Category: Young Adult

Book Review: The Book of Ivy

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ivy

After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.

My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and restore the Westfall family to power.

But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.

Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him…”


Pros – Bishop, Ivy sticks to her (sometimes misguided but ultimately well intentioned) values and the romance develops genuinely

Cons – Ivy’s family, Ivy’s Family, IVY’S FAMILY

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Book Review: Through Fire & Sea

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through fire and sea

Mirror mirror, hear my call…

In the Fire world, seventeen-year-old Leah is the illegitimate daughter of one of the realm’s most powerful lords. She’s hot-blooded—able to communicate with the tempestuous volcano gods that either bless a civilization or destroy it. But then Leah discovers she’s a Caller, gifted with the unique—and dangerous—ability to “call” her Otherselves in mirror worlds. And her father will do anything to use her powers for his own purposes.

In the Water world, Holly nearly drowns when she sees—and interacts with—Leah, a mirror image of herself. She’s rescued by Ryan, a boy from school with a secret he’d die to protect. Little do they know, his Otherself is the son of a powerful volcano god at war in the Fire world…and he’s about to fall.

As Leah and Holly’s lives intersect, the Fire and Water worlds descend into darkness. The only way to protect the mirror worlds is to break every rule they’ve ever known. If they don’t, the evil seeping through the mirrors will destroy everything—and everyone—they love…


Pros – Gideon & Leah, the Mirror Worlds concept, Quetrah

Cons – Holly & Ryan (sort of), disjointed feeling between the first Part & second Part, Quetrah

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YA Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo

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Review Time

10194157
The Grisha #1 • 368 Pages • Young Adult
TasCH’s Rating: 4 stars
Published: June 5th 2012

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

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I’ve had Shadow and Bone on my peripheral vision for, um, about 3 years but never really got around to reading it. This or that title always got in the way (also the screaming fan girls kept me at bay because I didn’t want to be disappointed in such a “hot” title). The only reason I picked it up was because I purchased Six of Crows, not knowing that it was connected to this series. Oops! My bad! I was so enthralled with the world building, characters, and setting of Six of Crows that I decided to stop reading it and start on Shadow and Bone because I didn’t want to miss those sweet cameos authors like to throw at you every so often when they write a brand new series that hails from their older one.

Shadow and Bone is really good, just not Six of Crows good. Which is completely understandable given that Shadow and Bone was Leigh Bardugo’s debut title. Even then I still liked this glitzy world of the Grisha’s Leigh has created, with their “small science” (which is pretty much like having low key powers) and high school court life. I fear like we have yet to see the real underbelly of the Grisha world, and I cannot wait for it. Continue reading “YA Review: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo” →

Book Review: A Thousand Nights

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a thousand nightsLo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister’s place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin’s court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time.But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.


Pros – Lo-Melkhiin, the thoughtful writing, the focus on what it means to measure up

Cons – Felt abrupt at times with transitions, while we get a feel for the main character (Lady-Bless) we get very little feel for everyone else, book confuses at times

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Book Review: The Lost Girl

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the lost girlNew student Lizzy Palmer is the talk of Shadyside High. Michael and his girlfriend Pepper befriend her, but the closer they get to her, the stranger she seems… and the more attractive she is to Michael. He invites her to join him on a snowmobile race that ends in a tragic accident. Soon, Michael’s friends start being murdered, and Pepper becomes convinced that Lizzy is behind the killings. But to her total shock, she and Michael are drawn into a tragic story of an unthinkable betrayal committed over 60 years ago.


Pros – Stine delivers on the terrifying factor (if you don’t walk away with at least two new fears of how to die I’ll be shocked), its not just a dude in a mask, my fear of horses is completely vindicated

Cons – convoluted plot, annoying characters, useless adults…honestly this is a Fear Street novel so these aren’t really cons as much as typical attributes of the books you tolerate because you’re not reading these for fine literature

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Series Recap: Thrones of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

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throne of glass series banner
Welcome to Series Recap! A quick recap of what to remember before the next new book hits the shelves.

Today we’re going to tackle the THRONE OF GLASS series by Sarah J Maas. Currently standing strong at 1 book of prequel novellas, 3 novels and book 4, QUEEN OF SHADOWS, releasing in September I think its safe to say folk really dig this assassin’s life. Even if she seems to do less assassinating then you’d think given her title. But how much do you remember?

Warning: Spoilers abound. I don’t suggest reading these if you haven’t read the series in question first. I don’t pull punches and I won’t give you another warning before telling you your favorite character’s pet cat dies in a horrible fire.

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Book Review: The Shadow Behind the Stars

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the shadow behind the starsHeed this warning, mortal: stay far away from the three sister Fates. For if they come to love you, they might bring about the end of the world…

Chloe is the youngest. Hers are the fingers that choose the wool, that shape the thread, that begin it. The sun smiles upon her. Men love her without knowing who she is. She has lived forever and will live forever more. She and her sisters have been on their isolated Greek island for centuries, longer than any mortal can remember. They spin, measure, and slice the countless golden threads of human life. They are the three Fates, and they have stayed separate for good reason: it is dangerous for them to become involved with the humans whose lives they shape.

So when a beautiful girl named Aglaia shows up on their doorstep, Chloe tries to make sure her sisters don’t become attached. But in seeking to protect them, Chloe discovers the dark power of Aglaia’s destiny. As her path unwinds, the three Fates find themselves pulled inextricably along—toward mortal pain, and mortal love, and a fate that could unravel the world.


Pros – The Three Fates!, no romance, a lot of sage advice from Chloe

Cons – Its hard to really pinpoint the main plot at times, Aglaia is not particularly likable at times, the pacing may throw others off

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Book Review: Lock and Mori

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Lock & Mori coverIn modern-day London, two brilliant high school students, one Sherlock Holmes and a Miss James “Mori” Moriarty, meet. A murder will bring them together. The truth very well might drive them apart.Before they were mortal enemies, they were much more.

FACT: Someone has been murdered in London’s Regent’s Park. The police have no leads.

FACT: Miss James “Mori”Moriarty and Sherlock “Lock” Holmes should be hitting the books on a school night. Instead, they are out crashing a crime scene.

FACT: Lock has challenged Mori to solve the case before he does. Challenge accepted.

FACT: Despite agreeing to Lock’s one rule–they must share every clue with each other–Mori is keeping secrets.

OBSERVATION: Sometimes you can’t trust the people closest to you with matters of the heart. And after this case, Mori may never trust Lock again.


Pros – Surprisingly engaging take on the characters of Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty, offers a tangled mystery, banter between Lock and Mori is delightful

Cons – The mystery becomes predictable as soon as a certain clue or two is revealed, character development is uneven, first person perspective means we get plenty from Mori’s side of things, but very little from Lock’s

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So I Started Reading Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine…

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So I started reading 2..

ink and boneIn an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time.…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…

……

Right now, I am all pros. Continue reading “So I Started Reading Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine…” →