Book Review: The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #1)

About the Book:

Title: The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #1)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Pub. Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Retellings 
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

“Aerity…” Her father paused as if the words he was forming pained him. “I must ask you to sacrifice the promise of love for the sake of our kingdom.”

She could only stare back, frozen.

When a strange beast terrorizes the kingdom of Lochlanach, fear stirs revolt. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity knows her duty to the kingdom but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger…until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. There’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast—but the princess continues to surprise him, and the perilous secrets he’s buried begin to surface.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, and a princess willing to risk all to save her kingdom. 

Review:

While this book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I still absolutely loved this new book by Wendy Higgins! Wendy Higgins takes us on yet another exciting adventure that is filled with thrilling moments and a slow-burn romance that will leave you begging for more. I will tell you now that this books might not be for everyone. This is a major set up book, but there is still plenty of action and excitement to please the reader. However, the ending is killer and with the cliffhanger is MAJOR. I am so excited to see where Ms. Higgins takes the next (and final) book!

As I mentioned, this book is definitely a set up book. I think there will be a lot more action and (hopefully) romance in the next book. Because of this, the first part of this book was a bit slow. It took me a little while to get into the characters, and really enjoy the story. However, this is mostly before the Hunt actually began. After the Hunt started though, this book took off and I never wanted to stop reading. I will admit that I have never read The Singing Bone so I don't know how it compares as a retelling, but I am definitely interested in reading it to see! The romance in this book is also very slow and gradual, but that made it feel more realistic. I actually really enjoyed this aspect of the book because it made me want Aerity and Paxton together that much more!!

This book was written in the 3rd person, so we are able to see the story from not only Aerity's perspective, but also Paxton's. This made the book more well-rounded in general as we were able to experience all sides of the story. We understood what made Paxton his broody, mysterious self. Aerity was a great female lead. She was kind, selfless, and strong. I admired her courage and bravery, and I am interested to see how she grows in the next novel as well. The romance between the two is very sweet. There's no love triangle, which was very nice, and it's pretty straightforward. The one aspect of this book though that really stood out to me was the focus on family. This was not only between Aerity and her sister, brother, and parents, but also between Paxton and his brother. You could feel the love they all have for each other, and the lengths they are willing to go to ensure their safety. The bonds that exist between every character are so strong and amazing!

Overall, this was an interesting start to this duology, and I can't wait to see where the story goes. The world-building was fantastic, and Wendy Higgins has created such a unique world! I am very intrigued with the Lashed Ones, as they will play a very large role in the next part of this series. I would definitely recommend this if you're a fan of Wendy Higgins, but seeing as this is a duology, you could also wait until the next book comes out so that you could just read these back to back. That way you don't have to deal with the terribleness that is the cliffhanger!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Book Review: The Forbidden Wish

About the Book:
Title: The Forbidden Wish
Author: Jessica Khoury
Pub. Date: Feb. 23, 2016 
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 352 
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis:

She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world... 

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury. 

Review:

“As the poets say, stories are truth told through lies.” 

I'm going to admit, when I first bought this book, I had some doubts. Retellings are always so hit or miss for me these days. I don't know if this is because there are so many now, and so few are actually well done, or what. But suffice to say, now even with retellings that sound really good, I am full of doubt when going into the actual book. However, as you can telling by my rating, I had nothing to worry about with The Forbidden Wish. This is a gorgeous retelling of the story of Aladdin that will appeal to every reader. I never thought I would enjoy this novel as much as I did, but this book drew me in from the very first page, and I never wanted to stop reading. Jessica Khoury's writing gave me chills with its beauty, and swept me away to foreign lands that I never wanted to leave.

“Time has a different meaning for me, and these events that seem so monumental in the moment will one day be nothing more than a line in a scroll. These humans are but letters to be inked into history. A hundred years from now, I will be free. I will have forgotten their names and faces, and the struggles they have will not matter. Time has a way of burying things, shifting like the desert and swallowing entire civilizations, erasing them from map and memory. Always, in the end, everything returns to dust.” 

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the girl power! First, our jinni, Zahra is a female, and she is one of my new all time favorite female leads. She is powerful, bad-ass, and strong. She doesn't back down from fear or trouble, preferring to confront it head on and let nothing stand in her way. Can I get an AMEN! However, beneath the tough shell that Zahra has, she is also flawed in many ways. In this, she becomes extremely relatable. While obviously not in the same exact ways, I think a lot of people will be able to relate to the struggles that Zahra faces. At the end of the day, Zahra is very lonely and sad because of past actions. But in the process of helping Aladdin, she realizes that there is a whole new world (sorry I couldn't help myself!) that she can discover! Her past actions do not define her. 

“You can’t choose what happens to you, but you can choose who you become because of it." 

In addition to Zahra being an awesome female lead, we have the princess, who doesn't feel challenged by Zahra, instead wanting her as a friend and confidant. There is never a time in this story where they are battling each other, and this is something I very much appreciated in this story. This book could have taken an entirely different direction if these two girls would have chosen to be enemies, and I can tell you that it would have hurt this novel a great deal. The princess herself is tough-as-nails, and has a take-no-prisoners personality. The princess has a group of female warriors who, along with herself, are working to right wrongs that are occurring in the kingdom. 

“And what do you know of love?"

"That it must be a choice."

"Oh, my naive thief. " I pause briefly to meet his gaze. "Love is rarely a choice.” 

The romance in this novel was also extremely well done. First and foremost, there was no insta-love! Major win right there!! Jessica Khoury gets big bonus points for this in my book. But even though the reader is expecting Zahra and Aladdin to fall in love due to the synopsis, the love between them never feels forced. Jessica Khoury writes this novel in a way that the romance that blossoms between them is natural and normal. She never writes this novel as if the entire purpose of the book is to get Zahra and Aladdin together. There is a very important story outside of the romance, and this story is what is more important. The romance between Zahra and Aladdin is simply another element of the story, not the story itself. 

“There is only one thing more numerous than the stars,” I say, looking up to the heavens. “And that is the darkness that holds them.” 

Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all readers. The writing is enthralling and captivating, sweeping you away to desert lands filled with forbidden love, adventure, and betrayals at every turn. Everything about this book is perfection, and it is a must read. Don't miss out on this retelling!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #50

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 Burning Isle: Will Panzo 
Publication Date: October 4th, 2016 

Synopsis: 

A powerful and gripping debut grimdark fantasy novel, set in a world of criminals, pirates, assassins, and magic…

“A man has only three reasons for being anywhere: to right a wrong, to earn a coin, or because he is lost.”

Cassius is not lost…

The mage Cassius has just arrived on the island of Scipio. Five miles of slum on the edge of fifty miles of jungle, Scipio is a lawless haven for criminals, pirates, and exiles. The city is split in two, each half ruled by a corrupt feudal lord. Both of them answer to a mysterious general who lives deep in the jungle with his army, but they still constantly battle for power. If a man knows how to turn their discord to his advantage, he might also turn a profit…

But trained on the Isle of Twelve, Cassius is no ordinary spellcaster, and his goal is not simply money. This a treacherous island where the native gods are restless, and anything can happen…

This book looks so cool! A JUNGLE? WITH MAGIC?!!!! YES PLEASE! Plus Ace Roc publishes some mean fantasy books *cough* The Sookie Stackhouse Series *cough* so I definitely trust them ;). 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Synopsis:

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

I think pretty much everybody is waiting on this book...I know I have ever since Queen of Shadows was released haha! This book is going to be epic in so many ways, and I seriously cannot wait for it to be in my (and all of your) hands!  Plus, look at that amazing cover!!  That already shows how wicked this book will be :)

Cover Reveal: Stolas (Dark Souls Series #1)

I am beyond excited to be able to take part in the cover reveal for Randi Cooley Wilson's new book series! Everyone probably knows how big of a fan I am of her books (and her in general), and I honestly can't wait to read this!! This is going to be a must read for 2016 :)

Stolas
Randi Cooley Wilson
(Dark Soul Series, #1)
Publication date: Fall 2016
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal

An ancient legend draws them together. His dark soul will tear them apart.
Sometimes, the only fairy tales that exist…are the dark ones.
For the past two years, Hope Annandale has fought to hold onto her sanity. Plagued by voices and visions, she struggles to understand what’s real, and what’s an illusion. As the lines between reality and hallucination blur, Hope discovers things that shouldn’t be real, exist.
When Hope’s world falls apart, figuring out the secrets of her past becomes a matter of life and death. And the only one who can save her is the dangerously attractive demon prince, who is bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.
The fate Stone has fought to escape is here. With destiny on one side, and desire on the other, Stone must protect Hope from the one thing he can’t hide from…his birthright.
What if the one person you were meant to be with could never be yours?

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:
Randi Cooley Wilson is an author of paranormal, urban fantasy and contemporary romance books. Randi makes stuff up, devours romance books, drinks lots of coffee, prefers champagne, and has a slight addiction to bracelets. She currently resides in Massachusetts with her daughter and husband. For more information visit: http://randicooleywilson.com
Photo Credit: Gretje Ferguson Photography

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~Cassie

Book Review: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty, #1)

About The Book:

  Title: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty, #1) 

  Author: A.N. Roquelaure (Pseudonym), Anne Rice 
  Pub. Date: May 1st, 1999 
  Publisher: Penguin Books  
  Pages: 253  

  Genre: Erotica, Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tales 

  Rate: 1/5 stars

Synopsis :

From bestselling author Anne Rice, writing as A.N. Roquelaure. In the traditional folktale of 'Sleeping Beauty,' the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. Now Anne Rice's retelling of the Beauty story probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince reawakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience.

Review:

For all of you fans of fairytale retellings, I'm willing to bet that this book is not for you. Yes I loved ACOTAR and I loved The Lunar Chronicles just as much as the next person, but this takes retellings to a new level. I originally picked this up because I also have read erotica that I like, and I thought why not combine them together? What could go wrong? Well this is the actual perfect example of what could go wrong.

Basically, in this retelling the "prince" wakes up beauty with sexual intercourse and then takes her as his sex slave. Are you not convinced that this is kind of weird yet? Ok - well after the prince takes Beauty back to his palace we find out that the palace is full of a bunch of other sex slaves taken from other kingdoms. They don't belong to the prince, they belong to his subjects - in fact, Beauty is the prince's FIRST sex slave. So his mom has to instruct him on how to keep a sex slave...

Basically I don't even know how else to describe this book without making it sound weird. Did I know what it was about going into it? Yes. I just thought it would be more romantic. Anne Rice is a romantic writer. This was just awkward. If you are curious about this book, you could try it out, or if you're bored, might I recommend reading some reviews on Goodreads. Honestly, they are quite hilarious. And next time you want to make fun of the BDSM relationship that Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele have - just remember that there is much worse out there ... much, much worse (and yes, it is possible). I know, it surprised me too! 

- Jocelyn

Book Review: Titans

About the Book:

Title: Titans
Author: Victoria Scott
Pub. Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia 
Rating: 4/5 stars

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.

Review:

Victoria Scott has never let me down with one of her books, and her new novel Titans is certainly no exception! I have read every book Victoria Scott has written, and have loved every single one of them. She has a very refreshing style of writing that takes a simple story/idea and turns it into something utterly fantastic! Every story, especially this one, is unique and stands out among the YA crowd. From beginning to end, Titans is a great novel that is heartwarming with a dose of humor mixed in. 

While this story is a little slow, this mainly occurs in the beginning. However, the set up in the beginning of the story is necessary for the rest of the novel. I felt Victoria did an excellent job at laying the groundwork for the story and setting its overall tone, however I did want to just get into the story where Astrid is actually taking part in the race. But once she does start participating in the races, the story takes off and you are on the edge of your seat, rooting for Astrid at every turn! Each race becomes trickier, riskier, and more daunting. There are many pitfalls along the way for Astrid, and you never know what will happen. After all, this is a race in which many risk their lives...and you have to wonder, will Astrid do the same?

I loved every character in this novel, but especially Astrid and Magnolia. Their friendship is more than a friendship. They are sisters at heart, and it showed countless times throughout the novel. Every girl should have a friend such as Magnolia. The bond between them was so strong, and I loved that this was the "relationship" of the book. Magnolia supports Astrid in her dreams and goals of helping out her family, and she never once wavers from that support. But what's more is that Astrid is determined to never give up so that she can not only help her family out, but also Magnolia's family! This was something I greatly admired of Astrid. She wasn't selfish. She was just a girl who wanted to do the right thing, and if she could achieve a dream or two along the way, why not go for it? Honestly, I found her to be a very inspirational character. You don't see many characters such as Astrid in books these days, and I appreciated that Victoria gave us such a character. 

There is no romance in the story (well there is but not for Astrid), and I was very happy that this was the case. I know that some readers might want her to have someone, but for me, it would have felt out of place and it would have taken away from Astrid's character. She truly is a remarkable character that deserves to be appreciated for who she is. The lack of romance also allows the strong female friendship to stand out more!

The other relationship that is featured in this novel is between Astrid and her Titan, Padlock. I absolutely adored Padlock, and I loved the idea of the Titans in general. I found this to be so unique and different. I loved learning about them and the story behind their creation. The entire race was so thrilling and exciting, and Victoria did a great job at describing every element so that we understood the risky venture that the riders were embarking on. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel to those who are fans of Victoria Scott, or those who are looking for something fun and different. I can honestly say that I have never read anything like this before! Except for the beginning, overall the novel is fast-paced and full of exciting, heart-stopping moments that will leave you rushing to the conclusion to see how the book ends. Add this to your TBR now!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #49

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: 

Scythe: Neal Shusterman 
Publication Date: November 29th, 2016 

Synopsis: 

Two teens are forced to murder—maybe each other—in the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology.

In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed (“gleaned”) by professional reapers (“scythes”). Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythe’s apprentices, and—despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation—they must learn the art of killing and come to understand the necessity of what they do.

Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe’s apprentice. And when it becomes clear that the winning apprentice’s first task will be to glean the loser, Citra and Rowan are pitted against one another in a fight for their lives.

Neal Shusterman's book Unwind was one of the first books that I read that got me into reading. It came out the exact same time as The Hunger Games, and I honestly don't remember which one I read first. Fast forward to today, last spring his standalone Challenger Deep about mental health easily became one of my favorite books of all time. With that being said, I will read anything Neal Shusterman writes... and I hope you give some of his books a chance too!  

Cassie's Waiting On: 

United (Alienated #3) by Melissa Landers
Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Synopsis:

After thwarting a deadly coup and saving the alliance between their worlds, Cara and Aelyx have finally earned a break. Their tiny island colony is everything they dreamed it would be―days spent gathering shells on the beach and nights in each other’s arms.

But the vacation is short-lived.

The treaty between Earth and L’eihr has awakened an ancient force that threatens to destroy them all. The Aribol, mysterious guardians charged with maintaining interstellar peace, deem the alliance a threat to the galaxy. They order a separation of the races, decreeing humans and L’eihrs must return to their own planets within the month or face extinction. In fact, they already have agents in place on Earth, ready to begin.

With the clock ticking, Aelyx and Cara assemble a team of colonists and race back to Earth, where they unite with old friends to solve the mystery of who the Aribol are, what they want, and the real reason the alliance has provoked them. As tensions build to a full-scale war, Aelyx and Cara must fight harder than ever―not just for their future, but for the survival of both their worlds.

For a little bit fans of this series (including myself) were worried that we might not get a 3rd, and final, book in this series.  The last ended on a fine note, where I could accept the ending and just make up what happened in the future.  But nothing makes me happier than knowing that we will be getting a conclusion to this series!!  I'm so excited for this and I know that this will be a fantastic ending to this series :)