ARC Review: Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon

Summary:  In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame.

When Alu’s ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani’s beautiful little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. It’s an honor. A tradition. And Nanaea believes it is her chance to live an even grander life than the one that was stolen from her.

But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is—a death sentence.

Desperate to save her sister, Kammani schemes her way into the palace to heal the ruler. There she discovers more danger lurking in the sand-stone corridors than she could have ever imagined and that her own life—and heart—are at stake. But Kammani will stop at nothing to dig up the palace’s buried secrets even if it means sacrificing everything…including herself.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review*

Release Date: October 29th, 2019

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I got sucked into the story of Gravemaidens pretty fast.  We’re thrown into the world of Alu, based on ancient Sumer, and into Kammani’s struggles to support her family with the arts of healing she learned from her esteemed father.  I have never read anything that takes place in a setting like this, and I really loved it.  At first, I was a little confused with some of the vernacular used in the world-building aspects, but once I figured out what the words correlated to I was able to get fully absorbed into the world and its culture.  The idea of the three “gravemaidens”, the three girls sacrificed to go into the afterlife with the dying king, or “lugal”, was fascinating.  I loved that Kammani fought against the beliefs of her society because of her knowledge of the human body and healing.  I felt infuriated along with her whenever people were blind to reality, especially her sister, Nanaea, who is happily chosen to be one of the gravemaidens.  I wish there would have been more background development into the sisters’ relationship because we never get to see the closeness and love between them, just the deteriorated relationship they now have.  Nanaea was pretty unlikable throughout the story, which sometimes made it hard to care about saving her with Kammani.  However; there were points when I could not put this book down.  The plot was engrossing even if it was a little predictable at times, and I loved the journey.  The other supporting characters are great, and the romance is sweet and real.  This book is marketed as a fantasy, but despite one moment towards the end and being set in a fictional world, it reads more like a historical fiction novel.  The ending was pretty satisfying, so I am intrigued to see what the second book in this duology will bring! I’ll definitely be reading the next one.

The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton ARC Review

Summary: In this sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Camille, her sister Edel, and her guard and new love Remy must race against time to find Princess Charlotte. Sophia’s Imperial forces will stop at nothing to keep the rebels from returning Charlotte to the castle and her rightful place as queen. With the help of an underground resistance movement called The Iron Ladies-a society that rejects beauty treatments entirely-and the backing of alternative newspaper The Spider’s Web, Camille uses her powers, her connections and her cunning to outwit her greatest nemesis, Sophia, and restore peace to Orleans.

 

*Release Date: March 5th, 2019*

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My Thoughts: I was such a huge fan of The Belles, and when I got approved for an ARC on Netgalley for the sequel, I was SO happy.  I was excited to get back into the world that I loved so much from book one, and find out what was next for the characters after that cliff hanger ending.  The book jumps right back in to where we left off, and it took me a minute to remember everything and readjust to the creative and specific verbiage they use.  Unfortunately, the plot of this book is a bit slower than The Belles, and even though things were happening, everything just felt less vibrant.  The action does pick up in the second half, but the characters stay pretty linear without much growth.  The chemistry between Camille and Remy was nice, but I wanted their relationship to be stronger.  It didn’t progress enough for me.  The best relationships were between Camille and her sisters, and I loved seeing the different ways they all dealt with the battle against Sophia and their way of life.  Speaking of, I wanted more of Sophia.  They talked about her a lot, but I wanted more interactions and moments with her because her craziness made the first book so engaging.  I liked where the story went, but it just felt like something was missing.  I appreciated the open ending- it was satisfying enough if there is not another book, but it definitely leaves room for the story to continue.  Overall, I was a little underwhelmed by this sequel, but there was enough for it to be enjoyable and I look forward to seeing if there is more to the story.

 

Review: The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Summary: Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.

But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.

With the future of Orléans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.

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My Thoughts: I loved this book.  Dhonielle Clayton created a fantastic new world, and I am completely invested in it.  The concept of “The Belles” was immediately fascinating to me and I couldn’t wait to figure out how everything worked and the mystery surrounding them.  There was such a sinister undertone throughout the entire story, which was juxtaposed by the frilly, pink, and sweet surroundings and way of life of the people in Orléans.  The way they view beauty is disturbing, and yet relatable, which is even more disturbing.  It worked so well and the atmosphere made this story addicting.   Our heroine, Camellia, was a fantastic main character and narrator.  The world view from her eyes was captivating, and I thought her character arc was really wonderful.  I loved how imperfect she was, and seeing her struggle against the things she was brought up to do was really relatable and engaging.  Princess Sophia was an awesome villain.  It was both entertaining and horrifying at the same time to watch her unravel.  In fact, all of the characters were really well developed and complicated.  The plot was gripping, and there were a few twists that really threw me for a loop.  By the end I was screaming at my book, and the last chapter was entirely satisfying.  This book would make an INCREDIBLE film, and I really hope someday we get to see it on screen.  My only complaint is that I have to wait until 2019 to find out what happens next.

Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Summary: Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.
And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.
A romantic and charming story, this companion novel to Off the Page will make every reader believe in the fantastical power of fairy tales.

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My Thoughts:  I’ve read a few Jodi Picoult books, some which I loved and others that I didn’t, so I was open to seeing her take on a YA novel.  I am in love with the concept of this book.  I think it is so creative and smart, and I could not wait to see what they did with it.  Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t what I wanted it to be.

First of all, it was definitely a YOUNG adult book- it felt more pre-teen to me than YA.  The writing style and characters felt pretty juvenile.  With such an amazing concept, I was so excited to see the world building in the book within the book, Between the Lines.  I couldn’t wait to see the difference between the story told on the page and what happens when the book is closed, and sadly we didn’t get that much detail and what we did get seemed really cheesy.  Even the love between Delilah and Oliver felt like more of a sweet, crush like relationship, despite their declarations of deep and true love.  It makes sense that it was this way since they were technically characters in children’s fairy tale book, but I think because I was expecting a slightly more mature vibe, I had trouble fully getting on board.  While I enjoyed the plot of trying to get Oliver out of the book, the reasoning behind some of the attempts didn’t fully make sense to me, or it wasn’t explained enough.  The ending was really frustrating.  Without spoiling it, I didn’t think the choice made was fair to all parties involved, but hey, they’re (kind of selfish) teenagers.  Overall, I loved the concept and just wished for more out of it.  It had so much potential, and I think it fell flat.

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Summary: What if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours?

17-year-old Lucinda falls in love with a gorgeous, intelligent boy, Daniel, at her new school, the grim, foreboding Sword & Cross . . . only to find out that Daniel is a fallen angel, and that they have spent lifetimes finding and losing one another as good & evil forces plot to keep them apart.

Get ready to fall . . .

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My Thoughts: I was expecting so much more from this book.  I’ve heard such great things, and it left me completely underwhelmed.  The concept is very intriguing — a teenage girl gets sent to reform school where she falls in love with one of the mythical fallen angels.  Sounds great, right?  Unfortunately, it fell really flat for me.

Kate created a great atmosphere in this novel that was dark, creepy, and engaging, but that’s kind of where it stopped.  The plot was almost nonexistent.. just a lot of Luce yearning for a boy she doesn’t really know, and everyone keeping information from her that should have been revealed way sooner.  I was constantly frustrated at the slow pace and lack of justification.  I get that Luce and Daniel knew each other in their past lives, but I still would have liked to see more of a connection and some sort of development or growth with them to justify the slow pace of their relationship.  I didn’t really feel anything between them, other than being told that they had a connection- there wasn’t any real heat or chemistry.  Cam, the other guy vying for Luce’s affections, was super creepy, and while I think he was supposed to be charming, he just came across as overbearing and gross.  I liked her friends, Arriane and Gabbe, but Penn was my favorite character.  She was probably the most developed character in the book, but even she was pretty one note.  “The Shadows,” that follow Luce around are explained, but to me it didn’t fully make sense.  In fact all of the explanations in this book felt very surface level.  The school seemed unrealistic and I still don’t quite understand how they all ended up there.  Is the school involved and aware of the angel situation or is it just supposed to be an actual reform school?  There was one pretty good twist towards the end, but the rest was predictable and boring.  I love the concept and atmosphere, and think it could have been a really cool and romantic story if only it had more development in its characters and plot.

Review: Blackout (The Color Alchemist #3) by Nina Walker

Summary: Trembling in the wake of devastating treachery, can the Loxely sisters finally bring down the Royals?

United in the cause of saving their kingdom and bringing their family back together, Jessa and Sasha will face their greatest tests yet. Jessa’s wedding is coming at her faster than she can stop it, but it’s Sasha who is running out of time. Things aren’t as they seem in the palace, and the one person who can save them is the one they’ll never trust again.

 

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My Thoughts: I wish more people knew about this series because it really is fantastic.  At the end of Book 2, the world is kind of in shambles, and we pick up right where we left off.  Lucas and Jessa’s relationship is very strained (for good reason), and I started to get annoyed with Lucas and his not understanding her feelings.  It did taint my view of him for a while, but I came back around to him towards the end.  Sasha is my favorite character, and my love for her grows the more we see and learn about her.  I really enjoy the love triangle between her, Mastin, and Tristan.  I think it’s well done and understandable why she would be torn. *Cough Team Mastin Cough*.  We got a glimpse of West America in Book 2, but it was great to get a more in depth experience with it, and I love where we’re going with this plot line.  I still find the whole system of magic in this book very interesting. Jessa’s growing ability with purple alchemy makes it even more so –There are so many possibilities.  The villains in this series are despicable and I can’t wait for them to get theirs because I am getting frustrated with them and can’t take it anymore.  While I found this book a little slower moving than the others, there was still a ton of action and cliff hangers, and the ending was insane!  I can’t wait for Book 4!

 

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard *Spoiler Free* Review

Synopsis: Victory comes at a price.

Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal’s betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart—and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her—Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all… starting with the crown on Maven’s head.

But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to defeat the boy who almost broke her. Cal’s powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare as his own again, even if it means demolishing everything—and everyone—in his path.

War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver kingdoms? Or will the little lightning girl be forever silenced?

In the epic conclusion to Victoria Aveyard’s stunning series, Mare must embrace her fate and summon all her power… for all will be tested, but not all will survive.

*Spoiler Free*

My Thoughts:  Being the conclusion to such a great series, I was so excited to read War Storm, almost to the point of nervousness.  After all this time, I wanted an amazing and epic finale and had high expectations.  It felt so good to be back with these characters that I have grown to love and invest in.  Just like in the previous books, I loved that Aveyard just jumps right in to the action at the start.  There were so many layers and plot lines, that I never had any idea where the story was going to go.  This book, while it does have some of the great battle scenes we’ve come to expect, focused a lot on the politics and the inner workings of each kingdom, which I thought was interesting.  I loved the involvement and development we got with Montfort- and how the relationships with them affected all the characters individually.  We got a ton of different perspectives in this book, more so than the others, and I thought they all worked really well in developing the plot, and never felt overwhelming or confusing.  It definitely made it more of an ensemble story than just Mare’s, which I think might have taken away some of it’s “umfph”.  Evangeline Samos is without a doubt my favorite character, and she has the best arc in this book, while the rest of the characters stay, more or less, the same.  There were several big events spread out throughout the book, and while I loved all of them, I sort of wish we would have had a bigger, stronger build up to the final confrontation.  While the last battle was exciting, it sort of felt anticlimactic and unsatisfying for the end of the series.  The very ending is left open, which also disappointed me a bit.  I like a strong, concrete ending, especially in a finale, and found this one to be a bit underwhelming.  Overall, I loved being back in the world of Red Queen and being back with these characters again, seeing where they all ended up.  I just wanted a slightly bigger and more explosive finale to what was a wonderful series.

We Other by Sue Bentley Blog Tour

Summary: Family secrets, changelings, and fairies you never want to meet on a dark night.

Jess Morgan’s life has always been chaotic.

When a startling new reality cannot be denied, it’s clear that everything she believed about herself is a lie.  She is linked to a world where humans- ‘hot bloods’- are disposable entertainment.  Life on a run-down estate — her single mom’s alcoholism and violent boyfriend — become the least of Jess’s worries.

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*I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review!*

My Thoughts: There have been so many faerie books coming out recently, and I was excited to see the take on them in this book.  We Other started out really strong.  The opening grabbed me, and I loved the transition from the past into the present.  Our heroine, Jess, was a spunky and angsty teen, with too much responsibility on her shoulders, due to her mom’s drinking and abusive relationships.  I think her mom’s history, that we find out in pieces and flashbacks, was my favorite part of the story, and it was cool to put all the pieces together.  The introduction of Caleb and Ivy was a surprise, and the weaving and connecting of all the story lines was really well done.  Jess and Caleb’s relationship felt very inta-lovey to me, and I didn’t buy it 100%.  I liked each of their characters individually, but I didn’t feel a spark between them.  The plot was a little slow moving and anticlimactic, but it was easy to read.  The beginning and the end felt like two different books with where the narrative progressed, and this whole book felt like a set up for the next part of the story.  There were some good reveals, and some exciting moments, but overall it was pretty low-key.  The afterword definitely sets you up for a sequel, and I while I’m not dying for the next book, I would like to see how it turns out.

Purchase We Other

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About the Author: Sue Bentley

Sue Bentley discovered a love of books at an early age.  She worked for Northamptonshire Libraries for many years, while teaching herself the craft of writing.  She is the author of the worldwide, bestselling Magic Kitten, Magic Puppy, Magic Ponies, Magic Bunny series for age 5-9 years.  She also writes for children and adults under various pen names.  A lover of English Folklore, her books often contain elements of the otherworld and the darkness within the every day.  Her books have been translated into around 20 languages.  We Other is her first book for Young Adults. www.suebentley.co.uk

•Twitter: @Suebentleywords• Facebook: Sue Bentley Author •

• Instagram: @therealsuebentley• Goodreads: Sue Bentley Author •

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Everless by Sara Holland Review

Goodreads Summary: In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

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My Thoughts: I liked Everless.  Was it amazing? No, but it was an enjoyable YA Fantasy novel.  I’ve been excited to read this book ever since I first heard its premise.  The idea is so interesting, but unfortunately the execution just seemed a little under developed.  The origin story of The Sorceress and The Alchemist, which is supposed to explain how the blood-irons came to be, was confusing and didn’t feel fully completed or fleshed out with enough detail.  The first mention of it was confusing and hard to follow, and I just kind of accepted that it had happened somehow and moved on.  They keep coming back to the legend, so I was able to figure out a little more every time, but I still didn’t feel like I had a full grasp on it.  Background info aside, I did still enjoy the concept and the world of the story.  I felt very indifferent about most of the characters.  Jules was a very typical YA heroine, and her “love interest”, Roan, was super boring.  I did like Liam and Caro and thought they were interesting and a little more complex.  The plot of this book started off a bit slower, but MAN did it pick up towards the end.  The last few chapters were awesome and had a bunch of twists that I actually didn’t see coming, which surprised me because the rest of the book had been pretty predictable.  Overall, Everless was a quick and fun read, and after that ending I’m excited to see where the story goes from here!

 

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest Review

Goodreads Summary: A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining.

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of misfits…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to hate and fear.

My Thoughts:  I found this book when I went to Barnes and Noble for the release of another book, and since I am obsessed with witches, the title and cover caught my eye right away.  I looked it up on Goodreads, as you do, and saw that it had a TON of controversy, so of course I had to get it and see what all the fuss was about.  The minute I started it I was HOOKED.  I was immediately drawn into this fantasy world, and loved learning about all of the different races and cultures.  Each one has its own complete history and societal rules, and I wanted to learn more about all of them.  The world as a whole is very segregated and racist, with The University being a melting pot of all cultures.  While I can understand how someone might have an issue with the idea of such a racist society, it made sense in this case.  The whole point of the novel is our protagonist, Elloren, and her friends discovering that what they were raised to believe about people isn’t necessarily the truth.  One of my favorite scenes was Elloren and her brother trading rumors with a couple of Lupines about things they had heard about each other’s cultures, and realizing how wrong both sides were.  There were a lot of dynamic characters, and I felt that they were all really well developed.  Elloren could get a little whiny sometimes, but it made sense with her naiveté and her sheltered upbringing.  She had a great arc, and though it takes her a while to move past everything she was indoctrinated to believe, I thought that her arc felt natural and realistic.  There was also a ton of good sexual tension with her and her love interests, and who doesn’t love that?  I was completely absorbed in the plot, especially towards the end, and while it was slower moving at some points,  it was super character driven.  I fell in love with these characters and their magical world, and I can’t wait to see where they go from here after that cliff hanger ending.