Nichole
This was another fantastic book in this series. It took me less than 10 pages to get right back into the action and become engrossed in the story again. I cannot wait to read The Beauty of Darkness, especially with how this one ended. I need to know what happens with Lia, Kaden, and Rafe!
4.5 Stars
“I was the daughter of time, and I would make them pay.”
Okay, I'm going to attempt to keep this review spoiler free, but I always struggle to do that for sequels. So here it goes.
This book starts off a few months after the end of Gates of Thread and Stone. We have Kai, Reev, and Avan dealing with the aftermath of what happened. Kai is dealing with finding out just who she is and what her powers mean. The end of Gates of Thread and Stone left me with a lot of questions and while some of those were answered, I feel like I have even more after finishing the Infinite!
I absolutely love Lori M. Lee's writing. There is just something about it that immediately draws me in and keeps me entertained and desperate to find out what happens. This book starts out with an amazing line just like the first book did. I love the descriptions in this book. I am always vividly aware of what is around Kai.
Kai continues to impress me as a strong character. Her development and characterization in this novel is amazing and in some ways even better than in the first book. I really loved how Kai dealt with the events of both the first book and this book. This book takes us even further outside of Ninurta into a new land called Lanathrill. I loved how Lee expanded the world in this book. We realize that other people exist outside the walls of Ninurta and Etu Gahl. I also loved the new characters we are introduced to. They were a great contrast to Kai especially because they grew up in a different “world”.
My only real complaint with this book is the lack of Reev and Avan for a lot of it. Yes, they are in the beginning and end but the middle part of this book is lacking. I came to really love those two and we do not get very much of them in this book. Especially Reev, the first book was all about finding him and in this book we continue to be with Kai who is not with him. Not having Avan for most of this book was sad because I love Kai and his interactions and those were lacking. However, we did get to spend more time with Mason which was nice.
This was another great installment in this series and I cannot wait to see what happens next! The ending especially left us hanging now that we know who and what was behind the events of The Infinite.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
“I wanted a heaven. And I grew up striving for that world– an eternal world- that would wash away my temporary misery.”
This is an interesting graphic novel in the sense that it is autobiographical. It is the coming-of-age story of Craig Thompson. The novel depicts Craig's home life with his religious parents, brother, and first love Raina. The story focuses on the desolate conditions of Craig's life. Between his parents and school, Craig's life leaves much to be desired. Craig finds solace in Raina though and the two become extremely close. This story is not a happily ever after, instead it is the story of Craig's life and how he distances himself from his faith and his family.
I really liked how this novel unfolded. It began with Craig's childhood and sharing a bed with his brother. Then we when to summer camp and meeting Raina. The story was told with Craig as a teen with “flashbacks” to his childhood and other events in his life. I loved how Craig's childhood was woven into his teenage years and spending time with Raina.
For a graphic novel this novel has won a lot of awards, and it was also the first graphic novel I have read. And I'm not going to lie, the main reason I read this novel was because it is the Booksplosion Book of the Month for December. However, I'm glad I read it. From what I have gathered, this novel is very unique in the realm of graphic novels, it also happens to be quite long at over 600 pages.
The illustrations in this novel were completely black and white, but I think that fit the tone of the novel well. This novel is also definitely for more mature audiences between the content and the illustrations. However, I still really got a sense of the difficulty of Craig's life and what he had to overcome. This was a really fast read for me. I definitely will be picking up more graphic novels in the future.
So this is the Bookspolosion book of the month for October. And yes I just bought this book yesterday and I'm already done with it. Don't judge. Becca Fitzpatrick has also written the Hush, Hush Series which I absolutely adored! So I was definitely looking forward to see what else Becca Fitzpatrick could right. This book did not disappoint. She is definitely able to write an eerie, mysterious, thrilling book.
The main character in this book is Britt. She is an average teenager who has still not gotten over her ex and is hoping this backpacking trip will be the key for them to get back together. But everything is not as it seems. I found it a little hard to believe that the way Britt and Korbie's parents are described that they would let them drive up to the cabin with a storm coming. I just don't believe they wouldn't have checked the weather before letting them leave. But I understand they had to get stranded on the mountain for the plot to occur.
As for the love story in this book, it bothered me for a lot of the book that this girl was falling in love with one of her captors. But as we learned more about Mason, it started to bother me less. I think the love story could have been written a little bit differently to make it not so weird to fall in love with your captor.
Overall, I really enjoyed this style of writing from Becca Fitzpatrick. I definitely think she should continue to write novels with this thriller aspect. Was this an amazing book, no. However, I did enjoy it.
Great ending to the series. I thought it was better paced then the previous two. Loved the endings for each of the characters.
This book was okay. I saw the twist coming in the first part of the book though, so that was disappointing, but other aspects of the book were enjoyable nonetheless.
This has a unique love triangle is well written. It is not overly dramatic or overly fake. It really seems genuine. But who knows how it plays out in future books.
I finally finished this book after reading it for two months. I ended up listening to most of this book on audiobook because of my eye surgery recovery but that was perfect because it is read by Anderson and Gloria themselves.
This book was an amazing foray into Anderson but also Gloria's life. This book is told back and forth between Anderson and his mother in the form of emails. While it is back and forth between the two it it still feels very much like you are reading a novel. I loved reading about various aspects of both of their lives and I loved how personal this book felt. This book was truly about a mother and a son and their relationship.
Ahh! Amazing end to the series! And the epilogue, fantastic. I'm really going to miss reading about Anna, Kai, and their friends.
There were so many facets to this book that left me with so many different emotions. Yet again I have read a book about a difficult subject. However difficult the subject may be, it is still an incredibly important one. One that I think Stacey Trombley did a good job of conveying. There were many parts of this book that disgusted me to read and parts that made me so angry, but I'm glad for those emotions because their reenforce how important this book is.
This book follows Anna who is going back to her “normal” life after spending 3 years in NY as a prostitute. This book is about how she copes and deals with this “homecoming”. And I loved how complex and intricate this story was. There wasn't just one aspect of this change that Anna had to cope with. There were so many different areas and obstacles that arose. While this is a shorter novel, it has so many important pieces to the story.
This is truly a story about surviving and surviving in the face of adversity and I really appreciated that. I also really appreciated that there was not an emphasis on romance in this book. Yes there was a love-interest but it was not a major aspect of the book at all. This book focused on the important part of Anna and her life and how she became a stronger and better person after what she had experienced.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
3.5 Stars
“This was Darian One Sterling. A murderer. And my childhood friend.”
So I know I should not make this connection at all because they are two completely different books, but this book started out with a very Matched feeling to me. And I really disliked that book, however, the writing in this book was much better. I really enjoyed the way the world was laid out and the story that was being told. Desiree conflicting feelings were wonderfully explored.
My big issue with this book was the predictability. I get that it is a dystopian book, so there is a level of predictability which what is going to happen. But I feel like it went beyond that layer of needing to break free from the “perfect” society.
What I really loved about this book was the writing. Shannon Duffy has this way of pulling you into the story and the characters' lives. The writing is what kept me interested and reading as fast as I could to get to the end and see what happened to the characters and world. While some of the plot points were predictable, I still enjoyed the overall story in this book. I appreciated that this book was focused on Desiree finding out the truth for herself. We see her timid, subconscious distrust of The Protectorate morph into this desire to find proof and eventually the need to do something about it.
Like I said, I appreciated the premise of this book. While the whole matching you to your soulmate thing screamed Matched Trilogy at me, I loved the idea of The Protectorate and their “brainwashing” of citizens to keep them in line. The Protectorate is there to take care of everyone's needs. I also thought it was amusing the the past was called the Manic Age, as if things were utter chaos when you got to choose your own job, significant other, number of children, etc. Finally, the whole Dreamscape aspect and the reliance on this machine to sleep and as a way for the Protectorate to subdue individuals, and remove to nightmares was captivating. It is beyond disturbing to think that punishment for noncompliance was basically to have to live in your nightmares, rather than the wonderful dreams you are always used to.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book even if it was predictable. I think I have gotten to the point where I have read so many YA dystopian books that there is not much that could surprise me when it comes to plot points in a dystopian. I also appreciate that this was published a standalone, rather than the typical trilogy. It definitely left things open for a possible sequel, but for the most part things were tied up nicely.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Ember is an interesting character. The world she lives in is so messed up and backwards that it amazes me that she was able to survive for so long before the events of this book transpired.
When her mother and her are taken and it makes no sense, she is always thinking about her plan to get back to her mother and be free. It is all she thinks about. Chase and her band together to get to safety with a lot of different obstacles along the way. The government, other civilians, and even each other cause problems throughout the story.
I love the flashbacks in the book about Chase and Ember's relationship before everything changed. They really shed some light on what happened between them before he became a solider. But at the same time, these two characters are beyond frustrating. As soon as they start patching things up, one of them has to go and destroy all that progress. They can just be so stupid sometimes.
Overall, this was an action packed book with many twists and turns along the way. I really enjoyed the backwards world that Simmons has created.
It started out slow but got better as it went on. The books starts with Juliette in a prison and eventually we meet Adam Kent. There is also Warner who has some ties to these characters.
There are still a lot of questions left to be answered in subsequent books. Why can both Adam and Warner both touch Juliette? What is really going on with the resistance and all the different powers people have? And what is Warner's true story?
But overall, this book was great. Tahereh Mafi has a very unique storytelling style that puts you right into the world.
Book 3 for the #booktubeathon
Initial Thoughts:This definitely had a more important message to me than Anna and the French Kiss did, however, I prefer Anna and Etienne. Lola and Cricket are important though because their story focuses on finding and believing in yourself regardless of what other people think or believe.
I loved seeing Anna and Etienne in this and definitely picked up on the foreshadowing for everyone being present for Isla and the Happily Ever After.
Review:
Even though I had only ever read Anna and the French Kiss, I knew when I picked this up I was picking up a book I would fly through and really enjoy. I got more than I expected with this book. I loved Anna and the French Kiss, especially Anna and Etienne and I loved seeing them in this book. They had a much larger role int he story than I thought they would which was a pleasant surprise.
For me, Lola and the Boy Next Door definitely had a more important message to me than Anna and the French Kiss did, however, I still prefer Anna and Etienne, as a couple. Lola and Cricket are important though because their story focuses on finding and believing in yourself regardless of what other people think or believe. I loved how both Lola and Cricket had their quirks that made them different and unique.
My one issue with this book that was also somewhat present in Anna is the borderline cheating that goes on. When Lola and Cricket start to get close, Lola has a boyfriend and I'm still slightly bothered by this because it is not fair to the boyfriend when Lola suddenly falls for someone else. While this may be realistic with regard to what really happens, I do not care for it in the book.
I also definitely picked up on the foreshadowing for everyone being present for Isla and the Happily Ever After. This book was exactly what I needed at the time due to its cute story and ease of reading. There is something about reading a book where you know the characters end up together that really lets me fly through the book.
Pros:
- Political intrigue. This book is full of faerie court shenanigans, whether it was schemes, betrayals, or parties. I loved all the twists and turns as Jude and Cardan settled into their roles within the court.
- Jude and Cardan. Their relationship will always be a favorite of mine. I love how much they hate each other but at the same time how much they need each other. It is such a unique relationship and I love the way Holly is writing it.
- Worldbuilding. This book definitely expanded the world even beyond what The Cruel Prince introduced us to. I loved learning more about the Undersea and the court there.
Cons:
- The ending. Honestly this is not really a con, but I needed something to put down. I was prepared to be shocked by the ending, but this one left me even more shocked than Cruel Prince did. I cannot wait for the next one and it is horrible that it is a year away. But I know it will be amazing and have so much more shocking moments.
4.5 Stars
This one was still really good, there was just something about Career of Evil which makes it my favorite so far in the series.
I cannot wait to see what it is store for Comoran and Robin next!
This was totally my kind of book with schemes and gangs plus magical powers. While the writing wasn't the best the story line and premise made up for it.
This was an interesting read. I really enjoyed the world and the premise, plus there were demons so I was intrigued. I was not able to really connect with the characters though, but it was still a solid read!
3.5 Stars
“If there was something strange in your neighborhood, you could, um, write the Society a letter, and they would promptly send an agent to take care of it.”
This companion novel unfortunately was a let down after how much I enjoyed My Lady Jane. I really think my expectations were too high. I was expected the same amazing humor and wit and talking to the reader. During this installment, I think the author's were trying too hard to recreate the feel of My Lady Jane and they fell short.
This was still a great take on Jane Eyre and I really enjoyed reading it but it was a disappointment compared to my expectations. We get three POVs in this installment as well. We follow Jane, Charlotte, and Alexander. I really enjoyed Charlotte and Alexander but Jane was not as enjoyable for me. I did enjoy how the story was different and the addition of ghosts. I will definitely still read the final book in this series and hopefully it will be better than this one.
This was an absolutely amazing book! The story timeline, the characters, the concept. While it definitely has this great science fiction vibe, it is so much more than that. The way Hank tackled fame and how one deals with fame was perfection. I cannot wait for more books from him!
I listened to the audiobook of this and I'm fairly certain that if I had tried to read this, I would have decided to DNF it. This book suffers from multiple issues that lead to my low rating. The idea and the concept were good but the execution left much to be desired.
The book seemed to drag on. It could have been a 300 page book and it would have been a great action-packed adventure. Instead we got over 500 pages of long winded story telling. This book also had way too many POVs. It would have been fine to only have one maybe to. Andi's story is the main one and she would have been able to tell the story without needing all the other POVs.
I really wanted to like this book. It focuses on a group of outcasts who have found friendship and family together. But unfortunately this book was not for me. I will not be picking up the sequel even though it means I will not know the end of the story, but I almost do not care enough about the characters to read what is bound to be another too long book with too many POVs.
I wanted to love this book, I wanted to fall in love with the characters and read a book about forgiveness. Instead I got super annoying main character, super creepy fake British dude (seriously you can't just pick up an accent that fast), and super quick resolution.
I have enjoyed other books by Erin Watt, but this one was not for me. The royals series is a great one to binge when you are in the mood. And When It's Real was a super cute YA book, but this had very little going for it. I'm sure many will enjoy it, but it left me with too many cringe worthy moments and not enough character growth and development.
“So many girls allow themselves to be bleeding idiots because that's what's expected of them. Dress like a girl. Walk like one. Eat like one. Desire the things a girl should desire, and nothing more - but how can that be called desire, if it's dictated.”
This book was different than I was expecting in a great way. I was concerned this was going to just be another book about a girl with special powers and oh no everyone fears her and ahh she is a special butterfly who overcomes it.
But I was presently surprised to find that there was way more character development with this book. I really enjoyed the scientific aspect of this book and how much focus there was on figuring out why Wil had these powers and what she could do with them.
I also really connected with Wil in terms of her desire to be her own person and not let others make decisions and shape who she should be. She wanted to be her own person and she slowly was able to work towards that in this book.