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.

Throwback Thursday: My First Book Review

  I couldn't remember what the first book was that I reviewed on my blog, so I thought it'd be fun to look it up. And of course my review is blugh and the formatting here is all icky, but it's still cool to look back. I've been reviewing books since August 10 of 2010! That's insane!

If you're a reviewer, what book was the first one you reviewed on your blog/channel/whatever media outlet you use? Sound off in the comments!

***

Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles #2) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.Sometimes life-ending.Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.
_________________________________________________
I know that I've gone on endlessly about this October 12th book release and it's probably getting really tiring for all of you who haven't read the original book Beautiful Creatures because once you've read the first you will completely understand my die-hard fandom.
So here's my review of Beautiful Darkness and you won't hear any more about this book until it's release date (I have not sworn to this, so be prepared for disappointment):
Be Warned SPOILERS May Lie Here
The second installment of the Caster Chronicles series will captivate you from the first line. There's a roller coaster of unsuspecting romances, mysteries and betrayal that all come unraveling around the small area of Gatlin County, keeping Ethan Wate from mending the gap that's been growing stronger between him and Lena Duchannes- a Caster with major mojo. Her guilt will haunt you while Ethan's story will make you fall for the poor mortal boy all over again.
And fall I did. Ethan's poor plight had me in tears for almost half of the book. I couldn't help but think, "Why? Why must this happen to such a wonderful couple?" But I know that Kami and Margaret had beautiful reasons.
The plot constantly caught me by surprise and I loved the book so much for that because lately there has been too much repetition in paranormal novels. The introduction of two other love interests (for whom I will not say) is painful but welcome and kept me screaming "MORE! I need more!" which made me powerless when it came to putting the book down. I had to finish it and I did so in less than 12 hours, a major feat if you ask me.
So all-in-all, the secret Caster world and it's twisting ways are addicting and the ending will have you begging on your hands and knees, ready to become Kami and Margaret's slaves, for the next installment in this life-altering series.
5/5 stars

*Be sure to pick up Beautiful Darkness in stores October 12th, and if you haven't read Beautiful Creatures grab that as well!

TTFN

Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

The Kiss of Deception

Mary E. Pearson

(The Remnant Chronicles #1)

Publication Date: July 8, 2014

Hardcover, 489 pages, Henry Holt & Co.

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

My Review

Another princess. Another love triangle. Another war. Another fantastic book!!!

This book starts off with a familiar phenomenon in fantasy. It has the princess who runs away because she doesn’t want to be in the arranged marriage that will unite her country with a neighboring one. At first I was a little hesitant with just how familiar this plotline was, but I quickly learned that Princess Lia is not someone I should underestimate. Nothing is familiar when it comes to her.

However, Lia wasn’t immediately the spunky, kind-hearted heroine I enjoyed reading about. Her plotline was so unoriginal that, while I thought it was a good fantasy, it wasn’t anything special until about three-fourths of the way in. That burial scene just slaughtered my heart and made me love Lia so much. The whole scene resonated with me and it sent a strong message about war: that war is pointless and it’s destructive.

Other than Lia, there are three other primary characters, two of which are the love interests, Rafe and Kaden. What can I say about them? They’re both completely surprising and I don’t know which one I’m leaning towards more. That plot twist threw me, even though I knew to be on the lookout for one. Anywho, I think I’m leaning towards Rafe, but Kaden isn’t too terribly far behind.

The other character is Lia’s handmaiden/friend Pauline. Her character was a tad predictable and her storyline is the same one that often appears within most YA fantasy best friend plotlines. It irked me, but it was interesting to read about, so I’m not too terribly torn up about it.

All in all, this book is a fantasy book you’ll need to read. Not only is it a good romance story with an entertaining plotline, but it also has important messages about the other side of war, something I believe every person needs to think about.

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

Review: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

The Wrath and the Dawn

Renee Ahdieh

(The Wrath and the Dawn #1)

Publication Date: May 12, 2015

Hardcover, 388 pages, Putnam’s Sons Books

Genres: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

My Review

I don’t even know what to say. This book was… This book was incredible? Mind-boggling good? Fantastic? All of the above? Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes.

I was really scared going into this book. The hype was definitely up there and I was worried it was not going to live up to my expectations. I shouldn’t have been worried in any way, shape, or form. The Wrath and the Dawn can definitely hold its own.

The characters of this book are phenomenal! Sharhzad is the perfect blend of feisty, head-strong, awesome, and bold that I love in a YA female lead. She’s able to dish it out with the big boys and give some major third-degree burns while doing so. Basically, she just made me smile. Now Khalid, Khalid is another character I have no words for. If this were real life and he had done the things he’s done, I would hate him. Okay, hate is a strong word. I would loathe him. But this is not real life, this is fiction, and Khalid is a sexy beast. There. I said it. His tortured soul and strength of character just made my heart BOOM BOOM so fast.

The other characters are good too. I liked all of them, even the second part of the love triangle. However, even though I liked Tariq, I do NOT want him to end up with Shazi. It will not happen, Renee. Do you comprehend what I am saying right now? Please do.

Let’s move on from my mini-rant/plead, shall we?

The plot of this book deserves a very strong “A.” I never knew what was going to happen. Which is weird considering it’s supposed to be a retelling, but I’m not complaining. However, because this book is based off of One Thousand and One Nights story, I was expecting that element to continue throughout the story. Again, not complaining, just observing.

The magic of the world and the detail that went into each paragraph, line, and word just made this novel so beautiful. I wish I had time to read it again, but alas, I do not. The only complaint I have about Sharhzad’s story is that I was very confused when I started reading. The first 10 pages or so switch point of views so much and I was trying to get the names and places straight but it was all so confusing. I think that probably wasn’t the best way to start out a fantasy novel.

All in all, I don’t think I can recommend this amazing fantasy novel enough. It has everything a fantasy lover wants: magic, mystery, mayhem, and sexy-times. Believe me, you’ll want to read it, so just go pick it up already.

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

Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Jenny Han

(To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #1)

Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Hardcover, 355 pages, Simon & Schuster

Genres: YA, Contemporary

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.

They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

My Review

This book has a lot of hype surrounding it, so I totally went into it thinking that it would just be a cute, light contemporary read. And it was. But it wasn’t. And I’m not sure how to explain that. You’ll just have to read it to see what I mean. ;)

Lara Jean has two sisters, an older one and a younger one. Margot, the oldest, has a boyfriend named Josh. Margot breaks up with Josh because she’s leaving for college. Lara Jean has a crush on Josh. Lara Jean writes a letter to Josh about her crush. That letter gets accidentally mailed. Cue a messed up whirlwind of drama and craziness.

Lara Jean is a great main character. She’s the epitome of every homebody girl that just doesn’t understand why people like to go to parties, football games, etc. I think we’d get along great. She also spends a lot of time with her family which makes for some adorable familial interactions throughout the book. Now the love interests, Josh and Peter, are very different. Josh is kind of like the nerdy guy next door, while Peter is the lacrosse star that everyone loves. And while Josh is a nice guy, I just didn’t see him clicking with Lara Jean. But that’s just my opinion.

The plot of the book was amazingly entertaining. While there are some original elements to the story, like the letters getting accidentally sent and the family and boyfriend dynamic, the big plot points of the story have really already been done before, but Han does a great job making all of these situations seem like she invented them. Like the pretending-to-date-another-guy trope or even the ex-girlfriend-is-a-beotch cliché. Nothing about the book seemed like it had been overdone in every Hollywood rom-com ever.

I loved Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty series and I didn’t think that this book would surpass the feels I had for those books (at least the first two, because the last one wasn’t that great), but To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before totally blew me away, and I can’t wait to read the next book in this sugary-sweet duology!

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself.

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

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

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

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

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: Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Release Date: April 26, 2011

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

When Pierce first sees him, she thinks he is a murderer. She's right about one thing -- he does take lives. But not in the way she ever imagined. Pierce is drawn to the dark stranger even as she tries to uncover the mystery surrounding the tragic death of someone close to her. As she gets closer to the truth -- and the stranger -- unexpected secrets are revealed, even in her own heart.

My Review:

Meg Cabot knows no boundaries. From ghosts to middle-graders to surprise princesses, she wows us with her words. And with Abandon I felt so wowed that I read it in one sitting!

The book immediately starts sucking you in with the promise of answered secrets. I badly wanted those answers, which meant stopping for even a second was impossible. Every page you learn something new and so totally mind-blowing about Pierce and Him. There were no stale moments, every scene was fresh and witty.

Another great thing about this book was that Pierce was independent. She didn't cling to this guy like most other YA heroines would, she stood up for herself and had her own voice. Pierce makes me extremely proud to say that I read YA Paranormal Romance.

The end of the book happened so quickly that I felt like bawling! I can't believe that I have to wait for the next book to come out in order to learn more secrets! This book is most definitely one of my top reads of 2011.

If you haven't read any books by Meg Cabot (What is wrong with you?), then go pick up Abandon on April 26th and start!

*I received an ARC of this book from Point/Scholastic this in no way altered my review/opinon.

**Thank you so much for sending me an ARC Scholastic!