Book Review: Darken the Stars (Kricket #3)

Darken the Stars (Kricket #3) by Amy A. Bartol
Publication Date: September 8, 2015

Kyon Ensin finally has what he’s always wanted: possession of Kricket Hollowell, the priestess who foresees the future. Together, their combined power will be unrivaled. Kricket, however, doesn’t crave the crown of Ethar—she has an unbreakable desire to live life on her own terms, a life that she desperately wants to share with her love, Trey Allairis.

As conspiracies rage in the war for Ethar, Kricket’s so-called allies want to use her as a spy. Even those held closest cannot be trusted—including Astrid, her sister, and Giffen, a member of a mysterious order with a hidden agenda. But Kricket’s resolve will not allow her to be used as anyone’s pawn, even as the Brotherhood sharpens its plans to cut out her heart.

As the destiny prophesied by her mother approaches, Kricket will backtrack through her fiery future to reshape it. For she knows one thing above all else: the only person she can truly count on is herself.

So there's a reason I waited so long to write this review...I'm having trouble deciding how I feel about it. And it seems to be a consensus among Amy Bartol and Kricket series fans. On one hand, I really loved this book and it was amazing. But on the other, I am so bothered by the ending that it made me want to give this a lower rating. I have never disliked an Amy Bartol book, but I just am so conflicted on this one. Honestly, it was really only the ending that bothered me the most, because the rest of this book was fantastic. But that ending...ugh. I'm actually really angry over it. 

Amy has an amazing talent. There is no denying it in my opinion. She has such creativity and can spin an amazingly unique story that leaves you desperate for more. That is how this series started. I was instantly transported to Ethar, and fell in love with all of the characters that Amy created. Kricket was a fierce female lead, Trey was a swoonworthy bad boy that instantly grabs a piece of your heart, and the rest of the gang was hilarious and offered a great balance to the story. However, most of these characters that we fell in love with from the start were virtually absent from the story. I didn't really like this because I missed them so much. And the scenes they were in were far too short. I just kept wanting things to fast forward and Kricket to be rescued so they could come up with an ingenious plan to save Ethar. But this didn't really happen.

However, you know the thing I loved the most? NO LOVE TRIANGLE. It was always so nice when authors feel comfortable enough to not have a love triangle because I feel like it's so overdone these days. If you know me, you know I'm not a huge fan of them. Well, in this one, there's a love triangle. But the problem is, I don't really know if you can call it that because of what actually happens. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I just didn't like what happened with Kyon at all. Now don't get me wrong, I loved Kyon. He was/is a great villain, and I loved how we got to see a different side to him in this novel. But I didn't like what happened between him and Kricket. This is partly why I'm conflicted. Because on one hand, I really enjoyed Kyon and Kricket together and their storyline, but I did not ejoy them as a couple.

I could actually get over the love triangle aspect of this, but unfortunately that's not where my ultimate problem lies. The ending was just a bust for me. Again, this is an area of conflict for me. On one hand, I didn't like the direction Amy took because it's very open ended and not a proper end to the series. I didn't like that there was no true conclusion, and it just felt like Kricket was taking the easy way out. However, this being said, I also think Kricket's decision was very true to her character and her feelings throughout the series in regards to what she was to become. I can't say too much because I don't want to spoil this for you, but I think (especially if you read other reviews) how difficult it is for me to decide whether or not I like this ending. Ultimately, I just felt kind of let down, as it wasn't at all what I would have expected. If this is truly the last book, then I'll be even more disappointed, but if there is another book...and Amy, I ambegging you to write another book...I won't be so upset.

Overall, Amy has told a great story with Kricket, and her storytelling is flawless. She knows how to write a good story that sweeps the reader into another world and makes you fall in love. But this is not the way you end a series, and I don't know if I can get over it. Check this out if you're a fan, just don't go in with any expectations. It might not be your favorite book, but it's still a worthy edition to the series. While I might be conflicted on the ending, I don't regret, in any way, reading this series. And it still will be one of my favorite series. If this truly is the end, I might just make up my own ending where everything works out ;)

Happy reading!

~Cassie

Book Review: Shades of Doon (Doon #3)

Shades of Doon (Doon #3) by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon
Publication Date: September 1, 2015

After cheating death, Veronica Welling is determined to savor every moment in her idyllic kingdom with both her true love and best friend by her side at last. At the same time, Mackenna Reid is enthusiastically building her new life and a theater with her prince. But just as their dreams of happiness are within reach, the world Vee and Kenna have chosen is ripped away, leaving them to face their most horrific challenge yet—their old lives.

Thrust out of Doon, the best friends are confronted with tormentors from their past and no way to return to their adopted land. When the MacCrae brothers rush to their rescue, the girls' situation turns from nightmare to modern-day fairy tale. But their happiness could be short lived: unbeknownst to them, someone in their closest circle is aiding the witch of Doon in her bid to destroy the kingdom once and for all.

                                             

GAH!! Can I just give this every star imaginable please? Something like infinity stars? Is that a thing? Because this book deserves that type of rating!! Everything about this book is perfection, and if you aren't reading this series you need to drop everything and go get the first book so you can join in on the adventure of a lifetime. Every book just gets better and better, and this just might be my favorite thus far. The writing is phenomenal and sweeps you away to the gorgeous world of Doon. Every single word and every single scene is beautifully written, and allows you to see the scenes as if they are playing right in front of you. The world building is even more perfect, and every book reveals another layer to the story. It just gets better and better as you go along!

Vee and Kenna are 2 of the best lead characters. The dual POVs adds so much to this story, and makes it feel more complete. Each girl is very different, and you can easily tell who is talking. It is extremely difficult to have dual POVs and those 2 POVs being both girls. It runs the risk of both girls sounding similar and confusion because of this. But that is definitely not the case here. Ms. Corp and Ms. Langdon do an excellent job at giving each girl a unique voice and personality. 

Lastly, I just want to hit on the progression of the story/plot. I am blown away by how far we have come since the first novel. I am really loving the development of the characters and the storyline itself. There are major changes coming (heck, they're already here), and I am greatly looking forward to see what the authors have in store for us next! I wish we didn't have to wait so long for the next book, so for now, I'm going to be waiting....very very patiently. And let me tell you

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #17

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

The Girl from Everywhere: Heidi Heilig
Publication Date: February 16th, 2016

Synopsis: 

Heidi Heilig’s debut teen fantasy sweeps from modern-day New York City to nineteenth-century Hawaii to places of myth and legend. Sixteen-year-old Nix has sailed across the globe and through centuries aboard her time-traveling father’s ship. But when he gambles with her very existence, it all may be about to end. The Girl from Everywhere, the first of two books, will dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman.

Nix’s life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868 Honolulu, before Nix’s mother died in childbirth. Nix’s life—her entire existence—is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who’s been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.

Dazzle readers of Sabaa Tahir? Well, I'm definitely a reader of Sabaa Tahir. She's one of my favorite authors! I think this looks pretty amazing mostly because of the historical fiction portion and like I've been saying in previous Waiting on Wednesday's but I'm really glad that YA has been publishing more and more historical fiction novels lately! 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Titans by Victoria Scott
Publication Date: February 23, 2016

Synopsis:

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.   

I can't even begin to tell you how much I am excited for this book from Victoria Scott.  She has always amazed me with her books, and this is sure to be yet another edge-of-your-seat hit from her.  The cover makes me even more intrigued because her covers always represent the book so well.  I can't wait to get this one in my hands!  

The Lunar Chronicles Book Tag

Brittany at The Book Addict's Guide is hosting The Lunar Chronicles re-read along and she is the creator of this book tag! I finished Cress two weeks ago and I already can't wait till Winter! I feel bad for the people who had to wait over a year for it! So in the spirit of waiting for Winter, I figured I'd do this book tag! Also, I tag anyone who loves The Lunar Chronicles series! 

CINDER | The cyborg

a book that's often misunderstood or under appreciated - Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

This book is so under appreciated!! This has to be one of the best books that I've read in the year of 2015. It's a contemporary kind of science fiction, I suppose. But it also has a ton of dark humor. It's fantastic! I hope everybody gets a chance to read it! 

KAI | The prince

a book about royals/royalty - The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles) by Mary E. Pearson

This is one of my favorite books about royalty! Lia is such a strong character and initially wants nothing to do with The Prince. It's hilarious! 

ADRI | The evil stepmother

a book with a horrible/cringe-worthy parent - Tana's Mom from The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

If you like vampires and dystopian novels, you'll definitely like this one! However, Tana's mom is a preeeetty awful mother. I'm not going to spoil why… you should just read the book! 

IKO | The spunky sidekick

a book with your favorite happy-go-lucky character - Bubba from The Sookie Stackhouse Series

It's no secret that The Sookie Stackhouse series is one of my favorite book series in the world. The series itself is so spunky, but Bubba is definitely the most spunky! I am really sad he didn't make it into the True Blood book series, but then again I wouldn't want them to ruin him! He is so dependable and loyal to Sookie, Bill, and Eric. However, he likes to eat small furry animals. But what great characters doesn't have their quirks ;). 

SCARLET | The rescuer

a book with a character on a mission - MacKayla Lane from The Fever Series

Ooh this is a good book! Mac goes to Ireland in search of her sister's killer. What she finds there is basically a huge world of Fae. She is all alone and the police basically refuse to do anything productive in order to find her sister. So she takes things into her own hands. This is a book I highly recommend! It's considered Urban Fantasy - I love the excitement and mystery of The Fever world, as well as the romance ;) 

WOLF | The fighter

a book with a brutal fight (with words or fists) - 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

So even though I wasn't a fan of this book at all, there was a lot of fighting. People were severely mean to Molly. I felt that it went beyond bullying. Also, there was that sort of fist fight towards the end. I really would only count this one because of the many fights with words not the fist fight because it was kind of weak lol. I really didn't like the book though. The ending cleared nothing up for me :( 

LEVANA | The villain

a book with the absolute worst villain - The Commandant from An Ember in the Ashes

I feel like I would have picked Levana for this role but The Commandant from An Ember in the Ashes is totally right up there with her. Gosh she is evil. Lets see.. she wanted her son killed, all of her slaves end up killing themselves, she basically tortures and mutilates people. Yep - she's a pretty evil villain!

THORNE | The rascal

a book with the biggest schmoozer - Nikolai from books 2 & 3 of the Grisha trilogy

Rascal and schmoozer are two words that come to mind when I think of Nikolai! He was so charismatic and funny - it was so refreshing to see him compared to the brooding Mal and the mysterious Darkling. I also hear that Leigh Bardugo is most likely writing a series about Nikolai! That will be a fantastic read. 

CRESS | The hacker

a book about technology, or sci-fi - The Mortality Doctrine Series by James Dashner 

I haven't heard many things about this book in the bloggersphere but if you like technology and sci-fi, this is a must read! It's a video game that you can kind of LIVE inside and work. It's so wild. James Dashner is one of the only authors that I can read the book without a romance and still be completely intrigued. Even though this one does hint at one for the upcoming books ;) 

ERLAND | The doctor

a book with an illness or revolving around medical issues - One by Sarah Crossan

I was almost going to go with the generic The Fault in Our Stars for this one, LOL! Then I remembered this gem of a book! If this book doesn't make you tear up just a little bit then I am convinced that you're not human. Yes - it's that emotional! The story is a journey of conjoined twins with health complications. It's written in verse form, which makes it so much better. 

WINTER | The unsound mind

a book with the craziest character you’ve ever read - Penryn's Mom from Angelfall

If you've read the Angelfall series, then you know how loopy Penryn's mom is! I was actually really scared for Penryn and her sister's life in the first book of this series. She is the definition of a loose cannon. And don't forget that time she walked around with a cattle prod! If you didn't read the Angelfall series then holy cow you have to! The series is spectacular. 

JACIN | The soldier

a book with a military theme - Lois Lane: Fall Out by Gwenda Bond 

I guess this one is kind of stretching it a tad. Lois Lane: Fall Out is a kind of remaking of Lois and Clarke's life … because they obviously didn't meet online in the comic books! But it's actually really good … and I say military because Lois is an Army brat. So, that sounds like a theme to me. Right? 

Book Review: Mechanica

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell
Publication Date: August 25, 2015

Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home. 

But on her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there—and the mechanical menagerie, led by a tiny metal horse named Jules—be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last.
Gorgeous prose and themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince . . . but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all.

I'm actually pretty surprised by the lower ratings for this book, but I guess this is the type of book that will win some people over and be a loss for others. You definitely have to like the story of Cinderella and steampunk elements in order to enjoy this one. That being said, I greatly enjoyed this refreshing retelling of Cinderella. It wasn't anything new (it's very similar to the Disney version of Cinderella with a few deviations and steampunk), but I think that's what I enjoyed about it. It read like a classic fairy-tale, and while Ms. Cornwell could have gone off and created a whole new world, I liked that she stuck true to the original story. She added just enough steampunk that fans of the genre would enjoy the story, but it wasn't overwhelming that it distracted from the story. Overall, this can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, and I think it's worth checking out.

The story follows Nicolette, or Nick for short. She is following in her mother's footsteps and is a mechanic, making mechanical animals and gadgets with the aid of magic. Nick, who is later nicknamed Mechanica by her stepsisters, is forced to endure their cruelty, with only the friendship of her mechanical creations to keep her company, that is until 2 unlikely friends enter her life. I think you can guess the rest of the story (or can you?) There are some twists in the story, and I did enjoy the ending, which featured a very drastic deviation from the classic story. Nick was a great main character. She was strong and didn't let her stepsisters or stepmother get her down. Nick kept going and never gave up. She had her goals, and I liked that she stuck to them. I loved all of her mechanical friends, but Jules was my absolute favorite. I would love to have a Jules of my own! I think Nick's relationship with every character in this book was great and Ms. Cornwell wrote these relationships very well. 

I don't want to spoil anything with the romance in this book, but while some people didn't like this part of the book, I found it very refreshing and I greatly enjoyed it. I think it took guts to do what Ms. Cornwell did, and it was a risk that paid off in my opinion. It gave the story a more realistic feeling, at least to me. 

I won't lie, there were some slow parts, and the book could have done without them. But, this was still a great story that is a quick read. For the right person, a Steampunk Cinderella will be the perfect fit. If you're intrigued by the concept, check this one out. I really enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #16

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

Reign of Shadows: Sophie Jordan
Publication Date: February 9th, 2016

Synopsis: 

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

Yet another beautiful cover this week, plus a star-crossed romance! Yes please! This is a book just begging to be on your shelf. The cover is very reminiscent of The Darkest Part of The Forest by Holly Black, which I happened to have loved. So fingers crossed for loving this one as well! 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan
Publication Date: January 19, 2016

Synopsis:

Raisa was just a child when she was sold to work as a slave in the kingdom of Qilara. Despite her young age, her father was teaching her to read and write, grooming her to take his place as a Learned One. In Qilara, the Arnathim, like Raisa, are the lowest class, and literacy is a capital offense. What’s more, only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn the very highest order language, the language of the gods. So when the tutor-in-training is executed for teaching slaves this sacred language, and Raisa is selected to replace her, Raisa knows any slipup on her part could mean death.

Keeping her secret is hard enough, but the romance that’s been growing between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground army of slave rebels—to help liberate Arnath slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees. 

 So many pretty covers!  This novel intrigues me because it sounds reminiscent of the Poison Study Series by Maria Synder.  I absolutely love that series, and while this isn't the same, it has a similar theme.  I'm interested to see where the story goes and how well this fantasy pans out!

Book Review: Until Friday Night (The Field Party #1)

Until Friday Night (The Field Party #1) by Abbi Glines
Publication Date: August 25, 2015

To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: the cocky, popular, way-too-handsome-for-his-own-good football god who led Lawton High to the state championships. But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer.

Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.

As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else.

West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go…

“No one understood. No one saw what I did. No one lived through what I had. I would have talked to them. But there was no one to understand. Keeping quiet is how I survived.”

 
I have only read Abbi Glines Existence series, and absolutely loved it. I've been wanting to read her other books for awhile, but sadly never have gotten around to it. So when I saw that she had a new book coming out, I jumped at the chance. And let me say, I was blown away. I remembered exactly why I fell in love with Abbi's writing to begin with. I was instantly transported to the South, where football reigns supreme and field parties are the place to be. The entire story was simply breathtaking and beautiful. From the characters to the story itself, every scene was perfectly described and tears at your heart strings.

"She'd come into my life when I thought I was going to lose myself. When I wasn't sure I had the strength to make it. And she'd shown me I could."

West and Maggie were both wonderful characters. I loved that we were able to read the story from both their POVs as this book would never have been as good with just 1 perspective. Having both West's and Maggie's POV, we get inside their minds and are better able to relate to each of them. They both have endured or survived things that no known should need to go through, and together they help each other heal and grow. You could truly feel the connection between them, and while some scenes were definitely a little steamy (it's Abbi Glines, so the scenes are bound to be a bit racy haha), they were gorgeously written. Both Maggie and West's personality shone through in each scene, and make you fall in love with them even more. Even the supporting characters were fantastic, and I can't wait to see where their story goes in future books.

"I take it back. This...was the best I ever had."

There were definitely some very emotional scenes in this novel, and believe me, they will leave you teary-eyed. I never thought that I would love this story so much, but it truly took my breath away. I highly recommend checking this book out, and Abbi definitely has another hit on her hands! I now need to go read all her other books because obviously putting those on the back burner was a mistake. All I want to know now...when is the next field party?

Happy reading :) 


~Cassie