Lili V
Living in the Canadian suburbs has not stopped Ian from thinking of bigger and better things for his dancing career. Ever since he was a tot he hasn't done anything or thought about anything more all-consuming than his dancing. And although the teachers at his high school don't like to talk and rather stay away, they can't ignore the results that incorporating his dance techniques and flexibility exercises helps improve their athletes mobility. When a certain jock takes notice of Ian, it sparks a secret relationship between the two that the former would die to keep.
To start off, the predictability bar was set very high and did not disappoint. I knew what was going to happened before I even read the book. One thing I did not expect was for Chance to Dance for You to be crazy funny and satirical at times. Ian loved to make fun of the jocks, the burbs, his school in general and I loved reading all the names he came up with; they all had their own original twist on the names we hear everyday. I also appreciated the fact that Ian had a separate life that concentrated on his dancing when he started his relationship with Jess. That distraction definitely gave a spin to the book that was needed in order for the plot not become stagnant and solely focused on the secrecy between Ian and Jess.
Since Chance to Dance for You was such a short read, the only issues I had with it was the predictability and the ending. In a lot of ways, these two things coincide and it was the ending that I saw coming and did not enjoy reading at all. I know some may say different, that it's really the reality of homosexuality right now but the way and context in which this book was written set up such high hopes for the reader only to have them come crashing down in two seconds. However, I imagine that's how brief it would take to ruin someone's life, and I understand how the author wanted to illustrate that.
Grade: C
This was one of those fast-paced easy reads with a lot of action that takes the spotlight from world-building and character development/relationships. I didn't enjoy the main character's personality all that much and history between her and the Sam, the love interest, was not explained very well–in my opinion, it wasn't explained at all. The action, however, was the thing that kept me reading and finishing the book in just a few sittings. There were a LOT of plot holes and explanations missing. I would recommend this to those in a reading slump that are looking for something that isn't necessarily fully fleshed out but instead will sweep them up in the action-packed plot, and it's fast pacing and thrills.
This is a very disappointing book in the series. I enjoyed the last few books WAY more than this one. (I skipped the Jason book though.) Sigh. There's some things addressed in this book that should have been addressed ages ago. There's just so much that hasn't been developed and while Anita going to therapy is a good thing, how can she still see herself as human? Like what? At least admit to yourself that you're some flavor of preternatural.
And the whole Nathaniel coming into power thing was really off-putting. I don't like how easily brushed-off it was that he mind-fucked Anita and Damian. It was too close to dub-con and I didn't like that it wasn't further discussed. In fact, I don't know why this was advertised as a book about Edward and Dublin. The entire time that Anita was in Dublin, I sincerely wished she wasn't. It's like going back in time in the books and getting another crash course on how to deal with vampires. It was just rehashing things that we learned early on in the series and just introducing them in a different setting. The Garda characters in Dublin were just ridiculous fodder. I don't know why Pearson was portrayed as beyond incompetent and none of the rest of the Garda were even memorable. Either way, a bit more than the first half was more relationship issues than solving crimes in Dublin. It felt like if it had been two separate books then more could have been hashed out and fully realized. In the former, there were Anita's glacial development, her acquiescence to being pregnant, and Nathaniel's sudden shift in metaphysical power. In the latter, there could have an actual crime-solving plot in Dublin. There were so many instances–too many–where it felt like the author was writing about where people were and what they were doing than any actual plot happening.
That leads into the writing of this book. That was by far the most disappointing aspect. It's just so dry and noncommittal. Since it's in first-person I was always expect to get more into Anita's head than anyone else's, and we've gotten that in previous books but not this time. The characters closely connected to Anita were the ones actually telling the reader what she felt. What's the point of it being first-person if we need the side characters to tell us what the main character is feeling?
In the middle of reading this book, I went back to the author's Merry Gentry series to remember why I fell in love with her books in the first place. I can firmly say that I officially like the Merry Gentry series more than the Anita Blake series because the overall character development and portrayal in that series is more realistic, and feels like something that I can count on. Whereas in this series, I feel like the same issues are being brought up again and again without any resolution in sight.
After saving his backyard-snow leopard from some Death Dogs that appointed to get rid of the Sylvan Princess, Owen has yet another shock when the suspected snow leopard turns out to be a Fey, a Sylvan–shape-shifter, that is. Not to long after this revelation the pair come to find Owen's parent frozen to stone, setting off the beginning of the plot line, that is The Kindling of GreenFyr. After being forced to take Owen with her into her alternate world, Orla, the Sylvan Princess quickly realizes if it not were for Owen she would not have the ability to discover her mysterious abduction and alleged murder attempt. As the pair journey through the woodsy forests and mountainous climbs, they soon come upon various travelers, who soon become a part of their small renegade band. Continuing the trek to Quailan, Orla's kingdom, the group separate for a duration before the death of a Sidhe and the surprising secrets kept by the house keep, deter the grounds unsafe for the human or the princess. Determined to get to the bottom of Orla's abduction and memory loss, as well as safe retrieval of Owen's parents, with a group of worshippers and honor-bound creatures, they once again set off to a new destination for more accurate answers. They new destination is the capital, Narsus, where they know Orla's father, King of the Sylvan will be, and every other representative of all the kingdoms in that world, for discussion of the Re-Unification of the Worlds. Also knowing that Owen's parents will be there, as well. With the accumulating members to their small band, they come across battles against followers that must be dealt with, and villains that must be destroyed.
I have to say that from the beginning, Boone, the Duine Madra, Owen's best companion, is my favorite character because of the instantaneous bond between himself and Owen. Talk about man's best friend. Did I forget to mention that Boone is the average triple-sized dog...
In this creative, unique, debut novel Mark Freeman does a wonderful job at creating an alternate world, where all the creatures in fairy tales roam. From Fey to Sidhe, goblins to dwarves, trolls to gnomes, even Vam-Pyrs. The creepy ones, I mean. And so much more! The Kindling of GreenFyr: Book One of the Reunification Conspiracy is a refreshment to the YA fantasy genre. In this third-person novel, Owen accumulates all different types of friends, that all have their shared feelings narrated by the phenomenal Mark Freeman. Recommended to all YA readers out there that are looking for something new, exciting, adventurous all in one! You will enjoy it, guaranteed.
This was a pretty good sequel to the first book. The plot was entertaining and the characters decent but I wish more had happened because this felt like a book for the sake of a book. The character that developed the most throughout the story was Zephele but she wasn't one the characters that I was interested in. Overall this was just a decent read and I would recommend the series if you like adventure, fantasy, and a smart independent heroine lead.
A good RH series, but sometimes a bit dull due to boring plot decisions. Took me a long time to finish the series even though I only had two chapters left. I've gotten the “we all want a relationship together” from the main girl and guys so I don't think I will continue with the series anytime soon.
The multitude of ex's hasn't really sunk in for Polly yet. When she gets stuck with a job with ex #2 Sawyer, she finally sees how dating the most active people in her junior year might just backfire. Active meaning that, for each one of them she's had to do something in order to keep up with what they were interested in, and mold herself to keep them interested in her. Having enough with the male species for a while, Polly wishes to disconnect herself from the testosterone population. Being focused on work because of the amount of bills piling up and having her “Miss Swoon” advice columnist grandmother in the house seem like perfect ways to distract herself. However, when she starts to get the feeling that “Miss Swoon” doesn't heed her own advice, and her mother takes a job at the Hamburger Heaven–local burger joint that Polly's friends populate frequently–she finds that she needs to escape from her own life in order to feel any semblance of control. Xander Cooper's hot new appearance plans to splash that thought out of the water.
Knowing that any relationship with Xander Cooper can only end up with more activities than she can handle, Polly chooses to distance herself as much as her hormones deem possible. When she starts seeing him more and more frequently with his nieces and nephews at her Wild Waves job, she realizes that avoiding him will be more difficult than she thought.
Swoon at Your Own Risk was more of an enjoyable and touching story to read than I ever expected it to be. SAYOR was a lighthearted, psychological read of the common household missing a male-father figure. Polly's way of pushing away anyone that tried to get close enough to see under the surface was well-portrayed, and elucidated by her tough childhood. Salter's writing of Polly's experiences when life gets too complicated from dealing with so many of her ex's was well-crafted and developed into the harsh tale of how Polly deals with such situations. Running away and hiding behind jokes seemed common for her, pushing away from her loved ones looked like second-nature. When a new character breaks into the mix, he doesn't seem to faze Polly at first. Finding that he has his own issues somehow makes her slowly realize her mistakes and regrets. Polly's wide-ranged knowledge, vocabulary words, and charismatic/positive attitude progressively developed her character in the book.
SAYOR is recommended with the heartiest of character revelations.
Really intriguing protagonist and plot but the character interactions were lackluster. I couldn't empathize with any one of them. With the main character being a cage fighter with a tragic background and dealing with the aftermath of a car accident, the plot was thrilling and easy to get lost in. I really wish I could say the same about the characters. There just wasn't an emotional connection that I could tether myself to with the characters. Even when something emotional was happening I couldn't get lost in the characters' feelings. There was character development in the sense that characters overcame their flaws. However, there wasn't enough build up of the character–their motivation, their passion, to really resonate with me while reading.
This was a very sweet read that was well executed. This is a sort-of going on a journey type story. About a girl who loses her boyfriend and decides to do the marathon that he was training to do but discovers more about herself and deals with his death along the way. More about the journey than the destination kind of thing.
While the story had a nice plot, was well-written and was ultimately an entertaining read, I couldn't really get over the fact that for the majority of the novel I didn't think that the two main love interests had any chemistry whatsoever. Annie and Jeremiah's banter was fun at times, but other times it seemed too forced and awkward. I didn't understand their attraction towards each other. By the end I understood that he got her out of her comfort zone but that only made it seem like he was a convenient plot tool in order for the protagonist to move on.
Overall, a sweet, cute and fast read. Wasn't too big a fan of the romance but really enjoyed the journey the character went through and the moment of catharsis.
Pros: the plot, the mystery, the main characters except Ben, the friendship between Janelle and Alex, relationship between brother and sister, relationship between daughter and father, investigation skills, relationship between Janelle and Ben, background story, the ending
Cons: Ben, the chapters that were purely for explanation because it threw off the flow of the book
Characters:
Lorelei is a firecracker as her auburn hair stereotypically suggests. Though in the beginning there was a bogged down version of Lorelei's feistiness because of the anniversary of her parents' disappearance, there's still some of her witty, and sassy self to hook you into the narrative. She does have a tendency to rely on others more when she is in any way hurting or emotionally distraught, but as the story progressed I could see an independence and motivation to discover the secrets behind her abilities and an internal strength that grew in the face of conflict.
Casey and Brooklyn, a.k.a. Glitch and Brooke, are crazy supportive when it comes to their best friend Lorelei and are absolutely amazing BFFs. They go above and beyond to make sure Lorelei is protected as she breaks into new territory concerning her abilities and also help her discover new information about their crazy and unbelievable situation.
Jared is one of the first characters introduced in the book, as being a powerful being who can slay monsters in one of Lorelei's visions. He is portrayed as a “supernova” among other males, making his physical appearance out of this world in good looks. His tall, muscular presence attracts Lorelei magnetically and they seem to share a bond. While I wouldn't say the romance between them started instantaneously, there didn't seem to be much getting to know each other before they couldn't live without the other.
Cameron was initially one of those characters that got under my skin because he fell under one of my bookish pet peeves. He started stalking Lorelei for a reason unknown, then proceeded to pick fights with Jared–though Jared wasn't opposed–and then he would make comments about Lorelei's inability to understand the situation going on around her. The problem I had with Cameron dealt more with the latter. Sometimes, in YA books, there seems to be a character that serves no other purpose in the novel except to antagonize the main character with passive aggressive comments about how they couldn't possibly know what was happening around them, and instead of giving the protagonist a hint of what's going on, they instead think it is more productive to badger them with verbal insults and provocations. It makes my blood boil.
It wasn't until the halfway point of the book that we got to learn any real information concerning these two battling forces that seemed to be at each other's throat with just the drop of a hat. That was yet another question unanswered till further in: Why did Jared and Cameron hate each other so much?
Plot:
The plot of Death and the Girl Next Door is the biggest issue I have with the book. In the first half there were too many instances where Lorelei was more of an observer than an actual participant in the ensuing chaos. Again, not until the halfway point, was there any real role for her to play besides the grieving orphaned daughter that's dealing with her parents' mysterious disappearance. To not go into too much detail, there were certain parts where Jared and Cameron were bickering and started revealing things about each other just to get the other fired up. These tidbits they were spewing was the only informative way to really get any straight answers about their purpose and underlying motives. Well, something is revealed about Jared and when his role is explained, it was too convenient of a description. It's hard to explain without spoilers but I'll say this much, if all it took was a prayer from a faithful person then I think his job would be way more complex then it is actually portrayed.There was also a lack of cohesion when it came to seamlessly tie in one event to another, it felt like watching choppy jump cuts in a video.
Because of all the explanation about Jared's character and Cameron's stupid brooding self, there's a lot to be desired when it comes to the main character. I would even go so far as to say that the romance is given a prominent role than Lorelei. I just wish there was more sustenance to her character and her desires than just wanting to kiss Jared. While the ending was more than informative and cathartic for Lorelei, it didn't fully let the new discoveries sink in before the book was finished.
Writing:
The writing is one of the lighter and addictive aspects that kept me reading and engaged. I greatly enjoy the author's writing because the narrative as well as the dialogue have a fluidity that pushes you to read the next chapter when you had originally planned a break two chapters ago. The book's setting is Riley's Switch, New Mexico which feeds my weird craving of wanting to go to a desert or really boiling state as a vacation. I'm not sure if that's something I'll ever pursue but whenever I read books that take place in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or Nevada, I relate to them more–since I live in Florida–than I would if I read a book with a more seasonal setting.
While the writing is not complex or particularly suspenseful, it does provide enough descriptive technique, active voice, and an overall thrill to attract readers into finishing the novel and wanting to know what's going to happen next.
C+
Great first start to a series. A lot of the main plot points are predictable but it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book.
This book shares a lot of similarities with other YA dystopian books but it was different and creative enough to pull off original characters with some really entertaining and thrilling writing.
The characters, especially the main characters, are what pushes the plot along and I highly enjoyed reading about their antics. The main character, especially, was quirky and had a great sense of humor even in the middle of the race. The only thing that bugged me about her in the beginning was that when she met another young teenage girl in the race who was blond and blue-eyed, she thought she would have to kill her. Obviously, she was joking but I'm getting sick of reading about girls hating other girls because they perceive them as more beautiful than themselves. Why does the reaction always have to be anger or hatred or any combination thereof? Anyway, besides that, I really did enjoy the MC's personality and courageousness even when she didn't know what the heck was going on.
I would call this a Hunger Games set in the modern world. There are a lot of similarities between this book and The Hunger Games but I'm happy to say that I would highly recommend the former even if you've already read the latter. (Maybe just not immediately after you've read The Hunger Games though, otherwise it will probably cause too many analogous comparisons in your head.)
3.5 stars
Great start to a dark RH series. I read all the books back to back so it's a bit difficult to distinguish which events took place in which book without spoiling it. However, obviously this installment is where we get introduced to the main characters and Everly was a pretty damn good protagonist. It was refreshing not to see minimal-if any-of the overdone tropes in RH series. This heroine was pretty level-headed, reasonable, and comfortable with expressing her sexuality.
This is definitely a dark series due to the fact that the main guys kidnap our main girl to get her father's attention. However, they're bark was the only mean thing about them. When it came to her, it really felt like they had no bite, which I greatly appreciated. They weren't overtly cruel but it was plain to see how each of them dealt with some sort of pain that ultimately shaped who they are, and this is further expressed in the second and third books.
That ending though...of course I had to jump into the next book immediately.
I really liked the premise of this book and werewolves are probably my favorite supernatural creatures to read about. I liked the characters a lot, especially the main character because I usually like characters that have a calmer temperament and can deal with the situations around them with a clear head. I didn't expect to enjoy the writing as much as I did because there was a lot of exposition about the world but it was done through dialogue and I usually like that method rather than the narrator explaining the dynamic of the world.
Something I really appreciated was the fact that the romance was completely at the forefront of the book. There were definitely moments when I thought Caia thought a bit too much about Lucien but in the second half there was a lot tension that really built a solid relationship between the two. I worried that the misunderstanding that came towards the end would really frustrate me since the book is told through multiple POVs. However, Caia was mature enough to realize that communication is necessary in order to get her point across to her potential partner. (Something a lot of YA and NA novels don't seem to understand, COMMUNICATION IS KEY. One of my biggest peeves is misunderstandings/miscommunication between the MCs.)
I look forward towards the development of Caia's abilities and seeing how the dynamic in the romantic relationship shift and change.
Skim some to read faster because boy was this tedious. Completely predictable and kind of boring.
Really great development in all of the characters of this book. The sepat was definitely an experience that was hard to read at times but was ultimately necessary in learning more about the panther world. The events leading up to the sepat–the beginning of the book–were very devastating but handled beautifully as I am finding that is the author's trademark. She is able to make shocking twists and turns in her books but they turn out to be the best decisions for her characters to confront themselves and grow from their actions and decisions.
I can't wait to read about the next steps that Jin and Logan's relationship and family take, but reading the summary for the next book, I think I'm going to take a break from the series for a while. Not that I don't love Domin and his new MATE! but since I marathoned the first 3 books in this series, I want to let Jin's story soak in.
Obviously needed to read more by this author since I love how she constructs her romance between her characters. Very straight-forward and no-bullshit. Enjoyed this one more than Trigger because there were two male love interests and anything reverse-harem is crack to me. Overall a quick fluff read.
3.5 stars.
Solid ending to a RH series. Probably one of my favorite RH trilogies. Well thought-out plot and great exposure to the developing relationships. Great character development and realistic problems that weren't contrived or unnatural.
This installment was a disappointment after the last book. The pacing was SO slow that it fizzled out completely - by the end when all the little mysteries were being wrapped up in a bow, I had to skim it because I didn't care how any of them panned out.
One of the biggest factors for my lower rating of the first book and now this book is the love interest (if we can even call him that). I don't know if the author planned to draw out the romance subplot throughout multiple books before we see anything more than a hasty kiss, but I don't sense the chemistry between the two protagonists at all. I honestly can't recall one kind thing he's said to her besides acknowledging that she is a somewhat good detective as she seems to have solved all of the mysteries in book 1 and 2, even though she makes way too many mistakes (some of which she should not be apologizing for constantly because they weren't her fault), and he didn't solve any of them. And the amount of times he looks disdainful, disgusted, or looks upon any situation with distaste is much too much. He broods for the sake of brooding and his pride is his least attractive trait. I honestly don't see why she likes him at all. The lack of honesty, respect or trust between does not a relationship make.
Finally, she came (somewhat) to her senses by the end of this book. It look long enough to get there, and it was painful to watch. But that truly was the only highlight of this book for me. Overall, it was entirely too long and had no payoff in the end, the solving of the mystery was the least interesting part of the book to read.
Beth has four best friends, a mother who cares more attentively since her dad left them, and a quirky brother. Beth decides to go on a diet one day because she supposedly wants to look like the most popular girl in school, but is that really the reason she chooses to starve herself? And worry everyone who cares about her deeply? I think not. And if Beth looked a bit deeper into her conscience she would see it, too. However, with her own friends going through their own transitions, they still support Beth any way they can. Especially Jeremy. Sweet, wise Jeremy; the one who has been there for Beth through thick and thin. Will Jeremy's love and care be enough to stop Beth from destroying herself completely?
Of course, my favorite character has to be Jeremy because he does not give up hope on the people he loves most. If I looked at this quick-read and analyzed it personally, I would be sobbing right along with Beth because we are so alike when it comes to the parentals. Thing is, I didn't have a Jeremy and am quite jealous, lol. Albeit my father's worse but, no one deserves to be that traumatized. One day it's perfect, the next your left feeling like the memories will never be enough. I was a bit disappointed, because in the beginning it all seemed cliched to me. After a while, you kind of get into the rhythm of the plot line and the other characters' backgrounds start popping out. Recommended to all teens having parental issues and having their own way of dealing with it.
“This world is white no longer, and it will never be white again.”
This hurt to get through but felt overwhelmingly like a text I should have read in high school. It hurt to be seen–for Baldwin's title essay Notes of Native Son reflected my inconsolable, depthless yet invisible rage at a young age. I honestly didn't know why or how, because I consider myself to have had a happy childhood (ignorant of the conformity happening outside the walls of my home). But as a second generation American, I acclimated as best as I could and was proud of a job well-done until the exact time I realized what exactly that pride meant. Spanish was my first language, at a certain point I was desperate to know everything about my mom's heritage. It's amazing and awful how completely alienation descends when you're confined to an identity that you shall never embody.
This was pretty good but the info dumps about military health care were a bit too concentrated. I would liked it better had the story been longer and the info more spread out and intermingled with the story and the characters' issues.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/t9bbYdmhPO0
So much to say about this one. It's a fairytale within a fairytale.
Highly recommend listening to the audiobook because the narrator is FANTASTIC. Really made the story come alive.