Book Review: The Outsider (Roswell #1) by Melinda Metz

Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Pages: 170
Release Date: November 1, 2011
[Goodreads]

I’m a die hard CW a.k.a. The WB fan. Many of my favorite shows (Buffy, Angel, Dawson’s Creek, Gilmore Girls, Charmed, etc.) have come from this awesome network. So about 6 years ago I happened to come across a little TV series called Roswell. Roswell aired between 1999-2002 approximately 3 seasons; a time span where I watched very little supernatural dramas or “real-person” shows because I was still in my Disney and Nickelodeon phase. Anyways, five episodes in and I was officially hooked. We’re talking 60+ episodes (roughly 45 mins each) watched in 5 days in between full time college classes and part time office work. I was barely sleeping 4 hours a night because I HAD to keep watching. I learned half-ways through that this insanely-addictive show was based on a series of novels, but I didn’t fully seek them out until much later. Having been published in the late 1990′s it was very hard to get your hands on a copy. However, I finally invested in a Nook Tablet this past January somewhere around the time that the Roswell series made a jump to the e-scene. I’m so happy to have finally read the book that “started it all”. Although I don’t feel as close to the characters in the book versus the show, I still highly enjoyed reading The Outsider.

Our story takes place in Roswell, New Mexico. A location very close to the famous Roswell crash that occurred in 1947. The book’s POV switched place between few characters, but I’ll start with Liz. Liz Ortecho is a teenage girl who apart from school, spends her time hanging out with her best friends Marie and Alex and also working at her parent’s ufo-themed diner. She’s very smart and and intuitive, yet burdened. We find out early on that her sister Rosa past away (at some point) due to a drug overdose. Her parents are not only highly protective but also very anal when it comes to Liz’s future. Although Liz does aspire to graduate top in her class and attend a high-ranked college, I felt as though her parents over-pressure her to succeed because of the loss of their other daughter. The Outsider begins on a day where Liz is waitressing in the diner during which an out of the blue fight erupts between two customers. This argument reaches a breaking point when one whips out a gun. After some shuffling a shot rings out and Liz immediately slumps to the ground. She’s been shot and is slowing bleeding to death on the diner floor…

Enter Max Evans. He’s described as tall, blue-eyed and gorgeous. He’s a fellow classmate who Liz has known since third grade. After some internal struggle and an argument with his friend Michael, Max reaches Liz and does some type of molecular manipulation that causes the bullet in her stomach to break down into small particles. He then proceeds to repairing the ripped cartilage by reforming her cells. Before any officers show up, Max and Michael make a run for it leaving Liz and her best friend Maria dazed. Later on Liz and Maria notice a faint hand-shaped marking remaining on Liz’s stomach where Max worked his “mojo”. Early on, through POV change we learn that Max his sister Isabel, and their friend Michael are not from “around here”. I don’t want to go into too much detail as to spoiler the overall plot but I will say that there is a huge E.T. aspect to this book. *wink wink*

I liked this book but didn’t love it. I love the original concept and storyline but I found the writing very simplistic. The dialogue is hella-funny but that’s about it. There was a good mix of characters. Some we’re endearing and humorous like Maria while others tended to be prissy and kind of shallow like Isabel. There’s a little bit of everything including suspense, romance, mystery and humor.

Book Review: Frostblood by Elly Blake

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 376
Release date: February 10, 2017
[Goodreads]

Okay, so here’s the thing, I started Frostblood right after I finished Empire of Storms. Empire of Storms was absolutely incredible. In my opinion, it was one of the best books in the Throne of Glass series. So when I began Frostblood I was already riding high on sizzling romance and shocking twists. I was an emotional tornado.

While reading Frostblood, I couldn’t stop comparing it to Empire of Storms. Because... BOTH series has a main female character who 1. wields fire 2. is part of a prophecy 3. life is interrupted many times by a god who has a plan for her. ALSO in both book series there’s a slow budding romance between the main character and a secondary character. The relationships both begin with verbal and physical sparring. Now I'm not trying to say that Frostblood is a rip or anything, there is just A LOT of similarities and I feel like I scrutinized Frostblood because of how fresh Empire of Storms was in my mind.

Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot of differences between the two series. For instance, the whole frostblood vs. fireblood thing is definitely different. There's only 3 types of magic wielders in the Frostblood world (at least as far as we know). The gods at play are connected to the directions/different winds. Nor of the North is the father of frostbloods, Sud of the South is the mother of firebloods, there's also Cirrus of East who seems to be the most reasonable and benevolent of the bunch. Then there is Eurus of the West who is very dark, tricky and dangerous.

The current king, and frostblood sitting on the ice throne is malevolent. He has no interest in creating peace between the frostbloods and firebloods, instead he imprisons or outright kills firebloods. Some firebloods also end up in a tournament against warrior frostbloods that fight and kill firebloods for sport.

Frostblood’s writing style is basic in the sense that it relies mostly on dialogue with very few descriptions of characters, their positioning, physical looks including facial expressions, and mental processes. I had a hard time picturing what each character looked like, what each character was doing and what Ruby was thinking in every scene. It's a shame because I liked Ruby, she was sassy and motivated to survive. She also had a lot of compassion, even for those that she considered enemies.

After the ending of Frostblood I’m not sure if I will read the second book. The whole end “fight scene” was brief and underdeveloped. I skimmed through the last 30 pages.

I was all around let down by Frostblood. It had one-of-a-kind gods and a great rivalry between firebloods and frostbloods. Unfortunately neither story line was fully fleshed out and utilized. The characters melded into the background because there wasn’t enough descriptions.

I’m giving Frostblood 2 instead of 1 stake because even with it’s pitfalls I found some enjoyment while reading. This book was a quick read because of the lack of descriptions so I flew through it. It cleansed my palate after reading Empire of Storms and made me ready for the next (hopefully) great read.

{Bookish Thoughts} Goodreads: A blessing or a curse?

Do you ever wish that you didn’t read a review or check the average rating for a book on Goodreads before giving it a go yourself? I love Goodreads, I truly do because it helps me keep track of the books I’ve read and the books I want to read. I discover a lot of new books I might not of heard otherwise as well. I also get to connect with other great readers through posting and reading reviews. I always thought Goodreads was miracle-sent but lately, I’m been thinking resentful thoughts.

I can’t think of a single book that I’ve read in the last 6 years (joined GR in 2011) that I didn’t research on Goodreads beforehand. I don’t know about you, but I’ve just become so conditioned when it comes to reading. I always need to skim reviews and gouge the average ratings. This is something I NEVER used to do. I used to read the synopsis and if it sounded good I’d buy or borrow it from the library.

I’m so glad that there’s a great resource where I can checkout what other readers are thinking, but lately, I've also been irritated with how it influences my reading decisions. I feel like my initial perception of a book and rather I’ll enjoy it or not is being influenced by other’s opinions. I try to take other’s views with a grain of salt but I still find myself shying away from 3.5 or less starred books regardless of the varying opinions. 

Do you feel like Goodreads is a curse and blessing? Do non-amazing ratings make you iffy? Is Goodreads affecting your choice in reading a certain book? Do you wish that you could start taking leaps of faith again?

Book Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 626
Release date: May 3, 2016
[Goodreads]

Do you ever start drafting a review for a book before you even finish it? This is what I started doing with A Court of Mist and Fury. I had a lot of thoughts running through my head so I started jotting them down before I forgot them. Emotions and thoughts are so fresh while reading. Sometimes I think my reviews are actually more thought provoking and energized when I jot notes down while reading.

I felt an emotional attachment to Rhysand in book one, now in book two, I am helplessly in love with him. His shell cracks and his mysteries began to unravel in A Court of Mist and Fury. All the other courts see Rhysand as this tough, murderous, cruel and conniving High Fae Lord, when in reality he’s thoughtful and kind. He cares so much about his Court that he sacrifices himself time after time. He also clearly cares terribly for Feyre.

Feyre is slowly wasting away in body and mind in A Court of Mist and Fury. She’s struggling with adjusting to life as an immortal fae. She’s also experiencing PTSD after being imprisoned by Amarantha under the mountain as well as being forced to kill two innocent fae in order to rescue Tamlin and the rest of the faes entrapped by Amarantha’s curse.

We, and Feyre, learn so much more about the Night Court than we ever learned about the Spring Court. Feyre realizes that Tamlin has purposefully kept secrets about his court from her. The few new tidbits she learns shocks her because she holds such different views on these matters. After a huge blowout with Tamlin, Feyre is whisked away to the Night Court by Rhysand and his cousin Morrigan.

My mind has made so many comparisons between Twilight and A Court of Mist and Fury. Tamlin started reminding me of Edward Cullen which was not a good thing. Like Edward did to Bella in Eclipse, Tamlin starts hiding important and dangerous facts from Feyre. He treats her as such a small fragile thing and won’t allow her to make her own decisions. Enter Jacob, I mean, Rhysand who knows how strong Feyre really is, mentally and physically. He encourages Feyre to embrace her strengths and budding abilities. Rhysand respects Feyre enough to make her own decisions. Swoooon.

Long story short, I don’t like Tamlin anymore. He reminded me too much of a character from another series that I despised.

I LOVED A Court of Mist and Fury. I loved it even more than A Court of Thorns and Roses. We learned so much more about Feyre’s world and met a sleuth of wonderful new characters. We also learned that everything isn’t so black and white like we were set to believe in book one. There’s so many lies for the good and bad that we begin to learn about.

I’m going to waste away waiting for book three...

The holy gold tipped pink stake means I gave this book 5+ stakes for shear awesomeness and addictedness. 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Last Magician

From Goodreads:

Stop the Magician. Steal the book. Save the future.

In modern day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives. 

Esta is a talented thief, and she's been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta's training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future. 

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past. 

When I read that there would be magicians in New York my mind automatically went to Magnus Bane, one of my favorite TMI characters. Also, that cover? SO stunning, dark and mysterious.

The Magicians comes out  July 18, 2017!

Are you eagerly awaiting The Magicians too? What's your WoW for this week? Link me up!

Book Review: "That Summer" by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Reader

Pages: 208

Release Date: April 6, 2006

[Goodreads]

With such a low rating you're probably wondering why I didn't DNF this book. Well, because of my own damn stubbornness, that's why. Being my first "Sarah Dessen" book, I was determined to read it through. Dessen books seem to be very popular and well-known so I thought That Summer would be a sure thing. As they say: there's no such thing as a sure thing.

Contemporaries are my least favorite YA genre type. I find that I quickly lose interest unless one of two things occur; epic romance and/or fantastic characters. I get the sense that 'That Summer' is geared towards Middle Grade readers, which excuses this book from having no romance(s) to root for.

So then there's the characters. What can I say about the characters? Well.... SNOOZE. I couldn't connect or relate to a single one. That Summer follows Haven, a 15 year old girl who's trying to stay the same while the rest of her world changes. She's hitting puberty at a fast rate and she's having trouble accepting it. This sounds like an interesting, albeit, usual coming-of-age story, unfortunately, the characters (including Haven), are lackluster, making the story even more sluggish and agonizing.

My own stubbornness saw me through to the end of That Summer. I really wanted to quit this book about 40 pages in. The only reason I gave this book one stake is because the last 20 pages of That Summer was actually pretty good. The story finally went into hyperdrive and the climax supernova'd. I think if the characters had been quirkier and that more significant moments had occurred, I would have liked 'That Summer' a whole lot more.

It's going to be a while before I give another Dessen book a go. I'm going to have to do some better research next time.

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 421
Release Date: May 5, 2015
[Goodreads]

Sarah J. Maas - you’re officially one of my new favorite authors. I plan on filling my shelves to the brim with your amazing books!

I really enjoyed the Throne of Glass series, and now I’m completely in love with The Court of Thorns and Roses series. Sarah's level of creativity is amazing! She flawlessly creates vivid worlds and one-of-a-kind characters. Although A Court of Thorns and Roses seems to be inspired by Beauty and the Beast, Sarah diverges from the original story by spinning new plots and new captivating characters.

Feyre is such a wonderful character. She’s been neglected and taken advantage by her family, her entire life. When Feyre's mother was dying, Feyre made a promise that she would take care of her two older sisters and father. Even when Feyre was 8, her mother knew that Feyre was the only one with her wits about her. Her mother knew that Feyre would do anything and everything to keep her little family alive. Feyre has taken care of her older sisters Elain and Nesta, and father, in any way she can since her mother's passing. The family lost their fortune many years ago which forced them into a ramshackle itty-bitty cottage. Feyre taught herself how to hunt to be able to feed her family and herself, a feat that at times, is near-impossible. She and her family are all underweight, malnourished and miserable.

Tamlin, a ferocious-seeming faerie quickly shows up in the story when Feyre accidentally kills a fae friend of his. He gives her the option to either die or go to live with him forever in the fae lands. After making sure her family will be spared, Feyre grudgingly goes with Tamlin to his home.

I really enjoyed the interactions that took place between Tamlin and Feyre. Feyre was resistant to all things fae in the beginning of the story because she had grown up hearing stories of their torturous and murderous ways. She viewed them as monsters that only caused pain and destruction for humans. Through the time Feyre spends at Tamlin’s home she begins to see things differently though...

A Court of Thorns and Roses was so addicting. Tamlin was a tall, handsome mystery that I wanted to unravel immediately. Feyre was a spirited girl who cared more about others than herself. There was also Lucien, another fae whose role was of the sarcastic best friend and ally to Tamlin. Lucien clearly has some type of problem with Feyre from the beginning which made for hilarious bickering between the two.

There’s so much to love about this book but I’m going to stop here. You NEED to read this one asap.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Court of Wings and Ruin

I'm absolutely obsessed with The Court of Thorns and Roses series and I'm not just saying that because I want Rhysand to be the father of my children... 

I blew through books 1 and 2 in less than a week. In fact, I finished A Court of Mist and Fury in less than 24 hours. I haven't read a book that fast since Deathly Hallows came out!!

Are you obsessed with Rhysand too? Or Tamlin? (please don't say Tamlin LOL) or the series as whole? 

ALSO. What's your WoW pick this week?

{Bookish Thoughts} Re-reads: Do your ratings ever change?

Have u ever loved a book a lot and then when you re-read it a couple years down the road - not love it as much as you used to? That's how I recently felt about Shatter Me. I was obsessed with this book a couple years ago, but now, not so much. 

Don't get me wrong, I still love Shatter Me. I especially still love the tragic bad boy Warner. I think that it's just been a few years and a few spectacular books since I last read Shatter Me and therefore my expectations have risen. 

I still plan on reading the books that follow Shatter Me, so fingers crossed that my original fiery love for the series returns.

Can you think of any book that you re-read that wasn't as amazing the second time around? Or perhaps, a book that you re-read that ended up being more spectacular than you originally thought it was?

Book Review: Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Release Date: February 2, 2008
Pages: 217
[Goodreads]

My feelings for Sweethearts are muddled. I simultaneously think this book lacked "something" and yet, was satisfying. Confusing? Very!

To start-off, this book is pretty short. My NOOK was showing me about 210 pages, but Sweethearts ended up only being about 150 pages. This book felt more like a short story vs. a full length novel.

Sweethearts is an emotional book that tackles tough issues, mainly; bullying and child abuse. Zarr did a great job of presenting these subjects with care and knowledge. On a personal level, I could really relate with some of the characters. Their tribulations and thoughts, really struck a cord with me. Zarr's writing is simple, yet powerfully emotional, because of this I became captivated with the story.

As I write this review I'm stuck thinking that this book was too short, yet, still, perfectly numbered. On one-hand the story and messages come through with so little of pages. On the other-hand, I feel sad that things didn't play-out as I secretly wanted. Basically, because this review isn't confusing enough, I thought that this story was enough yet not enough.

Either way, if you like emotional stories, with good messages, that end bittersweet, you'll enjoy Sweethearts. 

Have you ever read a book that left you with confusing, conflicting thoughts?

Book Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 344
Release Date: February 4, 2014
[Goodreads]

I enjoyed Alienated in the beginning. Cara was fiery and fierce. She really spoke her mind and stuck with her personal beliefs. Aelyx was cute and funny. His ways are so different than ours. His people are very formal, bland and unemotional. It was great following his explorations and budding emotions. I was really digging the slow building relationship between him and Cara. 

Unfortunately, halfway through this book the storyline took a nosedive. It just really dragged and I found myself steadily losing interest. 

Also, I appreciated that there was no insta-love but when the feelings were finally expressed between the two leads it was extreme (to say the least). They were ready to forget everyone else for each other. Cara is bitter and constantly remarking on the fact that her older brother, barely takes interest in her, or their parents. The moment that Cara falls in love with Aelyx she's ready to ditch Earth and hop on a ship with him. She herself, quickly forgets her parents and sees only Aelyx. That was a huge 360 for Cara's character. And a letdown. 

I don't know what else to really say. This book just ended somewhere completely different than it started. I've easily become bored with the Cara and Aelyx relationship. Given hints towards the end of Alienated, a love triangle might be on the horizon for book two. If anything, I might read the sequel to see what this new guy is like and if he can re-spark this story for me again.

Book Review: Being Friends with Boys by Terra Elan McVoy

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 268
[Goodreads]

Being Friends with Boys may be the first book I’ve read by Terra Elan McVoy, but I promise you, it won’t be the last. Besides it’s smooth and fast-paced writing style (which I loved) this is the first time in a long time that I’ve truly adored every aspect of a book. For one, the characters were fabulous. Every single one was well-thought out and interesting because of their individual personalities and the part they played in the overall story. The dialogue was easy to follow and very fun to read. Although at times there was a lot of humor, Ms. McVoy balanced the story out nicely with more thought-provoking ideas and situations. At it’s core, this book is about a teenage girl (Charlotte) whose life suddenly diverges from it’s comfortable and understood path. Like a lot of teenage girls, Charlotte is struggling with accepting and understanding the changes that inevitably come with growing up. I felt a tidal wave of emotions while reading this book including happiness, anger, pride, and confusion (along with Charlotte). This is one book that because I enjoyed so much, I’d definitely consider reading again at some point down the road.

Charlotte is 100% anti-drama. She’s had past incidents involving friends (who I don’t believe were truly ever real friends) who’ve caused her a lot of grief. In the past these “friends” have ignored and shunned her for stupid, non-reasons. Since most girls drive Charlotte crazy it makes since that her close knit group of friends would mainly consist of boys. Although she’s known Oliver since grade school, he along with two other boys – Abe and Trip along with Charlotte, make up a band called Sad Jackal. Charlotte is perfectly content with her life until one day, out of the blue, Oliver announces that Trip is out of the band. This announcement comes at a complete shock to Charlotte, simultaneously starting a domino affect. This is where life (as she knows it) begins to change.

Charlotte has a hard time adjusting. For one, she can’t understand how or why her perfect group of friends and beloved band have been teared apart. Trip whose friendship has been a constant, shining light in her life, this last year and a half, now becomes harder to hold onto. Although she has two stepsisters at home, her sister-sister, Jilly, who Charlotte has always relied on for emotional support, is now away and busy at college. This all together could make a great story line, however that’s not all. Add in not one but two cute, new boys and a quick rise to high school rocker-fame and you’ve got 368 pages of time-stealing awesomeness.

I am absolutely head over heels for Being Friends with Boys. I thoroughly enjoyed following Charlotte’s path to self-discovery. Through humorous, exhilarating, and sometimes, heartbreaking encounters, Charlotte not only learns more about herself but also who her “true” friends are, the ones that she can count on through thick and thin. It was easy to understand Charlotte’s character, feeling sad about a sibling living far away, not knowing how to repair a friendship that is slipping away, and most importantly, understanding what you truly want and then believing that it does matter that you want it. This book was perfect in every way. Except for sleep, which eventually I had to give into, I for the most part didn’t part with this book until it was finished. 

Book Review: The Crown (The Selection #5) by Kiera Cass

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Pages: 278
[Goodreads]

Let me start by saying that I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the whole Selection series. I adored book one, read it in one sitting. But then the three that followed, including The Heir, were major let downs. HOWEVER, The Crown totally redeemed the series for me. I couldn’t put it down! I read it in less than 24 hours. I also teared up at some points because the emotions became too much.

One of the reasons that I didn’t care much for The Heir is because I despised Eadlyn. She was cold-hearted and entitled. She loved her family but made sure her needs were met before theirs. Eadlyn’s character finally began to evolve in The Crown. Not only does she admit that she’s taken advantage of many of the people in her life, but she actively tries to right those wrongs. She makes a lot of personal sacrifices in The Crown.

The Selection series has never been very dark. Yes, there’s a tad of violence and people do get injured and sometimes killed, but the series has never really focused much on those parts. It’s always been about the characters in a sort of soap opera way. This doesn’t mean it isn’t as compelling; it’s just a different type of dystopian than the others out there.

For instance, Eadlyn is a force to be reckoned with, but not in the way that Katniss and Tris are. She doesn’t kick butt with her hands or weapons, she kicks butt with her words and wisdom. It’s refreshing to have a strong female character who doesn’t physically beat up the bad guys to save the day.

Overall I was thoroughly impressed with this last book…? I think it’s the last book/I hope it is because I’m extremely satisfied with how it ended. Sacrifices are made, but in the end Eadlyn makes decisions that end the series on a happy note.

There’s some worlds that I want to keep revisiting like Mead’s Vampire Academy series *hint hint*, but The Selection is one that I really hope doesn't get returned to. I think that it ended with a bang and I’d hate for another spin-off to reverse its progress.

4 stakes! For above expectations and because I couldn’t put the damn thing down! Haha.

Book Review: Starling by Lesley Livingston

Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Pages: 341
[Goodreads]

It started with a broken window, hoard of black-bluish beasties and a *hot* naked guy with a case of amnesia. Needless to say, I was hooked from the beginning.

Starling caught my attention right away but unfortunately it couldn’t hold it. I may have started out with a high opinion but towards the end my happy feelings tapered off leaving me very let down. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot to love about Starling, but there was also a lot to dislike.

Mason Starling is extremely likable as the main heroine. She’s very gentle yet totally kick-ass. Mason can basically be your best friend or your worst enemy. When paired with a sword, you best hope that she’s your friend because she can be downright deadly. Heather was also a great female character. She starts out as Mason’s frenemy then quickly become one strong, loyal and protective “true” friend. Two other standout characters were Rory and Roth… two Starling brothers and two complete opposites. I REALLY hated Rory. (We’re totally meant to… at least I hope). He’s entirely self-absorbed, petty, and downright homicidal. If it would help advance his status, Rory would literally kill his own sister. As far as I know it there’s nothing reputable about Rory. Then there’s Roth, edgy and mysterious and regarded as the “golden” Starling child. He basically can do no wrong. Especially compared to Rory, Roth is placed on an extremely high pedestal. And finally the fifth character that I found rises above the rest is Fennrys Wolf a.k.a. Mr. Amnesia. It was hard getting to know him mostly because he doesn’t know himself (LOL). But his protective and sweet-natured ways do shine through the confusion and memory loss, especially around Mason.

There’s also quite a few other characters but I don’t feel they’re entirely worth mentioning. Many times I actually asked myself “Why do we need to meet this character or what purpose do they play?”

Starling featured 3rd person multiple POVS. "Oi vey." I don’t know if it’s because I don’t read many 3rd person POVS or it was Livingston’s style but half the time I was utterly confused, not knowing who was saying or doing what. I had a very hard time keeping track and distinguishing between multiple characters. Many times I had to re-read a section. I also found the sheer number of POVS overwhelming. Just about every character introduced was spotlighted either frequently or periodically. There was just too many people to keep up with.

The mythology aspect was pretty interesting and entirely unique. Before Starling I’d never read any book featuring Norse gods or myths. From the synopsis I figured we’d just be dealing with Norse, but surprisingly we also get some Egyptian and Greek god(s) interfering in the story. I personally love whenever an author features multiple mythological beliefs and paths because I’m a firm believer that all gods stand on equal footing.

I know very little of Norse mythology so luckily Livingston provides us with the inside scoop to get us familiar with the Norse “tales of old”. There was also a downside to these scoops. The majority of the time I found myself waist-deep in information overload. As a newbie I was fed a bunch information regarding Ragnarok (Norse version of “the end of the world”). Many times I was confused when a character would act a certain way because of Ragnarok, especially when it came to the other gods. I felt like I was given a lot of information but couldn’t actually utilize it fully.

Overall Starling was a decent book. It was an entertaining yet difficult read. Although the story and characters we’re imaginative and detailed; I just found too much fault when it came to the mechanics. 

Book Review: The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnation #1) by Avery Williams

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Pages: 256
[Goodreads]

If you could live forever with just one stipulation, would you? What if that stipulation was the death of a person, would you feel that it was worth it? Could you live with yourself knowing you sacrificed someone else for your own ability to live longer?

As an incarnate, one who has the ability to detach a soul from a body and then jump into said body, Seraphina has had to struggle with this decision for over 600 years. In the year 1349, after a brute attack by two drunks, 14 year old Sera is left bleeding to death in the arms of her crush and admirer, Cyrus, the apothecary’s son. By the miraculous powers of a alchemist potion brewed by Cyrus himself, Sera awakes in the body of one of her would-be attackers. In that moment Sera makes the decision to pledge herself to Cyrus by running away and living out their immortal life together and in love.

Fast-forward to the 21st century and you’ve got quite a different story. After 600+ years of taking human lives, (turns out about every 10 years at the latest an incarnate needs to hop into a new body) Sera is fed up. After taking many lives and succumbing to the sadistic, cruel and obsessive loving tendencies of Cyrus, Sera devises a plan to break away. Although she originally decides to truly die, in a bizarre twist of fate, Sera accidentally ends up in the dying body of a teenage girl. Breaking away from Cyrus and the “coven” (group of other incarnates) was the hardest thing Sera has had to do, that is, until now. In her new body, surrounded by a loving family, friends and a potential new romance, Sera struggles with ending her existence. After centuries of wishing she was dead, Sera’s now realizing that there’s so much to live for.

The Alchemy of Forever completely blew me away. The synopsis sold me instantly. Who hasn’t wished they could live forever? Or even, who hasn’t wished they could be someone else?

I loved Sera SO much. Out of all the incarnates she is truly the most caring and thoughtful one of the bunch. The others could care less when it comes to body switching, a past time they do quite frequently although it means taking the life of another. After witnessing the cruelness both the world and Cyrus has to offer, Sera has remained remarkably staunch. Although she at first appears fragile, deep down her will is incredibly strong. I found Cyrus to be downright tragic. I don’t doubt that he once sweetly and purely loved Sera, but through the years he has become twisted and power-hungry. He’s the leader of the incarnates, controlling who does what and when. He especially controls everything that goes on in Sera’s life right down to the new body she’s forced to take every 10 years. I was so incredibly happy for Sera when Noah enters her life, well, Kailey’s life. As a kind-of friend and lifetime next door neighbor, Kailey Morgan never really gave Noah a second glance. However this all changes once Sera becomes Kailey. She recognizes the goodness in Noah and is completely enraptured by his sweet-natured ways. The romance between these two is innocent and warm and completely unlike anything Sera has experienced before.

The Alchemy of Forever is one of those incredible books that still sticks in your mind days after you read it. I’m literally still reeling from the shocking cliffhanger. Williams is a fabulous writer, able to weave a story full of originality and fill it with vivacious and vivid characters. I cannot wait for book two!! After the sneak peak shown in the soft cover edition of book one, I firmly believe that the sequel will be just as good, if not better!

Book Review: And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Release Date: September 9, 2016
[Goodreads]

Let me start by saying, with the exception of classic macabre like Lovecraft and Poe, I do not read horror. It’s just not my thing. I’m also a wuss, so there’s that. However, here and there I watch horror shows like American Horror Story and Stranger Things. Weird! I know! I’m not sure why I watch but don’t read. But anyways. I kept seeing And The Trees Crept In popping up everywhere. I was also on a Stranger Things high and wanted MORE. That’s why I picked up And The Trees Crept In. What the heck? Ya know.

So here are my thoughts on And The Trees Crept in, one of the most unique, nail-bitey and terrifying books I’ve read in a long time.

Initial thoughts right after I finished And The Trees Crept in: What the heck did I just read? Not really sure. But it was O.O and has my mind spinning like crazy. I'm still trying to make it work in my head. It's not what I thought it would be but it’s just as good as I wanted it to be? I sound almost as mad as Silla! Poor poor Silla. She and her little sister Nori run from an abusive father right into a sinister mansion with a terrifying creature in the woods. Poor Silla has nothing but her sister Nori. Her aunt Cath who she thought would take care of her is “looming the wheel”. And the mansion, La Baume, is not a magical and safe fortress like Silla’s mom always said it was. It's musty, rotted, decrepit, and sick. It's rundown, uncomfortable, and dangerous.

This book had me tantalized. It sucked me in and wouldn't let go. At one point my fiancé said something to me and I looked up with crazed eyes. Then he guiltily looked away. I was that absorbed! I just needed to know what was coming next. I guessed but was never right. This author rocks! I really don't like horror and rarely psychological. However, this book has gotten me curious and curious-er about other horror-rific YAs. Maybe I’ve discovered a new interest? Regardless, I REALLY enjoyed And The Trees Crept in.

It was unique and captivating. My only quip was that sometimes I would get very confused. I understand that it was the author’s intention to confuse us because Silla was slowly going mad. However, at times I was beyond confused and had to reread passages to try and understand. I wished it was a little more reader-friendly.

...for giving me a Stranger Things fix and nightmares. HAHA. Just kidding about that last thing.