Review-Shadow and Bone

Leigh is a twitter buddy of mine, and when I saw she was coming to town with the Fierce Reads authors I had to get a copy of her book and read it.  The world building was so lavish and Alina was such a great character.  She wasn't beautiful, and even when she didn't have all of the fancy things she didn't whine and complain about it.  The other thing I loved about Alina was the hard decisions she had to make.  So many times YA heroins want to save everybody, and yes, Alina was like that, but she did what she had to do, and I admire that in a character.  There were so many levels to this story it was great.  With monsters and magic and some people-eating things I had just so much fun reading it.  The story is rich, and although there were some words that were a little hard to pronounce (I'm pretty sure I ended up brushing over them when I came to them in the text) but it was truly amazing.  It really was unlike anything I have read up to this point in time, and I'm not sure exactly what it was about the book, maybe the idea, maybe the characters, maybe the plot and setting, it was just all original and all so deep.  All of the twists and turns in the book were great too, I saw most of them coming but there were one or two that surprised me, and that really pleased me.  The evil in the book really made me shiver at times, which is great, because sometimes with fantasy the characters can fall short, and we shy away from the evil that is really in the world, but Leigh nailed it.  As a whole novel I was really pleased with it, there were a few points where I was a little upset with the lag in the storyline, but it was quickly remedied with another exciting part.  The next installment in the series really can't come soon enough, because I enjoyed this one immensely and with the way it ended I really want to see where Leigh takes her story. 

Out June 5, 2012

4.5/5 dust spirits



Review-The Lost Code

I met Kevin at a signing for another local author and I learned of his newest book (this one), which seemed to be right up my alley.  I managed to snag an ARC of it, but again I seemed to put it off.  Seeing as the book comes out in less then a week and I'm going to Kevin's launch party I decided that I should probably get on reading the book so that I know what the hell is going on when I'm at the launch and I can ask some questions that don't make me sound like an idiot.  I really liked the fact that the book was told from a Male's point of view.  Even though boys are about half of the population they still only seem to get less than a fifth of the books in the YA genre written with them in mind.  Kevin of course is a guy, and all of his other books are suited for boys.  I liked the fact that the main character was a boy, and that he wasn't one of those manly characters that knows everything and is in shape and has all of the girls swoon over him.  The whole plot idea was really great too. it was nice to see a new idea put into play.  Kevin has created a really great world that could in fact end up being our world one day, and the whole summer camp thing was lots of fun too.  I did seem to have a little bit of a problem getting into it at some times, but I just finished a book that I had read in less than 24 hours.  I do think I'll pick up the second book in the series, and I applaud Kevin for coming up with a great new idea.  If you're a guy, if you like books that aren't the same thing over and over, or if you're looking for a present for a guy that likes to read this would be a good book for you.

Out May 22, 2012

4/5 dust spirits

Review-Of Poseidon

I got an ARC of this book a LONG time ago, like 8 months ago, and I thought "I have all the time in the world to read this book." But somehow I managed to put it off for those eight months and with Anna's signing coming up and me requesting it all those months ago I thought I should read it.  Once I started the book I finally realized that I was SUCH an idiot for waiting so long.  This book was one of those books that just took me by the collar and shook me.  I just couldn't seem to put it down.  I read through ALL three of my classes today (yes, I still did work), while I was eating, and when I could be watching TV.  The story was so new and unique I just loved it, and it didn't hurt that there was a really hot guy.  I was also really pleased that the main female character, Emma, was like the embodiment of my best friend and that we got to see things from Galen's point of view as well.  There aren't enough books that are told from the male point of view, and even if it wasn't the whole book half of it was still from a Male's point of view.  Yes, there were some parts that I did see coming, but there were even some parts that I DIDN'T see coming, which is really hard to do with me.  Right from the get go I was so pleased with this whole book, and the ending didn't disappoint me either, although it did leave me hanging a little.  This was a lovely debut from an author that I can't wait to meet and can't wait to see more of in the future.  I wish the next book was out now, and I guarantee that if you like mermaids (or even just a fun novel that reminds me of the Hex Hall series) this is a book you will enjoy.  Yay Anna, for doing a terrific job and I call an early copy of your next book, okay?

Out May 22, 2012

5/5 dust spirits



Review-City of Lost Souls

I was so excited for this book to come out.  I was a little disappointed with City of Fallen Angels so this one was a pleasant surprise.  There were some parts of the book that I didn't like, but Cassie is such a great author I can't seem to hate anything that she writes, no matter how much it breaks my heart.  Again Cassie has worked her magic and somehow added more romance, more danger, and more kick-ass girl power into the fifth installment of the series.  There are so many things that I love about this series and it's really good to see that it's not circling the drain like some series that have been extended.  Cassie's world is so rich and her characters are so real.  It's also so great to have read her prequel series because those little Easter eggs that she plants in this book particularly are just so much to find.  Yes, every time I found one I internally squeeled because I GOT THAT REFERENCE.  Everything seems to fall in place, and I can't wait to see how Cassie ends the series.  This book has more beautiful quotes, one of those lovely dirty sexy scenes that we all love so much, and as in the previous book there were many different points of views, and in this one we even got to see some from Jocelyn!  There were some times when Cassie jumped to another person's point of view in another place right in the middle of something huge happening, and I wanted to scream "WHY?" and jump ahead (I did see how long it would take until I got back to that particular plot point) but it was really interesting to see how she wove them all together.  The ending (like the ending of all of her books) really packed a punch, and I can't wait to see where she will end the series.  Cassie does it again, bravo Cassie, bravo.  If you've read the series get this book ASAP, and it you haven't I would suggest starting the series soon.

5/5 dust spirits

Review-Graceling

This is one of those books that I've had on my shelf for years.  I bought it when it first came out and tried giving it a read, but after a failed attempt (I had to have been 14 or so, and there are some scenes that would probably have been a little less than appropriate for me) I put it back on my shelf.  When I picked it up again it was for two reasons, one, Kristin is coming to my city for a Bitterblue signing, and two, Trish Doller said it was an awesome book, and I have thus far loved all of the books she has recommended I read.  Graceling is one of those unusual YA books for quite a few reasons.  One, there is some mature content that some people might find a little upsetting, especially if you're allowing someone younger then the age of 16 or so to read.  The second is that even though the words and such are not very complicated it was a slow book to read.  I'm sure this makes me sound like an idiot who likes books with small words and pretty pictures (and I do, there are some great books like that out there) but this book just required more attention than most of the books that I read.  All in all though it was a really good book and I understand what all the hype is about.  Katsa was a great character, she was a strong female lead, and even though she does start off cold she grows on you, and she's fierce.  I also loved the fact that Bitterblue played a pretty large role in this novel and that Katsa will play a pretty good one in Bitterblue.  I loved all of the other characters as well, although with all of the strange names I had a little trouble keeping up with them all.  Po though, Po was great, and I really want someone like him although I would NOT fight Katsa for him.  It was a little weird seeing my name "Grace" used so many times, but once I got used to it it didn't seem so weird.  According to Trish Fire is her favorite so I look forward to reading that one (and Bitterblue) as well.  All in all this was a stunning debut and I'm glad I get to meet this very talented author (and now that all the books in the series are out it's even better) and I can't wait to see what she comes up with for her next book/series. 

4.5/5 dust spirits

Review-Until I Die

I read an ARC of Die For Me and really enjoyed it, so when I got an ARC of this book in the mail I was very pleased.  Unfortunately I had so many other books that I needed to read that this one fell by the wayside a little bit, and I ended up reading it right before the release date.  It's okay though, because I did end up reading it in time, and it was also very good.  Amy takes us back to her lovely world of Paris and her great characters come to life all over again.  You would think that this book would be a little dull after the first one, because sometimes I think, with all that happened in book one how can book two possibly be interesting in any way, but Amy is very talented.  Kate really grows as a character in this book, and I love the fact that she's not whiny or helpless.  She's a smart and determined girl who fights for what she believes in, and I think that that's a great thing to teach other girls.  Vincent is dreamy and wonderful, as always, although there were times I wanted to go "you promised to be honest, this is not honest!"  There were some twists that I'm sure some people wouldn't have anticipated, but because I am me, and very few things get past me I did figure it out before the lovely Kate.  The ending leaves you hanging so that you really want the last book in the series, because the cliff-hanger it leaves is very great, so be sure that you are prepared for the end.  If you do enjoy paranormal romance I suggest that you pick up the first book in this series, and if you have read the first book check this book out, because it's a worthy sequel to it's predecessor.  I can't wait to see how Kate and Vincent's journey ends, and this was a great middle to the series.

Out May 8, 2012

4.5/5 dust spirits