The Jewel by Amy Ewing Review: BACK OFF, HATERS!

The Jewel (The Lone City #1), by Amy Ewing
Publication: September 2, 2014, by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Dystopian, Romance, Fantasy
Pages: 358
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.
Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.
Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

My Thoughts: 

Only in rare times comes a book where I feel the complete opposite about it than the general bookish public. Usually, I always think it's bad when others think it's good, or we have mutual feelings about it all. But now–NOW, I'm simply sitting here wondering why the heck are people hating on this gorgeous state of mind beauty that changed my life. WHY. WHY. WHY?! 

"The walk back to my chambers is a blur. Out of the Jewel. Lucien has just offered me my freedom."

The Jewel is a book that's been on my mind and radar since before it was released when I was captivated by the cover and the saying that it's like Kiera Cass's The Selection, which is one of my favourite books to this date. I still picked it up and bought a hardcover finished copy although everyone was hating on it since before the release date in September of 2014. Looking at my feelings now, I'm unable to stop thinking about it and all of the pain that it provided me with–a huge headache and dizziness after reading it all in one sitting, mixed with the suspense, plot twists and action scenes that almost had me bursting into tears. I prefer writing this review now since my mind is clear and all focused on Ewing's story, and I know what I'll be dreaming about tonight.

It basically is the perfect dystopia, mixed with magic and romance, but not too much of both. I'll get to the real stuff later, I'm just letting you know what you're here for before actually going onto the actual summary and the main storyline of the book. It was plotted to perfection, by the way. AND THIS WAS STARTED OFF AS AMY'S THESIS PROJECT, WHICH LED TO A STUNNING DEBUT!

This world is split up into circles, where different kinds of people with different social statuses live... and sometimes hide. Violet Lasting was picked up and thrown into intense training to live up to the expectations of the royalty when she was twelve, but she wasn't sure about what this really meant for her future. Yes, she has the perfect blood type and the talent of playing the cello, but it was increasingly difficult for her to learn how to perform the magic that she needs to eventually give birth to a new royal family member. These days, only certain people can give birth without having a child who's deformed or born with a disability, so that's why 200 ladies are chosen for The Auction. After 4 years in practice, Violet now goes to the Auction and gets chosen, and her whole life changes forever.

It doesn't. What can you possibly expect to happen in a sci-fi romance? We've got to keep in mind that Violet and the other girls are forbidden from seeing their families or friends from the outside in the Marsh (the poorest part of their world), and I'd say that I would be put in immediate stress and depression, too. Once you're put into the richest part of their setting, the Jewel, you get everything that you want when you want it. There's only one day when you'll see your family before the Auction, and that's it. Violet actually was one of the lucky ones, because after reading about what her best friend, Raven, went through, as well as Lot #200, Dahlia, went through, she was one of the lucky ones. A smack on the face doesn't do any bad, actually.

What a lot of people continued to complain about from page one was the unrighteousness going on throughout. Yeah, the surrogates were treated SO unfairly. Like, it makes me want to cry. But was this by accident and did the author make it look like it was okay and fine for the stupid royalty to do whatever they'd please to? Um, no. They all were suffering from this absurdity that their world held. What were they supposed to do? They have no choice and no voice throughout, and if they had none of the magical arcana that Violet was lucky to have, they would've all been killed, probably. It all depended on their strengths.

For those of you who don't really understand the concept, it's pretty complex but gorgeous. Unlike the typical dark-world kickass dystopias that I always seem to read (by accident when I'm looking for something else), the concept here was a big chunk of social status and voices. We get a brief meeting of Violet's family in the beginning, and you can basically say that Ewing had a threshold of all kinds of people from everywhere in the city: The Marsh (Raven, Lily and Violet herself), The Farm (where Violet's brother works), The Smoke (where Ash is from, heh) and the Jewel, where the bitchiest bitches live. They all have to do with each other, and without one, everything would fall apart. Expect Hunger Games-like trains, and pills that knock you out for hours straight.

"'Well guess what—I'm human. I'm not perfect. I was trying to do the right thing, but you know what? I don't care anymore. I don't want to be right, I don't want to be good. i wasn't supposed to have you any more than you were supposed to have me.'"

Thatta girl. We have a bunch of kick-ass characters that were present throughout the story, and even if they were wimps, I think I still would've loved them. I just can already picture a movie cast and who would play who. But Violet, she was something else. The fact that Ewing hadn't imaged her as perfect was what made the book better. She made stupid mistakes and choices sometimes, but she learned from them and she became stronger in the end. There were tons of moments where she was a wink away from bursting out in tears, but she kept her head held high and thought of the good. I think Beatrice Prior would've dissipated in her situation, everyone. Here we have a new girl in town.

At least for me, I can tell that it rarely happens when I know that I am so in love with a book from the start. It usually takes me some time to read, get a build-up and feel the tension beginning in my heart, but this happened from the start. It was like this book was written for me, since it's the perfect example and mix of everything. You looked for all sorts of genres? This is for you. There's tension, plot twists (LIKE HELL), and moments where I surely wouldn't have known what to do with myself if I stopped reading. By the way, you'll need a bunch of time on your hands because this will be one sitting for you, absolutely.

What are people's problems and issues with the romance? I DON'T CARE IF IT'S INSTALOVE. I DON'T CARE IF THERE'S A MINIATURE LOVE-TRIANGLE PRESENT. I DON'T CARE IF THERE'S NO SEX. Like, chill. It's a smooth romance that took place because Violet needed someone amazing in her life to help her cope. But it's not like she was using Ash for anything, either. Take a look at Romeo and Juliet for example—instalove, AND PEOPLE LOVE IT. This will be a classic gorgeous stunning thing one day, I tell you. I LOVE YOU ASH, ASH, ASH, ASH YOU'RE MY HUSBAND, OKAY? GO OFF WITH VIOLET IN BOOK 2 SO US FANS CAN BE SATISFIED. LOVE YA. That'd be my message.

Mixing in with special friendships (Annabelle and Violet, and Raven and Violet), I think and strongly believe that the character relationships were unlike any other. It's like The Selection, if you ask me. But I'm obviously not stating that it's copying it, but it has the same gorgeous things that brought me to adore both books at the same time. Bam. Sparks fly. 

LOT-197, Violet Lasting, and the girl who was a strong surrogate who has the talent of changing things' shapes, colours and form with the shut of her eyes has left a legacy. I'm not trying to sound cheesy or too obsessed, but I proudly am at the same time. I can't stop thinking about this book and my feels are exploding all over the place as I'm especially thinking about ALL OF YOU—haters or not. I'd recommend that you see the true side of this or else you're seriously missing something.

Whether this book had the cover of a plain brown paper bag with the grossest image on it, or whether it has this electrifying simply amazingly stunning cover, I love this inside and out. I'm simply going so far with it that I'm feeling like it's my kid or something. Ewing went through all of the aspects that make and add up to create a favourite novel, and I'll absolutely be reading this one over and over again. AND I DON'T REREAD BOOKS.

Amy Ewing will be at Book Expo America on May 27 this month, and she's actually the first author that I will go to see on my autographing schedule. I put her on before I read this book, and it must've been fate that made me go to see my new favourite author first, because I just can't wait for The White Rose after that shocking ending. I. NEED. MORE. AFTER. THE. CRAZY. SUSPENSE. AGHHHH!

What was the last book that made you feel the same way I do now?

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven Review: OMGOMGOMG BEST BOOK EVER.

All the Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven
Publication: January 6, 2015, by Knopf
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Mental Illness
Pages: 388
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning! Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him. Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink. This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN? WHERE CAN I BEGIN FANGIRLING? WHERE WILL I BEGIN TELLING YOU ABOUT ME BAWLING LAST NIGHT? If you would like to hear about one of the best reading experiences where I wandered into a magnificent world, then join me here, because I'm telling you (I'm SCREAMING TO YOU) that All the Bright Places changed my life. I am now a person who I actually never wasn't, and Jennifer Niven has transformed me and I'm lost without words as the experience was remarkable. I want to rub it into all of your faces that this is my book, alright?

You know, I get envious when I'm not part of the fandom of a particular book that has changed everyone's lives and their hearts have really begun pumping like a hummingbird's. I've heard about this gorgeous beauty since mid-last year, and all of the crazy-ARC reviewers were going crazy. The hype was real, everyone, and I couldn't wait to be part of it. So then when this was released, I bought it right away and since then, it was sitting in my book shelf, waiting. I was so stupid for not picking it up earlier, as its pages definitely deserved tons of love from the start. "Finch and Violet, OMG" is what I've been hearing since the start, and now I know what has caused me to ache and have to read it.

Also, comparing it to John Green is the most brilliant comparison one can possibly make. If John Green hasn't read this already, then I'm literally in tears. This is exactly his kind of book, and something that he would've written. His wit, the romance, EVERYTHING was so "him," but of course this was original and beautiful in its own perfect way. Also, it was perfect as Eleanor and Park as well, and the romance was so deep and special just like it. Summary-writers sure know how to captivate readers into picking up the book, hm?

"Is today the day? And if not today—when? I am asking myself this now as I stand on a narrow ledge six stories above the ground. I'm so high up, I'm practically part of the sky."

The funny (but thing that led me into knowing that I will adore this book) was that I found a gorgeous quote on the FIRST PAGE. That proves total love-at-first-sight with me, and it rarely happens. And actually, if you see the amount of quotes that I've found in this book, you'd probably pass out because I've found this so inspirational (not that I'd want to follow Finch's suicidal thoughts) and like a guide into being a teenager and living freely, which was so encouraged throughout the whole story. DOESN'T THAT PROVE THAT I'M A MAD READER?

I will not ever say that the plot was simple. It wasn't—it was complex, and you'll have to have a heart for these types of books to actually understand and feel the emotions. And before I go on any longer, let me just say that I ended up crying to my fullest extent, bawling, sobbing, laughing and snickering throughout. No book has EVER. EVER, left me with those kinds of emotions. And I can tell you that The Fault in Our Stars was originally the book that I cried the most in, but this one has taken the new throne, after 3 years. I LOVE TO CRY WHEN READING SINCE THAT TELLS ME THAT THE FEELINGS ARE REAL.

This all begins (a beautiful legacy) when Finch is standing on the ledge of his bell tower at his high school. This is yet another one of his suicide attempts, and he's 5/10 percent likely to jump (or even fall out). Once he's gathering his thoughts and he feels like he's about to do it, he sees that there's another girl on the other side of the tower, about to jump as well. She saves him, and they both end up getting off and leaving. Little do they know that after that encounter, their lives will change forever. Finch immediately cannot believe how Violet is someone so much like him, who feels the same things after her older sister, Eleanor, died in a car crash, with Violet right by her side in the passenger seat. Finch is extremely depressed and is noted that he may be bipolar, where his family doesn't understand him and since his parents are newly divorced. Once they get assigned a Geography project to see the wanders and sights of Indiana where they live, Finch immediately wants to work with Violet, and so they head off, visiting places that they take memories from, leaving some things behind as well.

Still after 12 hours, I feel like I'm at a funeral. Yeah, there's no more tears, but now all of the depressing thoughts and me thinking of what happened after are floating into my head. I remember bawling last night and tears are forming in my eyes and I just can't stand it anymore. *sobs* But what had meant a lot to me were the themes and messages pushed into readers' minds throughout. A big thing here is suicide and mental illness. You see, another one of the reasons why this novelette was so unique was because both characters, protagonists and love interests had suicidal thoughts. They both dealt with some sort of loss somehow, with Violet losing her sister and being unable to cope with anything else anymore, and Finch losing his parents being together and his family as a whole. Together, I felt like they helped each other so much, and if that moment of fate hadn't put them together and saved them, they both would've been gone, and never would've seen the bright places. 

"We add a few more books to the pile, and at some point I catch her eye and she's smiling at me. It's the kind of smile you smile when you're thinking someone over and trying to decide how you feel about them. I smile at her and she looks away."

AWWW AGH. Friendship and love is another big thing, as you can tell. If you look at the character development of both from beginning to end, they both progressed differently. Finch saw something special in Violet from the beginning, and he fell in love with her more quickly, and his obsession and need for her to be with him was strongly there. Violet, on the other hand, didn't see her love for Finch as quickly, but them spending more time together brought them closer, as it usually does. They were two halves of a whole, and whenever they'd be spending time without each other, I even saw that something was missing from both of them.

I, myself, I fell in love with Theodore Finch. I had more of a love for him, stronger than Augustus Waters, Four, Will Herondale, Jace, Jem, more than any fictional male character who's come into my heart. Finch touched my heart, and I wanted to hold his hand, sit in his walk-in closet with him and add sticky notes to the walls. He broke my heart and mended it again, and I needed more of him from the start. He can certainly be a remedy for someone's sadness, but as we saw, he can never be a remedy for himself.

"Ultraviolet Remarkey-able, I think I love you.' So that she doesn't feel she has to say it back, I kiss her again, and wonder if I dare do anything else, go any further, because I don't want to ruin this moment."

Did I mention that he's passionate and such a romantic guy? OMG AND AGH THE FLOWER SCENE AND HIM RUNNING SIX MILES TO VIOLET'S HOUSE BROUGHT A TSUNAMI OF TEARS ONTO MY COPY. I just couldn't let go of those small tiny moments that meant so much to the characters and to myself as well. I need him, and I feel like he's my best friend since he's so easy-going and wonderful. I just can't believe how unpredictable his personality goes, and how his bipolar disorder just changes him completely. *sobs for the fiftieth time*

Though both Finch's and Violet's perspectives meant so much to me, Violet's was really touching my heart. When I read her POV, I saw me in her. She's a writer, she loves reading and if a teacher assigns twenty pages, I'll give them thirty. She was so hilarious and though she tried to play hard-to-get, she couldn't hold it any longer and she had to love him. *feels come all over again* I adored her so much, and I'm sure that Elle Fanning will play a perfect role of her, because I pictured Elle as her from the start. And together, the kind of connection that they had was something unbelievable. No other couple that I've ever read about had that kind of connection. They're so beautiful, they're so perfect, and I felt that they were the only two people in the world who understood each other, even more than their parents and their siblings. Fate can seriously rock and make the world a better place, I tell you. 

"'But I bring it up to let you know that this is the way I feel right now. Like Pluto and Jupiter are aligned with the earth and I'm floating.' In a minute, she says, "You're so weird, Finch. But that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

You see? *cries and shakes again* And that brings me to my next point, the writing. Darn it, JENNIFER NIVEN KNOWS HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL. Her words flow together like two pairs, peanut butter and jelly or cookies and milk. The story never dragged, and you didn't even feel like there was some sort of repetition or some sequence that she came up with. She wrote this all with passion, and I saw Finch and Violet going to the book trailers like if it was I looking out of my window and seeing them on my front lawn. It was real, it was unique, and most of all, I never stopped reading. I read for 3 hours straight and didn't miss anything and felt like no time has gone by since everything was right in front of me. My heart fluttered, it ached for more, and the tears came out like it's normal. There was no force, and only attraction.

THIS DOESN'T. THIS HURTS. THIS WILL POSSIBLY KILL YOU. This is simply much better than a John Green ending, I must say, and everything about it was perfect (in a surprising way), and I simply couldn't believe it. It was unpredictable, and I felt like I lost my personality and I woke up, not knowing who I am or what my role in this crazy life is. I was crying for the last 100 pages, and I was shaking and my eyes blurred and I had to wipe them every two seconds because I couldn't see what the words were saying. Let me just warn you that if you don't enjoy sad endings (and this is saddest to the most saddest), then go f--- yourself, as Finch would say. Just kidding, hah. But you are crazy if you don't like sad. The feels and the emotions came out and I just felt everything, and now I'm tearing up again, just thinking about it.

When this releases in the movie theatres, I will be there opening night and I will yell when it happens as if I'm dying. 

F---, I've been here blabbing for much too long. This book has honestly changed my life, and I'm not the same person anymore. I think it can stand as my most favourite book ever, at the moment. *cries at the achievement* And if you think that's not much of a big achievement, then you're absolutely crazy and need to go on a hike and wander the gorgeous alleys of Indiana. (I'm kidding, again.) Theodore Finch and Violet Markey are two characters,  amazing people in our life that we've got to read about that will save you, even if you're not plotting on risking your life whatsoever. This book will hurt you, leave you bawling to death, but most of all, it will leave you aching for more, since that's what Jennifer Niven does best, leaving me wanting more at the end of every page that I have to keep on going on and on. 

I'd like to keep on typing forever, but I'll tell you that I know see all of the bright places in this world, and one of them is this book, and sticky notes of course.

What's your all-time favourite book? What's your most recent-read suicide-based book?

Talon by Julie Kagawa Review

Talon (Talon #1), by Julie Kagawa
Published On: October 28, 2014, by Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Dragons
Pages: 461
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.
Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.
Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

I was afraid with my entire life to read this book, as most of the general bookish public were against its liking and totally not on the positive side of things. 

Plus, I’ve read two books of The Iron Fey series also by Kagawa and I was thoroughly disappointed with the outcome. The first book was pretty good, and the sequel totally was bound to get me mad. From then on, I never really planned on reading any of her other works in the future. But I feel like I have a bookish-fetish/obsession for dragon books, and I knew that I had to read this.

“I’d never gone surfing before, not in my dusty little corner of desert. It looked nearly as much fun as flying, though I doubted anything could compare to soaring the air currents, feeling the wind in your face and beneath your wings.”

Talon was amazing, and beyond anything I expected. It was so magnificent and dangerous (as the situations were) that I was at the edge of my seat the whole time, exactly as if I was flying with Ember the whole time. 

I read this in an entire sitting, eager to find out if I’d like it or not from the beginning. I instantly fell in love with the idea of a modern-day crossing with dragons in our reality world. Except in this world, a lot of the public knew about dragons and as there were such thing. But this is not too much of a dystopia setting. Don’t expect flying hover boards and cars—this is a dragon story based in the contemporary world, very much like Firelight by Sophie Jordan, minus the perfect high school experience. This was summer vacation and ‘freedom,’ people.

I feel like I need to write this review right after I finished the book to get the facts straight. I’m so obsessed, so ready to binge read the entire five-book series at once. Watch me, for as much as I loved this, I would’ve spent the entire night reading it all at once. 

This isn’t one of your average dragon tales with folklore history and all of that garbage. I hate that stuff, to be honest. This is a present-day thing, and at first, I was really confused with why this was named Talon, as they’re simply a tiny organization that’s overpowering the entire dragon population, like it or not, but it did seem to play a huge role in the later part of the story, as more action and secrets unfolded. This concept was well thought-out and established, and Kagawa sure seems to have an intelligent mind on these gracious, kick-ass creatures of flight.

“He was a creature of light, of energy and power and adrenaline, and absolutely beautiful.”

Ember and her ‘twin brother,’ Dante have been training with the mysterious organization Talon, for almost all of their lives. They’ve been training for the moment—the moment where they’ll get to experiment hiding and living in the human world, specifically in California, where the waves are huge and enemies are lurking. In the past, the dragons/Talon and Order of St. George, a large group of soldiers who are out to kill all of the dragon species, have gone in war and many deaths have lied on both sides. Reports have been saying that a Sleeper, a dragon taken in the form of a human has been lurking around in California (Ember) and they’re out to find who she is. Soldier Garret Sebastian has taken this role, alongside his partner Tristan. But when Garret meets Ember, something extraordinary happens. How can a human and a dragon fall in love when they’re basically mortal enemies?

Of course I had to add that ending question there. It had to happen, because fate chose it to. *says in a dark Darth Vader voice* And actually, in the end of this book, there were no questions being asked. I was just mortally shocked and needy of the sequel. And the best thing is that it’s arriving into my hands on April 28 of this year—that’s so soon! I know where I’ll be contacting an ARC request… :)

Kagawa’s idea and premise for this story is outrageous. Coming from her past books, I expected some info-dumping and bore to add to the mix, especially in the beginning and middle. But everything was smooth, and the depth was there. No questions were asked, and there wasn’t too much of anything. I loved this so much.

This book began as a movie. You know, there’s the scene when the new guy and girl see their new home for the first time, and can either be mortified or perfectly in love. In this case, they were oh-so-glad to see it. Ember’s reaction was the happiest, I must assume, as she felt free and without worries. Little did she know that everything would change in a second. The plot was gorgeous, and I can just summarize the book from beginning to end without any look-backs or flashbacks back into the book. There was so much depth and specialty. I felt like I was eating marshmallows dipped into chocolate—the story was slow but sweet and gooey, as in romance.

The rest of the book was action-packed and right to the maximum limits. There was rebellion, there was fear, and there was sexiness all throughout. The characters were like those gorgeous spies that are totally not James Bond like and never die and take risks and walk out there patting their shoulders—this was all about the sacrifice and risks. Especially coming from the character of Ember, she wanted to rebel and live freely but cautiously. Getting her chance to seek rebellion was what she was waiting for, for sixteen years. Thankfully, she got so many of those kick-ass moments when she walked out of there like a boss, especially after taking hundreds of risks but making sure that no one would know.

"What wasn't familiar was the way my skin prickled when Ember smiled at me, the odd pulling sensation in my stomach when her gaze met mine. The way my throat was suddenly dry as she walked away, her lithe body swaying as she broke into an easy jog, loping down the sidewalk."

Holy shit—well that escalated beautifully. No but really, the romance was so spectacular, it’s like when I looked up and came out of the world for a second, I saw glitter and sparks flying all around me. You’d think that it’s cliché for one of those forbidden romances to happen and with a tiny love triangle in the end, but this was meant to be, I tell you. Garret and Ember… Well they’re just one. I saw it from the moment they met, where Colin got beat up to the max.

The romance was detailed so fine and it all seemed to fit together like a puzzle, even though there were things they couldn’t tell each other. NO—this wasn’t like Twilight where there’s one human who’s completely normal—there’s a dragon and a soldier who are supposed to be mortal enemies for life. But they didn’t know. They both thought that they were completely average people until the secrets came out. Thank goodness that they did. They had to be released or else the book would’ve bombed itself. I cried, I squealed, I shrieked, that shows what love can do to you, even if you watch it from afar.

So I guess you now realize that I’m totally on Team Garret. He’s hot, he’s charming, he can totally whack you out on shooting zombies at the arcade in the mall, and he’s selfless. What he did for Ember in the end… That’s truly something special. Especially since he’s destined to be enemies with her since her kind killed his parents and sister. But love can change anything in a split second, no?

But Riley was there as well. Sure, I felt bad for him when he had to see all of that embracing from afar. But from both sides, Ember’s forbidden to be with both of them—since Riley’s rogue. So what does that show these about Ember and these guys? Anything’s possible, as long as it matches. For me, I can totally see Riley as the best friend, the one who would find out everything first before anyone else. Garret’s meant to be with her, he was there first.

Ember was the most kick-ass girl that you’d ever seem to read about. She was careless, and all she wanted in the end was freedom and independence, but I guess that we’ll have to read the sequel to find out if she really gets that eventually. Now it’s about safety and hiding. That girl is something special, I tell you. She puts everyone first in front of her, even if you don't see it. There’s no evil in her, just rebellion, but none of the other characters seem to see that except Garret and Riley themselves.

Now the one person who truly surprised me in the end was Dante. What he did was so prickly (as in prick) and I just couldn't believe it. When I started reading this novel, I thought that they had such a unbreakable bond, but little by little did the communication totally disappear. And then, that came along.

“But Dante and I had hatched together and were raised together, and as far as anyone was concerned, he was my twin, my sibling and my only friend.”

Yeah, sure. That was page 13 of the book… Look at 445. 

 Do I have any theories about the sequel? A few, but I guess I’m not going to start guessing because I’ll be then disappointed, and it won’t be as good for me. 

What I can say at the moment is that this book was everything to me. In fact, it means everything to me. I’m glad I read it today, because at the moment, everything is fantastic in the bookish world for me. The world-development and character-development was exactly there, the romance was perfection to the highest gods and I’m still trembling from that ending. This was by far the best dragon book I’ve ever read. Julie Kagawa, bring it on, because I love you to death with your writing.

One more romance quote, people, because we all know that we deserve it after reading this long fangirl, agonizing review:

“I glanced at Ember, lying in the sand a few yards away, sides heaving. Ember, not “the dragon.” She had a name, a personality, a normal life. Or she’d had a normal life, before tonight. Before we’d kicked down the door and tried to kill her for existing.”

Now, don’t you think that we can relate this today’s life and society? Urban problems? Totally, and to everything beyond problems, but how ‘bout… reality.

Twisted Fate by Norah Olson Review

      

Twisted Fate by Norah Olsen
Published On: January 20, 2015 by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery/Thriller/Murder, Contemporary
Pages: 259
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

When Alyson meets Graham Copeland, the new boy next door, she instantly feels like he’s a kindred spirit—shy and awkward like her, someone who has trouble making friends. It’s impossible to resist having a crush on him. 
As usual, her sister, Sydney, sees things differently. In Sydney's mind, Graham's odd personality and secretive past scream psychopath, not sweetheart. Her gut is telling her to stay away from him, and to protect a love-struck Alyson from her own naïveté. But despite her instincts, Sydney is surprised to realize that a part of her is drawn to Graham, too. 
And the more Sydney gets to know him, the more she realizes just how right—and wrong—she is about everything.
Perfect for fans of Michelle Hodkin, and E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, Twisted Fate is an unputdownable novel, teeming with suspense. 

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much!*

   

         And just like that, my experience of reading this gorgeous novel came to an end. I'm sitting here, 10 minutes after finishing the book, thanking and praising the book lords for granting me such a blessed journey with this book. My heart is still racing and I am unable to stop shaking. 

          "Then she told me the worst part. Every night she went over there and he made another film of her. She was becoming his most popular subject, she said. His girl-next-door series. He said he wanted to have a thousand films of her. To film her entire life."

            Twisted Fate has honestly left me with and beyond words. I'm like Eddie Murphy in that hilarious movie, A Thousand Words. I feel like I can only say a few words without spazzing out or wishing for more from fantastic author Norah Olson. She has captured my attention with her fantastic writing and deep storyline that truly is not expected.

            It's really funny, because I actually received this book yesterday in the mail (as I'm writing this) and I was so captivated, thinking about it all during the day today, feeling the need to read it because I needed another psychopathic story to brighten up my day, as they always do. After this, I'm sure that 2015 will be the hit for dark contemporary-thrillers.

         

              If you honestly close your eyes and imagine this story in your mind's way, you won't picture it as it is written. How is that possible, you may ask? It just is—because it's Norah Olson. This is her debut YA novel, and I've felt like I've never read anything like this. It's so easy to describe her work by not spoiling anything because there's just so much to say. I could be sitting here writing and talking for hours and hours and gushing about this excellence and I still won't be even close to finished. 

               "And the films. I can barely describe them to you... It makes me want to... It makes you sick to think that this is the world we live in. That all this was going on in this beautiful treelined neighborhood among all these decent people."

              As many stories begin, we're introduced to a small-town setting—where most dark contemporaries happen. Sisters Allyson and Sydney don't really have a connection, as they are both complete opposites. Allyson is the pale beauty of the duo and quiet while Sydney smokes, and is a complete gothic rebel. But what happens when a boy gets in between them and pushes them even farther apart? What happens when he's not even close to their fate.

             

                I'm just going to give you a hint here—you'll need to brace yourself for a loss. And it's tragic, horrible, but fitting and unexpected. I just am not able to speak a word and hint about my love for this concept. It began off so simple and sweet, and you'll probably be starting off thinking that this is a regular contemporary romance novel. But there's so much more to it and what happens later... you'll end up realizing that the hints all led up to something.

                 "I remember it so clearly, the day that would change our lives forever: watching the moving van pull out of the driveway of the big old post-and-beam house across the driveway. It was the nicest house in the neighborhood."

                 After reading, I've come to realize that this book was all about fate and luck, as the title notes. You never know if one encounter will change your life forever—and if one situation will put you in an even-worse situation that will stun you forever.

               I must say that this book was like an artistic piece—certainly not like something Graham would come up with. It was sweet, sour, bittersweet, and sculpted to perfection, minus a little chip on the nose. But as the cheesy thing is always noted, imperfections are perfections. So why not choose to read such a gracious novel? Why would you let it go because of one small miniature problem of not enough suspense? The thing is, you won't let it go. 

                The utterly most brilliant thing in the book were the characters. I found that I built a bond with both Sydney and Allyson, and Olson has given us a mixture of two different blends of personalities that just suited this book perfectly. Sure, they made mistakes, but that's why I must say that we had a blend of fantastic characters that fitted the masterpiece. Even sure, the psychopath was a nice diverse character for a change. Just kidding, he gave me panic attacks.

         

       




          I must say, this book was everything I was looking for in a perfect dark contemporary. There were so many points-of-view that made sense, and I was captivated from the inner first page, no, let me say outer. Forget about the half star, let's rate it a 5!

Made For You, by Melissa Marr Review

Made for You, by Melissa Marr

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: 5/5 stars

Publication: September 16, 2014, by HarperCollins

Format: Hardcover Edition (borrowed)




Goodreads Summary: Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

Review:

   *sits at desk, squealing like a maniac* So at the moment, I am in a fuss and am writing my reviews that I need to accomplish writing, and I am literally cheering and yelling and fangirling because I've finally gotten to write this review.

      Well, you should, you wonderful people, because THIS BOOK WAS FANTASTICALLY AMAZING AND I AM LEFT WITHOUT WORDS AND AM STILL TAKING DEEP BREATHS AND WHEEZES UNTIL THIS DAY. 

        Made for You was unbelievably amazing. Melissa Marr writing contemporary? I think that she's done an even better job than of writing paranormal. This woman is a legendary writer. 

        You: So what the fudge happened in this book that made it so worthwhile and amazing?

        Me: 

           Except it was exactly a murder... it all began with an obsession and some crazy thoughts, that geared to the richest girl in town, and the most popular one, Eva Tilling. She's the most popular girl in school, and certainly has parents that are the most known, and is part of one of the founding families in their small town in North Carolina. Eva wakes up in the hospital, and has no idea what has happened. She's all bandaged up, and has broken her leg. And then she sees herself in the mirror, and that ruins everything. She is notified that she was struck and hit in a hit and run, and no one has any idea of who could've done this to her and why. Was it by accident, or on purpose? The thing is, Eva is well liked and there was never any fuss to complain about. But everything is not what it seems... as it usually is. What happens when you were "made for someone?"

       

            This was one hell of a thrill ride. That was the first sentence that I literally thought of when finishing this book, and I guess that everyone will be thinking that. At the same time, this was a crazy mystery/thriller and somewhat of a paranormal romance, but I'd stay away from that thought because it certainly wasn't anything close to what Melissa originally wrote about in her previous novels. She began off with a gorgeous premise and a few interesting points of view. 

             You'll probably think that you know what will happen. I was so damn sure that I knew who it was. Who "Judge" was. It made perfect sense. And then the ending came, and I was like:

          AHSHFGRIJGJ[EHGJGEDHGIHE. WOW. WHO LITERALLY SAW THAT COMING?! I can't imagine how people admit that they saw that ending coming. You literally have to be Nancy Drew to figure that out.

           So yes, everything about this book was perfect. The plot was unbelievable and I was glued to the book and was unable to let it go until I finished it. Now, when does that happen to me? Rarely, I tell you. I've read Marr's books in the past and never have been even close to being intrigued as I was here. This was some serious plot-making. 

           JUDGE WAS CREEPY AS FUDGE.

            I got so creeped out by him. Reading the POV of a psychopath killer is unbelievably weird. I literally thought of that clown from IT when reading his POV. And then when he came to the hospital and left the flowe—yeah I was screwed. AND WHEN WE FOUND OUT WHO HE WAS—I'll never get over it. (I have a crazy fear of clowns so I am closing my eyes while adding that gif in).

              And Eva was your average posh-country princess that you're picturing in your head. But at the same time, she was smart, kick-ass and totally not naive. She wasn't broken, and she was strong while all of those crazy events were happening... TO HER. I don't know how she did it, honestly.

               That ending was fabulous, as I already said a thousand times during this review, I NEVER SAW IT COMING. HOWHOWHOWHOW? I don't know, and I seriously don't know how Marr was capable of writing such a perfect book, I felt it coming down from the heavens. Definite favourite of 2014, right next to Dissonance.