The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

Title: The Vanishing Throne
Author: Elizabeth May
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: June 21st 2016
Source: E-arc from the publisher.  Thank you Chronicle Books! 

Summary from Goodreads:

The second book in the Falconer trilogy is packed with surprises and suspense.

Aileana Kameron, the Falconer, disappeared through the portal that she was trying to close forever. Now she wakes up in the fae world, trapped and tortured by the evil Lonnrach. With the help of an unexpected ally, Aileana re-enters the human world, only to find everything irrevocably changed. Edinburgh has been destroyed, and the few human survivors are living in an uneasy truce with the fae, while both worlds are in danger of disappearing altogether. Aileana holds the key to saving both worlds, but in order to do so she must awaken her latent Falconer powers. And the price of doing that might be her life.

Rich with imaginative detail, action, fae lore, and romance, The Vanishing Throne is a thrilling sequel to The Falconer.

Review

The Falconer came out of nowhere for me. It sounded up my alley so I gave it a try and loved it. But there was one of the worst cliff hangers, so I patiently had to wait for The Vanishing Throne. The Vanishing Throne picked up right where The Falconer left off. (I found it helpful to reread The Falconer before starting The Vanishing Throne.)

Aileana is one kick butt female lead. She faces some serious struggles; she is held captive, tortured, learns ugly truths, and has to fight bad guys all while dealing with the destruction of her home. Kiaran- what a character, he is good but then he is bad, he has no feelings but then he is passionate. He is all over the place in some ways but based on his background that is understandable. The reader learns more about Kiaran and pieces start to fall into place. I admire that he remains fairly honest, he does not hide away from his character or his brutal past. These two characters truly make the story worth reading.  The secondary characters are a nice addition as well but Aileana and Kiaran are fantastic.

If I were to describe The Vanishing Throne in a couple of words it would be action-packed and high intensity. I was almost taken back by the amount of fighting and intense scenes. Elizabeth May throws the reader right into battle with Aileana; you feel nervous, worried, and powerful with her. I cannot wait to see what the next book holds!

Wanderlost by Jen Malone

Title: Wanderlost
Author: Jen Malone
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 31st 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe.

Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.

Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.

But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.

Review

This is the perfect summer book.  It had everything I was looking for, romance, adventure, and humor.  Even having traveled more than a handful of times, I thoroughly enjoyed all the nerve-racking feelings Aubree felt on her first trip.  She is already an apprehensive traveler and on top of that she is in charge of the safety and happiness of an elderly tour group.  I truly felt for her.

Her travel struggles had me grinning through the entire book.  The fact that new and unknown foods wig her out was so relate-able and laughable.  I know when I travel there are times when I am just like, yea no thanks, plain bread please. (I know, terrible!)

Overall, I highly recommend Wanderlost; it was a cute and fun read.  I was laughing and constantly rooting her on.  She really sees past her tour members' age and she sees past her traveling fears, truly embracing the joy exploring can bring.  She finds a new part of herself through the course of the book that really gave the story an additional layer of depth.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
Release Date: December 31st 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

Review

I kept seeing how excited everyone was when the Me Before You trailer came out and once I watched it, I was intrigued.    I know that Jojo Moyes is a favorite author for many so I decided to try out the audio book for Me Before You.  The narrators did a wonderful job, the multiple point of views were done by multiple narrators. I highly recommend the audio book, the voices suited the characters.

The premise is a heavy one yet I was laughing and smiling through a majority of the book.  I loved Lou, I thought her personality and charisma were honest and refreshing.  Her view of the world was a tad naive but it good way, as it allowed Will to truly make an impact on her outlook on life.   Their unusual work situation made for an evolving and unique relationship.  While I personally have not quite been in a situation like Lou, her story and the life lessons she faced had me reflecting on my own experiences.

Me Before You handles a tricky situation with honesty and fantastic writing.  My only reservation was that going into the book, I had heard that it makes readers cry.  I was preparing myself the whole time and I do believe that hype distracted me a bit.  I can see why the author ended it the way she did bit I also feel like the ending shy-ed away from super tough/emotional scenes.  Aside from that I loved the varying point of views, the cast of characters, and the emotionally compelling plot.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Kiss
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux
Release Date: March 29th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it, with the East as his ally and the empire as his enemy. He’s finally managed to dismiss the memory of Kestrel, even if he can’t quite forget her. Kestrel turned into someone he could no longer recognize: someone who cared more for the empire than for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she cared for him. At least, that’s what he thinks.

But far north lies a work camp where Kestrel is a prisoner. Can she manage to escape before she loses herself? As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover unexpected roles in battle, terrible secrets, and a fragile hope. The world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and Kestrel and Arin are caught between. In a game like this, can anybody really win?

Review

The Winner’s Kiss was one of my most anticipated reads of 2016 and it did not disappoint. The Winner’s Kiss picks up right where the Winner’s Crime ends, in the mist of war. This book is a very action and war heavy, especially compared to book one.

While I did enjoy all the war strategy and war scenes there were times where I did wish for a bit more romance. Kestrel is a fighter, she conquers her fears and is very clever and smart. Her strengths shine in this last book, she is faced with terrible circumstances and must overcome them. Arin is one of my favorite male leads. His love for Kestrel is a driving force that pushes the plot forward. As far as pacing goes, The Winner’s Kiss is a steady fast-paced plot. The story never lulled and the stakes remained high all the way up to the very last pages.

The only thing that I was not the biggest fan of was something pertaining to Kestrel (trying to avoid spoilers). Because of this thing, certain events did not transpire the way I was hoping. I will say it was unexpected and ultimately kept me on my toe; so it was not a deal breaker but it was a bit of a bummer at first. The Winner’s Kiss was an action heavy war driven romantic end to this wonderful trilogy. I highly recommend the entire series, it is one of my favorites! 

A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

Title: A Gathering of Shadows
Author: V. E. Schwab
Series: A Darker Shade of Magic #2
Publisher: Tor
Release Date: February 23, 2016
Source: ARC received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review (thank you Tor!!)

Summary from Goodreads:
Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall.

Review

For those of you familiar with Victoria Schwab’s work, I can promise you that A Gathering of Shadows will not disappoint. This book, this series, is just as charming and impressive as her others, if not more so. And for those of you not familiar with Victoria Schwab’s work, A Darker Shade of Magic is a great place to start. I am completely smitten with these books. The characters, the world, the plot, the writing – they are all perfection.

A Gathering of Shadows picks up shortly after where A Darker Shade of Magic leaves off. And for those of you who’ve already read A Darker Shade of Magic (I am assuming that most of you who are reading this review have), you know that a lot of shit went down. Therefore, our characters are all going through some kind of adjustment period, which is a large focus of this book. Lila becomes an even more prominent character in AGOS and you won’t hear any complaints from me. I freaking love this girl. She’s made a name for herself aboard a ship and through her adventures we meet a whole crew of new characters – the most noteworthy being Alucard Emery who Victoria Schwab once described as the “witty, mysterious, eyebrow-pierced captain of the Night Spire”. I LOVED the dynamic between Lila and Alucard – they were constantly challenging one another as they tried to discover each other’s secrets. It was like a playful power-struggle. And let me tell you, Alucard was FULL of surprises. THERE IS A NEW SHIP AND I SHIP IT SO HARD OMG.

Meanwhile, on the Kel and Rhy front, things are TENSE. The events that transpired at the end of ADSOM changed both of them in pretty significant ways and they are doing their best to find a new norm. Kel is especially struggling in this book. But fortunately for them all, they have the Element Games as a distraction. It is no secret that I love games, and magic games even more so, so I welcomed this addition to the story. A few of our own even compete in the tournament and I loved rooting for each of them.

Although AGOS largely takes place in Red London there are some snippets of what’s happening in the other Londons. White London is going through quite a transformative period but I won’t say any more than that. Just know that every chapter involving White London made my heart race.

AGOS did not move the plot forward as significantly as ADSOM did but it was one hell of a book regardless. I loved reading every second of this book and already wait with bated breath for the sequel. Especially after that ending. It was a tough one to swallow folks and frankly, I am scared for what Victoria Schwab has in store for us. But I definitely know it will bring the feels.

Read this one folks. You won’t regret it!

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

Title: Happiness for Beginners
Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: March 24th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

A year after getting divorced, Helen Carpenter, thirty-two, lets her annoying, ten years younger brother talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. It's supposed to be a chance for her to pull herself together again, but when she discovers that her brother's even-more-annoying best friend is also coming on the trip, she can't imagine how it will be anything other than a disaster. Thus begins the strangest adventure of Helen's well-behaved life: three weeks in the remotest wilderness of a mountain range in Wyoming where she will survive mosquito infestations, a surprise summer blizzard, and a group of sorority girls.

Yet, despite everything, the vast wilderness has a way of making Helen's own little life seem bigger, too. And, somehow the people who annoy her the most start teaching her the very things she needs to learn. Like how to stand up for herself. And how being scared can make you brave. And how sometimes you just have to get really, really lost before you can even have a hope of being found.

Review

Happiness for Beginners balances heavy topics with light-hearted humor in a beautiful, adventure story.  Helen has been facing quite a tough year and decides she needs to leave her comfort zone and explore nature.  While I personally haven't faced some of her struggles I found Helen incredibly relate-able.  I immediately felt for her and was cheering her on.

Jake is hands down a favorite of mine.  Jake is a good guy, he is funny, quick witted, smart, and extremely like-able.  The interesting and unique relationship between Jake and Helen are all over the place. Even though Jake wants to help Helen, she is determined to find herself on her own.  She learns a lot about her strengths and weaknesses and what happiness means to her.  While Helen and nature do not always get along she preservers through her journey.

Helen befriends a range of other hikers, one suggests reflecting on three good/happy things and to train yourself to see the good in your day.  I loved the concept and I know its nothing new but it fit the story so well and made me pause to reflect on my own outlook on happiness.  The self growth, secondary characters, and humor made this story one of my favorite feel good books! 

The Deal & The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Deal
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 24th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy...

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good.

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

Review

I adored this book. Elle Kennedy had me hooked from the first chapter.  The Deal was one of those books you take with you everyone just so you can keep reading it.  I was lugging my kindle all over the house, I needed more and more.  Between the great story line and steamy scenes, I was flying through this book.

The Deal does have common character roles, popular athletes and a smart but quieter girl. Before you think, "Oh,  no this sounds predictable and I have seen it before," STOP! Don't worry, while The Deal does focus on two very stereotypical roles, Kennedy keeps the dialogue fresh and the characters like-able.  My favorite three aspects of this book are Hanna, Garrett, and the hockey team.  Hannah is a strong female character who is not afraid to give grief and attitude.  The banter between the two is fantastic.  I loved how Garrett, a former player, was not a jerk to Hannah (at least not for the sake of being plain mean).  He wanted to protect her and be a good guy.  Lastly I loved the hockey aspects and the teammate's secondary roles.

Go read The Deal!  It's full of fun banter, hot hockey players and a smart girl.   Both characters grow over the course of the book with the reader along for the steamy but heart warming, aww-inducing read!

Title: The Mistake
Author: Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Createspace
Release Date: May 6th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

He’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

Review

The Mistake is a companion novel to The Deal.  It stands alone but the reader gets brought back into the college hockey team's world.  This book focuses on John Logan, another hockey player.  Logan tries to run away from his problems and end up at the Freshman dorms where he meets Grace.

As the story progresses the reader learns more and more about Logan's back story and family.  The story also follows Grace through her up and downs and self-reflection.  The dynamic between the two is steamy without any attachments and feelings.  Those come later.  Unlike book one, this book is less of a slow build but rather a roller coaster romance that starts right away.  The writing style is incredibly readable between the alternating POVs and adorable moments.

I hands down recommend this series if you are looking for a fast and steamy read!  I cannot wait to see what The Score has in store.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Passenger
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Series: Passenger #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: January 5, 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

passage, n.

i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.

iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever

Review

This book was long and yet I devoured it. There was something about this weave through history with lives, worlds, and time hanging in the balance that I couldn't get enough of.

In the middle of her violin performance at the Met, Etta is forced back through time and finds herself on a Pirate ship… in 1776. In quick succession she finds out that she can time travel and that the matriarch of the family has a mission for her, whether she likes it or not. She is tasked with finding an object of great importance and to do so she must follow encrypted clues left behind by another traveler. Her journey is dangerous and many are out to manipulate her, deceive her, or outright harm her to have the object for themselves. I loved the excitement and adventure of it all.

I also loved the complicated relationship between Etta and Nicholas, her companion for most of the journey. There was an obvious magnetism between these two characters yet they resisted the pull since a future for them seemed all but impossible. Resistance was futile though. It was hard watching the two of them fall deeper knowing Nicholas' intentions might not be pure. It was downright torture waiting to see what he would do (even though I had a gut feeling). Because my god if he wasn't so damn romantic. Some of the things that came out of his mouth - they just don't make them like that anymore. Honestly, the execution of their relationship arc was brilliant. Possibly one of my favorites ever. I ship these two hard.

I am a little obsessed with history and historical places so having the privilege of traveling through different cities and time periods was an absolute joy. And the incorporation of solving clues was just icing on the cake. So much about this book was to my liking. I can’t say enough positive things. I still have some questions that I am hoping are answered in the second book but for the most part, Bracken painted a solid picture of this world and how the time traveling works.

Alexandra Bracken has proven how talented she is time and time again. I’ve read her books out of order but looking back I can see that she is honing her talent with each new release. I am definitely a fan of hers and recommend any of her books. I can’t wait to read the next one!

The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine

Title: The Impostor Queen
Author: Sarah Fine
Series: Untitled #1
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: January 5, 2016

Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by magical priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.

But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.

Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.

Review

Sarah Fine has done it AGAIN. She creates some of the most unique stories I have ever read and some of the most fleshed out characters and relationships. The Imposter Queen is only her latest in a long line of amazing reads.

Elli has been preparing her whole life to become this super magical Queen who will do great things for her people only to find out in the harshest of ways that that isn't her destiny at all. She barely escapes with her life and finds herself at the mercy of the outcasts of her city. It is there where she learns of her true purpose but it goes against everything she was raised to believe in. I loved uncovering the truth of this world alongside Elli - it was mesmerizing in a cruel and unfair way. It was easy to get swept up in it all as Elli comes to terms with this new dangerous and unfamiliar reality. As she struggled to adapt, she displayed so much strength and an unwavering desire to do right by her people. Her character was so admirable.

As with all of Sarah Fine's previous books, the pacing of the story was strong and steady such that this book always held my attention. And there was the promise of a beautiful romance to root for throughout.  Oscar was another good one. He had powerful magic but was afraid of using it and accidentally hurting others so he held it inside himself and suffered in silence. I felt for him and loved how Elli balanced him out. Their slow-burn romance wasn't without it's complication but they were great together. And I would be remiss not to mention the rest of the cast of secondary characters who were just as interesting and complex. Sarah Fine has a way of writing very grey characters - they are neither clearly good or bad. I love it.

There isn't anything this book doesn't offer readers. It was exciting, new, adventurous, interesting, romantic, brave, and ultimately satisfying. There is enough left wanting for the next book but it ended in a good place as well. Every book of Fine's just cements my fangirl status. If you have any inkling for fantasy, I highly recommend you check this one out, or any of her other books.

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Title: Truthwitch
Author: Susan Dennard
Series: The Witchlands #1
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: January 5, 2016
Source: BEA

Summary from Goodreads:

On a continent ruled by three empires, some are born with a “witchery”, a magical skill that sets them apart from others.

In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.

Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.

Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.

Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Review

There is always a certain amount of anxiety starting a really hyped book. Despite your best efforts, your expectations have likely gotten away from you and there is always that fear that you won't like it as much as everyone else. It's even harder when the author is an absolute sweetheart and you WANT to love it. When I started Truthwitch, I didn't understand the world at first, and I admit that I started to panic a little. But in the end, that was totally unnecessary. It didn't take me long to grasp the fundamentals of the Witchlands and who the key players were and once I had that understanding, it was all uphill from there. And I wound up LOVING this world. It is full of different kinds of magic and a rich history and I cannot wait to explore it more in the books to come. There is so much potential here.

Once of the best about this book is the friendship between Safi and Iseult. We meet these girls on the very first page and it's immediately obvious how strong of a bond they share. They are never apart for long and they always have each other's backs. It was a joy to see these girls in action - they've got some serious moves - and I love that their friendship was a focal point of this story. These girls exude some serious girl power and I think I have a girl crush on both of them.

Several people were after Safi and Iseult - for one reason or another - and the plot of this book was basically them running away from it all. It was quite the adventure with non-stop action, lots of magic, a bit of politics and an assortment of characters met along the way. First and foremost, there's the swoon-worthy Merik who is both a Prince AND a Captain and who helps the girls in their escape. His best friend and first mate Kullen, who is both mysterious and powerful, is also likely to cause a stir, as will Prince Leopold, whose allegiances are anything but obvious. But believe it or not, I think my favorite secondary character was the silver-haired Evrane, who was still fierce even in her old age and pretty much did whatever the hell she wanted. There were many interesting and moving relationships in this story that I can't wait to revisit!

So in the end, this book is definitely worthy of the hype. If you struggle with the world-building at first, like I did, make sure you power through because things will start to make sense before long and this book really does get better with every page. There are so many characters to love, moments to steal your breath away, and promises for things yet to come. Truthwitch laid an excellent foundation what is surely going to be an amazing new series.  This one is a must read!

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Carry On
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: October 6th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.

Review

I was a bit hesitant when starting this one because I loved Fangirl but was not the biggest fan of the fan fiction that started each chapter; however, I have enjoyed all of Rainbow Rowell's works so I figured I had to give it a go.  Carry On is a wonderful fantasy story full of friendships, adventures, magic, kisses, and heroes; I was not disappointed.

Carry On is told through multiple point of views, which really gives the reader a well rounded story line.  Baz and Simon are the stars of the show, their constant fighting/banter that evolves throughout but never disappears is truly fantastic. The secondary characters, Agatha and Penelope, were full of personality and great fit to the team. Similar to her other works, Rowell's dialogue and overall readability is on point, it was easy to get transported into this magical Harry Potter-ish world and watch all the scenes unfold.

Carry On was not at all what I expected, it was much more.  It truly was a magical adventure story with old friendships and new relationships, that I would highly recommend.

Play On by Michelle Smith

Title: Play On
Author: Michelle Smith
Series: Lewis Creek #1

Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

In the small town of Lewis Creek, baseball is everything.

Especially for all-star pitcher Austin Braxton, who has a one-way ticket out of town with his scholarship to a top university. All that stands between him and a new start is one final season. But when Austin starts flunking Chemistry, his picture-perfect future is in jeopardy. A failing grade means zero playing time, and zero playing time means no scholarship.

Enter Marisa Marlowe, the new girl in town who gets a job at his momma’s flower shop. Not only is Marisa some home-schooled super-genius, she’s also a baseball fanatic and more than willing to help Austin study. As the two grow closer, there’s something about Marisa that makes Austin want more than just baseball and out of Lewis Creek—he wants a future with her. But Marisa has a past that still haunts her, one that she ran all the way to South Carolina to escape.

As Austin starts to peel back the layers of Marisa’s pain, it forces him to look beyond the facade of himself and everyone he thought he knew in his town. What he sees instead is that in a small town like Lewis Creek, maybe baseball isn’t everything—maybe it is just the thing that ties them all together.

Review

The first thing that stood out to me about Play On was that it was a contemporary YA romance told solely from a male POV. Male POV is definitely becoming more prevalent in YA, but for this sub-genre, this was my first experience with a male-only voice. But as a fan of male POV, I liked it. Sure there were times I wish I knew what Marisa was thinking but I have those moments every time I read a book with a singular POV. Otherwise, I thought Austin’s voice was authentic and I was just as easily swept up in the story had it been told by a female, or both male and female.

The second thing that stood out to me about Play On was how well it tackled the topic of depression and how it lent a new perspective on suicide. In Play On, Austin was struggling to move passed his father’s suicide. He hated that his dad didn’t love him enough to keep living and he hated himself for never seeing the signs. But as he got to know Marisa and her battle with depression, he came to realize how dark and dangerous of an illness it was and how maybe his father’s death had nothing to do with him.

I loved the relationship between Austin and Marisa. I loved how it was slow and steady – starting with a friendship and an obvious attraction then developing into more. I loved how Austin didn’t run away from Marisa when she opened up about her past despite the fact that it scared the shit out of him. He gave her the love she needed to survive her dark days and in return, she gave him the perspective to forgive his father and move forward.

The baseball theme was an added bonus. I actually managed my school’s baseball team all 4 years of HS so it kind of brought me back to those days and good memories. But even if I hadn’t, as a huge sports fan, I love sports themed novels. I could feel the passion for the sport , the bond among teammates and the power of the crowd. And the ended totally made me tear up as the team played their last home game. I also loved how Marisa could hold her own when it came to sports talk. Girls are so often underestimated when it comes to being a sports fan.

I could go on and on about the things I loved in this book. The friendships. The family dynamics. The yes mams and no sirs. And especially the relationship between Austin’s best friend and another one of his teammates and their battle with coming out to the world. This book was beautifully written and full of emotion. It’s a must read in my opinion.

And I definitely can’t wait to read Eric’s story in the next book in this series.

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Title: A Madness So Discreet
Author: Mindy McGinnis

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: October 6, 2015

Summary from Goodreads:
Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us.

Review

In my habit of not reading, or reading and forgetting, synopses, I didn't really know what I was getting into when I picked up A Madness So Discreet. I only knew that it was going to be good since Mindy McGinnis wrote it. And it was good, REALLY good. And so pleasantly unexpected.

Grace doesn't belong in an Asylum - she's there to keep her reputation in tact and hide a very dark family secret - but she prefers the harsh accommodations and mistreatment over returning home. So when a visiting doctor gives her an opportunity to escape her old life, she takes it, even if it means spending her days in silence at another Asylum and her nights mesmerizing crime scenes. I loved the profiling aspect of the murder investigation and how sharp Grace's character was. It was just yet one more thing to pull me into this story.

Grace went through a serious emotional journey over the course of this book, which is understandable considering what she's been through and where she was sent. She was pushed to the edge of her limits but was ultimately pulled back by those close to her, which I loved. And in the end she found her closure. Full disclosure, this book is dark and there were quite a few uncomfortable moments when we learn what happened to Grace and what threatened another character. But I'm not one to shy away from these kinds of stories and it always helps when justice is served in the end.

This book has such a wonderful cast of characters, both among the sane and the crazy, and I was interested in their well-being just as much as Grace's. I also really appreciated the mental illness focus because mental illness is something that is so easily misunderstood and often feared. And Asylum settings always add a certain creep factor to any story, and while the crazies and horrors were muted somewhat in this book, there were still a few scenes that gave me chills.

Really, this book has so much to offer a reader. It is very full and takes quite a few unexpected turns. The characters are wonderful and the suspense is at an all time high. I wouldn't expect anything less from Mindy McGinnis. A Madness So Discreet is definitely another hit.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Title: Dumplin'
Author: Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: September 15th 2015
Source:ARC from BEA 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . . until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine— Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

Review

Goodness, Willowdean is a fantastic female protagonist.  She has spunk, a vibrant personality, a love for Dolly Parton, and a range of insecurities.  Willowdean has to work through self image issues, potential boyfriend drama, an awkward family dynamic, and struggling friendships.  

As I write this review, I know it sounds like a lot is going on in her life but really it  felt like an honest, tough high school experience.  Even if her struggles were/are not the same struggles you faced, Willowdean is still so relate-able.  I wanted to be there cheering her on through the whole book.  Aside from the body issues, she gets in a big fight with her best friend which can also be taxing and a major downer.  Will is not without flaws but she learns from her choices. 

Dumplin' truly is a great character driven story.  With a group of rag tag unique friends, Will decides to take on a beauty pageant.  A pageant that is not exactly used to Will and her friends.  But by working together and building strong friendships, anything is possible.  Dumplin' is full of surprises that won't seize to bring a smile to your face.  

I highly recommend Dumplin'; it is wonderful, feel good story about a girl who faces her fears, takes control of her insecurities, and learns how to start to feel good in her own skin.  

Storm Siren & Siren's Fury by Mary Weber

Title: Storm Siren
Author: Mary Weber
Series: The Storm Siren Trilogy #1
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Source: Copy provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review (thanks Wunderkind PR and HarperCollins!)

Summary from Goodreads:
“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

Review

Umm, why aren't more people talking about this book? Because this book, my friends, is amazing. And it has everything - endearing characters, an engaging plot, an interesting world, lots of depth, and one hell of an ending.

I expected to like Storm Siren but even still, it exceeded my expectations. From the start of the book - with Nym on the auction block - I was instantly hooked and things only got better from there. As a fan of magic, I LOVED the world of Elementals that Weber created. I thought the kingdoms-at-war backdrop and the complexity of Nym's situation - being asked to fight for the very people who enslaved her - made for a compelling storyline. And I just LOVED the characters. My heart went out to Nym, at the life she's been forced to endure as a slave and the deaths that weigh on her conscious from the power that she fears. She was such a layered character and grew in so many ways over the course of this book. I absolutely adored Colin - his humor, his kindness towards Nym - and eventually warmed to Eogen too, once his behavior was explained away. And let's not forget the villains in this book. It's always fun to have a host of bad guys to fear/hate and there are no shortage of bad guys (or girls) in this story. And the good guys didn't always win in this one, which is something I tend to appreciate.

Nym leanring to control her power was a large focus of this book as the war was developing in the background. I loved her training sessions with Colin and the victories they did have. But that ending. THAT ENDING. Damn. It was one hell of a ride and all I can say is thank goodness I had the second book already. It wasn't an easy ending - I can understand why everyone had their panties in a bunch - but the good ones aren't always. If you love surprises, you can expect a good many in this book.

There is so much about this book that I could talk about. It really was phenomenal.

Title: Siren's Fury
Author: Mary Weber
Series: The Storm Siren Trilogy #2
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Source: Copy provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review (thanks Wunderkind PR and HarperCollins!)

Summary from Goodreads:

"I thrust my hand toward the sky as my voice begs the Elemental inside me to waken and rise. But it's no use. The curse I've spent my entire life abhorring—the thing I trained so hard to control—no longer exists."

Nym has saved Faelen only to discover that Draewulf stole everything she valued. Now he’s destroyed her Elemental storm-summoning ability as well.

When Nym sneaks off with a host of delegates to Bron, Lord Myles offers her the chance for a new kind of power and the whispered hope that it may do more than simply defeat the monster she loathes. But the secrets the Bron people have kept concealed, along with the horrors Draewulf has developed, may require more than simply harnessing a darker ability.

They may require who she is.

Set against the stark metallic backdrop of the Bron kingdom, Nym is faced with the chance to change the future.

Or was that Draewulf’s plan for her all along?

Review

Siren's Fury was a solid follow-up to Storm Siren. It wasn't better than Storm Siren, in my opinion, but it was still a great read that expanded upon what we were introduced to in book one.

I thought it was a great twist to have Nym lose her power after wishing it gone for most of her life. I also thought it was great that she took on a dark power that started to change her - just like the enemy she was fighting against. These two developments really put things in perspective for Nym (and readers) which furthered her growth as a character and made for some interesting reading material. My only complaint is that this book largely focused on Nym and Draewulf's strange back and forth battle as they advanced on a neighboring kingdom and lacked the same action and suspense as book one. But I loved getting to spend more time with these characters - new and old alike. I only wish there were a couple more :( (those who've read this book know who I'm talking about).

And what appears to be Weber's style, the ending was epic. So much action and chock-full of surprises but also not without loss. That being said, I really like where things ended and cannot wait for the the last book. This series so far has been a huge success and I really think more people should  be falling in love with it. It definitely adds something to the YA fantasy pool.

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

Title: The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
Author: Katie Alender
Publisher: Point/Scholastic
Release Date: August 25th 2015
Source: eARC from Publisher (thanks Scholastic!!)

Summary from Goodreads:

Asylum meets Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, in this riveting tale of ghosts, secrets, and family, from master of suspense Katie Alender.

Delia's new house isn't just a house. It used to be an insane asylum, a place to lock up "troubled" young women long ago. And a restless, wicked spirit is still at play--and it doesn't want defiant girls like Delia to go anywhere.

So the house kills her.

Now Delia is a ghost, trapped in her creepy home forever. As she meets the other ghost girls who haunt the narrow hallways, as well as the handsome ghost boy on the grounds, she learns shocking truths about the house's history. Delia also realizes that her alive and grieving sister might be the house's next target. Can Delia unlock the mystery of the old asylum, save her sister, and free herself?

Review

Wow, I really enjoyed this book, there were so many unexpected twists and turns, it had me flying through the pages. There was such a perfect balance of creepy horror and crazy ghost action. Delia inherits her great aunt’s property but little does she know she has inherited a super haunted abandoned asylum. This asylum was home to many women; women who range from being just opinionated to a tad bit unstable. Back when the site was at full capacity many women were unjustly admitted into the asylum. Now in its vacant state there are lingering spirits both friendly and malicious. Delia has to solve the puzzle through clues from her dead aunt and with the help of her ghostly friends.

Without giving away some twists in the story, friendship and team work is a huge factor in the book. I love each ghost’s quirky personality, their background on what led them to the insane asylum, and their role in the overall plot. Delia is a fighter, she grows throughout the story to care for others and really be a strong leader, a true friend, and loving sister. There is a good bit of lighter horror aspects; nothing too scary to give you nightmares but the writing is descriptive enough for you to picture some pretty intense images. I thought the amount of horror was just right. The plot weighs heavily on the scary mysterious evil presence, if you are looking for some romance blended into it, this is not the book.

Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall is a creepy, haunting, page-turning thriller. I highly recommend this book; the surprising adventure Delia has to embark on is a whirlwind, haunting good versus evil battle. I hands down plan to read more from Kate Alender.

Rogue by Julie Kagawa

Title: Rogue
Series: Talon #2
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 28th 2015
Source:Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

Review

Rogue is a fantastic sequel; I actually believe it is stronger than Talon. The plot is more action driven, the team is on the run, and there are risks and danger at every turn. Rogue, similar to Talon, is told from multiple points of views. In this case, I think it allows the reader to see all three sides of the dragon world spectrum, Talon, rogues, and dragon hunters. We learn what Dante, Ember’s brother is up to in Talon, and hear some of his planning with the secret organization. The reader gets glimpses into Cobalt and Garret’s thoughts and well as, Ember scattered thoughts and feelings.  The audio version has multiple narrators so the transition between POVs was very easy to follow.

Even though action and adventure were the driving force of the plot, there was still a good bit of romance. I am not a fan of the love triangle, as always, at the moment my team is losing. Luckily a lot of the love triangle-ness of the story comes out in the latter half of the book. It does linger throughout the story but really takes over the plot at the end of the book.

Rogue builds on the various plot lines and turns them into a tangled web of intricate deception and lies. The background history, fight scenes and overall fast moving plot makes Rogue a great sequel. I look forward to the rest of the series!

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

Title: None of the Above
Author: I.W. Gregorio
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: April 7th 2015
Source: BEA 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

A groundbreaking story about a teenage girl who discovers she was born intersex... and what happens when her secret is revealed to the entire school. Incredibly compelling and sensitively told, None of the Above is a thought-provoking novel that explores what it means to be a boy, a girl, or something in between.

What if everything you knew about yourself changed in an instant?

When Kristin Lattimer is voted homecoming queen, it seems like another piece of her ideal life has fallen into place. She's a champion hurdler with a full scholarship to college and she's madly in love with her boyfriend. In fact, she's decided that she's ready to take things to the next level with him.

But Kristin's first time isn't the perfect moment she's planned—something is very wrong. A visit to the doctor reveals the truth: Kristin is intersex, which means that though she outwardly looks like a girl, she has male chromosomes, not to mention boy "parts."

Dealing with her body is difficult enough, but when her diagnosis is leaked to the whole school, Kristin's entire identity is thrown into question. As her world unravels, can she come to terms with her new self?

Review

I am not going to lie, I skipped over this book at first; I had a copy in my hands and then decided against it.  Fast forward a couple of months and I kept noticing how well received it was and how many readers were loving it. So I made it one of my high priority books to get at BEA; I was very curious to see what None of the Above had to offer.

The writing and the story immediately grabbed my focus and never let go.  I was so unaware and oblivious to AIS and intersex, I felt like my eyes were opened while reading this book.  I, not only, could completely feel the feelings but I felt more educated and aware.  I have never had any exposure to AIS, so I really knew nothing at all going into the book.  While that aspect of the story was new to me, it was impossible to be unaware of the emotional response that comes from being bullied.  Goodness, did I just want to reach out and hug Kristin.  The bullying and straight up mean kids really just made me reflect on how tough Kristin was forced to be and challenging it must be to go through her situation.  The characters felt so honest and real, it was easy to picture an exact scenario unfolding in high school. 

None of the Above is a noteworthy, important and honest read.  I highly recommend it and will push the book onto anyone :) Not only is it informative, None of the Above has fantastic character development, honest and believable feelings, cute romance, and conquers tough subjects!