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Friday, October 30, 2015

Never, Never by Brianna R. Shrum (Review)



Genre:
Young Adult, Retelling
Publication Date:September 22, 2015
Pages:368
Published By:  Spencer Hill Press
WebsiteBrianna Shrum Website

My review copy:Purchased
Buy it: 
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

Synopsis

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does.

And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.

Except one. 


Quotes

  But there was some pull inside James that whispered at him to ignore the alarm bells.  That no one ever got an adventure without giving up a little sense first.
  And he didn't cry.  He didn't fret.  He lay there on the earth, realizing and accepting and hardening.  That was the night that James Hook began to grow up.
  "Nothing,"  He stared at her, drawn in by her.  This was why he'd stayed away from her for so many years   this thrumming of his heart, the heat at his skin, the wickedly delicious thoughts swirling around in his head.

My Thoughts

  Never Never is a hauntingly unique retelling of James Hook and how he landed his role in Neverland.  I will openly admit I was curious as to how this would be written.  Would James be the villain that Disney painted him to be or would he be painted as the innocent?  I enjoyed Peter Pan as a child, but as an adult I saw the flaws in his tale.  Peter Pan and Captain Hook have a tale where the line between good guy, and bad guy can easily be blurred.  

  There were no details left behind as Shrum spun her tale of James Hook and how he was to become the feared Captain Hook.  I loved the little details that she gave and the bigger picture that she created.  Every chapter, every page had exactly what was needed to draw the reader in and capture their imagination.  There were moments that I did want it to go a little faster, but in the end I appreciated that the author had created a unique pace.  Pacing wasn't quite perfect but I believe in order to develop the depth and truth of James' story, sometimes it needed to slow down.  

  James Hook wanted to be a man, he wanted to grow up.  Well at least he did until Pan made him question it all.  What boy faced with things that defy logic wouldn't want to try it out.  I wouldn't say the infamous Captain Hook is innocent, but this story also shows that he isn't exactly what most stories paint him to be.  James did take his spot as the notorious pirate captain but his desire to kill Pan may not be as it seems either.  In fact Neverland is not really what it seems to be at all, and maybe even everyone's love for Pan.  There were so many chances to end Pan, hints that maybe not everyone adored him as it seems and maybe our view of him hasn't always been clear.  With these thoughts in mind, it is undeniable that Hook may not be what we once thought him to be.

  This is probably one of my shorter reviews but it is hard to explain without ruining this fantastic read.  Shrum did a better job than I could have ever imagined, and in all honesty I probably could have read longer had she pulled the story out longer.  I have developed a love for this author and her ability to twist a tale, and would happily pick up anything else that she writes.  For people that love a good twisted tale or retelling I would highly suggest picking this beauty up.  

Posted by Tiffany

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

His Touch by Patty Blount (Review & Giveaway)









By: Patty Blount
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Release date: June 29, 2015
Pages: 168
Buy It:
Amazon | Goodreads | Google Play | Kobo






Synopsis

When a strikingly handsome paramedic finds Kara Larsen‘s lost toddler, only to lecture her for failing to mind her child, Kara is embarrassed and relieved she’ll never have to deal with him again… no matter how good looking he is. Doesn’t he know being a single mom is a lot harder than it seems?! But when baby Nadia has trouble breathing one night, Kara’s frantic 911 call brings that same intense first responder right to her door…

Quotes

  Kara smiled.  Nadia was a bright, beautiful, perfect little girl who ruled her world with pudgy little hands and sticky kisses.  If that was insane, Kara wouldn't trade a second of it.
The kiss.  Calling it a kiss seemed insulting somehow.  Like calling the Mona Lisa a picture of some woman.
He was a mess.  Emotionally shut off, according to Lynn.  He was scarred and scared.  He couldn't help anybody.  He especially couldn't help anybody with a kid.
He sat there, cursing himself for letting his emotions escape their locks.  Feelings were messy.  Irritating.  Uncontrollable.  They swept through him like a god damn tornado, leaving destruction in its wake.  And pain. 

Review

  His Touch was a touching and emotional read.  Patty Blount really pulled out every heart racing, heart stopping and heart filling moment anyone could ever want.  There were many ups and downs, but romance is seldom easy and Blount had no intention of painting a beautiful picture without going though some rough drafts.

  I have a lot of love for this book and I know that I will come off partly rant like, but when it comes down to it I didn't want to put this book down.  There is nothing easy about raising a child on your own and Blount nailed the first time mother worries.  The pacing was enough to keep me consistently interested.  My one little problem was the jumping back and forth of the relationship.  I could forgive how fast it moved because fate has its own ideas and I feel as an adult you can make an educated decision on how you feel.  However, with having a child I found myself getting irked when Kara or Reid would pull back, only to decide the day after or week that they were wrong.  There were times everything felt like a yo-yo.  Although this bothered me and left me wanting to scream at times, I guess that's sometimes the progression of things and the plot was good overall.

  I get Kara.  She was beyond easy to relate to and was well written.  There was never a doubt in my mind that she was a great mother and the person that fears she is not doing it right.  She is basically the character that any mother can relate to.  For those of you that aren't a mother...  Well, most of us have been burned in some way, shape, or form and Kara had that down too.  There were times that I felt an irritable itch when she moved too quickly with Reid, but when it came down to it I know that sometimes love doesn't wait.  Kara had strengths and weaknesses that made her real, made me want to know her and be one of the people that she called a friend.  Though not perfect Kara will be an easy character to remember.

  Reid was a good fit for a love interest.  He has his broken past and yet it worked into Kara's frantic present.  If I am honest he drove me nuts at times.  Okay, he drove me nuts the majority of the time but I honestly think it's because I felt what he was putting Kara through.  I'd like to take the time to point out that I also forgave him just as Kara did because of how he made her feel.  When it comes down to it that was the bottom line with Reid; he made Kara believe that love was out there for her.  I think that I could have been more flexible if I had gotten a little more depth from Reid, but regardless he was the perfect love interest.

  His Touch was nothing like my first Patty Blount book.  This being said I think I enjoyed it a little more.  Despite the bouncing romance it was hard not to fall in love with the way Kara and Reid fell for each other.  This book was beautiful in its own way and I regret nothing.  For fans of adult contemporary romance I would say that this is a must read.  For those of you that might hesitate, I would suggest it as a light, sweet and fun read.  Personally I will be picking this one up again in the future.

About the Author



Powered by chocolate, Patty Blount is the award-winning author of novels for teens including Some Boys (2015 Firecracker Award winner, 2015 Rita Award Finalist, 2015 Bookseller's Best Award Finalist), TMI, and SEND, as well as contemporary holiday romances, A Match Made at Christmas and its sequel, His Touch.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog

Giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Review by Tiffany:


Click for full tour schedule

Monday, October 26, 2015

Nothing Left to Burn by Patty Blount (Review & Giveaway)





By: Patty Blount
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release date: August 4, 2015
Pages: 336
Buy It:
B&N | Amazon | Goodreads | Indiebound | Google Play | Powell's | Book Depository |Kobo






Synopsis

  Reece’s father hasn’t spoken to him since the car wreck that killed Reece’s brother. Desperate for forgiveness, Reece joins the Junior Cadet program at his dad’s firehouse. But the program is grueling, and Reece isn’t sure he can make it through. Then he meets Amanda.

  Amanda understands wanting to belong. As a foster kid, the firehouse is the only place that feels like home. She agrees to help Reece, but falling for him wasn’t part of the deal. And when a string of arsons suddenly point to Amanda, their relationship could go up in flames.

Quotes
I asked her once if my dad knew about me.  She snorted once and said he left the second he found out.  Just as well.  I'd rather not have a dad at all than one who looked at me the way John was looking at his kid right now.
"I wasn't staring at your... at your ass.  I just like to watch you walk."  Oh God.  The words that left my mouth sounded so much better in my head than out in the real world.  I snapped my teeth together, resolved to never speak again until I was thirty.
  You made me.  But you could never be proud of me, could you?  I was different.  Alien.  And that only made you mad.
Oh crap!  I couldn't.  I really couldn't.  I was a fraud   a total lie.  I wasn't brave.  I hadn't even fought in an actual fire.  I was a pretender   a pretend kid to pretend parents pretending to be a firefighter in a pretend squad.

Review

  Patty Blount is new to me.  I have wanted to pick up so many of her books and yet have never had the pleasure of doing so.  Picking up Nothing Left to Burn I really wasn't sure what to expect, and what I got wasn't anything I could have expected.  Blount has a unique writing style that brought the characters to life and made this a book that I could dive into.

  What I enjoyed the most about this plot was that it was different.  Yes, these teens were damaged in their own ways, and yes they just happened to meet, but it was different.  Blount's writing took this story and made it realistic, and easy to believe.  There were a few questions that I had, that made Reece and his fathers non-relationship hard to understand but was relieved that it came out in the end.  There was also an extremely diverse set of characters to back up the main ones, make everything a little more interesting.  Many times without these characters I don't think that the story could have been what it was.  Though the pacing wasn't always at a speed that I loved, the plot and characters more than made up for it.

  Reece knows loss.  Reece also knows what it is like to be different.  In fact Reece knows a lot of things that most people don't, due to an eidetic memory.  I liked him as a characters because of his experiences and his reactions.  There was a tragic note to Reece that he carried in almost everything he did, but his loss was so much more than I could ever explain.  I didn't fault him for his decisions or his inability to talk to anyone, because he had spent most of his life feeling that way and lost the one person that didn't make him feel that way.  This book was really his journey to freedom.  Well, not really freedom but the ability to speak about his feelings.

  Amanda was both typical and not.  I was at first irritated but her seeming like the typical female character that has a rough past.  Amanda being put into foster care was tragic, but it was how she reacted and how she had been treated that made her different.  Sure Amanda was guarded, but honestly what book heroine isn't.  To penalize her for this would be to cut apart the majority  of books.  What I liked about Amanda was that her guard was there for a reason, but she was not above wanting things to be different.  I enjoyed her as a character by the end and learned to feel for her.

  The romance was of course both at the front of the story and in the shadows.  There was no denying that Reece and Amanda had chemistry, but there was also no denying that they would do everything in their power not to admit it.  For each it was a different reason, but ultimately they were meant to be.  Admittedly everyone gave them warnings or made them question what they felt, but there was no denying that there was something.  I wanted to scream at each of them so many times, but I also kept in mind that neither of them were used to having someone actually want them.  This being said the romance was not the front of the story but it was nicely developed from start to finish.

  Nothing Left to Burn was a good introduction to Patty Blount's writing I believe.  This book has me excited to pick up more and find out what else this author has to offer.  Nothing Left to Burn is a contemporary read that brought twists, romance and all around growth.  I would recommend it to people that enjoy a good contemporary, and yet want something with a little more depth.

About the Author



Powered by chocolate, Patty Blount is the award-winning author of novels for teens including Some Boys (2015 Firecracker Award winner, 2015 Rita Award Finalist, 2015 Bookseller's Best Award Finalist), TMI, and SEND, as well as contemporary holiday romances, A Match Made at Christmas and its sequel, His Touch.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog

Giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Review by Tiffany:


Click for full tour schedule

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Tour: HIS TOUCH / NOTHING LEFT TO BURN by @PattyBlount


About His Touch:


HIS TOUCH
By: Patty Blount
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Release date: June 29, 2015
Pages: 168
When a surly paramedic finds Kara Larsen's lost toddler, only to berate her for failing to mind her child, Kara is embarrassed and relieved she'll never have to deal with that jerk again. Doesn't he know being a single mom is a lot harder than it looks?! But when baby Nadia has trouble breathing one night, Kara's frantic 911 call brings that same jerk right to her door...

FDNY paramedic Reid Bennett has a compulsion to help frantic parents. But after the way he over-reacted to the beautiful woman in the department store that day, she wants nothing to do with him. But it's not his fault he keeps running into her all over the city...

When Kara bumps into Reid for the third time in a week, she can't help but wonder if the mom she lost in 2001 is playing matchmaker. As Kara and Reid form a cautious friendship, he quickly becomes baby Nadia's favorite person. But Reid has no interest in long-term commitment, or so he thought. So when Nadia's father calls out of the blue and Kara agrees to see him, Reid realizes he has some triage to do if he hopes to keep his girls...



About Nothing Left to Burn :



NOTHING LEFT TO BURN
By: Patty Blount
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release date: August 4, 2015
Pages: 336
Reece’s father hasn’t spoken to him since the car wreck that killed Reece’s brother. Desperate for forgiveness, Reece joins the Junior Cadet program at his dad’s firehouse. But the program is grueling, and Reece isn’t sure he can make it through. Then he meets Amanda.

Amanda understands wanting to belong. As a foster kid, the firehouse is the only place that feels like home. She agrees to help Reece, but falling for him wasn’t part of the deal. And when a string of arsons suddenly point to Amanda, their relationship could go up in flames.
 B&N | Amazon | Goodreads | Indiebound | Google Play | Powell's | Book Depository |Kobo 



About the Author:



Powered by chocolate, Patty Blount is the award-winning author of novels for teens including Some Boys (2015 Firecracker Award winner, 2015 Rita Award Finalist, 2015 Bookseller's Best Award Finalist), TMI, and SEND, as well as contemporary holiday romances, A Match Made at Christmas and its sequel, His Touch.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog 

Tour Schedule:

October 26th Christine Abee – Review His Touch & Nothing Left To Burn

October 26th – Lady Reader's Bookstuff - Tiffany – Review Nothing Left To Burn

October 27thPixie Vixen Book ReviewsGuest Post 

October 27th Heather Ann's Book Reviews – Review His Touch & Nothing Left To Burn

October 27th Lady Reader's Bookstuff - Tiffany – Review His Touch

October 28thA Diary of A Book AddictReview His Touch & Nothing Left To Burn

October 28thThe Reader and the ChefReview Nothing Left To Burn

October 29thAtomic Pirate Girl's Book Worm BootyReview His Touch

October 29th Bookish Lifestyle – Review His Touch & Nothing Left To Burn

October 30th The Phantom Photographer – Review His Touch & Nothing Left To Burn 

October 30th Melissa Martin's Reading List – Review His Touch / Author Interview 

Giveaway:


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Thursday, October 22, 2015

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White (Review)



Genre:
Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date:September 10, 2013
Pages:278
Published By:  Harper Teen
WebsiteKiersten White Website

My review copy:Purchased
Buy it: 
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

Synopsis

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up—which comes with the territory when you're the human daughter of the ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Isadora is tired of living with crazy relatives who think she's only worthy of a passing glance—so when she gets the chance to move to California with her brother, she jumps on it. But her new life comes with plenty of its own dramatic—and dangerous—complications . . . and Isadora quickly learns there's no such thing as a clean break from family.


Quotes
  For that single second before I pull my hand away, before my brain and will and resolve kick in, it's like magic.  Real magic, not the stupid blessed-amulet kind, not the using-the-right-words-that-Isadora-can-never-know kind, but electricity and butterflies and a feeling of everything in the universe suddenly lining up exactly so and opening up an entirely new way to see, to do, to be.
  I will not drown tonight.
  I will not drown ever.
  I am the desert.  I am the desert.  I am stone.
  "I didn't fall in love with you.  I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way.  I do believe in fate and destiny, but I also believe we are only fated to do the things that we'd choose anyway.  And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you."

My Thoughts

  This was a stunningly written, uniquely wonderful story.  I am admittedly not up on my Egyptian mythology so I worried that I may have to do a little research to start.  However, this mattered little as this book was more like a contemporary romance type deal, with a mythology twist.  This was cause for disappointment to start but White had no problem crafting this into something new and interesting, holding my attention right from the start.

  The pacing was virtually flawless, even when the plot itself could have tilted in a slightly different direction.  There was a lot of resent that the protagonist was constantly flitting at, even in her escape she saw her past and her future as a curse.  This also created a sense of disappointment because there was not as much of a focus on the Gods and Goddesses as I thought there would be.  You do get a touch of a story, a history at the start of each new chapter.  Mostly the story or quick part of it, was important to the chapter and the book but this also made me wish that the book was crafted into that time.  This being said once I got over the fact that the book was not about the Egyptian Gods and that they were more like supporting actors in Isadora's story, I enjoyed the read more than I expected.

  Isadora herself was different.  I struggled with her at first, finding her disappointment and resentment a little annoying and selfish.  However, the more I got to know her the more I understood her.  Coming from parent that are immortal, it would probably be hard to deal with the fact that everything is not forever.  There was a point in the book that I can't quite pin point, but a light bulb came on and I just understood.  It was most likely her aversion to love and how it wasn't permanent.  The thing is that she does grow from there, learns that permanent isn't always wonderful and sometimes accepting the little things can make the time we have that much better.  Isadora is a stubborn character but she does grow and at the same time grow on you.  

  As mentioned above this book was more like a contemporary romance with an Egyptian Gods twist.  I never had a problem with this, even when Isadora and Ry's (Orion) attraction was fairly quick.  See, I don't particularly complain when romance is expatiated because of Gods.  I mean, basically being any part of any mythology puts you into some sort of romantic chaos.  This is not limited to quick attraction either so I counted my blessings that there was no triangle, square or any other shape of romance.  It wasn't hard to fall for Ry, he's a good guy and I had high hopes for him and though the attraction was obvious, Isadora did everything within her power to deny love.  Orion being raised differently sees things differently, making it a little easier for him to try and pull Isadora to the love side. 

  The Chaos of Stars was a read like no other that played easily on its own kind of faith, showed that getting away isn't always what we need and yet sometimes it is.  There may have been conflicts in this review and at times while reading, but I could never deny that White created something unique.  This book will attract people that want a read more about the love than the gods, and yet want the touch of mythology surrounding Egyptian Gods and Goddesses.  Knowing that the main focus isn't the Egyptian mythology itself may make peoples opinion a little different on this one, and though I really enjoyed it I would caution people before recommending they pick it up.  Basically I am saying pick it up but know all is not as it seems.


Posted by Tiffany


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: I Wish...


Welcome to Lady Reader's Bookstuff's first Top Ten Tuesday!!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish



10 Wishes I'd Ask The Book Genie To Grant Me 
YOU DREAM IT AND THE BOOKISH GENIE CAN DO IT.

The Last Book

  I'm sure as a reader many of you have experienced this right along with me.  That moment when you realize there is more to a series, and yet the author was only signed for the books that they released.  Meaning that book that would round everything out or at least finish that wicked cliff hanger... Well it's most likely not coming.

Exibit A (the first time I experienced it):

Book #3... Well it may come one day if I wish really hard.


A Spin Off

  Finishing a series can sometimes be hard.  I personally often leave the last book for far longer than I should because I just don't want it to end.  Then when it is done, when I finally suck it up and read that last book I know I need more.  These final books really rocked but left a hole in my heart that wanted more.




More Mermaids

  I love mermaids (and mythology) but despite the fact that they have picked up popularity, there still is not enough for my liking.  However, here are a few of my favs!


   Something mermaid books also have in common... They have GORGEOUS covers!!!

A Different Tale

  I am loving all of the new takes of old tales.  What I would really love to see more of is telling of the "villains" tale.  I recently read Never Never, the tale of Captain James Hook.  I loved it.  Things are always so different when you read them from from who the bad guy is supportively.  Sometimes "bad" is all in the eye of the beholder.  I want to see more from the other side.


Something New

  Some authors are just completely unforgettable.  However, when finishing a book by them you just automatically need more.  It doesn't matter if they have written one book or multiple, these authors have me wishing they would release something new.


Matching Covers/Unchanged

  I know that I am NOT the only book nerd that twitches when this happens.  You buy a book, you LOVE the cover, and then book two comes out and the cover is completely different!  Sure you may like the new ones but the set never matches :(  or at least not all in hardcover...




I also Wish....

Books that fit just right.  I have this issue when putting books away that I want everything to be just so.  Well, when books come in so many different sizes this makes my life difficult.  I would like a standard hard cover size please.

More author events closer to me.  I'm not picky at all, I will drive the two hours to Toronto to go to these large events.  I am talking these events that have almost every author I could want to meet at them.  Indie events, largely published authors, all of them!  I get envious when I read about all of these awesome events that are way too far away for me to ever get to.

The ability to spend time in my favorite worlds.  Who doesn't want to jump into a book at times and actually experience the world, become friends with the character you have or just have the chance to be a part of something amazing.

An unlimited book budget.  This is most likely against the rules (kind of like wishing for more wishes), but so many books that I need and yet money is an obstacle.  So maybe more realistically I wish that the new books I NEED would just poof themselves into my house.


If you had a book Genie what would you wish for?  
Link me up so I can check out your list if you have one!



Posted by Tiffany

Monday, October 19, 2015

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent (Review)



Genre:
Young Adult, Paranormal
Publication Date:June 9, 2015
Pages:368
Published By:  Delacorte Press
WebsiteRachel Vincent Website

My review copy:Purchased
Buy it: 
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need he


Quotes
  I feel like my life is a book, and someone turned the page before I was ready, and now I can't follow the story.
  You are an exorcist.  That was the first time anyone had said it out loud.  I hadn't even dared to think it, but hearing him say it felt like... validation.  Corroboration.
  Confirmation that I wasn't crazy.  That I hadn't imagined the whole thing.
  I wanted to be as straight forward and bold as he was, because he deserved that, but I had no experience with being straightforward and bold.  I had experience with lying, and clothing myself in darkness if nothing else, and stealing.

My Thoughts

I loved Vincent's Soul Screamer series and have her Shifter series sitting on my shelf (TBR pile and all that jazz), so of course when I saw she was releasing this beauty I just had to have it. This being said, it did feature Vincent's signature magnetic writing that almost instantly draws you in. Although I will admit it wasn't quite what I expected.

Darkly set in a world where demons have risen and the people that remain live within protected cities, with no longer a government but a church that runs the show. There was no real limit as to what the church controlled, and right from the start it was made clear just how important appearances are. I enjoyed the cultivation of the setting, and how each chapter just drilled the depth of the tragic world people lived in. This dystopia/paranormal like world was ours but not quite ours, and pinned the fact that sometimes faith and hope are easier to hold onto than truths. I enjoyed the pace at which the author moved things along, allowing for details to be pulled in, and yet fast enough to never be boring. As far as pacing and plot goes, I really felt that this read had it all.

Nina is one of those characters that carries the weight of too much on her shoulders for her age. She knows the things the church can and will do, and still does anything that she can to protect her sister. Life is funny like that though, be it real life or in books, when you have too much riding on you, life will throw something new. I enjoyed Nina's dedication and her ability to think quickly when the need arises, because it seems that her life is full of reasons to think quick. To be honest there wasn't really anything about her character to complain about. Nina is a dedicated and logical girl, that is a bit stubborn but would do anything for the people that she cares about. This isn't to say that she is perfect but she is a phenomenal character.

The supporting characters and the love interest part of this book are interesting to say the least. Of course there has to be a character that you dislike but don't all at the same time and another that is as sweet as pie. Grayson being sweet and Devi being the B****. I mean Devi had her points and her qualities but I found irritation in her need for others to accept while she judged. Maybe this was just my take but as much as I got her, she picked at me. These people are important though because they tie Nina to Finn. Finn is a super unique love interest as far as I am concerned. I feel that there is so much to find out about him, even though he seems to have very few answers about himself so it's going to be a process. However, they seem to be making (or trying to make it) work in their own awkward way. Admittedly, I understand Nina's hesitation and issues but I do have hope of course.

The Stars Never Rise is the start that I expected from Vincent, and I expect that the series will only get better from here. Undeniably there is a bit of a cliff hanger but it is bearable. I was able to finish this book not feeling complete because I know there is more, but feeling happy with the start and the finish. This is not to say that I am not anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, because I am. All I really have to say is that fans of Vincent's previous will enjoy this I think, and fans of paranormal should at least check it out.


Posted by Tiffany

Friday, October 16, 2015

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (Review)






Genre:
Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date:March 10, 2015
Pages:391
Published By:  Katherine Tegen Books
WebsiteJodi Meadows Website

My review copy:Purchased
Buy it: 
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

Synopsis

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.


Quotes

  My memories of that night were crystalline, and sharp.  I would never forget the horror of blood and fire and steel, or that King Terrell and his family were why I was left without a home, and my kingdom was a handful of orphans.
Fantasies tickled the back of my mind: I could make her perfume come to life and suffocate her, or ask her dress to coil around her and constrict until she couldn't breathe.  Anything to make her stop talking
  I shouldn't be here.  I needed to get back to the palace, offer as much information about the wraith as I could, and then return to my real life as an Osprey.  As a future queen of orphans.  It would be best if I never saw Black Knife again. 

My Thoughts


  I can't even tell you how many times I have started and erased this review. For a book that I enjoyed this has become a difficult venture. The Orphan Queen has so many components that everyone loves: conspiracies, action, a world shattered, but you know there is something more going on and a heroine that can kick serious butt. Thing is I just can't seem to form the proper words to actually describe my feeling while reading this.

  There was a lot of world building in the start of this book. Meadows did not spare the details when it came to basically every aspect of this book. This did make for a slow start but it also made for spectacular characters, a full past and a good powerful picture of the present. Despite the slower start this The Orphan Queen easily and quickly became an addictive read. Once the world and tone was set, Meadows launched this book into a pace that didn't allow you to put the book down. There are a few good twists thrown in for good measure. I would be lying if I said I didn't have one figured out early on. Not that knowing ruined it, but more made me smile that my suspicions were confirmed.

  Wilhelmina can hold her own, but she was not without flaw. For me this was her inability to stand up to the man that was ordering her around, like a puppet on strings. Sure, she spoke her mind but he had everyone so in the palm of his hands and her voice went unheard. I didn't care that their end game was the same (mostly), I wanted her to raise her voice and be the queen she was meant to be. How I know that she can be so much more is that she uses her head. Wilhelmina, despite following instructions, knows how to question things. Her ability to see what some seem to be overlooking and the fact that she believes there are things she must do in order to be a worthy queen, make her the character that I want to read. Her flaws make her real but her personality shows what she has the potential to become.

  There are a lot of great supporting characters in this book.  I found myself surprised with this.  Not because they were done so well, but because Meadows did it without creating a mess.  Melanie was probably my favorite out of them, despite the fact that some of her behaviours really picked at me.  There was always some form of mystery surrounding her and she serves so many different purposes. Tobiah was not quite as well developed but you get a feel for him, and you can tell there is more to him than being his fathers son.  I could keep on with this because there are so many more that I want to talk about, but I know that I can't ruin the surprise and fun for you all.

  The Orphan Queen was not what I expected and despite a slower take off, I really enjoyed my time reading it.  In fact I enjoyed it enough that I will be pre-ordering The Mirror King.  I wouldn't say that there is a complete cliff hanger but you are most definitely left wanting to know how everything goes.  This is the type of book you need to pick up when you have the patience to get through some awesome plot and setting development, and then dive head first without wanting to come up for air.


Posted by Tiffany


Monday, October 12, 2015

Ironskin by Tina Connolly (Review)



Genre:
Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date:October 2, 2012
Pages:304
Published By:  Tor Books
WebsiteTina Connolly Website

My review copy:Gift
Buy it: 
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

Synopsis

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It’s the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn’t expect to fall for the girl’s father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life—and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again. 


Quotes

  The moor was grey, battlefield grey. It had been five years since the last fey was seen, but out here Jane could almost imagine the Great War still raged on. Grey mist drifted through the blackened trees, recalling the smoke from the crematory kilns. That was a constant smell in the last months of the war.
  Perversley, Jane was almost glad to see the tantrum it made Dorie seem more human, to see her throw a full-blown, audible tantrum that looked exactly like any other frustrated child might have thrown, rather than her usual trick of calmly walking to the window and ignoring Jane.
But Poule turned the force of her attention back to Jane. "I feel your rage," she said.
"I know," said Jane shortly. She swung her hair to cover her cheek again. "It's why I wear the mask."
"I mean I feel it extra now," said Poule. "You got angrier when I talked about the fey."
Jane scrabbled at the leather straps, pulling them aside, and then the mask was suddenly off, cooling her face. The orange tongues of anger lashed out, raging at the idea that he was stolen from her, would be taken from her.

My Thoughts

  This was a book that I had, had on my shelf since last year waiting to be read and for whatever reason it just kept on getting pushed back. When it finally came off of my shelf I was intrigued to say the least while starting it. The thing is sometimes descriptions just don’t always do the plot justice and they definitely do not do the authors writing any justice. Ironskin was beautifully written and I was astounded with just how easy it was to see the world that was created. I was in love with the detail and uniqueness of it all. It was like walking into a ball room and being in awe of the detail and beauty. This is one of those books that I think is really made in the details.

  The plot with this one was a little bit of a slow go for me but it gave me a chance to savour it. Though it is not always the most desirable trait in a book, Connolly pulled it off. Jane was a victim of the fey war, hit by shrapnel and causing her to have to wear an iron mask over half her face to keep the curse in. Anyone touched by the war carries some form of curse, be it hunger, greed, anger and more. Though it does affect them it also seeps into those around them. With having to wear her iron in such a visible area, Jane’s life has been forever changed. It seems that this job with Dorie is an end to the job jumping but it is an end to more than that.

  I enjoyed how Jane was written. Though she was not overly confident, she was intelligent and reasonable. She knows what has happened to her isn’t fair and what she has lost is more than most people could handle. Despite this she goes on with her life and tries to find a place for herself. How she dealt and worked with Dorie was interesting but I felt bad for her and the things she had to deal with while doing this. Even her great intentions backfired but they also taught her more than she could have imagined about herself and those that were touched. Her life may not be all rainbow and butterflies but she made due with what she had and it ended up changing her views on everything; including herself.

  There was a measure of disappointment that the fey did not play a larger part in this book. However, I will admit that I loved how they were made out to be. These were not can be nice or not fey. They were flat out made to be evil, taking anything of beauty or talent because they could. The war was lost by them but throughout the book you cannot help but wonder if they are laying in wait and what they are planning. It was obvious that these are fey that you should not mess with and should watch your back for, especially if you are one of beauty or talent. I hope that in the books following this one that we get to know a fey or at the very least more about the mystery that did surround them.

  Overall I really liked Ironskin. There were ups and downs but the good definitely overpowered it all. It also helped that the writing was absolutely wonderful and the story itself was unique. There was also a rare simple love story written throughout. I think that most people will find this enjoyable, and a change of pace from the normal complicated or love triangle riddled stories that we so often find. Though there is fae in it, the love story kind of made me think of Beauty and the Beast, in a small way. This is really something that I would recommend to people that are looking for something to savour, not rush through.

Posted by Tiffany