the story of the Community from the inside looking out, and from behind the gates things are not quite so simple. Amy Christine Parker’s beautiful writing creates a chilling, utterly unique YA story. Perfect for fans of creepy thrillers and contemporary fiction alike.

My Thoughts:
Okay, have you ever had one of those moments when you are expecting something else and you get a completely different take on what you were thinking?  
Still have no idea what I am talking about?  Okay lets do an analogy then:

You order a sweet tea to drink and as you take a sip your taste buds are assaulted with this bubbling sensation as you realize you got a soda instead.  And then as you drink it, you realize you really did want the soda. 

Now I know you really think I have lost my mind!  But that is what happened with Gated.  For some strange reason, I was expecting Gated to be about a community ravaged by zombies.  I don't know why; its just my mind was zombies and that was the evil I was expecting.  
But that isn't what I got.  And as I kept reading I realized this book is so much more scarier than zombies because this is something that could and has happened before in our society.

So I had one of my "Duh" moments but I am still glad I picked up this book because it  really blew my mind.  I never really read any books about religious cults but I now see what I have been missing.  
Gated is one of those realistic scary books.  As I was reading I couldn't understand how these people could get drawn in to what their leader was "preaching" to them.    But as I continued through the book, I realized these characters were already hopeless.  A lot of them had given up on society through terrible situations they have been through.  And as they hit rock bottom, it was so easy to believe anything.  
Each character was written very well.  Our protagonist, Lyla, is the one that seems to question everything.  Even when she feels guilty for doing it.  Its just very disappointing that the parents, who are the ones who should be protecting their children, are so drawn in to what this man is telling them that they will give him free reign over their own free will.  

And just as the protagonists were written very well, the antagonist was written doubly well.  You can tell the author did some amazing research on cults and serial killers.  I really liked how each chapter had quotes from the Leader and then as the book gets further in you get quotes from different killers in our own history.  

Gated is one of those dark stories that really grabs us and won't let go.  It forces us to take a look at the true monsters that surround us and pushes us to question everything.  

I had to give Gated four hearts!

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Book Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate {Book 1: Fallen Series}

Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Series: Book 1 in Fallen Series
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Date of Publication: Dec. 8, 2009
Source: bought, 452 pages


Goodreads Synopsis:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce – he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story

My Thoughts:

This is one of those books that I really liked and really didn't.  
Yeah...I was torn.

So just imagine how hard this reveiw was to write when a part of me wants to gush about the book; and another part of me just wants to moan about its shortcomings.  

Well, let me just jump into it then shall we?

First, I loved that it was set in Georgia.  I am a huge lover of backgrounds in Georgia.  There is just something very special about the feeling while in the swamplands of the GA.  Okay, so I am little biased being that I am from GA born and raised but there is something magical about Savannah and the area around it.  
So I was totally stoked to know it took place in my beloved homeland.  

I also fell in love with the fact that it had this major "good vs. evil" scenario running through the course of the entire book.  And some of the characters screamed evil while others took a lot more figuring out.  
I also thought that the twists and turns in it was done rather superbly and I loved the foreshadowing in all its glory.  

But.....

I found myself inwardly groaning at some of the decisions Luce, our main protagonist, made during the book.  I guess I just found myself groaning at Luce.  She did have some positive features but for the most part, she really just grated on my nerves.  
Especially, when it came to letting one guy she wasn't interested in him.  I mean come on!!! If you don't like someone, you do not get into a strange car to go tell them you don't like them!!! Okay I wouldn't but maybe that isn't how girls in this age do that?  I mean if I really don't like someone, I tend to stay the hell away from them.  Its better for both parties involved.  

And so when Luce insists on following him around just to let him know she wasn't interested it just really pissed me off.  Sorry.. but it did.

I don't know; maybe I'm just not giving her enough credit.  Maybe I just didn't like here to start with and I am grabbing at straws but in the end I found Luce extremely hard to swallow.  

There was also another area that I felt was really forced.  In some of the chapters it felt like the writing was drawn out, striving to make a word count.  I just felt like took a lot of energy to read when I felt some things could have been shortened. 

Now, although it seems like I hated the book I swear I didn't.  
I actually liked it due to some really awesome supporting characters like Arriane, Penn, and others at the Sword and Cross school.  
The descriptive ways the author shared her vision of the ancient cemetary and the school really made me  yearn to be there sharing in the visionary bliss that she was able to portray in her writing.  
It also took me a while to figure out the entire plot until the very end.  I had grasped bits and pieces but there were some areas that totally had my mind blown.  I love that Kate could keep me guessing for that long and still be intrigued with the story, even after I wasn't too fond of the main character.    That is some really good writing to have me invested in the story, even when I can't love the main protagonist.  


Overall, I found myself torn between loving Fallen, and at the same time, disliking it.  Perhaps, that in and of itself, is a reason to have respect for the book that it can illicit such strong polar opposite emotions in me it leaves me confused and intrigued all at the same time?  I may not have been completely in love with Luce,  I did appreciate the other characters around her that made her seem less annoying and more just lost.  

I have to give Fallen 3 hearts but I do look forward to reading the second book in hopes for some redemption.   

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