Eona (Eon #2) by Alison Goodman | Book Review

Eona by Alison Goodman

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dragons
Publication Date: March 29th, 2012

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

Once she was Eon, a girl disguised as a boy, risking her life for the chance to become a Dragoneye apprentice. Now she is Eona, the Mirror Dragoneye, her country’s savior – but she has an even more dangerous secret. She cannot control her power. Each time she tries, it twists into a killing force. And more destruction is on her trail – High Lord Sethon’s army. She and her companions must find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona’s power if he is to wrest back his throne. But to help him, she must drive a dark bargain with an old enemy, which could obliterate them all.

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

“We are all more— and less—than what we seem.”

This series has been one heck of a ride. Never have I gone from hating to loving as much as I have with this crazy cast.

But man, Alison Goodman can tell an amazing story. It’s complex and well written and has such an amazing cast of complex and flawed characters.

I loved the political battle, and the struggle all the characters had with power and their humanity. I loved dragons, the entire energy world was absolutely fascinating. This story and this world that Alison Goodman has created is so unique and I even though this book was 600+ pages I was really sad when it ended.

I really loved Eona’s character. I’m not saying she didn’t frustrate me, oh she did. But gosh, she faces and has to make many tough decisions throughout the novel. Granted they’re not always the correct ones. She’s someone who has all this power and it’s because of that power she has a tough time trusting those around her. And also trusting in herself, for with great power comes great responsibility.

“You have seen me at my worst and at my weakest. Let me show you my best.”

Ido, I’ll admit it, I didn’t love him in the first book, but I was drawn to him. He intrigued me in a way Kygo didn’t. And even though he’s a murderer and possibly a psychopath, I couldn’t help but feel for him. Whether it’s by Sethon or Kygo, or even Eona, he was always being controlled by someone. Used for his power, used for killing. Is that what shaped him to be the person he is? To be this selfish character who only looked out for himself and was fueled by his own ambition? I don’t know. But I want to know, I want to know so much more about him.

“I know that love is about power, too. Who gives, who takes. Who is willing to risk showing their true self.”

I had a major love-hate relationship with Kygo as well. Surprising since I almost always fall for the royalty character. He’s emperor and because he’s an emperor he has to make tough decisions that will be best for the empire and his people. In his own way, I knew he cared for Eona, but at times I wondered if that was enough. Or if his quest to reclaim his throne would turn him into someone just like his uncle.

“In the end, power is always used to gain more power. That is the nature of the beast.”

Now the ending, most readers will be satisfied. It tied up some loose ends without exactly making it a happily ever after. But I really wanted more, I still have questions!

Overall, Eona was everything you could ever ask for in a fantasy series: great world-building, complex characters, political battles for power, and my personal favorite, moral ambiguity. Oh and dragons! Can’t forget that. Definitely, recommend if you’re looking for an awesome fantasy series!

“You lie even to yourself. Now that is the mark of a fool.”

5 out of 5 stars

★★★★★

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Shadow and Crow (Silver and Bone #3) by Claudia Cain | Book Review

Shadow and Crow by Claudia Cain

Page Count: 492
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery
Publication Date: July 13th, 2018

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

Tick. Tock.
Jennifer Jones is no stranger to trouble. She’s been framed for murder, hunted by the government, and just stopped a sorcerer from summoning murderous entities. By now, trouble is an old friend.
But there is always something worse to come. Something smarter. Something darker.
For the first time in three hundred years, Jennifer might be outmatched.
And as shadows gather and events draw towards a cataclysmic close, she can’t ignore the curse that now plagues her – or the fact that she’s rapidly running out of time

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

Disclaimer: A huge thank you to the author for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“Sometimes there are no good decisions. There are only decisions that aren’t as bad as others.”

What a fun and wonderful journey this has been.

Shadow and Crow was a thrilling, mysterious, very creepy and chilling finale to such a wonder trilogy.

I will admit I forgot a couple of the side characters, but I did remember our wonderful main cast: Jennifer, Ian, Oliver, Dave, Gabrielle, Cameron, and beautiful mysterious Mosi.

It had been a while since I had read the second book of the trilogy and while the third book does give a couple of recap paragraphs, I definitely recommend maybe a skim read through the ending scenes of Smoke and Mirrors to refresh your mind.

I have said this in my precious reviews, but Claudia Cain has such a nice writing style that keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire story. With a little less than 500 pages for practically all three books this series can get a bit exhausting to read.

It always takes me a bit of courage to bring myself to start an almost 500 paged story, Shadow and Crow captures your attention and pulls you into its story.

I really enjoyed unpacking the mystery of this story, and I have to admit the villain of the story as well as the descriptions of the creepy shadow creatures from across the veil that can only be seen if cursed really freaked me out.

However, while I love a good paranormal mystery, for me the heart of this trilogy lies in its amazing main character, Jennifer Jones.

“I had a family once.”
“Do you not have a family now?”

Words cannot even begin to express my love for Jennifer. She has done terrible things, things she will never truly forgive herself for, but she is so dang selfless and wonderful and badass.

“I’ve never felt self-conscious about immortality until I have to try and explain it.”

She would do anything for her friends even if it means harm upon herself. She cares so much for Ian whom she takes under her wing, for Oliver who is the closest thing to family she has, for Mosi who has been with her for so long.

Seeing the affects of the curse on her, especially when it pertained to those she cared for, honestly broke my heart.

“I’m a person. I’m your friend. The fact that I could live forever doesn’t change the fact that your death would make ever day beyond this one worse.”

Jennifer and Oliver’s familial relationship is the sweetest thing ever. They have been through so much together, would do anything for each other, and I love it so much.

“He’s walked in darkness enough times to know when there’s something in darkness with him.”

And here comes my second favorite character of the trilogy: Mosi. Ahh, beautiful mysterious Mosi. His despair and his guilt broke my heart. Cain does a great job portraying the immense guilt and grief Mosi has, for he’s ancient and has been around for a long time. His protectiveness of Jennifer was so adorable and sweet, and I really love Mosi’s character.

There’s still so much about him that we do not know.

This trilogy honestly has so much lgbt+ representation and I just love it so much? Jennifer is bi and there’s a lesbian romance that’s super sweet and it’s just great.

Heads up though, after the first book the series isn’t really big on romance. I personally did not mind and that’s coming from someone who loves to ship people.

A quick honorable mention character: I really do love Igor, he is so strange and mysterious, but helpful in his own way. I loved how he was sort of a rock for Jennifer in her darkest times.

And finally, the ending. The ending was perfect. I loved how Cain finished off the series with room open for a possible companion/continuation series, but also how it all came back full circle.

“It mattered,” I say. “It doesn’t make a difference how much or little time it was. It mattered. All of it.”

Even if I cried a little bit, even if I was desperately hoping for something else, I am satisfied with the ending and could not have seen any other outcome.

There is clearly still so much in store for a lot of the characters and I wish them all the happiness in whatever goals they may choose.

“There is nothing in the world as definite as a total end. There is only change.”

4.5 out of 5 stars

★★★★½/5

–

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A Wrinkle in Time | Movie Review and Unboxing

A Wrinkle in Time

Directed by: Ava DuVernay
Cast: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Levi Miller, Deric McCabe, Chris Pine, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Peña, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Childrens
Run Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Release Date: March 8th, 2018
Rated: PG

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

Disclaimer: A huge thank you to A Wrinkle in Time (@wrinkleintime) on behalf of Walt Disney Studios (@disney) for sponsoring this post and sending me a lovely package with the book and movie for me to watch, as well as the other lovely props featured. I am so completely grateful. All thoughts and opinions on the movie are my own.

Curiouser and curiouser. I honestly do not even know where to begin let alone how to explain my thoughts on this absolutely crazy movie.

A Wrinkle in Time follows Meg Murry and her little brother Charles Wallace as they brave a thrilling journey to find their scientist father, Mr Murry after he disappeared discovering a new planet.

The movie is based on Madeleine L’Engle’s young adult fiction novel, A Wrinkle in Time which is a part of the beloved Time Quintet series.

I have not read the books, this will not be a comparison and all plot points are from the movie as I watched and observed it.

Somehow A Wrinkle in Time managed to be way too fast and way too slow all at the same time.

It was very visually appealing, the outfits and the makeup were so crazy and cool! The first world they go to was absolutely stunning and magical.

The characters were interesting, but besides from Meg, quite underdeveloped. We’re introduced to a lot of them and I honestly could not tell you practically any of their names nor their motivations.

I did like Meg, Storm Reid did such an amazing job capturing this awkward and angry and sad girl who loved her dad with all her heart. She is so fierce and brave and beautiful and intelligent and strong. A wonderful role model for young children.

I do wish the bullying thing was better developed rather than just mean for the sake of being mean. But I guess that’s school for you. We learn about Veronica’a struggles and the teacher because of the “IT”; however, I was it honestly wasn’t that important. The bullying was introduced, but I feel like it was underdeveloped.

Actions have consequences and while forgiveness is important, it is not as easy as the movie made it seem.

Can we talk about Calvin?? Where did he even come from? We saw like a glimpse of him in the beginning school scene and I was like, “Oh look, probably the love interest.” But there was like zero explanation? He just popped up out of nowhere? Am I supposed to care about him all of a sudden?? Again, we learn about his problems with his demanding dad, but it wasn’t very well-developed. We do not learn about his dad and why he is the way he is.

Of course, they had to fit it all in an 100 minute movie, so it’s understandable that they couldn’t develop everything.

As for the actual plot of the movie, as someone who hasn’t read the book, I was quite confused as to what was going on. I liked the opening with little Meg and her father teaching her of the wonder of physics, but after that the beginning was kind of dry, and it took me a really long time to get into it. The pacing of the movie felt a bit uneven, some scene changes were very abrupt as well as anticlimactic.

At the end of the day I enjoyed my time watching A Wrinkle in Time, it was filled with magic and childlike wonder. There are some scary scenes that may be a bit too much for really young kids, I would say about 8 and up for an age range.

Honestly the most terrifying moment for me was the scene with the synchronized kids and mothers. Actual. Literal. Chills.

But overall, while the movie had its faults, it wasn’t particularly bad. Did it blow me away? No, it was enjoyable, and there were moments that really touched my heart. The acting was solid for such a young cast. It’s targeted toward kids and it teaches many valuable lessons in a somewhat cheesy way. The movie captures themes of believing in and loving yourself. It’s filled with lovely family moments and lovely friendships.

I loved the discovery and magic and childhood imagination. It has important messages. Unfortunately, I wonder if it can capture a child’s attention long enough for it to teach and spread those messages.

I do think I should have read the book first, but alas. Perhaps I will check it out soon.

Also, shout out to the Hamilton reference, honestly my favorite part of the entire movie. Next to that leaf scene.

6.5 out of 10 stars

★★★★★★½/5

–

Unboxing!

The media team of A Wrinkle in Time were also kind enough to send me a box filled with amazing goodies! A huge thank you to them for sponsoring my movie night!

Be sure to check it out when it releases on Blu-ray June 5th! It’s already out on digital! 👏🏼

The contents of the box included:

1. a digital code of the movie so I could watch it for free!
2. a copy of the A Wrinkle in Time movie tie-in book, which I am super excited to read
3. an absolutely beautiful A Wrinkle in Time Journal, it’s so stunning!
4. A Wrinkle in Time Mug featuring the Misses (Oprah, Reese, Mindy, my queens)
5. A super soft A Wrinkle in Time blanket
6. and finally a branded book light! (not pictured below)

 

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In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken | Book Review

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

Page Count: 535
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Young Adult
Publication Date: October 28, 2014

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

Ruby can’t look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government’s attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds. 
They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America’s children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the “rehabilitation camps” housing thousands of other Psi kids.
Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

“The darkest minds never fade in the afterlight.”

Not going to lie, I love how the titles of the books form a sentence.

Actual. Literal. Chills.

I love it.

*deep breath*

Gosh darn it, this series has been a giant rollercoaster of emotions.

I definitely think I prefer third person point of view when it comes to books that are not contemporary, but damn, first person point of view, and just being so intimately connected with the main character’s thoughts and feelings, really hits you right in the feels.

I honestly have not cried this much because of a book series in a really long time.

There is just something about children being treated so horribly that turns me into a giant puddle of tears.

I was a mess at the ending of Never Fade.

I was a mess during that scene between Vida and Ruby.

I am a mess over that ending.

Which I guess isn’t an ending since there’s another book coming out, but still.

My heart is in pain.

“They don’t burn, do they? Not like us.”

I know some people found Ruby annoying, but I connected with her so much. Even though she makes mistakes, I loved her. I love how protective and strong she is. She is such an amazing character and it has been a pleasure going on this journey with her.

Liam is such a precious soul. He is so sweet and selfless and kind. His heart and his soul is so inherently good. He makes me want to hope, he makes me believe in happiness.

Vida is my hero, I love her friendship with Ruby and how they always have each other’s backs. I loved how helpful she was with Zu and her interactions with Chubs. Despite all the awful things that’s happened to her Vida is strong and brave and beautiful.

Chubs is this best, he is honestly such a mom friend and I love him with all my heart.

Jude and Zu and are giant balls of sunshine that must be protected at all cost.

Nico, poor baby Nico. He deserves love and happiness after everything he has had to deal with. He deserves people who love him for who he is instead of manipulating him.

“What they don’t tell you about forgiveness is this—you don’t give it for the other person’s sake, but your own.”

I am not going to lie I did feel a little bad for Clancy especially toward the end, but I can never forgive him for what he did to Nico.

It is awful. I hate people who play with other’s emotions like that.

All of these kids deserve so much better.

All of the characters are so wonderful and I am so happy to have gotten to know them. To see their relationships, to know their struggles and their flaws, their pain and their sadness.

I love them. I love them. I love them.

They will never fade in the afterlight.

In the Afterlight was an amazing finale that wrapped up a lot the loose ends.

The future is still uncertain, but like Jude said, the future is like an open road, and I am hopeful that whatever life throws at these kids they will be able to get through it.

For their friendship is a bond that can never be broken.

I do hope some of my questions are answered in the novellas though!

“It rained the day they brought us to Thurmond.
And it rained the day I walked out.”

4.5 out of 5 stars

★★★★½/5

–

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Underneath It All by Patricia Vanasse | Book Review

Underneath It All by Patricia Vanasse

Page Count: 300
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publication Date: March 6th, 2018

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

Gossip Girl meets The Great Gatsby in this competitive prep school drama that tackles issues of class, diversity, peer pressure, addiction, and first love.
Seventeen-year-old London Mendes is the son of a Cuban mother and Seattle-native bookseller, and he knows exactly what he wants: to be the first in his middle class family to reach the Ivy Leagues. Specifically Princeton, alma mater of his favorite author Mia Merkley, a local mystery writer whose national fame and recent suicide have put her in the news again. Luckily for London, his own fiction and high grades put him on the radar of Birmingham Academy, a prep school that offers him a scholarship to leave public school and study with the richest students in the country.
There London meets Aria: the captivating, mysterious daughter of Mia Merkley. Her grief and darkness draw him in further than any of her mother’s novels. But soon, London learns that Aria is off limits—her blueblood boyfriend Dillon Astor is London’s newest friend and the one who decides London’s acceptance into the academy’s elite. When Aria and London become partners in a creative writing class, their friendship grows and an undeniable attraction threatens to blow London off course. 
London knows he has to work harder than ever for a shot at Princeton. He knows he should stay away from drugs, parties, and Dillon’s girlfriend. But as Dillon slowly reveals his true nature and Aria’s secrets, London fails to see what is underneath it all. Now London can’t help playing hero, and he’ll have to decide what he loves more: Aria, or his own dreams.

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

Disclaimer: A huge thank you to the author for sending me a free ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. All quotes could be subject to changes in the final product.

“Dysfunction is the only entertainment when it’s fiction. In reality it would be a whole different story.”

When the first few pages of the book began with a discussion between two book nerds about literature, I already knew that the main character London and I were going to get along just fine.

At it’s heart Underneath It All is a contemporary novel about unexpected friendships that turn into unexpected attraction and relationships.

The story deals with addiction and unhealthy relationships, and about how the choices we make in life for ourselves and those we love can be difficult, especially when school drama and peer pressure is added into the mix.

“I’m not sure a person can simply stop wanting, or thinking about another person, even if it’s for the best.”

I liked London, we did not have much in common besides our mutual love of books. He is much more of a romantic than I am, but even so, London is so sweet and nice and kind, which I think is so undervalued. His character is kind and supportive, and he is such a great friend to Aria.

“One thing was clear—Aria wasn’t the kind of girl who bent rules—she broke them as a matter of principle.”

Aria was a deeply emotionally broken and mysterious character. She is withdrawn and closed off, and often time no one really knows what truly going on in her head, not even her friends.

Her poems at the beginning of most of the chapters gives the reader glimpses of her problems. They were all so heartbreaking and sad, I didn’t love Aria, but I really felt for her.

Her relationship with London was so unbelievably charming. I found myself smiling at their interactions and their antics, and they were just so adorable.

‘“Music is very important because year from now, when you listen to this song, you’ll remember this moment, what you were thinking, what it felt like, everything’”

I guess my main issue with their relationship was I didn’t really get it? I mean, they were adorable together yes, and they clearly got each other in a way that both of them needed.

But she was clearly in a relationship. Did I particularly like Dillon? Not really. Did I like his relationship with Aria? No way.

I just didn’t understand why London was so captivated by her that he would risk everything for her. There were some lines in his narration that made me uncomfortable because it just seemed like London was in love with the mystery of her.

“The more trouble I had figuring her out, the stronger my attraction.”

That may just be a me thing though. I am really not good with understanding romance. He makes so many mistakes, but it’s undeniable that he grows a lot from his experiences.

That being said the story definitely gets darker and more depressing the more London gets entangled into the complex relationship of the Golden Clique.

“They are envied for their mutual devotion, for their bond, for the way they love and protect one another. A friendship written in the stars, forged in fire, bright like gold.”

The friendship between the Golden Clique was so messed up, and yet there is such a strong loyalty there that is slightly unhealthy and toxic.

They were all so real. Did I like them all or always agree with their actions? No, not at all. But they were all so human in the sense of not wanting to admit their mistakes. It was not all happiness and luxury from being wealthy, they all had their problems and their issues.

I really do not know how I feel about them. I cannot say I really liked any of the clique members, they were all pretty mean, and I will never be okay with bullying.

I did enjoyed Jason and Annalisa as secondary characters. I had a lot of fun learning more about them.

There is betrayal and there is heartbreak and mean bullying, there are secrets and there are lies, but the ending, while bittersweet (and made me a tad bit angry) was satisfying to me. I will be okay with how it ended. I am okay.

“I think love is an embellished idea that compels people to turn it into a set of high expectations. No one can live up to that. One way or another, all loves ends in disappointment.”

Overall, Underneath It All was a lovely, emotional, and beautiful book. The author’s writing was poetic and fun to read, I especially enjoyed all of the literature analogies and metaphors. I loved London’s voice, you could practically feel his love for literature.

It is a character driven story with a wonderful cast of flawed characters. Any fellow book lover will find a small piece of themselves in London.

“Aria looked back at me and smiled. ‘Don’t worry, it’s a good kind of pain.’”

3.5 out of 5 stars

★★★½/5

–

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Everything, Everything by Nicolla Yoon | Book Review

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Page Count: 307
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publication Date: September 1st, 2015

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

“Sometimes you do things for the right reasons and sometimes for the wrong ones and sometimes it’s impossible to tell the difference.” “Sometimes you do things for the right reasons and sometimes for the wrong ones and sometimes it’s impossible to tell the difference.”

I’m honestly still not really sure how I feel about Everything, Everything.

The beginning was very cute and adorable (so adorable I guess I did not really feel the “danger” of Maddy’s sickness), I laughed out loud during the bundt cake scene.

And although it was very insta-lovey, I thought Olly and Madeline were adorable and could perhaps look past their very quick love.

I loved the diversity, and the human nature of wanting more in life. The poems, the jokes, the miming at the window, the illustrations and charts throughout the book, it was all very cute.

But then I hit a point maybe a little more than halfway through the novel and the cute moments became less cute, the characters started appearing more pretentious and whiny and too angsty for my taste and I just became so uncomfortable with the entire thing.

Then I get to the ending and I am just left thinking “wtf?”

I know, I know, it’s fiction, and I know a lot of the plot holes were to add to the eventual plot twist, but come on!

I don’t want to say too much about what happens because of spoilers, but one can only suspend their disbelief in a contemporary novel so much.

I know a lot of people liked it, so I feel bad, but I just really did not like that ending. I felt like it promoted the idea that “love can cure sickness” which is not a message I will every agree with, nor will I promote.

“Spoiler alert: Love is worth everything. Everything.” 

Is it worth your life though, Maddy? Is it? Had Maddy never met and “fallen in love” with Olly she never would have taken those risks or found out the truth and that just makes me sad.

Overall, Everything, Everything, had an interesting premise, but it honestly was not something I was planning on reading had there not been so much hype. It’s a quick and easy, cliche romantic read with an ending you will either love or hate.

I for one wish that the author took a different direction with the story and gave us more details about Maddy’s sickness, but alas, it did not happen and it was not meant to be.

2.5 out of 5 stars

★★½/5

–

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Reading Preferences and How I’ve Changed as a Reader | Let’s Chat!

Let’s talk about reading preferences and how we’ve changed as readers.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how much my reading preferences have changed throughout the years.

Just recently I finished Brave, the last book in the Wicked trilogy, by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Long story short, I didn’t really like it. 

And it just got me thinking that if I had read it back in 2013 when I first got into the community side of reading, I would have probably loved it.

I think it was a strong case of ‘it’s not you, it me.’

I like to think that over these past few years I’ve grown a lot as a reader and as a reviewer.

I used to only read heterosexual romances.

Before anyone says it, no it was not because I used to be a homophobic asshole. I may not understand relationships or sexual attraction all that well, but I know for a fact people should be allowed to love whomever they want and you can fight me on it.

There is this fantastic quote in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda that states it so well:

“Why is straight the default? Everyone should have to declare one way or another, and it shouldn’t be this big awkward thing whether you’re straight, gay, bi, or whatever.”

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I am not a big fan of labels, but default blanket stating that me or everyone in the world is “straight” is an ignorant way of viewing the world.

But I digress, I mainly read heterosexual romances because I genuinely thought I would not be as invested in the relationship. I distinctly remember being recommended the book Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat and being hesitant to read it mostly because someone mentioned rape and I think I was like 15 at the time, but also because I knew it was M/M and I didn’t know if I would care about the romance enough to read it.

I really do not know why I had this mindset, but I am so glad I got over it because I ended up loving Captive Prince and Damen and Laurent. So many of my all time favorite ships, so many of my all time favorite books, feature lgbt couples whom I love with all of my heart.

I also think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I did not really know any books with non-heterosexual romances either. I will always be so eternally grateful for the Internet for helping me discover new things.

I used to lean away from books with male protagonists.

Again, like with the “only reading heterosexual romances” thing, I did not think I could relate that well to a character simply because they were male and I was female.

I think in a lot of ways I also preferred female protagonists because I wanted someone infinitely cooler and stronger than I was that I could only aspire to be. I wanted a role model to look up to.

And while I do not think there’s anything particularly wrong with preferring one protagonist gender over another, I am so happy I got over it because there are someone amazing male protagonists out there in literature.

I distinctly remember my teacher loaning me a copy A Darker Shade of Magic over the summer and me putting off reading it because I knew there was a male protagonist. And hey, look at me now, Kell Maresh is honestly now one of my all time favorite protagonists out of all the books I’ve read. I love him and I can relate to him with my entire heart and soul. He is forever ingrained into my brain.

I used to hate third person perspectives and want to read only in first person perspectives.

This is probably the biggest flip flop, which also happened around the time I read A Darker Shade of Magic and Victoria Schwab showed me how wonderful third person perspective was.

I used to absolutely dread reading third person perspectives and would actually not want to read a book if it was not in first person. The only exception I had was for Cassandra Clare books because they are fantastic.

Now, I honestly prefer all books to be in third person. I find the stories to be much more rich and more fun because it is more than just one characters brain. While first person let’s you intimately get to know the main character, you do not really get to know everyone else.

While I do not particularly mind first person, I would much rather prefer it in my contemporary novels than my fantasy novels.

I used to force myself to finish a book/series even if I was hating it.

This is a huge one for me. One I am still kind of working on.

I distinctly remember forcing myself to finish the Hush, Hush saga despite hating every minute of it and want to throw the book across the room.

I also remember rating the first book five stars because I was riding the hype and I knew everyone loved it and I wanted so desperately to love it too that I forced my brain to pretend that it did.

Not my proudest moment, I am so glad I have gotten past that.

The truth is, all of these things? None of them are really true anymore.

While I do still try to finish every book I start, I am not afraid to not finish series anymore. I did it with the second part of the Selection and the Bloodlines series. I did it with Throne of Glass and I am so glad I did because those books actually filled me with dread to read.

When a book makes you actually not want to read, do not continue reading it.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I will always be thankful to Jennifer L. Armentrout and her books for being such a critical part of my past self, but I do not think her books are for me anymore.

And I truly think that it’s okay. It’s okay for you to change and grow as a person. It’s okay for your reading preferences to be different.

It’s okay to once love a book and maybe not love it as much anymore.

Perhaps I will check out more of her books again in the future. I did quite like the Problem With Forever, but at the moment I’m done trying to force myself into devouring everything she writes.

I feel like this could possibly be taken the wrong way, but I just wanted to share this so we could all have a conversation, so let’s chat!

In what ways have you changed as a reader?

I honestly just find it so fascinating how people can change so much that revisiting old favorites just lose their appeal.

Life is complex, people are interesting, everyone is different, and I honestly think that is so cool.

What did John Green say?

“Your now is not your forever.”

I know he was talking about mental illness when he wrote that in Turtles All the Way Down, but I’d like to think it still applies.

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The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen | Book Review

The Vanishing Season by Joanna Schaffhausen

Page Count: 288
Genre: Mystery
Publication Date: December 5, 2017

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

Ellery Hathaway knows a thing or two about serial killers, but not through her police training. She’s an officer in sleepy Woodbury, MA, where a bicycle theft still makes the newspapers. No one there knows she was once victim number seventeen in the grisly story of serial killer Francis Michael Coben. The only victim who lived. 
When three people disappear from her town in three years, all around her birthday—the day she was kidnapped so long ago—Ellery fears someone knows her secret. Someone very dangerous. Her superiors dismiss her concerns, but Ellery knows the vanishing season is coming and anyone could be next. She contacts the one man she knows will believe her: the FBI agent who saved her from a killer’s closet all those years ago.
Agent Reed Markham made his name and fame on the back of the Coben case, but his fortunes have since turned. His marriage is in shambles, his bosses think he’s washed up, and worst of all, he blew a major investigation. When Ellery calls him, he can’t help but wonder: sure, he rescued her, but was she ever truly saved? His greatest triumph is Ellery’s waking nightmare, and now both of them are about to be sucked into the past, back to the case that made them…with a killer who can’t let go.

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

“Hope is the thing with feathers, Emily Dickinson wrote, and Reed felt the truth of the words every time he met with the families. Hope could take you so high that you no longer saw the ground.”

Disclaimer: A huge thank you to the publishing company for sending me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

First off, can I just say how much I loved and hated the opening of this book? It managed to hook me and make me so dang curious, but also annoyed because I knew the author would not be revealing the identity of the person who witnessed Ellery’s kidnapping until the end.

Well played Joanna Schaffhausen. Well played.

The Vanishing Season is a story about Ellery Hathaway who was the only survivor of the infamous serial killer, Francis Michael Coben. Years later she moves away to the small town of Woodbury, MA, changes her name and becomes a police officer. The story starts with her investigating the disappearance of three people three years in a row all around her birthday. Since none of her team believe the disappearances are connected, she calls up FBI Agent Reed Markham, the man who saved her life all those years ago, to help her solve the mystery before another person is taken.

While the prologue was great, it did take me a little bit to get into the story and warm up the characters.

The two protagonists, Reed and Ellery take a while to really trust each other, but their dynamic, their teamwork, and just their friendship was really beautiful and sweet. I loved them together.

“She’s like a soldier back from the war, he wanted to say. She’s strong. She’s shattered. Surprisingly funny, if she wants to be.”

Despite all the awful things that have happened to her, Ellery is so strong and intelligent and brave. I quite liked her a lot, she fights so hard for what she believes is right, and she was just a delight to read about.

Reed’s character was really interesting! I do think the dynamic between him and his wife and daughter wasn’t really fleshed out all that much. We get a taste of his life from before Ellery calls him, we know he loves his daughter, we know he was asked to leave the FBI, but that’s really about it.

While I was hoping for more development for his past, I did end up liking his character. Is he perfect? Far from it, he is flawed and makes mistakes when it comes to his relationships. He is protective of Ellery, for some obvious reasons, but he is also just extremely intelligent and thoughtful when it comes to criminals.

“It’s not up to you to stop it, not by yourself. You’re just one person Ellie.”
She shuttered and wrapper her arms around herself. “Yeah, but I’m the one he wants.”

Together him and Ellery were wonderful.

Though I did end up really liked our two main characters, the other characters weren’t all that memorable. Rosalie and Anna are introduced, but only mentioned like one other time in the book (after I had forgotten their existence).

Sam was interesting, but his character flipped back and forth from not a complete asshole, to plain awful and then back to being alright (not that great, just alright).

Reed’s ex-wife, Sarit and his daughter Tula are mentioned a couple of times throughout the book, but we really do not learn much about them to actually form an unbiased opinion.

(To me, Sarit seemed a bit just like a manipulative journalist. I really don’t want to be too harsh on her since we really don’t know the whole story with her though.)

I personally do not read many mystery novels simply because I am that awful person who will try to spoil myself on who the killer is. However, the plot was gripping and had me flipping the pages non-stop until I reached the end. It did help that the story wasn’t too long as well.

The mystery was interesting, even if I wasn’t that emotionally invested, I was still desperate to reach the end and find out who the killer was.

I did manage to guess who the killer was, but it was honestly just a small hunch that turned into actual suspicion after reading like 75% of the book.

Overall, The Vanishing Season was a well written, slightly creepy, and enjoyable fast paced read with awesome main characters. Despite some of the minor issues I had with it, I definitely recommended for fans of mystery and crime novels. It was so fun watching the mystery unravel and just hanging out with the characters.

“Bump’s a people person,” Ellie replied with a sigh, sounding almost disappointed. “I’ve tried to explain that we’re really just a bunch of selfish, rotten, hateful creature, but he goes on loving us just the same.”

Plus, there is an adorable dog sidekick, whom I loved.

I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Schaffhausen’s books in the future.

“She pinched her leg hard enough to hurt. The pain grounded her in the moment. It told her she was alive.


3.5 out of 5 stars

★★★½/5

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The Dark Days Pact (The Dark Days Club #2) by Alison Goodman | Book Review

The Dark Days Pact (The Dark Days Club #2) by Alison Goodman

Page Count: 496
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: January 31, 2017

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

June 1812. Just weeks after her catastrophic coming-out ball, Lady Helen Wrexhall—now disowned by her uncle—is a full member of the demon-hunting Dark Days Club. Her mentor, Lord Carlston, has arranged for Helen to spend the summer season in Brighton so that he can train her new Reclaimer powers. However, the long-term effects of Carlston’s Reclaimer work have taken hold, and his sanity is beginning to slip. At the same time, Carlston’s Dark Days Club colleague and nemesis will stop at nothing to bring Helen over to his side—and the Duke of Selburn is determined to marry her. The stakes are even higher for Helen as she struggles to become the warrior that everyone expects her to be.

–Possible Spoilers! Read at your own risk!–

“In my experience, life is always a question of courage. Which way do we run when we see danger: away from it, or towards it?”

What’s that you hear?

Oh, just the sound of my heart breaking, no big deal.

The Dark Days Pact was just as good as the first book. It was filled with more action, more deception, and especially more pain and sadness.

I am so blown away by the amazing character development, every character is so filled with personality and heart. They are all fighting their own inner battles, they’re all experiencing pain and heartbreak, and it just made them all feel so real.

I love Mr. Hammond, and I especially loved Sprat. What a nice addition to the family, she was so funny and cute.

“It is hard to give up hope, isn’t it? Almost as hard as having it.”

The writing is beautiful. the sheer amount of research Alison Goodman did still makes me so extremely happy. It is never awkward or forced, the historical details are authentic and perfectly weaved in. The pacing is again pretty slow going, but the character and their relationships all but make up for it, I was never bored.

My love for Helen remains as strong as ever. She doubts herself, she makes mistakes, but she has grown so much and she is so strong. I am so proud of her.

“It is because you do not believe my kind can love, Guillaume. I think you do not even believe your own kind can love.”

Lord Carlston has really grown on me, his pain, his entire character makes me feel physical pain. He is not good at sharing, he is not very good at expressing himself, but he cares so much for those under his protection and he truly loves so deeply.

He leaned closer, face fierce. “Do you love him? Is that it?”
“You, of all people , have no right to ask me that.”
“Maybe not, but I ask it anyway. Do you love him?”
“Love him?” Helen’s voice rose. “Apparently I am not allowed to love in this godforsaken world!” 
“Apparently neither am I,” he said through his clenched teeth. “Yet…”
Yet what? His face. his body, were so close. So dangerously close.
“Stay,” he breathed.

I was not really shipping anyone in the first book, but I wholehearted take it back now. Everyone is just so sad that it just made me so inconceivably sad. The romance is so painful it hurts so much. My heart could not handle all of the raw emotions just hitting me in the face.

Public service announcement: I hate the Duke of Selburn.

You can argue for him all you want, maybe I am a bit mean to him, but I really do not like him. I do not like people who cannot take no for an answer. I do not like people who think they’re entitled to get the girl because they’re the “nice guy”.

News flash, you are not.

I do not understand why he keeps asking her time and time again to marry him when time and time again she says no? Why does he keep dismissing and hating on Lord Carlston when it is so clear that Helen loves him?

I know he was just trying to protect her reputation (seriously if he hadn’t shouted her name to the whole world while she was incognito, perhaps the end results and all of my heartbreak could have been avoided), but I do not understand why he wants so badly to be with her. It does not feel like real genuine affection to me. It feels like him trying to “beat” and hurt Lord Carlston. His and Lord Carlston’s fights over Helen are probably my least favorite scenes.

I hate this world where Helen has to dress up as a man to do anything. I hate this world where it is scandalous to be caught with another man unless you plan on marrying him.

I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.

But god dang do I love this book. I love it so much.

It hurts, all of this injustice is so physically painful, and I both hate and love Alison Goodman for making me feel all of these angry feelings.

But nevertheless, I love this book. I love this series. I cannot wait for the finale.

“Every day we will be facing danger and death, and just by that fact we cannot be bound by the normal rules of womanhood. We cannot defer when we must act. We cannot follow when we must lead. We must make our own rules.”

4.5 out of 5 stars

★★★★½/5

you can read my review of the first novel in the series, The Dark Days Club here.

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Buy the first book, The Dark Days Club:

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P.S. I Like You by Kasie West | Spoiler Free Book Review

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publication Date: July 26th, 2016

Synopsis:
(from Goodreads)

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?
While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she’s flustered — and kind of feels like she’s falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer — but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

–Spoiler Free!–

“Words brought us together though they almost kept us apart.
You trusted me with your secrets and then you stole my heart.”

This book was so adorable. I cannot stop smiling at all the cuteness.

“Who are you talking to?”
“Myself.”
“You do that a lot.”
“I know. I’m the only one who understands me.”

I want so badly to rate it 5 stars because of the ending alone, but alas, I cannot look past how upset the main character made me. I found Lily to be really funny and awkward. I loved her passion for music and her relationship with her family. In the beginning I really loved her, she reminded me a little of myself–an awkward person who talked to themselves occasionally, didn’t mind being alone and loved indie music–but she’s just so judgmental and it was a huge turn off for me.

“I was fine alone. Sometimes I preferred it that way.”

Especially toward a certain someone and it made me so mad because I loved him. I loved him so, so much. Gosh, he’s a total sweetheart. The last third of the book had me swooning and my heart fluttering with full on excitement.

Kasie West has always been one of my guilty pleasure reads. If anyone else besides her had written this book I most likely wouldn’t have picked it up or put it so high on my to-be-read pile.

But with her, I can’t explain it. You’ll definitely have to read one of her books to really understand what I mean. They cast a spell on you. Suddenly your normal reviewer mind just shuts off and you return to being that casual reader that reads a book simply for pure pleasure.

P.S. I Like You, The Distance Between Us, and On the Fence (still haven’t read The Fill-In Boyfriend yet, shhhh) are books that are a ton of fun. They’re cute, they’re funny, and they’re for pure entertainment. Which at the end of the day, is something everyone needs once in a while.

Will this book win a ton of literary awards? Probably not. But I don’t think it’s a book that sets out to do that either. It’s a book that makes you feel happy.

Overall, I definitely recommend you check out Kasie West’s novels! My favorite is The Distance Between Us, but P.S. I Like You was so much fun to read as well! When you feel yourself succumbing into a dreaded reading slump, I assure you they’ll pull you out of it!

3.5 out of 5 stars

★★★½

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