Reading, Writing and Being Generally Awesome

Here's how excited I was (am) about this book: I signed up to review it on my birthday. That's right today I'm twenty-something-or-other and telling you about the wondrous novel that is Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend! Last year, I fell in love with Louise Rozett's debut, Confessions of an Angry Girl. I waited, for what felt like forever, for the sequel to be released. I just knew I would love it. There are just some books that are destined to be loved, and this was one of them. Forgive me--this review is going to be long, personal and emotional because so much of this book, this series really, resonates with me.What I love about Rozett's work is that it is very realistic, and it deals with subjects that many people want to avoid because they are socially unacceptable and taboo. We see bullying, homophobia, peer pressure, abuse, drug use, alcohol addiction and mental illness. All of these issues are part of our daily lives, whether we face them or not. Rozett is not afraid to acknowledge them, and make you look them straight in the eye. It's gritty. It's fierce. And it'll tear you to shreds.Beginning just a bit after book one left off, Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend is about Rose Zarelli's sophomore year of high school. She swears she's going to change this year. Good-bye old Rose, hello Rose 2.0. Too bad she's in counseling with her mother, already involved in a scandal, her brother's behavior is out of control and Jamie's returned after an entire summer of not speaking to her. When push comes to shove, Rose has to look past the struggles and decide who she's going to be while letting go of what she can't control, but things are always more difficult than they first seem… Rose is a true character. She's realistic, and endearing in her character development. I really connect with Rose because she's everything I was at her age, and in many ways, who I am today: self-conscious, angry, depressed, confused, anxious, heartbroken and stressed. She stuck in situations that she can't control, and that's killing her. She's trying to do the right thing, but it ends up hurting people no matter what she does. I've been in situations so eerily similar to hers that it's almost like I'm reading my own story. I know the feeling of not being heard, of wanting people to understand without you having to shove the truth in someone's face. You never want to do that because that makes you vulnerable and susceptible to pain, or even worse happiness. You may be thinking… "What? Why would someone be afraid of being happy?" Because depression isn't rational. Because the minds of (most) teenagers aren't rational. Hell, the minds of (most) adults aren't rational either. Because life isn't rational. Since I was (mis)diagnosed with depression, I've had a constant. I've had a fall back. I've understood that it's not really me getting so angry that I start throwing things and crying because my favorite shirt has a stain on it even though I told my mom to spray it with Shout three different times before she put it in the washer. I was diagnosed with severe depression when I was ten years old. My mom was battling cancer for the second time (she would later beat the disease two more times). My parents were getting divorced. My dad was moving to Arizona. My mom was moving us across the city, forcing me to leave all of the friends I'd grown up with. My grandma had just died. My aunt had just died. Everything in my life was falling apart. So my mom took me to the doctor. He put me on some pills. They sent me to a shrink, who I fought every step of the way. (She wore pantyhose and didn't shave her legs. Who was she to give me advice?) For a long while, things seemed to get better. Then I entered college. I had left the state where I'd had the worst times of my life and now I was living on my own, getting all A's, making friends, meeting guys, experimenting--pretty much just having your average college experience. When I came back for my second semester after winter break, everything fell apart again. This time, I wasn't getting out of bed. I was failing three of my four classes. I wasn't showering. I wasn't sleeping. I either was eating a ton, or not at all. I was crying at the drop of a hat. I was angry all the time. My friends were terrified for me. I was terrified for myself. My two best friends from school took me to the school counseling center where I met with a kind man who informed me that I was not in fact depressed, but suffering from Bi-Polar II Depression disorder, and a whole slew of more minor, but still pretty serious mental illnesses. His recommendation? Withdraw for the semester. Go home. Get help. Return when I'm better. So I did the first two (and a half). I spent four months after that stewing in my own issues and ignoring the world around me. I lost a lot of friends, who didn't understand, who didn't care, or who didn't know at all. Why am I telling you all of this? Because I mean it when I said some people won't allow themselves to be happy, and are too afraid to be themselves. My issues stemmed (mostly) from my illness, but a lot of it has to do with the attitude toward life that I've let myself fall into that started in a depressive state and I continued when I stabilized. As soon as things are working well for me, I sabotage them because I don't trust myself, and I don't trust the people around me--no matter how much they mean to me. I rarely tell people how I really feel. I hide behind sarcasm, anger and books. The only thing I can trust, that I can rely on is my illness. So I lay in bed, and pretend that I'm okay being alone. This is why books are so important to me. This is why books with Big Issues are so important to me and important PERIOD. This is why I appreciate Rozett and I appreciate authors who make them real for everyone and not just those who suffer.Whew. Let's talk about the actual book now, okay?Rozett writes another book that's impossible to put down. Much like when starting the first book, I said I was only going to read a few chapters and then go to sleep. Three hours later my body is sore, my eyes are heavy and I can't stop yawning because I read it straight through to the end. The writing is personable and realistic. This is one author who's work you shouldn't miss. She provides a truly wonderful read that will have the audience in the palm of her hands. The plot moves steadily, and never wavered. There was enough happening in the story that it moved well, without being completely ridiculous. This is a drama-filled, angst-ridden, heart-pounding read. I want everyone to read and enjoy this series as much as I do. Books like this are why I read, ladies and gents. It's not only entertaining, but it evokes powerful emotion as well. So, so good.The way Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend ended is killing me. I am shaky, red-faced and jittery from that experience and I finished almost an hour ago. This book is going to be weighing on my mind for quite some time. I sincerely hope Louise plans to expand the series. This is one that will stay with me always. I'm giving this one five stars, which means I'm definitely recommending it. Everyone should read this! Even if you don't enjoy it, I'm so curious to know what people think of this series!I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher and YA Bound for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

3.5 StarsBrother, Brother ended up being much different from what I had expected. After reading the summary, I thought I would get a emotional, deep story about the reconnection of long-lost family members and the secrets behind their separation. On one level, that's what the book provides. On another level, the book is predictable and lacking essential pathos. Brother Grace's grandmother has passed away. His best friend, Cole, has skipped town, leaving Cole's little brother, Jack, on his doorstep. He has a job at the local hospice center and a small house that he can't afford. Brother has very little going from him until he sees a picture that is almost a mirror of his own appearance in a newspaper that his grandmother had been reading before her death, he decides to go on a search for the brother that he never knew he had. His adventure not only leads him to an unexpected family, but uncovers secrets of his past that his family has tried to keep hidden.This was not a bad book. It wasn't the best thing that I have ever read, but it did keep my interest for the entire novel. It's a pretty fast read, once you really get into the story. The way its written is almost addictive. The prose of the author made it easy to get lost in the story, but the shaky plot through me off. There were both positives and negatives that ultimately lead to me liking Brother, Brother, but seeing several places for improvement.The characters were, as a whole, unimpressive. Brother is a very likable character and his development is one that I truly enjoyed reading. From the very beginning, his strength and sense of right and wrong will impress the reader and ultimately make them root for Brother to find happiness. I also liked Brother's love interest, little Jack and Brother's great-aunt, but beyond them, I found that none of the characters ever redeemed themselves. By the end, many "i's" had been left "undotted" and "t's" uncrossed to the point where even thinking about it over a week later drives me nuts. I wish the author had pulled the story in tighter. Brother, Brother's ending was weak, in my opinion, and left too many questions about the future (and even some about the past). I also lacked the ability to feel sorry for any of these characters besides Brother and Amos. There was no emotional connection for me, thus it made it hard for me to full immerse myself--as I am a very emotionally driven person.The plot was stereotypical during some scenes, and we especially in several of the characters that we meet. For example, the druggie brother who hides behind bad behavior so he won't have to deal with his past and the neglect of the only family he's ever known, and the big, bad step-father who is more interested in his career than the sanity of his family. Plus the "twist" is fairly easy to deduce. I immediately knew where the author planned to take the story, which make it less enjoyable. The plot isn't very steady either. I don't know a real time frame, but everything seemed to happen so quickly and yet, very little was solidly resolved by the end.While not everything tied together well, I loved the way the author incorporated a big moral. It is very much shown that you should stay true to yourself and by following your heart and mind, you can have full power over your present and future life. Brother learns a lot about himself during his journey, which leads the reader to a very powerful message that should be prominent in our daily lives.While my feelings about this book as a whole are lukewarm, I wouldn't not be against trying this author's work again in the future. I think she has a lot of talent in storytelling. Many people will love this and a few people have already come to mind that I would recommend this to. It is a good story, but I just found I didn't have the right connection with it. Due to several mature themes, I would not recommend anyone younger than high school reading this story.I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

Okay, this may sound bizarre, but you know when you eat something extremely delicious and you are trying to tell someone about the amazing meal you just had? You don't just say, "Oh, I ate this sushi from blah blah blah and it was good." You rave and ramble and use absurd hand gestures to get your point across. That's what I need to do with Love in the Time of Global Warming, because this book is like the sweetest ambrosia and I want everyone to know about it. This summer semester, I'm taking a mythology course. I, like many, have been fascinated by Greek myth since I was little--thank you, Disney's Hercules. In this class, we finished reading The Odyssey two weeks ago. Then we had to write a paper comparing the poem to Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, a movie starring that hottie, George Clooney. So I've been immersed in that world and those characters a lot. Being so close to it, I decided to pick up Love in the Time of Global Warming. "Might as well knock out a review copy and get my final dose of Homer's classic?" That may have been the best idea I've ever had.I cannot stress enough how glorious this book is. The author's brilliant writing, flawed but lovable characters and engaging story, everything about it made this book perfect. There is so much to the story, so much put in these short number of pages that I will be thinking of this book for a great long while. When I stop thinking about it, that's when I know I'll need to pick it up and read it again.Pen lost everything in the Earth Shaker. The water rose, the ground opened up and her family and friends disappeared. Now she lives holed up in the home she where she grew up with nothing for company but the memories of them, surviving off of the goods her father collected. When an unexpected forces her from her home, she goes in search of her beloved brother, Venice and her parents. She doesn't foresee the epic journey that awaits her filled with monsters, enemies and loss, or the love she finds with the boy who carries his heavy past on his shoulders and a copy of The Odyssey in his hands.I am in love with this book, if you didn't already realize. The cover is what drew me in the rest is what made me stay. Block has a unique and decadent writing style that's flow made me wish I was eating dark chocolate as I read (I'm sorry for all of these food references, but I haven't had dinner yet). Her prose is enchanting and portrayed the emotions of Pen easily. I teared up a few times while reading about our young heroine's heartbreak. Altogether, it's a beautiful book that does more than just retell a literary classic.Pen, Hex, Ez and Ash were all so… so endearing. Each had their own problems, struggles in their past that greatly affected them, but the relationships that were built between the four were sincere. They are wonderful characters, easy to love and hard to let go of. They are diverse in their backgrounds and personalities, which made for an even more interesting read. I wish we could see more of them, as I've grown very fond of the four companions and am curious to know how life after the end of the book is for them. One can only hope that they are able to find a stable happiness in the dead world in which they live.The plot moves steadily. I never felt the pace waver. It's an easy read, not too complex, but enough depth to wholeheartedly take your interest. The world-building was phenomenal, which I believe had a lot to do with the details in the prose. Block excellently shows us this horrifying world that is reminiscent of the one we know today. It's eery, haunting and perfect for this story. Nothing felt out of place, or awkward to me. This book was breathtaking and one that I want everything to read and enjoy as much as I did.Love in the Time of Global Warming is very different from mainstream young adult literature, in a good way. Block goes outside the box, giving the audience an enthralling and unforgettable tale. Based on how much I loved this book, I will definitely be reading more of this author's work. If they are anywhere near as compelling as this one, I know I will be a fan. Please give this book a chance! Go into it open-minded as there are some controversial subjects that are very relevant to young adults and society as a whole today. I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

Suddenly You is the perfect addition to this short, sweet and absolutely swoon-worthy series. It has everything a YA romance fan could need: a bit o' drama, a lot of kissing and a mission to save what's dear to them. Cecilia Gray's fourth installment of the Jane Austen Academy series ties in wonderfully with the first four and will leave readers more than ready for book five!Fanny is stressed. She's constantly busy with keeping up her grades, earning her scholarship and trying to become the next Olympic track star. When she overhears some distressing news about the future of Jane Austen Academy, she, at the urging of her new friends, adds actress to that list. Fanny's junior year at Jasta may not be going as she had planned, but will her newfound friends, and swoony boys make it worth it?I can definitely relate to Fanny's constant pressure and that is probably one reason it was so easy to fall into this book. She's a flawed, but kind girl who has her heart set on her future and isn't going to let anything get it the way of it. That's extremely admirable in my opinion. Gray has always written female protagonists that instantly likable and Fanny's no different. Tran, too, is a fantastic male lead. He is so good for Fanny, and their relationship made me laugh. I adore Tran. (His tongue ring and tattoos may help that along a bit.) The other character I enjoyed seeing was Josh. If you've read the previous books in this series (which you don't have to, each of these books can be read as a stand-alone), you'd know that Josh isn't the nicest guy. Seeing him in Suddenly You was great because even though he was the antagonist in previous books, Gray gives him a good side, a backstory that makes him relatable. He'll tug at your heartstrings and have you wishing for him to get a happily-ever-after as well!This is a very short story, but an engaging one nonetheless. It's fun read that will have readers feeling happy and satisfied. The plot moves quickly, but the pace is very steady and never feels rushed. It's simple and oh-so-cute. Though I must say, Suddenly You is by far the sexiest installment yet--what with tongue rings, tattoos, bras and Tran in a towel. The wait for book five, Only With You, is too long! I cannot wait to get my hands on it, especially since Emma is my favorite Jane Austen novel! Pick up these books and you'll understand why I adore this author and have read everything she has written. Her stories never fail to hook me, and I am so looking forward to seeing what Gray's writing ability takes her! (Girl's got major talent.)I received an e-copy of this novel from the author for my honest opinion and review.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

There are few middle grade stories that really capture my interest, as I'm an avid romance fan, but something about Zero Tolerance really just spoke to me. Maybe it's because I'd never read a book that brought this topic up and looked at it from a student's point-of-view, or maybe it's because even from the summary, I saw a lot of myself in Sierra's character.Sierra Shephard is up for expulsion from her school for bringing a paring knife in her lunchbox. Sierra is completely torn up about this as she's been the perfect student, and a good person all-around and is being heavily punished for an accident that she immediately tried to rectify. The small mistake of grabbing her mother's lunchbox rather than her own has quickly unravelled her life. She is stuck with an in-school suspension, the media is constantly around due to the action of her lawyer father and the boy she always thought was bad turns out to be a bit different than she really perceived. Though a harrowing experience, Sierra not only learns the real difference between right and wrong, but that people aren't always what they seem to be.This book really got to me. I immediately was able to identify with Sierra--not because of what's happening to her, but because she reminded me a lot of myself at that age. Always trying to do the right thing, be a good person and an exemplary student. Her story is very heartbreaking, and very interesting to watch develop. She's unsure of how to handle it, because she's always had a plan and her road has always been set. This accident really throws her, and everyone around her through a ringer.My only really struggle with this novel was that Sierra didn't really feel like a seventh grader. In a lot of ways, Sierra seems very mature, but the actions she and some of those around her exhibited seemed more elementary. I kept believing she was actually in fifth grade, before reminding myself that she was in middle school. Something about her thought process just didn't fit that age group for me. Maybe it's just because the seventh graders I know are . The other characters that we were given a glimpse of didn't do much for me. I liked how involved Sierra's parents were, and how though they weren't perfect (Mr. Shephard was very often rude and ignorant), they obviously love each other and their daughter. Sierra's mom especially hit home for me. Her compassion for her daughter was much like my own mother's and it was a wonderful thing to see. I love reading books with present parents. Luke, the troubled boy that Sierra slowly befriends, and Sierra's girlfriends were very one-dimensional as well. They didn't add a whole lot of depth to the story, thus their roles were never really expanded on. I liked what I saw of them, but wish they had played a bigger part and really helped Sierra get through this tough time.The plot moved very quickly, which quite understandable because if I got the time line correctly, Zero Tolerance took place over the course of a week and a half. It is a very short novel, too, but the power behind it was not affected by its length. I think Mills handles this pretty delicate subject well, and bring a fine point into play: What happens to those who those who break the zero tolerance policy by mistake?This was my first book by Claudia Mills, and based on how I felt about Zero Tolerance, it won't be my last. This author made a real impression on me with this extremely relevant story. I will be sharing this will my step-sister, who is starting middle school in the fall. I hope she, and all other readers, can really take something away from this story.I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

Weather Witch plays off a great idea, but dragged was through the dirt and never able to clean itself up. Disappointment doesn't accurately explain my frustration towards this book. There was so much potential and it has a fabulous cover that would catch anyone's eye--too bad what's inside the book didn't take the hint and shape up.Questions that shouldn't need to be asked after finishing a book when the title of said book is Weather Witch: "What the heck is a weather witch?" A full 336 pages of nonsense and I still have absolutely no idea. I don't understand why they are so bad. I don't understand what they do. I don't understand how they do it. Apparently, I'm not the only one slamming my head into a wall from frustration. It's so strange that we are left knowing basically nothing about anything, but the author suffers from severe info-dumpage. How can you tell so much information and then not get to the basics of your book's background? So many questions were left unanswered.I honestly can't even give you an accurate description of the story because I am still trying to figure out what exactly I read. Nothing about Weather Witch made any sense. It was awkward and chaotic, making it a less than satisfying read.I was warned by my friend, Renae's updates as she read and her review after she didn't finish the book, but threw caution to the wind and picked it up. I should've paid heed to her advice because she was right. This book is bad. It had the makings of a remarkable and unique story, but ended up being a major letdown and rage inducing one at that. This book was like a train wreck--exponentially awful, but almost impossible to look away from. Though I was exasperated by more than half of what I read, I couldn't stop reading. That's why this gets two stars instead of one.Other major issues I had with the book: - None of these characters are well written. They are all shallow and annoying and deserve to be kicked.- There were waaaaay too many point-of-view switches. They weren't even handled well. It was extremely unorganized and disjointed. There was no way to tell who you were going to read about next.- The world-building was awful. The setting is supposed to be a steampunk-ish version of mid-nineteenth century Philedelphia, but I only know that because of the summary. Plus, the explanation of the contraptions and inventions was abysmal.- The author made every single adjective, noun and verb a proper noun. There were "Makers" and you could be "Burned Out" or you were a "Tester." I swear, more words in this story were capitalized than lowercase and the reason for that is never really explanation. I made a notation in the very beginning that I would be driven insane by this and I almost was! It was so obnoxious and over-the-top.- The parts that were understandable were predictable. If you gave me a list of the characters and who they were to the story, I could've told you who died and who was a villain. There were no surprises.- The characters lacked depth. I felt pity for none of them. They seemed to serve no purpose but to get on my nerves.- The plot. The entire plot was a jumbled mess. There was no structure. I have no idea what happened. There were so many things going on at one time, and so many characters to keep track of, that the point of the book got lost in the mess.I don't recommend this book--unless you are in the mood to be confused and angry, then have at it! This is the second book that I've read by Delany and the second one I have not enjoyed. It's safe to say I probably won't continue this series, or read any more of the author's work. I'm just not impressed.I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

*Read for Classical Mythology

3.5 StarsRecently, I've become obsessed with Japanese culture. I've signed up to take Japanese in the fall, I watch anime and read manga rather than sleep, I eat homemade mochi as much as possible, I read stories of mythology and stare at pictures of the countryside trying to picture myself in them. I'm by no means an expert, but I'm absolutely fascinated and hope to one day travel to Japan and see the rich culture for myself. So when I read the description of Ink, I had the hardest time holding back from requesting. I stayed off it for a few weeks, until one of my friends posted a fantastic review of the book, praising it for all she was worth, and then I got on that like white-on-rice (heh).Look at that cover? Don't you want to read this? It's gorgeous and eye-catching and actually really fits the content of the novel, which is rare. I played right into it and though I found many faults in the story, I can't help but give it a good rating because the Japanese aspects of the story just tickled me (in a total not weird way). It reads like your favorite (and often typical) manga and anime plots, and since I'm big on both, I was pretty okay with that. Katie's mother has died and rather than burden her sick grandparents, she has decided to join her aunt in Japan. There she is the odd-girl-out, noticeable because of her foreign looks and struggle to take on the language. She has few friends, and does not like living there. Enter Tomohiro Yuu, all around bad boy, pride of the kendo team and secret artist. Katie is drawn to Tomo for some inexplicable reason. As the two fall in love and his secrets are revealed, Katie finds that it's more than just her heart that's in danger.I often felt that the author tried too hard to make Katie seem independent. Katie's character is a contradiction. There are times when she displays a profound strength, standing up for herself and being her own person, then moments later she's meek and shallow in love with Yuu. I mean, in the beginning, she basically stalks the boy until he hangs out with her. Tomohiro, too, is a strange character. If I'm being totally, honest, I'm not too fond of him. There are times when he's almost abusive in his demeanor. He is a stereotypical misunderstood bad boy with a reputation, the only difference is this is set in Japan. Honestly, that is the only thing that make this different. And that's integration of the culture is the only thing I really liked about it, well that and the fact that Tomo blushes if Katie even accidentally grazes him--so adorable. Their dramatic relationship went from interesting to annoying. The setup went pretty well at first, then came the declarations of love (ew, insta-love!) and offering their deaths to save one another. I mean, that's all well and good if it's written maturely, but the presentation was too overdone for my tastes.The plot moved pretty steadily, that's another reason why it was so difficult to put down. I couldn't find a perfect stopping place and I just wanted to keep reading! The whole idea behind this story--the kami, the drawings, the history of it all was really unique and attention grabbing. It will make the novel a difficult one to forget. That being said, the predictability was an issue for me. The major twists were immediately obvious to me, and that made for a bump in the road. Everything is laid out in front of you in a cliche manner, which makes extremely easy to decipher what's to happen next. But again with the point that though it had it's issues, this book was addicting and I enjoyed it. So no, this book was not perfect, at least, not for me. Though I found several faults in the story, I will be continuing for sure. The depiction of the culture and the story overall balanced out with the cheesy romance and cliches enough to make me want more. Sun has intrigued me with Ink and I sincerely look forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out. Ink is a pretty good read that many are sure to enjoy!I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

I love Master Sam.I feel like I've been waiting for his book forever and it lived up to all of my expectations. This Is Who I Am may have been my favorite addition to the series. Sinclair is fabulous and her stories really good at pulling me into them.This was so emotional and perfect and just utterly magnificent. I am so looking forward to the next book!

3.5 StarsIt's extremely hard to give this an accurate rating because there are some parts of Mortal Fire that I felt deserved five stars and others than deserved two. Reading this book reminds me of being on a roller coaster. There were times when I was so engaged in the story that it ended up being two am before I could put the book down. Then there were other scenes that almost bored me to tears.Canny is being sent with her step-brother, Sholto, and his girlfriend, Susan, on a research trip. As her Sholto interviews survivors of a mine explosion that killed many from the main town, Canny goes off and explores the tiny valley she comes across. Every nook and cranny seems to hold a magical secret. As she unravels the hidden secrets of the valley and its residents, she also begins to unravel secrets of her past--ones that will change everything she thought she knew.The characters in this book seemed almost… impersonal, I guess is the word I'm looking for. Most scenes felt very sterile because for me, the characters never put forth their emotions. They grew on me over time, but I didn't know what to make of them in the beginning. Canny's curiosity and intelligence, Ghislain's horrific past, Sholto's confusion and Susan's hard-headedness--each of these characters brought something to the table to intrigue the reader and help the book capture hearts. It's weird that I ended up liking these characters as much as I did because I still don't fully understand their growth and backgrounds. The relationship between Canny and Ghislain is a bit bizarre, but I love them together. The relationships between the main characters is one thing that I really liked about this story.The plot on the other hand moved very, very, very slowly. I almost put the book in my "DNF" pile (which is extremely small as I hate not finishing things) because it just seemed to drag on forever. It took too long for minor details to be sorted out--like how Canny has three different names, but the author waited 160 pages to explain why. Maybe if the plot hadn't moved as languidly as it did, the setup that the author had wouldn't have bothered me so much. I'm not sure, but that was just one of my pet peeves within the novel.Mortal Fire is very unusual. From the writing style, to the plot, to the characters, this is so different from mainstream young adult fiction that it some people may find it difficult to read. I must say that I am one of those people. It's not that this is a bad book. In fact, it's very powerful and will evoke a lot of emotion. Even I, someone who was not attached until the last third of the novel, cried towards the end. The author handles the darker themes in a way that will hit its audience in the heart. Ms. Knox plays those grittier parts out wonderfully, but it's getting to those points that gave me a struggle.The writing is very, as my Classical Mythology professor would call it, "flowery." It's detail-oriented, dense and is meant to paint a scene. It succeeded some of the time, but at other points in the story, I would think, "Could you just get to the point already?" There were several times where it just felt like the author was trying too hard to keep up her language. I think that this more "flowery" prose does work well for Mortal Fire though. Had I been prepared and had an idea of what to expect while reading, I believe that I would've enjoyed the book a lot more.The ending of this novel leaves some room for a sequel, which I'm sure many, including myself, would appreciate. Mortal Fire and I had a very rocky start, but a second book would be high on my list of to-reads. The last third of this book was when it really got good for me and I couldn't put the book down. That's when all the real action occurred, the romance bloomed and the mystery started to unravel. The story gets so intense, and strange that it's absolutely addicting to read as it all unfolds. I must hand it to the author, this is a unique tale that will leave readers wanting more! It's definitely worth a shot reading. Many of my friends adored this book, and many more fans will join them. I plan to give the book a reread in the near future and see if my outlook changes now that I know what to expect. I will also definitely be trying out more of this author's work!This review can be seen on my blog as well.I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

1.5 StarsTransparent was honestly not a book that immediately drew my attention. I decided to read it because getting insight into the mafia is always interesting, and I'm a fan of the X-Men movies. After reading this, those are the very last two comparisons I would make toward this novel. There isn't mind-blowing action like that which occurs in X-Men, or what we stereotypically believe the mafia is like.This is the story of a girl named … Holy crap. I forgot her name. Emma? No… Katie?Two minutes later…It's Fiona, I looked it up. I don't know how I forgot. My stepmom used to have a dog named Fiona. It was the ugliest thing ever and spit everywhere. How could I forget? We called her Fifi, which is one of book Fiona's nicknames… Hah. But all of this is beside the point. The point is Fiona (the main character of Transparent, not my dog) is invisible. But don't worry. She wears clothes and glasses so you can see her. Or something. Fiona's dad wants to use her to steal money and kill people, so to protect her, Fiona and her mother sneak away in the night. They hide in this tiny town and try to live normally, but there are a lot of obstacles they must overcome to truly be free.For some reason, as I read, I could not get onboard with the fact that our main character is invisible. Something about the way she speaks made me forget, until she reminded me--which she does… A lot. The world-building and the lack of clarity annoyed me. She's invisible and wears clothes to be seen, but to hide, she doesn't take off her clothes? Alrighty then… The book is also extremely repetitive. There was so much that could've been done with the story, but everything interesting was forgone and instead it was a pretty typical teen romance, with a few atypical details.The writing was pretty awkward. When I first started the novel, I really enjoyed it! Something about it kept pulling me in and pushing me to keep reading. The unique ideas that Whipple puts together seemed to really work for awhile. But as the novel progressed, the book really went downhill. I just wanted to finish the book and get on with a new book, something I would enjoy. The characters were overall pretty unlikable, the main character, especially. Fiona constantly berates her mother, who has been abused, and manipulated by the man she loved for years. There's a line and Fiona crosses it a lot. She's extremely selfish to the point where I just wanted to smack her for her behavior. There's a difference between being cruel and being angry. What makes it worse is by the end, it felt like we'd gotten nowhere. Fiona's character development was seriously lacking. She was the same character by the end that she was in the beginning. Her judgmental attitude never waned. Plus, the way she bounced from one interest to the next made me extremely uncomfortable. (And the fact that they are brothers… Whut.)I know a lot of people liked it, but I just didn't see the attraction. Even the ending wasn't satisfying, but very abrupt. It felt unfinished. Transparent didn't win me over liked I'd hoped it would.This review can be seen on my blog as well.I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Edelweiss.

The Pirate's Wish was definitely one of my most anticipated novels of 2013. I came to read these because of the glorious covers and stayed a fan because of truly engaging story. After the magnificent debut that Cassandra Rose Clarke released last year, and her stunning sophomore (and adult) novel published a few months ago, I knew there was no way that I would feel anything but love for The Pirate's Wish. Of course I was right. The Pirate's Wish is a fantastical conclusion to The Assassin's Curse duology.The Pirate's Wish continues Ananna and Naji's story as they work together to free Naji of his curse. So far, they have been unable to complete any of the three tasks, but with the help of some unlikely allies, they may just be able to save Naji. Throw in a manticore, a rocky relationship and some evildoers that are up to no good, this novel will leave readers satisfied, but longing for more!I will miss these characters so very much! Each of them gained a special place in my heart and I really hope Ms. Clarke plans to give at least Naji and Ananna cameos in her spin-off series. While the book/series ends perfectly for the two, I'm just so attached that I don't want to let go yet! Of course, the more minor characters are also just as wonderful and perfect editions to the story. I really loved the manticore, whose name I will not even try to spell (or pronounce). She was a great companion for Ananna and added some great humor. The plot moves steadily. There's great action and fun adventures. I was never bored and nothing felt drawn out. I read this book in a day because it was so entertaining! I wish I hadn't had to put it down, but alas, I had two classes that day. (Why did I think taking a full semester during the summer was a good idea?) The romance moved pretty quickly once it started. It was a bit disorienting at first, but the relationship between Naji and Ananna has been a long time coming. The tension between the two in the first book and the first have of this one will have readers going out of their minds! The couple balance each other out and their interactions are so sweet and genuine.I have seen a lot of people struggle with the clarity of the setting, and I can definitely understand that. The author's prose is compelling, but her world-building needs work. The places are described beautifully. It's getting to those places that is the problem. I wouldn't be able to navigate my way through one of the ships, let alone travel the world. That was the only issue I had with this book and as you can see from my rating, it had no real affect on me.Cassandra Rose Clarke has easily become one of my favorite authors. After giving her a third five-star rating, it's not an exaggeration to say I will read anything this woman writes. She can do no wrong in my eyes. Ms. Clarke is an excellent storyteller and I cannot wait to see where she takes her readers next. No doubt we will enjoy it! I definitely recommend this book and this series. (Excuse me now, while I go and reread them.)This review can be seen on my blog as well.I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.

It's always been hard for me to write a review for a book that I feel pretty neutral about. This is definitely the case for Neptune's Tears. It's not a bad book, but it's not mind-blowing either. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but the summary of the story really caught my eye and the cover is absolutely glorious. I was sure I would love this--and to an extent I did, but I had several issues with the story that took away from my overall enjoyment.Zee McAdams is an empath. She uses her ability to bring comfort to hospital patients. Her future in her career looks very bright, as she's close to becoming one of the greatest in her unit. As an empath, Zee is forbidden to fall in love. Love and other strong emotions can cause an empath to lose their focus and distract them from their patients. Therein enters David, the alien boy, that she immediately takes interest in. As the city of London begins to fall apart all around her and her empath side struggles to stabilize, Zee must decide where her future lies.It's the romance that really killed me. I liked the characters, even if I didn't completely understand them and I wanted Zee and David together, but the insta-love was unnecessary. They seemed to be together for like two days and were already declaring love, but that may just be because of how short the novel is… The timeline is a bit sketchy and the pacing obscure, especially when compared to other novels of its genre. While the events that were unfolding were very original and captivating, it all happened too quickly. I don't usually ask for things to drag, but this book definitely needed some fleshing out. Had the author taken her time with the plot and written a couple hundred more pages, I think Neptune's Tears could've easily become one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy novels. The depth is the major issue here. It felt like the author just skimmed the surface.It's definitely a book that's hard to put down, though. Through all the negatives, I found that I finished the book in one sitting, in a couple of hours. The author composes a truly imaginative story and her writing style really accentuates that. I can't put my finger on what made it hook me in, but Waggoner did it well.I like sci-fi, but generally the genre lies outside of my comfort zone. I tend to shy away from them, for fear that I won't understand it, or won't love the books as much as the general populace. What really got me about this book is that it is a sci-fi novel that isn't extremely complicated. It's an extremely easy and light read. Because of this, I believe the audience will vary in reader types. I know it won't always be well-received because of the lack of intricacy, but I think it makes for an entertaining read nonetheless. The ending is extremely abrupt--so much so that I thought my ARC was missing some pages. It's disorienting and annoying because nothing feels settled at that point. I will definitely be continuing the series because based on the first book, I think the author has a lot of talent and I hope that the rest of the series will be as strangely addicting as Neptune's Tears was. This was a good book, that was a just bit short of being great.I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

I'm hesitant to say that I enjoyed Of Triton. I did, to a certain extent. But the story stretched beyond my imagination and made it's way into the bizarre. It's an interesting book that's plot derailed a bit too much for my taste. I think it's a book that a lot of people will enjoy, but it's also a book that a lot of people could dislike. My opinion of it lay somewhere in the middle.The story begins just after the end of Of Poseidon. Emma's mom has taken her away from Galen and from the truth of their past. According to Syrena law, Emma should be put to death and her mother should marry Galen's older brother. She struggles to come to terms with all of the changes around her, while the mermaid clans are at each others' throats. Galen begs her to stay safe and think of only herself, but how can she think of just herself when she could be the key to reuniting the clans?This felt more like a guilty pleasure because as I enjoyed it, I couldn't help but ask myself, "What is it about you that I makes me like you?" Is it the absolutely gorgeous cover? Let's be honest. That's probably it. I'm new to the mermaid scene, so I'm still getting onboard with the talking and breathing underwater and the magic powers and the talking to fish. So when, at one point in the novel, Emma comes in with her horde of fish, my eyebrows met my hairline and I awkward snorted into my tea.The attitudes of the characters were better this time around, though there were still times where I wanted to bash some heads together. There has been some development since the start of this series, but not enough to really warrant them as favorite characters. There is still a lack of maturity that bothers me, and some sexist tendencies that really annoyed me. Some of the romances had endearing moments, but other parts showed the overbearing men showing the feeble women how dominant they are. "Woman… Shh… The men are talking. Go make me a sandwich." I get that this is how the author wanted the society to be portrayed, but it didn't make the characters any less angering.Of Triton is very short, yet I found myself able to put it down and pick it back up hours later. It just loses focus somewhere down the line. The plot really isn't as strong as it could be. This is a good book, but it's not a great book--though it had a lot of potential. I think this is another book that could've used a good expansion and dug further into the story. The series really could end with this book, but I've seen that there is another. I'm curious to know what Banks plans to do in Of Neptune, so it's safe to say I'll be reading it. I'm not a huge fan of this series, but it has piqued my curiosity and now I just need to know how it is going to end.I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.This review can be seen here on my blog as well.

Of Silver and Beasts was a truly engaging story. Ms. Wolfe has written another fascinating tale that provides near constant entertainment. Though I wasn't sure what to expect at first, I applaud Trisha Wolfe for gifting readers with another imaginative tale.Kaliope, or Kal as she is affectionately referred, is head of the Nactue, those who guard the empress of her homeland, Cavan. She would do anything to keep her empress, kingdom and people safe--including babysitting another kingdom's prince as his own home is destroyed by Otherworlders. When a surprise attack on Cavan leads to not only Caben, the prince, and Kal's capture, but unravelling of her homeland, Kal plans to do everything in her power to keep Caben safe and save her home. This includes protecting Caben (and maybe, just maybe falling in love with him), fighting to the death in a caged arena, battling inhuman enemies and stealing back the relic that gives her empress power and life. While over time I grew fond of him, Caben was not originally a character for whom I cared. He's selfish, arrogant and, a times, pretty sexist. His relationship with Kal is a trigger for character growth and as the novel continued, you could see him changing for the better. Kal was a strong character. Her devotion and determination make her a very relatable young woman. We didn't see into the lives of the minor characters too much, but I am fond enough of them to hope they play a larger role in the future of the series.The world-building was pretty dang good. Though here and there I had difficulty imagining some elements of the story, the author handles this fantasy excellently. The settings and background of the story were absolutely brilliant. There were several themes that I hadn't often read before that were intriguing, including a society where women play a more dominant role than men. Ms. Wolfe handles this with grace. Not only is her story fantastical, but her writing style will draw in its readers very quickly. Time will pass by faster than you thought because you will be sucked into the story until the very end! Alas, I must admit that Of Silver and Beasts did not have my full attention immediately, but rather I gradually warmed up to the story and its characters. The plot moved a bit too slowly at points--which is the main reason for the "near constant entertainment." I also was eagerly anticipating the romance of this story as I am especially fond of the relationships Ms. Wolfe creates and when it didn't appear in the very beginning, I was somewhat disheartened. As the story progressed, so did my enjoyment of the story and by the end, I was sad that it was over. I can say with full honesty that I am looking forward to the next installment. So many things are left unanswered… I can't wait to see how everything unfolds!As there is some mature content in this, I would recommend this to older young adult/new adults fans looking for a fantasy. Of Silver and Beasts is sure to draw its readers in and have them more than ready for the sequel once they reach the end--because really… WHAT THE HECK! I received an e-copy of this novel from the author for my honest opinion and review.This review can also be found at my blog, Book Jems!

Need is not what I was expecting--in a good way! There is so much to the story that I don't even know where to begin this review! This hurt my heart, made me smile and left me feeling (almost) completely satisfied. Need is a wonderful ADULT companion to Want--this one has more angst and lots of naughtiness.Look at this cover… The covers for these two companion novels are gorgeous! If I'm being honest, they are the reason that I took such a big interest in these books. The coloring is beautiful and they actually resemble the content of the novel. (I know, I was shocked, too.) Something about them just drew me in and I'm so glad they did because I really, really enjoyed Want and Need!Isaac Laroche is in deep. Not only did he abandon the girl he loves when she needed him most, but his friends, family and neighbors have shunned him for his sins. Since he left Juli to deal with the aftermath of their publicized relationship, Isaac has become a shut-in. He finds an unlikely ally in his high school girlfriend, Heather Swann, who is also running from some familial issues herself. Just as Isaac and Heather embark on a relationship, the past threatens to tear it all down. They must face monster mothers, family secrets, death and past loves if they can ever hope to find happiness together.Isaac isn't a bad guy; he's just been through the wringer more than once. Though I, as I'm sure all readers were, was disappointed in his actions at the end of Want, I was really hoping to see him redeem himself in Need and he did… for the most part. There were a few ends that I didn't feel had been completely tied. Heather is another key character in this novel. We were introduced to her in Want, but in Need, we get to know her very well. I, personally, liked her. She's a good match for Isaac--they have great chemistry and really care for each other. (Plus their naughty scenes are hawwwwt.) Isaac's uncle played a large role as well and he was probably my favorite character. He was charming and loving and had a great sense of humor. He was the perfect addition to the story. The antagonists in this book were nutcases and drove me crazy, but did the job they set out to do. I wish we had seen more of Juli and Dave, but even their minor cameo was great to see.Stephanie Lawton writes another addictive story in Need. She has strong prose, and excellent storytelling skills. Though there were a few details that struck me as a bit too much, Need was an extremely realistic, and original contemporary. The plot moves pretty smoothly. The development is slow and sexy. That being said, there were some parts that moved a bit too slowly for my taste and a few issues that weren't expanded on enough, but I was so involved in the novel that I didn't realize anything was missing until the end. I would definitely consider Want a new adult novel and Need is ABSOLUTELY an adult novel. There's dirty words, dirty words and people doing the dirty. Tread with caution, but give these stories a chance for sure! You'll be hooked from the very first page.This review can be seen on my blog as well.I received an e-copy of this novel from the author for my honest opinion and review.