Review: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

Title: Prisoner of Night and Fog
Author: Anne Blankman
Series: Prisoner of Night and Fog #1
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: April 22nd 2014

Rating: 3 stars

Thoughts:

To be honest, I'm not really a historical fiction reader. Although I wish it would be otherwise, historical books just aren't my thing. For some reason, they just never really grab me. (Which sucks, since just about every book I have to read for school is historical fiction.) I only picked up Prisoner of Night and Fog because of 1) that cover, and 2) that synopsis. I knew that I was picking up something historical, but I mean, come on. The devoted niece of Hitler who gets into a relationship with a Jew and starts questioning her uncle's ways? Yes please. Although ultimately I think this book executed everything well, Prisoner of Night and Fog failed to grab me and suck me in.

First I have to compliment Blankman's writing. It's not overly flowery, but it managed to be pretty while also giving the book a very sober feel. Her writing style fits the story perfectly; it feels gray but never dull, sober and warlike. Although there are no exquisite paragraphs questioning life or just being generally pretty (à la Laini Taylor), Blankman has a way of choosing the exact right words for certain settings and happenings.

Although her prose was very pretty, this book failed to bring out anything in me emotion-wise. I never connected to any of the characters - or the story, for that matter - and I never really felt the urge to keep on reading. I was in a huge reading slump while reading this book and I'm not sure whether all of the above was because of that reading slump or that this book caused the reading slump. Either way, I could put away this book for days and not care. In fact, I read another book while reading this book and that is something I never do.

In general, I just felt quite "meh" about this. The characters were interesting, but not strong enough (to me) to carry the story. Gretchen, our main character, felt quite bland to me. I liked her, but never really got a grasp on her personality. Same goes for the love interest, Daniel. he was a nice guy for sure, but I just never felt like I really understood him. In fact, I think all of the characters, save for our psychopaths, could use more developing. That is, I found Gretchen's brother Reinhard and Hitler very interesting to read about. I think Blankman did a good job on portraying particularly Hitler. His charm, his craziness, his coldness and his love for Germany. He was just a very interesting character all around and I also really liked how Blankman managed to put in a little analysis of his character through Gretchen and the psychoanalyst.

The romance felt the same as the involved characters to me: likeable, but bland. I didn't have any problem with them being together, but to say that I was shipping them with all my might... No, not really. I never really felt the chemistry between the two, but I will say that I think they were fit for each other.

Ultimately, I think Prisoner of Night and Fog was a good book. It just wasn't for me, but I feel that might have to do more with its genre than with the book itself. Although everything felt slightly bland to me, I think that those who have enjoyed historical fiction in the past might really enjoy, even love, Prisoner of Night and Fog. If the synopsis and genre appeal to you, go for it! It just wasn't really for me.

(Also, please excuse me if Prisoner of Night and Fog isn't actually historical fiction but another genre. I'm a disaster when it comes to genres. The only ones I recognize with absolute certainty are contemporary and dystopian. So yeah.)

ARC Review: Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong.
Rule Two—Be careful.
Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest.
Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible.
Rule Five—The letters are the law.

Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has ever known.

But when a letter appears in the mailbox that will have the power to topple Kit’s convictions as perfectly as she commits her murders, she must make a decision: follow the only rules she has ever known, or challenge Rule One, and go from there.

Katherine Ewell’s Dear Killer is a sinister psychological thriller that explores the thin line between good and evil, and the messiness of that inevitable moment when life contradicts everything you believe.

Title: Dear Killer
Author: Katherine Ewell
Series: None
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: April 1st 2014

Rating: 2.5 stars

Thoughts:

I was disappointed in certain aspects of Dear Killer. This is one of those books that is incredibly hard to review, because I just have no idea how to kick this review off and get the words flowing. So I made a little list with the most important parts:

The Characters

Overall, I thought Dear Killer featured solid characters. However, I really failed to connect to Kit. That could of course be logical, since she's a killer, but I felt that it could have been possible to connect to her more emotionally. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, and it really affected my enjoyment of the novel. That is not to say that Kit is an awful character or that I disliked this book, but especially that ending would have been much more emotionally powerful had I connected to Kit. However, the way Ewell makes you root for a serial killer was really well done. All throughout the book, you don't want Kit to get caught, which is strange. After all, she is a serial killer. Still, you don't want her to end up in prison, and that's really interesting for the reader. What does this say about us? That as long as you are in the killer's head you will root for them, no watter what they do? Is there a dark side in us that comes out while reading the book?  It was interesting, and Dear Killer will definitely cause the readers to think about themselves. 

However, aside from the inability to connect with Kit, I had one major complaint about her. This girl is sixteen and she's just about the most succesful serial killer ever. She never leaves traces behind and never gets caught and no-one has a clue. I found this to be quite unbelievable, especially since Kit is a bit sloppy in her kills. Take for example that time where she did know how to kill a person but forgot that she needed a way out as well, or the time she kills someone in an alley next to a busy street. Or the chunks of information she gave away about herself, or befriending a policeman. She makes a couple of kills that would make anyone suspicious of her, and I thought it was incredibly stupid. I get that Kit was slowly changing and even questioning what she did, but even I saw that was stupid. And I'm not the one with the life-long killer training.

The Plot

This was an aspect I really enjoyed. Kit's development was gradual and believable. I really loved how she started questioning things herself, because all too often the love interest makes the main character see things more clearly. Not in Dear Killer. Kit does basically anything mostly on her own: she was very independent, and I loved it. The way she slowly changed was really well done and the ending was pretty powerful (although it would have been way more powerful had I connected to Kit).

There was an aspect of the plot that I didn't quite believe in: the letters. Although I really liked the idea of them, I couldn't believe the things that were written in them. Everbody who asks the "Perfect Killer" to kill for them knows that that letter will end up with  the dead body. So I found it hard to believe that some people wrote "please kill my sister" or "please kill my fiancé" because they were extremely traceable this way. I'm not really sure how the law works in cases like these, but I can imagine that you wouldn't want people to know that you basically hired someone to kill a specific person.

The Romance

There wasn't one. I KNOW. A YA book without romance: it exists! Although Alex may have sort of been a love interest, they never get on with it. There's nothing more than a squirmish feeling and tingles, and even those are few and far between. It was so refreshing! No romance, no angst, no clichés. I loved it.

Overall

This was a really enjoyable story, and Kit was a well-developed character that changed in a slow and believable way. I also really loved that there basically was no romance, even though you can ship Kit and Alex would you want to. It was extremely refreshing because every YA features a romance nowadays! There were a couple of things I didn't really like: how unbelievable certain aspects of the story were, and that I failed to connect to Kit. Unfortunately, I think both things are pretty important and it affected my enjoyment of the novel. This was a solid read, and a very refreshing and original book!

Thank you, Katherine Tegen Books, for the digital review copy! No money or favors were exchanged to alter this review. 

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, which showcases books we're eagerly anticipating.

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After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Title: Open Road Summer
Author: Emery Lord

Publication Date: April 15th 2014

Why am I waiting?

Summery, cute, road trip... Plus all the raving reviews that are rolling in! This sounds absolutely perfect and I need it in my hands now <3

Top Ten Books on my Spring TBR

 














Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
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1. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

So I wrote down the wrong publication date for this one - I thought this would be published May 18th, not March 18th. I literally discovered that seconds ago which means PANIC because I have to fit it in my reading schedule somehow and aaaah I don't know how I'm going to. Either way, this is at the top of my TBR because I'm going to need to finish this soon. O.O

2. Great by Sara Benincasa

Apparently this is a YA Great Gatsby retelling. Now, I actually haven't read The Great Gatsby, but still. I'm always in for a retelling, and I remember this author doing an awesome post on 1 star ratings and why authors shouldn't be angry about them!

3. Split Second by Kasie West

I own a copy and I still haven't read this. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I need to read this ASAP.

4. Life by Committee by Corey Ann Haydu

This one has a really interesting synopsis. I don't really know what this book is about, but it sounds fun and slightly Panic-like. Also, this is by the same author as OCD Love Story, which has received good reviews. I'm excited for this one!

5. Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

The Fault in Our Stars x Eleanor and Park. I'm in!

     

6. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

I finally own this, and everyone is raving about Marchetta. I've already read and liked her book Saving Francesca, but apparently this really is it. I'm curious.

7. The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik

This sounds very cute. Not without flaws, but cute. Which is exactly what I need from time to time!

8. Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike

Pike's Wings series maybe wasn't of high quality, but it was highly enjoyable, which is why I am excited for Sleep No More. It sounds completely different from Wings, which I can appreciate! I love it when authors do different things. I really hope this delivers.

9. Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Finally, finally, I have a copy of the Book with the Gorgeous Cover. (and Interesting Synopsis). In other words, MUST READ THIS SOON.

10. Tease by Amanda Maciel

I'm hoping for something à la Dangerous Girls, which I LOVED. I hope to see a twisted but awesome novel. Please, please don't disappoint!

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew - about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam - was wrong.

Title: Ignite Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: February 4th 2014

Rating: 4 stars







Thoughts:

Ignite Me did several things: it made me laugh, it made me feel sad, it made me angry, it made me happy. While the overall plot may have been a bit lacking, this book managed to get many emotions out of me. 

I absolutely loved Juliette's growth in Ignite Me. Gone is the insecure and scared girl from the first two books - Juliette has finally come into her own, and it's awesome. Let me tell you, she was a complete badass. She finally accepted who she was and what she could do, and in doing that, she gained confidence. I loved confident Juliette fiercely. I wasn't too sold on her character in the previous books, but I see now how it was necessary for her to be that way. She isn't anymore, though, and I could cheer her on whenever she did a particularly badass thing. To be honest - yes, her character is a little bit special snowflake-y. She has one power that has many aspects, which caused Juliette to seem a little too badass at times. I personally didn't mind - for once. I was too busy enjoying who Juliette had become.

The side characters were really good too. Mafi managed to make them all feel different, even though they don't all get equal screen time. Kenji remains to be awesome. Seriously, he's one of my favorite characters ever. He's so funny and honest and always says exactly what he should say. And the dialogue was perfect. There were a couple of situations that put a huge grin on my face, or made me laugh out loud. The whole crew has awesome dialogue, and it's the kind of dialogue that I could imagine my friends and I having (especially the 'no more talking' coversation - I loved that one). 

And, of course, WARNER. I'm on Team Warner, definitely! He was extremely swoony and I really, really loved the way his character developed. We definitely get to see more sides of him and I understood him better in this novel. His character deepens and I just loved him so much. And no, I won't tell you who Juliette ends up with ;) But I was happy with the way Mafi resolved this love triangle - we get to see how both boys appeal to different sides of her and I could definitely understand why she chose who she did. 

The plot, however, was a bit lacking. The whole book is basically a build-up to the ending, which I expected to be the 'grand finale'. Instead, the whole thing is over in a few pages. I also found a few details to be quite unbelievable, but I found that the awesome characters and many FEELS you will get from Ignite Me made up for it.

In all, a really satisfying series ender! While the ending felt a bit rushed and short to me, Ignite Me features a fantastic cast of characters and made me feel nearly every emotion. I definitely recommend the Shatter Me-series, and I think that of the three, I can recommend Ignite Me the most. If you've started this series, you'll definitely want to read this!

ARC Review: Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all...

Title: Ask Again Later
Author: Liz Czukas
Series: none
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: March 11th 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Thoughts:

Fun, fun, fun! Lately I've been reading a lot of heavier/more serious books, and I needed a break. I needed somethinf cutesy and fun and fluffy. Ask Again Later is the perfect book for that. It was just so incredibly FUN to read, and it's been a while since I've felt like that!

Now, I know some people thought this, so let me make this clear: Ask Again Later is NOTHING like Pivot Point. Clear? Good. So, if it's not like Pivot Point, what is it like? It's cute! And funny. I actually laughed out loud a couple of times. If you know me, you know how incredibly hard it is to get me to show some emotion while reading. (Before I start sounding like a robot: I do feel emotions while reading. I can be incredibly sad or extremely happy or very angry, I just don't show it. I have also never cried over a book: I simply can't.)

Most characters were nice. I enjoyed Heart's unique, funny and not too serious voice. She's a really likeable protagonist, if a little weird and naive at times. But to be honest, that just added to her personality. If I had to pick a favorite character, though, I'd immediately scream RYAN at you! I don't even know why I love him so much, but I do. I loved reading the 'TAILS' parts (i.e. with Ryan in it) and he was just so cute and awesome. Schroeder/Chase was a character I liked too, although I feel we didn't get to know him very well.

Some characters were absolute jerks, though. I really disliked Troy and Phil. They were pretty much assholes and they only seemed to care about alcohol. And, to be honest, Troy was sort of pathetic. I really did like how Tara, Phil's fabulous girlfriend, turned out though. She could have easily been painted off as the 'perfect' mean girl, but instead she shows signs of depth in the parts we get to see her and she even made Phil apologize for his behaviour. Yay for non-mean girls! She's actually really nice to Heart, even when the latter didn't always fit in with Tara's group of friends.

The romance was cute. I'm not going to tell you who the love interest is, since it might be considered a spoiler. Even though I didn't feel we got to the LI that well, it was obvious that he cared for Heart and he was really nice to her (most of the time). I didn't SHIP IT LIKE CRAZY but I did want them to end up together. Also, no worries, there is no instant love to be found, even though the novel is set during one night

Although the plot isn't exactly brain-shattering or WHOA - no real twists, actually - I didn't mind at all. This story is just so much fun and I feel like there doesn't need to be an OMG-I-never-saw-that-coming twist or mind-blowing plot. As long as the book was going somewhere and stayed being awesomely cute and funny, I was happy.

In all, this was so cute and funny and exactly what I needed. I loved most of the characters and their banter, and the romance was definitely cute. This book was just so. much. fun. Ask Again Later is a delight to read!

ARC Review: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Emrys—a fiery, red-headed Fae—always embraced her life in the Highlands, far from the city’s draining technology, until she’s sent to London to rejoin the Faery Guard. But this isn’t any normal assignment—she’s sent to guard Prince Richard: Britain’s notorious, partying bad boy and soon-to-be King. The prince’s careless ways and royal blood make him the irresistible for the dark spirits that feed on mortals. Sweet, disheveled, and alive with adventure—Richard is one charge who will put Emrys’s magic and heart to the test.

When an ancient force begins preying on the monarchy, Emrys must hunt through the London’s magical underworld, facing down Banshees, Black Dogs and Green Women to find the one who threatens Richard’s life. In this chaos of dark magic, palace murders and paparazzi, Emrys finds herself facing an impossible choice. For despite all her powers, Emrys has discovered a force that burns brighter than magic: love.

Title: All That Glows
Author: Ryan Graudin
Series: none
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 11th 2014

Rating: 2 stars

Review:

All That Glows seemed exactly like the fun, amazing read that everybody needs from time to time. With a premise and cover like that, this could only be awesome, right? Unfortunately, Alll That Glows wasn't nearly as fantastic as I wanted it to be, but it was fun to read.

One of the biggest problems is the instant love. A lot of the plot and the characters' decisions hinge on the romance, and that element fell short. Emrys and Richard have had what? Three encounters? and then they start speaking of love. Oh, and don't forget that Richard doesn't even remember one of those encounters because Emrys wiped his memory. But oh no, they absolutely love each other - the kind of soulmate, undying love. Uh, how about no? That's just not how it works. These characters don't even know each other that well and all of a sudden it's love? Later on, Graudin tries to explain this by saying that they had some kind of soulmate-connection thing going on, but I couldn't believe in that. Even soulmates can have a well-developed relationship.

Strangely, I didn't even mind it all that much. While I definitely don't approve of it and while it lowered my rating, I found myself not caring too much that there was instant love. This book is really light and admittedly, fun. I had fun reading this and that definitely helped every flaw this book had. Unfortunately, I thought there were quite a few flaws, aside from the insta-love.

The characters, for example, felt underdeveloped and bland to me. Especially the side characters were in dire need of a personality. While it wasn't so bad that they all felt the same to me - they did have different personalities - the (secondary) characters felt really bland to me, making it hard for me to connect with them. The characters also don't seem to grow throughout the book, with the exception of Richard. But that's only because I consider stopping with drinking and partying growth: personality-wise, not much changed.

What I also found unbelievable - although this isn't a major issue - was that Emrys always wore skirts. She's supposed to be Richard's guardian and has to be able to fight off creatures both with her magic and through a physical fight. I don't think a skirt would be a great choice for that, seeing as most skirts confine your movements. Pants would be a lot better and safer. Seeing as the Fae take their job seriously, I found it a bit unbelievable that Emrys would trot around in a skirt.

I have to say, though, that this book did surprise me. Although I probably should have, I didn't figure out who the evil mastermind was until it was revealed to us. I was totally led on the wrong path, and since I'm usually able to figure out who the culprit is pretty well, this definitely is a compliment for Graudin. In retrospect, I really should have known who it was, but I didn't figure it out while reading.

In all, this book has some serious flaws - like the instant love and the bland characters - but it was also a lot of fun to read. All That Glows did definitely surprise me. If you don't mind the aforementioned flaws or are just looking for a fun read no matter how good it is, I would definitely recommend All That Glows to you.

**Review copy provided by HarperTeen (thank you!). No money or favors were exchanged to alter this review.**

Blog Tour: Anything to Have You by Paige Harbinson

Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.

Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.

Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget. Suddenly there's a question mark in Natalie and Brooke's friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.

Title: Anything to Have You
Author: Paige Harbinson
Series: None
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: January 28th, 2014

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Excerpt:

BROOKE

First Semester, Junior Year

The new guy was hot. People had been talking about him all day long—well, all right, girls had been talking about him all day long—but I had yet to see him. I knew everyone in the school except the new freshmen, so I was sure that when I saw him, I would know it was him.

It would have been impossible to miss him, even if I hadn’t been keeping my eyes peeled for hours. I was sitting at my usual lunch table holding court with my friends, as I generally did, when he walked through the doors. I was struck speechless—something that was verifiably difficult to do. I stared at him and was instantly infatuated by his good looks and charmed by the nervous way he looked around the cafeteria.

I almost stood up and invited him to come sit with us, but resisted. I was glad I did when a girl named Kylie went up to him and did, and I saw how pathetic she looked.
“Brooke?” asked Alexa.

“What?” I responded dumbly, not able to take my eyes off him.
“You just...stopped talking.”
“Right.” I snapped my gaze back to her and tried to look unrattled. “The point is, everyone should

watch the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet and the ’96 one back-to-back at least once in their lives. You’ll never look at love the same way again.”

God, would someone else come up with something to talk about for once? Why is the burden of conversation always on me? This was fine except for when I didn’t feel like it.

The next day, I was lucky enough to be standing in the right place at the right time in the hallway. “Excuse me.”
I turned to see Hot New Guy behind me, holding a schedule and looking lost. And still superhot. “What’s up?” I tossed my hair to one shoulder.

“Can you tell me where to find room 324? It jumps from 318 to 400... .”
“It’s down this one weird hallway. Here, I’ll show you.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be late to class.”
I was almost always late to class, but I liked that he thought I might be the studious kind of girl

that hated tardiness.
“It’s fine,” I said. “My teacher will understand when I say I was helping the new kid.” He gave an adorably timid laugh. “Thanks so much.”

 

“No problem. So...are you a junior?” I asked, like I didn’t know damn well that he was. We started making our way down the hall.
“Yes, ma’am.” Was that an accent? “And you?”
“Yes, I am. And you just moved here from...”

“Texas.”

We were already almost at his classroom. “Wow, Texas. Must be a big change for you, then.”

He breathed in and nodded slowly. “It definitely is. But I’m excited to be here. I knew all the same people back home for most of my life. Pretty small town. So I’m lookin’ forward to meeting new people.”

There was definitely a slight accent, and I couldn’t help but smile at it. “Here’s 324.”
“Yeah...I would never have found this.”
“It’s a tough one. Well, hey, if you want to, then look for me in the cafeteria at lunch, and you can meet some new people.”

“Sure, I’ll look for ya. Thanks again. What was your name?” “Brooke.”

“Brooke. I’m Aiden Macmillan. Pleased to meet you.” 

Paige Harbison recently graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts. She grew up on the outskirts of Washington D.C. She spends most of her time with friends- who give her constant inspiration for characters--and calls it research. The rest of her time is spent writing, painting, and following all of the worst TV shows.
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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Waiting on Wednesday (20)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, which showcases books we're eagerly anticipating.

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Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Title: Cress
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chonicles #3

Publication Date: February 4th 2014

Why am I waiting?

This series has always had a special place in my heart. Book one, Cinder, was light and cute and fun, and then book two, Scarlet, was just as much fun but considerably darker. I've heard SO much good about Cress so I really hope it delivers!

What are you waiting on?

Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
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Ooh. This is actually quite a tricky topic for me since I do not cry over books. So beneath is basically a list of books that made me either really sad or go "NOOOOOOOOOO!".

1. Me Since You by Laura Wiess

You guys, this is one of the saddest books EVER. Like I said, I don't cry over books, but damn if I didn't get close to it. I read this with tears in my eyes, which to me is the equivalent of bawling your eyes out. So sad and beautiful.

2. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

This is definitely one of those "NOOOOOOOO!" books. If you've read this, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, why? Get on with it, ruin your life. This book will devastate you.

3. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking. The prettiness of this book alone makes me want to cry, but it's really really sad too. Believe me when I say that you need this in your life: this is definitely one of the most under-appreciated novels ever.

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This is such a beautiful novel and definitely one of my favorites. Just wait until you get to the end - I definitely had a *gasp* "Wait wait wait wait wait. This did not just happen. It DID NOT." - moment.

5. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Because this is my list so I can cheat all I want. Either way, DoBaS is just so sad. This is one of the few books that has made me really feel war. It's all so bleak and cruel, and those little moments of hope and happiness break your heart all the more.

6. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

While I know that many did not like it because of the main character, this is actually my favorite Oliver book. I think it's just beautiful (can we all agree that apparently all books that made me sad are also beautiful?) how everything unfolds and it sends out a really strong message of "live like you'll die tomorrow" - because that might actually happen. And most of us won't get the chance to make things right.

7. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Honestly, you could put any Hunger Games book on this list. I'm going with Mockingjay because there are so. Many. Deaths. It's so heartbreaking. I'm still not over it.

8. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

All is well, you're enjoying this book and it's kinda fun. AND THEN. FREAKINESS AND AHHH WHAT IS HAPPENING WHY WHY WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME WHY.

9. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

For a large part of the book, this isn't that sad. Well, a little, but nothing you can't handle. And then the ending happens and oh dear, we're all fucked. It is very likely you'll cry. Just sayin'.

10. Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Nothing absolutely devastating happens in this book, but there's a reason I created a "sad-sad-sad" shelf for this. This is definitely an extremly sad book and if you don't hate it, you just might cry.

So show me YOUR Top Ten! I love books that make me (want to) cry. (Is that weird?)

ARC Review: Me Since You by Laura Wiess

Are there any answers when someone you love makes a tragic choice?

Before and After. That’s how Rowan Areno sees her life now. Before: she was a normal sixteen-year-old—a little too sheltered by her police officer father and her mother. After: everything she once believed has been destroyed in the wake of a shattering tragedy, and every day is there to be survived.

If she had known, on that Friday in March when she cut school, that a random stranger’s shocking crime would have traumatic consequences, she never would have left campus. If the crime video never went viral, maybe she could have saved her mother, grandmother — and herself — from the endless replay of heartache and grief.

Finding a soul mate in Eli, a witness to the crime who is haunted by losses of his own, Rowan begins to see there is no simple, straightforward path to healing wounded hearts. Can she learn to trust, hope, and believe in happiness again?

Title: Me Since You
Author: Laura Wiess
Series: None
Publisher: MTV Books
Publication date: February 18th

Rating: Undecided between 4.5 and 5.

Thoughts:

Me Since You is an incredibly sad book. This is not a light and fluffy contemporary, and I think you've got to be in the right mood to read this. If you want to read something light and fun, don't start Me Since You. It's an incredibly emotional and powerful read, and it will make you extremely sad. As I have mentioned before, I am not someone who cries over books. That ugly sobbing that everyone seems to do because of a book? No, not for me. Me Since You brought me closer to tears than any other book. While I did not cry, my sight got blurry a couple of times because tears started welling up in my eyes. It's just about the highest praise I can give a book.

Rowan's pain and misery are described so well, are so tangible. I got swept up in her emotions and it all felt so devastatingly real. I just... I don´t have words to describe this book. I just don't. All you need to know is that it's so emotional and devastating and it will make you cry a thousand times. The pain and emotions are described so honestly, they flow off the pages and straight into your heart.

For those who did read the synopsis and are afraid: do not worry. The romance in this book doesn't take over the plot, nor is the romance that which helps Rowan heal. All too often we see books in which the romance/love interest are what makes the MC want to live on/better her life/etc. Not in Me Since You. The romance is, in fact, a very minor part of the book, purposely kept on the background. No premature 'I love you's are thrown around, there is no controlling and slightly abusive love interest. Only a very sweet boy who understands what Rowan is going through and who goves her space, enough space to let her slowly heal herself.

In all

Highly emotional and powerful, Me Since You will make you cry over and over again as you are swept up in Rowan's journey. It's the saddest book I have ever read, and it will leave you devastated.

Exciting News!

Yes, yes, y'all! I have some really great news to share with you!

Honestly, it was SO hard to keep my mouth shut about this, haha. But here it is...

 *drumroll*

*dramatic silence*

I'm going to be co-blogging at YA Midnight Reads! 

This is so awesome! I've known Melanie for a while now and I can safely say that she's one of the awesomest people out there. I've loved her blog ever since I discovered it and I can't tell you how excited I am to be a part of that blog now!

http://yamidnightreads.com/2014/01/welcoming-celine-and-larissa-to-ya-midnight-reads/

This does leave us a question, though, and that is what will happen to The Book Shimmy?
To be honest - I don't know. I actually wanted to co-blog so I would have more time on my hands, not less. But I also think I have too many posts to post them all on YA Midnight Reads. So basically, The Book Shimmy will still be there. I'll still post reviews and TTTs and discussion posts. The only difference is that I'm not going to force myself to post every day or every two days or something. I'll post whenever I feel like it, so there could be gaps of a week or even more between posts. I'll post regularly on YA Midnight Reads, so at least you can find me there, haha. The motto still is school before blog though, and I hear this year is going to be particularly busy. So no posts for a few days probably means that I have a test that week or some big project or something. But don't worry - I'll be back!

Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Title: Mind Games
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Mind Games #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: December 3rd 2013

Rating: 3.5 stars

Thoughts:

To say that Mind Games surprised me is kind of an understatement. I originally didn't even plan on reading this, but I got a galley for Perfect Lies, and I though"why not?". Well, I'm glad I did, because I found myself actually quite enjoying this! Maybe it's because I went in with such low expectations, but this novel just worked for me.

Everyone's biggest problem seems to be the writing. And I have to say, in the beginning of the book there are a few awkward sentences. But I personally thought that it got much better along the way. Although it was an annoyance for many, I was actually quite pleased with the way the number three was incorporated in everything (for example, by Fia tapping 3 times or repeating certain things 3 times). The number three is important to Fia - it's her number of kills - and it pops up everywhere in her narrative, showing that those kills are still on her mind. This does not happen in the POV of her sister, Annie, so I think I can safely say that this was indeed done on purpose by the author. Humans have these little tics all the time, so I actually thought that it was quite realistic. And yes, the writing is a bit jumbled at times, but I think that this, too, was done on purpose (since the writing was much clearer in Annie's POV). Fia may or may not be going crazy and this is reflected in the writing. It really brought that sense of 'craziness' to her character.

Another thing everyone is falling over: the romance. Or as I would say it, the 'romance'. I personally didn't think it was a real romance, although it might've been intended as one? Either way, I really felt that the relationship between Fia and James was based purely on lust and that bit of craziness that Fia has. James is douchebag, there's no denying that. However, I never felt that Fia's feelings for him were entirely real or that she thought he was her 'one and only'. She mostly uses him as an escape - to forget her miserable life, to forget the people she killed, to forget everything - and I never quite got that feeling that he was a 'real' love interest. She kisses him because he makes her forget, not because she really wants him. That is, she might want his body, but she never really fell for the mind inside it (although this is just my impression). I also really don't think they'll end up together, simply because I don't think that whatever they have can be described as real.

Then there's the sisterly bond between Annie and Fia. I personally think this relationship could have been developed more. We know that they'll do anyhting for each other, but we see few examples of their deep love for each other. Yes, they're pretty much constantly worrying about the other or thinking about the other, but I never really felt that deep love you (can) have for family. This also caused a certain thing Annie does toward the ending a bit unbelievable. I was a bit disappointed because there aren't many books in which the main character has a really deep bond with their siblings (or at least one the reader can feel as well) and I hoped Mind Games would be a fresh change.

Speaking of the ending though, WHOA. That was some seriously unexpected STUFF that went down and it was absolutely awesome. I really never saw that coming and it sure shocked me! Especially because intentions aren't clear and THINGS are happening and whaaaaaaaat.

In all, Mind Games was a pleasant surprise. I found myself actually enjoying the book - especially the slow descent into craziness - and I actually rather liked the way it was written. This is most certainly not for everyone, though. I'd recommend you check out some negative reviews as well and then decide whether you want to read this. It happened to be my particular taste of madness, but I'm also sure there are a lot of people out there who would absolutely NOT like this book. I did like it, though! So now I shall immediately plunge myself into Perfect Lies.

Review: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice. 

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again. 

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Title: The Iron Traitor
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 29th 2013

Rating: 3.5 stars

Thoughts:

I'm quite certain that Julie Kagawa is a cruel person. I mean, WHO ends a book like that? Who leaves us hanging like that? I have a feeling that Kagawa enjoys ripping out our hearts and shredding them to pieces. That ending... And how long till book 3? A year? This is pure cruelty ;_;

In all seriousness, though: I did have some problems with The Iron Traitor. I felt that this book was a bit.. too long. I mean, Kagawa only describes the necessary things and I can't think of anything that needn't be there. Still, this book dragged a little and I had trouble getting through it. Especially the middle felt really slow, and, to be honest, didn't exactly have me flipping the pages. In fact, I found that I could lay away this book far too easily, while Kagawa's previous books were really addictive.

A lot of the book feels, in a way, 'low'. Or maybe 'passive' is a better word. Don't get me wrong - the characters do a lot of things and never stand still. But I never really felt that urgency. Also, there was a lot less fun banter. Which is a shame, because Kagawa excels at banter! There is some, especially when Puck shows up, but I felt the book really needed that lighter tone and that there simply was too little of it.

There were a lot of positive things to be found in The Iron Traitor, though. As always, the originality and imagery in the book is great. Kagawa has a really visual way of describing things, and it was really easy to picture everything (especially the Nevernever). And the plot with the Forgotten keeps getting better an better.

The characters were pretty great, too. Their personalities are still well-thought out. Ethan can be a bit of a jerk sometimes, but he recognizes that and tries to tone it down. Kenzie is getting stronger and stronger and still won't take 'no' for an answer. The only 'weak' character (for a lack of a better word) for me is Annwyl. I still don't have a grasp on her personality and she felt a bit bland to me. I don't feel like I really know her, nor could I describe her to someone who hasn't read these books. I really disliked Keirran in this book, but I do understand why he acted the way he did. He was just a bit scary and also a bit of a jerk, and I was never sure where his loyalties lay. (Hence the title: The Iron Traitor.) However, the reason for his actions were clear and while I didn't like him at all, I did understand him.

In all, I did enjoy The Iron Traitor. While I felt that the middle of the dragged a little, Kagawa made up for it with that ending. THAT ENDING. THAT VERY CRUEL ENDING.

**Review copy provided by Harlequin Teen. Thank you! No money or favors were exchanged to alter this review. **

ARC Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

Title: Into The Still Blue
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky #3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: January 28th 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Thoughts:

For some reason, I have always found this series difficult to review. So, instead of doing my review the way I normally do it, I'm making a list of everything.

* The Characters

Aria was a delight! Her growth since the first book is very obvious. The way Rossi introduced the 'Dwellers' and the way they contrasted with Aria was brilliant. Aria was once the same, but she has come a long way since then and it showed. She kicked some serious ass in this book and I could only cheer her on! She isn't a damsel in distress that needs to be saved by Perry, but instead saves herself.

Speaking of Perry, I thought his character didn't grow very much in this book. However, he was still very enjoyable and loveable, so I'll let it slide.

Soren was the biggest surprise in this book and Through the Ever Night. In Under the Never Sky, I HATED him. He was so awful! In TtEN I actually started to like him and in ItSB it was a bit of a mix. I liked him and disliked him both, which I think shows skill on Rossi's part. It's not easy to write a character like that, and she succeeded on every front.

And finally, Roar. Oh Roar. He's been (one of my) favorite character(s) and it killed me to see him so broken in Into the Still Blue. His usual wit and humor faded a little and he seemed pretty miserable. I completely understood where he was coming from and I felt for him, but I couldn't help  but miss the old Roar.

* The Plot

Magnificent! No dull moment in Into the Still Blue. There were so many twists and turns, way more than in the previous books. I loved it. A lot of them I didn't see coming and it made the book that much better! Rossi isn't really kind to any of her characters: they all suffer in different ways, and it was FANTASTIC. I loved loved loved the way the plot progressed and turned out in the end.

* The Writing

Rossi's writing is very stable. It hasn't changed (much) since UtNS and TtEN, and while it isn't very flowerish and dreamy, it's successful. It was so easy to connect with the characters and all that they were going through.

In all, I loved this book. I think it was the best in the series, and I love it when series go out with a bang! The characters were all magnificent, although I did miss the old Roar a bit. The plot was crazy and awesome, and if you have read Through the Ever Night - whether you liked it or not - you should definitely read Into the Still Blue.

Digital ARC was provided by HarperCollins. Thank you so much! No money or favors were exchanged to alter this review.

To All the People Who Wonder Why I Buy So Many Books

To all the people who wonder why I buy so many books,

That's just the thing. I know people sometimes wonder this about me. Sometimes, they say it aloud. Other times, I can see them thinking it - it's a particular look, only seen when I tell them whatever precious gem is coming my way this time. Because that's just it - I'm not just buying books. To so many of you, books are nothing more than words on a page. Something to do when you're bored or when you have too much time on your hands. Something to do once in a while.

The thing is, books are so much more than that. Words on a page might be a very accurate description of the word 'book', but there is so much hidden in those words. I don't buy books because they have words on a page. I buy books because those words bring me something.

A book is so, so much more. Whole worlds are hidden within them, so many emotions, pieces of life. Imagination, imagination is what fills those pages. Books are not black and white - are not words on a page. Books are filled with every color in the visible spectrum and everything beyond. Books are swirling with actions and conversations and feelings. Books contain planets yet unknown to the human race, books contain universes yet unknown to the human race. Books contain magic and reality and lies and truth. Books are the twisted version of reality and yet the most honest thing you will ever discover.

Imagination inspires imagination. I learn from books. My head is never empty, I am never alone because I have thousands of memories of people I have never met yet know so well. This, this is why I can be silent for as long as I please, this is why I like long journeys and the pieces of quiet in between the moments of life. I am never alone. I am never without a story. I can remember the old and make up the new, and everything in between.

When I open a book, start reading the first page, I am not here anymore. I am whereever the book takes me and feel whatever the book makes me feel and I am whoever the book is about. Stories are powerful, and they contain more wisdom and truth than you could ever imagine. I live not in one world like you do, but in dozens. I can escape this world whenever I want and go somewhere else, can lose myself in an universe that is not ours. I can live whole lives that are not mine, I can fall in love with people who are not real, I can make friends who do not know I exist. I can be surrounded by imagination and fantasy, and I can make it real - real enough.

This is why I buy so many books. I buy more experiences, more worlds. I buy more ideas and inspiration. I buy blood and tears and smiles and life and death. I live a thousand lives. I laugh, I care, I cry, I love. I can feel every emotion and not have moved at all. I can be destroyed and healed by words on a page.

Words on a page.

Maybe to you, books will never be more than that. Maybe to you, it doesn't matter. Maybe you do not care about it. And that's okay. Maybe you know the saying - reading isn't just something you do, it's a way of life.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

ARC Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Series: None
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 28th 2014

Rating: 2 stars

Thoughts:

I was raised to marry a monster.

My feelings for this novel can be summed up in one word: disappointed. The premise sounded fantastic: a Beauty and the Beast retelling! Then the cover was revealed and it was absolutely beautiful. But when I actually read it...

Cruel Beauty has quite a lot of Greek mythology, something I didn't expect. I normally love Greek mythology, but I felt it was out of place in Cruel Beauty. This novel tries to do a lot: a retelling, Greek mythology, the paranormal aspect... It felt a bit messy and didn't resonate with me. I'd have liked this more if it had chosen one or two aspects instead of three.

The biggest letdown, for me, was the romance. The romance is a very important aspect in this book: a lot of the plot and the character's decisions depend on the romance, and unfortunately, it fell short. At the beginning of the book, a slight love triangle is forming, but that is resolved quite early on. Unfortunately, both sides of the triangle contain instant love.

On her first night in the castle (I think), Nyx meets Shade. She suspects he could be an ally and decides to kiss him. While I personally don't know if that's the right way, I could get over that. However, after two conversations and one kiss both characters start speaking of love. 

The air stilled in my lungs. If that was not a confession of love, it was near enough.

and

Last night he had as good as said he loved me, and I thought I loved him in return.

I was really sad this happened, because it's very unrealistic and basically ruined the book for me from the start.

After all that happened, Nyx and Ignifex's relationship blooms. I think there was supposed to be sexual tension between the two, but I didn't feel it at all. The most enjoyable thing about their romance was their banter about the ways Nyx planned to kill him. Their relationship, like Nyx and Shade's, is majorly underdeveloped. She starts seeing good in him and she kisses him at a certain point, and I felt I didn't even know Ignifex yet, let alone start seeing his good side. Their first kiss was awkward too. I think it was supposed to be in an I'll-kiss-you-to-make-you-shut-up manner, but I didn't feel it at all. I was litterally like "Wait... They are kissing now? Why?". Their relationship also progressed way too quick. Once again, she starts speaking of love too soon: I still felt like I didn't know Ignifex all that well and he certainly hadn't deserved anyone's love yet. Their romance was such a key point in this book, and because it failed, the rest of the book seemed strange as well. Some major plot points and decisions depend on this romance, and since I didn't feel it at all, the decisions of the characters just felt strange.

Then there's the plot itself, which was confusing, to be honest. I felt certain things weren't explained enough and it made me confused and I didn't understand everything that was going on.

The only thing that I really did like was the writing. There were certain moments that were described beautifully and the prose really fit the feel of the book.

In all, I am majorly disappointed. The romance fell flat with its instant love, and since a lot of the plot depends on the romance, that fell flat too. Not only that, but the plot was confusing, and I felt the book was trying to do too much with the addition of the Greek mythology. I'm just really, really disappointed. However, I have seen several people who absolutely LOVED this book, so if you think the romance won't bother you, give it a try!

ARC was provided by Balzer + Bray. Thank you! No money or favors were exchanged to alter this review.

ARC Review: Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Life. Death. And...Love?

Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge.

Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

Title: Heartbeat
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Series: None
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: January 28th 2014

Rating: 3.5 or 4 stars (not sure)

Thoughts:

The first thing I want to say when it comes to Heartbeat is: don't let that cover mislead you. This isn't a love story, although there is romance. This isn't sappy and fluffy and cutesy like you might expect it to be when you look at the cover. This is the story of a girl so overcome by grief and anger that she's become little more than a shadow of her old self. This is the story of a girl trying to battle a grief so immense it swallows everything whole. This is the story of a girl with no hope and nothing more than endless emptiness and endless rage. This is the story of a girl finding herself again.

The protagonist, Emma, isn't always likeable. She's grieving so intensely that there's little space left for her personality - at times it's swallowed by the sadness. That doesn't mean she ever seems lifeless or a cardboard cutout. Not at all. Her grief is so intense and painful that you can imagine - and at the same time can't imagine - why she is the way she is. Emma is not only sad, she is bitter. Very bitter. Her stepdad, Dan, made a huge decision without ever asking Emma what she thought of it, and she hates him for it. At the same time, Dan is so sweet and caring and loving that she can't help but love him - and she hates herself for it. Most of the time, I could feel Emma's pain and rage so intensely - I understood why she did things the way she did. On the other hand, there were times when I didn't feel her all that much, and it shows how important that connection is. In the moments when you do not truly feel Emma's pain, she is unlikeable. I get why she behaved like that, but her tendency to walk away time and time again became annoying and I wanted her to talk about it.

Emma's best friend, Olivia, was a delight. She was a bit quirky with her hatred for technology, but otherwise a teenager through and through. She was a realistic best friend, and she supported Emma throughout the story. She's not afraid of opening her mouth when Emma behaves strangely, but she only does so with Emma's best interests in mind. It was obvious that she loved Emma and I loved Scott for making her an actual best friend instead of the stereotyped back-stabbing 'friends' we see so often in YA.

The romance was well done as well. It starts with a few looks - glances - and slowly progresses. By the time Emma had real feelings for Caleb, it was believable. It never went too fast and I could believe in it. The reader's attitude toward Caleb changes as Emma's does, and it shows skill. I wasn't shipping them with everything I have and it's not an epic love story, but the romance fits the book very well. It's small and intricate and takes a backseat to Emma's personal growth.

Speaking of Emma's growth - it was another well executed point of this novel. It progresses slowly, which is good and realistic, but at times it was too slow. There were moments when I felt that Emma was ready to talk, and instead she ran away from the confrontation. It wasn't annoying, but I felt that Emma was at times clinging too much to her feelings of rage and sadness. Maybe it was the point, though, to show the reader that grieving is a slow and hard process, in which case Scott did an amazing job. Because of this slow process, though, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. Because the path toward being happy and hopeful was so slow and painful, I felt that she took that final horde a little too easily, and that she should perhaps have struggled a bit more with it. In the end, though, this was a really likeable story of a girl finding herself again.

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, which showcases books we're eagerly anticipating.

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Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

Title: Lady Thief
Author: A. C. Gaughen
Series: Scarlet #2

Publication Date: February 11th 2014

Why am I waiting?

Because Scarlet was absolute awesomeness. I might review it sometime, but trust me, hell yeah! Scarlet was a super strong protagonist, and THE ROMANCE. I am Roblet ALL the way! (yes, I really just combined their names into "roblet". Deal with it.)

What are you waiting on?