Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Rating: 5
Writing: 5
Plot: 5
Characters: 5

Worth the buy? Heck yes.

Theme: Mythology


After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.


This book was so amazing!  One of the best books I've read in a long time.  Other books were really good, but this just blew my mind.  The series took a surprising turn and I'm very happy with it; I fell in love with the characters all over again.  I feel a wave of sheer happiness as I write this review, even.  I love Josephine Angelini (she's so pretty) and I adore her writing style and voice.

Somehow Helen isn't a Mary Sue.  She has a ton of powers but she's written brilliantly and she's a kick-a girl character.  I loved and cared about her and her ending.  She stepped up to show that she wasn't just a pretty face and she handled her problems well.  Matt was a prick and I loathe him, as was Pallas, Claire and a new character, "Andy".  Orion was okay, but I didn't ship him and Helen.  I fell in love with Hector; he's hilarious but I don't like his love interest.  Jason and Ari didn't play a big role, and I didn't really like their roles in the book at all.  I'm Team Helen all the way.  Claire annoyed me because she was like: "Helen's too power and she's changed...she must die."  Seriously Gig?  Who is she to decide Helen's fate?  Hades was awesome and I love Luke.  *hug* He's cute, but I'm 100% behind Lucas/Helen ship.  We also got t see more of Helen's ancestors, which was fun.  Cassandra bothered me too, though.  She was just too needy.

The world building was amazing and the plot was obviously well-planned.  I loved it; it was gripping and I felt genuinely happy while reading it.  I enjoyed it and I loved the ending.  I thought the conclusion and climax were just as good as I expected and I loved the writing.  There's something "WOW" about the writing and the characters.  The pacing was good and I liked the balance between powerful and too powerful; the book was executed wonderfully.

Goodreads

Rise by Anna Carey

Rating: 5
Writing: 5
Plot: 5
Characters: 4.5

Worth the buy? Yes!  *holds up copy*

Theme: Dystopia


How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?

When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.

Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?

In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.


This was very good and it met my high expectations.  I loved this series and Anna Carey did a wonderful job wrapping up the books.  The plot was gripping, tragic and action-packed.  I found no loose ends or plot holes and I'm so sad this series is over.  I can't wait for more from Anna Carey; Eve was a consistently good dystopian book.

Eve is a kick-a main character.  She is unique and she's put in tough situations a lot.  I found her realistic and she has a refreshing voice.  Eve sacrificed a lot, but I rooted for her in the entire series.  The love the way she's written and her character growth; she's not a Mary Sue or a stereotypical strong female lead.  Bette and Pip were annoying though and they held Eve back.  They also didn't trust her and they were far too needy.  Arden was another one of my favorites and I wish I had seen more of her.  Charles was sweet and I liked him and Eve as allies, not lovers.  Beatrice was a sweetheart too.  And Caleb!  *sob*  WHY?!  I loved him.

I don't know how I feel about the ending.  I love/hated it but it was satisfying.  The writing did have a good flow and good pacing, and I felt the plot kept you hooked.  I couldn't put this book down.  I love Anna Carey's style and the first person POV; it felt personal and real.  I can't get over how much I liked this book...what an epic conclusion to a great series.

Goodreads

Love in Bloom HOP!

This is a hardcover.  Good luck!!  Open internationally!

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.

Goodreads


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Waiting On Wednesday-Of Triton

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Goodreads

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike

Rating: 4
Writing: 4
Plot: 4
Characters: 3

Worth the buy? Yes, you should read it.

Theme: Paranormal, ghosts, mystery


Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto. 

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.

This was a unisex book.  Just putting that out there for any guys (do I even have guy readers?) who want to read this book.  It's actually really good and refreshing to see a unisex book and I really love Aprilynne Pike.  She's a good author and she can write a kick-a first person POV for a guy.  Not many female authors can do this, but Aprilynne Pike pulls it off well.  The concept of the book is a little iffy but I enjoyed it and it was nice, light reading.  And the title is genius.

I like Jeff.  He's snarky and funny, and I just like his narrative.  I wanted good things to happen to him and I wanted him to be happy.  However, I didn't like him and Sera together.  Sera was so boring and she was limited from my point of view.  Well, Jeff's point of view.  Kimberlee was insane, but I liked her anyway.  The author portrayed her well and I like how she changes.

This book wasn't fluff; I thought it would be, but it wasn't.  I enjoyed the book and I was into it by the first chapter.  The author did a great job at retelling The Scarlet Pimpernel, and she did an even better job setting up the story and the characters.  If you've read Wings by Aprilynne Pike, then you'll probably love this book too.  The author just has a great writing style and voice that I liked.  I can't wait for more from Aprilynne Pike.


Goodreads

Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield (TOUR-review and giveaway)

Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful — and most hunted — girl in England.

“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing — and she is swept into darkness.

When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses — women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.

Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…

Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.

Release date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Purchase: Amazon

This was very....unique.  I liked Chantress a lot, actually.  It took a while for me to really get into it, but I'm glad I did.  The plotting is slow but it was worth it because the world building and character building was well done.  The villains weren't that good, though.  They were kind of.... juvenile.  Lucy was a great main character and I absolutely love her.  The rest of the characters were okay but well written.  I enjoyed the book a lot and I hope others will too.

Lucy was a great character.  She was well written and I felt myself rooting for her.  I connected with her and she was a great main character.  Nat was okay, but I like him a lot more than I previously did.  He was distrusting of Lucy at first, which annoyed me, but then they became friends and they need to get together.  They would be an adorable couple!  The Lord Protector was an okay character, but he needed more development, which we'll see in the next book.

Again, the pacing wasn't amazing.  I mean, the plot was good but it wasn't as action-packed as I thought it would be.  Most of the book is Lucy's training, which was fine because I felt her character really grew.  I didn't really get bored with the plot, but I wish it was more surprising and thrilling.  Now, the world building was really good and I can see that the author's strongest point in the book was in the world building.  It was vivid and the imagery was great; I felt like I was there in the book.  Chantress, I feel, is just setting up the next books in the trilogy and I'm excited to see more of it, as well as the characters.

About the Author

Amy Butler Greenfield was a grad student in history when she gave into temptation and became a writer. Since then, she has become an award-winning author. 
Born in Philadelphia, Amy grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and later studied history at Williams College, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Oxford. She now lives with her family in England, where she writes, bakes double-dark-chocolate cake, and plots mischief.

Official links: www.amybutlergreenfield.com | twitter.com/ab_greenfield

 


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Elixir by Hilary Duff

Rating: 1
Writing: 1
Plot: 1.5
Characters: 1

Theme: Reincarnation


Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.


Ugh.  This book is so not worth it.  I bought it on sale and thought I should try it even though Hillary Duff wrote it.  I liked her in a few films but she can't write well, no offense.  The characters aren't well written, the writing had no wow factor and the whole premise of the book is overdone.

Clea is really stupid.  No offense but she really can't take a hint or give one.  We all knew she was reincarnated and dreaming about it...everyone except her.  Her narrative is otherwise okay, but she's a Mary Sue and she's pretty annoying.  Rayna is so annoying.  I don't understand what Clea likes about her; she's promiscuous, stupid, irresponsible and she's obviously delusional.  She never gives Clea space and needs to know everything going on with her; it's very over-the-top and I wouldn't be friendly with someone like that.  The connection with her and Clea seems very forced, because in the book Clea keeps saying how Rayna knows her so well.  The fact that she has to point that out takes away from the dynamic of their friendship and the writing; no show-don't-tell.  Ben is annoying because he's so protective and obviously in love with Clea.  He's the best friend and Clea is leading him on a bit.  Sage is a jerk.  I don't see him and Clea together and he doesn't deserve her; she sees him as perfect but he isn't and he's not that nice to her.  I don't like their relationship and I think that Clea deserves better and Sage needs to move on.  I don't see Clea and Ben together, though.

Clea is delusional.  Her narration is inconsistent, her feelings are all over the place and she fell for Sage too quickly.  I had a hard time mostly with the writing, though.  The details were unneeded and there was no show don't tell.  I couldn't connect with such whiny, annoying characters and their first world problems.  The story is only interesting towards the end and Save is often too vague.  I did not enjoy this book a s I will not be reading the next one.