A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Scwab + GIVEAWAY

Kell is one of the last Travelers—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes—as such, he can choose where he lands. There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there’s Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne—a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London...but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see—a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—and that is proving trickier than they hoped. 

Be sure to check out A Darker Shade of Magic's website: Darker-Shade.com

Buy this book here on Amazon

Book trailer:

Victoria "V.E." Schwab is the product of a British mother, a Beverly Hills father, and a southern upbringing. Because of this, she has been known to say "tom-ah-toes", "like", and "y'all". She currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and when she is not wandering in search of buried treasure, fairy tales, and good tea, she's tucked in a cafe, dreaming up monsters.

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Quick Q&A with Victoria Schwab:

Question:

If writing had not worked out for you as a profession, what would've been your back up career plan? What would you pursue instead? 

Answer: 

Interrogator. I’m kidding. Sort of. I actually really wanted to be a military interrogator. Then again, I also wanted to be an astrophysicist. And a professional baker. So in the end, it’s probably best for everyone that I went with writing…for now.

From A Darker Shade of Magic:

Take the A Darker Shade of Magic "Which London Do You Actually Belong In Quiz"

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REVIEW: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites. Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

I received this book from Penguin for free in exchange for an honest review and read-along with BookBusters. All opinions are my own. 

  3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

Click HERE to watch the BookBusters YA club liveshow, where I also share my thoughts about this book! (This is also a spoilery discussion) 

As a huge fan of Marie Lu's previous series, the Legend Trilogy, I had super high expectations going into this book. I was especially interested in The Young Elites because I wanted to see if Marie Lu would write it in the format of what I call the "typical dystopian/fantasy book". The usual norm is that we have our protagonist, who joins a rebel group, then is either trained or mentored in a way by a specific individual. Then the protagonist either falls in love with that individual, or becomes best friends with he/she. I was sad to find out that The Young Elites did fall into the category which I call "typical dystopian/fantasy books". I had discovered this about 100 pages into The Young Elites, and still had high hopes for it because I have indeed read books that fell into the "typical dystopian/fantasy books" category yet I still found them absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, The Young Elites definitely fell flat for me, considering how great the Legend Trilogy. I wouldn't consider The Young Elites to be a disappointment of a book, but I would rather categorize it as not too shabby. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't a complete let down either. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways . . . until Jude meets a cocky, broken, beautiful boy, as well as someone else—an even more unpredictable new force in her life. The early years are Noah's story to tell. The later years are Jude's. What the twins don't realize is that they each have only half the story, and if they could just find their way back to one another, they’d have a chance to remake their world.

 I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher Penguin for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

When I first picked up this book in September 2014, I had so much trouble getting in to it. The writing style had thrown me off because it was unlike anything I've ever read, and I had a very hard time adjusting to the characters. That being said, I took a hiatus from this book for about two and a half months. After my hiatus, I picked this book up again, and it read so fast. I remember not believing that I was reading the same book that I took a break from, because it felt so different from the book that I had read in September, which was a book I couldn't get into it at all. I found it so interesting that from the start of my reading journey with I'll Give You the Sun, I pretty much hated it and constantly questioned myself if I was reading the same book that everyone else was reading, that everyone else loved. And at the end of my reading journey with I'll Give You the Su, I was so sad and heartbroken because the book had ended. Jandy Nelson was able to create such a quirky and intricate story. I loved how the 2 different timelines, set in different timelines, wove together so beautifully. Though I still do not favor the writing style of this book, I thought it was a very creative way to tell the story, with both of the protagonists being artists. After finally being able to adapt to everything in I'll Give You the Sun, I found that it was a heartwarming journey of two unique siblings, that is most definitely applause worthy. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson

Since witnessing her parents' murders at the age of eleven, Phoenix's only purpose in life has been to uphold her mother's dying words- to be strong and survive. But surviving outside of The Walls- outside of The Sanctuary- is more like a drawn-out death sentence. A cruel and ruthless city, Tartarus is run by the Tribes whose motto is simple, "Join or die." Refusing to join and determined to live, Phoenix fights to survive in this savage world. Trusting no one, she lives as a rogue, fending only for herself. Then in a moment of rash judgment, she breaks all of her rules to save a child, and in that moment her life is turned upside down. When the rescue mission goes awry, Phoenix is captured by an underground group who claims no allegiance with either the Tribes nor The Sanctuary. She finds herself in the most dangerous game of survival she has ever played. In her captivity, only one person- the handsome and oddly sympathetic Triven- shows Phoenix something she has never before experienced: kindness. While warring with unfamiliar emotions and still skeptical of her captors' motives, Phoenix quickly realizes that these people may just hold the key to her lost memories. But who can she trust, when no one can be trusted? Not even herself.
Buy this book on Amazon

Rate:

4 of 5 stars 

★ ★ ★ ★

Review:

I received a free paperback of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I must admit, when I read the first few pages of this book it felt like I was reading Divergent. Within the world that Jennifer Wilson creates there are five different tribes, each with their own defining features and virtues, that live contained within a bordered wall. Although they share this similarity, this is no Divergent. This story is in a world all its own and is nothing short of thrilling. The protagonist, Phoenix, is a resilient character who was forced from a very young age to rely on no one but herself, and a select few who she can barter with for the things that she simply cannot obtain on her own. For the past six years she has managed to survive and make a life for herself in a city where the enemy is hiding in every corner. Her life is completely turned upside down when, in a moment of complete bewilderment, she decides to save the life of someone other than herself. However brave and selfless her act of salvation is, she does not escape unscathed. In a now precarious situation, she is surrounded by a new world, or so it seems to her. Hidden within the world she thought she knew so well lies a third party of people unlike the vicious tribes and unlike the perceived utopia of The Sanctuary. This new group challenges everything Phoenix thought she knew and thrusts upon her Triven, the kindness in him more shocking than anything else in her new environment. At war with herself and her surroundings, Phoenix will do whatever it takes to stay alive and survive. Even when I thought I knew what would happen next, I was incredibly thrown off by one of Wilson's incredible plot twists. With a writing style all her own, Jennifer Wilson creates a world that not only captivates, but consumes entirely, the attention of the reader. I can't wait to see where else this story will go and what new surprises Wilson will have for these characters that I have, in a short amount of time, completely fallen in love with. 

Reviewer:

Nancy

REVIEW: The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor

Bettina Vasilis can hardly believe it when basketball star Brady Cullen asks her out, and she just about faints when her strict father actually approves of him. But when school starts up again, Brady changes. What happened to the sweet boy she fell in love with? Then she meets a smoldering guy in his twenties, and this “cowboy” is everything Brady is not—gentle, caring, and interested in getting to know the real Bettina. Bettina knows that breaking up with Brady would mean giving up her freedom—and that it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between her and Cowboy. Still, she can’t help that she longs for the scent of his auto shop whenever she’s anywhere else. When tragedy strikes, Bettina must tell her family the truth—and kiss goodbye the things she thought she knew about herself and the men in her life. Leslie Connor has written a lyrical, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about family, romance, and the immense power of love.

I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher HarperCollins (Katherine Tegen Books) for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  2.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

My preconceived notions about my feelings on the plot/outcome of this book could not have turned out more different than what happened with The Things You Kiss Goodbye. I remember reading the synopsis of this book and thinking to myself that this book would be a great fluffy and easy read; I could not have been more wrong. When I started The Things You Kissed Goodbye I was in a little bit of a reading slump, and it was hard for me to engage myself into the story when I first started reading. I would read the first chapter over and over again because I just wasn't "feeling the story". After a few days of not reading, I finally continued on into the story, and found myself in this limbo zone where I was flying through pages and almost "enjoyed" the story, but it almost "too brutal" for me to continue reading. What I mean by this is that Bettina's boyfriend Brady was inhumanly abusive of her, and this was really hard for me to take in because of my belief in non abusive relationships. I would find myself literally looking away from the page while reading because it was too much for me. I'm really glad that this only lasted for a period of time because Bettina met Cowboy. What bothered me about Bettina and Cowboy's relationship was how naive Bettina was about him. I definitely liked Bettina and Cowboy's relationship much more than the one she had with Brady, but don't you think a girl should ask a guy what's his name before falling in love with him? Nonetheless I did end up loving their relationship and was really devastated by the ending of the book. I also really liked how Bettina was of Greek heritage; this made the book really unique and relatable to to because of the strong culture and tradition that Bettina grew up with. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: The Jewel by Amy Ewing

The Selection meets The Handmaid's Tale in this darkly riveting debut filled with twists and turns, where all that glitters may not be gold. The Jewel means wealth, the Jewel means beauty—but for Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Born and raised in the Marsh, Violet finds herself living in the Jewel as a servant at the estate of the Duchess of the Lake. Addressed only by her number—#197—Violet is quickly thrown into the royal way of life. But behind its opulent and glittering facade, the Jewel hides its cruel and brutal truth, filled with violence, manipulation, and death. Violet must accept the ugly realities of her life . . . all while trying to stay alive. But before she can accept her fate, Violet meets a handsome boy who is also under the Duchess's control, and a forbidden love erupts. But their illicit affair has consequences, which will cost them both more than they bargained for. And toeing the line between being calculating and rebellious, Violet must decide what, and who, she is willing to risk for her own freedom.

 I received an advanced reader's edition of this book from EpicReads as a giveaway prize and I received a finished copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher before the release date. All opinions are my own. 

2 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below. 

As soon as I received my early copy of The Jewel, I picked it up right away because of my genuine excitement for its release. I had heard so much hype from my friends and the lovely ladies at EpicReads; I was hoping that The Jewel would be absolutely spectacular, since the premise was very promising. As soon as I was about 100 pages into the story, I knew that they story had fallen flat, and I knew that this type of story definitely wasn't for me. I didn't want to judge The Jewel if I had only read 100 pages of it, which was why I continued reading the entire book. By the time that Violet met Ash, the story had become a little bit messy and unclear. I think another reason for my disappointment in this book was because of my resentment towards the instalove. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this tough and tender young adult novel that's a lot about love (and a little about cancer). "When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics." So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can't forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

I received an advanced reader's edition of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). 

Though similar to John Green's The Fault In Our Stars, I think I might have to say that Zac and Mia was one of the best books that I've read all year; it was so heart warming and refreshing. I remember myself cracking up every few minutes each time I would try to read in an Australian accent, since the novel is Australian. I loved how awkwardly Zac and Mia met, and how their differences sparked such a great friendship (especially their morse code conversations about Lady Gaga and texting over Facebook). Friendship, not romance. It's so common for healthy and friendly relationships in YA books to turn into romance, and I loved how Zac and Mia's stayed the same, it never changed, making it such a breath of fresh air. Out of the two perspectives that the book was told in (Zac and Mia each had a perspective), Zac’s by far had to be my favorite (Did I mention that he loves Emma Watson?!). He was such an interesting character. All of his decisions were driven by math and logic, except when it came to Mia. Mia on the other hand was a bit selfish and reckless, but I really enjoyed seeing her change as a character Zac as the story progressed, and her changing herself was great as well. Overall, I would really recommend this book to anybody who likes to friendship, crazy bus road trips, and especially if you loved The Fault In Our Stars. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: Awaken by Jaime Guerard

Three things run through my mind at this very moment… ONE, my life as I once knew it will never be the same. TWO, the person I’m in love with might not even exist. THREE, the deception that has unfolded before me has the power of life and death. Sixteen year old, Breanna Davis, has heard the saying; life isn’t always what it seems…well, that saying rings true now more than ever. As horrifying visions appear before her, revealing tragedies that will forever change the fate of those she loves, she realizes that she may be the only person who can stop them from becoming reality. Amongst the chaos of this new discovery, Bre is faced with a stranger, Eve, who moves in on Bre’s friends and begins to follow her every move. As Eve’s true motives begin to surface, Bre must fight against, not only the visions, but the dangers Eve holds close. There is another secret kept- Collin, a boy held captive in Bre’s dreams, the boy she is secretly falling in love with but isn’t sure he even exists. As she tries to make it work with Austin, an old friend who could possibly be more, Bre battles against her feelings for Collin. Bre is faced with an almost impossible decision, to choose her life or follow her destiny. If she doesn’t intercede, people will certainly die. If she does, her own life could be at stake. In the end, if she fails, she’ll lose everything.

Rate:

4.5 out of 5 stars

★ ★ ★ ★

I seriously regret not reading this sooner! I couldn't put it down and the ending left me in one of the biggest book hangovers I have ever been in! When you first hear about this you think it's just like any other paranormal book; Girl has super natural powers, is misunderstood by the world, she falls in love, a crazy event happens where she can show her powers are good and finally everyone accepts her and then she has a happy ending. Well, boy was I wrong!  Awaken was NOTHING like a basic paranormal book. Sure it has the romance (and can I say it is BEAUTIFUL)but the way it happens isn't your typical love story. 

The book itself is beautifully well written, It's such a unique story line and I honestly have never read anything like it. The way the author Jamie approaches everything is so unique and very different.  In almost every book I read there is a character that is just there, they are very unnecessary and its just pointless to mention them. Yet in this book there is never that moment, all the characters have a point in the story, they are there for a reason even if you think they aren't necessary in the beginning, they will be in the end. The whole plot has a mixture of mystery,suspense, love etc. It just pulls you in and leaves you with tears either from happiness or sadness. I absolutely LOVED it and it is on my list of favorites!  I recommend it to everyone because it was just so spectacular and it will leave you wanting more. I promise.


Reviewer:
Samantha

REVIEW: Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Time is slipping away.... Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race. The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher Scholastic for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

4 of 5 stars (please see my rating system further below. 

To everyone who is comparing this book to The Hunger Games and saying it's not worth the read: Yes, this book does have similar aspects and definitely has a "The Hunger Games vibe", but overall, Fire and Flood is so different. First, I absolutely loved how Tella was just a normal girl who loved her brother; she wasn't a trained girl who had experienced hardships and knew what the "Games/Brimstone Bleed" would be like. Her biggest challenges in life at the time was not being able to listen to the radio, not being starved to death. The fact that she wasn't going through such hardships made me really admire on how well she adjusted to the Brimstone Bleed and its challenges. I adored all of the characters in this book, they all seemed so real to me; I loved how relatable they were; They were human; real. Victoria Scott's writing style is so easy to read and flowed so well. I read this book in a straight 2 hour sitting; I wouldn't stop reading until I was finished. My only complaint is how vague the book is on the actual world and government. From the little information there was, Fire and Flood takes place in the modern world, but there is something very wrong with the government because of the high quantities of diseased people. Hopefully there will be more explanation in the next book! Expect me to read it as soon as it comes out. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

REVIEW: Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.
DOON is loosely based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon, with permission from the ALan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation. Follow the journey at http://www.DoonSeries.com

I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

3 of 5 stars (Please see my rating system further below). My favorite part of Doon would definitely have to be the setting. The fact that the story is woven around the dynamic country of Scotland and a high fantasy secret land beyond a bridge made me enjoy the book much more than if it had been written in a regular generic setting. The writing and the fantasy aspect of this book brought so many memories of my childhood filled with epic high fantasy. The 2 protagonists Veronica and McKenna are very relatable to, which made reading from their perspectives much more enjoyable; I liked reading from Veronica's point of view much better than reading from McKenna's. Doon is also based off of the musical the Brigadoon; I love the idea, but I felt like that element of the book was under executed. There were definitely mentions of it, but I would've liked the authors to go more in depth and use it more profoundly, then just naming a river and bridge. Unfortunately, Doon does feature one of my biggest bookish pet peeves; instalove. Both Veronica and McKenna experience love in Doon, because both have experienced what is called a "calling"; this means that you have a soulmate in the magical land of Doon, and that you were meant to be with each other. Right when Veronica and McKenna meet their soul mates, the story turns into a cheesy romance novel that was less likable (for me at least) then the epic tale of two best friends and a secret fantasy world. Overall, I found this book quite entertaining; It had me at the edge of my seat, and I definitely indulged this book until I was finished.

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....


Reviewer:
Grace

REVIEW: Winterkill by Kate A. Boorman

Emmeline knows she’s not supposed to explore the woods outside her settlement. The enemy that wiped out half her people lurks there, attacking at night and keeping them isolated in an unfamiliar land with merciless winters. Living with the shame of her grandmother’s insubordination, Emmeline has learned to keep her head down and her quick tongue silent. When the settlement leader asks for her hand in marriage, it’s an opportunity for Emmeline to wash the family slate clean—even if she has eyes for another. But before she’s forced into an impossible decision, her dreams urge her into the woods, where she uncovers a path she can’t help but follow. The trail leads to a secret that someone in the village will kill to protect. Her grandmother followed the same path and paid the price. If Emmeline isn’t careful, she will be next.

I received a finished copy of this book before the release date from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

  2.5 of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below. 

As a die-hard fantasy lover who hadn’t read a fantasy in over a month and a half, reading Winterkill to me seemed like a breath of fresh air, something to pull me back into a genre that I knew well and loved. While I enjoyed Winterkill immensely because it was action-packed, had a strong and interesting premise, and was indeed a fantasy, (which is my favorite genre) I still felt like Winterkill lacked in execution. First of all, the romance, it’s instalove. Not only is the romance instalove, but its forbidden instalove. Never have I enjoyed reading about “instalovey” relationships, but I’ve learned to deal with them and let go of my grudge against them since they are so common and popular in YA. But, I have never, and I mean never, liked forbidden love. Forbidden love is just something that is so overdramatic in my opinion, and a lot of the time, I don’t seem to care for it (even though surprisingly there are rare cases in which I have liked forbidden love). So when I’m about 50 pages into Winterkill and read that Emmeline is already “blushing” from the look that Kane gives her, I was really trying hard not to gag. Besides the instalove, I liked most of the characters, and the fact that Emmeline’s settlement was practically unknown and settled in a place where pretty much no one’s survived (my prediction is that the settlement is probably in modern day Siberia), made me all the more curious about Winterkill and it’s mysteries. I liked how Emmeline was so much like her grandmother, and how cunning she was towards the end of the book. For some reason, I also really liked Brother Stockham, even though he was the villain. I thought that he made a great “villain” and that there was a lot of depth to his character, especially his reason for asking Emmeline’s hand. Overall, Winterkill was a fast-paced and promising fantasy that had me hooked for most of the beginning, lost me in the middle, and had me back at the end. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

REVIEW: Don't Touch by Rachel M. Wilson

A powerful story of a girl who is afraid to touch another person’s skin, until the boy auditioning for Hamlet opposite her Ophelia gives her a reason to overcome her fears.

Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Touch another person’s skin, and Dad’s gone for good. Caddie can’t stop thinking that if she keeps from touching another person’s skin, her parents might get back together... which is why she wears full-length gloves to school and covers every inch of her skin. It seems harmless at first, but Caddie’s obsession soon threatens her ambitions as an actress. She desperately wants to play Ophelia in her school’s production of Hamlet. But that would mean touching Peter, who’s auditioning for the title role—and kissing him. Part of Caddie would love nothing more than to kiss Peter—but the other part isn't sure she's brave enough to let herself fall. Perfect for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, this debut novel from Rachel M. Wilson is a moving story of a talented girl who's fighting an increasingly severe anxiety disorder, and the friends and family who stand by her. 

I received an advanced reader's edition of this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

  3.5 of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below. 

As someone with anxiety, I definitely was a little hesitant to request and to read a book that deals with a mental illness that I suffer. I am so glad that I did read Don't Touch. Not only has Rachel M. Wilson written about the reality of severe anxiety, but she has also written/created one of the most lively and entertaining cast of characters that I've ever read about. I love the protagonist Caddie, but I loved the supporting characters even more. They all made me giddy and hysterical, especially Oscar. I also really liked the relationship between Caddie and Peter that developed throughout the novel. I especially liked how careful Peter was about being near Caddie, and how he helped her overcome her anxiety. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Don't Touch. I loved how it could make me feel all emotions, and I would definitely recommend to readers who are looking for a less "fluffy" contemporary.

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace