[YA]Escape From Reality A [Mostly] Young Adult Book Blog

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Stacking the Shelves (117)

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! It is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Bought:

The Distance from Me to You by Marina Gessner

Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

Return Once More by Trisha Leigh

From the Library:
The Rose Society by Marie Lu
The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer

What books did you add to your shelves this week?

Posted by: Pam

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Book Review: First & Then by Emma Mills

First & Then
Author: Emma Mills
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co., 272 pages
Publication Date: October 13, 2015

From Goodreads:
Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

Review:

What I Liked: Football, Jane Austen references, romance, family dynamics, character growth, and a normal high school girl who doesn't know what she wants to do or where she fits in.

What I Didn't Like: There was a slight disconnect for me with this book, and I think in part it's because Devon, the main character, seems disconnected. I just couldn't get a handle on her. She's best friends with Cas, a popular football player, but then she doesn't have any other friends. Acquaintances, sure, but no real friends at all. And it's not like her and Cas spent that much time together. Also, there were just too many random, odd characters. Too much quirky. And characters who were in the book but didn't seem to serve much purpose, sort of popping in and out. Finally, Ezra had the potential to be an awesome book boyfriend, but I didn't feel like I got to know him and I was left with wanting more.

So while I really enjoyed this one, I didn't love it.

Posted by: Pam

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Book Review: Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep

Dark Heart of Magic (Black Blade #2)
Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington, 368 pages
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

From Goodreads:
As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.

Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else…

Review:
It's rare that I like a sequel better, but I really enjoyed this entertaining and fun book. There's a magical competition, mystery (someone is murdering creatures and also sabotaging the tournament), a touch of romance, and the darkness is balanced by humor. This series reminds me a bit of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it has that whimsical quality to it.

Loving the fact that there's no love triangle, and the author does a nice job of developing the characters. Even though it was obvious who the killer was, Dark Heart of Magic was a great followup and I can't wait for the next one!

Posted by: Pam

Monday, October 26, 2015

Book Review: Persuasion by Martina Boone

Persuasion (The Heirs of Watson Island #2)
Author: Martina Boone
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 464 pages
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
*ARC received from publisher via Edelweiss

From Goodreads:
Grieving the death of her godfather and haunted by her cousin Cassie’s betrayal, Barrie returns from a trip to San Francisco to find the Watson plantation under siege. Ghost-hunters hope to glimpse the ancient spirit who sets the river on fire each night, and reporters chase rumors of a stolen shipment of Civil War gold that may be hidden at Colesworth Place. The chaos turns dangerous as Cassie hires a team of archeologists to excavate beneath the mansion ruins. Because more is buried there than treasure.

A stranger filled with magic arrives at Watson’s Landing claiming that the key to the Watson and Beaufort gifts—and the Colesworth curse—also lies beneath the mansion. With a mix of threats and promises, the man convinces Barrie and Cassie to cast a spell there at midnight. But what he conjures may have deadly consequences.

While Barrie struggles to make sense of the escalating peril and her growing and forbidden feelings for Eight Beaufort, it’s impossible to know whom to trust and what to fight for—Eight or herself. Millions of dollars and the fate of the founding families is at stake. Now Barrie must choose between what she feels deep in her heart and what will keep Watson’s Landing safe.

Review:

I enjoyed this sequel, but it did suffer from middle book syndrome.

What I liked: Curses, Southern gothic atmosphere, quirky characters, buried treasure, mysteries. The world created by Martina Boone is fascinating. I also love love love Eight. Awesome book boyfriend.

What didn't quite work: Barrie doesn't deserve Eight. She keeps secrets from him, he's willing to sacrifice everything for her, and she is just so selfish. I wanted to shake Barrie so many times during this book.

Although the first book told a complete story (main plot resolved) this one does not. A little irksome.

I'm still in love with the series, highly recommend, but this book was frustrating.

Posted by: Pam

Friday, October 23, 2015

Book Review: The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong

The Masked Truth
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Doubleday, 352 pages
Publication Date: October 13, 2015

From Goodreads:
Riley Vasquez is haunted by the brutal murder of the couple she was babysitting for.

Max Cross is suffering under the shadow of a life-altering diagnosis he doesn’t dare reveal.

The last thing either of them wants is to spend a weekend away at a therapy camp alongside five other teens with “issues.” But that’s exactly where they are when three masked men burst in to take the group hostage.

The building has no windows. The exits are sealed shut. Their phones are gone. And their captors are on a killing spree.

Riley and Max know that if they can’t get out, they’ll be next—but they’re about to discover that even escape doesn’t equal freedom.

Review:
This book. INTENSE. I could not put it down. These characters. My heart broke for them.

Such an excellent combination of action and character development. And just when I thought I knew where it was going, it went somewhere else. In all honesty, some of the things that happened were pretty implausible but I just went with it.

Riley and Max…loved loved loved them together. Max was absolutely adorable and sarcastic and I just wanted to give him a hug. Reading from his POV was eye opening and made me really think.

The ending…quite perfect and after all of the death and violence, I really needed it.

Posted by: Pam

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Book Review: Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken

Through the Dark
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publisher: Disney Hyperion, 400 pages
Publication Date: October 6, 2015

From Goodreads:
Don't miss this breathtaking collection of stories set in the world of the New York Times best-selling Darkest Minds trilogy. IN TIME: Gabe's life has been devastated in the wake of the economic crash. The only option left for someone like him to escape his tragic past is to leave his small town behind and to attempt to become a skiptracer. This already almost-impossible task is made all the more difficult by his first "score,"a young girl who won't speak, but who changes his life in ways he could never imagine. SPARKS RISE: Sam didn't think things could get worse at Thurmand rehabilitation camp. Then the Reds arrive. Everyone assumed the kids with firepower had been killed years ago. Instead they were taken away, brainwashed, and returned as terrifyingly effective guards. To her horror, Sam recognizes one of them: Lucas, the one spark of light in Sam's dark childhood. Lucas has a deadly secret--he beat the brutal training that turned his fellow Reds into mindless drones. When Sam defends herself against an attack by a vile PSF guard and faces a harrowing punishment, Lucas must risk everything to save her. BEYOND THE NIGHT: The government-run "rehabilitation camps" have been shut down, but kids with Psi powers are anything but free. Sam would rather be on her own than put in the care of a foster family and given the "cure"--a dangerous procedure that unclaimed kids across the country are being forced to undergo. But there's more at stake than just her own safety. Sam once made someone a promise, and the time has come to fulfill it. Now that she's out of her camp, Mia only has one thought in her head: finding Lucas, her beloved older brother.

Review:

I love this series so much and I was so happy to be back in this world. These characters are some of my favorite characters EVER. And I didn't think I could love anyone as much as Liam, Ruby, or Chubs, but oh Sam and Lucas…just thinking about you makes me tear up. LUCAS!!!! He's giving Liam a run for his money as top book boyfriend, I have to say. My heart broke for him.

If you are a fan of this series, this is a must read. And if you haven't read this series, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?????

The second and third novellas are the best. The second one tells the story of Sam and Lucas and what happened after Ruby left the camp. The third novella (it's around 200 pages, actually) tells us what happened after the end of the trilogy. The focus is on Sam and Mia, Lucas's sister, but we see old friends and get a better sense of what's happening in the world. And things are not perfect, which is realistic. Even though the camps are closed, the people with abilities are not trusted and there are now snatchers selling them on the black market, zones set up where they're supposed to live, etc. Well done. All of the small questions I had were answered.

How can I say goodbye? I guess it's truly over. "sobs" Alexandra Bracken knows how to write an incredible series and also knows how to end one. She's an auto buy author for me, no question.

Posted by: Pam

Monday, October 19, 2015

Book Review: Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins

Nameless (Nameless #1)
Author: Jennifer Jenkins
Publisher: Month9Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2015

From Goodreads:
Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe.

What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined.

Review:

This book was familiar, but in a good way. Think The Winner's Curse and An Ember in the Ashes. Brutal Ram clan, where they raise their children to be warriors. If you're not strong, you don't survive. I'm not entirely clear about the world (the other clans, the war, etc.) but I'm assuming more will be revealed in the next book.

I liked the slow romance building between Zo and Gryphon and how both of them are prejudiced against the other, have lived their whole lives believing the other is lesser, but how they both slowly realize they've been wrong. I always love those enemies into love romances.

While I did like the book, I couldn't get past one thing. Maybe it shouldn't have bothered me that much, but it just did. Apparently Zo, being a Wolf, physically looks like a member of that clan. So she wears mud over her face as a disguise (and also to hide her beauty from the men so she won't be raped). All the time. Two problems with this. First, if the Rams are so worried about the Wolf clan and with their members infiltrating, why would they allow her to wear mud all over her face so they can't tell? Second, she's a healer who wears mud all over her face when she's treating patients. How does that make sense?

Posted by: Pam