Review: Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Across a Star-Swept Sea (For Darkness Shows the Stars #2)

By Diana Peterfreund

Published: October 15, 2013

Publisher: Baltzar + Bray

Hardcover, 464 pages

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine. --Goodreads

Purchase Across a Star-Swept Sea here: Amazon/ Barnes & Nobles/ The Book Depository

 

5 Stars 

Review 

Across a Star Swept Sea is a beautiful gem among the masses of dystopians, which I fondly refer to as the “world sucks, so let’s blow it up” stories. However, this novel succeeds not only as a dystopian, but also as a compelling retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel. 

Honestly, I had never even heard of The Scarlet Pimpernel until I came upon the blurb of this book. In preparation for the amazingness of Across a Star Swept Sea, I read The Scarlet Pimpernel, which was a fantastic read (great recommendation if you’re into the classics). The funny thing was after I read The Scarlet Pimpernel, I was prepared to dismiss any retelling because of the complexity of the plot. Classics like Pride & Prejudice are easily translatable into the modern world, but The Scarlet Pimpernel seemed to be impossible to retell properly. Thankfully, Across a Star Swept Sea dismissed any of my initial skepticism easily after one chapter.

Persis Blake stars as the Superman of her world: pretending to be a ditz during the day, while rescuing Galatean nobles at night. Unlike most dystopian heroines who are portrayed as fierce but usually are whiny brats, Persis is ferocious and intimidating. There is no stopping this girl from doing as she pleases, as she runs around saving people at the cost of her own health. 

Sometimes though, Persis is a flat character because she doesn’t seem to have any faults. Even her weaknesses aren’t really weaknesses because Persis’ suicidal nature is implied to be part of her unselfish nature. Admittedly, most people, including myself hate selfish characters but I wish Persis had some flaw to make her more human.

The writing style is spectacular with its vivid descriptions and witty dialogue. The alternating points of views between Persis and Justen were great because we could see the romance developing, which would have been impossible if there was only one POV. After all, when both people in a budding relationship are lying to each other, it’s impossible to witness the awkwardly hilarious inner turmoil. 

For any For Darkness Shows the Stars fans, no fear for Elliot, Kai, and Ro make special appearances in this companion novel. They’re not the primary characters evidently, but they do play a major role. Their appearance was exciting to read, but I wish that there were more interactions between Elliot and Persis because they would make an awesome duo as two fierce ladies.

There have been very few books published in the past year that are as spellbinding and beautifully written as Across a Star Swept Sea. With a beautifully woven world (not to mention cover) along with romance fluttering off the pages, this book stands out as one of the best dystopians of the YA world.

Review: Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep

Spartan Frost (Mythos Academy #4.5)

By Jennifer Estep

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation

Source: NetGalley

eBook, 60 pages

Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I'm fine, that Loki and the Reapers don't have a hold on me anymore, but I can't risk it. I can't risk hurting Gwen again. So I'm leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.

I know Gwen wonders what's happening to me, whether I'm safe. I can't tell her, but this is my story. . .

Pre-order Spartan Frost here: Amazon (Kindle) | B&N (Nook)

5 Stars

Contains Spoilers from Previous Books in the Series!!!

Review:

After the giant cliffhanger at the end of Crimson Frost, I was ready to blow up the entire world. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?!?!?!?!? *beep beep beep beep* pause *beep beep beep beep beep* I was spazzing out because the most kickbutt couple in the entire world was going through noble idiocy. Noble idiocy, if you don't know, is the chronic syndrome that couples go through where one person decides to leave the other for some pathetic reason. Refer to Edward from New Moon. 

At first, I felt betrayed by Jennifer Estep. How could she subject the most clichéd plotline in the world onto such an epic series? But then Ms. Estep released this novella which makes things so much better. Rather than abandoning Logan freaking Quinn for several months, she decided to give us an even better view of Logan freaking Quinn. Usually novellas are pointless stories that the author writes for some money, but Spartan Frost was totally worth the read and the money.

Spartan Frost begins with Loki possessing Logan, forcing him to attack Gwen. This event was already recapped by Gwen in Crimson Frost, but it was so much more heartbreaking to see this event from Logan's point of view. Seeing Logan so furious and hateful of himself for attacking Gwen, even though it totally was not his fault, is so heartbreaking. Before reading this, I understood that Loki needed to be destroyed forever. But after this, I want Loki to be tortured for eternity because he just gave Logan freaking Quinn a meltdown! This transgression is unforgivable because Logan is such a great protagonist. He has all of the bad boy swag, but he actually has emotions, which sets him apart from the rest of those dumb male YA characters.

Poor Logan is so traumatized that he runs away from Gwen for her safety, which is NOBLE IDIOCY, as mentioned before!!! This stuff usually ruins books, stories, and plots. However, in this case, the noble idiocy made so much more sense. The reason is because we got to see what Logan felt during his meltdown. It also may have helped that he wasn't a soulless robot throughout this ordeal: He still kicked the Reapers' butts in this novella, which is definitely a plus. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised that Spartan Frost effortlessly connected emotionally with its readers, despite its rather short length.

Honestly, if you have not started this series, you really should start now. The first book, Touch of Frost, is not as good as the rest of the series. Furthermore, there isn't anything really original in the setting or storyline of this series. In spite of these faults, Mythos Academy really has grown to be a favorite YA fantasy series though because all of the characters really connect to the readers. I admit, part of the reason why there is a connection is because Gwen has the power to sense the past when touching an object or a person. Still, there is something special in this series that everyone should discover.

Review: Fast Forward by Juliet Madison

Fast Forward 

by Juliet Madison

Published February 1st 2013 

Publisher: Escape Publishing

eBook, 218 pages

Aspiring supermodel Kelli Crawford seems destined to marry her hotshot boyfriend, but on her 25th birthday she wakes in the future as a fifty-year-old suburban housewife married to the now middle-aged high school nerd.

Trapped in the opposite life of the one she wanted, Kelli is forced to re-evaluate her life and discover what is really important to her. Will she overcome the hilarious and heartbreaking challenges presented to her and get back to the body of her younger self? Or will she be stuck in the nightmare of hot flushes, demanding children, raunchy advances from her husband, and hideous support underwear forever?--Goodreads

Awesome book! 5 Stars! 

Review

I accidentally came upon this book while on Goodreads and I ended up purchasing the novel and finishing it in one sitting!

Kelli comes off as conceited and a bit rude at first, but she grows on you! She was actually really funny. I laughed at her freak outs :) She tends to exaggerate a lot, especially when she went bungee-jumping with her son. Kelli's overly active imagination made this book a fun and light read. Thank goodness I didn't read this in public or otherwise people would think I'm a lunatic since I was smiling like a lunny for most of the book.

Since Kelli was sent to the future, there were tons of new technology. The technology were really cool! There was a built-in coffee maker in the car!!! The car had auto-drive! And it talks to you! I for one can not wait for the future :)

The novel was funny, but it also taught an important lesson. Reading this novel just made me appreciate life and all it has to offer. I'm the kind of person that constantly wonders what if? What if I turned in that assignment on time, would I've gotten a better grade in the class? What if I splurged and got that cute shirt? I'm also a huge planner. I have a plan for my future and intend to follow through with it. I also get stress out when things don't go according to my plans. The funny thing with life is that you never know. The only thing you can do is live your life and have fun doing so. As the kids would say, YOLO. (you only live once!)

Purchase this novel at: Amazon (Kindle)  / B&N (Nook) / KOBO

Review: Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon

Don't Turn Around (PERSEF0NE #1)
By Michelle Gagnon
Published: August 28, 2012
Published: HarperCollins 

Hardcover, 320 pages

Sixteen-year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her computer-hacking skills to stay safely anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in an empty warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there, Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side.

Enter Peter Gregory. A rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with Noa's talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation called AMRF threatens his life in no uncertain terms.

But what Noa and Peter don't realize is that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who'd stop at nothing to silence her for good. --Goodreads

5 Stars

Review:

Don't Turn Around is a beautiful book. Seriously, I think I've been waiting my whole life for this. It's got everything a truly terrific young adult book needs to have:

1. A strong female character (Noa) who doesn't get progressively weaker as they male character (Peter) appears.
2. The beginnings of a romance between the two main characters (it's only the first book. I'm sure it'll progress)
3. A storyline improbable enough to be classified as young adult, but grounded enough in reality and the insane world of hackers to make for an incredibly entertaining read.
4. An author with some insane writing skills.

The book alternates between the viewpoints of Noa, a girl living on her lonesome after running away from the foster care system, and Peter, a rich boy who lost his brother to some mysterious disease that is taking out the country's teenagers. The book starts out with Noa waking up in a warehouse crawling with evil henchmen with an IV in her arm and Peter's house being broken into by a group of masked thugs. The story continues on the action packed course it starts off with and doesn't slow down. 

The book ends up including just about everything and action book could. Tragedy? Some. Insanely wild and awesome fights/running away? Lots of it. Sheer fantastical hacking scenes? Enough to make you want to become a professional hacker. The beginnings of a revolution just to spice things up a bit? You got it. A few predictable plot lines? Come on. This is young adult fiction we're talking about. You already know the answer.

Overall, Don't Turn Around was a gripping novel with strong characters the reader roots for, a storyline that keeps the pages turning and, of course, hackers!

Purchase this book at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Review: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Spark (Elemental #2) 
by Brigid Kemmerer
Published August 28th 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Paperback, 345 pages

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it.

And sometimes he can't.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. 

Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...--Goodreads

5 Stars!

Review: (Warning: Will have comparisons to first novel!)

Click HERE to check out my review of Chris' story from Storm.

In comparison to Storm, Spark did not have a confusing beginning. Since I read the first Elemental novel, I was familiar with the Elemental world, so if you are thinking of reading Spark, read Storm first!

The build up in Storm was a bit slow and boring, but the buildup in Spark was much more interesting. Maybe it's because Gabriel is a much more interesting person than Chris? (Hey just my opinion, we can agree to disagree :) Gabriel is a complete A-hole, but it's because he believes he killed his parents when he lost control of his fire element. The only person that knows Gabriel's secret is his brother Nick, who's novella I can't wait to read! The only friend Gabriel has is his (twin) brother, Nick. I found it really sad that Gabriel alienates people, but hey that's what's making this novel. I did not understand why Nick and Gabriel stopped talking in the first place. The conflict that broke them up was so small in comparison to other things that could've happened. If they are best friends and brothers, I felt that they should've/could've gotten past that conflict much quicker and easier than they did.

Layne's story was sadder than I expected. At first I didn't like her, but I didn't hate her either. I was annoyed with her though. I seem to be annoyed with characters that just want to blend in and because they have such low self-esteem, they are taken advantage of all the time. I just wanted to scream at Layne, sometimes. I mean come on! Stand up for yourself! I really did liked the kindness Layne showed her deaf brother, Simon. Gabriel was also nice to Simon! It was so sweet that Gabriel stood up to Simon's bullies for him! (Note: Guys can be really mean!)

The plot in this novel was wonderful! For some reason, I really like the idea of having an elemental power. (like in Avatar: The Last Airbender lol:)

Spirit (Hunter's novel comes out in May!) Can't wait for May! If you don't know who Hunter is, read the novels!!!

Purchase this novel at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry #1)

by Simone Elkeles

Published: December 23, 2008

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Paperback, 358 pages

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.  

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.--Goodreads

What a novel! 5 Starz!

Review:

A contemporary like no other! If you are a person who usually hates contemporaries, this contemporary will probably be the contemporary that restores your faith in contemporary novels! Best. Novel. Ever. Read it now!

Within a few pages I was sucked into the world of Brittany and Alex. I felt like I was living two lives. Brittany strives to be perfect for her family and Alex needs to keep up his tough guy exterior to protect his family. 

Brittany of course hates that she has to be perfect, but her sister can never be perfect, so Brittany has to be perfect. Brittany's mom is the worst! She's always yelling at Brittany for the tiniest things and the way she treats Shelly, Brittany's older handicapped sister, is horrible! Brittany's mom is constantly worried about what other people would think and since her eldest daughter is handicap, people gossip about Shelly when she has her episodes. Brittany's mom's constant worry over the opinions of others carried over to Brittany because all Brittany wants is to appear to be perfect. The thing about perfection is that no one can be perfect, no matter how much you try to be. So when Brittany starts to like hanging out with Alex she has to keep that to herself because Alex is from the poor side of Fairfield and Brittany is from the rich side. The South and North sides aren't suppose to mix...

Mrs. Peterson was awesome! You always hear about English teachers being the best teachers, but in this case the chemistry teacher was the best! Mrs. P doesn't take nonsense from her students and it was Mrs. P who bailed out Alex when everyone else didn't believe him when he said that he did not vandalize the school gym.

Alex is extremely smart, but believes that he can never do anything other than being in a gang. Because of the environment that he grew up in, I think a lot of people have the view that they can't do anything more because it's not expected of them. Extremely sad, but true. :( Anyway when Alex met Brittany, he starts to mess with her, but later actually likes her. In the end they both help each other.

Purchase this novel at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Review: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Opal (Lux #3)

By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published December 11th 2012

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Paperback, 382 pages

No one is like Daemon Black. 

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on. 

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.--Goodreads

Warning: May Contain Spoliers on other Lux novels!

You have been warned!

Awesomesauce book! 5 Stars!

Review: 

I. Have. Been. Waiting. For. This. Book. For. Forever!!! (aka since I finished Onyx, which might as well have been forever ago) And now I have to wait another forever for the next novel???! 

Jennifer L. Armentrout has done it again! Opal is (so far) my favorite of the Lux series. Opal is one of those novels that makes you go ughhh, I just NEED to know what happens next! Word of advice: This novel ends on a cliff-hanger, so if you don't like cliff-hangers or if you don't like/want to wait forever for the next book, you might want to wait a few months to read Opal, since the next Lux book doesn't come out for another 6 months (July 2013; mark that on your calendars! I know I did, LOL). 

Daemon and Kat, two characters I can not get enough of! Can I just say for the 50th time of how much I love the Lux series? I LOVE the Lux series sooooo much! I may even like the Lux better than I like the Covenant series, which is saying a lot because I love the Covenant series! 

Ok so about the book... Daemon and Kat's adventures against the DOD continues! Dawson came back!!!!!! He's a little bit messed up since the DOD caught and jailed him, but he's back! All Dawson wants to do is get Beth back, so our Luxens go to get Beth back. The action(battling the bad guys) in this novel was not as intense as the action in Onyx, but there was a good amount of action. There is definitely a lot more deaths in this novel then in the others, some (most) of them were deaths of people you would not have expected to die.

You need this book! It's hard to tell you about the awesomeness of this novel, so you need to read this book!

Purchase this novel at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily
By Jodi Lynn Anderson
Published July 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up. -Goodreads

Review

At first, I was only vaguely interested in reading this book. It was only until I saw it on a library shelf that I decided to try it, going in without high expectations. However, Tiger Lily far exceeded my expectations. It turned out to be such a wonderful story of a girl who is so brave and strong on the outside, but has so many doubts and fears that she can't express, not even when she falls in love for the first time. It is so much more than just a retelling of the well known story of Peter Pan, it is Tiger Lily's story, one about love, loss, and loneliness.

In the story of Peter Pan, Neverland is seen as a magical place where good will always triumph over evil. That is not the case in Tiger Lily's Neverland, and through Tinker Bell's view point the readers can catch a glimpse of an entirely different world other than the Disney fairytale setting. The story is a brilliant mix of the Peter Pan that I know and grew up with and a whole new story that makes you question everything from the original fairytale and see it in a different light. In this Neverland, there is a deeper and darker side, where good doesn't always win and love doesn't always carry the day. 


From the outset, Tiger Lily has always been different from the rest of her tribe. She is bold, fearless, an amazing huntress and tracker, and doesn't fit into the mold of what her tribe expects her to be. She has always had to deal with that loneliness and the feeling of being an outsider. She manages with all her problems by shoving them deep down inside of her where they will never show. Not only that, but it is very hard for her to communicate and show her feelings and break through her outward mask of being uncaring and cool. I feel such pity and empathy towards her. 
  
By the end I was very disappointed with Peter. I knew that he would leave Neverland with Wendy, but I still didn't want it to happen. I will always root for Tiger Lily, though I think that the ending was the best it could possibly be (after all Peter and Tiger Lily can't end up together as it's not in the original story). They are such a good match, and are so similar. I also feel that  in the end Peter betrayed himself. He ended up growing old and living a life of comfort and security when before he was so adventurous and fearless and didn't think it was possible to grow old. 

I absolutely loved this book. The writing was beautiful, and flowed from one thing to the next. Neverland became a real and magical place, and the characters had such a deeper meaning to them than in the original story of Peter Pan. Tiger Lily is such a poignant tale of first love and how confusing and cruel life can be. The ending was so sad I cried (a lot) and was so bittersweet. In my heart I knew what would happen but I couldn't help but want Tiger Lily to finally get the guy. However sad the ending was it was also satisfying, and it made the story complete. I guess it's like life, there isn't always a happy ending. 

Purchase this book at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Review: Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Waterfall (River of Time #1) 

By Lisa Tawn Bergren

Publish: February 1st 2011 

Publisher: David C. Cook

Kindle Edition, 386 pages

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world? 

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces. 

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.--Goodreads

5 Stars!

Review:

This novel was perfect! I LOVE everything about it!

The character chemistry was awesome! Gabi was fierce! She kind of reminded me of the character Katsa from Graceling by Kristin Cashore, another novel I love very much! So Gabi and Lia venture into one of the tombs in Italy and find two handprints. The girls put their hands on the prints and find, to their surprise, that their hands fit perfectly and that the stone is warm? Then the stone gets to be burning hot and next thing they know they are in medieval times, but Gabi doesn't see Lia in the tomb with her anymore. Although the novel is about Gabi trying to find her sister Lia, the adventure and action that occur while trying to find her sister is both engaging and highly entertaining. Gabi seems to get herself into trouble a lot, but Marcello is usually there to help her out, although Gabi is not by any means weak or anything, she just gets into trouble a lot. Did I mention that Gabi has a wicked sense of humor? Her jokes and sarcastic thoughts are hilarious! :)

I liked Lia's character as well, but we didn't see her much. Hopefully we'll see her more in the second novel! Luca was also awesome! Luca develops a crush on Lia, but Lia doesn't seem to return the feelings, but who knows what will happen in the second novel! Can't wait to read more about Luca and Lia in the second novel! 

Gabi and Lia aka the She-Wolves of Siena! I can't wait to read more about them in book 2! This is definitely in my top 10 of 2012!

Purchase this novel at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Speechless 

by Hannah Harrington

Published: August 28th 2012 

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Paperback, 288 pages 

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.--Goodreads

5 Stars!

Review: 

Before I read this book I wrote a paper on the word silence for my English class. I like to say I learn all there is about silence, but I really haven't. My definition on that word (and on any word for that matter) is going to continue to grow as I grow. I actually meant to read this book for more research for my silence paper, but I didn't have time to finish the book for the paper's due date. :( But I still finish the novel and really enjoyed it.

Speechless tackles many problems such as homophobia and bullying. At first I thought Chelsea was a coward for taking the easy way out by not talking. In a small way she was being a coward, but in a bigger way she wasn't. I felt she could've accomplish the same things that she accomplished in the novel without her vow of silence, but the vow of silence symbolized something. The vow of silence stood for the self-loathing Chelsea had towards herself, the anger she has towards Warren and Joey (the people who beat up/ almost killed Noah), and the sadness Chelsea has about her lost friendships. Although Chelsea does realize that she didn't actually want to be friends with Kristen at all; she just wanted to be seen in high school and by being Kristen's BFF, Chelsea was seen. I thought this was selfish, but really doesn't everyone want to be notice? Especially in high school? Maybe not noticed all the time, but at least seen most of the time and not feel invisible like you don't matter?

Asha who became a good friend of Chelsea's was so so kind. Chelsea and Asha met in detention where Asha struck up a convo with Chelsea and invited her to Rosie's (a restaurant Asha, Sam, Noah, Andy, and eventually Chelsea work at). 

I simply do not understand why anyone would beat up another person for something they can't change! Warren and Joey, shortly after finding out that Noah was gay, hunted him down and beat him so hard that Noah went to the hospital unconscious. Even if you don't believe in being gay, why would you beat up someone because you don't believe in what they stand for? Violence is never the answer. Chelsea was the only who found out that Noah was gay and told everyone at the party that Noah was gay and that cause Warren and Joey to go after Noah. If Chelsea never told anyone that bit of gossip Noah would never have gotten hurt. Chelsea blames herself for that, but she didn't know that Noah was going to get beaten, so it's not all her fault. Since we are only human, we're going to blame ourselves for things we can't completely control.

Through Chelsea's vow of silence, she learn a lot about herself. By the end of the novel I was really proud of her. Chelsea was never a bad person, but by the end of the book she became a much better person than she was in the beginning. Many lessons can be learn from this novel and if you guys are looking for a good book to read or just have some free time, read Speechless. You'll read enjoy it and who knows maybe it'll give you something to think about!

Lesson: Think before you speak!

Purchase this novel at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits #1) 

by Katie McGarry

Published: July 31st 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Hardcover, 392 pages

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked. 

So wrong for each other...and yet so right. 

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.--Goodreads

5 Stars! It's a keeper!

Review:

I know, I know! I'm really late on the Pushing the Limits train! I got this book over the summer, but there were sooo many good awesome books that came out over the summer, so didn't get the time to get to this one, but this book was wow to the max!

I love all the suspense and mystery in this book. Katie McGarry drops you right into the story and it's up to the reader to figure out what is happening. At first, I thought it was really confusing and I admit, it took me a a chapter or two to understand to situation, but it was really interesting to find out what's happening. After you find out what is happening, you still don't know the full story! If you are like me and are baited by the mystery and you HAVE to know what is going on, then you are probably going to finish this book in one sitting like I did. This book truly blew contemporary out of the water! Reading this novel is time well spent!

The guidance counselor/ social worker was so trusting and nice! I love my guidance counselor, but this lady took guidance to the next level! First, she got Echo and Noah working together and that my friend is how the story got started! Second, she didn't judge them. Third, she was the one who helped our hero and heroine get their lives back and better than it currently is. I found myself trusting her and just in general liking her. 

Best friend: Ok YAN family, this is the most crucial part of the book: the best friend. It's the deciding factor of a good book.... I LOVED Lila! Girl was the BEST! She has stuck with Echo through everything she has been through in her life! Lila helped Echo when Echo's accident happened, when Echo's mom had her bipolar episodes, and when Echo's brother died. Lila was definitely a true friend, unlike Grace.

Isaiah and Beth. Isaiah and Beth are Noah's best friends. I thought they were interesting characters, but they really cared about Noah and that was really sweet. The three of them are all in foster care, well Beth isn't, but she stays with them a lot since her mom isn't the ideal person you want to live with. Beth was a bit rude to Echo, which I didn't quite get, but all the more reason to read Katie McGarry's new novel featuring Beth! :)

Echo and Noah. I can't really explain how well this duo worked in this novel, but they just made the novel that much better. I promise you if you read Pushing the Limits you will love Echo and Noah as well! But keep in mind Echo is a tad insecure about herself, especially after that night, and Noah has a really tough skin and gets mad easily, and all of this can be annoying at times, but understand where they are coming from!

Overall, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G book! Can't wait for Dare You To! 

Purchase Pushing the Limits at: Amazon / B&N / TBD

Review: Scarlette by Davonna Juroe

Scarlette by Davonna Juroe

Published: October 12, 2012

Publisher: BumbleB Media, Inc. 

eBook, 326 pages 

Find the Beast ~ Find the Cure

Scarlette, an 18-year-old peasant, lives under a dark threat. A nightmarish creature lurks in the surrounding forest, killing the villagers one by one. When Scarlette's grandmother survives an attack, Scarlette learns that her grandmother hasn't suffered the bite of just any normal animal.

Now desperate, Scarlette searches throughout her province to find a cure. But there are those who want to keep their pasts hidden. As she begins to uncover the dark secrets of her village, Scarlette is befriended by a local nobleman and a woodcutter who share a gruesome history with the beast. To save her grandmother, Scarlette must unravel their mystery and solve an age-old crime. But as she pieces together the clues, Scarlette finds herself torn between the two men, both of whom want to be more than friends and hold the key to the cure.

What if Little Red Riding Hood was real?

Based on both the Grimm and Perrault versions of Little Red Riding Hood and set against the terrifying, historic Beast of Gévaudan attacks, this dark YA retelling blends two epic legends, giving the fabled girl-in-the-red-cloak a new, shockingly real existence. --Goodreads

5 Stars

Review

Note: I consider this very important! Mark this on your calendars people! Scarlette, on December 26 and 27 is free for download for Kindle! 

It's been an extremely long time since a book has really grabbed my attention fully like Scarlette has. Despite the amount of books that I've been dying to read, I've found them all somewhat letdowns because they never really met my expectations. When I got into Scarlette, I of course had high expectations for this one because a horror retelling of Little Red Riding Hood (which in itself is already a horror story. Grandma eating, much?) had to be good, or else I was flunking it. Thank goodness that Scarlette defied my expectations and blew me away!

The book immediately starts off with Scarlette and her grandmother encountering the wolves in the forest. Instantaneously, the book sets its pace with a strong beginning that isn't slow nor uneventful. Scarlette's life is extremely difficult with an abusive mother, lecherous employer, her grandmother gone, and the whole town blaming her for the wolf attacks. One of the greatest strengths of this book is Scarlette herself. She is such a strong and fierce heroine, not one of those bratty, selfish ones, but a true heroine. Sure, she made many mistakes; however, she at least regrets her mistakes, and tries to make up for them.

The love triangle is formed between Scarlette, Francois, the woodcutter, and Louis, the nobleman, is a quirky one full of gives and takes. In some ways, I wish it was a bigger focus in the story line because I loved seeing Francois being awkward, but in other ways, I wished that it didn't exist because Scarlette never really has me truly rooting for her with either of the two. It's not like I disliked both guys of the love triangle, I just felt like none of them truly belonged with Scarlette at certain points. Thankfully, by the end, I was totally able to accept Scarlette and *beep* (his name is not a curse word, just saying), but for the first half of the book, I was a little puzzled by Scarlette's feelings toward the two guys.

As a dark retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Scarlette took many liberties with the plot, completely changing many aspects of the story to make it even more gory, as I've already mentioned. The mystery and climatic build-up was fantastic! I could literally feel the tension rolling off the pages as the story uncovered the many intricacies that the original tale was unable to grasp. Secrets were extremely well kept to shock the reader as the truths were being unveiled. I was surprised by a number of the twists quite surprisingly, which is extremely rare when the YA genre is gradually decreasing in originality.

I'm telling you all right now, you need to give Scarlette a try. The plot is so well-paced, the characters are well-defined caricatures, and the writing hypnotizes the reader. My only true complaint is the ending, which is a little rushed. While reading this book, I found myself trying to refrain from reading it too quickly, but just couldn't. Fine, then my second complaint (I know, I lied) is that Scarlette is too short for its own good, (yes, I am greedy) but otherwise this is an amazing fairy tale retelling that intermixes historical fiction with the paranormal without cliches, spellbinding its readers.

Purchase this book here: Amazon (Kindle, Free on Dec. 26 and 27)

Review: The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

The Book of Blood and Shadows
By Robin Wasserman
Published: April 10th, 2012 
Publisher: Random House

It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up.  When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love.  When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead.  His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life. -Goodreads

Review

Wow. My mind was just blown. What a twist ending. There were so many surprises. I was constantly guessing about who the suspect was, and it was so much fun.


I loved Nora. Every step of the way you can see how she thinks, her chain of thought, and how she interprets the world around her. She is just so smart, it's great. Wasserman's portrayal of a family devastated by grief is so real and convincing.Nora's brother was killed in a drunk driving accident, and her family was forever changed. Each one losing themselves in their own way, and what Nora did was immerse and console herself with the language of Latin. You can feel their pain. The way that Nora falls in love is also quite believable, it's not just a mega insta-love, but a slow build up where she eventually comes to recognize her feelings. Nora always has questioned her place in the group, and thinks of herself as the third wheel, which is totally understandable, Nora is just a character whom you can really relate to. The best part of The Book of Blood and Shadows are the relationships, and how everyone relates to one another.


I will admit it, I had at one point given up on this book. It just took too long for everything to happen and for you to be invested in the outcome. The world building was long but needed, you really had to understand Nora and the history of the mysterious manuscript, but eventually, there was just not enough to keep me interested. The plot is very complicated and intricate, and it takes time to get going, it can be a lot of Nora just translating. I had other books to read that were more interesting. After a week or so, after I had finished all of my books and had nothing to read, I decided, just for the heck of it, to try to finish The Book of Blood and Shadows. About half way through is where it really picks up, and from then on it's like a wild roller coaster ride with every unexpected twist and turn imaginable. There is almost too much that happens at the end, and it would have been better for Wasserman to spread it out more, that way keeping readers interested. 

I give you fair warning, this book revolves around God, and how to connect with him/ know everything and be like him. The manuscript is the instructions how to do this. It works though, because there is so much mention of God that you just get used to it. 


I would recommend this to anyone who loves secret societies, and is patient enough to get to the fast paced action. The wait is worth it however, because by the end you are just astounded at the turn of events and how crazy it gets. To those without patience, don't read this. With that said, good luck, and give it a chance.

Purchase this book at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository