Love, Lies, and Spies by Cindy Anstey

Title: Love, Lies, and Spies
Author: Cindy Anstey
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: April 19th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She’s much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she’s determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish their research.

Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.

Review

Love, Lies, and Spies was a fun nineteenth-century based loved story full of spying, secret missions, and ladybugs!  The writing style and dialogue fits the time period of the book which in turn had me rereading sentence every now and then. My only other reservation was the amount of characters. There are lots of characters and the author switches between using first names and last names that can get confusing if you are not great with names.   The plot started off a tad slow with quite a lot of build up but once the romance and courting season started I was hooked.

Juliana Telford is full of sassy comments, witty dialogue, and a mind of her one that goes against most of the ladies of her time.  She is into science and wants to get her natural science work published.  This strong female lead was well paired with Mr. Northam, who is a strong minded, smart fellow.  The connection and dynamic between the two characters is truly what makes the story. The spying aspects are a nice addition and felt like a welcomed secondary plot but never overtook the romance.

Love, Lies, and Spies was an enjoyable standalone that I would recommend if you are in the mood for old-fashioned English banter and a cute love story!

Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Ruin & Rising
Series: The Grisha #3
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Pages: 417
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:
The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Review

Over the past three years I have completely fallen in love with these characters and this world that Leigh Bardugo has created. I have had so many smiles and laughs and swoons as well as plenty of well-timed fits and anxiety attacks. I am sad that this series has finally come to an end, but I can’t think of a better conclusion for this story. It was wonderful.

When I look back at this series, I'd say Shadow & Bone was more plot-driven, whereas, Siege and Storm was more character-driven. But Ruin & Rising was a nice balance of both. The second half contained much of the action, but I still loved the first half. How could I not when most of it was filled with witty quips from my boyfriend, Nikolai? But really, I love this set of characters so much that I just love spending time with them. They don't have to be battling the Darkling or hunting down one of Morozova's amplifiers to have my attention.

I really think it is a gift when you can love a set of characters so completely as I do with this series.

I think like things ended the way that they should have – for the characters and for Ravka. It was fitting to the story and provided complete closure. Did everything unfold exactly as I would have liked? No, not exactly. I would have preferred Nikolai be in every single scene. But when you love a series so much, a good, strong ending is the best you can ask for. And I was more than satisfied.

I can't recommend this series enough, but I don't think I have to because it's reputation precedes itself. Every book in this series is strong and the story itself is so unique and fun. The characters are perfect. The writing is superb. I really can't say enough positive things about it. If you haven't started this series, or continued with it, I encourage you to do so.

Vicious by Victoria Schwab

Title: Vicious
Series: Vicious #1
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Pages: 364
Source: Audiobook, Audible

Summary from Goodreads:
A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and superpowers, set in a near-future world.

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end? 

Review

"'You're the hero...,' she said, finding his eyes, '... of your own story, anyway.'"

Ya know those books that are just awesome. This is one of them.

Let's set up the story: Eli discovers that near-death experiences can cause someone to develop extraordinary abilities. And then Victor suggests they try to off themselves to get some abilities, and volunteers to go first. Only it doesn't work. So they try it again, this time on Eli and under different conditions. And it works. But then Victor gets jealous of Eli and tries a few more times to die and come back. Eventually he succeeds and gets his own ability. Only he accidentally kills a friend in the making, which causes Eli to turn on Victor and Victor to turn on Eli for turning on him. One thing leads to another. They try to kill each other. Victor goes to prison.

Fast forward 10 years and things start getting really interesting. Victor escapes from prison and has only one thing on his mind - find and kill Eli Ever. Meanwhile, Eli is over here tracking and killing every EO he can find. He's made some powerful allies over the years. Fortunately Victor's made some too. So Eli vs Victor... who will win?

Ya know those books that are slowly building up to something, and in the end all the wonderful little pieces come together. This is one of them. 

This story was simply exciting. The abilities, the tension, the suspense. And the story unfolded beautifully. At first the chapters switch between the past, when Victor and Eli discover that EOs can be developed, and the present, when Victor breaks out of jail and goes searching for Eli. But after their history is told, the story mostly continues in the present day, with the occasional flashback to introduce the other characters, or unlock another piece of the puzzle. This flow made it a little difficult to listen to as an audiobook, but it definitely kept things interesting and I liked the pace with which things were revealed.

And the ending was ridiculous! Absolutely, ridiculous. But I was fist pumping with glee when this book ended (totally New Jersey of me, I know). I am so stoked for book two.

Ya know those books that give you a new perspective, tackle a bigger question, make you think? This is one of them. 

A large part of the wonder of this book is the higher question of good vs evil. Is Eli evil because he is murdering other EO's? In his mind, he is protecting the world from their unnatural abilities. He believes he is the hand of God. Is Victor evil because he wants to kill Eli and is willing to kill anyone who gets in his way? This book makes you think about heros and villains and how it's mostly a matter of perspective. But I obviously still had a favorite. ;)

This book deserves all the positive reviews its been getting. It's one hell of a story. It's different, thought-provoking, and ends with a bang.

Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Title: Sekret
Series: Sekret #1
Author: Lindsay Smith
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Pages: 341
Source: ALA Midwinter

Summary from Goodreads:
An empty mind is a safe mind.

Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

Review

*Long exacerbated sigh* I have so many problems with this book I don't even know where to begin...

Let's start with the synopsis. "Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia." This statement is bullshit. On many accounts. But the one glaringly obvious from the beginning is that Yulia can't hide her thoughts or control her emotions. But I wish she could because all she could think about were boys and escaping and her emotions were all over the damn place. One minute she is super angry and defiant. The next she is too tired to feel anything. Another and she's accepting and willing to try. There was no consistency, but worse yet, there was no cause and effect. Her emotions were quite random and fleeting. I guess I have to mention that she did learn to shield her thoughts from others. How you ask? Khrushchev told her to play a song in her head  (and think underneath that music) and BAM instant shield. Now let's all try to play a song in our head and think at the same time...  And at one point she even had two layers of thoughts and music - like thoughts - ballad- thoughts - another ballad. What the-?

"But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power." Horrifying power, ok, I agree with that. I guess. Although I wouldn't say I felt horrified. But regarding her mission, WHAT mission? This book was all talk and no action. I remember pausing at page 170 and asking myself what the hell I had been reading cause sure as shit nothing noteworthy had happened yet. The mission took such a back seat to Yulia's seemingly random-ass back and forth thoughts and feelings that I didn't even know what the heck the mission was or what they were doing for it for the majority of the book. At page 229 I paused again and thought again that I didn't know what the heck they were doing. The few trips they had taken didn't really connect to a bigger purpose.  There was no direction and certainly not enough focus on the actual plot until the very end (at best). 

"Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long."  What whit and skills? I mean, really. 

And I have to mention the boy situation although I'd rather think about ANYTHING but. Despite Yulia thinking about boys for like 72% of this book ( I'd say 25% was spent thinking or attempting some stupid escape plan that was destined to fail and 3% was the actual plot) I can't really say there was a romance or love triangle. It was more like Yulia would seriously consider any boy in her line of vision. Ok, I guess to be fair there was only two. But it felt like 'Oh hey, there's Segei', 'I like Sergei' or 'Oh hey, look at Valentin playing the piano.' I like Valentin'. And naturally when she liked one, she didn't like the other. Ok, so maybe she was always building towards one but really the whole boy situation was painful, overdone and in no way believable or enjoyable.

What else... Oh, if you are hoping to watch her learn about her power and master it. Don't hold your breath. And If you want to read an intriguing Historical Fiction set in Russia with a Paranormal spy twist. Look elsewhere. 

And the writing was weird and inconsistent (I am sensing a pattern of inconsistency here). At times I was reminded of Tehereh Mafi's writing  - kind of choppy, maybe a little poetic. Except it really didn't work here.

Alright, I think I will stop there. I will say that I have seen others enjoy this book, and I have seen others who share some of my sentiments. I could be extra critical because of how disappointed I was in this book that had so much potential. But it is rare for me to be so harsh. So I'd recommend that you approach this one with caution. 

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Title: Love Letters to the Dead
Author: Ava Dellaira
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Pages: 323
Source: ALA Midwinter

Summary from Goodreads:
It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path.

Review

Love Letters to the Dead reads very easily. At times it was young, shy, or even poetic. At times there was so much emotion that it overwhelmed me. At times, I knew I could only pretend to understand.

It was not easy to be in Laurel’s head. She has suffered so much and has lost herself somewhere along the way. She tries to emulate her sister May – the way she saw her before she died – wild and brave. In truth, reckless. She tries to forget all the wrong that has been done to her – unspeakable truths that we don’t fully understand until the end. She tries to hide all the grief, guilt, betrayal, confusion, need, desire that she feels but at times it just forces its way out. But as hard as it was, and as rough of a start as it was, I was glad that I went on it with her. And I am glad of the point at which Laurel and I part.

I think the letter idea was wonderful. I loved how Laurel told her story to someone. I loved how she reflected on their life – the things they did, said, or were done or said to them – and how she spoke to it, made it her own, weaved it into her own story. And as Laurel changed, so did her impression of these people she was writing to, and so so did the letters. Rockers who may have been idolized at the beginning, didn’t seem so perfect in the end.

I don’t know if this book will work for everyone. And I don’t know if I loved the story so much as I am in a little in awe of it. It’s like this delicate thing that I don’t know how to handle or what to think. But I by no means regret reading it.

I end with an excerpt from the beginning of my favorite letter.  I don't think it's spoilery, but read at your own risk.

"Dear Kurt,
In the second sentence of your suicide note you said, This note should be pretty easy to understand. It is and it isn't. I mean, I get how it goes, what the story is and how it ends. Becoming a star didn't make you happy. It didn' make you invincible. You were still vulnerable, furious at everything and in love with it at once. The world was too much for you. People were too close to you. You said it in one sentence I can't get out of my head: There's good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. Yes, I understand.
I feel it, too, when I see Aunt Amy rewinding the answering machine, playing a Jesus-man message from months ago as if it were new. When I see Hannah running over in her new dress to meet Kasey, all the while looking over her shoulder at Natalie. When I see Tristan, playing air guitar to one of your songs, when what he wants is to write his own. When I see Dad, coming over to kiss my head before bed, too tired to worry about where I go at night. When I see the boy in Bio who fills the always-empty seat beside him with a stack of books. Everything gets in. I can't stop them.
So yes, in a way, it's easy to understand. But on the other hand, it makes no fucking sense, as you would say. To kill yourself. No fucking sense at all. You didn't think about the rest of us. You didn't care about what would happen to us after you were gone."

The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Curse
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #1
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Pages: 368
Source: ALA Midwinter

Summary from Goodreads:
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

"'The Winner's Curse is when you come out on top of the bid, but only by paying a steep price'"

What I Liked

Kestrel

"'A kestrel is a hunting hawk.'
'Yes. The perfect name for a warrior girl.'"

Kestrel was awe-inspiring. She was strong-willed, passionate, keen. She was a survivor. The perfect protagonist.

Arin

"'You are the god of lies'"

Arin was trouble. He was unforgiving, unsympathetic, deceptive. He was out for revenge. The perfect antagonist.

Kestrel and Arin

"'You might not think of me as your friend,' Kestrel told Arin,
'but I think of you as mine.'"

What an interesting and intense dynamic. They used one another, betrayed one another, protected one another, loved one another. I loved the slow build of their affection for each other. How they resisted it and failed. How it simmered between them. How it was forbidden. How it tore them apart. They were the perfect pair.

The story

"'Do you think I care how you won?'
'You won. Your methods don't matter.'"

What a beautiful, tragic, engrossing story. This one is filled with emotion of all sorts and had everything I could ask for. I loved the fight for freedom. The strategizing. The undermining. I loved the stories of those who were playing the game, and those who were caught in the middle. I loved how I sympathized with both sides. It was unputdownable and nerve-wracking. It was defiant, unexpected and hopeful. I've never read anything like it. I loved it to pieces.

The writing

He knew the law of such things:
people in brightly lit places cannot see into the dark"

This book was magnificently crafted. The words and sentences just flowed together and pulled you under. Everything was that much more impactful. It was so easy to fall in love with this story.

The pace

"'Plot away, Kestrel.'"
"'Survive.'"

This is not a book that makes you wait until the end for the good stuff. The good stuff is constant throughout. The plot is solid and unwavering. I was apprehensive from the beginning, but straight anxious from page 64 onward. And shit hits the fan on page 210.  This book had my undivided attention every step of the way.

Bottom Line

Trust me (and so many others), you need to read this book. Treat yourself. It lives up to its hype in every way and it is the start of something wonderful. I loved every second of it and I am confident other readers will too.

"Happiness depends on being free, 

and freedom depends on being courageous"

Horde (Razorland #3) by Ann Aguirre

Title: Horde
Series: Razorland #3
Author: Ann Aguirre
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Pages: 432
Source: Audiobook

Summary from Goodreads:
The horde is coming.

Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.

Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.

This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.

Review

I am very very impressed by this series ender. I admit that I did not have high expectations, despite all the strong reviews. I really enjoyed Enclave but felt that Outpost was missing much of what I had originally loved in the story. But my fears were unnecessary because I saw in Horde what I loved in Enclave, even more so really. In fact, it was arguably one of the strongest series endings I have read to date.

I thought Deuce was the strongest she’s ever been. She’s grown up so much since coming to the surface and she behaves admirably. She is much more aware, both of herself and of her surroundings. She knows her strengths and weaknesses. She welcomes advice. She leads by example. She is confident, but not cocky. She was badass and powerful and motivating. She was everything I hoped she'd be. 

I thought the progression of the freaks was so well done. Often times you see side plots like this not fully fleshed out and left open but this became a focal point of the story, was given the appropriate level of detail, and came to a nice finish. I loved the direction Aguirre took with their story. The freaks were a constant source of action, fear, and intrigue. 

I loved the plot development over this last book. I think Deuce's army was such a wonderful touch and I loved the trials she went through and the success that was had. I think it sent an important message. And everything just concluded so nicely, which I can not often say for a series. I was invested in the stories of each and every main character and I think each of their stories ended as well as can be expected. 

Again, I am so impressed by this last installment in the Razorland series and I highly recommend this series to fellow readers looking for a strong dystopian. I was so moved by this story and felt a lot of different emotions while reading, but ultimately finished feeling satisfaction. I loved this story.