Book Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

It's been a while since I've had the chance to read a book. Really read it, not chasing through a couple of chapters a night, but actually getting lost in another world for hours on end. I suppose you can say I had a reader's block, and I'm very happy I'm out of it. Thanks to Born Wicked.

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Cate Cahill and her sisters have always been different. They are witches, like their mother. After her death, Cate has taken care to hide the whispered spells from everyone - including their own father. The burden heavy on her shoulder, Cate misses her mother. Then she discovers her mother didn't quite tell her everything... She didn't only keep her secret from the world, she was also keeping secrets from Cate. Cate works to unravel the mystery her mother's death left and desperately holds on to the only leads she has. However, Cate has only a few months to make a decision, one that will alter her life forever: announce her engagement to a suitor or join the Sisterhood. In this world girl and women do not have freedom.

This story takes place in America around the 1900's. It's not only a historical novel, it obviously has a few paranormal things going on as well. The witchcraft, the magic, it was entwined with the world Cate lives in perfectly. Spotwood's writing fits that world, it has a classy, old and somewhat tense feeling. The story is a bit slow at times, but Cate's interesting descriptions and thoughts kept me interested.

I found Cate to be a likeable character overall. She has promised to keep her sisters safe, silently teaches them magic as their mother would have done. She has developed an aversion of magic due to this constant responsibiliy, middle sister Maura hates her for it. Cate has taken a lot of responsibilities and underneath her calm face a bright and stubborn spirit is visible.
The difference between the sisters is remarkable. Responsible and quiet Cate, she doesn't resemble the fiery and reckless Maura at all. Maura who considers the magic as a beautiful gift and feels trapped. Tess, the youngest sister, is a girl wise beyond her years. She is sweet and eager to learn, always supportive of Cate. Both are intriguing in their own ways and make the reader wonder about their parts in the prophecy. The final chapters really got me by surprise, it also got me thinking. Who is the strongest sister?
Elena, Finn and Paul kept the story interesting. Elena, the governess assigned to find Cate a suitor, appears to be quite different to what Cate had expected. The whole Sisterhood, for that matter.
Finn and Paul, ah. Paul, Cate's childhood friend and suitor. A man she can only love as a friend. Finn, the bookseller's son and Cate's new gardener. The boy she grows to love. Considering Cate's final choice I am curious to see what further role Finn will play in the story. He is a member of the Brotherhood, which means he might be able to get closer to Cate.
Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes.
He will be part of it, and look at this message posted by Jessica Spotswood. There's more kissing, so more Finn? I sure hope so, I'm rather fond of Finn as well!
Well, I'm rather fond of it, but also rather biased. I hope it lives up to my goal to be "brutal + awesome, with kissing."

There are some minor things in the plot I would have liked to see differently though. According to a prophecy, Cate is the most powerful witch to walk the earth. If so, how is it possible her sisters have both overshadowed her magic since their talent manifested. Until Cate learns about the prophecy she keeps telling us how her 12-year-old sister can do magic she could only wish for. The change in her power is too sudden after the revelation of the strongest sister.
Also, Cate is warned not to raise suspicion because they are with three, three sisters who are known to be 'different'. A lot of girls have been taken away already, often girls with two other sisters. Why didn't the Brotherhood think about taking these sisters? Is it because their father is a well-respected scholar? Surely that shouldn't change a thing, as witchcraft is still witchcraft and forbidden. I hope I'll get my answers in Star Cursed, Born Wicked's sequel, which will be released later this year.

A magical story set in an older world. It definitely has the fairytale like feeling I love to see in books, certainly a must-read for those who are anything like me. I can't wait to get my hands on Star Cursed!

My rating of this book

Source

ARC kindly provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Other links

Find this book on Goodreads

Visit Jessica Spotwood's website here

Book review: Wonder by R.J.Palacio

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? (From Goodreads)

The story about August is told with several perspectives. Even though most chapters are through August`s eyes we also get to read the points of view of his sister, Via, her former childhood friend Miranda, her boyfriend Justin, and August`s new friends Jack and Summer. I liked most of these chapters, but maybe we didn`t need all of them. Especially the part with Justin seemed a bit redundant. On the other side Via`s chapter definitely brought an important layer to the book and most of the other chapters did too. It is so easy to judge everyone for their behaviour and reactions towards August but showing their points of view makes it a lot more difficult.

I think this book is important, well-written, easy-going, funny and beautiful all at the same time. As an adult reader I sometimes missed a little debth and severeness to the story but this is a book where older children are the main target group and it is also told through children´s eyes. It certainly has it´s tougher parts though where you get both angry and sad, but the heart, the smile and the hope is there all the time. For instance Auggies parents makes the story about his rather dramatic birth into a comedic story about a farting angry nurse and he wants to hear it over and over. I also did find myself thinking if children and some adults really could be this mean and ignorant and unfortunately they can. This is an important lesson for me as an adult and parent, to remember exactly how mean children can be without even realizing it or at least not thinking about the consequences. For children and I guess all of us this is also a story about the importance and value of being kind to each other.

These last few days after I read Wonder I`ve found myself really missing August. He is such a beautiful and strong character with the optimism and curiousness only a child can have. This little boy could definitely teach most of us a thing or two about life and what`s really important. He is a complicated character but not as broadened, cynical or deep as an adult nor should he be. None of the characters that tell the story are adults and inside these frames the story really works. When life is good, it is all happiness, and when it´s not it´s devastating. All that in between and ahead are for adults to think and worry about.

I read this book in norwegian as it was a gift from the norwegian publisher Gyldendal. I am happy about owning this book in norwegian because I`m looking forward to give this to my daughter to read when she is ready. The norwegian publisher has published this as more of a YA-book but I think it is mainly for older children. That being said this book could and should be read by a large group of people age not considered. I still think it´s important to say that this is a book suitable for children from the age of 9 I think. The author says on her web page that adults have a stronger emotional reaction to this book because we know life is not going to be easy for little Auggie later on but children find the story mostly funny and uplifting. Despite it all Auggie has a family that loves him and gives him whatever they can and he also has friends that got his back, and that´s more than a lot of "normal" children can say.

My rating:

Book Review: The Holders by Julianna Scott

Yesterday you were able to read an interview with Julianna Scott, author of The Holders. I was lucky enough to read it early and I must say I was pleasantly surprised!

Review

My thoughts
Becca has spent the past years watching over her younger brother Ryland, who hears voices. Every time she and her mother managed to scare away experts and doctors who wanted to take him. Until one day two men show up, claiming to know what's wrong with Ryland. He is a gifted Holder and belongs at St Brigid's School in Ireland, with his own kind. This time, their mother thinks it's best they let Ryland go. Becca is torn, but agrees on one condition: she gets to accompany him. In Ireland Becca discovers more and more about the secret world of the Holders and that she may not be as normal as she thought she was...

The Holders is Julianna Scott's first YA novel and I must say I really enjoyed it. Scott has created a magical community within our normal world. We learn about The Holders through Becca's eyes: their history and their present. Slowly we learn more and more details, although there are still questions to be answered in the sequel.
The plot is predictable though. There were some twists, but it was perfectly clear where the story was going.
Still, Scott's writing style was very enjoyable and the story flowed well. The only thing that irked me a little was how descriptive Becca was. She tells a lot, which is understandable as she is the novel's narrator, but I would have liked to see more dialogue.

The characters are well-build and mostly realistic.
Becca, of course, our protagonist and heroine. She is loyal, protective and rather fierce. Her personality has She is apparently also very smart, but tends to react before thinking. She'd do anything to keep Ryland safe, which is exactly what she has done the past years. Her pain is almost tangible when she realises Ryland does not need her for the first time in his life. At St Brigid's she has real friends, which is new for her, and finally learns to trust others.
Alex is a bit too perfect - even after a terrible youth he is still the incarnation of kindness, loyalty, humour, and well, he's attractive. That did not take away his likeabilty though. I couldn't help smiling, and crying too, for him. His feelings for Becca are painfully obvious to everyone but her and I liked the way their relationship was handled.
In this first book, a lot of supporting characters are introduced. They all have their own story and are all necessary for the story. Bubbly Chloe, the always bickering Anderson and Reid, the knowing Min, younger brother Ryland and long-lost father Jocelyn. One character we are not yet introduced to is Daraagh, our villain. He is only briefly mentioned, yet I am sure he will make a grand entree in the next installment.

The Holders is an enticing mix of an ancient legend, Irish countryside and interesting characters. Definitely a promising start to a brand new YA series!

My rating of this book

Source

A digital ARC was kindly provided to me by Strange Chemistry in exchange for an honest review.

Other links

Find this book on Goodreads

Visit Julianna Scott's website here
The Holders also has its own site and facebook page.

Book Review: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.
Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.
But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.
When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.
Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist assigned to protect Jill Dragomir, a Moroi princess. Because of the happenings
in Bloodlines Sydney is now a praised examplary Alchemist. However, the higher Alchemists don't know the half of it. Sydney has developed a friendship with vampires, Adrian in particular... While struggling with her feelings and loyalty she also discovers a dangerous secret: vampire hunters may not be a legend after all.

The Golden Lily was a perfect, though somewhat predictable, sequel to the Bloodlines series. In Bloodlines the focus was on the Alchemists and about Sydney settling with her new 'siblings'. While there's more to learn about the Alchemists, magic and even vampire hunters in The Golden Lily, the focus is on Sydney's personality and her relationships with characters around her. Suspense, action, drama and mostly romance. It was all there. Because the novel has several entwined story lines, there was enough speed in the story. Slightly more action than in the previous book., though it might not be as much as some want. However, trusting Richelle Mead, I do think there's plenty of it in the coming books: She is a master at writing dialogue and developing characters.


"Too bad you got so bogged down in books. You've got the spirit of a warrior." Sydney is a great heroine, because she simply isn't your typical heroine. She is not exceptionally beautiful or self-confident or generally badass. She is smart and has an innocence and sincerity that you can't help but admire. I was glad to see her change thoughout this book. While she still has a bit of the Alchemist rigidity about vampires, she has started to see her companions as friends. She realises all too well she should keep her distance and should hate them, but she knows she can't.
"You need me? You yell. You want to leave? We go. I'll get you out of here, no matter what." Adrian. How I love Adrian. Ever since the VA series we've known him as an irresponsible spoiled party boy. Now, we actually see the real Adrian. He is very smart, loyal, talented and he just needs someone to believe in him. Someone like Sydney. We also get a closer look on Adrian's past, his family, which explains a lot about him and his behaviour.

"Adrian, I'm on a date. Why are you here? On my car?"
Ah, their is such tension between Sydney and Adrian. Their relationship is interesting, both Sydney and Adrian unpredictable. They are complete opposites, yet they complement each other perfectly. I am very curious to find out more about these two, especially with the Alchemist prejudice about vampires and relationships with them...

I was happy to see other characters develop too. Eddie, who is so kind and loyal. He pushes his own feelings for Jill aside, while trying to keep Angeline off his back. Jill, who shows she is maturing. She begins to take her position as the Queen's sister and realises she can't have a relationship with a human.

I must warn you: The Golden Lily ends with a terrible cliffhanger leaving the reader desperate for more. With amazing characters and intriguing developments the Bloodlines series is a series you should watch out for!

My rating of this book

Source

E-book copy.

Other links

Find this book on Goodreads

Visit Richelle Mead's website here

Book Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

I'm very sorry for my long absence, combining school with life is harder than I expected.
While sorting through my goodreads account yesterday I came across an old review. Seeing I absolutely loved this book I though it would be nice to share it with you guys.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

The Iron King tells the story of Meghan, a 16-year-old girl. She never understood why she always felt like she didn't fit in, until she finds out about fairies. And that her life is tied together with their world more than she could ever have imagined.

"Me? Die? Didn't they tell you, princess? I'm Robin Goodfellow."

At first I was a bit wary of reading this book, because it is so similar to A Midsummer Night's Dream. However, Kagawa manages to create a complete new world, with only the same old names. And I like it.
The writing was amazing, the Nevernever so beautifully described I felt like I could almost touch it.
The story was even better. This was a true fairytale, not the usual bittersweet love story, but a spark of beautiful hope in a void world.
The Nevernever, filled with dangerous creatures wanting to eat you and manipulating Fey hoping for you to say two words, signing a binding contract. Thank you.
Julie Kagawa is a genius.

"Bravo," said Grimalkin, peering down from Cold Tom's chest. "The Winter prince and Oberon's jester agreeing on something. The world must be ending."

The characters are amazing.
Meghan. Brave, stubborn, selfless. She's a likeable character, a character you can't help but empathize with. Even though she is a tad naive and has the bad habit to freeze when things are coming to eat her.
Ash and Puck, two Fey with a shared troubled past.
Grimalkin though, he steals the show. A big, sarcastic talking cat. I mean, how can people not like that? HOW?! Days after finishing the book I still wondered whether Grimalkin is a good guy or a bad guy. Only one way to find out.

The only reason why I felt a bit uncomfortable while reading was the relationship between Ash, Puck and Meghan. Still, a love triangle. While it wasn't necessary for the story.

I'm definitely reading the other books in the series, I can't wait to find out more about the Nevernever, Meghan, Puck, Grimalkin and Ash in particular...

You must get your hands on this one. Promise me.

My rating of this book

Source

Ordered it. Glad I was smart enough to buy the entire series at once.

Other links

Find this book on Goodreads

Visit Julie Kagawa's website here

~ Sylke

Book review: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Summary from Goodreads:

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Rules of Attraction is a sequel to Perfect Chemistry (you can read Mari's review here). Even though you don't really have to read the first book before this one I would recomend it.

My thoughts:

After struggling a bit with the books I've been reading lately I decided to take a break and read something I, after reading the first book by Elkeles, expected to be a light but good and very entertaining read. I have to say I was not dissapointed because I really enjoyed Rules of Attraction even more than Perfect Chemistry. Even though I wasn't as excited as Mari about the first book I liked it a lot. It's been at least couple of years since I read that one but I think I can say for sure that the stories have a lot of similarities and they are indeed a bit predictable as many of these love stories tend to be. I still have to say that Simone Elkeles language makes it all flow very easy and natural. Especially the dialogues between the characters seems very natural to me. Another thing that makes this a good read are the characters, I really believe in them and connect with them. One of the reasons I think I like this book better than the last one is that I prefer Kiara to Brittany. I find her more interesting and sympathetic and she actually reminds me a little of Jordan from Catching Jordan by Miranda Kennealy.

The romance in this book is very cute and hot actually and if you're a teenager yourself you can probably relate and if you're no longer a teenager like me, you can remember your first love or maybe the one that got away;-) The book is also funny and exciting in many ways but if you're not a fan of a good YA-romance you should stay far away from this book.

Source:
Checked out at the school library where I work


My review:

Book review: Mice by Gordon Reece

My summary:

Shelley and her mother has moved to the countryside to avoid Shelley going to school where she's being bullied by three of her former friends. Her mother is also having a hard time at work and the father has left them both in a humiliating divorce. They both call themselves mice because they let other people bully them and do whatever they're told. For a while they enjoy there secure life just the two of them, drinking tea, reading books, not thinking about the past. When it turns out that they're not left alone not even on the countryside they've reached a limit and there's no turning back....

My opinion:
This story is heartbreaking on one hand and very disturbing on the other. Mice by Gordon Reece is called a psychological thriller and thrilling it is.The psychological part is when the author explores what happens when you cross certain limits and moral convictions in a thought-provoking way. How far will you go when you've had enough? My favorite part of this book is that it doesn't tell you what's wrong or right, It's up to you as a reader to decide for yourself. I can't help feeling sorry for the mother and daughter in spite of their choices and actions but it's not a good feeling. This book was very unnerving and I was constantly waiting for something terrible to happen. This also makes it very thrilling and you just can't stop reading.

The book is told from a 15-year old girl's point of view and is an easy read both according to language and suspense. I don't know if it's the typical summer read but I read it last august on a sunny balcony in Croatia and it still gave me the chills.

Source:
Checked out at the school library where I work

My review:

Book Review: Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free?

My thoughts:
I have to admit, I am usually not a huge fan of characters with memory loss in YA, as it has a tendency to become cheesy, kind of an easy way to keep me interested in the story, to find out what’s happened. Breaking Beautiful managed to stay away from the cheesy, and instead used Allie’s memory loss only as a small part of a larger mystery; what happened on the night Trip died.

Allie had my heart breaking in so many ways. I felt incredibly bad for her, for having stayed in an abusive relationship, for not daring to tell anyone about it and instead just making excuses for Trip, and especially for not remembering how he actually died. And the way her classmates treated her – there’s no way I could have taken that without screaming back that “Hey, maybe that guy you’re still worshiping wasn’t so perfect after all – he beat me.” And yet through her growing relationship with Blake, she finds the strength to deal with the whole situation, no matter how hard it is at times.

I really, really liked Blake. He’s been friends with Allie ever since they were kids, and it is clear that he’s willing to do just about anything for her. His reputation is not the best thanks to some events in his past, but he really doesn’t seem to care what people think about him, and I love that. The fact that he really cares about Andrew, Allie’s twin brother who has cerebral palsy, is another huge point in his favor. There were times when I didn’t get why Allie hadn’t just started dating Blake instead of Trip to begin with, but of course life isn’t always that easy.

I loved how the story was set up as a mystery, where we’re searching for clues about Trip’s death right alongside Allie. Some of the clues come in form of Allie remembering things, others we had to discover otherwise. I did figure out what happened before Allie did, but it was nothing obvious, and I could just as easily have missed it and stayed clueless. Either way, I loved the tension and suspense of not knowing, and I would love to see more of this kind of mystery in YA in the future. Breaking Beautiful is probably the best YA book I’ve read about an abusive relationship, but it is so much more than that, and I would definitely recommend this book.

Cover: 
I love it! The red shoes makes me wanna know what happened to the girl wearing them, and it's just creepy enough for me to pick it up.

My rating of this book:


Want to know more?
Add Breaking Beautiful to your Goodreads wish list
Visit Jennifer Shaw Wolf's website

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Finding your eternal soulmate – easy.

Stopping a true-love-hungry evil – not so much…

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although…it’s not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close….

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan’s deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma’s crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

My thoughts:
(Note: Spellcaster is the second book in the Spellbound series. There will be some spoilers from the first book.)

Spellbound, the first book in this series, was a great introduction to Emma and Brendan, their curse and their status as soul mates. The story wrapped up very nicely, but I was still excited to read more about the characters, and especially looked forward to seeing Emma get to practice her powers as a born witch. In fact my only complaint about Spellbound was the lack of witchcraft, and Spellcaster totally changed that.

Whereas Spellbound focused on the curse put on Emma and Brendan many lifetimes ago, Spellcaster is more about the here and now. Yes, we still get some awesome little looks into their past, but the evil hunting them is something that their previous lives never dealt with. I have to admit, I figured out who the “inhuman force” was long before the characters, and wish it had come as more of a surprise, but there was still much else to keep me on the edge of my seat. I really felt bad for Emma, that girl just never seems to be able to catch a break, but at least she gets a much more active role in defending herself in this book.

Which brings me to the witchcraft. More witchcraft means more of Emma hanging out with Angelique, and even if I still think she’s overly theatrical and a little too enthusiastic about danger, she really grew as a character in Spellcaster, and two chapters are actually written from her point of view. As much as I loved seeing her side of things, it felt a little abrupt and awkward, and interrupted the flow of the story a bit. The witchyness itself reminded me of the first couple of seasons of Charmed (please don’t tell me I’m the only one who was a huge fan of that show, despite the cheesy monsters?), with rhyming spells that all sound kind of badass when read out loud. (I tried.)

The romance between Emma and Brendan is heating up in Spellcaster, and even if their relationship is a little overly dramatic for me at times, it does draw a good picture of true, young love. And I really can’t complain about multiple scenes where Brendan has his shirt off either – he’s definitely my newest YA book crush;)

If you liked Spellbound, you will definitely like Spellcaster as well. It is fun, fast and action-packed, and this is where the characters really come into their own. And once again the ending wrapped up all the important questions, but I would still love to revisit these characters again if Cara Lynn Shultz decides to make this a trilogy some time in the future. (There are currently no plans of continuing this series, as the author is working on a new project.)
Cover: 
Not my favorite, but I do really like the fonts used.

My rating of this book:


Want to know more?
Add Spellcaster to your Goodreads wish list
Visit Cara Lynn Shultz' blog
Follow Cara on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

It all begins with a stupid question:
Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria’s a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan’s a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they’ve got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can’t run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

My thoughts:

“Hearing about vacations is like hearing about dreams – no one cares except the person who’s experienced them.” I would say that Kristen Hubbard proved herself wrong with this quote from Wanderlove, because I not only enjoyed reading about Bria and Rowan’s travels, I felt as if I was experiencing their journey through Central America alongside them.

Wanderlove is very much a homage to travel. We follow Bria as she embarks on a journey through Central America, although everything does not go as she had envisioned. I loved how Bria had this desire to prove to her friends, and to herself, that she is both adventurous and spontaneous, and even if she knows that’s not who she is, that is who she becomes as she backpacks around with Rowan.

The setting was my favorite part of this story. Every destination, from the breathtakingly beautiful to the downright dirty, is brought to life through realistic descriptions of both the places and the people who live there. And the best part of all? That Kristen Hubbard has drawn much of Bria’s art into the book! These are really good drawings, and I loved how it let me see the art along with the story.

Bria makes a very believable first-time backpacker, and Rowan is the perfect well-traveled bad boy gone good. The tension between the two grows thick, and I was really cheering for the two of them to just get it on already. But of course there’s more to the story than that. Bria and Rowan try to keep moving forward, but at some point they will both have to face their past.

I loved how, even as I was getting toward the end of the book, I did not know how I wanted it to end. The characters had to come to their own conclusion, and in the end it was the perfect way for the story to end. Wanderlove was not only an amazingly good book, but it made me very restless to get out to travel. I have three trips planned for the year, Las Vegas, ALA Anaheim, and Paris and Norway, but I am already thinking about a trip to Central America next spring!

What is your dream travel destination?

Cover:

Gorgeous! I would definitely pick up this book based on the cover alone.

My rating of this book:

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Visit Kirsten Hubbard's website
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Full disclosure:
ARC received from Netgalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Interrupted: Life Beyond Words by Rachel Coker

Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie's heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved.

My thoughts:

I had barely heard Interrupted mentioned before I requested it on Netgalley, but there was just something about the summary that made me interested. (Probably the mention of WWII. What can I say, I adore love stories set during times of war.) Then I found out that Rachel Coker, the author, was only fourteen years old when she completed Interrupted!

The first thing that struck me with Interrupted was the setting. The story starts out in Tennessee in 1939, and moves on to Maine in 1943-45. Both settings are beautifully described, and the author did a great job making me believe we really were in this time period. There's a certain uncertainty about the future, the war is raging in the background, and still the characters take center stage in this story.

Allie is such an engaging character. Ever since Allie's father left them, she has been stuck in a situation where she has the sole responsibility of caring for her sick Mama, doing her best to make her mother's last days as comfortable as possible. I really ended up feeling sorry for her, because she has not led an easy life, and when her mother dies and Allie is sent to Maine to be adopted by Beatrice, her whole life is turned upside down.

Sam is absolutely adorable. He is not perfect, but he is perfect for Allie, even she can't see that herself. Their relationship is so tender and heartfelt, and I loved how it built up over time. There is nothing instant about their love, and I really liked that.

Interrupted has a somewhat religious message, but I loved how it got that across without ever coming across as "preachy". This is first and foremost a story about love, family, friendship and self-discovery, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone, regardless of their religion.

Cover:

Really pretty, it's got this great magical, dreamy feel to it.

My rating of this book:

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Visit Rachel Coker's website

Full disclosure:
ARC received from Netgalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

My thoughts:

I am a huge fan of Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters, and have to admit that I let out a little squee of joy when A Temptation of Angels showed up in my mailbox. When I realized it was a standalone I got even more excited - finally I'd be able to read a good story without a cliffhanger ending!

And a good story it was! I have to say that the setting reminded me somewhat of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, the same dark, dirty London streets, and I absolutely loved it. There's just something about this period in time, the role women had in society, the way everything was supposed to be so "proper", that makes it even more fun to read about a character like Helen.

Helen has been raised without any awareness of her powers, but her parents made sure she has the skills necessary for her future. "Find the exit" might not be a common game, and most girls Helen's age would be taking needlework and piano lesson over fencing, but she has never thought of her education as weird. Not until the day when her parents are murdered, and she finds herself needing everything they've taught her. I really, really liked Helen. She is so determined to get revenge for her parents, to do whatever it takes to catch the bad guy, and yet she's insecure, she's lost in this world where her parents can no longer protect her, and she is confused, trying to decide who she can trust. I loved how she knew absolutely nothing about her powers, yet was determined to learn, to do her share in the battle against the Dictata.

There is a bit of a love triangle, but even as Helen is trying to make up her mind about both guys and what they mean to her, there is never much doubt about who she truly wants, and by the end she makes a final decision. It was very refreshing with an ending with no lose ends. I would love to read more about Helen and her future adventures, but for now her story is settled.

In A Temptation of Angels Michelle Zink has once again created something completely original. I loved the idea of angels protecting the world, and it is very much a classical tale of good vs evil, of friendship and romance, of loss and sorrow, and most of all of a young girl coming into her own. If this is not on your to-read list already, add it now!

Cover:

Dark, dreamy and mysterious - I love it!

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add A Temptation of Angels to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Michelle Zink's website
Read Michelle's blog
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Full disclosure:
ARC received from publisher

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

My thoughts:

I knew I was setting myself up when I requested this book. You see, I'm a crier. The girl you see crying on the bus, at Starbucks or wherever else she can sneak in a few more pages. So to read a book about a boy who is dying? Yeah, I was setting myself up, but I am so glad I did.

Never Eighteen is told from a male point of view. I don't have much experience with this in YA outside of John Green's books, but I really came to love Austin's voice. He has come to terms with the fact that he doesn't have long left to live, but instead of trying to make the most out of his time left for his own good, Austin has decided to do his very best to improve the lives of the people he loves. I just loved his noble intentions, and every time he talked to someone new, trying to give them advice or just the little push they needed to change their lives around, my respect for him grew even more.

There is something so simple and real about Megan Bostic's writing. There are no unnecessarily long descriptions, nothing is said if it doesn't improve the story, and I really liked this style of writing. There were times when I wished there had been more, especially in the conversations between Austin and his best friend Kaylee, but at the same time that minimalism made me see how effortless of a friendship they had.

And then comes the ending. I really don't know what to say, other than that I had to take a break from reading to locate a box of Kleenex before continuing. It was so heartbreaking and emotional, but even as I was crying there were things that made me laugh and smile, and it really was the perfect ending.

Cover:

Simple, but I love the colors, especially the different colored letters in the title.

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add Never Eighteen to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Megan Bostic's website
Read Megan's blog
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Full disclosure:
ARC from Debut Author Challenge ARC Tours

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

My thoughts:

I didn't quite know what to expect from Shooting Stars, but what I got was a super cute, fun story about Zo Jo and her life as a sixteen year old paparazzo.

Jo is such a fun character. She is incredibly cynical for a sixteen-year-old, but she's had to grow up fast in the business she's in. I liked how she doesn't take herself too seriously, and how she's not afraid to use some dirty tricks to get the best shots. And most of all I loved how she has dreams for her future; even if she's making good money as a paparazzo that's not how she wants to spend the rest of her life, and she will do whatever it takes to follow through on her dream.

The whole story was so much fun, but there were definitely some serious issues worked in as well. The teenagers at the rehabilitation retreat are all there for good reasons, and even Jo might have some issues of her own, on top of the whole "I'm falling in love with my target" thing. And the way Shooting Stars ends was really just perfect, with enough surprises to keep it all interesting.

I would recommend Shooting Stars to anyone who likes a cute little romance, real teenagers with real problems, or just want to read something fun. And since nothing ever goes beyond some kissing, it is very appropriate for younger teens as well! (Although, you know, I'm 24 and loved it :p)

Cover:

Cute and fun - just like the book!

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add Shooting Stars to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Allison Rushby's website (Such a cute website!)
Follow Allison on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

My thoughts:

My first impression of The Gathering Storm was a little overwhelming, because there are a lot of names and titles to keep straight. Most of the characters are at different times addressed by their double first name, their nickname, their last name and their title, and this was a little confusing at first. But don't worry, you'll get into it!

I absolutely loved the St. Petersburg setting! The snow and icy winds contrast perfectly to the warm ballrooms, and the descriptions made me feel like I was really there. I am impressed by how accurate all the details seemed (I am no expert on Russian history, but everything was very believable), and I let myself get carried away by all the gallant gentlemen, the sparkling diamonds, the colorful balls and the paranormal aspects that lie beneath it all.

Katerina was a great lead character. She was so strong, always trying to protect everyone around her, yet also questioning herself and her power. She does make some stupid decisions, but only the kind that any teenage girl would have made in her situation. I loved her determination, and felt myself cheering for her to find a way out of the mess she was in. I also liked her relationships with George Alexandrovich and Prince Danilo, two very, very different young men. Let's just say that they both of them have their own secrets, and their own reasons for wanting Katerina.

The Gathering Storm is a very promising debut from Robin Bridges, and a wonderful start to a new series. I am excited to see what comes next!

Cover:

It matches well with the story, even if the girl on the cover looks nothing like what I imagined Katerina to look like. 

My rating of this book:

Want to know more?

Add The Gathering Storm to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Robin Bridges' website
Follow Robin on Twitter

Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.

Book Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

My thoughts:

The concept and setting of Under the Never Sky is great. With the way global warming is going, it's not out of the question that we would some time in the future be living in enclosed environments to protect us from the dangers of outside. And would it not be likely for some people to refuse living in these cities, and prefer facing the danger instead of letting themselves be controlled?

I have to be honest, after the first fifty pages I was asking myself if every review I'd seen so far could be wrong. Even with as much action as those first chapters held, they still felt slow to me. I think part of the problem is that both Aria and Perry were telling so much about themselves, their lives, friends and personalities, but didn't support any of it with their actions.

Luckily it gets a lot better after that. As soon as Aria is thrown out of the pod and meets Perry we start seeing some actual character building. On his own, Perry is arrogant, makes rash decisions, and doesn't seem to care about anyone except for his abducted nephew. On her own, Aria is curious, inexperienced, and has lived a life protected from not just danger, but from life itself. Together, they have to learn how to trust each other with their lives, and slowly they form a bond that's so much stronger than anyone would have expected from a mole and a savage.

I really, really liked Aria and Perry's relationship. It was so slow and reluctant at first, yet growing with every situation they handled together. I also loved two of the characters introduced in the second half, and especially one of them gave some much needed lightness to an otherwise dark story. The ending was a little WTF in a good "oh my good, I want the sequel now" kind of way, but it also answered some important questions as to not leave us completely hanging.

All in all I thought Under the Never Sky was a great beginning of a new series, with enough action, intrigue, friendship and romance to make me interested in reading the rest.

Cover:

Very pretty, and I like how it stands out from all these girl-in-pretty-dress covers we've been seeing lately.

My rating of this book:

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Add Under the Never Sky to your Goodreads wish list

Visit Veronica Rossi's website
Read Veronica's blog
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Full disclosure:
ARC received from NetGalley

This book can be purchased from a number of local retailers and online book stores like Amazon and The Book Depository (I'm not an affiliate of either). The latter store has free shipping to about 100 countries.