Lailah Review

I would like to add a small introduction for this review. My friend Meredith over at Pandora's Books sent this ARC basically a year ago, so this review has been on her blog for a while, and I am just now putting it up on mine. Sorry I haven't had a lot of time to update my blog, but hopefully that will be changing soon. I did not enjoy this book, so if you love this book, that's great, but do not attack me for writing my HONEST opinion on a book I thought needed more work before publishing. Having said all of that, let's begin.

Title: Lailah

Author:Nikki Kelly

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 432

Format: Paperback ARC

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

SUMMARY:

Gabriel and Jonah both want to protect her. But Lailah will have to fight her own battle to find out who she truly is.
 

The girl knows she’s different. She doesn’t age. She has no family. She has visions of a past life, but no clear clues as to what she is, or where she comes from. But there is a face in her dreams – a light that breaks through the darkness. She knows his name is Gabriel.

On her way home from work, the girl encounters an injured stranger whose name is Jonah. Soon, she will understand that Jonah belongs to a generation of Vampires that serve even darker forces. Jonah and the few like him, are fighting with help from an unlikely ally – a rogue Angel, named Gabriel.

In the crossfire between good and evil, love and hate, and life and death, the girl learns her name: Lailah. But when the lines between black and white begin to blur, where in the spectrum will she find her place? And with whom?

REVIEW:

Alright, so where should I start with this one? It definitely felt like been there, done that. I really really wanted to like Lailah, I did. Sadly, I couldn’t. Everything just felt like another rift off of Fallen and Twilight. I love books about vampires and angels, so that wasn’t my real problem with the book. The paper characters and love triangle are probably what killed this whole book for me.

            Let’s start with Lailah, shall we? I wanted to like her because how cool is it to remember parts of your past lives! She just seemed to me to be too flaky and materialistic for me. She was more worried about going shopping than she was trying to figure stuff out. When a conflict would arise, she would run before trying to sort out a better solution. Very disappointed in that aspect of our heroine. She just was not super relatable to me, and I need a stronger female character than what Lailah provided for me. I’ll fight for Aelin over Lailah anyday!

            Ugh, so with any YA book about vampires and angels what else are we missing? A love triangle! Oh joy, more reasons for Lailah to not have her act together. So introduce Jonah, a bad boy vampire, and Gabriel, the ever overly attractive love of all my past lives main angel. Between these three and everyone else trying to get in on this love mess, it really starts to detract from what’s left of the plot. I would just like to put out a PSA that stalkers are not someone you want in your life, run away from them as soon as possible. Don’t let them in your bedrooms! YA tends to overly romanticize bad boys a bit too much, and I felt that Jonah crosses the line to way too creepy. Gabriel is just a jerk.

            There was way too much insta-love for me. I prefer to see the relationship blossom and grow into something magical, like Hazel and Gus. I am a huge fan of angels and demons/vampires, and was a bit disappointed in the whole side dimension, not real heaven and hell type thing. Don’t use Angels if you’re afraid of also writing about the existence or absence of God.

            I don’t seem myself reading the rest of the series, unless someone thinks that I’m missing out and it’s gotten way better! I do believe in book second chances. But for right now, I’m not super pleased. It sounds like the author had some good ideas, but the execution was not there. Definitely a better story if it’s just for Wattpad.

RATING: 

Lailah by Nikki Kelly 2.5/5 Stars!

OVERALL:

            I would like to thank Meredith for sending me this ARC. I didn’t like it as well as I wanted to, but I’m at least owning up to that. I had such high hopes for this book. Just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t. If you loved Lailah, I’m not dissing you or saying that you have bad taste in books, just that we have different preferences! If you loved it, then that’s great for you. Keep reading! I think I’ve ranted enough for now. :)

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The Call Review

Title: The Call
Author: Peader O Guilin
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Pages: 320 (hardcover)
Format: paperback ARC
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Except for these, because my roommate is reviewing it for me. :) Thanks Gil.

 

SUMMARY:

Imagine a world where you might disappear any minute, only to find yourself alone in a grey sickly land, with more horrors in it than you would ever wish to know about. And then you hear a horn and you know that whoever lives in this hell has got your scent and the hunt has already begun.

Could you survive the Call?

 NON-SPOILERY REVIEW:

At first glance, The Call may not look like much; it is a relatively thin book with minimal designs on the cover, but one you’ve read the first chapter, you’ll be able to tell that this book is something special. Set in a desolate Ireland, teenagers are “called” to another world. They are transported into the beautiful and terrifying world of the Sidhe, where they must try to survive being hunted. In preparation for their calling, the teens attend a training school, where they condition their bodies and learn to evade the Sidhe that will hunt them. The story follows fifteen-year-old Nessa as she prepares for the day that she will be called to the world of the Sidhe.

 When I first began this book, I was excited to immerse myself into an entirely new world with an entirely new monster. The prologue and first chapter seemed very promising, and if I didn’t have any other responsibilities for that day, I would have devoured the book in one sitting. When I picked it back up later that evening, the next few chapters progressed very slowly. While the story was advancing, a lot of the details about the major points of the novel had yet to be revealed. Normally, I am perfectly fine with trying to figure out where the story will go, and I find puzzling over the characters and their possible motives to be fun. However, for this novel, I was completely lost. I felt like I was reading the second book in a series without having read the first. Maybe if I knew more about Irish mythology and the Sidhe, I wouldn’t have felt this way, but I don’t and so I was confused throughout most of it.

Once I stopped trying to go deeper into the background details and just trusted that O’Guilin knew what he was doing, I was able to enjoy the story more. The characters are well written, and I enjoyed concentrating on them and getting to know them. As I continued reading, more of the background was revealed, and the story became much more interesting and intense.

Cassidy presented this book to me to read and review because I thoroughly enjoy the horror genre. She told that many people thought this book was scary or unsettling, and that I should read it first and let her know if she could handle it or not. This book did not scare me at all, but it was a very thrilling read. I was never afraid of the Sidhe, but I was fascinated by them. When I put the book away at 3am, I would continue thinking about the characters and the Sidhe and I would try to figure out what was going to happen next. I couldn’t sleep because I was enthralled, not because I was afraid of being called by the Sidhe. My experience with this book is very typical for me, I am hardly ever frightened by things that are intended to scare, and so if you scare easily, proceed with caution.

RATING:

The Call 3.5/5 Stars

OVERALL:

Overall, it was a good read, but not my absolute favorite; I will definitely read a sequel (if there is one). The book loses some points for not revealing enough details early on; I like having enough information to work with and attempt to figure things out before the story is almost over. I am also taking some points away for the romance aspect O’Guilin put in the novel. I wish that he had left out the romance parts of the story and focused more on the Sidhe and survival parts; I don’t really care for romance, especially if there’s more interesting things happening, and the romance in this novel felt somewhat forced and unnatural. It’s not completely awful, especially if you keep in mind that the story is about a bunch of fifteen-year-olds, but it is still weird. While the book loses some points for these things, it gains some for being a completely unique idea; maybe I live in a very tiny world, but I have never heard of the Sidhe or encountered a book that puts such a new and dark twist on mythological creatures.

While it may seem like I have a lot of complaints, I did really enjoy the book. Although I felt the story was slow in some parts, I did not want to put it down because I wanted to find out what would happen next. It was a quick read for me, and I enjoyed almost every minute of it. So, if you have a little time to spend with a unique and fascinating book, go ahead and give The Call a try.

 
Subscribe and never miss a post! More reviews and exciting news to come soon. Let me know how you feel about The Call. 

A big thanks to Gill for reviewing this book for me. :)

Heartless Review

Title: Heartless
Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 464 (Hardcover)
Format: Paperback ARC
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

SUMMARY:

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.


Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.
At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.
Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

NON-SPOILERY REVIEW:

Going into this book, I had super high expectations because I absolutely love the Lunar Chronicles. I should probably review those soon, but anyways I thoroughly enjoy the character development and world building from a "typical" Marissa Meyer novel. That being said, I also want everyone to know before continuing with my review, that I'm not a giant fan of Alice in Wonderland-esque books. I was really hoping that Heartless would change that for me because the Queen of Hearts is my favorite character in that particular world. 

I was expecting a lot out of this book, and part of me is still unsatisfied with it. I enjoy her writing, but Heartless seemed kind of slow to me compared with the Lunar Chronicles to me. I got about 300 pages in and still felt like not a lot had happened or really changed since the beginning of the story. Sure, there was a small progression in the side love story, but I feel like there needed to be more action to hold you over for the kissing that doesn't really begin until after halfway thru the book. After that, I did start to skim, which I feel bad about, but I'd rather skim than not finish it. 

All of that being said, I did like it. I'm in no way saying that it's a bad book. It's just a bit slow for me, and after Illuminae I need more fast paced reads. Also, I absolutely love Jest. He's by far the best thing in this book. Her writing of his character is amazing. His riddles in the book are very thought provoking and we finally get an answer to why is a raven like a writing desk! I feel like I would really enjoy this book more if I was more into books on Alice in Wonderland. Don't hate me, I liked it, but I didn't love it like I wanted to. 

RATING:

Heartless by Marissa Meyer 4/5 Hearts!

OVERALL:

If you really like Alice in Wonderland prequels/additions/retellings, then this is probably more suited for you! I'm not saying it's a bad book, just not for me. 

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Glass Sword Review

Title: Glass Sword
By: Victoria Aveyard
Release Date: February 9, 2016
Pages: 444
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardback
All thoughts and comments are my own.

SUMMARY:

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. 

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. 

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. 

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.

NON-SPOILERY REVIEW:

I know I've had Glass Sword forever (well, just last November), but I am finally getting around to reviewing it on here. I had super high expectations for the sequel because of how much I loved Red Queen. For the most part I think those expectations were met. It still had all of the action that I loved from the first book. I really enjoyed being able to explore more into the secrets behind the Newbloods. Though I still have plenty of questions about them! Also, I know I shouldn't love him, but I absolutely love King Maven. He's the perfect baddie with that frightened child underneath. 

Finally being able to see how extent of the Scarlet Guard gives me hope in Mare's rebellion. We get to see lots more of Farley and learn some more about her, and a brand new character in the Scarlet Guard. She's become one of my favorite side characters. My heart still goes out to Cal. Poor thing, watching him cope with all of the events from the end of Red Queen breaks my heart. He's like a lost puppy trying to figure out why his owner won't come get him. Mare's evolution has been astounding. By the end of Glass Sword, she is barely the Mare that she started out being. I'm really excited to see how she grows and changes and stays true to herself. 

The plot was just as fast paced and full of plot twists as the first. I did something bad, and read the last page, so I knew how it ended, but even in the last ten pages I had NO IDEA how we were going to end up there. I never saw it coming. You think everything is going to be sunshine and rainbows and then BLAM plot twist back into the fire again! (get it? Maven. fire.) 

Also, a moment of silence, for that one part where Victoria rips out your heart and leaves you damaged for the rest of the book. If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about. If not, you will. 

RATING:

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard 4.5/5 Stars

(I know a lot of my reviews have gotten the same rating lately, but I've loved everything I've read, so I don't feel bad about it)

OVERALL:

I think I liked Red Queen a tiny bit more, but I still loved this sequel.  It hurt my feels, but I am so eager to get my hands on King's Cage to see more of Mare, Cal, and Maven! Rise, red as the dawn.

Subscribe to the blog in order to stay up to date on all the newest posts! Comment below with your reactions and opinion of Glass Sword! Also, just an FYI, I read my ARC of this instead of my hardback, so it's one of my books for ARC August!

ARC August

I am so happy to announce that I will be participating in this year's ARC August hosted by Read.Sleep.Repeat. The original sign-up can be found here. My list for ARC August will consist of both new ARCs and ARCs that I've had for some time now. I'm going to start with all of my newer ARCs and then just fill what's left of the month with my older ARCs. So Let's jump into my list!

New ARCs
1) Three Dark Crowns
2) Gilt Hollow
3) Unnatural Deeds
4) Labyrinth Lost
5) Iron Cast

Older ARCs
1) Julia Vanishes
2) Illuminae
3) Glass Sword
4) A Madness So Discrete
5) Heir to the Sky

I have quite a few more older ARCs that I could in theory add to this list, but 10 ARCs in August is going to be rather ambitious for me. If I have any more time, then I will surely let this list grow! Right now, my priorities are on the ARCs with the earliest release dates. Let me know if there are any ARCs that you're super excited for or think I should read first! I know I didn't list authors or goodreads links, but the reviews will have all the information you need!

*There is probably going to be some changes in what I actually read for ARC August since I've been doing a lot of trades recently! I'm so excited for new arcs!

Doon Series Review

Okay Everyone! Thanks for dealing with my extended absence recently. I had a state test that had to be passed (yay I got my CNA!) but I've also been dealing with some pretty bad health issues. I am so sorry for being gone, but I had to take care of me that way I can keep blogging at all!

For this post, it's going to be a bit different from a regular review. I haven't had a chance to thoroughly review Shades of Doon or Forever Doon individually, but I will! (Stay tuned!) but I'm honor of the amazing release day of Forever Doon the final book in the Doon series, I am going to give an overall series review! It won't have any spoilers, except maybe a few from the first book! And away we go!

My love letter to Doon:

Before I'd started the Doon series, I had just finishing watching Outlander and couldn't help wanting more Scottish YA. After awhile of strolling the interwebs I found Sasha's post about Doon. That being said, I had super high expectations of Doon going into it! I basically thought it was going to be the same story lines from Outlander, but I was wrong and not in a bad way. I liked how different the two stories are. Both have amazing swoony romance and hot Scottish men, but Outlander is not Doon. I felt like I wanted to actually be in Doon, whereas I'd prefer not to travel to the outlander world. Doon feels so homey to me and that's what has kept me coming back since book one. Being able to see the changes in the culture and people of Doon throughout the series has been wonderful. It's felt like I've changed and grown too. 

The characters from Doon are absolutely some of my favorites. Veronica and MacKenna are very different when it comes to their thinking and approaching a situation, but flatter each other greatly. I never felt forced to read either of their POVs, which is often a problem for me. I also really loved the new POVs in Forever Doon! I won't tell you who if you don't already know, but it's been a long time coming for their side of the story. The hardships that MacKenna and Duncan go through as a couple is so believable and hurt me to read. I was mended by the end of Destined for Doon. 

The plot never felt forced or like it dragged behind. The series is overall a very quick and fun read. It's full of romance, Scottish princes, adventure, brave female leads, and of course my favorite pop culture references! I might have to do a separate post with some of my favorite ones. I am very happy I picked this series up and am sad that it's finally coming to a close. 

I was worried that Forever Doon would not give me the satisfaction or closure I needed to be able to happily finish the series. I was surprised when it did just that. Lorie and Carey have given a wonderful ending to a story and world that I want to keep visiting. Doon will always have a special place in my heart. 

On that note, I am very happy for its release into the wild today! Everyone should go pick it up and cross the bridge one more time. I'm glad I did. 

Comment all of your thoughts on the Doon series. Did you love it as much as me? Dreading the final chapter? Subscribe and make sure you don't miss it when I review Shades of Doon and Forever Doon separately! 

Also I'm sorry for the lack of pictures and links! I'm currently writing this from the doctor's office. :) 

Hear The Wolves Cover Reveal

Alrighty guys! I am so excited to be sharing the cover of Hear The Wolves by Victoria Scott! I absolutely love being apart of the VMafia and getting to share this exciting news with all of you. I've been holding onto this cover for at least 24 hours and the excitement is killing me. So first, a little about the book. 

SUMMARY:

It's survival of the strongest in a contemporary, girl-versus-wild middle-grade debut from Fire & Flood author Victoria Scott! 

Sloan is a hunter.

So she shouldn't be afraid of anything. But ever since her mom left the family and she lost hearing in one ear in a blizzard, it's been hard to talk to people, and near-impossible to go anywhere or do anything without her dad or big sister within eyesight -- it makes her too scared to be on her own.

When they leave her home alone for what should only be two nights, she's already panicked. Then the snow starts falling and doesn't stop. One of her neighbors is hurt in an accident. And the few people still left in Rusic need to make it to the river and the boat that's tied there -- their only way to get to a doctor from their isolated Alaska town.

But the woods are icy cold, and the wolves are hungry. Sloan and her group are running out of food, out of energy, and out of time. That's when the wolves start hunting them . . .

AND Finally, here we go with the cover real. (Also, just an FYI the entire cover is HAND-DRAWN!) 

DO YOU NOT LOVE IT?! I am so excited to get my hands on this wonderful book by Victoria Scott! There's not much about the exact release of this book other than sometime in April 2017. Until then, spend your time catching up on all of Victoria's amazing books, found HERE. (Hint, Hint: I recommend Titans) Tell me what you think about the cover in the comments below. Stay tuned for ANOTHER cover real (a tiny bit late) later this weekend! Subscribe and never miss a post.