Showing posts with label so good. Show all posts
Showing posts with label so good. Show all posts

3 Oct 2016

ARC #Review: WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS by Anna-Marie McLemore

03 October 12 Comments

WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS

Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
Source: eARC via Publisher
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: October 4, 2016
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

 Summary:
When the Moon Was Ours follows two characters through a story that has multicultural elements and magical realism, but also has central LGBT themes—a transgender boy, the best friend he’s falling in love with, and both of them deciding how they want to define themselves.

 To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees, and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. 

 But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up
Purchase:
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinion of this novel.
GOSH THIS ONE IS SO WONDERFUL. It's as lyrical and beautiful as THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS with so much more magic and suffering. And my heart literally broke into a million pieces only for it to be put back together bit by bit by Samir and Miel. These two though, these two. 
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11 Feb 2016

REVIEW: EARTH'S END by Elise Kova

11 February 3 Comments

EARTH'S END

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Air Awakens #3
Source: Digital Copy from Kindle
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: February 11, 2016
Rating: 5/5 stars

 Summary:
A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.

 Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest.

The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.
Purchase:

Disclaimer: I am a puddle of feels right now.
||"You were not born to be their leader, you were chosen. And that has far greater weight."
I finished this one in 2.5 hours. A new record for me. But like it was hard not to devour this one. I have minimal highlights because I could highlight the entire book. Kova really outdid herself this time. This series continually gets better as more layers are added to the story and the characters get more and more complex as time progresses. No character is one thing or another and it is so great to see their dynamics together. But, man, what I wouldn't give to be Raylynn for a night.

 I think one of the things really well done in this series is the depiction of war. I've said it before and I will continue saying it: there is no shying away from the real, gritty aspects of war in these novels. There is wonderful (and kinda gross) depictions of the battle and the different elements of the fighting that the characters take part in. I think that is something you don't see a lot of in YA Fantasy, but I am so glad it is included in this one. I love seeing the characters, especially Vhalla, really struggle with the idea that they are killing someone who is just like them: similar ideals, lifestyle, woes and fighting for a cause they really believe in. 

I think one of the strongest moments in this one was when Vhalla enters into the Northern stronghold and sees the women and children trying to survive in there. Because she comes to realize that not everyone in the North are monsters or demons but rather human beings. I just had so many fist pumping moments because I am SO GLAD to see war and consequences in a YA novel not getting glossed over. (As I have said before, another good example of this is The Hunger Games).

 I love the natural progression of the characters. They are morphed by the circumstances around them and what they have had to deal with, but they also grow because of the interactions they have with one another. In this book, we got a deeper look into Baldair and the Golden Guard, as well as the Lords of the Court. It was so interesting to see the political play of those in charge because it gave more depth to the history of the land and why the war is occurring. It also made me realize that there is so much more happening than Vhalla awakening and learning to deal with it. There are layers upon layers to this story and I am so excited to see where the story is headed. I freaking love high fantasy. And this is high fantasy at it's peak.

And strangely: I am also extremely happy with the ending. I love that beyond anything else, Vhalla is choosing to figure things out on her own. She needs to come to terms with everything that has happened to her over the past year without constantly thinking about boys or what the Emperor is scheming or what Victor is putting in her tea. Okay, maybe the last one is just me. But I need my girl to grow and come to realizations on her own without anyone playing puppet master because she has dealt with that for too long.

 Lastly, (wow this is a short review compared to my last one) I have a theory about the crystal axe. I think it runs on blood magic of a sort. (i.e. the more the axe is used to kill (thus gaining blood), the more powerful it/the wielder becomes) But I think for Vhalla, since Windwalkers can't be tainted by crystals, it will just make her have a big ego if she uses it too much. Let me know what you think about that!

 Have I mentioned I love this series? You should read this series. Someone finish this book and cry with me over it.
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12 Jan 2016

ARC REVIEW: OTHER BROKEN THINGS by Christa Desir

12 January 0 Comments

OTHER BROKEN THINGS

Author: C. Desir
Source: ARC via the Publisher
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 12, 2016
Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary:
Nat's not an alcoholic. She doesn't have a problem. Everybody parties, everybody does stupid things, like get in their car when they can barely see. Still, with six months of court-ordered AA meetings required, her days of vodka-filled water bottles are over.

Unfortunately her old friends want the party girl or nothing. Even her up-for-anything ex seems more interested in rehashing the past than actually helping Nat.

But then a recovering alcoholic named Joe inserts himself into Nat’s life and things start looking up. Joe is funny, smart, and calls her out in a way no one ever has.

He’s also older. A lot older.

Nat’s connection to Joe is overwhelming but so are her attempts to fit back into her old world, all while battling the constant urge to crack a bottle and blur that one thing she's been desperate to forget.

Now in order to make a different kind of life, Natalie must pull together her broken parts and learn to fight for herself.
Purchase:
Amazon | Chapters | TBD
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like a weight has been lifted from me because, it too, was really well done. I mean, it was a pretty tough fucking read. Natalie goes through some SHIT man. But it was also enlightening and I have a lot of feelings about how she figured her shit out because it wasn't pretty, it was actually pretty messy. But isn't that how life is? And I just want to say that it really rocks when authors don't try to make life, hard times, good times, etc. seem better than they are. That's so important! And this book is definitely not going to be for everyone, I get that. Hell, I wasn't sure it was for me. But it is so emotionally packing that I do recommend at least giving it a shot before writing it off completely.
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14 Jul 2015

A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz

14 July 0 Comments
A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz

 Goodreads Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies.

But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected.

This stunning, lyrical fantasy is a powerful exploration of what makes a family, what justifies a war, and what it means to truly love.
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7 Jul 2015

The Ugly Stepsister by Aya Ling

07 July 0 Comments
The Ugly Stepsister by Aya Ling

 Goodreads Synopsis
When Kat accidentally rips apart an old picture book, she's magically transported into the world of Cinderella--as Katriona, one of the ugly stepsisters! Life turns upside down now that she’s a highborn lady and must learn how to survive the social season, including how to get through the door in a huge metal hoop skirt. To get back, she'll have to complete the story, right to the end of happily ever after. But the odds are huge: the other stepsister is drop-dead gorgeous, the fairy godmother is nowhere to be found, and the prince, despite being insanely hot, openly dislikes balls. Can she ever return to the modern world?
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23 Jun 2015

Mama Cried by Talia Haven

23 June 0 Comments
Mama Cried by Talia Haven

 Goodreads Synopsis
Jenny was enjoying herself on the swings when Azula, one of the guardians of the playground came to take her away.
Together they journey to a cinder building where Jenny must make a powerful decision.
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1 Jun 2015

These Are The Moments by Jenny Bravo

01 June 0 Comments

THESE ARE THE MOMENTS

Author: Jenny Bravo
Source: eARC via Publisher
Publisher: Bravo Publishing
Publication Date: April 30, 2015
Rating: 4/5 stars

 Summary:
You can't go back. You can't go back. You can't go back. Ten years ago, Wendy Lake fell in love with Simon Guidry, who grew up and went away. Now, not much has changed. She's back at home, back from college, almost back to normal. Until Wendy's best friend gets engaged, sending Simon ricocheting back into her life, and leaving Wendy with the questions she's been struggling to ignore. Do people ever really change? Do two people, who can never make it work, actually make it right? And most importantly, does she even want to?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25463625-these-are-the-moments
Purchase:
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 Oh gosh, this one hit super close to home. I had a relationship just like this and it still burns and stings every once in a while. Especially when a book so poetically written stirs up old memories. Jenny Bravo takes a story that most people have expectations for and turns them on their head. Honestly, if I hadn't lived through it, I would have been left with a giant wtf at the ending.
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