Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

 Series: Untitled
Author: Linsey Miller
Page Count: 384
Published: September 5th, 2017
Publisher:Sourcebooks Fire
  4 Stars ★★★★

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. 

Sal is a thief, living in a world complicated by politics and war. Still haunted by the 'shadows', they steal for Grell, but they're tired of it. After stealing from some nobles, Sal finds a flyer that could change their life. If they prove their worth, they can audition to be part of the Queen's Left Hand, a group of assassins that get their namesakes from the rings that the Queen wears. Opal has died, and this may be Sal's chance for a new life, and vengeance. 

The competition is deadly, and the stakes are high. With a romance blooming and drama between contestants, Sal will be lucky to survive with their heart, and their life. 

So this book was really awesome. It was close to perfect, I am so happy that I received an ARC from NetGalley! 

First off, Sal was genderfluid. I am genderfluid, and there are so few people like me in books that its incredibly exciting whenever I come across a nonbinary character! Not to mention the way that Sal's genderfluidity was incorporated into the book.... I loved it because it wasn't the focus of the plot. Sal was casually genderfluid, kinda like how most genderfluid people just wake up and live their lives like everyone else, eh? While I think stories about identity and coming out are great as well, I want to see more of this, more books with nonbinary people just existing as nonbinary individuals, not necessarily on display for their identity. I loved the casual way that Sal's pronouns were discussed, and the way that most characters just complied. It was quite optimistic and a great break from the real world where just the mention of singular "they" will spark a fight. I also loved the way that Sal described genderfluidity and I thought it was really accurate. I won't quote it since this is an ARC and the final manuscript may prove to have minor differences, but when you read the book, you'll get what passage I'm talking about. Anyways, this was an awesome aspect of the novel, I really appreciated the diversity!

Then there's Elise, the love interest. Elise is a noble of Erlend, a nation whose people haven't been kind to Sal's people. Elise is smart, assertive, and likeable! At first, Sal is a bit wary of Elise, almost using her, but I love how later in the book they realize their feelings for her! Alongside Elise is the idea that a person is not the sum of their heritage, or their nationality, and I thought that was a really great message. Sal realizes this and it adds to their growth as a person throughout the novel, in my opinion. This just made me love the book, and Sal, more. 

I also have to mention that there are some emotional scenes in this book. I can't say much without giving it away, but if you get attached to characters, get ready to potentially have your heart shattered!

I also loved the beautiful descriptions throughout the novel. Metaphors and such really added to the way I visualized Sal's world. I loved this fantasy world, I loved getting lost in the danger of the shadows and the life that Sal was escaping, and the life they were ultimately working toward. However, this book lost a star because sometimes the world-building was confusing. Maybe this is because I'm new to this type of fantasy, but I had trouble keeping up with all the political drama, national tensions, and historical events. 

Overall, this was a really awesome fantasy novel! I loved the inclusion of a genderfluid character, and I really like Elise and the messages that accompanied her character. While the world-building could use a little work, the author's descriptions were often beautiful. 

I absolutely recommend this book! If you're a fan of fantasy novels, this book is for you. If you are interested in a book featuring a genderfluid person, you'll want to pick this one up. I know that once this is released in stores, I'll be picking up a copy!

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Something by Shelby Lamb

 

Series: Wisteria

Author: Shelby Lamb

Page Count: 304
Published: March 7th, 2017

Publisher: Grunge Bookz

  4 Stars ★★★★

 I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.

Aubrey is what many would consider 'damaged': she's obsessed with her ex-boyfriend, she's depressed, self harms, and deals with a lot of other issues. However, things start to get worse for her when she picks up a book titled 'Something'. As she shares passages from the book with others, strange occurrences take place and those around her start questioning their sanity. 

This book explored some of the real-life issues people might face, with some paranormal creepiness thrown in. It was a great combination and it worked very well! While written in third person, the author told the story of the chaos that ensues after reading passages from the mysterious book 'Something' from the perspectives of multiple characters, including the depressed Aubrey, teen mom Kendra, ex-boyfriend Nathan and aspiring porn star Bella. 

I wasn't too sure what to expect, considering how unique the idea seemed to me. I have never read anything like this book before, and I'm sure I won't read anything similar for a long time. Including real-life issues alongside paranormal ones is something I really like in a book and this one delivered on this for sure. 

I liked reading about the different characters and their personal situations. I can't say that I actually liked all of the characters, but their problems were intriguing and sometimes heart-breaking. Aubrey's self-esteem, self harm and related issues were realistic to me, in that they're something that I see a lot in real life as well, and I thought that this made the book more believable. Bella's hopes and dreams to become an adult entertainer seemed to make her determined and despite her mean-girl streak, I found myself cheering her on and hoping that she'd achieve her goals! Kendra appeared to be quite sweet and I think that she tried looking on the bright side of things even though she was dealing with motherhood at such a young age. As for Nathan, I felt some sympathy for him, having to deal with Aubrey's obsessive behavior. 

The paranormal aspect was enjoyable and mysterious. I often wondered if maybe the characters were slipping into madness, and that there wasn't really anything other-worldy going on at all. I must admit that at some times I found myself a bit confused because I wasn't really sure what was going on, some situations were a bit unclear to me. 

Another issue was the grammar, there were enough changes in word tense and spelling errors that at times it felt a bit disruptive. Because this is an ARC, I'm hoping that the book will be edited again before its actual release to fix these mistakes, however I can't ignore the way that these mistakes disrupted my reading experience, because it affected my enjoyment of the story.

In conclusion, I can say that this book was really, well, something. I want to know what happens next and I will probably read the next book when it comes out. If you like new adult paranormal mysteries, you might enjoy this. Readers who like books that mix real life issues with other-worldy intrigue will like this novel as well. 

Find Something on Goodreads

One Was Lost by Natalie D. Richards

 

  Series: N/A
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Page Count: 320
Published: October 4th, 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
  4 Stars ★★★★ 

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. 

In this book, Sera and some of her classmates are going on a trip and camping in the woods. When the weather turns bad, the group is separated, and she wakes up the next morning to find that her supplies have been ruined and that there is a word written on her wrist. She and the others in her group are unsure of what to think and are suspicious of each other.

It becomes obvious that something sinister is going on as they discover that they all have words written on their wrists, and Sera's word is the only positive one. Now, they not only have to deal with their own personal problems, but the threat of being hunted. With no way to communicate with the outside world, they aren't sure if they will make it out alive. 

I was really excited to be approved for this book on NetGalley! I'm a big fan of mysteries and the idea of people facing danger in the woods sounds super interesting to me. I enjoyed most of this book and I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time. I read most of it in a day. 

I like that this book starts off with the group in the woods. The plot began rolling very, very quickly and this got me hooked from the first few chapters. The relationships that the main characters had with each other were established pretty quickly, including some serious tensions and romantic histories. I feel like this foreshadowed the evolution of their relationships later in the book a little too obviously, because I knew right away who was going to end up with who. This irritated me a little bit, but I don't think it took away from the overall quality of the book.

However, I can't say the same about some of the events regarding the characters' relationships with each other that take place later on in the novel. There was too much focus on Sera's uncertainty regarding her attraction to one of the main male characters to be realistic in any way, considering their situation. If someone is fearing for their life, trapped in the woods, I don't think that they would be focusing on romance and such as much as Sera did. 

I feel like Sera was generally a likeable character, and each of the people in her group all seemed incredibly realistic and complex, like they were based off of actual living individuals. Sometimes they seemed a little over-dramatic, but overall I think that they really helped the story to move along quite well and made for an interesting cast of characters. 

Another thing that I enjoyed was the whole question of who the culprit was. I played a serious guessing game throughout this whole book, and while I was able to guess who was responsible and I ended up correct, there were many times when I doubted my suspicions and this made for a very suspenseful read. Unfortunately, I feel like the villain's motivation and reasoning behind all of their actions wasn't very believable. I have to admit that I was disappointed near the end of the book when all is revealed. 

If the romantic aspect had been handled better and the whole explanation behind the situation had been more believable, this definitely would have been a five star read. But besides those issues, I really enjoyed this book and I think it had a great creep factor with a ton of suspense! Using isolation, uncertainty and suspicion as a combination worked really well for this book, and I know that if the author writes another mystery or thriller I will definitely see if I can snag a copy. 

I recommend this book to YA readers who like mysteries. If you're interested in thrillers that take place in the woods this is a good pick for you.

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Chasing Truth by Julie Cross

 Series: Eleanor Ames
Author: Julie Cross
Page Count: 400
Published: September 27th, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Teen
  4 Stars ★★★★

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.

Eleanor is dealing with a lot in her life, including her family's past as con artists and the suicide of her best friend. She believes that Simon didn't actually kill himself, and she meets Miles, the new guy at school, who believes the same thing. 

As she struggles to keep her past a secret, and to use her secret skills acquired from past ventures to get to the bottom of things, she begins to investigate people whom she never would have suspected as potential killers. But Miles might be suspecting her as well, and tensions rise. Will she be able to keep her past a secret? Will she ever find out who killed Simon?

This was definitely an impressive read. While it started out a bit slow and was occasionally hard to follow, it picked up pace very quickly and things were explained in detail later on in the book. I think my favourite part about this novel was the ending when all is revealed. I appreciate that everything ended up having a fairly believable explanation and I don't feel let down by the ending in any way.

As I've noticed with many other thrillers and mysteries, the guessing game the characters were playing during the whole book was incredibly well executed. However, this one stood out to me because it didn't feel overshadowed by romance or shrouded by paranormal events. Often I find that thrillers with paranormal happenings can get old very fast and that it can be super easy to guess what's going to happen. So finding a thriller that kept me hooked without any paranormal elements was a very welcome change. As for the romance, there was lots of romantic tension but it didn't take over the plot or seem forced.

I really liked the main character, Eleanor. I like that she wasn't squeaky-clean, that she wasn't some pure heroine or damsel in distress. While she seemed grateful to have escaped from living her life carrying out con after con, she still participated in morally questionable activities and she lied a lot, which I found added even more thrills to the story because I was always wondering if she might get caught.

Miles was a good love interest for Eleanor, in my opinion, because of how different they both were. While I can't say much without possibly spoiling some parts of the book, I will say that their families are very, very different. With Eleanor hiding her secrets from Miles and his family, this brought about some serious dilemmas for Eleanor which were interesting to read about. I thought it was great that I found myself hooked on the overall plot along with Eleanor's personal issues.

However, I find that Miles was a bit stereotypical at times. He displayed the whole 'arrogant, cocky, overconfident YA male' trope which I found annoying, especially since besides these qualities, he was actually a fairly complex character, considering his past and all. I like when characters have flaws, but these flaws didn't add to the novel or Miles's characterization at all.

I think that it's important to note that there are a few steamy scenes. I have no problem with them, including the fact that they are in a YA book, but some people might so I thought that I should mention this just in case.

Overall, this was an awesome read and I can't wait for the sequel! I'm so glad that I downloaded this book off of NetGalley. If you like YA thrillers or mysteries this is a must read!

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Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog

Series: N/A 

Author: Cyn Balog
Page Count: 288
Published: November 1st, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

  5 Stars ★★★★★

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.

Victoria has anxiety, is a bit of a loner and attends St. Ann's school. As a new student, she doesn't have many friends, but she's happy to have her sweet, agoraphobic boyfriend Andrew in her life. She's fairly satisfied with her seemingly uneventful life when Zachary, called 'Z', arrives at St. Ann's and find himself in the spotlight. Everybody likes Z, and to Victoria's surprise, they become friends.

Friendship quickly turns into obsession and infatuation, eventually going sour. Manipulation and mind games accompany rumors and rising tensions, until the unthinkable happens.

This is a story about murder and obsession, which is right up my alley. When I saw this on Netgalley I requested a copy and I was thrilled to find that I had been selected to read and review this book! I'm so grateful that I was given this opportunity because this has become yet another book on my ever-growing "favourites" list.

First, there is the writing style and tone. While the first part of the book isn't exactly filled with death and darkness and all that good stuff, there is definitely a grim undertone behind every word. I could tell that things were going to get incredibly ugly later on in the book and this kept me reading because I just had to know what would happen. I haven't read many books with this kind of writing style but this one had me on the edge of my seat from the very start. Mixed within Victoria's narration are news reports, cell phone records and other clues about the murder which added to the mysterious feel of the book overall.

Then there are the characters. Victoria with her anxiety and love for her boyfriend, and later her obsession with Z, was the main character and narrator. I have mixed feelings about her, as I connected with her over her anxiety and her love for those close to her, but she did things that made me so angry! Her careless betrayals and reckless actions cost her a lot within her own relationships and negatively affected others. While I was often disappointed with her, I feel that her flaws and indiscretions were important characterization and made her more interesting as a character.

Then there was Z. He's mysterious and secretive, yet friendly, and because of this people are drawn to him. At first I didn't really understand his appeal but as I read on it was as if I felt his presence in the same way that the characters did, and that I better understood the way he was perceived by others. Along with the rumors surrounding him, it makes sense that he'd be popular and even sought after by other students at St. Ann's. He was nearly the opposite of Victoria in this way. As with Victoria, he definitely had his flaws and he often made me disappointed or even angry. However, I appreciated his flaws because, along with his secrets, it made him seem more real or believable.

Andrew, Victoria's boyfriend, was my favourite character. I liked him because he was sweet, forgiving, and because I connected with a lot of his experiences. Unfortunately he was a bit too meek and let others hurt him, which added to the emotional aspect of the novel. His relationship with Victoria was put under a lot of strain, and she treated him less than nicely a few times, but he seemed to keep it together which I found admirable. Between Victoria and Andrew, I was happy to see some representation of anxiety disorders in YA fiction.

Considering the ending, I can say that I was absolutely shocked. With other books I can often guess what's going to happen and be at least partly right, but besides knowing that there was going to be a murder, I was completely wrong with my guesses. The ending was simultaneously emotional and terrifying, and was one of the best conclusions to a YA novel I have read in a long time. I had to go back and re-read a few pages to really grasp what was going on. I feel like twist endings can sometimes be predictable themselves, but not this one.

This is a very dark book with memorable characters and an ending that tore me to pieces! I absolutely recommend it! If you prefer light-hearted books then I'd say to steer clear of this one, but if you're looking for dark YA books with emotional and shocking endings then this is a must read.



Find Unnatural Deeds on Goodreads

Where No One Knows by Jo Ramsey

 

Series: N/A

Author: Jo Ramsey
Page Count: 180
Published: June 2nd, 2016

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press

  4 Stars ★★★★

 I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.

Kellan is forced to flee his home after he accidentally sets fire to his stepfather's friend. Running from vengeful members of a church who disapproves of his transgender status, Kellan struggles to control his pyro-kinetic and psychic abilities. 

While he is on the run he is assisted by Shad, who also has psychic abilities and who hopes to send him to a home, for people with these abilities, safely. But with blood-thirsty men on his trail, there is danger at every turn.

I love reading books about psychic powers of all kinds, but I find pyro-kinesis an especially intriguing idea. I feel like this book executed Kellan's struggle with pyro-kinesis, along with his other powers, incredibly well and without any sort of cliches. I liked the way that the author described what it felt like for Kellan when he was close to unleashing his powers, as it made me feel like I was experiencing the build-up and struggles just as Kellan was. 

Kellan was a very, very likeable character. He exhibited many positive qualities throughout the book, particularly bravery and determination, during each part of his journey to safety. I'd say that he is a positive role model as well, doing what was right despite the consequences and refusing to return hate with hate.

It was nice to read a book featuring a transgender character without the plot being completely based on this fact. While books primarily discussing identity are important, it is nice to see representation of these characters in other situations as well, and this book did just that.

There was a lot of suspense present throughout this novel. Whenever Kellan feared being caught by his stepfather's friends, I was worrying along with him! Being sucked into the story like this made everything all the more enjoyable and believable.

It's important to note that this book didn't really contain any romance, except for a few crushes and some attraction between characters. There is also some tension between two of the characters but it doesn't affect the plot in any major way. I was surprised because most YA books I've come across use romance as a primary theme, but this one did just fine without it.

My only major issue with this book is Kellan appearing not to hate the members of the church who hurt him and his family so much, who literally tracked him down with intent to kill him. Like I mentioned, I think it's awesome that he refused to return hate with hate, but on the other hand, its a bit unrealistic considering the magnitude of what he was going through, thanks to these people. There were other little things throughout the book that irked me a little bit, but they're not significant to the overall quality of the writing or story.

I recommend this book to fans of twist endings, stories about being on the run and YA. If you're looking for a good book featuring a transgender character and psychic abilities, or something without romance as the main focus, you should check this one out!

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The Heartless City by Andrea Berthot

Series: The Gold and Gaslight Chronicles

Author: Andrea Berthot
Page Count: 241
Published: August 17th, 2015

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

  4 Stars ★★★★

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.

It's 1903 and London is quarantined. A drug that turns humans into 'Hydes',  monsters of great strength which tear out peoples' hearts, has devastated the population. 

Elliot Morrissey, son of one of the physicians searching desperately for a cure, is an empath due to an experiment gone wrong. When he meets Iris, he can tell that there is something different about her, and he's right. After she appears to return from the dead, she is offered a room in the palace, and it is discovered that she can heal herself amongst other amazing abilities.

During her stay in the palace, Elliot and Iris grow closer, and secrets are revealed about those he thought he could trust. Not all is as it seems, and he and Iris are determined to get to the bottom of things.

I'm usually not a fan of historical fiction but when I was approached about a potential read and review, I thought I'd give it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised and I can say that this book truly impressed me.

One interesting thing about it is my feelings towards the characters. Whether or not I liked or disliked a character was absolute and there was no in between, which was a nice change from previous reads. The characters themselves were very unique and the protagonists were incredibly likeable. They were not cut-out characters, archetypes or cliches. 

The world it was set in, a quarantined historical London, was so well set up it often felt like I was really there with the characters. I understood everything about the world, descriptions were very clear and whenever I sat down to read I was instantly sucked into the story.

The plot seemed a bit reminiscent of the whole zombie infection thing at first, and I was wary I would be getting a run-of-the-mill monster virus story. But I was wrong! This is, so far, the best "virus"-themed story I have ever read. The backstory was intriguing, the effects were truly devastating and the whole idea of using something to gain or maintain power was expertly intertwined with the "virus" concept. 

The romantic aspect of the story was incredibly well done. While not fading completely into the background amid the overall plot, it didn't overshadow the main conflicts of the story. Forbidden romance always excites me and there was a sprinkle of that in here as well. 

The only thing that I took issue with was the occasional overuse of descriptive words. At times I felt a bit overwhelmed with descriptions and adjectives, but this became less and less as I progressed through the book.

Do I recommend? Absolutely! If you read young adult fiction or historical fiction add this to your list! If "virus"-themed books are your thing this is a must read. I really enjoyed this book and I am hoping to read the sequel.

Find The Heartless City on Goodreads

Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskame

 

Series: DIMILY

Author: Estelle Maskame

Page Count: 393
Published: December 1st, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

5 Stars ★★★★★

I received this book in a Goodreads first reads giveaway. 

Eden lives with her single mother and hasn't seen her father for years. When she's invited to spend the summer with him in California, she's not sure what to expect. Her two young stepbrothers, Chase and Jamie, seem nice enough and her stepmother appears decent, but her older stepbrother, Tyler, has a serious attitude problem. 

She makes friends with the girl across the street, who introduces her to her own group of friends, which happen to include Tyler's girlfriend, Tiffani. Unable to avoid Tyler, she discovers concerning truths about what he does in his spare time, and why he remains in a relationship with a girl he doesn't love.

As Eden and Tyler begin to warm up to each other, they find themselves caught up in their own forbidden romance. Fighting their attraction for each other and desperate to keep their affections secret, Eden knows that more than just their reputation is at stake.

When I started reading this book, I worried that it might just be another cliche YA contemporary romance. The whole summer romance concept, the bad boy, and the friend next door are often overused, in my opinion. But this book worked with these ideas in a way that wasn't at all cliche, and which was thoroughly enjoyable. 

Eden, the main character, was really likable. She had a distinct personality which really came through her narration. I did question her choices at times, for example her decision to keep hanging out with the annoying Tiffani. I couldn't stand Tiffani! But I also rooted for Eden throughout the whole novel, and I definitely hoped that she and Tyler would get together.

As for Tyler, I found him a complex and dynamic character. He wasn't the stereotypical YA bad boy. He truly had problems, found himself stuck in tough situations, and dealt with his past in the only way he knew how. His personal backstory was really sad and very raw, which is something I haven't read in many YA contemporary novels. His struggles really resonated with me and I can say that he was my favourite character. 

The romantic elements in this book impressed me because they managed to be exciting yet realistic at the same time. Eden and Tyler's passionate moments didn't occur without consequence, which made the whole book suspenseful in a way I've never really read before. 

This book is on my favourites list for sure, and I can't wait for book two! 

I definitely recommend this book! Readers interested in YA contemporary romance should give this one a try. If you love forbidden romances you might like this author's take on the theme. Even if you don't usually read contemporary romances I suggest that you try this book out; it was unique to other stories of its genre and really surprised me.

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Dead Girls Don't by Mags Storey

Series: N/A

Author: Mags Storey

Page Count: 380
Published: March 17th, 2015
Publisher: ChiTeen

5 Stars ★★★★★

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley. 

Liv and her best friend Gabriel are watching live footage of a party when something goes terribly wrong. Brett, a member of the 'popular' group at school, is found murdered, and Adam, the boy Liv has a small crush on, finds himself to be the main suspect.

Liv develops the power to speak with the dead, and working at a funeral home, she has plenty of opportunity to use this ability. When Adam escapes custody, a girl is stabbed, and his ex-girlfriend is murdered, rumours fly that he has escaped his prison only to kill and kill again. 

He goes to Liv for help, claiming that he is innocent, asking her to help him prove it. With Liv's ability to speak to the dead, they're both hoping to get some answers. But they must face obstacles... like keeping this secret from Gabriel, Liv's status as an outcast, and their feelings for each other. 

I devoured this book quite quickly....a darkly intriguing read, I was sucked into the story from the very start.

I love how the author mixed a murder mystery with paranormal elements in a high school setting. I've never read anything like this before, and I found myself pleasantly surprised.

Everything about this book was amazing. The characters? Well developed, complex,  unique and relatable. Not all completely good or completely evil, but many fell in between. The setting? Described so thoroughly it felt like I was right there with the characters...but it wasn't too descriptive. There was a good balance. The plot? Perfectly paced, very mysterious, and super unique!

I liked how the romance sub-plot didn't steal the spotlight from the overall plot. There was a bit of a love triangle but it wasn't over-the-top.

An amazing read, I recommend this to YA readers who like their mysteries with a bit of romance, a touch of paranormal, and a dangerous killer. 

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The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

 

Series: Prisoners of Peace

Author: Erin Bow
Page Count: 384
Published: September 22nd, 2015

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

  Did Not Finish

I received a free copy of this book though Netgalley.

Did not finish, read until 45%.

This book is set in a future where Talis, a product of artifical intelligence, basically rules the world. He decides that the best way to keep world peace is to take the children of world leaders as hostages, surrendered to him by the leaders themselves. If one nation declares war on another....the hostage from that nation will be killed.

I got an email from Netgalley saying that the first 750 members that clicked on the link to read this book would get to read it right away, no waiting for a request to be approved. I was intrigued by the synopsis so I thought hey, why not?

This book had so much potential, it really did. It appeared to contain such interesting ideas and lots of great qualities....Dystopia? Check! Futuristic politics?  Check! Corruption? Check! LGBTQ themes? Check!

I was so hyped to read this. The first chapter or so pulled me into Greta, the main character's, world. It seemed so unique; artifical intelligence, hostages, a corrupted UN, and even a new kind of bible, written by Talis himself, called the 'Utterances'.

Soon after, though, I found myself reading about flat characters who often appeared to almost blend into each other. Elian arrived, stirring up trouble, and I was hoping that his arrival would be the kick to get the story really going, to set the characters apart from each other and make things a little more interesting. While things did get a bit more interesting, the characters didn't really change, and I found myself bored with Greta. I didn't connect with her at all and I didn't really care much about her either. I only really cared about Elian....he appeared to be the only one without a cookie cutter, bland personality.

Things moved incredibly slowly. There wasn't much action, it seemed like the timeline jumped around, and  really the majority of the semi-exciting parts were related to the goats the hostages kept and the punishments administered by the AI/robot authority and captors. It was sort of sad that I actually found myself hoping that the hostages would get punished.... because there was so little going on that I wanted some sort of action to occur!

I don't really recommend this book to anyone, but if you're a big fan of dystopia and you're a patient reader, this one might suit you.


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Get Started in Writing Young Adult Fiction by Juliet Mushens

Series: N/A

Author: Juliet Mushens

Page Count: 224
Published: June 18th, 2015
Publisher: Teach Yourself

5 Stars ★★★★★

I received this book in a Goodreads first reads giveaway.

In this book, Juliet Mushens, a professional literary agent, gives authors advice on writing young adult fiction. Covering everything from a novel's characters to the publishing process, this 'teach yourself' guide utilizes examples from popular novels, personal anecdotes and helpful exercises throughout.

This book came at the perfect time for me; I want to write a YA novel, I've had this idea in my head for a while but I never got to putting specific details down on paper. This workshop-within-a-book pushed me to get my ideas organized, and helped me to improve my writing skills in the process.

Exercises were suggested in each chapter, often during or after the author explained something or gave tips. These exercises, ranging from creating small lists to editing pre-written paragraphs to researching literary agents, gave me new perspectives and forced me to really delve into the world that my novel was set in and to think realistically about my goals.

One of my favourite exercises included drawing a map of the world my novel was to be set in. I hadn't really thought of doing this before as a way to organize my setting and keep things consistent, but after completing it I realized just how valuable this strategy could be when it comes to describing setting, travelling and distance.

While this is specifically oriented towards writing in the young adult genre, I feel many tips within the pages can be applied to other genres as well. I appreciated this because if I decide to write books targeted at a different age range, I'll still be able to improve my stories and navigate the world of publishing much easier.

I absolutely recommend this book to those who want advice when it comes to writing!  If you want to write a YA book and you would like some guidance, this book is for you.


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Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat

Series: Captive Prince

Author: C.S Pacat

Page Count: 270
Published: April 7th, 2015
Publisher: Berkley

5 Stars ★★★★★

I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads first reads giveaway.

Damen used to be known as Prince Damianos of Akielos. Then, his brother Kastor sent him as a slave to Vere, faking Damen's death and becoming king. Damen is gifted to Prince Laurent of Vere; arrogant, infuriating, and the future king of his country. Unfortunately, Laurent also hates Akielos and hates Prince Damianos, who killed his brother in battle. Damen has to be careful....nobody can find out that he is actually a prince. Due to Laurent's hatred and past, he could find himself executed.

As Damen plots his escape, he gets to know the Prince's guards and household, hoping to gain enough trust that he might be able to hear of the latest news about Akielos, happenings in Vere, and potentially receive aid in his escape. In he meantime, he is subject to slave and 'pet' performances, the rivalry between Laurent and his uncle, and Laurent's cold, yet complex, demeanor.

This book has earned it's way into my favourites collection. First of all, the writing style is amazing. It's elegant and descriptive and I felt like I was there, in the setting, with the characters. Even though it is written in third person, I got to know Damen, and his way of thinking, well and I cared about his story and his welfare. That kept me reading; even when I needed to put the book down to go do something else, I snuck a few extra minutes of reading time. When I absolutely had to be away from this book, I often found myself thinking of the story and theorizing what might happen next.

Then we have the characters. They were all quite unique and memorable, even the more minor characters. While I absolutely hated some of them, I found myself appreciating their roles in the story. I also appreciated how the characters weren't all black and white. Some were incredibly un-likeable, yet they weren't one hundred percent evil.

I have never read a book quite like this one before. Set in what appears to be another, or an alternative version, of the world, I was captivated by the setting, the visuals, the customs and the people. 

I really appreciated that, unlike many other LGBT novels, the author didn't make a big deal out of the fact that same sex relationships occured. In fact, within Vere, it was the norm to take pleasure slaves of the same sex while taking slaves of the opposite sex was considered almost taboo. No fuss was made, there was no coming out or bullying due to one's identity. I understand that in many contemporary LGBT novels these themes are explored because they are important and very real, however I much appreciated a break from those themes. 

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book....my only issue is the ending! I have to grab a copy of book two as soon as possible!

A few trigger warnings: rape, pedophilia (which is accepted within the society of Vere), and general/pleasure slavery are all found within this book. There are also scenes and mentions of physical abuse and assault such as flogging.

An amazing, unique novel and a gem in the LGBT genre, I recommend this book to those who enjoy LGBT books and to those who are looking for something that strays from the average M/M story. If you like stories that pull at your emotions, captivate your mind and keep you hooked from beginning to end, this book is for you. 

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Salem's Vengeance by Aaron Galvin

Series: Vengeance

Author: Aaron Galvin
Page Count: 252
Published: July 25th, 2014

Publisher: Aames & Abernathy 

  4 Stars ★★★★

I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.

In this historical fiction novel, Sarah lives with her sister, mother, and father. She discovers a group of people who dance to hypnotic music in the moonlight and who wish for her and her friends to join them. She receives a mysterious journal and reads about Thomas Putnam's experiences in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials.

When her friend Ruth becomes afflicted after coming into contact with a mysterious powder, things take a deadly turn. What appeared to be an innocent yet unusual past time turns out to be the work of a vengeful woman who goes by the name of Hecate. She leads a large group of witches out for revenge, and she herself seeks revenge against Sarah's own father.

With the help of Bishop and the mysterious Priest, she hopes to defeat these bloodthirsty witches once and for all. But will she, and those around her, live to tell the tale?

I haven't read a book quite like this one before. Historical fiction isn't a genre I read often, but when I saw this on Netgalley I thought I'd give it a try.

First of all, I was impressed with the writing style. Most of my experiences with historical fiction have included rather dry writing, but the author of Salem's Vengeance surprised me with detailed descriptions that were perfectly balanced. They weren't too extensive but provided enough information to form a clear picture of the settings and specifics of the situations which arose.

I also appreciated that I was able to connect with Sarah, the main character and narrator. I found myself understanding her decisions and feelings, and I was rooting for her survival throughout the whole book. As for Bishop, I found him an asset to the story as he brought humor to the more serious events and was an overall entertaining character. Priest was a juxtaposition of Bishop: unlike Bishop, Priest was quiet and reserved, and much more secretive. I thought this was a great way to balance the humor and mystery in the story as depending on which character was the focus, the mood shifted.

This novel also contained a lot of violence. There were attacks, sacrifices, murders, ambushes, and more. This didn't bother me personally, however I feel it is important to mention this because some readers may be offended by such content. So if you are easily upset when it comes to violence, you may want to steer clear of this book.

In conclusion, it was overall an interesting read with lots of action and a likeable main character and narrator.

I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, those who like stories with action and violence, and to readers interested in books based on the superstitions surrounding the time of The Salem Witch Trials.

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Pisces by Rachel Medhurst

Series: Zodiac Twin Flame

Author: Rachel Medhurst
Page Count: 264
Published: May 7th, 2015
Publisher: Createspace
  4 Stars ★★★★

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.

Pisces is looking for her twin flame. It is her mission on earth to find her soulmate and to show the world that true love does exist. She has tried for several past lives to fulfill her purpose, but she is always being defeated by the Dysfunctionals; a group of people who want to keep the world negative and thus want to prevent twin flames from uniting.

After initially being kidnapped, she moves into her father's house. There, Antony is assigned as her bodyguard, an attractive man who she cannot resist thinking about, yet quarrels with often. 

After meeting Daniel at a club she thinks she has found her twin flame at last....but what if her soulmate is somebody else, like her siblings think? 

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this. The synopsis sounded like nothing I had ever read before, and I was right. The idea of twin flames / soulmates has been explored by many authors over the last few yeas, but Rachel Medhurst's ideas were a welcome change of pace.

I really like how Antony wasn't just a stereotypical "bad boy lover" that I see in so many paranormal romance books. He went deeper than that, he was a dynamic character who complemented Pisces' character and traits. 

Pisces reminded me so much of myself! Wanting to find your own way in the world, yet facing obstacles, sometimes losing hope. I connected to her easily and as a result I cared about her story. I found myself agreeing with a lot of her ideas and thoughts and rooting for her from the start.

The idea of a group of people, named after the Zodiac signs, with personalities and powers matching their sign / name is quite unique. I found this humorous at times, especially when the different "signs" were interacting with each other. The author really executed this idea well!

My only issue with the story is what I feel to be a lack of explanation or motive. Why do the Dysfunctionals want to stop the twin flames so badly? I didn't really understand their purpose, and I found "wanting the world to remain negative" to be a bit too broad of a motive.

Overall, a great book! I recommend this to paranormal romance readers, romance lovers and to those looking for a unique story about soulmates / twin flames.

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Fool Me Thrice by Carley Esprit-Philip

Series: N/A

Author: Carley Esprit-Philip

Page Count: 192
Published: January 28th, 2015

 Publisher: Createspace

  4 Stars ★★★★

I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for a review. 

In this book, the author gives a raw and deeply personal account detailing the events that unfolded during an interval of her life. Emotional and honest, the reader learns of all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the gifts and losses that she endures.

This memoir was refreshing to read. It was sincere and offered me new perspectives on things I hadn't known much about before.

The author made me care about her story from the beginning. I had to continue reading because I wanted to know about what she had been through, how she had handled conflicts and the lessons she'd learned.

I like how the author was brutally honest about her relationships. She gave me insight on open relationships and the pros and cons of pursuing one. She did not censor her experiences; she often wrote about her partners and their time together with erotic language. 

It was interesting that she chose to include texts, emails, and other messages as part of her story. Through these messages I learned more about her and the people around her.

This book did get very emotional at times, especially when dealing with tough subjects such as mental illness. It pulled at my heart, to say the least. The personal language and brutal honesty made me feel like I was experiencing her struggles with her.

Sometimes I was confused as to what was going on, however later on in the memoir I would gain a better understanding of the previous events and their significance to the author's life. There were some typing errors, and sometimes words were without spaces between them so two would be together. While this got annoying at times, it did not diminish the memoir's over all appeal.

In summary, this book was very much worth my time as I gained insight and perspective from the author's experiences. I feel that the author is very brave to put all this out in the open for anyone to read. I appreciate this because very few people are truly honest as she was in this memoir: unafraid and unashamed.

I recommend this memoir to readers of non-fiction, and to those who would like to learn more about open relationships, especially ones including both opposite and same sex partners.

Ugly Young Thing by Jennifer Jaynes

Series: Stranger Series

Author: Jennifer Jaynes
Page Count: 270
Published: March 3rd, 2015

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

  5 Stars ★★★★★

I received a free copy of this ebook through Netgalley. 

Allie's father walked out on her when she was young, her mother was a prostitute and a murderer when she had been alive, and her serial killer brother just committed suicide in front of her.

Alone and afraid, she runs away and sells her body, her only asset, for money. After returning to her abandoned childhood home, she is discovered by authorities and sent to live with a generous foster mother. 

Soon after she moves in, a woman is murdered near their town. Could this be the start of something awful? And who is behind the murder?

When I started this book, I had no idea what to expect. I downloaded it off of the "read now" section at Netgalley because I was intrigued by the cover, synopsis and title, and it seemed like something unique. A change from the YA romances I usually read.

I was SO right.

First of all, the level of emotion and tension in this book is INTENSE. From the first chapter, I was pulled into Allie's complicated life, and I felt what she was feeling as if I were there experiencing the events of the story with her. This only increased as the book progressed. I felt everything from empathy to anger towards her, and as a character she was very dynamic and believable. 

Secondly, the author made the right choice when she decided to tell the story from different points of view. I witnessed the events of the story through the eyes and minds of Allie, the murderer, and the foster mother. I gained insight on their views and pasts, but I was also kept wondering how exactly they were connected.

This leads to my third point: the mystery surrounding the killer. The author did an amazing job of dropping subtle clues about his identity, and she kept me guessing until the very end. 

One moment, I'm thinking that the killer must be this man.... No! This happened, so it must be the other one. Wait, it can't be!

That was my internal dialogue for the entire duration of the novel. 

I absolutely recommend this novel! If you enjoy mystery, this book is for you. If you enjoy suspense, this book was MADE for you! Those who are interested in novels that take on tough subjects may also enjoy "Ugly Young Thing." 

For those who read mostly YA books but wish to branch out a little, this book is a great start. It's fast paced with a teenage main character, but it also deals with mature subjects and contains no romance besides the mention of Allie's crush.

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Absolution by Gail Gallant

 Series: Apparition
Author: Gail Gallant
Page Count: 288
Published: September 2nd, 2014
Publisher: Doubleday Canada

5 Stars ★★★★★

Amelia has a gift. She can see ghosts. 

She and Morris, a paranormal investigator, assist those plagued with hauntings, and in Absolution, Amelia investigates a haunted hotel with a tortured ghost who harbors a dark past. 

This book was great! It completely reached above and beyond my expectations and pulled me into the story from the start! There aren't enough, good quality mystery YA novels out there, but this is one of the few that have blown my mind! 

Amelia was an incredibly likeable character, and I was able to connect to her and her thoughts, emotions, and experiences with ease. She felt like a real person at times, not just a fictional character. 

The author was able to creep me out at the appropriate instances, for example, when Amelia was trying to communicate with the ghost and when the ghost  actually appeared. However, this is one of the YA books that does not override the characters' personal issues with paranormal ones, so I was able to keep track of and remember the relevance of both the "real-world" and the paranormal events in the story.

I recommend this novel to fans of ghost stories and to YA readers looking for something that deviates from intense love triangles and balances romance with mysterious events and happenings.

I received this book in a first reads Goodreads giveaway.

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