Tuesday Reviews: Titans by Victoria Scott

Title: Titans

Author: Victoria Scott

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: February 23, 2016

Format Read: ARC

Rating: Four Stars

Description from Goodreads: From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds.

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan's world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching then and their jockeys practice on the track. It's not just the thrill of the race. It's the engineering of the horses and the way they're programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she'll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid's who wager on them.

But when Astrid's offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year's derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it's more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

When I received an ARC of TITANS in mail, I nearly peed my pants. I am a HuGe Victoria Scott fan, and TITANS appealed to me when the announcement of it's future birth was released, so of course finding this in my mailbox was a moment of extreme joy.

This is the first book I've read in a long time that has a near-zero romance rate, and I absolutely loved it. The main themes of the story included friendship, family, and hardships, and it was an amazing tale of believing in oneself and risking everything to give your family a future. 

The girl-on-girl best friendship in TITANS was one of the main reasons that I enjoyed it so much. Astrid and Magnolia are closer than close, and they have no drama whatsoever throughout the book, even when times get tough and they go through their own personal struggles. It's always a beautiful thing to see flourishing female friendships, ones that consist of the girls lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down.

And then there's the element of these Titans-- part horse part machine-- and the technicalities that come with racing them. Scott thought this story out intricately, leaving no plot holes or missteps along the way that had me questioning the way the horses worked or the way the racing happened.

Also. Padlock. Ohmygosh. Victoria Scott has this incredible talent for creating the most lovable and adorable animal characters. She stole my heart with Madox and plucked its strings with Padlock. I want my own Titan, and I will name it Padlock and we shall run off into the sunset with Madox at our side.

I give TITANS a four star rating. I loved it, though not quite as much as FIRE & FLOOD, and it will definitely hold a special place on my shelf. If you enjoy horse stories, or stories of those less fortunate who fight to keep their family together, this is a book for you. And of course, if you're a fan of strong female friendships.

Happily,

Stephanie

Tuesday Reviews: Front Lines by Michael Grant

Title: Front Lines (Soldier Girl #1)

Author: Michael Grant

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: January 26, 2016

Format Read: ARC

Rating:

Description from Goodreads: Perfect for fans of THE BOOK THIEF and CODE NAME VERITY, New York Times Bestselling author Michael Grant unleashes an epic, gender-bending, and transformative new series that reimagines World War II with girl soldiers fighting on the front lines.

World War II, 1942. A court decision makes women subject to the draft and eligible for service. The unproven American army is going up against the greatest fighting force ever assembled, the armed forces of Nazi Germany.

Three girls sign up to fight. Rio Richlin, Frangie Marr, and Rainy Schulterman are average girls, girls with dreams and aspirations, at the start of their lives, at the start of their loves. Each has her own reasons for volunteering: Rio fights to honor her sister; Frangie needs money for her family; Rainy wants to kill Germans. For the first time they leave behind their homes and families-- to go to war.

These three daring young women will play their parts in the war to defeat evil and save the human race. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, they will discover the roles that define them on the front lines. They will fight the greatest war the world has ever known.

Somehow, I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of FRONT LINES, which absolutely rocked my world, as I loved the Goodreads Description and was super excited to read it. I find WW II fascinating, and a gender-bending version of it entices me like nothing else.

Generally, the way reading works for me, is if I start out liking the book, I'll probably end up disliking it by the last page. If I start out disliking the book, I'll probably like it by the last page. There are rare chances, generally the books that receive five star reviews from me, that I start out liking and end the book loving. 

FRONT LINES was one of those books. I was hooked from Chapter One, and tearing me away from this novel was nearly impossible. I sped through it, and never have I ever been so emotionally exhausted after reading something. Exhausted, and with much more respect for our service men and women.

Pivoting pov's between three very different ladies with diverse backgrounds and nationalities, FRONT LINES follows Rio Richlin, Frangie Marr, and Rainy Schusterman as they enlist and make their way into the depths of war. You experience their struggles both within the military and their personal lives; each and every one of them feeling as real as they possibly could.

This is a book that WILL offend some people. There will be people that read this and take offense to terms used t describe some characters, but you have to remember that this book is set in the 1940's. Race was an issue. Gender was an issue. Things were said that, if said today, they would be made into a major problem. Do not take offense to these things. Fictional the book may be, but it IS Historical Fiction, which means that dialogue and culture and every-day life is accurate. 

Please remember this as you read.

I give FRONT LINES  five polished brass stars, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys war stories, historical fiction, and WW II. This is going to be the book that 2016 releases are going to have to beat out for my number one release of the year, I already know.

If you read FRONT LINES, I want to know! Tell me what you think!

Happily,

Stephanie

Tuesday Reviews: Untamed by A.G. Howard

Title: Untamed (Splintered #3.5)

Author: A.G. Howard

Publisher: Amulet Books

Release Date: December 15, 2015

Format Read: Hardback

Rating: Five Stars

Description from Goodreads: A post-ENSNARED collection of three stories-- available in both print and e-versions.

Alyssa Gardner went down the rabbit hole and took control of her destiny. She survived the battle for Wonderland and the battle for her heart. In this collection of three novellas, join Alyssa and her family as they look back at their memories of Wonderland.

In SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS, Alyssa recalls the most precious moments of her life after ENSNARED, and the role magic plays in preserving the happiness of those she loves. Alyssa's mother reminisces about her own time in Wonderland and rescuing the man who would become her husband in THE BOY IN THE WEB. And Morpheus delves into Heb's memories of the events of SPLINTERED in THE MOTH IN THE MIRROR, available in print for the first time.

This collection expands upon ENSNARED's epilogue, and includes some deleted scenes to provide a "director's cut" glimpse into the past and futures of our favorite SPLINTERED characters.

I started this book in tears. They were unintentional tears, brought on by A.G. Howard and her dedication page, and they pretty much set the tone for how I was going to feel whilst reading UNTAMED.

Fans of the Splintered Series know where this book starts off, and they know where ENSNARED ended. There were a lot of mixed reactions to the ending of that one, which is one of the reasons I was so over-the-moon-excited for UNTAMED's release. A peek back into Wonderland was just what this fandom needed, and it's exactly what we got. 

Now.

For those of you reading this review who have NOT read the Splintered Series... Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil anything. I'll be vague in my review, because for me, this book was an experience. It wasn't just a read. It was a trip back into a world that I love as much as my own, that I did not expect to get. It was getting inside the heads of characters that I hadn't previously had the chance to get inside. It was seeing things from different perspectives, and coming out of it loving each of the characters a little bit more (I didn't even think that was possible, so...)

The thing about UNTAMED is that you absolutely have to, must, are obliged, and have now been forced, to read the first three books... well... first. UNTAMED is life after book three, and it should be treated as a fourth novel. Though it's contents are three novellas, they are, if read out of order, extremely spoilery. And this is not a series that you want spoiled for you, let me TELL you.

So, about the book.

As mentioned above, UNTAMED is chopped into three short stories. The first is THE BOY IN THE WEB, which is a story told from Alyssa's mother's point of view, and it is a mixture of past memories and post-ENSNARED... things. There is content in this novella that gives you a new perspective on the lives and actions of both Alyssa's mother and father, and really helps you to see why certain choices were made. Though it was pertinent information, this was my least favorite story of the three, for no other reason that my attachments are more to Alyssa/Jeb/Morpheus than Mr./Mrs. Gardner.

The second story, THE MOTH IN THE MIRROR, I've been waiting a long time to read. As you probably know if you follow the blog, e-reader bug my eyes, so it's a difficult thing for me when novellas are released as e-book only. But on some occasions, gems like UNTAMED happen, where an e-novella is printed, and my problem is solved. The excitement to read this story, (The shortest of the three) was extremely high, and it was everything I wanted it to be. Set between SPLINTERED and UNHINGED, it is of course from Morpheus' point of view, and mostly based on his struggling to win Alyssa over in comparison to her Mortal Knight. It leaves you feeling some things for the moth, a ball of emotions that you can't seem to pin down, and that is why I love it. This was my second favorite story in the book.

Last but certainly not least, SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS. 

Let me just. Be still my heart. I cannot.

I need a moment.

Okay, I'm back. SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS was phenomenal to read as a fan of this series. I can't touch much on it because it is definitely chock-full of spoilers for ENSNARED, but I can tell you that this story alone makes buying UNTAMED worth it. There are so many things, so much more information to the ENSNARED ending that we didn't previously know or get to see, that we now have complete knowledge of. It's an absolutely beautiful novella, definitely my favorite of the three. Hands down. 

And so emotional!

But then again, this whole book was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I deeply adore these characters, and to get an unexpected chance to relive moments from this world that I didn't even know existed... it was incredible.

Five glistening stars to UNTAMED, and a huge hope for more, someday. If you haven't read this series,you need to. If you have, but haven't bought UNTAMED, you don't understand what you're missing.

Happily,

Stephanie

P.S. Rabid White is my favorite and he is mine and you will never love him as much as I do, never never ever!

Tuesday Reviews: Random by Tom Leveen

Title: Random

Author: Tom Leveen

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: August 12, 2014

Format Read: Paperback

Rating: One Star

Description from Goodreads: Who's the real victim here? This tense and gripping exploration of cyberbullying and teen suicide is perfect for fans of BEFORE I FALL and THIRTEEN REASONS WHY.

Late at night Tori receives a random phone call. It's a wrong number. But the caller seems to want to talk, so she stays on the line.

He asks for a single thing-- one reason not to kill himself.

The request plunges her into confusion. Because if this random caller actually does what he plans, he'll be the second person connected to Tori to take his own life. And the first just might land her in jail. After her Facebook page became Exhibit A in a tragic national news story about cyberbullying, Tori can't help but suspect the caller is a fraud. But what if he's not? Her words alone may hold the power of life or death.

WIth the clock ticking, Tori has little time to save a stranger-- and maybe redeem herself-- leading to a startling conclusion that changes everything...

I found this book by accident. Honestly, I was looking at Leveen's new release, SHACKLED, when I saw this paperback next to it. The premise sounded like something I'd enjoy, as I like the deep and emotional reads, so I picked it up and took it home with me. Though I was expecting to like it, maybe even love it, the only thing I felt when I finished this one was anger.

Like the Goodreads description says, Tori gets a call in the middle of the night from someone who claims to want just one reason not to commit suicide. Tori, already on trial for having cyberbullied a boy who ended up killing himself, thinks it's a joke. That someone who's been watching the news unfold about what happened has decided to prank her, like so many others have done. But as the night and conversation goes on, it seems less and less likely, and she has no choice but to do what she can to talk the caller out of it. 

But the story doesn't end the way you would expect, and because of this, I am going to use spoilers in this review. Not yet, though. I'll warn you before I do that so that you can choose whether or not you want to continue reading.

I would give RANDOM a very dim star. Just one. Because, while it started out gripping and intense... things happened. And then there are the characters, which I couldn't connect to at all, and for those of you that follow the blog, you know that if I can't connect to the characters, that's a big problem for me when it comes to the book. So, yes. One star. 

Side note: The Goodreads description mentions RANDOM being for fans of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. I have read and loved THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, and these two are not even in the same vein. If that is one of the things that makes you interested in RANDOM, take it with a grain of salt, because the only thing that even remotely channels THIRTEEN REASONS is the suicide element.

Now, I'll go ahead and tell you, more in depth, why I didn't like RANDOM. 

But beware:

****** SPOILERS******

At the end of the story, you find out that the caller never really planned to commit suicide at all. Instead, he is the Boyfriend (I am going to call him Boyfriend for the sake of this review, as I cannot fully remember what his true name was. About this point in the book is when I started getting angry, so I probably just spaced it.) of the kid who Tori helped cyberbully. The one that killed himself.

It turns out that Tori's brother, best friend (Both boys make multiple appearances in the book), and aforementioned Boyfriend knew each other, and concocted this fake-suicide scheme to show self-centered Tori that she could have put an end to the bullying, and that the boy's death WAS, in fact, partially her fault.

What infuriated me is that the two people she trusted most in the world, her brother and best friend, would do something like this to her, instead of sitting down and just talking. Add to it the fact that they both knew that she wasn't really going to go to jail for the boy's death, but that they knew she wasn't aware of that, and wanted to make her sweat it out... uncalled for.

And then, once they explain what they did, she sees it as perfectly acceptable, forgives them immediately, and starts dating her best friend.

Um, what?

As someone who has been on the other side of a phone when someone says they're going to kill themselves, I can tell you that it's stressful. Whether it's over text, IM, social media, or a phone call-- the platform doesn't matter. What does matter is that someone is reaching out to you to help keep them from going through with something that they're seriously contemplating. To make a fake scenario like this and have it be a joke is cruel; to have Tori act like it was a-okay and perfectly acceptable, is unrealistic. And if that IS how someone would respond to a situation like this, with being fine with the betrayal from their brother and best friend... wow.

So this has been my review of RANDOM by Tom Leveen. Have any of you read this one? What were your thoughts on it?

(Un)Happily,

Stephanie

Book Review: Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons

Title: The Glass Arrow

Author: Kristen Simmons

Publisher: TorTeen

Release Date: February 10, 2015
Format Read: Hardback

Description from Goodreads: THE HANDMAID'S TALE meets BLOOD RED ROAD in GLASS ARROW, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year-old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya's luck runs out and she's caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning.

After winning THE GLASS ARROW in a giveaway, I started it the day after it came in the mail. What I expected from the prose was, sadly, not what I got.

From the prose, I expected a strong female character. The kind that doesn't need saving, because she can handle herself. After all, she's "Successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence". But that's not what I got-- in fact, it was the exact opposite. Aya relied on someone else to try to help her escape from the auctions, and for thinking about escaping so much, she didn't ever TRY to do anything.

Another thing is that this book is based heavily on sex and breeding, which the prose mentioned, but I didn't expect it to be quite the way it was. For a YA fantasy, GLASS ARROW was pretty sexual. At times, I felt like it should have been an adult novel instead of YA.

For me, THE GLASS SWORD was a single star book. It started out pretty great, and slowly teetered off from there. Though I read it fast, I didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as I had hoped I would.

(Un)Happily,

Stephanie

Book Review: Return to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Title: Return to the Dark House (Dark House #2)

Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: July 21, 2015

Format Read: Hardback

Description from Goodreads: Ivy Jensen survived the Dark House once, but can she make it out a second time?

Two months have passed since Ivy Narrowly escaped the Nightmare Elf's grip, but the memories of Parker, Natalie, Shayla, Frankie, and Garth continue to haunt her. Their killer is still out there-- somewhere. The police trail has gone cold, though, and it's up to Ivy to piece together the clues to find him.

When a cryptic video arrives in her inbox, Ivy soon finds herself back on the spotlight, this time on a twisted scavenger hunt through the dark, ancient halls of a long-forgotten Gothic school building Ivy's not alone, either. Taylor Monroe has returned to the scene. But can Taylor be trusted? Or is she another pawn in the Nightmare Elf's deadly game?

Laurie Faria Stolarz crafts a mesmerizing thriller that will leave readers looking over their shoulders.

After reading and loving WELCOME TO THE DARK HOUSE, I went and picked up book two immediately. Like the first one, I devoured it within a day, and it left me wanting book three like crazy.

Book one was a bit creepy, but RETURN TO THE DARK HOUSE was... well, I've got goosebumps just thinking about it. The horror and creepiness mixed together into a perfect cocktail, and while I still have suspicions about certain things, I think I'm starting to form a theory. About who's behind everything. Who the Nightmare Elf really is. 

These are not perfect books by no means. Like every novel, it has it's flaws. But the storyline is so enticing, it lures you right in and before you know it, you're at the last page. And there are plot holes that leave you confused at points, but for me the story arc outweighs the negatives, because this thriller really does leave you breathless. I had to put it down multiple times just to get up and take a breath, get my mind off of it.

If you like horror and all things creepy, then you'll love RETURN TO THE DARK HOUSE, which I think was considerably more heebie-jeebie earning. Five black stars... And Book three, I'm waiting on you.

Happily,

Stephanie 

Book Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)

Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 20, 2015

Format Read: Hardcover

Description from Goodreads: This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra-- who are barely even talking to one another-- are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents-- including emails. schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more-- ILLUMINAE is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Ever since ARCs came out, I've been dying to read ILLUMINAE. I tried my best to trade for an ARC, but that didn't happen, so I pre-ordered the book and waited, painstakingly, for release day. Except that I then remembered why I don't pre-order. It's the whole thing where books don't actually arrive on release date. 

BUT

I did eventually receive my copy, and I devoured it in hours.

ILLUMINAE is absolutely breathtaking. The way it's written, with the documents and IMs and interviews... it's definitely one of the most exceptional reading experiences I've ever had. The style kept you from getting too far inside the characters' heads, but also let you in just enough to grow attached to them all-- even the side characters. In fact, I hadn't even realized how attached I was until it came to a set of scenes and I found myself in tears.

If you follow my blog at all, you know that I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but ILLUMINAE is straight up based in the solar system, and it was easily one of my top reads of 2015. It's the most perfect combination of action, mystery, romance, and sci-fi, and I cannot recommend it enough. If you like sci-fi at all, you need to read this. If you don't like sci-fi at all, you still need to read it. Because this is one that will go down in my record books, and I need everyone to read it and support it. 

Though, I already mentioned it, I want to take a second to go back and touch on the subject of the writing style. I think one of the things that made this book so enjoyable was the way it was written. Not every page was full of writing. Some pages just had a few words. Some pages were full of code. Some pages were lists of casualties. But no matter what the page held, they were all unique and gave the story an amazing perspective. 

I loved ILLUMINAE so much, and I hope that you'll go out and pick up a copy of it. If you do, please tell me what you think. I know that not everyone likes the same books, but I also know that this one is worth the attempt, and though it may be 500-600 pages long, it's truly a pretty quick read, between page format and story building. 

Go out. Get it. Read it. Flail. And then report back to me.

Happily,

Stephaine

Book Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Title: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Author: Jesse Andrews

Publisher: Amulet Books

Release Date: March 1, 2012

Format Read: Paperback, Movie tie-in Edition

Description from Goodreads: Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg's mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia-- cue extreme adolescent awkwardness-- but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives. 

And all at once, Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

ME AND EARL was all the hype this year as the movie came to the big screen, and since one of my good friends read and loved it, I decided that I should probably give it a try, especially since I have a rule about not watching a movie before reading the book. So I did, I read the book, and finished very confused and displeased.

The way this book was written was interesting, but for me it was overrun by the crude humor. That, added to the fact that it didn't really feel like this book had an ending, made for... an odd experience. It felt like the author had been in the middle of writing the climax, got bored, and ended the story in a single chapter instead of sticking it out. 

While I started this book with an open mind, I ended it feeling like I'd wasted those hours it took me to read the novel. I would give ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL a single star, and sadly wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

What did you think of this one?

(Un)Happily,

Stephanie

Book Review: Playlist for the Dead

Title: Playlist for the Dead

Author: Michelle Falkoff

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: January 27, 2015

Format Read: Hardback

Description from Goodreads: A teenage boy tries to understand his best friend's suicide by listening to the playlist of songs he left behind in this smart, voice-driven debut novel.

Here's what Sam knows: There was a party. There was a fight. The next morning, his best friend, Hayden, was dead. And all he left Sam was a playlist of songs, and a suicide note: For Sam-- listen and you'll understand.

As he listens to song after song, Sam tries to face up to what happened the night before Hayden killed himself. But it's only by taking out his earbuds and opening his eyes to the people around him that he will finally be able to piece together his best friend's story. And maybe have a chance to change his own.

Part mystery, part love story, and part coming-of-age tale in the vein of Stephen Chbosky's THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER and Tim Tharp's THE SPECTACULAR NOW, PLAYLIST FOR THE DEAD is an honest and gut-wrenching novel about loss, rage, what it feels like to outgrow a friendship that's always defined you-- and the struggle to redefine yourself. But above all, it's about finding hope when hope seems like the hardest thing to find.

I dove into PLAYLIST FOR THE DEAD with high expectations based on the prose. It sounded like a story that would really hilight what it's like being on the other end of suicide; being the one that got left behind. Instead... well... I'm still not sure what I got.

PLAYLIST took a completely different turn from what I thought I was in for. The conflicts that I felt should have been there, weren't and the ones I thought shouldn't have been there, were. I was nearly halfway through the book when I wanted to put it down, but I held out hope that it might get better, and made myself finish it. Once I got to the ending, I realized that the playlist from Hayden really didn't have that big of an influence on the story other than Sam listening to it more times than he could count, and another thing I realized was that this story was very much trying to be in the vein of THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. The last page of this book left me confused, and a bit blindsided by the dramatic change of paths towards the end, when instead of trying to come to terms with Hayden's death, Sam starts making new friends and trying to solve a mystery. It felt too forced, as if those things were supposed to show that Sam HAD moved on, when we knew that he hadn't.

One point five stars from me on this one. I still am not sure what caused the storyline to take such a turn, and it bothers me. So it's a low rating for me on this one. Two thumbs down.

Have any of you read PLAYLIST? What did you think?

(Un)Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: The Vicious Deep

Title: The Vicious Deep

Author: Zoraida Cordova

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Format Read: Hardback

Description from Goodreads: For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods?

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea... and now it wants him back.

I picked up this book way back in 2012, started it, and then put it down. I was going to give it away, but when I rediscovered it on my shelves this year, I decided to give it a second chance. By the time I finished, I wished I'd given it away.

In 2012, my only complaint about this book was a single seen within the first five chapters that was a little bit too much for me on the inappropriate scale. Now, my complaints have piled up: even for a fantasy, the probability of this one was low; the dialogue left something to be desired; the storyline was full of plot holes; and it was extremely predictable. I had a hard time relating to the characters, who stumbled through the story and felt very distant from me, the reader. 

One star for VICIOUS DEEP. For me, the story just wasn't real enough. It didn't pull me in like the waves pulled Tristan. I didn't fall in love with the characters or a piece of the story that would keep me reading and make me want to stick around for the other two books. Unfortunately, I don't recommend it to anyone for this reason

(Un)Happily,

Stephanie 

Book Review: The Replaced by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Replaced (The Taking #2)
Author: Kimberly Derting
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Format Read: Finished Copy- Hardback

Description from Goodreads: Romantic and action-packed, THE REPLACED is the gripping second installment in the Taking trilogy.
Kyra hasn't been the same since she returned from her mysterious five-year disappearance. Now, on the fun from NSA, Kyra is forced to hide out with other who, like her, have been Returned. Yet she is determined to find Tyler, the boy she loves who was also abducted-- all because of her. When her group intercepts a message that Tyler might still be alive but is in the hands of a shadowy government organization that experiments on the Returned, Kyrs knows it's a risk to go after him. What if it's a trap? And worse, what if the Returned Tyler isn't the same boy she lost?

Perfect for fans of THE FIFTH WAVE and the Body Finder series, THE REPLACED is both chilling and explosive, with creepy, otherworldly elements and twisty, psychological thrills that will have you questioning what exactly it means to be human.

THE TAKING was a fantastic read for me-- I have a hard time getting into sci-fi, and it gave me just enough of that element that I could enjoy it-- and so as soon as THE REPLACED hit the shelves earlier this year, I went out and got it. I devoured this book because, like the first one, it was the perfect amount of contemporary relationships and sci-fi aliens and abductions, as well as an ever-present aura of mystery that surrounds Kyra and her situation. It's not one of those sci-fi stories that throws you into a world and leave you with questions and things you don't understand, which is something that I appreciated, and the characters always feel very real in this series.

THE REPLACED was everything I had hoped it would be, from the intra-character relationships to the suspense, and the emotional chunks that left me in tears. There were some points in the story about which I would like a re-write because certain things were just too unfair, but that aside, I give this one four stars, with an antsy wait for the conclusion. 

If you like alien abduction stories, or sci-fi, or even if you're like me and have a hard time with sci-fi, this is a book for you. Also, if you like THE BODY FINDER, you'll like this series as well. It's the same writing style, same detail and writing talent, just with a bit of a different storyline.

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Title: Prodigy

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Format Read: Paperback

Description from Goodreads: Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots-- a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic, but can they trust them or have they become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

It took me a lot longer than four hours to read this one (curse you, responsibilities! *shakes fist at sky*) but I finally got it finished, and was once again pleased with Marie Lu and her story-crafting.

As I read, I texted the friend who loaned me the books, giving him my predictions and perceptions of certain things and characters as I read, and while I won't know the accuracy of some of them until I finish book three, I know that the ones that were answered in PRODIGY were right. Usually, this would bother me, as I hate predicting major reveals and twists, but for some reason I was okay with it on this one and actually enjoyed the fact that I'd been right. 

Day and June's continued activities were great, the story-line well thought out and delivered, and the plot just as tight as the first. I love how Lu uses side characters and ties them in in some important way, versus the way that most authors do-- creating characters to serve their purpose as extra characters without intending them to be part of the book in some big way. So many of the characters introduced as acquaintances with few spoken lines are used in some major way throughout the books, and it's so much fun to see them come in when you least expect it-- whether it's a good or a bad thing.

I give PRODIGY 4.5 stars. I enjoyed this one better than the first because it got more into the meat of the trilogy, as the middle book generally does, and really showed the direction that the story is going, as well as put the end-game into view. Dystopian revolt is the best kind of revolt, and if you enjoy it then you definitely need to get your hands on PRODIGY.

Just be sure to read LEGEND first.

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Awake by Natasha Preston

Title: Awake

Author: Natasha Preston

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: August 4, 2015

Format Read: Paperback

Description from Goodreads: Scarlett Garner doesn't remember anything from before the age of four-- but a car accident changes everything. She starts to remember pieces of a past that frighten her. A past her parents hid from her... and a secret that could get her killed.

The Goodreads description for this one keeps it short and sweet. Let me see if i can tell you a bit more about AWAKE without giving it away...

Scarlett has a gap in her memory. She remembers nothing before the age of four, and that's how it's always been. And then one day, a new student arrives in her class, a student that is instantly attracted to her-- and the attraction is mutual. As Scarlett grows closer to this boy, he encourages her to try to remember what she's lost, but then a car accident is the trigger she needs to jumpstart her memory, and what she finds in those memories aren't the pieces of the childhood she had been looking for, but something much more sinister.

Okay so I didn't do that much better, but I'm going to go ahead and move on.

I picked up AWAKE, expecting a decent creepy story, and what I got instead was a thrill ride that I won't be forgetting for quite sometime.

This story is so intricately woven that I don't want to say much about WHY I loved it, because I'm worried that I'll unintentionally spoil it, and with this book, it would be a terrible thing to do. But I did absolutely love this story and will go ahead and say that, as far as thrillers go, this is hands down my favorite. Hands. Down.

It was creepy, it kept my attention from cover to cover, the characters were near-perfect... I read the book in about five hours, which is something I can do pretty easily when something really has my intrigue and attention, so that should say something! 

Five stars. Absolutely. Five stars to this beautiful thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Any fans of psychological thrillers, or stories that border on creep-tastic horror, will sure to be AWAKE when reading this new one from Natasha Preston.

Now, let's see if I can get my hands on THE CELLAR.

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Title: Welcome to the Dark House (Dark House #1)

Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: July 22, 2014

Format Read: ARC

Description from Goodreads: What's your worst nightmare?

For Ivy Jensen, it's the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it's bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.

And for seven essay contestants, it's their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake's latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn't even link scary movies, but she's ready to face her real-world fears. Parker's sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up... at least for now.

Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It's bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group-- the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; "Mister Sensitive"; and the one who's too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.

Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.

By the time Ivy and Parker realize what's really at stake, it's too late to wake up and run.

I generally can't handle horror, but after reading SHUTTER and loving it, I decided to try another YA horror. I'd seen WELCOME TO THE DARK HOUSE a few times before at the store, and I had been tempted to grab it, but I never did. So thanks to #booksfortrade, I was able to acquire an ARC and read it in a single day. 

WELCOME TO THE DARK HOUSE wasn't so much scary as it was downright creepy. I enjoyed the plot to this one, especially as the story went on and things started developing and getting juicier. The multiple POVs from the essay contestants were perfect, giving an inside look to each of them and the way they think, the way they viewed the Dark House. And then there's the Nightmare Elf , which... just... *heebie jeebies*. As of the end of this book, I'm still not sure whether my prediction about who's behind everything is right or not, but I hope to find out.

I give WELCOME TO THE DARK HOUSE a 3.75 star rating. It was good enough to make me want to read book two, but it wasn't as scary as I was hoping for. If you're a fan of creepy YA, and YA horror, this is for you. Dark, mysterious, and chilling, WELCOME TO THE DARK HOUSE is a red I'll be recommending.

Book two, here I come.

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Title: Vengeance Road

Author: Erin Bowman

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Format Read: ARC

Description from Goodreads: Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers-- and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate's quest for revenge may prove fatal.

Oh my gosh, you guys.

I requested an ARC of VENGEANCE ROAD when I first heard about it, as I was eagerly awaiting the release of this new YA western, and I was over the moon to have received an Advanced Copy from HMH. I read it as soon as I got it, and then became part of the street team (Shout out to my Vengeance Road Posse members!) because I loved it so much.

Now, you may be asking why I have waited so long to review it if I had my hands on it in June.

My review policy is that I post ARC reviews the Monday before their release. That being said, the Monday before the release of VENGEANCE ROAD, I was still on my hiatus. 

Why didn't I post it before now, after coming back?

Here's why:

Today is Thanksgiving. And for this day, I want to post reviews of books that I'm thankful for (Notice, there will be no negative reviews today). Of course, VENGEANCE ROAD is one of the books that I am extremely thankful for.

VENGEANCE ROAD is a YA western (Where can I find more of these? Can someone whip me up a stack?) And I love westerns, so I was super pumped to start this one, and it did not disappoint. This was another 2015 release that had a good amount of hype and actually lived up to it.

First off, Kate. Kate was such an amazing protagonist. I enjoyed every second of her story, hearing her narrate it and seeing how she felt about everything. She had such a true, strong voice, and I found her character to be relatable in so many ways. So I connected with her, and enjoyed her development and taking the VR journey with her. And then there were the brothers, who I loved to pieces from start to finish, and the friendship that grew between them (as well as the romance). AND THE PLOT. Wow. Yes. The plot was uber good and fresh for a western, which is pretty hard to do when you consider all of the western books and movies there are in the world today. I would put VENGEANCE ROAD up there with the greats, and I'm pretty sure The Duke would support my decision.

I think Erin Bowman must have been a cowgirl in another life, because her dialect and descriptions and way of life were so accurate and fluid that it felt like I had stepped back in time. To Arizona Territory in 1877, to be exact. This was one of the things I enjoyed most about the story-- that it made me feel like I was there. Like I was walking and riding alongside Kate, watching everything play out. And to me, that's one of the best feelings you can have when you read a book. That's how you know it's good.

Five gold stars for VENGEANCE ROAD. If you ever read a book because of my reviews, let it be this one. VR has easily galloped its way to the top of my favorites list, and I want it to do the same to yours. For any fans of westerns, books with honest and courageous characters, and true-to-life descriptions, this is for you. Read it. Love it. Cherish it. Pass it on.

Oh, and Miss Bowman? I know this is supposed to be a standalone, but... More? Please?

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynne Barnes

Title: Raised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves #1)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: June 8, 2010

Format Read: Hardback

Description from Goodreads: Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders returns. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

Earlier this year, when I went to NTTBF, I met Jennifer Lynn Barnes and got to tell her how much I enjoyed RAISED BY WOLVES. As I write this review, I'm seeing the comments of other readers on Goodreads, and I'm noticing that a good few of them are negative. Um, why?

Sure, there are elements to RAISED BY WOLVES that have been used before-- a girl being adopted by a wolf pack, for example-- but Barnes crafted this world in such a unique way, that I didn't mind it. This book gives you more of an insight to the meaning of "pack mentality", which I loved, as well as providing a fresh new way to look at werewolves. It showed the functionality of a pack, and what it means to be part of one, and how each member plays a significant role in keeping things running. 

And then there's the storyline, which was incredibly intriguing. Bryn's obsession with finding her parents' killer, and her fascination with the boy in the basement combine and twist into something that makes for a fantastic read. 

I give RAISED BY WOLVES four stars, and recommend it to lovers of paranormal romance, as well as those who enjoy a good, non-cliche werewolf story. I can't wait to start the rest of the series.

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi

Title: The Night We Said Yes

Author: Lauren Gibaldi

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Format Read: ARC

Description from Goodreads: A fun, romantic read, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti!

Before Matt, Ella had a plan. Get over a no-good ex boyfriend. Graduate from high school without any more distractions. Move away from Orlando, Florida, where she's lived her entire life.

But Matt- the cute, shy, bespectacled bass player who just moved to town-- was never part of that plan.

And neither was attending a party that was crashed by the cops just minutes after they arrived. Or spending an entire night saying "yes" to every crazy, fun thing they could think of.

Then Matt abruptly left town, and he broke not only Ella's heart but those of their best friends, too. So when he shows up a year later with a plan of his own-- to relive the night that brought them together-- Ella isn't sure whether Matt's worth a second chance. Or if re-creating the past can help them create a different future.

In alternating then and now chapters, debut author Lauren Gibaldi crafts a charming, romantic story of first loves, lifelong friendships, uncovered secrets, and , ultimately, finding out how to be brave.

THE NIGHT WE SAID YES was such a fun read. With each chapter, more and more of Matt and Ella's story is revealed-- the first chapter leaves you with questions, and those questions get answers as the story unfurls. The uniqueness of this story was one of the things that I loved most about it, as well as the friendship between Ella and her best friend. Another thing I enjoyed was reading about the past, while experiencing it in the present as Ella and Matt re-created that night. 

The only negative I found for this story was Matt's reason for leaving. I kept waiting for more-- for him to be lying and then have a completely different excuse. But he didn't and I'm okay with how it turned out, I just find that to be the only low point for the book.

I would give THE NIGHT WE SAID YES four stars, and recommend it to contemporary fans,a s well as lovers of timid romance and out-of-the-box high school fun.

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Kissing In America by Margo Rabb

Title: Kissing In America

Author: Margo Rabb

Publisher: Harper

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Format Read: ARC

Description on Goodreads: In the two years since her father died, sixteen-year-old Eva has found comfort in reading romance novels-- 118 of them, to be exact-- to dull the pain of her loss that's still so present. Her romantic fantasies become a reality when she meets Will, who seems to truly understand Eva's grief. Unfortunately, after Eva falls head-over-heels for him, he picks up and moves to California without any warning. Not wanting to lose the only person who has been able to pull her out of sadness-- and, perhaps, her shot at real love-- Eva and her best friend, Annie, concoct a plan to travel to the west coast to see Will again. As they road trip across America, Eva and Annie confront the complex truth about love.

In this honest and emotional journey that National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr calls "Gorgeous, funny, and joyous," readers will experience the highs of infatuation and the lows o heartache as Eva contends with love in all of its forms.

I had the opportunity to read KISSING IN AMERICA as an ARC, and though I was rather interested in it, I didn't fall in love with the story.

Eva is struggling with the accidental death of her dad, and she uses romance novels to fill the void until she meets Will-- a boy from school who she falls fastly and intensely in love with. And then he moves, and Eva becomes obsessed with the idea of following him, convinced that their relationship is strong enough to last from New York to California. In order to do so, she and her best friend become contestants on a teen tv show that is to be filmed in the same city that Will lives in, and head out west.

And I feel like that is such a far-fetched story. 

I realize that this is a book of fiction, but with contemporary I think there's a line, and once you cross it you've gone into iffy territory. To me, that was what happened in KISSING IN AMERICA. What are the odds that Eva would find a tv show that needed two girls, one of which had to be super smart like Annie, that was going to be filmed in the exact same city as where the boy moved? And the fact that they had family to stay with every few hundred miles? It just didn't sit well with me, and KISSING was a bit of a flop in my personal opinion.

I give KISSING IN AMERICA one star. I didn't find anything about it that I could love, and the main character was a bit too naive for my taste.

(Un)Happily,

Stephanie