Blog Tour: Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox #1)

About The Book:

Title: Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox, #1)

Author: Jacqueline Garlick  

Release Date: December 12th, 2013

Genres: Steampunk, Young Adult

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis: 

Even in a land of eternal twilight, secrets can’t stay hidden forever.

Seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth is no stranger to living in the dark. She’s hidden her secret affliction all of her life—a life that would be in danger if superstitious townspeople ever guessed the truth. After her mother is accused and executed for a crime that she didn’t commit, the now-orphaned Eyelet has no choice but to track down the machine—her last hope for a cure. But Eyelet’s late father’s most prized invention, the Illuminator, has been missing since the day of the mysterious flash—a day that saw the sun wiped out over Brethren forever.

Alone and on the run, she finds the Illuminator—only to witness a young man hauling it away. Determined to follow the thief and recover the machine, she ventures into the deepest, darkest, most dangerous part of her twisted world.

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by this new YA steampunk novel! Anyone who knows me, knows I'm very picky with my steampunk. If it's not done properly, then I won't like it. While this wasn't the best steampunk novel I've read, it was still a great read that's worth checking out. The story did take me a bit to get into, but by the end, I was fully into the story, and am excited to find out what happens next!! 

Jacqueline Garlick crafted a wonderfully imaginative world that is rich in it's descriptive elements, and has great characters that you'll easily fall in love with. There was a good balance of steampunk and fantasy elements in this novel, however I am sure that some will say that there was too much steampunk in the story. Nevertheless, because I am very picky with my steampunk, I will say that I could have done with more steampunk in the story. There were parts of the story where I thought it was more of an afterthought then an actual element. 

One of the strongest aspects of this story were the lovable characters. All of her characters had such great personalities that made it easy to root for them. They were real, genuine, and not your typical hero/heroine. And this is something I enjoyed a great deal. I wasn't expecting characters like Eyelet and Urlick, but they were unique and fun, and I loved being able to read from both their POV's. Eyelet was such a hoot. She was headstrong, and wasn't going to let anything stop her from accomplishing her goals. Eyelet certainly never gives up, and was definitely amusing throughout the story. She definitely doesn't understand the concept of privacy, but that just makes her even more fun. Urlick is certainly not your typical hero that's drop dead gorgeous, but this just made his character stronger. I loved Urlick and Eyelet's dynamic as a couple, and how they both helepd each other overcome his/her insecurities. They were certainly a refreshing duo to read!

Another wonderful aspect of this story was the setting and storytelling. The setting is so richly described, I felt like I could see the scenes playing out in front of me. I can tell you exactly how everything looks, down to the color of the forest and what the characters are wearing. The story is extremely original, and I highly applaud Ms. Garlick for her creativity with this story. As I said, it did take me a bit to get into the story. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but I think mainly it was just a little slow in the beginning and I needed to get used to Eyelet's personality. However, once I was farther into the story, I really starting enjoying the story and it was an action-packed adventure! 

While this book won't be for everyone, I am definitely looking forward to reading the next in the series, Noir. It is sure to be yet another unique, creativity story that will sweep you away to another world. I'm interested to see where Ms. Garlick takes the story and what will happen next with Eyelet and Urlick! If you're looking for a unique blend of action, adventure, fantasy, and steampunk, this book is perfect for you. Don't miss out! 

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

About Jacqueline: 

I'm Jacqueline Garlick, author of young adult and new adult fiction. I love strong heroines, despise whiny sidekicks, and adore a good story about a triumphant underdog. (Don't you?) 

I love to read, write, paint (walls and paper). I have a love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology and would rather hang out with a dog, than a cat. I prefer creating things to cleaning things, and believe laughter is a one-stop-shop solution to all that ails you. You will always find a purple wall (or two) in my house (currently in my writing room), and there may or may not be a hidden passageway that leads to a mystery room. (Okay, so you won't find a hidden passageway, but a girl can dream, can't she?) Oh, and tea. There will always be tea. 

My writing style has been described as edgy and rule-breaking, and by some--a touch Tim Burton-esque. Because of this, I am often referred to as the Quentin Tarantino of YA among writing friends. 

Connect with the Author:  Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Blog

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Special thank you to Xpresso Books Tours
 for letting us be apart of this Blog Tour

Book Review: The Winner's Curse (The Winners Trilogy, #1)

About The Book:

 

  Title: The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, #1)

  Author: Marie Rutkoski 
  Pub. Date: March 4th, 2014
  Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux 
  Pages: 368

  Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads 

  Rate: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis :

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

They were never meant to be together. As a general's daughter, seventeen-year-old Kestrel enjoys an extravagant and privileged life. Arin has nothing but the clothes on his back. Then Kestrel makes an impulsive decision that binds Arin to her. Though they try to fight it, they can't help but fall in love. In order to be together, they must betray their people . . . but to be loyal to their country, they must betray each other.

Set in a new world,  The Winner's Curse is a story of rebellion, duels, ballroom dances, wicked rumors, dirty secrets, and games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Review:

Going into this book, I wasn't 100% sure what it was about. I saw that a lot of people I'm friends with on Goodreads really enjoyed The Winner's Curse. I also saw that Marie Rutkoski was going to be going to New York Comic Con, which made me want to read the book so if I like it I wouldn't regret missing a chance to meet her! And let me tell you - I'm so happy I decided to read this book. It was just what I needed at the time and gave me a huge book hangover! 

“Happiness depends on being free, and freedom depends on being courageous."

Fan Cast of Kestrel:
Natalie Dormer

One thing I really liked about this book is that it blurs the line between good and bad people, right and wrong. You never know what side the characters are on, it keeps you on your toes. This book definitely has a historical feel to it - Kestrel's people are the Valorians who conquered and enslaved Arin's people, The Herrani. There are plenty platonic relationships in the story that really make you love the characters. Kestrel isn't close to many people, but the people she is close with she fiercely cares about. The book tended to be a little slow at times, but other than that I found the plot to be great. 

Fan Cast of Arin:
Henry Cavill

Kestrel was a great female protagonist. While Kestrel is very impulsive, she always tries to rectify her actions. She never lets her caring about Arin get in the way of what she thinks is right, which I really like because a lot of main characters in love tend to cloud their judgment when they around someone they like. She's so strong and reminds me almost of Lia from The Remnant Chronicles series. Arin on the other hand, did seem to let his love for Kestrel affect his judgment a little, LOL. But honestly I thought it was ok because he was protecting her and I thought it was adorable. Kestrel and Arin have a great romance. They had so much chemistry it was basically exploding through the book! 

“People in brightly lit places cannot see into the dark."

So, I was really pleased with this book. I already have the second one, which I bought at New York Comic Con, right before I met Marie! She was so nice! So I'm definitely planning on getting to that book as soon as possible. I'd recommend this to people who were fans of An Ember in the Ashes or maybe other fictional books that kind of have a historical feel to them. I definitely don't think that this is a book you'll regret reading! 

- Jocelyn 

Book Review: Silver Eve (Guardians of Tarnec #2)

About The Book:

  Title: Silver Eve (Guardians of Tarnec, #2)

  Author: Sandra Waugh
  Pub. Date: September 22nd, 2015 
  Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  Pages: 384

  Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads 

  Rate: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis :

The Healer Evie saves two herbs for herself—yew, a quick and painful poison, and heliotrope, for the deep, deep sleep that never ends.

After the death of her beloved, seventeen-year-old Evie Carew wants nothing more than to lose herself forever in Rood Marsh. But when the old seer Harker tells her she’s meant for a greater task, Evie’s curiosity keeps her going. What is this shell that Harker insists she must find? And why can’t she stop thinking about the handsome Rider Laurent, the man who saved her on the worst day of her life?

Soon Evie discovers that she is the Guardian of Death, the second of four Guardians who must awaken to their powers to recover four stolen amulets. Together, the amulets—Life, Death, Dark, and Light—keep the world in balance. To take back the shell that is Death’s amulet, Evie has to learn to trust her Healer instincts and understand that love never dies.

In this spellbinding fantasy, Sandra Waugh continues the beautifully written series begun with Lark Rising.

Review:

See my review for the first book in this series, Lark Rising here

This is such a phenomenal series, and it's only the second book! There is so much adventure, action, and heart-stopping moments that you never want the book to end. It is the perfect mix of fantasy, action/adventure, supernatural, and romance. Sandra Waugh is a wonderful author who has a great gift for story-telling, and just sweeps you away into a story that will enthrall you and stay with you long after reading. These are always the best types of books in my opinion. One of the best parts about this series is that each can be read as a stand alone, so there is no need to worry if you forget the minor details of the previous book. She sums the events of the last book up perfectly and succinctly that you don't feel confused or lost. But trust me, you won't forget her books. 

This book follows Evie, Lark's sister. She is a healer, who has lost the love of her life, Raif. She runs away and tries to find a way to end her suffering. However, she can't, because her "power" prevents this from occurring. She finds out that she is the Guardian of Death (this isn't really a spoiler for the book since it's in the description), and from there the story just takes off. I loved Evie as a lead character, almost as much as Lark. She was such a strong character, and I loved her spirit and fight. She took the burden of being a Guardian, and used it to make her stronger and fight harder. Evie realized the importance of stepping into her role, and was willing to go to any lengths to achieve what needed to be done. She encounters many hardships along the way, but ultimately she finds her way to where she needs to be. The one thing I love the most about Evie's character though is that she always remains true to herself. This is such an important part of this book, and Ms. Waugh portrays this perfectly through her writing.

The romance is perfectly balanced in this novel, just as it was in the first. It never overwhelms or overshadows the story, and makes the story such a refreshing read. Plus, you'll swoon over Rider Laurent. He's absolutely amazing, and the perfect balance to Evie. 

Definitely check this series out now if you haven't already! I highly recommend this to fans of the first book in the series, but also to all lovers of fantasy, adventure, and romance. It has the perfect mix of all 3, and you will not be disappointed! I can't wait to see who the next book is about, and how it will all play out!

                                        

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #20

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: 

In Real Life : Jessica Love 
Publication Date: March 1st, 2016

Synopsis: 

Hannah Cho and Nick Cooper have been best friends since 8th grade. They talk for hours on the phone, regularly shower each other with presents, and know everything there is to know about one another. 

There's just one problem: Hannah and Nick have never actually met.

Hannah has spent her entire life doing what she's supposed to, but when her senior year spring break plans get ruined by a rule-breaker, she decides to break a rule or two herself. She impulsively decides to road trip to Vegas, her older sister and BFF in tow, to surprise Nick and finally declare her more-than-friend feelings for him.

Hannah's romantic gesture backfires when she gets to Vegas and meets Nick's girlfriend, whom he failed to mention. And it turns out his relationship status isn't the only thing he's been lying to her about. Hannah knows the real Nick can't be that different from the online Nick she knows and loves, but now she only has one night in Sin City to figure out what her feelings for Nick really are, all while discovering how life can change when you break the rules every now and then

UH so this book looks completely AWESOME. It's like Catfish sort of but in book form. I don't even like Catfish but this looks so much better! Online relationships interest me to no end, not because I want to be in one but because I just think they are psychologically intriguing! I can't wait for this one :) 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake
Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Synopsis:

Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound.

Jumping into some of the world's most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik's world and her own, before both are destroyed.  

This novel sounds so interesting...libraries, magic, demons, a strong female heroine, and a leather clad hottie?  Umm..major win!  This is perfect for any book nerd like me who would love to be able to jump into any and every library on Earth.  I can't wait to see what type of adventure this novel is! 

Book Review: Never Never

About The Book:

  Title: Never Never

  Author: Brianna Shrum
  Pub. Date: September 22nd, 2015 
  Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
  Pages: 368

  Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads 

  Rate: 1.5/5 stars

Synopsis :

James Hook is a child who only wants to grow up.

When he meets Peter Pan, a boy who loves to pretend and is intent on never becoming a man, James decides he could try being a child—at least briefly. James joins Peter Pan on a holiday to Neverland, a place of adventure created by children’s dreams, but Neverland is not for the faint of heart. Soon James finds himself longing for home, determined that he is destined to be a man. But Peter refuses to take him back, leaving James trapped in a world just beyond the one he loves. A world where children are to never grow up.

But grow up he does.

And thus begins the epic adventure of a Lost Boy and a Pirate.

This story isn’t about Peter Pan; it’s about the boy whose life he stole. It’s about a man in a world that hates men. It’s about the feared Captain James Hook and his passionate quest to kill the Pan, an impossible feat in a magical land where everyone loves Peter Pan.

Except one. 

Review:

I am apparently in a book slump because I've just reading so-so books. Never Never falls into that category because while it wasn't terrible, it wasn't that great either. While I have never been the hugest fan of Peter Pan in general, I'm always willing to give stories about Peter Pan or Neverland, a shot. I have read some very good stories with this theme before, but unfortunately this one wasn't one of them. 

My main problem with this book was that it was boring. Don't get me wrong, it was very well written, and you can tell that Ms. Shrum has a great talent when it comes to writing. However, she just didn't deliver with this story. There was nothing that really stood out, and I honestly couldn't bring myself to really like any of the characters. One good thing though was that it just reaffirmed my belief that Peter Pan is a twisted, evil boy that is the actual villain of the story. I also didn't really like the fact that the book is basically made up of the same scenes over and over again. By this I mean that almost every single chapter had the same 4 aspects: 

1. Hook was upset/self-deprecating, leading to him wanting to seek revenge on Peter 
2. A quick appearance of Tiger Lily 
3. Peter coming to kill Hook
4. Peter and Hook fight, but Hook doesn't kill Peter because of some reason. 

Again, this just caused the book to be a bit dull and lackluster. 

Lastly, I wasn't sure what this book would be classified as because it started off as a MG book, but then became upper-YA, only to go to YA. So it was kind of all over the place, and it made for some surprising moments for me as a reader because I wasn't expecting certain scenes.

Overall, I just think this wasn't my cup of tea. For die hard Peter Pan fans, this might be a hit for you. But for fans who are like me and not the biggest of fans of the original story, you might want to skip this one. 

                                                      

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

The Disney Book Tag

I'm not sure who originally created The Disney Book tag, but I saw the tag at My Addiction: Books. I absolutely love Disney and I also love doing book tag's so I figure putting them together would obviously be fun!

#1) The Little mermaid - a character who is out of their element, a "fish out of water" 

Cora from The Cage by Megan Shepherd

I feel like I could have picked so many characters for this one, I was almost going to pick from the Syrena Legacy Series but honestly I didn't like that one lol. SO - Cora is taken from her home and put into an earth-like environment on another planet with other teenagers. She doesn't know which way is up or who to trust. I am actually really excited for the second book coming this spring! 

#2) Cinderella - A character that goes through a major transformation

Clary Fray from The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Clary goes through a huge transformation. Over the span of these books you can definitely see how she went from naive, bratty, and impetuous to a smart and strategic warrior. I am also hoping to see this pan out on the TV show! Fingers crossed :) 

 #3) Snow White - A book with an eclectic cast of characters 

Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

I think I've picked this book before for a book tag with a similar question. So I will say yet again, I haven't read a book with characters as quirky as they are in Denton Little's Deathdate. The book is fantastic and is honestly one of the only books to literally make me laugh out loud.

#4) Sleeping Beauty - A book that put you to sleep

The Calling (Endgame, #1) by James Frey

.

Gosh this book bored me so much! It was being marketed all over by Harper Collins so I thought it was going to be this amazing book. I also heard that film rights were already purchased to it! Anyway about 1/4 way through the book I just could NOT go on, and note that I've only ever DNF'd like 4 books. If you like this book, more power to ya! 

#5) The Lion King - A character who had something traumatic happen to them in childhood

Cress from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

I would probably say that Cress had something traumatic happen to her at all stages of her life. I mean, she was taken away from her parents and stuck in a ship by herself for practically her whole life. Then when she does meet her dad, he dies only a small time later. 

#6) Beauty and the Beast - A beast of a book (a big book) that you were intimidated by,

 but found the story to be beautiful 

Cress from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

So, I wouldn't necessarily say this is a "beast of a book", however I was still reluctant of starting it. Even though I heard it was the best book in the series thus far, I was scared of the trend that series books keep getting longer and longer in length. I know you know what I'm talking about! And lately, they've been getting worse - a lot of the information seems like it could be cut out in most circumstances. However, I felt the length was necessary in this case and I was extremely happy with it.  

#7) Aladdin - A character who gets their wish granted, for better or worse 

Hazel and Ben from The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

This book right here … if you haven't read a Holly Black book, get on it! In The Darkest Part of the Forest, a faerie prince has been sleeping in a glass casket in the middle of the forest. Hazel and Ben both love him, but no matter what anyone did he wouldn't wake up … until one day he was gone and a whole bunch of drama ensues. 

#8) Mulan - A character who pretends to be someone or something they are not 

Laia from An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Laia goes undercover as a slave to try and save her brother. She is tough a shit and everyone who thinks she's not is insane. HELLO - would you voluntarily become a slave? I didn't think so! 

#9) Toy Story - A book with characters you with would come to life

The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

I wish all of these characters could come to life! The books are way different than the TV show and way better. Eric, Bill, Bubba, Quinn, Alcide, Jason, and Pam are some of my favorite characters from the book (besides Sookie, of course). I think the TV show did a nice job of depicting them but their personalities were so much better in the book. Pam was sassy in the book as well, but she actually really liked Sookie. I never saw that happen on the TV show and i was disappointed! 

#10) Disney Descendants - your favorite villain or morally ambiguous character

The Darkling from The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

I still can't admit to myself that The Darkling is truly a villain, however I will say that he is a morally ambiguous character. The darkling knows what he wants and will manipulate anyone to get it. Although, somewhere deep, deep down I know he has a soft side. 

Im Tagging: anybody who wants to do this tag!

- Jocelyn