Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen

Victoria Aveyard

(Red Queen #1)

Publication Date: February 10, 2015

Hardcover, 383 pages, HarperTeen

Genres: YA, Fantasy/Dystopian

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Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

My Review

I shouldn’t have read this. Oops. Let me be a little clearer. I shouldn’t have read this book so early. I now have approximately 331 days, 7 hours, and 49 minutes until I can read the sequel, IF it comes out around the same time as book #1. (This review will go up on my blog after I finished reading it, so it’ll be a little less time by then.) I don’t think I can wait that long…

I really wasn’t sure about Red Queen at first. I knew there was A LOT of hype, but some bloggers/reviewers I trust said the book didn’t live up to its hype. I think that really helped me enjoy the crap out of this book! I wasn’t expecting a fantastic, bloody (See what I did there?), action story, but I got it!

Mare, the main character, has a really weird name. It’s the word for a female horse. That annoyed me. I still really liked her character though. She wasn’t the perfect assassin type, or the greatest warrior, or even the best daughter, and that really made me empathize with her character. Now, I’m not saying I wouldn’t have screamed at her for some of the choices she made, but that’s only because I spoiled myself by peeking at the back of the book. I wasn’t looking for spoilers! I just wanted to know how many pages there were! 

The most fantastic part of this story though, is Cal. I can’t even begin to describe how amazing I found him. He’s a warrior, a prince, and sometimes, he’s even a douche, but I love him. Mare and his relationship is just so complicated and so messed up that I have no idea how Aveyard’s going to patch it up in future books. (And she had better patch it up!)

Despite my complete adoration of Cal, there were other love interests throughout the book. Kilorn, Mare’s friend from home, is also a sweet and protective guy that I wouldn’t mind having as more than a friend, if Cal wasn’t there. And Maven, Cal’s little brother, was another love interest. One aspect of this book that I didn’t really like, was that I had a hard time finding how the love interest relationships actually got started. Maven and Mare’s and Kilorn’s and Mare’s I could kind of understand, but Cal and Mare’s was a little bit of a mystery. I couldn’t see why they liked each other so much, but boy did I love it that they did!

The plot of the book had me worried at first, mostly because I heard that it wasn’t original. I could see a little bit of that being true, but I found that a lot of it was not only original, but crazy astounding! The powers! The red and silver blood! The royalty! I was all over that. I do wish that the book, instead of associating with a dystopian world, had just focused on being a fantasy. It could have been like Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone, where they still had technology, but it was its own world. The reason for this is simply because I found myself trying to picture where they were in the real world, whereas if it had been a fantasy, I wouldn’t have worried about it so much. This also could have been helped by having a map.

All in all, this review probably doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt while reading this book. This is my first 5-star book of 2015, and I just need a freakin’ sequel! And if my crazy ranting doesn’t convince you to go buy this book, then I don’t think anything will…

*Note: I borrowed a copy of this book from my library.

Review: Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch

Jennifer L. Armentrout

(The Dark Elements #2)

Publication Date: October 2014

Paperback, 320pages, Harlequin Teen

Genres: YA, Paranormal

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Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

My Review

Be still my Roth-loving heart! JLA can I marry you? Just so I can have all of your sexy boy-toy characters close by?

Does that sound a little too obsessive? Well, good! It needs to sound as obsessive as possible, because this series is incredible!!! (Warning: There will be LOTS of exclamation points, capital letters, and a heaping load of praise in this review. You have been warned.)

I have to be honest, the last JLA book I read, Opposition (Lux #5), had me disappointed. JLA is a magnificent writer, but it wasn’t up to her standards, in my opinion. So when I started reading this book I was a little apprehensive. Was she going to ruin Roth for me? Layla? The Warden and demon concept in general? Nope. She exceeded any expectations I may have had. Many times over.

Layla is just as fun, witty, snarky, goofy, and lovable as she was in White Hot Kiss, perhaps even more so. I never got frustrated with her character or bored hearing her thoughts. Even when Layla did some things that I wish she wouldn’t have done (Stupid Zayne and his nice boy image.), I understood that Layla was exploring herself and her sexuality after being denied love and contact with people for so long. Didn’t mean I had to like it, but I understood it. I think it’s amazing that JLA could write a love triangle that isn’t just, “Oh poor me, I have two hot guys to choose from, which one should I kiss?” Instead JLA put together a love triangle that has complications, after all, Layla’s been in love with Zayne for years, and now that Layla’s spreading her wings, Zayne may be waking up to that fact, and liking it. And Roth isn’t just a (very, very, very) sexy bad boy; he’s Layla’s chance to live a part of her life that’s been repressed for years. Layla has to choose, not between Zayne or Roth, but between keeping things the same and staying in the shadows, or actually letting the demon half of her out.

I’m still Team Roth though. Roth + Layle = My OTP

The plot of the book was fast-paced. There was no chapter that dragged me down. Of course, I’ve never had a YA book by JLA drag on and on and on. But back to the point, this book flew by way too fast for me. I want so much more, even though the ending was fairly satisfying—as much as the ending of the second book in a series can be, anyway. I had no idea where this book was going. I mean, of course, I knew the problems with the big, bad, that the character are having, but the family problems Layla had threw me for a loop. I can’t wait to see how this plays out in the future.

All in all, I’m in love. Both with Roth, and with Ms. Armentrout herself. Jennifer, if you won’t marry me, could you at least give me pages and pages of your sexy bad boys’ descriptions. Abs, hair, eyes, arms—you could describe their IQ’s and I’d be over the moon. Thanks.

Oh, and can you sneak me an ARC of Every Last Breath? No? Aww…

*Note: I purchased this book for myself.

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Release Date: March 27, 2011

My Review:

Okay, I admit it, I loved this book! Book 1 was okay. There were a couple of problems, however this thing was a stroke of pure freakin' genius!

When Kate comes back to live with Henry for 6 months, everything's changed and it's all complete chaos! And I absolutely loved it!

The characters in this book are so much more developed than they were in The Goddess Test. Kate has some serious issues that she has to face and I feel bad for her. However, she has this amazing backbone throughout this whole whirlwind. Sure, she has her breakdown moments, but I would too if my "husband" was talking to his ex-wife/my sister again after hundreds and hundreds of years. James, Henry, Ava, Calliope and every other side character had their own backstory. You got to see why they were the way that they were.

The plot was completely unpredictable! I had no idea where this book was going until like 100 pages in and then that brief instance of predictability vanished in the next 2 pages. There are so many twists and turns that it leaves you totally shocked! And for those of you out there who aren't the biggest fans of HUGE cliffhangers, I advise you to wait until The Goddess Inheritance (Book #3) before you start reading. 'Cause holy cow did I not see that one coming!

I absolutely loved this book! And waiting for the last one might just break my heart a little bit...

*I won an ARC of this book from the publisher. This in no way altered my opinion/review.

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Release Date: January 24, 2012

My Review

This book was gorgeous! It was fantastic! It was amazing! It was superb! This book had all of the makings of greatness! Now I'll tell you why.

The main character, a strong, but broken girl named Nikki, is given a very mysterious opening in this story that makes all other stories cry. Nikki leaves the readers questioning every detail of her life. We are told in little snippets what happened, and while those little snippets sometimes got unbelievably frustrating, they gave the story a serious rush of danger.

The plot to this story was like nothing I've ever read before. While the main story is chronological, there are parts to the story that happened a while ago. I couldn't believe an author could actually do this so amazingly well.

The boys of Everneath are, in one word, awesome. Cole, the guy that gets Nikki into a serious mess of trouble, is unrelenting and unbelievably smooth. He has answers for everything and is very sexy. Jack on the otherhand is the boy that Nikki grew up with. He's the boy that saved her. And he wants her back. At first I was a Cole girl, now however, I'm leaning towards Jack. You'll see why.

The ending to this book, while somewhat predictable, does set up for a very, VERY, good sequel starter. I'm uber excited to read Everneath #2. And for those of you who are wondering whether or not to purchase this book, there is no need to wonder. You HAVE to buy this book! It is way too good to pass up.

*Note: I received an ARC of this book to review from the publisher. This in no way altered my opinion/review.

Review: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

My Review:

(SPOILERS MAY LIE HERE)

This book was AWESOME! At first I thought it was a little slow but after the first chapter I couldn't contain myself, I had to get the words that this book held into my brain as fast as possible!

The world reminded me of a gothic Wonderland, it was creepy, fascinating and beautiful. The writing style was elegant and haunting. Every time I would put the book down, whether for just a second or two hours, I would hear Evanescence playing in my head. That's the background music I listened to in my head while reading.

Theia is a little too shy, but with a father like that, who could blame her? She's also a little too accepting, a demon happens upon her backyard and she thinks, "This is weird, but I'll go along with it." And you know what I didn't care that she just accepted it because it WORKED!

Haden made me swoon... He is so jealous, possessive and HAWT! His story is completely different from all other paranormal YA and that makes me smile.

All in all, this book is a haunting world that made me beg for the release date so that I can go pick up my very own copy of this marvelous story.

A word of caution: This book is not for the faint of heart. It contains very sexy scenes.

*I received an ARC of this book from Different Area Codes Book Tour, this in no way altered my opinion/review.

Review: Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

My Review

(spoilers may lie here)

I had no idea how much I had missed Sophie and her smart-mouth until I picked up Demonglass and fell back in love with the DEMON-tastic world Hawkins has so generously created!

The book starts out with the same mood as Hex Hall did, hilariousness personified, and it keeps that mood through the Oh-so-giggle-worthy middle and manages to end with it during the major show-down even with a serious situation weighing on pour Sophie's demon shoulders.

I loved the way Rachel took the characters to London yet still managed to get them into even more unmanageable mischief. Sophie's entourage provided some major LOL moments!

And the boys of Sophie's heart are too wonderful! And that doesn't mean that they're perfect because they're far from it! Both Cal and Archer keep their secrets, (Just spill 'em already!?!) that coupled with their not-so-perfectness, does in fact make them perfect. For me, it's really hard to decided which one is better because I love them both!

If you're looking for a book that will put a smile on your face, give you heart pounding romance, and keep you on your toes, then you should definitly go pick up Demonglass which hits stores March 1st! And perhaps Hex Hall if you haven't read the first book in the series yet.

*I received this book from Different Area Codes Book Tour, this in no way altered my opinion or review.

Review: Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda's rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can't resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she's risking not only her life but the draki's most closely guarded secret.

My Review:

Oh Firelight! What can I say about you? Hmm... Well let's start with the reason I didn't read this book when it first came out. I read a bad review. *GASP* Yes, that is the only reason that I did not read this book before now. That just goes to show that reviewers have completely different opinions sometimes.

Now to the actual review. This book started out with something most other young adult, paranormal romance does not. And that is... ACTION! We start with the soaring and flying, but then everything turns bad! *cue the spooky music*

Then we get to really MEET Will when something happens- that I'm not going to say because that will give away some major plot points- and I hearted him!

Jacinda was spunky yet quiet. She made bad choices and she made good ones. Her and Will made such an odd, albeit fun couple.

*I can't believe that I've just now read this!*