Review: Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Geekerella

Ashley Poston

(Starfield #1)

Publication Date: April 4, 2017

Hardcover, 320 pages, Quirk Books

Genres: YA, Contemporary

B&N | Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad's old costume, Elle's determined to win - unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons - before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he has ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake - until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?

Part-romance, part-love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.

My Review

If you’re looking for a cute, no-true-substance contemporary read about geeky people being oddly persecuted (despite us living in a geek-accepted day and age), then this book is the one for you. I don’t want to come off as too harsh while reviewing this book, because it had its fun moments, but it was just all around too cliché.

So the story is based off of Cinderella. Danielle is playing the leading lady. Darien Freeman, the actor playing Carmindor in Danielle’s favorite franchise, is the prince. And, of course, there are the evil stepmother and stepsister(s). Why can’t any book make a realistic, three-dimensional stepmom? Without one, Danielle’s entire storyline just felt like a pity party. Danielle also made some strange decisions that had me doubting her realistic-ness as well. (I mean, who takes a dog to a premiere?! Paris Hilton? Really?) There were other more important strange decisions, but the dog one forced me to knock the book down a half star. It was just odd….

Before I get too much into the less impressive qualities of the book, I’ll share the good stuff. Darien, while also whiny, had a very interesting storyline. I found myself enjoying his chapters much more often than Danielle’s. He was an actor on a popular movie set versus Danielle’s cliché situation. So yes, his chapters were better.

The geeky setting of the story was also very cute, but there were too many corny “We’re all in this together” moments. Conventions are not High School Musical. Oh, but the Starfield universe does sound super cool! The author should write books about those characters! (I know she wrote a new sci-fi YA book. I’ll be reading it at some point.)

All in all, maybe this book just wasn’t for me or I read it at the wrong time in my life to truly enjoy it. I was hoping for a Cinderella Fangirl, but I just got a more contemporary Cinderella a la Hillary Duff’s A Cinderella Story. If that’s your thing, check this one out. If not, just reread Fangirl.

*Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Review: The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

The Wish Granter

C.J. Redwine

(Ravenspire #2)

Publication Date: February 14, 2017

Hardcover, 432 pages, Balzer + Bray

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retellings

B&N | Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul.

My Review

I’ve been reading C.J. Redwine’s books since she first released Defiance oh-so-many-years ago. So, it’s no surprise that I picked this one up. What is a surprise is why it took me so long to actually sit down and read it. I knew I was going to enjoy it, yet, I still kept putting it off.

What I liked about this book mainly had to do with the romance aspect of the storyline, not because the other aspects were bad, I just really enjoyed reading a fantasy/fairytale retelling that A) didn’t involve a girl falling for a prince, and B) two young characters who grow to care about each other after having been friends first. It was so cute to see Ari the princess put Sebastian in his place, and vice versa. They have a good dynamic going.

While their relationship strongly carried the story, I also loved how each character had a well-written backstory. I very much enjoyed how complicated Sebastian’s past was. His arc throughout the book feels so real. Ari, on the other hand, doesn’t have as real of a backstory, but how complicated her family history is as the bastard daughter of the king was fascinating.

As for the plot of the book, that’s where things went slightly downhill for me. And when I say slightly, I mean only enough to keep me from reading the entire book in one sitting. I just had to parcel my reading out in chunks of 50-100 pages versus binge-reading it all.

Alistair Teague, aka Rumpelstiltskin, wasn’t the best villain. He was okay, but his overall schemes didn’t pack as much wallop as I was hoping. Thus, the fight against him was a little less impactful than The Shadow Queen’s. He’s still terrible, but less terrible than I wished for.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fairytale story to fill in some of your Once Upon a Time gaps, this book and its predecessor are definitely for you. You’ll root for the main characters and curse C.J. Redwine for ever causing them harm.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine

 "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

The Wish Granter

C.J. Redwine

(Ravenspire #2)

Publication Date: February 14, 2017

Hardcover, 432 pages, Balzer + Bray

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother…and her soul.

My Thoughts

This one comes out next week! I thought it was going to be out later, sometime in the spring. It’s crazy how fast these book releases are popping up. I’m so behind on buying and reading all of them.

As for The Wish Granter, I read The Shadow Queen last year and thought it was a pretty solid fairytale retelling. That one was about Snow White, and this one’s about Rumpelstiltskin. I’m not a huge fan of Rumple, even on the show Once Upon a Time (he’s okay, but I like Belle more). Hopefully this story surprises me, because I really enjoy Redwine’s writing and her love interests. ;)

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

Heartless

Marissa Meyer

Publication Date: November 8, 2016

Hardcover, 464 pages, Feiwel and Friends

Genres: YA, Fairytale Retelling

Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

My Thoughts

While I love that Meyer’s doing another fairytale retelling, I’m not too terribly thrilled about this story centering around the bad guy. Err… girl of Wonderland. Hopefully, Meyer will change my mind though. Oh, and before I forget to mention it, I’m going to meet Meyer in St. Louis during her October Fierce Reads tour! Woot! Woot!

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Review: The Rose & the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

The Rose & the Dagger

Renee Ahdieh

(The Wrath & the Dawn #2)

Publication Date: April 26, 2016

Hardcover, 420 pages, G.P. Putnam

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

My Review

Besides Glass Sword, this was probably my most anticipated sequel of 2016. And boy, did it give me just as many feels as the first book! And I still can’t believe the duology is over.

This book starts off pretty close to where The Wrath and the Dawn left off, so I was immersed right back into the world I fell in love with. Some of the first few scenes were either from Khalid’s POV or about Khalid which made my heart very happy. Khalid is one of my favorite male characters. He’s so tortured and not really a good guy (but sometimes a good guy), and he just makes me all aflutter. I was actually kind of sad that Shazi didn’t have interactions with him for a good chunk of the first part of the novel. Poor Shazi, doesn’t get her Khalid. :(

Once again, though, Shazi is on the warpath, and I find her actions fantastic. She never hesitates to make a decision, whether it’s the right one or not. I really enjoy her fierce attitude. I also really enjoyed the similarities she had with her sister Irsa. Irsa was a great addition to this duology, and I’m so sad about some things that happened involving her and some spoilery events. Amazingly, I also liked Tariq. I did not like him in the first book (mostly because I was worried he’d steal Shazi from the fabulous Khalid), but he grew on me some, in spite of his dumbness at first.

Now, the plot of the book had a tad bit of a different tone and feel than The Wrath and the Dawn. In that book, there was a dark, romantic feel, but in this book, there’s a more action-y, adventure feel. Shazi was interacting with magical people and things, like the carpet, which had me constantly want to sing Aladdin songs.

Despite the different feel, The Rose and the Dagger was a beautiful continuation of the previous book. Its storyline was just flipped from dark and mysterious to enchanting and lyrical. While it wasn’t what I was expecting, I loved it all the same. Plus, that ending was absolutely pure magic. I love when authors put a gorgeous epilogue in their books. It really allows me to believe the characters are thriving somewhere out there.

All in all, I’m not sure how to go about explaining my enthusiasm for this beauty. It was beautiful, fantastic, lyrical, magical, and amazing. While I wish The Rose and the Dagger wasn’t the end to the series because I want more, that conclusion was phenomenal.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

My Thoughts on the Beauty and the Beast Teaser Trailer

I had a different post in mind for today, but then I saw this beauty. If you haven’t yet seen the teaser trailer for Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast movie, now’s your chance.

I recently wrote my review for The Jungle Book live-action film, and you all know how amazed I was by that movie. I’m hoping Beauty and the Beast goes above and beyond that though. Emma Watson as Belle is simply perfection, and the effects and castle images are absolutely breathtaking in this teaser.

When the trailer started up with the soundtrack music from the cartoon, I immediately started feeling the childhood nostalgia. It seriously made me want to run and watch the older version. Unfortunately, I don’t have it with me. Darn.

I don’t have a whole lot to talk about because this trailer is so ridiculously short (evil teasers), but just know that I love it, and I must watch it. There is no other option.

What do you guys think of this new live-action adaptation?

Review: The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

The Shadow Queen

C.J. Redwine

(Ravenspire #1)

Publication Date: February 16, 2016

Hardcover, 387 pages, Balzer + Bray

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

My Review

C.J. Redwine was disappointed with the Snow White and the Huntsman movie, so she decided to create her own Snow White retelling. I can definitely say that the storyline in Redwine’s book was better than that particular movie, though unfortunately, there is no Chris Hemsworth in The Shadow Queen.

The characters in this retelling do not strictly follow the Snow White rules. Lorelai isn’t named Snow; Kol isn’t a true huntsman and is, instead, a dragon; and both the evil queen and Lorelai have magic. I definitely enjoyed Redwine’s twist on the world. I think some fairytale retellings can often be too stuck to their namesakes, whereas this one offers a fresh batch of characters and events to create a semi-unique plot. Plus, dragons are cool.

All of the main characters in this story, minus one, really connected with me. I could feel their pain, and I even experienced some of their grief, despite, at times, never actually meeting the characters, like Kol’s family for instance. Oh, and I need to have a serious talk with Ms. Redwine about a certain cruel action she performed against one particular innocent and loveable character. (Why, Redwine?! Why?!)

However much I enjoyed the main protagonists, Queen Irina wasn’t someone I could empathize with. While I felt she was more than an evil dictator, I couldn’t really see how exactly she was more than that title. Her character could have been delved into some more to help her personality development out; although, I didn’t really like her chapters, so I’m not sure how much more I would have liked to hear her wicked thoughts.

The plotline of the book was, because this is a retelling, somewhat predictable. The princess fights the evil queen and either wins or loses or lives to fight another day (I won’t give away spoilers). However, I have to say I was a little disappointed by how quickly Lorelai realized her true potential and how powerful she actually is. Additionally, the magic system and how Irina and Lorelai’s magic works just needed a little fleshed out. I wasn’t sure why/how Irina and Lorelai were performing some of their tricks. But overall, it’s a solid plotline with a fun world that Redwine can continue to play in.

While there were some small parts that had me a tad confused, this book is a great addition to a growing list of retelling books. It’s unique enough to stand on its own, but it can still draw in readers who aren’t sure they want to dive into a completely new fantasy world. And, like I mentioned, there’s dragons. What more could a reader ask for?

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

The Rose and the Dagger

Renee Ahdieh

(The Wrath and the Dawn #2)

Publication Date: April 26, 2016

Hardcover, 416 pages, Putnam Juvenile

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

My Thoughts

Oh my god, it’s almost here. I actually survived the wait for this thing. Hallelujah! If you don’t know, the first book in this duology was actually in my Top 3 Books of 2015. I LOVED IT. It deserves every bit of my praise. It is just that good.

What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday: Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, what's really got my pages in a twist is...

Kingdom of Ashes

Rhiannon Thomas

(A Wicked Thing #2)

Publication Date: February 23, 2016

Hardcover, 368 pages, HarperTeen

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

Book Depository | Amazon | Goodreads

Asleep for a hundred years, awoken by a kiss, Aurora’s life was supposed to be a fairytale. But since discovering that loyalty to the crown and loyalty to her country are two very different things, Aurora knows she can only dream of happily ever after. Once the enchanted princess, savior of her people, she is now branded a traitor.

Aurora is determined to free her home from the king’s tyrannical rule, even if it means traveling across the sea to the kingdom of the handsome and devious Prince Finnegan—someone who seems to know far more about her magic than he should. However, Finnegan’s kingdom has perils of its own, and any help he gives Aurora will come at a price.

As Aurora and Finnegan work together to harness her power—something so fiery and dangerous that is as likely to destroy those close to Aurora as it is to save them—she begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the curse that was placed on her over a century before…and uncover the truth about the destiny she was always meant to fulfill.

Brimming with captivating fantasy and life-threatening danger, the sequel to A Wicked Thing takes Sleeping Beauty on an adventure unlike any she’s ever had before.

My Thoughts

I haven’t read the first book and I don’t own it, either. But I NEED it! These covers are beautiful and I think these books deserve to be read by me.

What book are you waiting on this Wednesday?