Book Review: The Merciless by Danielle Vega

Title: The Merciless

Author: Danielle Vega

Series/Standalone: The Merciless Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Pages: 279

Publisher: Razorbill

Year Published: 2014

Format: Hardcover (Own It)

"Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied and gagged. No one outside these dank basement walls knows she's here. No one can hear her scream. 

Sofia Flores knows she shouldn't have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn't realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.

Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn- but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can't go against the other girls... unless she wants to be next."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I've had this book on my physical TBR for a while, and I'm glad I got to it. It was an intense read, and for people looking for horror with that 2010s kind of young adult style this was perfect. I was honestly surprised by how intense the body horror was and the horror scenes overall. The characters were interesting, but I don't see myself reaching for the next book in the series at this time.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Beware the Wild by Natalie C. Parker

Title: Beware the Wild    

Author: Natalie C. Parker

Series/Standalone: Beware the Wild Duology (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Magical Realism, Paranormal

Pages: 327

Publisher: HarperTeen

Year Published: 2014

Format: Paperback

First Line: "It's no secret, ours is the meanest swamp in Louisiana."

"It's an oppressively hot and sticky morning in June when Sterling and her brother, Phin, have an argument that compels him to run into the town swamp- the one that strikes fear in all the residents of Sticks, Louisiana. Phin doesn't return. Instead, a girl named Lenora May climbs out, and now Sterling is the only person in Sticks who remembers her brother ever existed.

Sterling needs to figure out what the swamp's done with her beloved brother and how Lenora May is connected to his disappearance- and loenr boy Heath Durham might be the only one who can help her."

My Rating: 2.5/5

This wasn't all I hoped it to be. When I heard about it from someone reading vlogs a while ago, I expected it to be a horror book, but I would consider this more magical realism, rather than horror. I spent a lot of time reading this book trying to see if it was actual magic or an unreliable main character. Along with these factors, I do worry about the way disordered eating was dealt with within the story. I understand that this book was published a decade ago, but for those reasons alone I cannot recommend it. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Ruins by Dan Wells

Title: Ruins

Author: Dan Wells

Series/Standalone: Partials Sequence (Book #3)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Pages: 464

Publisher: Balzar + Bray

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"Kira, Samm and Marcus fight to prevent a final war between Partials and humans in the gripping final installment in the Partial Sequence, a series that combines the thrilling action of The Hunger Games with the provocative themes of Blade Runner and The Stand.

There is no avoiding it- the war to decide the fate of both humans and Partials is at hand. both sides hold in their possession a weapon that could destroy the other, and Kira Walker has precious little time to prevent that from happening. She has one chance to save both species and the world with them, but it will only come at great personal cost."

My Rating: 4.25/5

It has never been a secret that I have a hard time coming to conclusions from any series. I always think I know how they're going to wrap up and while this did follow a lot of the stepping stones I thought it would, it didn't check all the boxes I hoped for. Mainly there were a few scenes that I thought could have gone further, or were going to end in different ways that just seemed to fizzle out. Overall I loved the series and I would highly recommend it. I can't wait to read the prequel novella.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

My Rating: 

Book Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Heir of Fire

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series/Standalone: Throne of Glass (Book #3)

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 576

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Year Published: 2014

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "God, it was boiling in this useless excuse for a kingdom."

"Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak- but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth... a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future- forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?"

My Rating: 4.75/5

This book really upped the ante from the last two. After taking a break from the novella, I was able to dive back into the world. I found that this book was able to bridge the gap between very YA vs. only a bit of YA. I loved the different plotlines we were following, I also found that some of the plot twists were able to surprise me which hadn't happened much if at all in previous books. I loved the new characters we met and I look forward to continuing the series soon. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: After I Do

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult, Fiction

Pages: 352

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"When Lauren and Ryan's marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren's ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?"

My Rating: 4/5

This wasn't what I would necessarily expect from the author based on the last book that I read, but this story is an important one to read if you're married. The ideas behind it make total sense, the characters are relatable and the side characters are so unique and loveable that I felt like I knew each one of them individually. If you are looking for a character-driven, finding who you are adult fiction romance may I just suggest this one. It's a fast read, even though the subject matter isn't all happy-go-lucky. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Title: Dorothy Must Die

Author: Danielle Paige

Series/Standalone: Dorothy Must Die Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retelling

Pages: 452

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?
Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road—but even that's crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy.
They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission."

My Rating: 2/5

This just wasn't for me. I want to preface that by saying there is nothing wrong with this book, it just didn't read well for me. The retelling aspect was fine, but the over-the-top aspect isn't my cup of tea. The characters didn't draw me in the way I wanted them to and with so many installments in the series, I'm going to leave off the series here. If you love the Wizard of Oz this is your chance to follow the yellow brick road.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Title: The Young Elites

Author: Marie Lu

Series/Standalone: The Young Elites Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, 

Pages: 355

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook (Own Hardcover)

"Adeline Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina's black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only one jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family's good name and standing in the way of their future. But some of the fever's survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars- they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it's Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they've never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. but of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn't belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This was an entertaining fantasy. I know that others are willing to say this is dystopian but until I see full reflection of our world, I'm not so quick to jump there. If you know me you know I love a villain arc. This delivers! The audiobook was a wonderful way to consume this story and the narration lends perfectly to the plot. It is a product of when it is published so it reminds me a lot of some books I read at the time it was published. Overall, fun, exciting and entertaining. I do plan on picking up the next audiobook as soon as possible. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Title: The Good Girl

Author: Mary Kubica

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 352

Publisher: MIRA

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook 

"I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will. 

One night, Mia Dennett enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. At first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

When Colin decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota instead of delivering her to his employers, Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them. But no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter."

My Rating: 2/5

I have read quite a few books from Mary Kubica at this point and they either really hit for me or miss. This one was a miss. It wasn't what I wanted to read about, but I also think that this might be her debut. So it makes sense that her work has grown from here. I plan on continuing to read her work, mostly on audio. Her audiobooks are some of my favorite to listen to.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Title: This Shattered World

Author(s): Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Series/Standalone: Starbound Series (Book #2)

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance

Pages: 394

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Year Published: 2014

Format: Hardcover Copy (Library)

"Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.

Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.

Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.

Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelenting war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as a prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that changes him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two sides of a senseless war."

DNF @ 85%

My Rating: 1.5/5

I think that if I had been able to keep momentum with this book I would have kept reading, but something happened around the 75% mark that just made this book drag for me. I don't know if it was the book or something outside of the book that just ripped me out of it but then I couldn't seem to get back in no matter how much I tried. As per my 2023 goals, if I'm not having a good time, I don't have to finish a book. I can leave it and that's ok. What are your thoughts on DNFs?

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

Title: The Assassin's Blade

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Series/Standalone: Throne of Glass Series (Book #.5)

Genre: Novella Collection, Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 448

Publisher: Bloomsbury 

Year Published: 2014

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

"Contains all five novellas.

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan's most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin's Guild, her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trust only her fellow killer-for-hire Same. In these action-packed novellas- together in one edition for the first time- Celaena embarks on the five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and seeks to avenge the tyrannous. But she is acting against Arobynn's orders and could suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery. Will Celaena ever be truly free? Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine to find out."

My Rating: 4/5

I think that this novella bound up did exactly what it set out to do. It helps readers further understand our main characters' past. It helps to see how the events in the first novel take place and I'm glad I read it after the second book in the series due to the twists that take place in the second book. It was exactly what it set out to be and my only complaint was that the main character started to be annoying in this prequel situation. I know a lot of people find her annoying throughout the series, but I've never thought that until this one. Fun, intriguing and plot-driven. I look forward to continuing the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Wild Truth by Carine McCandless

Title: The Wild Truth

Author: Carine McCandless

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Adult

Pages: 278

Publisher: HarperOne

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"The spellbinding story of Christ McCandless, who gave away his savings, hitchhiked to Alaska, walked into the wilderness alone, and starved to death in 1992, fascinated not just New York Times bestselling author Jon Krakauer, but also the rest of the nation. Krakauer's book, Into The Wild, became an international bestseller, translated into thirty-oen languages, and Sean Penn's inspirational film by the same name further skyrocketed Chris McCandless to global fame.

But the real story of Chris's life and his journey has not yet been told- until now. The missing pieces are finally revealed in The Wild Truth, written by Carine McCandless, Chris's beloved and trusted sister. Featured in both the book and film, Carine has wrestled for more than twenty one years with the legacy of her brother's journey to self discovery, and now tells her own story while in the blanks of his.

Carine was Chris's best friend, the person with whom he had the closest bond, and who witnessed firsthand the dysfunctional and violent family dynamic that made Chris willing to embrace the harsh wilderness of Alaska. Growing up in the same troubled household, Carine speaks candidly about the deeper reality of life in the McCandless family. In the many years since the tragedy of Chris's death, Carine has searched for some kind of redemption.

In this touching and deeply personal memoir, she reveals how she has learned that real redemption can only come from speaking the truth."

My Rating: 3/5

I do rate nonfiction based on writing and how it met my expectation of where the story was going. I thought that this book would centre a bit more on Chris's life and loves before he left, but it makes sense that it followed the childhood experience that Carine and Chris shared. I was surprised to see how much detail this book went into about the affairs and abuse that took place between parents. I would recommend if you are interested in Into the Wild or have follow-up questions about how Chris McCandless ended up where he did, or if you are curious about his family life. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Title: Ugly Love

Author: Colleen Hoover

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Fiction

Pages: 337

Publisher: Atria Books

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"When Tate Collins meets airline Miles Archer, she knows it isn't love at first sight. They wouldn't even go so far as to consider themselves friends. Once their desires are out in the open they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn't want love, she doesn't have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.

Don't expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can't handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.

Promises get broken.

Rules get shattered.

Love gets ugly."

My Rating: 3.5/5

I want to note that a 3.5 isn't a bad rating. I liked this. This book is exactly what people on the internet have promised I would get from Colleen Hoover a problematic but hard-to-put-down new adult read. This book didn't bring me to tears but there were moments when it got me up in my emotions. I will say that Tate had next to no defining traits, which brought down my rating. There were also a few lines in regard to the romance that wasn't for me or made me a bit uncomfortable. Overall fast-paced, intriguing and hard to put down. Would recommend if you're looking for something that matches that description, but I doubt that I'm the first person you have heard about Colleen Hoover through.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny 

Book Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Title: Snow Like Ashes

Author: Sara Raasch

Series/Standalone: Snow Like Ashes (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: 424

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians' general, Sir. Training to be a warrior- and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather- she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter's magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she's scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, just as she's always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn't go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics- and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own."

My Rating: 2.25/5

This was a book I had on my shelf for so long and it is very stereotypical of the time it was written. I will say that the author did the horrifying and torture scenes well but it is reminiscent of real-life historical events. My main issue with this story is that I knew exactly where we were going, things that were supposed to be twists or turns I saw coming from the beginning. This would be great for someone moving from middle grade to young adult stories.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Title: The Infinite Sea

Author: Rick Yancey

Series/Standalone: The 5th Wave Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 320

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben and Ringer are forced to confront the Others' ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven't seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate."

My Rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed this second volume I think it leant to how diabolical it is. I think that the cliffhanger was amazing and I was glad to continue the series. I've already started the final book in the series. The characters are decently dynamic as well as the plot being fast moving. I thought that it was super fun and would recommend science fiction throwbacks.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Title: Big Little Lies

Author: Liane Moriarty

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Mystery, Adult Fiction

Pages: 460

Publisher: Berkley Books

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"A murder... A tragic accident.. Or parents behaving badly? What's indisputable is that someone is dead.

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. SHe's funny, biting and passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare, but she is paying a price for the illusion of perfection. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for a nanny. She comes with a mysterious past and sadness beyond her years. These three women are at different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same shocking place.

Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughter, schoolyard scandal, and the little lies that can turn lethal."

My Rating: 5/5

I absolutely ran through this novel, this audiobook had the perfect mix of tone and the multiple points of view kept the story going and interesting. Although this does contain many difficult subjects and sensitive topics I felt as an outsider looking in that they were well done. I was impressed by the author's ability to maintain the tension throughout the story and keep me guessing as to who was dead at the end of the book. I would strongly recommend the audiobook and it lives up to the hype. I plan to watch the adaptations as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: The Arrow by James Tynion IV

Title: The Arrow

Author: James Tynion

Artist(s): Michael Dialynas

Series/Standalone: The Woods (Vol. 1)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Pages: 128

Publisher: BOOM! Studio

Year Published: 2014

Format: Paperback 

"On October 16, 2013, 437 students, 52 teachers and 24 additional staff from Bay Point Preparatory High School in suburban Milwaukee, WI vanished without a trace. Countless light years away, far outside the bounds of the charted universe, 513 people find themselves in the middle of an ancient, primordial wilderness. Where are they? Why are they there? The answers will prove stranger than anyone could possibly imagine."

My Rating: 2/5

A very basic first instalment in an older graphic novel series, I am intrigued to keep going and follow where the plot takes us. But things that I think were meant to gather my focus and add to the atmosphere didn't work for me. I will continue on, but I'm hoping for more in the next installment. The art was enjoyable, the characters were where it lacked so far, but I look forward to seeing how they grow as I continue on.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: Reagan Youth by Rick Remender

Title: Reagan Youth

Author: Rick Remender

Artist(s): Wes Craig, Lee Loughridge

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction, Crime

Pages: 160

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2014

Format: Paperback Copy

"It's 1987. Marcus Lopez hates school. His grade sucks. The jocks are hassling his friends. he can't focus in class. But the jocks are the children of Joseph Stalin's top assassin, the teachers are members of an ancient league of assassins, the class he's failing is 'Dismemberment 101' and his crush has a double-digit body count. Welcome to the most brutal high school on earth, where the world's top crime families send the next generation of assassins to be trained. Murder is an art. Killing is a craft. At Kings Dominion School for the Deady Arts, the dagger in your back isn't always metaphorical."

My Rating: 1/5

I love trying different graphic novels on a whim. Sometimes those graphic novels are winners and other times, they just aren't for you. This one fell into the latter category. It just wasn't what I expected it to be. It was a lot of drugs, and a bit of killing. I was hoping for those two things to be switched. I doubt I'll continue the series, but I may be persuaded if someone can tell me it gets a lot better. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Review: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen

Title: The Faust Act

Author: Kieron Gillen

Artist(s): Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson

Series/Standalone: The Wicked + The Divine (Vol. 1)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult, Urban Fantasy

Pages: 176

Publisher: Image Comics

Year Published: 2014

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critical tongue-attractors like Young Avengers and PHONOGRAM reunite to create a world where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you're immortal, doesn't mean you're going to live forever..."

My Rating: 3/5

This was a really solid start to the series, but I did feel like we as readers are thrown in rather quickly. I'm not sure how else the story would be told, but for some reason I thought that the gods were going to be based only on greek mythology, so I"m a little lost with some of the gods that are being introduced. I liked the brutal art style, as well as our main character so I'm hoping that I will enjoy the series as I continue forward. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Sinner

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Series/Standalone: The Wolves of Mercy Falls (Book #3.5)

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 357

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook

"found.

Cole St. Clair has come to California for one reason: to get Isabel Culpeper back. She fled from his damaged, drained life, and damaged and drained it even more. he doesn't just want her. He needs her. 

lost.

Isabel is trying to build herself a life in Los Angeles. It's not really working. She can play the game as well as all the other fakes... but what's the point? What is there to win?

sinner.

Cole and Isabel share a past that never seemed to have a future. They have the power to save each other and the power to tear each other apart. The only thing for certain is that they cannot let go."

My Rating: 2.5/5

I've finished the series and it was such a fun reading experience. Perfect for a throwback to that 2010 early paranormal romance. Exactly what I needed during these crazy times. While it isn't a ton of substance, and these characters aren't my favorite from the series this book was fun, it was enjoyable but nothing incredible. It was just ok for me overall. I would recommend the series for anyone looking for a fun paranormal teen romance.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Jackaby by William Ritter

Title: Jackaby

Author: William Ritter

Series/Standalone: Jackaby Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Pages: 299

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Year Published: 2014

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "It was later January, and New England wore a fresh coat of snow as I stepped along the gangplank to the shore."

"Miss Rook, I am not an occultist,' Jackaby said. 'I have a gift that allows me to see the truth where others see the illusion-- and there are many illusions. All the world's a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a  view behind the curtains.'

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R.F Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary-- including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby's assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it's an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it's a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police-- with the exception of a handsome young detective named Chalie Cane-- deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter's debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of macabre."

My Rating: 4/5

My friend and I started a book club a while back and this is our pick for April and what a fun pick it was. I would say that this book is more about the fantastical elements and the antics of Jackaby, rather than the mystery. I was so intrigued by the characters and finding out more about them, that the mystery wasn't as consuming as it could be. I am looking forward to reading more about the characters in the following books. I will say that there was a moment of uncertainty for me at the end of the novel, but it was resolved quickly (thank goodness for that).

Thanks for reading,

Sidny