A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor // WHAT A READ!

A Map for Wrecked Girls, by Jessica Taylor
Publication: August 15, 2017, by Dial Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Adventure
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: 

We sat at the edge of the ocean—my sister Henri and I—inches apart but not touching at all. We'd been so sure someone would find us by now.
Emma had always orbited Henri, her fierce, magnetic queen bee of an older sister, and the two had always been best friends. Until something happened that wrecked them.
I'd trusted Henri more than I'd trusted myself. Wherever she told me to go, I'd follow.
Then the unthinkable occurs—a watery nightmare off the dazzling coast. The girls wash up on shore, stranded. Their only companion is Alex, a troubled boy agonizing over his own secrets. Trapped in this gorgeous hell, Emma and Alex fall together as Emma and Henri fall catastrophically apart.
For the first time, I was afraid we'd die on this shore.
To find their way home, the sisters must find their way back to each other. But there’s no map for this—or anything. Can they survive the unearthing of the past and the upheaval of the present?

My Thoughts:

A Map for Wrecked Girls is a tale of sisterhood, survival, friendship, love, and forgiveness, and can surely be classified as the best book I've read in 2018. For months, I've been certain that I would not read any good (or 5-star worthy) reads this year, however, in the past few weeks, I have discovered quite a few 5-star reads that I will never forget. Jessica Taylor's story is surely one of those unforgettable ones that needs more publicity and attention! If you're seeking a contemporary story that steers away from the typical premise authors tend to focus on (girl meets boy, and they fall in love), this is the book for you. In fact, even if you're usually reading those cheesy stories, I am certain that you will love this one, too. I am just so obsessed with the story and everything about it. I think that can be proved based on the fact that I read this in one sitting, on an eight-hour long road trip. If this book had the potential to catch my attention for that long, then I am sure that it can be deemed worthy of reading and publicizing.

This story follows the lives of sisters Emma and Henri, who are only a year apart in age, though completely different in personality. They are best friends who hang out with the same people, and tell each other everything. When they head on vacation with their mother to Puerto Rico, the girls expect to spend their time suntanning, drinking cocktails, flirting with boys, and attempting to forget about their own personal problems. Little do they know that they will be stranded on a deserted island with only one other boy, forcing them to attempt to survive in conditions they never experienced previously. 

This book moves between the past and the present. By the past, I mean the events leading up to the big dispute between the sisters, causing their relationship to deteriorate and their past friendship to dissipate. In the present, the girls are trapped on the deserted island, attempting to make contact with passing planes or ships, and trying to tend to themselves to survive. I believe that this is my first time reading a story about being stuck on a deserted island, and I loved every part of it. It seemed as if Jessica Taylor had an abundance of knowledge about the subject, and I honestly felt as if the characters had no other options to try to survive. The author covered every single possibility, not leaving any room for speculation and criticism by readers. This was just a roller coaster of a plot, with so much suspense and mystery woven in between the lines that I really couldn't stop reading. It was not physically and mentally possible for me to stop reading. 

What readers must be aware of is that the entire story does not solely focus on the survival aspect. It obviously is there too, however, it also focuses on the sisters' pasts, and how easy it was for them to live a worry-free life where they were given everything they wanted. Henri, for example, was more of the rebellious, wild sister who was boy-crazy and spent her weekends partying hard. Emma, on the other hand, was dragged to these parties where she strove to be just like her sister. It obviously did not work out, as they couldn't be the same kind of person, and Emma's struggle was evident throughout the whole novel. I kept wishing for her to learn to become her own person, independent of her sister and her sister's attitude. By the conclusion of the story, I felt that it was the author's intention for us readers not to adore her characters, but to grow with them and see their development as individuals after being deserted and forced to look upon their flaws and pasts. This is a coming-of-age story that shows how people are affected by trauma, and the mistakes they have made in their pasts.

Ultimately, this story contains romance. Specifically, the romance between Emma and Alex, the boy they are stranded with, in the present, and this was the relationship I fully supported and adored. It was the first step Emma took to become her own person and be independent of Henri. Since I was not the biggest fan of Henri's character (was anyone, really?) I was super excited for this relationship to blossom as it made Henri jealous that she was not being given any attention. 

The best part of this story was the ending, and how it all came together. Jessica Taylor successfully showcased that all humans are flawed, and especially in our teenage years, we are unable to see this. We all need to work hard to make our relationships work, whether they are sibling ones, romantic ones or parental ones. It also shows that life doesn't always go as planned—which is why we should always strive to tackle the obstacles that are before us.

A Map for Wrecked Girls was life-changing. Its premise, pacing of the plot, characters, romance, themes incorporated and writing were all beautiful, and it was surely one of the best books of the year. Go fall in love with it; you will not be disappointed.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*

What is the best book you've read this year?

In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis Review

In a Handful of Dust (Not a Drop to Drink #2), by Mindy McGinnis
Publication: September 23, 2014, by Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Adventure
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Source: Gifted
Rating: 

The only thing bigger than the world is fear.
Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.
When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.
In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

My Thoughts: 

To this date, I remember and recall McGinnis’s Not a Drop to Drink as electrifying and a serious bold read. It brought tears in my eyes, especially since it was an overall touching read because of the global warming slash dystopian aspects that hit readers all throughout. It isn’t your typical read where the city is messed up but stocked with electronics that people today would die for to have. No. It’s taken place in nature, with the loss of water and the essentials that people even then will need as much as we do today. In a Handful of Dust brought those memories back to me, and I’m very satisfied with the whole ending.

“‘I wish I could be more like you,” Lucy said. “Not let stuff get to me so much.” Lynn snapped the barrel of her gun back together and looked at Lucy over the fire. “Don’t ever wish to be like me, little one. It’s not who you are. And it ain’t easy.” “I didn’t mean–“ “You being like me would be like the sun wishing it was the moon. That’s not good for anybody.”

This was a flashback into the future. Although it was surely difficult to try to remember who was who in the story and all of the plot holes that were laying in my head, McGinnis did a fabulous job of helping us remember. It’s TEN YEARS INTO THE FUTURE. It was a read that gave readers the answer. You know how you finish your favourite series and still begin to wonder what’s happening to them later on in their lives? This was the answer for us all. You can call it: the final ending, the duology’s answer and a key to real dystopia. All of those nicknames fit this book.

This mostly takes place in the POV of Lucy, Lynn’s adoptive daughter. She’s 17 now, and recalls that life has never been easy for her. The flashbacks of her mother’s sudden death still haunt her to this day, and Lynn’s been trying to help her out and help her not remember. From the first page, a new issue is dismissed into their lives—sudden disease and the pond’s contamination. Now, everyone has to move to California, where things seem better. Get ready for some serious drama and sadness involved.

High expectations, high expectations. This book has a 4.00 rating on Goodreads, and those are rare to find, so I knew that this one would be better than the first, which was already completely satisfying and heart-breaking all at the same time. I may have been a little wrong and upset after I read half of the book and found that it didn’t carry as much magic as the first book did.(Comparisons always come to me when it’s a sequel in a series, just saying.) I wanted more out of this—perhaps a stronger leading character and more to the story. This seemed like a story that was forced to be written because it had to be, not something that flowed into readers’ hearts. Get what I’m saying?

“People could be lost. People could leave. People could be taken from her. This idea had taken root in her childish mind and delved deep, sending dark thoughts that made her clutch more tightly to Lynn with her heart. Though she would wander far, there was never a time when she opened the door of their home without a sharp stab of fear: What if Lynn wasn’t there?”

The emotion was real: the longing and the sadness of the characters’ hearts and their love for one another. Most futuristic apocalyptic novels don’t have that longing kind of thing when they really need to show that emotion to convey that their lives suck and they need someone to help them out. And this doesn’t have to be a boyfriend-girlfriend kind of relationship, especially since Lynn’s and Lucy’s was mother-daughter, and they weren’t even related at all. It was utterly captured that this was something unique and left us in despair of what’s yet to come in our world. I’ll just tell you that the themes were superbly important here.

McGinnis’ writing never gets old. I flip page after page, and I just see such a rare writing style that makes the novel seem so simplistic in a good way. It’s not 100% captivating, but it’s enjoyable to see how everything forms together. I just want to hug the words, for goodness’ sake.

As for the characters… *thinks deeply* huh. If I was left in a room with them for 24 hours, we would’ve argued, probably. I just don’t understand the decisions and the way they try to solve a problem. They’re stuck in the worst possible situation of their time, and they’re sitting there watching the sunset, laughing. Obviously readers want to see some kind of happiness or else this would’ve been a true depressing read, but I believed that it went too far. Lynn’s too laid-back, much too laid-back that it doesn’t make sense for this novel, and Lucy is just plain annoying. O_O

I don’t really feel like going in full depth, but Lucy was the worst out of the whole clan. And I’m surely not the first person to have ever mentioned this aspect before. I’ve seen other reviews, and we all have the same complaints. If she was more intelligent and witty for her age, then maybe readers wouldn’t have seen an immature childish picture of her in our minds. Isn’t she supposed to be 17, like her mom was in the first book? I’ll tell you that there was a huge difference in both of their characters, and now it really shows. Maybe the author was hinting something at us all along?

What came to me in a shocking time was there was a minimum of romance. WOOT. Finally we have a post-apocalyptic novel where the main character doesn’t need a man by her side to keep her happy and standing on her feet. BAM. I mean, there were hints of it, but the novel surely wasn’t focused on the garbage that we call instalove or whatever. *winks*

This was enjoyable, don't get me wrong. I adored the themes, concept and just about everything except for the characters and plot. If 50 pages were taken out of the book, I think it would've ended up with a much-more stunning finale than I now picture. Maybe it would've lived up to my expectations... or even higher than that. But, hey. If you adored the first novel and are so curious and are willing to pick this up, then just go for it, because it definitely wasn't a waste of time if you ask me. LET'S CLAP FOR DYSTOPIA, EVERYONE.

Have you ever read a dystopia having to do with the more nature aspect of things?

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige Review

The Wicked Will Rise (Dorothy Must Die #2), by Danielle Paige
Publication: March 31, 2015, by HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure
Pages: 293
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: ½

In this dark, high-octane sequel to the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die, Amy Gumm must do everything in her power to kill Dorothy and free Oz.
To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and then Dorothy must die....
But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy’s only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she’s only just scratched the surface of Oz’s past—and that Kansas, the home she couldn't wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust—and who is really Wicked?

After reading the utterly raved about Dorothy Must Die back in 2014 and enjoyed it to the fullest circumstances, I've felt that I've been sitting here at the front of the line, waiting for this sequel to be released. Now that it's over and done with, I must say that this was every bit just as spectacular as the first one. Action, killing, assassinations, some unexpected romance, witches, magic, and the evil Dorothy, Danielle Paige has given readers every bit of awesomeness and continues to.

I can't even explain to a reader how much this series means to me. I've gone through reading hundreds of retellings (I'm obviously over exaggerating here, by the way) before this series came into my heart, and I haven't been impressed. No series or book can possibly justify and prove that the real thing is just as good or amazing. And although I haven't read the actual book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, I know the story pretty thoroughly, inside and out, and Danielle Paige just redid it perfectly, although this story comes with its own consequences and twists. There wasn't much evil in the actual movie/book except for The Wicked Witch of the West, but here, this is like the apocalypse of Oz and we certainly find out more from where the fictional place came from in this filler read.

"Just as I was wondering if I would ever see her again, I heard her funny, foolish cartoon voice echoing down from somewhere high above us: "Remember—don't be wicked. Unless you really have to!"

This beauty takes place right from where the first novel left us off with: Amy's struggle and hunger for revenge on Dorothy. Since she had just made the attempt to stab that bit-- alive and kill her, it hadn't worked and she missed. Now, although Amy isn't wicked (at least, not yet) she wants to help the people and friends that she made in Oz and capture the Tin Man's heart, the Lion's courage and the Scarecrow's brain. Things are about to get wicked and crazy, my friends. Here comes an overpowering sequel that's full of action, adventure, plot twists, and mouth-opening moments where you will not believe what's happening before your eyes. This is the novel of truth, where the characters discover the meaning of Oz and what it really is, and Amy discovers her role, as well.

I feel that Danielle Paige gets me. Her writing is soothing, unique, and she writes the story with pride, and in a good way. Her characters are born/made to be confident and likeable, heroic in a way. I could honestly read anything that she writes and I'll be impressed. Her books deserve the highest award of any award of gratitude and achievement since I cannot simply compare these books to anything else. I won't say that there are books even better than these ones since they're so difficult to find in the YA world. I don't know what's with the people who are arguing and debating whether to read this or not because the author supports the stuff with the "Full Fathom Five." What does that have to do with this spectacular writing? Put yourself in her shoes, people.

Now that I've got a little rant out of the way, I can now slowly mature through this review like a normal person would see from a likeable book like this one. Oz has just gotten wickeder, and the writing has, too. Day by day, at least in this fictional world, I feel that the world setting is getting darker and darker, which gets me to my point where I'm telling Amy to hurry the hell up and save everyone or else Dorothy will kill them all with a snap of her well-polished red fingernails. It's as easy as that, and thankfully throughout this novel Amy has developed the magic and wickedness in her which will help the plot in the next and final novel. *cries* This has gone way too fast. 

"The tail. It wasn't glowing, exactly, but it had something like a halo around it. A jittery, golden aura so pale that it barely registered."

What does that quotation tell you? Beauty? Beauty. Moving on, I can seriously talk about the author's writing forever. I'll just repeat the same things over and over again and feel like it's the first time where I'm saying it because for a debut, I feel that she's written 50 novels with this much practice it feels like. This was fast-paced and full of just the right amount of action for a sequel. There wasn't so much info-dumping and dialogue that readers' brains would just mush up, just like the Scarecrow's did. *SPOILER* Everything was perfect, and it feels that the amount of wickedness inserted was measured on the dot. From beginning to end, I couldn't even blink an eye because I didn't want myself to miss a moment.

I started reading this with a dumb impression given on my face—I forgot what the book was about. Okay, I hadn't forgotten a lot of it, but the names of characters and their roles seemed a bit fuzzy. I had been afraid that there would be no recap of the previous novel and I would walk around like a living zombie, searching through summaries and reviews and scurrying, trying to regain my brain development back to the way it ended off in April 2014. We didn't need NO regaining. Ms. Paige delivered a fast-paced beginning, and into the second chapter, readers already had a recap and sensed some foreshadowing which brought us to wonder and think about what will happen next. 

Amy Gumm is as fast and as furious (yes, movie reference, hah hah *sarcasm*) than ever. Looking at her development from the first book to now was a huge jump, although I've always seen that cool streak in her. I feel that since this novel and sequence of events gave her the ability to understand more about Oz and her past life in Kansas, she now feels that she understands and has no questions, which leads her to want to help her friends even more. She never stopped fighting, and her kick-assness was so drastic that I felt that she slept with one eye open, watching her surroundings 24/7. See what I mean? She never stopped fighting, and although the magic made her a little messed up (Nox even saw that as well), she was as hard as a brick. 

WHERE THE HELL WAS THE ROMANCE? That's my only complaint. Yeah, there were about three kisses throughout the novel, and one was a complete misunderstanding which then brought Amy into guilt for even taking that chance. Anyways, you'll find that out when you read it and you'll see what I mean with that aspect. It felt that the first novel had more emotions and feelings involved in terms of the romance, and I think that having some love in this book is essential. Readers would like to see a development, something new and great coming to the protagonist who has been faced with cruelty for most of her time in this new world, and she barely got anything. And what the hell is up with Nox lately? Where's my fictional crush?

"Just being able to stand outside like this and breathe the air. You should remember it, too. Think of all the things you've already gotten to do; all the things you'll still get to do. Okay, so maybe things could be better. But you have this life that's just sitting there, waiting for you to take it. It could be worse."

What's going on with Pete? THAT ENDING JUST BROUGHT ME TO SHREDS AS WE SAW WHO HE BECAME. Anyways, I'm curious to see what Paige will continue to do with his character, since he plays a pretty large role in Amy's life, and he was the first one to ever save her and help her see the true meaning of Oz. *shrugs* Hmmph.

So now, we're brought on to the 50-paged action ending. I mean, the development took about 50 pages to get to its main point, and let me just say that there were deaths and lies involved. I just couldn't believe that the author ADDED IN ANOTHER SUSPENSEFUL ENDING AND WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FINALE FOR MORE. Amy went crazy, PETE WENT CRAZY, and Nox helped Amy out, and Dorothy still fought for her fucking throne. It's the usual, but the unusual thing as well. I couldn't stop and when it was over, I felt that the book broke up with me, like a relationship.

Well, this was one drastically gorgeous novel. It took a stand in YA SEQUELS, MY FRIENDS. Most sequels don't go well for me, but this one went in a whole new direction and was almost AS PERFECT as the first book. That's a rare event—and I won't ever forget the feels that came upon me when the action was present. That, and the needs of romance, but the rest of this was fabulous. With the inspiration of Amy, I feel that I'm turning wicked myself. Jeez, what's coming upon this world, and Oz? A RECTANGLE WITH A PIECE CUT OFF IN THE UPRIGHT CORNER? DUDE. DUDE. DUDE. You'll have to see that for yourself, my friends. *waves* What the hell is with this release date for 2017? *looks onto the future years* Until I'm 17, Danielle Paige's books. 

What's your favourite fairy-tale retelling? THIS IS MINE, EVERYONE.

Tsarina, by J. Nelle Patrick

Tsarina, by J. Nelle Patrick

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Historical-Fiction, Romance, Adventure

Rating: 2/5 stars

Publication: February 27, 2014, by Razorbill

Format: Hardcover Edition (borrowed)




Goodreads Summary: Natalya knows a secret. A magical Faberge egg glows within the walls of Russia's Winter Palace. It holds a power rooted in the land and stolen from the mystics. A power that promises a life of love for her and Alexei Romanov. Power, that, in the right hands, can save her way of life. But it's not in the right hands.

Review:

"Saint Petersburg was a city of illusions. There were the little ones, the sorts of illusions that most people would simply call lies: The couples dressed in finery, invited into fancy shops only to quietly slip jewellery and silver spoons into their pockets."

   As you may have known, I hate historical fiction. There were only a few rare times where I actually did enjoy a book that fell under that genre, and the only one that I can think of is A Mad Wicked Folly. Darn, I ADORED THAT BOOK. *giggles* What I do have to say about Tsarina is that it did show a bright point of view of a dark period in Russia, a period where the Romanovs did live in. This was a book that mixed with fiction and fantasy, and it basically circled around the idea of a magical egg.

   

        Yeah, a magical egg. Now although that totally sounds majonkers, it kind of made sense at the right time. The fantasy aspect of this whole book made sense and worked out well. What I had a problem with is how the author captivated us with the concept. What was the real point of this book? I don't know. But what definitely makes sense in this situation is that there's a mystery and the egg is captured which holds romance and love for Natalya and Alexei for the rest of their lives.

         What next? Not much. This was a story with about 300 pages that just revolved around that egg. Now I guess I understand why so many people enjoyed it and gave it 5 star ratings, But I knew it from the beginning that I wouldn't fall for this massacre. I skimmed through the ending because I just had enough of this sadness after 2 hours.

            The perks and the positives that this book had was that the characters seemed real and for once, their love had passion and was bittersweet. Alexei was absolutely adorable, as he was in other books I read that dealt with his family, and Natalya was kick-ass and they suited each other perfectly. The whole book itself was posh and smart, at times.

             "But mostly I was jealous of how easy it was for you and Alexei. It was like you didn't even mean to be in love, you just were. I grew taller, my hair grew longer, my French grew better—well, a little better, anyhow—and you and Alexei grew more and more in love."

            Aw. Instalove? Does that even exist in Russia? xD

            The rest of the book went downhill, fast, and I lost contact with its excellence that it somehow got going. I really don't know why I kept going with this book, especially since I really got annoyed by the end. It probably was because of the gorgeous setting of Russia. *sings Moscow in head*

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness Review

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1), by Patrick Ness

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopia, Science-Fiction, Adventure

Rating: 3/5 stars

Publication: May 5, 2008, by Walker

Format: Paperback Edition (borrowed)




Goodreads Summary: Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him -- something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd's gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.

Review:

   I fell in love with Patrick Ness's writing back early this year with A Monster Calls. That was probably the most heartbreaking, charming, and special story that I ever read, and that I'll probably ever read. This time around, I came back to the story that really began his fame and the story that captivated every YA reader, The Knife of Never Letting Go. So many people came to adore this trilogy, and I finally decided that it was my turn to come into this world of lies and mystery, in a dystopian setting full of all men, until a girl shows up and changes Todd's life forever.

     Out of my little over 200 friends on Goodreads, 118 of them have reviewed this book or added it onto their TBR shelf. And from those who've read this, almost all of them (except 2) have given this a 4 star and above rating. That's wacko, if you ask me. But at the same time, that really shows the kind of fandom and stardom Ness has in the bookish world. And this book was published in 2008. This is probably the oldest dystopian book I've ever read to date! 

       I'm sorry that I didn't enjoy this as much as other people did, but Patrick, you sure deserve a brilliant round of applause for writing such an unique story that let me thinking.

         This story all begins with us getting to know Todd and his dog, and the atmosphere that they're in. From the start, we can already guess that this is featured in a dystopian setting, and that immediately boosted this book's mega excellence points up by 500. This premise is unique and shows that the Chaos Walking trilogy obviously began the era and genre of dystopia. From there on, look at the kind of stories that authors have created! *cheers* Todd is last not-man in his tribe, and where he lives in the New World. Todd, and the rest of the men in his town were infected with the Noise germ, and now he can hear everything that the others think. What they think is called their "Noise," and this basic idea is really what started the rest of the book and really got it going to a whole new level. One day, Todd is forced to flee away from the town, a month before he's supposed to turn into a man, and all he has is his dog with him. That's where everything basically begins.

         Mind-reading, a messed up setting, deserts, something like The Maze Runner, we have a bunch of different scenarios all squashed up together to form this wonderful story. Firstly, I must have to say that this book definitely could've been better. It could've ended up better in so many ways. But at the same time, Patrick's writing is what brought this story to a whole different level and is what kept me going. He gave me a chance to experience the "story and life" of a young boy who's all alone.

        

           You don't even know what kind of guilt and sorriness you'll feel for Todd by the end of this story. He was a poor soul. :( I imagined him like an 11 year old walking alone in the desert, somewhat like the characters in the movie Up.

              The feelings were there. THE FEELS WERE THERE. In this chunky large book, I did shed a few tears, three or four times overall. I must say that this was a strong story that wasn't fluffy whatsoever. I was left captivated over and over by every chapter, but there were many things missing that I wish were there.

             More action. At some points, I felt like the story was dragging on and on, although the end of chapters were exhilarating. And more unique characters. I felt like we got a bunch of characters who were in sticky-situations. That's obviously okay, but they didn't deal with it well. It was droning on and on and nothing was happening that had to do with them. One minute we see them the other we don't. I don't know what was happening half of the time because it was all confusing.

               This was a great book, don't get me wrong, I just wish that there was more to the story. I wanted something special, but instead I just got a regular 3 star book. Where's my 5 star?

The Kiss of Deception, by Mary E. Pearson

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1), by Mary E. Pearson

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Historical-Fiction, Adventure

Rating: 5/5 stars

Publication: July 8, 2014, by Henry Holt

Format: Hardcover Edition (borrowed, but WILL BUY ASAP)




Goodreads Summary: A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

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

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

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

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

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

Review:

  "We screamed, we yelled with all the power of our lungs, knowing the wind, hills, and distance plucked our nervous freedom from any ears that might listen. We screamed with giddy abandon and a primal need to believe in our flight. if we didn't believe, fear would overtake us. I already felt it nipping at my back as I pushed harder."

   Mary E. Pearson is one of my favourite authors, period. I ADORED THE KISS OF DECEPTION in ways that you're unable to understand. 

     Beautiful book...

      I adored this book to death. It's probably my favourite book that was published this year, right next to Dissonance, by Erica O'Rourke. Pearson is the newest Stephen King, or any super popular and amazing author to qualify her as. 

      I originally had this at a 4.5 star rating, but now when I think about it, it definitely deserves a 5. I got that excited feeling in my stomach when thinking about that beautiful reading experience that it gave me, and so much more. 

      This is about Princess Lia, who's the First Daughter of Morrighan. She is about to get married, to a man that she's never met before. She unexpectedly flees from the royal lifestyle she's known forever with her mother's assistant, Pauline, and they end up in a small village where they begin to take a large responsibility of handling an inn and making new friends. There are two mysterious people there that Lia doesn't know about--and that's the prince that was off to marry her and an assassin that's off to kill her. 

       One of the reasons why this book was amazing is because Pearson kept us guessing. The chapters were split into three points-of-view--Lia's, the assassin's, and the prince's. We don't know who these people are, and we don't find out until the wee-end of the novel. I had my guesses, and I ended up completely darn-wrong.

        The idea of this book was gorgeous. I love these medieval-dystopia-historical types, and coming from the protagonist of a princess-now-rebel? I'm absolutely hooked. This is absolutely fantasy, but it's not like we hear about faeries flying and goblins dancing. This is something believable and intriguing.

         "Terravin is not paradise, Lia. Of course Terravin had its own problems. I didn't need Gwyneth to tell me it wasn't perfect. But in Civica, the air itself was tight, waiting to catch you, beat you down, always laced with the scent of watching and warning. Here in Terravin, the air was just air, and whatever it held, it held. It didn't take anyone hostage, and this showed on the townfolk's faces. They were quicker to smile, wave, call you into a shop for a taste, to share a laugh or a bit of news. The town was filled with ease."

          I was drawn into this splendid world immediately. The world-development was mythical and stunning and let me with no questions asked, and this is the first novel in a series. The plot was amazingly defined and developed with thousands of plot-twists that left me scurrying for more. I was hooked, and unable to do anything else until I finished the 486 pages. 

          

           Lia was the perfect heroine that I've been looking for in a YA novel. She was a princess, yes, but she wasn't selfish or rude or inconsiderate. She was relatable, and a real jewel. You don't normally find characters like her in books, and when you do, they're a real treasure. Her POV was my absolute favourite.

           The assassin and the prince were kick-ass, too. When Pearson revealed the magic and wonders behind who was who, I was shocked. You never saw it coming. :') The action on what happened afterword when Lia found out about the assassin just laid the book into a beautiful ending and is getting its readers to snap for more. 

           If I had a million dollars, I'd spend it to have the sequel for this book. (Okay, maybe. Instead, what about a time machine?)

     

            Gorgeous and petrifying with excitement and feels, The Kiss of Deception will take the top spot in your bookshelf.

Countdown, by Michelle Rowen

Countdown, by Michelle Rowen

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopia, Romance, Adventure, Thriller

Rating: 5/5 stars

Publication: October 1, 2013, by Harlequin Teen

Format: Paperback Edition







Goodreads Summary: 3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped. 

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game. 

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis. 

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it. 

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape. 

Review:

"We'd been thrust together, neither of us had any choice in the matter, and we'd dealt with it the best we could. Now it was over, and the moment we reached our destination I might never see him again. This was the way it was supposed to be. Even though I knew that, it still hurt like hell."

  When reading the summary for this novel, I had high expectations. From the moment I did, I knew that this book was going to be something that has never been written before, or even hinted at. There have been many reviews noting that this is very similar to The Hunger Games. Yes, they do have their similarities, but they both have their differences as well. What's not to like about this racing beautiful book? A secret game where rich fat-sacks (Gareth and Jonathan, haha) put two criminals together in a game of six levels? Yeah, that's just my type of book, and it will be yours, too. 

   So that's the basic plot of this book. Kira and Rogan wake up in a cell, both attached to the wall. They have no idea why they're there (except Rogan, who has a small hint) and they see two keys on the floor. They decide to switch keys in front of them, and that's where the Countdown began. They are in a game of survival, where there are six levels, and if they pass those six levels, then their criminal record is swept clean and they get to go to the Colony. The Colony is a paradise-like city where everything is better. After the Great Plague that killed sixty percent of the population, people went on with their lives and went on to rebuild their lives. Then the Colony was formed and your only ticket in is if you're smart, having the right kind of money, or know the right kind of people. And winning the Countdown can give Rogan and Kira this kind of paradise that the rest of the world dreams of. They begin risking their lives and getting hurt throughout, but the main question is: Can they trust the people around them, including themselves? 

   I'm lost for words. From the first page in, I was addicted. Michelle Rowen is such a brilliant author. This is my first time reading one of her books and I know that I will read more of them. She creates such a beautiful world and the concept flows perfectly with everything else. Everything about this book was just brilliant. (Except the harsh things that Rogan and Kira went through, haha.) 

    At first, I didn't know how to classify this book. I had a strong feeling that it would become a full-crazed thriller, and I'm glad it did. I personally adore thrillers. The feeling of my heart clenching when I'm afraid for the characters and afraid of what's going to happen is probably one of the best feelings in the world. The adrenaline that Michelle Rowen created for me was just powerful. But yes, this was a dystopia sci-fi thriller romance, with some fantasy introduced in between.

     I absolutely adored this book. I know I have come to love many books, but my love for this one is something different than most. After reading, I got this feeling that made me want to re-read it over and over again. The action and whole story is so unforgettable, and I'm still in a book-hangover after it. I feel like I'm caught in the world of Kira and Rogan, two amazing characters who weren't perfect. They had their flaws, and that makes them even better in comparison. 

    Kira was the most sarcastic character I've ever read about. I love sarcasm, and she was a character who totally had it from head to toe. Although she was struggling with a little of depression and fear, she was a witty and hilarious character who knew how to act. She wasn't afraid to be rude to the bad guys. She wasn't afraid to love Rogan when the time came. She was just calm and outstanding. I loved reading from her POV. Her voice is one to remember.

     I had an insta-love moment with Rogan. I just loved him too much. There was no insta-love between him and Kira, which was absolutely perfect. They took their time to make their relationship go to the next level (even if it was in a matter of days) and he was one of the cutest men I've read about in a while. He's badass and sympathetic at the same time. 

      The plot was spectacular the whole time through. It kept me going the whole time through and not once (NOT ONCE, WHOA) was I bored. I just want to squeal every second when I think about this book. My love for it is unreal. *laughs*

       I was very pleased with the ending. Although I was sad that this was completely over (it's a standalone!) it was beautiful. Ahh! READ THIS BOOK. You will end up: fangirling, squealing, and crying and yelling. :)