Title: Bloodrose
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series/Standalone: Nightshade Series (Book #3)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Pages: 406
Publisher: Philomel
Year Published: 2012
Format: Audiobook
"Calla has always welcomed war.
But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And there's deciding what to do when the war ends.
If Calla makes it out alive, that is. In this remarkable final instalment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages."
My Rating: 2/5
I thought that this would be my favourite in the series, but unfortunately, it was my least favourite by far. I was frustrated throughout the majority of this book. I loved the author's world and the idea of different magic and witches and guardians. But here's where this story falls flat for me, the author doesn't weigh things emotionally as much as I think that she should. Sometimes the plot and romance events weren't weighted with the importance that I think they should have been. I also wasn't a fan of the ending. I think that it felt a little abrupt in some cases. I don't' think that I will continue with the other series in this world, but I might change my mind in time depending on the availability of the audiobooks in that series.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Wolfsbane
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series/Standalone: Nightshade Series (Book #2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 390
Publisher: Philomel Books
Year Published: 2011
Format: Audiobook
"Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer- one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack- and the man- she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive."
My Rating: 3.75/5
These are audiobooks I would definitely recommend, I don't think that reading these books physically I would get the same feeling as I get when I listen to them. That being said there were moments in this book where I shook my head at how corny the voice acting was. It was fair due to the writing, but at times it was a little much for even me (the lover of corny audiobooks). This book is clearly a 2010s series just due to the content and the use of love triangles. That being said, I'm not mad about it. I overall enjoyed the world and most of the plot I just think that I'm cheering for the losing love interest in all of this and I wonder how the story will conclude in the next book. Would say this is a guilty pleasure read for sure.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series/Standalone: Nightshade Series (Book #1)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 452
Publisher: Philomel
Year Published: 2010
Format: Audiobook
"Calla Tor has always known her destiny. After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known.
By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?"
My Rating: 3/5
I had remembered hearing about this series when I first started watching booktube about 4 years ago and I was interested in what the story was about. I was curious about what the world would contain and in some aspects the romance. But this is very much a post-twilight book. The romance and the use of a love triangle is something that was very popular during the post-Twilight YA craze. That being said it was an interesting world and I enjoyed some aspects of the story. Especially the different mythological creatures. That being said most aspects were predictable and corny. I would recommend this for fans of Underworld for sure as long as you won't miss the vampires too much.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Out of the Easy
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 348
Publisher: Philomel Books
Year Published: 2013
Format: Audiobook
"It's 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan to get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodly, the brusque madam on Conti Street.
Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny."
My Rating: 4/5
Last year I had the chance to read another book by Ruta Septys and I loved her ability to transport me to another time completely. This time I decided to borrow an audiobook and was excited when I started it to realize that it takes place in the 50s. It's an interesting time in the lives of people all over the world. After the war and with rights for people beginning to shift, Ruta Sepetys shows the lives of so many different people in one of the most popular holiday destinations of the time.
I loved the characters and the setting. I was fully entertained and interest in the story. The only reason that I knocked off a star, is that I felt this was marketed as a mystery and I just didn't find it that mysterious. There wasn't much of a mystery at all in fact.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves the time of the setting and is interested in a great audiobook with an amazing narrator.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So this book is marketed as a mystery and I would have to disagree with that. I think that this is a wonderful book that follows characters that you grow to love so incredibly quickly. As I was telling my boyfriend about the storyline I kept getting drawn into all the characters and how well developed they were. I also loved the setting the idea of New Orleans after the war and the difference between the Quarter and the rich areas. The narrators had wonderful accents that were natural and not overdone. The whole book was very well written.
I will warn anyone going into this book that while it is marketed as a mystery, I wouldn't say that that is it's the strongest aspect.
Characters (excuse the spelling, it was an audiobook):
Jo: I love that she is willing to push herself to be more than anyone expects, she is smart, cunning and ambitious in the best ways possible. But she doesn't push it too much. She wants what she deserves and doesn't use people to get it. I was annoyed that she didn't just go to Willie when she got the mark, but in some ways, I understand why she felt she had to do it herself.
Jesse: I like his character overall, but I'd be lying if I said that he was my first choice. I thought that he was a good fit for Jo because of their backgrounds and mutual understanding. I think that he is also willing to push Jo to be her best, and I hope that he will do the same for himself.
Patrick: His character was one of my favourites. I felt for him and his relationship with those around him. His fear about what people would do if they found out. And the loss of his father was almost too much to handle. I hope that he played the piano on the world stage at some point.
Willie: Now at the start I expected that I would hate her character and I didn't understand her attitude towards others, but as I continued I realized she was hard because she had to be. She felt as though she had to shut some out to be strong, that being said it didn't mean she didn't love anybody. Her relationships with some of the girls was so much stronger than I expected and I loved her. Up until the end.
Cokey: He's another character I just loved. He was well fleshed out and although he had a gambling problem he wanted to do good for those he cared about. I think that his singing was one of the best parts in the audiobook.
Charlie: I wonder about his life and how he got to know Willie so well. Were they just friends in the Quarter or had they known each other since he opened up shop? I wish that he hadn't met his end so soon, but I'm grateful that it was peaceful.
Loius: The things people will do to their own children never fail to frighten me. The way she acted as though she was nothing hurt me so deeply.
Cincinnati: A sick freak who knows how to woo those who want his cash. Just sad that in the long run, he didn't end up behind bars.
Lockwell (I can't remember his name): By far the villain in this book. His character was well written and it made my skin crawl. To know the things he wanted to do to young women and how he thought he was entitled to do just that was horrible to read about. But I think extremely important.
Charlotte: I hope that their friendship continue into the future. Because we all know you can't judge someone by their parents.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 393
Publisher: Philomel Books
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardback Copy (Own It)
First Line: "Guilt is a hunter."
"Based on the 'forgotten tragedy that was six times deadlier than the Titanic.'-- Time
Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories.
Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept...
Worl War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, many with something to hide. Among them are Joana, Emilia and Florian, whose paths converge en route to the ship that promises salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other tested with each step closer to safety.
Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. not country, nor culture, no status matter as all ten thousand people- adults and children alike- aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
Told in alternating points of view and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson's Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of Wilhelm Gustloff- the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shade of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shocking little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest hour."
My Rating: 4/5
This story is definitely hard hitting and not for the faint of heart. I noticed right away that the authors writing style were strict to the point and that she didn't cringe away from facts that happened during this time in history, she seems to just lay them on the table for what they are. I was interested in the storyline as I hadn't heard of this tragedy, but also wasn't expecting as many gruesome details as the author included. That being said, it made the tragedy hit closer to home. Slowly the author has us fall in love with characters and also begin to understand how some characters might think in this war-torn time period.
I'm interested to read more of her work and plan to continue reading her work throughout this year.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
This book has taken booktube by storm by being one of the most hard-hitting young adult historical fiction. I certainly agree with these statements this is a tragedy that a lot of people don't know about and I'm certainly one of them. I had no idea that this had happened during the war and had affected so many people, more people than the Titanic. I'm also looking forward to reading more of her works, but I'm glad that I planned to read a light-hearted contemporary book for after this hard-hitting read.
Characters:
Joana: She is strong and wise beyond her years. She has guts and has given up so much to help those around her. I can't imagine living through something like that and raising two children that you rescued.
Florian: I enjoyed his perspective a lot based on him being on the run from the rest of his peers. To realize everything that happened during his time in the art gallery. I was glad that he was the knight they needed.
Alfred: I hated him. With a fiery passion! He was the trained sociopath that I think we expect that the German soldiers would be.
Emilia: Her story is what broke me the most. To be traded in for someone else's safety. To live her life being told that she is nothing and no one. To give birth after the sexual assault from possibly multiple people. To give up her life for that of her child, it broke me.
Shoe Poet: His death broke my heart, but at least it was quick. He didn't freeze to death in the water, and he helped Klaus find someone else to take care of him.
Klaus: I wonder about his future and what his childhood was like. Did his life get better after the war, or did he traumatic stress disorders?
Ingrid: The first loss hit hard, I was really excited to see that she had made it so far, especially being hunted for being blind, but then after it all, it didn't work out.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
