Review: Code Name Verity

Author: Elizabeth Wein

Pages: 339

Publisher: Doubleday

Source: Review copy- thank you

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Two young women from totally different backgrounds are thrown together during World War II: one a working-class girl from Manchester, the other a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a wireless operator. Yet whenever their paths cross, they complement each other perfectly and before long become devoted friends.

But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. She is captured by the Gestapo and becomes a prisoner of war. The story begins in “Verity’s” own words, as she writes her account for her captors.

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Code Name Verity is one of those books that reminds me why I love to read. It's one of those hidden gems that readers are always searching for. It opens up a whole new world to the reader, and by the end of the story we feel like we know the characters so well they could be our friends.

The story takes place in Ormaie, France during the early stages of World War 2. A Scottish spy has been caught by the Gestapo and they are trying to glean information from her through any way possible. So the girl makes a deal. She has two weeks to write down everything she can remember about the Allies, their plans, and stuff about their aircrafts. Code Name Verity is her story of the events leading up to how she got caught. Moreso, it's a story of friendship.

Through her words, we get to know our main character very well. She is beautiful, strong and proud. She's also flawed in many ways- vain, temperamental. Her writing has so much voice that I couldn't help but keep reading. When the words stop, that will mean she has died. It's terrible to think about and the story isn't overly graphic but it is very dark with this threat lying in the background. She is a prisoner and it doesn't seem like she has any chance of getting rescued but as reader I couldn't help but hope for the best.

I said Code Name Verity is about friendship. In the poor girl's writing, we meet her best friend, Maddie. Maddie is a pilot and the two are a sensational duo. I enjoyed how they got to know each other despite their differences. Friendship isn't featured enough in YA so this was very refreshing for me.

The plot is very twisty. I can't reveal almost any details from the story because if I do, it will inevitably spoil some very important, powerful scene. I never knew where the story was going and there were some very shocking scenes. I stayed up very late to finish this book and it captured my attention very well. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that at some points, it felt a little long. Most of the length was necessary though, and I didn't realize why until later on. It's a book that is very easy to get into and also very memorable.

Ultimately, Code Name Verity is a unique view of World War 2 that shows how girls contributed to the war. Historically, it was very interesting learning of the technology back then and women's growing rights. It's not a very historical book though. The story is one of friendship and that is most definitely timeless. 4 stars,

****

Review: Eternal

Author: Gillian Shields

Pages: 368

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: This third book about the Mystic Sisterhood at Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies is another romantic thriller with paranormal elements and deep mystery. This time our heroine is Sarah Fitzalan, the dependable, faithful friend to Evie and Helen, her sisters in the Mystic Way. But this term Sarah finds that their friendship is tested to the limits. Evie is turning her back on the Mystic Way after the sisterhood laid her beloved Sebastian’s soul to rest; Helen is distracted; and a new girl, wild child Velvet Romaine, seems set on stirring up more trouble at Wyldcliffe. Sarah struggles to keep the sisterhood together as the threat of attack from the dark coven looms. 

All Sarah has to keep her going is her connection with her earth powers and a promise she cannot break. Must she sacrifice herself for the sake of her friends and sisters? Will her sisters join her, or will help come from unexpected sources, like her Romany ancestors, and a love she’d only just dared hope for?

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I didn't know what to expect going into Eternal. I had read Betrayal and Immortal all in Evie's perspective so I was surprised upon getting the book that the story was about Sarah. That made sense; Evie's story was finished. I enjoyed reading about Evie's romance with Sebastian but Eternal was about Sarah.

Sarah has always felt like the supportive best friend. She's kind and helps everyone but secretly she wants her own story. I was fascinated by her character. She had a very distinctive personality and I was really curious about her part in the story.

The other characters we've known are there as well as Velvet Romaine, the rich rock star's daughter who's role in everything hasn't been revealed yet. I, again, liked the characters but I didn't love them. Some parts that were meant to be devastating got from me a reaction of basically thinking "That sucks!" and then continuing on. I'm not sure why I wasn't so emotionally invested in the story- I was more so in Evie's. Perhaps it's because I miss reading about Sebastian who I did care about.

Plot wise, there was a lot of suspense and build up. There was again a big mystery and almost the entire book was waiting for the big finish and what would happen. I liked that there was mystery and suspense but I wished all throughout there was as much action as in the end. I know that's impossible but just wanting more action to keep me more focused and hooked would have helped make the book even better.

Eternal is a book that was good but that didn't satisfy me. I think it's personal because I didn't love the story even though it was well done. If you've read the other books, be sure to read Eternal. It ends with a promise for much bigger and possibly awesome things to come . 3 stars,

***

Review: Leaving Paradise

Author: Simone Elkeles

Pages: 303

Publisher: Flux

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

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Simone Elkeles is a genius! I have so much love for her Perfect Chemistry series so when I saw Leaving Paradise at the library I had to pick it up and read it. I'm glad I did because Simone's stories alway appeal to me.

First off, let me tell you about the characters. We have Caleb (I love him!) and Maggie (awesome and strong) who are our would-be couple. In Simone's books there's always a twist as to why the couple can't be together. This time it's because Caleb drove drunk from a party and hit Maggie. He didn't check if she was okay, he just left her there. Maggie was sent to the hospital and resulted in numerous surgeries for her leg and a limp while Caleb had to serve his time at a juvie jail.When I first met Caleb, he garnered very hot and cold reactions from me. I'd like him, but then he'd do something and I'd feel iffy about. Later on in the book though I loved him. He won my respect and trust, plus he was so sexy and protective of Maggie Poor Maggie hasn't had an easy time. The accident left her scared to move on and a loner. She lost her spirit. I really connected with Maggie. Since there were alternating perspectives, I got to see all of Maggie. She's not unlike myself and I enjoyed reading about her reactions

 There were other mentionable characters (like Grandma) whom I also liked. I have to mention that there were many characters who were cliché. Normally I hate that but sometimes it works. That doesn't mean I don't want to know more about the characters' motivations and stuff. If that's something that bothers you, you may have a problem with this book.

Another thing I need to mention was the plot and pacing. After being introduced to the concept the plot slowed down. There was a ton of build up and when I look at that 100 in between pages, I don't remember much. At that point there wasn't anything really drawing me in until Caleb and Maggie finally got together and a plot point was revealed. That point right there made so much sense but I never even considered it. I literally reread the page 3-4 times. I love twists being thrown at readers that way. Keeps the story interesting, you know?

All in all, I liked this story. I still adore Perfect Chemistry more but this is a great choice for a contemporary romantic read. I was sucked in, which is my regular reaction with Simone's books but I wasn't totally enamored. I'm really curious to see what happens next. If you're a fan of Simone Elkeles, check Leaving Paradise out! 3.5 stars,

 *** & 1/2  *

Review: Wildefire

Author: Karsten Knight

Pages: 393

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Every flame begins with a spark. Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

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It really saddens me to write this review. In part because there wasn't anything really wrong with the book, except there wasn't that one thing that made me love it. Wildefire had all the makings of a great story but it never satisfied me. I say me, because there are probably many people who loved this book.

I'll start with the good.

1) The characters were all unique and had their own personalities. There were also many of them with a wide range of ethnicities.

2) The plot is twisty and very obviously complicated. It's fast paced and leaves you guessing.

3) The world is one you'll want to explore. The different lesser known Gods are awesome to read about and there will be many questions.

Wildefire had decent plot, characters, and setting. My problem was that I couldn't get into it. While reading, I rarely ever felt like I was experiencing the story rather than reading it. When bad things happened to the characters I didn't really feel much. I wanted to love this book though. That's probably one of the reasons I finished so quickly- I wanted to know what happened and to be so ecstatic and love it. I just didn't.

Another was that I never really connected with any character but the villain. Seriously, that was the character I was most interested in and so you can see the problems there. None of the characters called to me and there was a lot told about them but since there were so many characters, almost none of it was demonstrated.

The plot didn't leave me satisfied too. I know this is the first book in a series but it left me knowing that. Let me explain: I feel like a book should have a beginning, middle and ending which means an individual story. If it's in a series, that story should fit into a larger arc. Arguably, you could say that there was an individual story. Problem is, I don't like the conclusion.

The most important thing missing was my emotional investment. The story never really came through for me. Maybe that was because I already knew stuff like what goddess Ashline was as I saw it in some reviews and I was tired of it being such a big mystery for most of the book when I already knew. That affected my view of the story greatly. It could also have been my mood while reading- tired and with a headache. Whatever the case, I just wasn't impressed.

Overall, I will probably read the sequel because there is potential there and I do think I may like future books. I also may have been expecting too much due to hype. If this book seems interesting to you, read it, but i wouldn't say it's a must read. 3 stars,

***

Review: Where the Truth Lies

Author: Jessica Warman
Pages: 308
Publisher: Walker Children's
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: On the surface, Emily Meckler leads the perfect life. She has three best friends, two loving parents, and the ideal setup at the Connecticut prep school where her father is the headmaster. But Emily also suffers from devastating nightmares about fire and water, and nobody knows why. Then the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, and Emily is immediately swept away—but her passionate relationship with Del is just the first of many things that aren't quite what they seem in Emily's life. As the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmare; on a journey that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.

This companion novel to Warman's critically acclaimed Breathless proves that sometimes the biggest lies are told to the people you love the most.

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I really liked Where the Truth Lies. I didn't honestly expect much, but I was surprised by how this book made me feel. Content, not happy, but accepting towards life. In the end I'm glad to have read it.

Emily lives the perfect life- on the outside. She's sweet, has great friends, rich, and has a loving family. Except for her terrifyingly vivid nightmares there's nothing wrong with her. Then she meets the new bad boy Del and her life unravels.

I love that this book defied my expectations. Some of the characters were really well done. They had insecurities, lives and problems outside of the story. I was surprised at how real they felt. Emily herself was like that. She was insecure about her talents and still trying to figure out who she was.

All the characters were lost and trying to find their way. I enjoyed reading about the backstories and simple day-to-day interactions.

The plot isn't really fast-paced. A lot of the conflicts are within Emily herself. I still found that I was interested in the story. The way everything was written was like life. Not happy or sad, just the way it is. The truth was found in the end and I thought that it was a satisfying ending. I liked that Emily matured and grew from when the book started.

Overall, this is a strange book to review. What happens could happen to anyone really. I liked it. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Legacy

Author: Cayla Kluver
Pages: 496
Publisher: Harlequin
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures and intruder— a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy— Alera is alarmed… and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

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Reading Legacy was like opening up a portal into another world full of kingdoms and injustice.

Something about this book didn't feel real at all. There was so much detail but I had so many questions. Like what the heck does Alera do on a day-to-day basis? This seems dumb but I never saw her mention a friend of hers beside London who was her bodyguard. Do princesses just walk around gardens to calm their mind and read books all day with the occasional party thrown in? This part of the story really bugged me. Many times a chapter skipped ahead to another month and I was really curious what happens when Alera isn't doing something relevant to the plot.

The plot, the plot, the plot... *sigh* 500 pages. And this "magic" and war we were promised isn't seen until after, what, 300, 350 pages? So, so much was unnecessary. Or if you wanted to keep that huge page number, a bit more drama would have been fun. There were many moments where nothing happened but there was so much potential. At times I could NOT stop reading. Even if there wasn't any action, strangely I still was very into the book. I was hooked anyway.

Much of the story was Alera musing, whining, moping, whatever you want to call it about the fact that as crown princess, she couldn't rule the kingdom on her own and therefore had to marry a suitable husband. Or at least get Father's definition of suitable which could be summed up into one word: Steldor. There wasn't very much action though. Alera can't do much as a woman in that kind of society. The ending was expected but at the same time, very interesting.

Many people complained about the writing... I will say that I didn't pay much attention to descriptions. There were many of them which I just ignored. (You'd be surprised how often that happens.) I prefer content over wrappings. I'm not an amazing writer nor am I particularly literary. At the beginning of the book I didn't like the writing at all. There were way too many commas, long sentences, and unnecessary descriptions. Later on I got used to it and continued on.

From the tone of my review, it may seem like I didn't like this book. That's far from the truth- I did! I acknowledge its errors but I enjoyed the book anyway. Something about Legacy was so alluring for me. I can't put my finger on it yet though. For example, I should hate Steldor. But I don't. I never know what he'll do. I'm curious about his manipulations and love when Alera tried to best him. I love reading about him, as a character he's a pompous jerk but he's a mystery and I can't help but want to read about him. Stuff like this made Legacy an enjoyable read.

There's so much set up in Legacy that I truly have no idea where it will go. Hopefully the author has a fulfilling destination seeing as I may really begin to like this series as a guilty pleasure. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Ingenue

Author: Jillian Larkin 

Pages: 351

Publisher: Random House

Source: Library

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Power . . . love . . . scandal . . .

There’s never enough to go around.

In the city that never sleeps, Lorraine Dyer is wide awake. Ever since she exposed Clara Knowles for the tramp she was—and lost her closest confidante in the process—Lorraine has spent every second scheming to make her selfish, lovesick ex–best friend pay for what she did. No one crosses Lorraine. Not even Gloria. 

True love conquers everything—or so Gloria Carmody crazily believed. She and Jerome Johnson can barely scrape together cash for their rent, let alone have a moment to whisper sweet nothings in the dark. And if they thought escaping Chicago meant they’d get away with murder . . . they were dead wrong.

Clara was sure that once handsome, charming Marcus Eastman discovered her shameful secret, he’d drop her like a bad habit. Instead, he swept her off her feet and whisked her away to New York. Being with Marcus is a breath of fresh air—and a chance for Clara to leave her wild flapper ways firmly in the past. Except the dazzling parties and bright lights won’t stop whispering her name. . . . 

INGENUE is the second novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic Flappers series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . where revenge is a dish best served cold.

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Ingenue is one of those books who's cover fits it perfectly. There's glamour but there's a bit of the gritty and the dark. It's about fearless people and fun. The cover designers hit a bullseye when it comes to Jillian Larkin's Flappers series.

The atmosphere in Ingenue is amazing. The second I opened the book I was immersed in the pages. The speakeasies, New York, clubs, 1924, were explained so well. I had so much fun reading about the new fashions and all the crazy adventures these people had. This was a part I definitely liked of the story.

Ingenue starts about six months after Vixen and all the shizz that went down in Chicago before Jerome and Gloria left. After killing Tony the mobster Jerome and Gloria are in hiding and kind of slumming it. They're trying to find employment and have resorted to thievery. I really liked their relationship and what happens to them. Gloria has always had this naive girl feel to me and I'm so glad that while she complains, she also is firm in her resolve to stay with Jerome. Their love is adorable and I totally root for them.

The other characters interested me less. Wait, did I say interest? I meant annoyed me more. Sure, they were interesting but I have a thing against Clara. She's in an incredible relationship and I really hope she doesn't mess it up. Although I do think I can grow to like her character someday. Lorraine on the other hand is a petty, foul, awful person whom I'm not sure I could ever like. She's way too selfish and mean-spirited. I think there is a soft side to her but it rarely ever sees the light of day. Her storyline was important to the overall story but I just didn't like her. Vera? GO GIRL! All I'm sayin'.

Plot pacing-wise, Ingenue fell in the middle. We have alternating perspective so most of the book is just putting things into place for the climax. There were some twists but none of them really shocked me or had me really excited or passionate. I guessed one of the biggest ones which isn't very fun. The plot and characters are what I have problems with. Something about them doesn't feel right. You wait for something huge to happen but the climax didn't excite me too much. The characters make decisions that I didn't understand.

Overall, Ingenue is a nice read but not really a must read. I think it's a good continuation and I'm curious to see what happens next in Diva. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara

Author: Terry Baldwin

Pages: 212

Publisher: Middleton Books

Source: Review Copy (Thank you!!)

Release Date: August 10th

Challenge: Ultimate Reviewers' Challenge

Synopsis: Thirteen-year old Tess has never been able to compete with her “perfect” older sister, but now she must—if she wants to inherit her grandmother’s priceless tiara. The two girls have been invited to their grandparent’s lake house for the summer to help take care of Grandma who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The sister who earns the most “helpful points” wins the former beauty queen’s crown.

"It’s not easy for Tess, who seems to always get things wrong despite best intentions. And who is that mysterious stranger who’s just moved next door to their grandparents’ summer cottage? 

Does he know that Tess’ grandmother was once the winner of a famous patriotic beauty contest? Or that she keeps her tiara where anyone can steal it? And why doesn’t he have a face?

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Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara is not a YA book. I wasn't expecting that so I had to adjust my expectations a little bit before reading. I'd say it's a younger MG book.

I think it's a very charming read. I haven't read children's books for a long time so I enjoyed putting myself back there. I could relate with Tess a lot. She reminded me of myself when I was a kid- full of hopes and dreams, imaginative and uh, absent minded. My mom would tell you not a lot has changed. Tess made mistakes but she always meant well.

The plot was very easy to follow and amusing. One of my favourite things about the story was how fast every scene moved. The story felt very complete and it was done in a little over a hundred pages. This was not a boring read at all. I was able to finish it pretty much in one sitting. The setting is very clear and I like the simplicity of the descriptions.

What's interesting about this novel is that it speaks about important issues like discrimination but in a clear way. I've been lucky enough to be raised within a multicultural household and go to the most diverse high school in the region. I don't consider myself a discriminatory or racist person because I have so many experiences with different types of people. Tess is in a different situation. She seems to come from a white background and neither she or her family has much experience with diversity. However, she learns and I really liked that part of the story.

Overall, I think this is a pretty good children's story. I'll probably give it to my sister once she's a little bit older and can read better. I like the message and Tess is a great role model. What I don't like is the that Tess is supposed to be 13 but doesn't act like it at all. I thought she was 8-11 based on the way she acted and her thought process. I can't star-rate the book because this isn't my genre so I don't have very many comparables. For what it's worth, I did enjoy it.

Review: Awakening

Author: Karice Bolton
Pages: 320
Publisher: Purely Persistent
Source: Review copy- thank you!
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Synopsis: Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream.

On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she's just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him. 

Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana's world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she's been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all.

It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds.

Buy the Book (Amazon/ The Book Depository)

Awakening by Karice Bolton was a book I had many issues with. The book doesn't really feel ready and I had a lot of difficulty reading it.

It took me a really long time to finish Awakening. I honestly couldn't get into it. Some of my issues result from my personal preferences, but others are problems the book had itself.

The first would be the writing. In no way do I claim to be some writing expert, but the writing in this book distracted me from the scene and wasn't fun to read. Although there was nice diction, the dialogue sounded stilted and unnatural with the lack of contractions. There were way too many unnecessary details about random objects in a scene that really bogged down the story, and overall the style of writing wasn't easy to read. A lot of this could be resolved by a few more in depth edits. That's what I noticed and the writing really bothered me at the beginning while near the end I was more relaxed.

Another issue I had was absolutely no connection to any of the characters. None. They felt really one dimensional to me. Some of them were way too perfect with no real visible flaws or insecurities. The main character, Ana, didn't do much for me either. I kinda felt she was robotic and I don't really know much about her character beyond what's said about her.

The plot didn't improve the story. It was much too slow for my tastes. A lot of the story is Ana professing how much she loves Athen and her family while they go on parties and trips and stuff. It's not until the end that you realize there's more to it than that, but by that time I found it too little too late. The biggest issues were believability issues. There were many scenes and events that I couldn't relate with or that I found clichéd. The scene when Ana first sees Athen, Arie, and Cyril first comes to mind. Too much description was put there and I didn't feel any of the apparent emotions Ana was facing.

Overall, I hate to write a review like this, but I had a lot of trouble reading Awakening and I probably would have written it off as a DNF had I not agreed to review it. The book has potential and an interesting mythology, it just needs a lot of work before Awakening will shine. 1 star,

*

Review: Lost Voices

Author: Sarah Porter
Pages: 291
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge
Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid. A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce possesses an extraordinary singing talent, which makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder? The first book in a trilogy, Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive.


Buy the Book (Amazon/The Book Depository)

Lost Voices was an unforgettable story of lost, hurt girls. It was unlike any other YA novel I've read this year.

What happens to the poor girls that are broken and have no where to go? They become mermaids that take revenge on humanity by drowning ships. Their beautiful voices lure people to their deaths.

Luce is one of these girls. After her uncle crossed the line she becomes a mermaid with an incredibly powerful voice. Luce is different though. She doesn't feel good about killing humans, even if it would be easier if she did. I really liked Luce. She was relatable and true. She has such compassion and does what's right. Luce, while a bit timid at the moment, is the kind of character I have no doubt will become incredibly strong and wise when she reaches her full potential.

Honestly, I'm not sure what else to say in my review. I want to convey the feeling of struggling morally like Luce did. The plot wasn't exactly fast paced, it was more subtle than that. It sort of lulled you into peace before major events happened making you question the future. The world was addictive full of darkness, anger, loss, but with small, tiny glimmers of hope and redemption. I was thinking a lot about morality while reading Lost Voices.

There were also no romantic interest, which I thought was nice. I love romance, but I noticed when I kept looking for possible matches for Luce while reading Lost Voices that romance wasn't always needed in YA. There may be romance in the future, but it was refreshing to read a book in which friendship prevailed.

I've seen many reviews where readers were put off by the content. It's very dark, dangerous, and a bit twisted. What I liked was that there wasn't an obvious tone of hope. The world has so much darkness and every story doesn't have a happy ending. Lost Voices isn't a very happy book. There is suffering and again, awful stuff happens. If you can deal with that, and the fact that the mermaids aren't Disney-like, I think you'll like this book.

The part I didn't really enjoy can be summed up to one word: Anais. I hate her, I hate reading about her, I hate how the other mermaids act around her. I'd be happy for her to die (since she's in a book, I'm not that hateful toward real people). She's an empty character and I'm still wondering why she's there. Her part in the story is the only part that really disappointed me.

Lost Voices is very different. It didn't feel overdone in any sense. I liked reading it and I think it was definitely one of the better mermaid/siren books. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

I'm Participating in the Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

Hi guys! I just wanted to give a heads up that for the month of August, I will be participating in the Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge. (The button is linked to the signup!) I have so many reviews that I need to write and post and this seems like the perfect time to do so. Expect many reviews in addition to all the other features and discussions usually had on Tantalizing Illusions. There are some really great prizes and I hope you guys enjoy the reviews!

My over under for reviews so far is 20.

And, back to your regularly scheduled Thursday afternoon content...

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Author: Jenny Han
Pages: 276
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewers' Challenge book 10
Synopsis: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

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I finally read The Summer I Turned Pretty and I really liked it. It was a fun, nice read and definitely felt like summer. I was deeply immersed in the world and I love the characters.

Belly is awesome. She's not vain, she doesn't spend hours on her looks but she does whatever she wants and feels comfortable with it. She knows what she wants and tries to get it. Everything she felt made sense, and I can see why she acted the way she did. I love that she actually gets upset and acknowledges acting immaturely. She has flaws and I love her for them.

I love the characters in this book, especially Susannah. Eccentric, indulgent, what's not to love? Conrad and Jeremiah are both swoon worthy guys. I seriously love both of them, and usually I prefer one brother or one guy in a story but I think I may love them both. All I know is that Belly's relationship with them is real and funny, and serious.

Belly encountered many firsts (and seconds). She's about my age (tiny bit older) and I loved that she felt like a friend. I loved her reactions to events like dates, parties and kisses. At first glance this book may seem like a light, summer read but there's more to it then that. It deals with hard issues teens face in a real way.

One last comment: I cried. I think the last book to have done that to me was If I Stay or Darkest Mercy. I love how emotionally involved this book made me be. I'm totally rooting for the characters.

Sarah Dessen said it best in her blurb, this book has everything you want in a summer. It makes me extra excited for summer. I can't wait to read the sequel. 4 stars,

****

Review: Rules of Attraction

Author: Simone Elkeles
Pages: 324
Publisher: Walker & Company
Source: Library
Other Book in the Series: Perfect Chemistry
Challenge: The Ultimate Reviewers' Challenge Book 8
Synopsis: When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.


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Rules of Attraction is the sequel of sorts to Perfect Chemistry. It's about a few years later when Alex is in college and Carlos is a senior in high school. The story is narrated in Carlos and Kiara, a girl at Carlos's new school's perspective.

I loved Perfect Chemistry. I mean LOVE. The book had my blood racing and I couldn't think of anything but Brittany and Alex for days later so I had high hopes for Rules of Attraction. Rules of Attraction was very good, but I think I prefer the first in the series.

Carlos is just as hot as his brother, but with a bit less worrying. Carlos has a bigger temper and struggles to feel numb while Alex struggled to take care of the family. What I love about Carlos is how he is who he is, and everyone else better accept him. Him falling for Kiara made sense. She's different from him. She loves to hike, has schedules for showering, and knows about cars. Kiara constantly challenges Carlos and he loves that. They both do. They make a smokin' hot couple.

The reason I didn't quite love this book was that the ending was a tad too perfect. I thought it was awfully convenient, what happened, but I could still accept that. I didn't really love Kiara. I don't know what about her made me just like her, but something was off for me. I doubt this will happen for anyone else though. The gang part in this book was toned down and not as prominent as in Perfect Chemistry.

All in all, Rules of Attraction is a delicious romantic read that has sprinkles of wit and danger. 4 stars,

****

Review: The Gathering

Author: Kelley Armstrong
Pages: 359
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Library
Other Books in Companion Series: The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewers' Challenge Book 7
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.


Until now.


Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.


In The Gathering, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy.

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I love Kelley Armstrong's world. She blends mythology with action, and romance beautifully and her books are always a delight to read. Needless to say, I'm a huge fan.

The Gathering was really good! I was really growing attached to the characters from The Darkest Powers trilogy but I enjoyed reading about these new characters too. Maya's character blew me away. She acted like a rational, normal teen who had problems and made big mistakes but was good in the end. Sometimes I can't help but think when I'm reading why the characters can't be more rational. Like all the stories about the new guy who moves into town and the girl that falls in love the second he pays attention to her or the popular guy who has been with many girls suddenly interested in this plain girl... I got tired of that. What's special about these girls, I'd wonder. I'm so glad Maya was a smart enough character that she'd rationally question Rafe's intentions.

I love that the Gathering isn't all stereotypical- it's a fresh story filled with memorable characters. The characters all have history to them and the history is important.

The plot itself was a huge question mark. There are so many questions and not very many answers. This story was a true introductory novel- teaching readers about the characters and setting up the plot but not advancing it too much. Near the end, things started to pick up. I'm left right now waiting for the next book.

Last but not least, the mythology. I love how Kelley Armstrong used not so common myths and that I was honestly left guessing to what Maya could be. There are little hints and pieces everywhere but it's not enough to know for certain. I was glad the series started more about the characters than their powers. Not to say I can not wait to see the experiments revealed.

Random other stuff I enjoyed was Maya's Native heritage. I loved that she was Native, Aboriginals don't get enough attention though they have a rich culture. The small town actually felt like a small town (not that I'd know though, since I live in a decently big city) and it was in Canada! *waves the Canadian flag* Since Kelley Armstrong is a Canadian author, she understands what being Canadian is like so I appreciated the realistic jokes or should I say digs she put in there.

Overall, a promising start to an exciting new series. I can't wait to see what happens next! 4 stars,

****

Review: That Summer

First I want to explain that I haven't been feeling very well which is why I haven't been posting much. Next week I'll be moving and then there's the back to school thing... life is about to get hectic but I will post at least twice a week. Thank you all to followers and all the lovely people who take time to visit and comment.

Author: Sarah Dessen
Pages: 240
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewers' Challenge Book 6
Synopsis: For fifteen-year-old Haven, life is changing too quickly. She's nearly six feet tall, her father is getting remarried, and her sister—the always perfect Ashley—is planning a wedding of her own. Haven wishes things could just go back to the way they were. Then an old boyfriend of Ashley's reenters the picture, and through him, Haven sees the past for what it really was, and comes to grips with the future.

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That Summer was my first Sarah Dessen novel and I enjoyed it.

Sarah's writing is so easy to read that I found myself effortlessly immersed in the story. Everything that happened felt real and I loved the different characters.

What Sarah exceeds at is creating a background full of colorful characters and events. The setting is well done, as is the timing so that the story is nice to read and makes sense. I understood why Haven felt the way she did and by the end, I was just as upset as she was. Sarah doesn't just tell that her characters are upset, she shows it.

What I like about That Summer was that it's a light novel that tackles more serious issues. Reading it was fun, and ending it was also fun. I didn't feel the need to zip through all the pages till the end, and while I do love books like that, sometimes just enjoying a novel and world is nice too.

Overall, I was happy with my first Sarah Dessen novel and I'm excited to start reading the rest! 3.5 stars,

*** &1/2 *

Review: Matched

Author: Allie Condie
Pages: 384
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewers' Challenge book 5
Synopsis: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.


The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.


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I couldn't wait to read Matched by Allie Condie. It had a beautiful cover, great premise, and it seemed like praise for Matched was everywhere. I felt though that Matched was lacking in many spots, though it was a good read. I wished I enjoyed it as much as everyone else.

Matched was about Cassia, an interesting character. She liked to be unique but was predictable. Cassia lived inside the Society who always knew what was best. The Society was killing culture and it was dull. Cassia always accepted the Society though till the day the wrong face flickered on her microcard. This face was of Ky, a boy she knew who wasn't her Match. Xander, her best friend was.

Cassia didn't really make me feel proud of her. She was a dormant character and so many of her actions made me want to scream. I could see how badly she was brainwashed and how impossible it was to resist but I still waited for her to rebel. Do something. But for most of the novel, she didn't. It took a very long time for Cassia to finally get to the point where she understood what was at stake and that's what I think I didn't like. The story was slow and character oriented, all about Cassia's discoveries. I tend to like stories with more action.

The great thing about Matched was the Society. There are many dystopian novels where you know right away the Society is bad. You wonder how the heck can these people accept their lives like this? In Matched, twisted as it was, most of the society made sense. Even later on, though I know what the Society was doing was wrong, I still couldn't help but notice how there were some genuine good ideas. I guess that was the organized, scheduled part of my mind. It wasn't till the end and all parts of the Society was revealed that I saw the trap the Society was. Alluring on the outside, rotten on the inside.

There was of course a love story that was very, very prominent. Cassia and Ky or Cassia and Xander? I hate to say it but they felt very cliché to me. Xander being the lovable best friend who every other girl wanted, and Ky being the artistic, quiet, tortured rebel. They didn't fit those roles perfectly (thank God) but enough that I didn't feel much for them. In the end, Xander grew on me. I think I'd love both boys if I could know more about them and their reactions.

Though Matched did have its problems, I think Cassia is in a position to be more active and do more by the end of the novel. I won't hesitate to read Crossed (the sequel) which I expect to be a better read. I think my problems mostly stem from my personal preference so I won't discourage anyone from reading Matched or any other book.

Ultimately, I wish I loved Matched. I honestly do, but all throughout the novel I waited to feel amazed but that never happened. Matched wasn't the novel for me. The star rating took a long time for me to ponder. Matched is not an ordinary book in any way. Yet it's not a book I'll eagerly re-read. There were many good parts to it too. Which is why Matched gets 3.5, an interesting read.

***&1/2 *

Review: Red Glove

Author: Holly Black
Pages: 325
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Other book in the series: White Cat 
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge book 4
Synopsis: Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.


That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.


When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?


Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.


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**Spoilers for White Cat**

Cassel is exactly the kind of character I love. He's sarcastic with a sense of humor, witty, loyal to family, and he tries to be good even though he has done very bad things, even though it's so tempting to do bad. That dilemma he faces makes me love him even more. Evidently, with Cassel as a character I loved Red Glove.

Cassel isn't the only interesting character. Lila, the girl-turned-cat-turned-girl-who's-cursed is back. She's also a very complex character. Lila is put in a place where she will become a killer. She's the daughter and future ruler of a mobster. How about the part where Cassel's mom cursed her to love him? Cassel has to stay away from her because while his feelings are true, he never knows whether hers are.

I loved that romantic tension. Something Red Glove (THANKFULLY) doesn't have is a love triangle. No, relationships in the Curseworker series are very real and raw. The character in Red Glove are among the best I've seen. There are so many of them and each acts differently in a distinctive way. They all have faults and values and all pressure poor Cassel.

The curse-magic is back and even more natural than ever. Holly Black makes curses feel like a part of every day society. Never did I stop reading and wonder or muse about the curses, I expected it as it was.

The best thing about Red Glove was how readable it was. I was easily immersed in the story. I was kept guessing who the murderer was in the end and how Cassel was going to get out of the mess. The cons were amazing. I would love lessons from Cassel on how to read people or make a con. They were elaborate schemes and so well thought out that the failures and successes made sense. I loved that I read every word of Red Glove eagerly. I felt like I was having the most delicious chocolaty treat!

All in all, I love Holly Black's series. Read it. It gets better and better. It's dark but that's just a part of its charm. My only complaint is that I don't want this series to ever end! 5 stars,

*****

Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

Author: Maureen Johnson
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge
Synopsis: When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one. Life and love are waiting for her across the Atlantic, and the thirteen little blue envelopes are the key to finding them in this funny, romantic, heartbreaking novel.

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Ginny has the coolest Aunt Peg who is artistic, fun, and makes Ginny feel interesting. Then Aunt Peg dies and leave Ginny 13 Little Blue Envelopes filled with instructions, advice, and information about her last days.

The first thing that hooked me was the premise. I'm totally an amazing race kinda girl. Having to do tasks before opening an envelope is my kind of thing so I was already excited to read this book. Maureen Johnson made the envelopes fit in with the story. They were not all of the story, but just one part of it. Ginny had many adventures on her own.

Ginny herself is an okay character. She's nice, normal, not super hormone crazed, wishes she were more interesting, has a best friend named Miriam, etc. I still feel like she's not distinct enough for me. I feel like I haven't seen even half of Ginny which isn't something very good.

Not to say Maureen can't properly characterize characters because she can. Aunt Peg was a wonderful example of that. At first she was perfect, since Ginny pretty much idolized her but as the story progressed, we saw her flaws. The best part is that she was a lovable character because of her flaws. She was complex, weird, crazy, and I loved reading about her.

There was some romance in the novel but I didn't think much of it. It wasn't a huge plot point and by the end of the story the characters hadn't decided to love each other for eternity. It felt like a real relationship and I appreciated that.

Overall, 13 Little Blue Envelopes is a nice, easy read. I could easily have read it as a standalone but since there seems to be a sequel, I'll check that out too. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

Review: Daughter of Xanadu

Author: Dori Jones Yang
Pages: 352
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Challenge: The Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge Book 2
Synopsis: Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.


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I enjoy historical fiction. I love stories of princesses and princes, murder, betrayal, court and war. This made me excited to read about Emmajin's life was a Mongol Princess.

I've never actually read or know much about Marco Polo or the Mongols. I was excited to read about this part of history though. The Mongols were very much warriors with harsh customs. They felt it was their God-given duty to unify the world under one rule. I was horrified of some of the things I read and that our main character, Emmajin supported but she lived a very different life from me so I can imagine she'd have a different view.

Emmajin was a confusing character. She changed significantly throughout the book. I'm glad of the change but I wish I could read more of the new Emmajin to understand her better. During most of the story, I disagreed with Emmajin. I don't believe in war, and I wanted to yell at her about all the glory she thought she'd get. While I was unhappy with the reason for her change, I really do hope she makes the most out of it.

There was of course romance in this book. I'm not sure how I felt about it. Marco was a nice enough guy but I don't understand how there was a huge romance between Emmajin and him. They hadn't known each other long, but their romance is an important plot device in the book. Maybe others would enjoy it better.

One of the best things about Daughter of Xanadu is the culture. We readers will get a good idea of Mongol's culture and lifestyle and how the life of a Latin, Marco Polo may differ from that. I laughed at some of the scenes where Emmajin asks about different colours of eyes and hair- it really makes me appreciate how diverse the world we live in today is.

Overall, a unique tale of a girl who encounters love, war, and destiny. A good read, 3.5 stars.

*** & 1/2 *