Review: The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

The Ruby Circle

Richelle Mead

(Bloodlines #6)

Publication Date: February 10, 2015

Hardcover, 348 pages, Razorbill

Genres: YA, Paranormal

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

THEY WILL BE TESTED

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

Their forbidden romance exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s bestselling Bloodlines series.

When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, she and Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world and alter their lives forever.

Don't miss their unforgettable final chapter...

LOVE WILL CONQUER ALL

My Review

This review will probably contain some SPOILERS, just because it’s about the sixth book in a long series. So don’t read this review if you don’t want to be SPOILED.

I put off reading this book simply because I didn’t want the series to be over. I’ve been reading Richelle Mead’s young adult books since I was in high school and now I’m not going to be reading any Vampire Academy books for the first time ever again. I also didn’t want to read this book because I haven’t had the best of luck when it comes to reading series’ enders. I was hoping this book wouldn’t fall into the “Okay-ish Last Book of a Series” category, but it did. Boo…

After Sydney and Adrian got together, I just didn’t feel the magic of their relationship anymore. I missed the spark and banter that was present before and during the very beginning of their relationship. Also, this book is extremely short compared to the other books in the series. I almost felt like Mead was getting tired of writing in the Vampire Academy world, so she just quickly threw out a last book.

That brings me to the plot of the book. Every book in the series has some sort of connection to the previous books plot-wise, but generally the big bad thing that’s happened doesn’t really interconnect with the previous books. In other words, you can read the second book without reading the first book and still sort of know what’s going on. With this book, I felt like the big bad thing that happened was just “meh” compared to some of the other books in the series. I wasn’t really sitting on the edge of my seat wondering how Adrian and Sydney would fix this problem. And the side dilemma they had going on, the one involving Olive, was interesting, but I felt that it took away from the magic of Sydrian’s relationship. I completely understand why Richelle Mead put it in, though. She wanted to make sure her characters could have a happy ending.

I enjoyed the characters and the fun dialog, but I feel like the book needed to slow down and flush some stuff out.

All in all, this book didn’t blow me away like the first three or so in the series. Will I still be reading Mead’s upcoming YA books? Abso-freakin’-lutely.

*Note: I purchased this book myself.

Which Team Are You? : The Hemlock Trilogy by Kathleen Peacock Edition

I basically just post a book series every week and have people vote on what team they are. I know the YA Sisterhood does the YA Crush Tournament, but I just want to find out how much you guys like one love interest over another, in one series.

Last week's poll was over Team Cal, Team Maven, or Team Kilorn from Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen. Team Cal won! 

So for this edition of “Which Team Are You?” I’m going to ask you who your pick of hunky man-flesh is from the Hemlock trilogy by Kathleen Peacock. 

You can choose from (and don’t laugh at the images because they’re kind of how I actually picture them in my mind):

1) Kyle

or 2) Jason

At first I was totally Team Jason, then in the second book I started liking Kyle a little bit more. Now, I have no idea who’s winning in my mind. I should actually read the last book and just set my mind at ease.

 If you had to choose one, who would it be, and why? If you haven’t read the books, who do you think sounds more appealing from the Hemlock summary below:

MACKENZIE AND AMY WERE BEST FRIENDS.

UNTIL AMY WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome - also known as the werewolf vius - is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Which Team Are You?

• Team Kyle
• Team Jason

Acepoll

More polls: Create

***Please note that I stop checking the poll the Friday before the new poll comes out (on Sunday). Also, please only vote once so everyone’s vote counts, unless you need to vote for both guys. I give you permission to do that because sometimes choosing is tough.***

Stacking the Shelves: The Book Outlet Fail Edition

"Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme that is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

So I made an order on Book Outlet mainly because I wanted The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson and there was only one copy left. So I got it and two other books… or so I thought. When my order came in The Well of Ascension was not there. They’d run out. At least they didn’t charge me for it.

Redeemed by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross

I still have to get my hands on Revealed, but once I do, I will never have to buy another HoN book again!

What books have you bought/received lately?

Dean Winchester Friday

Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you look at the picture.

I’ve seen Jensen Ackles sing in real life. Be jealous.

What I'm Doing on May 10th

Guys! Guys! Guess where I’m going this weekend?! Just guess!

Okay, I’ll give you a hint…

Now can you guess?

Yep. I’m going to see Sarah J. Maas and I’m going to get some books signed! How freakin’ cool! I can’t believe she’s coming to Missouri! (She may live in MO, I’m not sure.)

Anywho, I’m going. And it’s going to be awesome. And I’m going to meet JessetheReader. This will be one of the greatest finals weeks ever!

Waiting on Wednesday: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

"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...

Carry On

Rainbow Rowell

Publication Date: October 6, 2015

Hardcover, 384 pages, St. Martin’s Griffin

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

Rainbow Rowell continues to break boundaries with Carry On, an epic fantasy following the triumphs and heartaches of Simon and Baz from her beloved bestseller Fangirl.

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

My Thoughts

It’s actually happening! It has a cover! (Which I’m not really fond of, btw) I can’t wait to read this!

What book are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Book Trailer: The Heir by Kiera Cass

I have mixed feelings about The Selection series. I loved the idea, but the characters and storyline were, at times, poorly executed. I know I’ll probably buy The Heir, but I can’t decide if I should wait until both of the spin-off/sequel books are out or if I should dive into it now. I just don’t want to be disappointed… or worse, love it and have to wait a year for the next book.

What do you think I should do?

Review: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Sever

Lauren DeStefano

(The Chemical Garden #3)

Publication Date: February 12, 2013

Hardcover, 371 pages, Simon & Schuster

Genres: YA, Dystopian

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

My Review

Rhine is in a bad place… again. And I don’t really understand why.

So this book starts out where the second one left off and (slowly) moves on from there. Rhine and her “husband” and sister-wife move in with Linden’s uncle in order to get away from Creeper McCreeperson (aka Vaughn). The whole time Rhine is saying that she wants to find her brother and her friend Gabriel, but she never does anything about it. Never! She just lets everybody push her around and it got soooo annoying.

Like Rhine, all of the characters got on my nerves. I found absolutely zilch of them relatable, empathy-worthy, likable, etc. Even Cecily and her kid’s relationship was fantastically annoying! Rowan, Rhine’s brother, was gullible and oblivious. Linden was a wimp. Rhine was a pushover. The only character I can say that I in any way liked was Linden’s uncle, but he didn’t even really do anything throughout the book.

The plot of the story was pretty much nonexistent. For over half of the book the gang’s just sitting around when Rhine should have been out there looking for her brother. Oh, and don’t even get me started on her disturbing relationship with her brother. JUST TALK TO HIM, RHINE! Good golly! If you would just communicate, then maybe so many bad things wouldn’t happen!

Also, whenever the characters actually managed to do something—and I am using the word “do” loosely in this case—everything just seems to magically fall into place: “Oh, you need to find your brother? Well, let’s just listen to the old radio and… Oh, what do you know?”

The only positive I can come up with in this book is something that happened towards the very end. I thought that scene really gave some power back to one of the characters, but it was so abrupt I couldn’t even digest the monumental scene properly.

All in all, I don’t know what happened to this trilogy. I thought the first book was a beautifully written, disturbing view of a seriously messed up future society, but something went incredibly wrong with the last two books. So if you’re looking for a young adult dystopian series to get you through your Katniss withdrawals, I’d say look far, far elsewhere.

*Note: I purchased this book myself.

Which Team Are You? : Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I basically just post a book series every week and have people vote on what team they are. I know the YA Sisterhood does the YA Crush Tournament, but I just want to find out how much you guys like one love interest over another, in one series.

Last week's poll was over Team Adam or Team Warner from Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me series. Team Adam won! (Honestly, I'm shocked... in a good way.)

So for this edition of “Which Team Are You?” I’m going to ask you who your pick of hunky man-flesh is from Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. 

You can choose from:

1) Cal

or 2) Maven

OR 3) Kilorn

I’m Team Cal! I can’t put into words how much I love his character, even though I hate some of the stuff he does.

If you had to choose one, who would it be, and why? If you haven’t read it (How is that even possible!?), who do you think sounds more appealing from the Red Queen summary below.

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of

those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Which Team Are You?

• Team Cal
• Team Maven
• Team Kilorn

Acepoll

More polls: Create you own poll

***Please note that I stop checking the poll the Friday before the new poll comes out (on Sunday). Also, please only vote once so everyone’s vote counts, unless you need to vote for both guys. I give you permission to do that because sometimes choosing is tough.***

Stacking the Shelves: The Library Sale Edition

"Stacking the Shelves" is a weekly haul meme that is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It allows book buyers to share their accumulation of books with the online book-loving community.

I volunteered at my local library warehouse sale and they let us pick out some books early! I was so excited! Unfortunately, they were only accepting cash and I didn’t think we were going to get to buy that day so I only had $18 with me. But I found some pretty good books. (Excuse the crappy camera quality. I was in a hurry.)

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Rebel by Amy Tintera

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, et al.

A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin

I got all of these books for $16. They were selling the boxset of ASoIaF for $5 ($1 apiece)!! I don’t think the older folks at the sale knew how valuable these babies are.

What books have you bought/received lately?

Dean Winchester Friday

Dean Winchester (or sometimes Jensen Ackles) Fridays make me a very happy fangirl. You'll see why when you look at the picture.

Sweet dreams, my sweet Dean.