We don't usually participate in blog tours, but I very much enjoyed Queen of Someday and was really excited at the opportunity of reading more about Sophie's journey. You can find the full schedule of this tour on YA Bound Book Tours.

Sophie—now Catherine, Grand Duchess of Russia—had a tough first year at Imperial Court. Married at sixteen to Grand Duke Peter, heir to the throne, and settled in their own palace, things are finally looking up. As a new day dawns, she thinks only of securing her future, and the future of their country, during one of the greatest political upheavals of her time. Fighting desperately against forces trying to depose the Empress Elizabeth and put the young Prince Ivan on her throne, Sophie soon finds herself in the middle of a war brewing between her beloved Prussia, and her new empire. But even as she navigates the fragile political landscape, she quickly realizes that she has only begun to discover the tangled web of deceit and infidelity woven over the lavish court of Oranienbaum Palace.

When a strange and delicate alliance forms between the young couple, she glimpses a future of happiness, only to see it lost in a moment at the hands of those who still seek to end her life—and prevent her reign. Out of favor with the empress and running out of options, Sophie will have to sacrifice her own innocence on the altar of Russia if she is to save the nation, and herself. To survive, she will have to do the unthinkable, betray those closest to her and become something greater and more dangerous than she ever imagined she could be… a queen.

My Review 

Author: Sherry D. Ficklin

Sequel to: Queen of Someday

Pages: 280

Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

Publication Date: July 14th 2015

Source: eARC for blog tour

Oh Sophie, how you have grown. In Queen of Someday, Sophie was small and scared. She was innocent, and fell in love easily. She has grown tremendously from those days. 

I'll admit that I was shocked at how dark Queen of Tomorrow was. The violence Sophie encountered, as a women, was staggering, and frankly, hard to digest. I was so disgusted on Sophie's behalf. She is married to the heir of the Empress of Russia, and she is expected to produce an heir, at all costs. Peter, her husband, is abusive. He is violent, rash, and lacks empathy or foresight. Sophie had to manage him all throughout the story, but I was once again disgusted by her lot in life. 

I think I'd be remiss if I didn't issue a major trigging warning. There is intense misogyny and attacks on Sophie in Queen of Tomorrow. However, I didn't think it was gratuitous because it did support the storyline. It seems like the plot of Queen of Tomorrow was Sophie rising above all the challenges and limitations things like her gender, her title, her husband, or even her family put on her. 

Sophie is so incredibly resilient, and there is certainly something compelling about Sophie's ability to get back up and keep swinging. She is smart and resourceful, and she wants to rule. I love this. How often, in YA, do we read about women totally ready to take power and rule? Women with extreme ambition? Sophie knows she is capable, and she is ready to go for it. I like that she challenges her role and pushes back on barriers. However, she did concern me with some of her behaviours, but that's a part of Sophie's upbringing; she believes she has to please her husband. Sophie's growth fascinates me .

The plot is extremely quick. I was never bored for a single second and the pages flew by. It begins with Sophie in her palace with Peter, trying to rule, missing her real love Sergei, and just struggling to survive, and it continues with Sophie constantly having to regain her footing. Now, since I just mentioned Sergei, I love that he's in the story. Besides the benefits to the plot for having a high ranking member of Empress Elizabeth's court Sophie's lover, it's great to see that as much as the world is trying to mold Sophie into whatever they need, she pushes back. Sergei is her choice, and the presence of their relationship feels like Sophie reclaiming some control. 

Ultimately, I was very entertained by Queen of Tomorrow. Sophie's journey to the top fascinated me, and I hope to read more about Sophie defying the odds and kicking some ass in the sequel, Queen of Always. I'm also a little scared because the world is not kind to Sophie, and I don't like seeing her suffer again. This has probably been very clear throughout my review, but my fascination of Sophie is what spurs my interest in this series. Queen of Tomorrow is very different from Queen of Someday. Queen of Tomorrow is darker, and more dangerous. I very much recommend it for people comfortable with very dark, entertaining reads. 

-P.E.

Buy Links:

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About the Author

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

She is the author of several YA novels and in her spare time she co-hosts Curvy Writer Radio.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.
As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

GOODREADS

My Review

Author: Marie Rutkoski
Date of Publication: March 3, 2015
Pages: 416
Source: Library
Book #2

I regret having decided to read this book when I did. With my mood, I couldn't at all realize from it any of the joy that the previous instalment gave me. I read it quickly and usually that would signify interest, however, I retained little and that saddens me.

The Winner's Crime was definitely a great sequel; well written and intricate. I remember being wowed by the mind games and deceptions in The Winner's Curse. My mind was so frayed whilst reading this one that I spent a lot of my time pondering if a certain passage meant what it was supposed to mean or if there was a hidden meaning behind it. I exhausted myself and I never got my answer, though the ending of the book was satisfying and well executed.

Kestrel who I adored for her wits, was a bit of a mess in The Winner's Crime. I wouldn't blame her, but feeling as lost and confused as I did in my own head whilst reading her point of view did little to make her decisions relatable. I could see her slip in her games and I cringed. The lying and withholding of information was also annoying though the climax was brilliantly done. I felt like I was there in the audience, my head turning ferociously from one character to the next to try and gauge all of their reactions at once.

Arin's chapters weren't my favourite. I like him, I do, but his storyline was slow and uninteresting. I would be lying if I didn't admit to skimming his chapters in the second half. Arin was just so blind to the truth and it infuriated me.

I don't have much else to say, I finished the book 10 minutes ago and I'm already starting to forget the details. Like I said, it's not all the book's fault as my mood was a big determinant. Even still, here is something to go by, I finished it in two days and two sittings. It's a gripping read.

P.S. I'm not giving it a pity 3 star. There was a lot of a good: well written and executed plot, interesting new characters like the King, and the Herrani minister of agriculture.  My review just explored more the dark side.

-MARI

Author: Veronica Roth
Date of Publication: October 22, 2013
Pages: 526
Source: Personal Copy

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningliess. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

GOODREADS

Review:
I'm heartbroken. I loved this book, but I also felt like there was something integrally wrong with it.

Many of the reviews I've read and comments from friends said that the book was boring, hard to read and not entertaining. Personally, Allegiant was an easy and interesting read for me. I was absorbed and interested the whole way through. As a book, it was a good one, I think its problem was living up to the standard set by the previous two books.

I really enjoyed finally getting some answers to my questions albeit not liking these answers. (Really Veronica Roth?) The familial relationships like Tris and Caleb, Tobias and his parents, Zeke and Uriah, were the real story. The book explored central themes introduced in the previous instalments like family, belonging and sacrifice.

"I don't belong to Abnegation, or Dauntless, or even the Divergent... I belong to the people I love, and they belong to me- they, and the love and loyalty I give them, form my identity far more than any word or group ever could." (Tris, 455) There were many such lines. Inspirational and heart warming but also borderline preachy. It sometimes felt like the rising action and climax had occurred in books 1 & 2. Allegiant was falling action from start to finish.

Allegiant incorporates Tobias' point of view, which I had previously read in Four, the companion novel, and thoroughly enjoyed. I can't say the same about this narration. Tobias felt different, his actions weren't the kind I'd come to expect from him. While this book explores his faults and insecurities, I felt like it ignored his strengths often.

I've always loved the partnership between Tris and Tobias. I thought of them as two people who, when they come together, things exploded, then rekindled and everything was just better. Their relationship was so strained in this book. I never got a chance to love them together. Instead, both were busy colliding for all the wrong reasons. Also, Tris took over the story. She was the righteous one, the one Four should follow. Nothing like the partnership I loved.

As for the ending, I was numb to what happened. I predicted it and when it finally happened I only felt mild surprise that my guess was right on. Looking back, I can't say I appreciated it much.

Divergent was my favourite of this series. And while I managed to enjoy Allegiant whilst reading it, the aftermath of finishing it has left me with a sting of disappointment. The relationship I loved did not get any of the limelight and the explanations given were insufficient.

-MARI

Author: Rae Carson
Date of Publication: September 20 2011
Pages: 423
Source: Library

Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. 

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.


Most of the chosen do.

Review:

There are a lot of things to like about The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and it is likely that I will read the sequel. That is mostly based on the love this series gets, and my appreciation for the positives in The Girl of Fire and Thorn, and my expectations that the weaknesses will be improved upon.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns does something many fantasy books don't: it strays from glamour. It is gritty in a very mundane way. It is about a girl that does not appear flawless and this consciousness of the main character's body is consistent. It's not even that Elisa believes she is fat and constantly comments on her size. Elisa's aches and pains are mentioned as she grows through hard journeys, and she somehow does get injured. Her body is a part of the story and I suppose it's strange to be so shocked at this but honestly, body awareness in books does not exist unless the character is involved in some sort of romance. And that's new.

Elisa is a main character that I don't feel very strongly about. She is good with children, and she is very real. She is able to admit when she is wrong and she is a very thoughtful character. My only complaint about Elisa is that her transformation and growth felt too fast. The character development wasn't as strong as I would have liked, and the key to this is what I would have liked because I generally appreciate detail. Steps forward, steps back, etc. And it's quite possible that these steps occurred because Rae Carson sped through some time. It could be that she decided scenes like this would not be relevant to her story, and that's completely valid. But I would have liked those details into Elisa's change, because she does change, and maybe I would appreciate it more with some more details. My comparison would be Clara in Winterspell.

The fantasy style in The Girl of Fire and Thorns is what I call light fantasy. All the basic elements of fantasy are included and reasonably explained. There is magic and kingdoms, and the world isn't overly explained because Elisa knows very little. This means there is some black and whiteness happening, but I did like that there were some moral questions about the costs of a revolution and allowing people to die. I suppose that's what the rest of the series is for.

One interesting aspect is the inclusion of God. I felt like that was almost taboo in YA if you're not reading Christian Lit, so to have a character pray to God and be so devout is fascinating. Especially because religion is not a big part of my life, but I did grow up with some religious instruction, and reading about Elisa's relationship with her spirituality was so creative and different.

There are enough of these little elements of originality that give me hope for this series. Based on some of the comments for Crown of Embers, Carson's books improve, and so I'm excited to continue with this series. Regardless of some of my qualms about the actual story of this first book, there is a lot to like. 3 stars, because I liked it.

-P.E.

Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Date of Publication: October 7 2014
Pages: 262
Source: NetGalley- thanks!

ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES...

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Review

Queen of Someday has one of the most enticing covers of the year, and I was eager to read the story of a girl who could become queen.

From the very first turn of phrase, Queen of Someday's writing stands out as elegant and regal. The characters and descriptions are written in beautiful, proper English, in an almost poetic style. The tone of the writing matches the story perfectly, and it sets the lush atmosphere of Russian court.

I must confess that before starting Queen of Someday, I didn't know it was historical fiction. It explores a time I am familiar with, but a region and royalty I am not. I can't comment to how true to history the story is, and the author's note made it seem like there were some intentional differences. Either way, I enjoyed reading about the luxuries of court life.

Without a doubt, the strongest part of Queen of Someday is Sophie. Sophie is young and quite practical. She is fully capable of defending herself, and she is able to rule over others quite easily, even if she doesn't notice her talents. There is still some vulnerability when it comes to Sophie. She lacks experience and makes some poor decisions. She is rash and it ends up costing her. What I adored was the evolution of Sophie's character. She begins well intentioned, yet naive, and she is forced to make hard decisions and deal with the consequences of them. She ends up maturing and changes noticeably, yet somehow remaining true to the Sophie that recently left Prussia. Her characterization is subtle and phenomenal, as she becomes a heroine I can truly root for. I'm extremely interested in reading more about Sophie as she realizes the power she has and learns how to wield it.

There were some weaknesses to Queen of Someday as well. Sophie's relationships get serious very quickly, and it's hard to be as invested in the relationship as Sophie. It's also hard to understand why Sophie does what she does because I didn't understand why she liked or trusted a particular character that much. There was a major plotline that I wasn't on board with because I wasn't won over. If it had developed at a slower pace, I would have been more sympathetic. In some sense, I do see Sophie's relationship as a little realistic only because Sophie is so young and doesn't have experience. I'm not sure if the detachment with characters other than Sophie is what the author intended, because the storylines does end up defining Sophie. So, although the relationships may not make sense to the reader, that might the point. I just wish I had more of an emotional connection.

However, I have to keep in mind that this is a historical, which means that the author is in a way limited by what they can write because it must make sense historically. In a historical, this type of plotline is quite common. The only reason it's a concern of mine is that Queen of Someday doesn't read like a historical. It doesn't have the listing of facts and the journal entries that typically accompany historical fiction. Queen of Someday is a character driven novel, and it's fascinating to see how the author managed to humanize a historical figure so convincingly.

Queen of Someday is a book that will appeal to many because it is an accessible story with many relatable aspects. I didn't have an emotional connection to anyone other than Sophie, but I did enjoy the story all the same, especially the ending. It's a cliché but the ending did leave me hungry for more, and I want to know more about Sophie, a girl who is set to become queen.

-P.E.

Author: Jackson Pearce
Date of Publication: November 5 2013
Pages: 323
Source: Library ebook

Kai and Ginny grew up together–best friends since they could toddle around their building’s rooftop rose garden. Now they’re seventeen, and their relationship has developed into something sweeter, complete with stolen kisses and plans to someday run away together.

But one night, Kai disappears with a mysterious stranger named Mora–a beautiful girl with a dark past and a heart of ice. Refusing to be cast aside, Ginny goes after them and is thrust into a world she never imagined, one filled with monsters and thieves and the idea that love is not enough.


If Ginny and Kai survive the journey, will she still be the girl he loved–and moreover, will she still be the girl who loved him?

Review:

Cold Spell isn't my favourite of Jackson Pearce's stories. That spot is reserved for Fathomless, which was dark and disturbing. Still, Cold Spell does have its charm and I ended up reading it in one sitting.

Jackson Pearce is an underrated writer. She is capable of creating stunning atmosphere and even though it's August, I could just feel the cold Canadian winter when it's -40 with wind chill and breathing hurts. Cold Spell was the last of her fairy tale retellings, and I'm sad about that because the world is so fascinating. Cold Spell is a retelling of the Snow Queen, which embarrassingly, I don't know the original tale, so I can't comment on its faithfulness because my point of reference is Frozen.

What I like about Jackson Pearce's stories is that she is so good at creating characters and their lives that are different yet believable. I could easily relate to Ginny, who for a long time now has been in a relationship with Kai. When Mora, the Snow Queen of the story, steals him away, Ginny can't just let him go. Thus begins her quest to save him.

It was very typical storybook quest that Ginny ended up finding herself and growing as a character. Her relationship with Kai was full of love, but not without its flaws. Still, I love that there is a story in YA not about new love, but about maintaining the love. Ginny has her strengths and weaknesses. She desperately craves love, and she is a fighter.

Her relationships with the other characters were rather sudden, but charming. Ella and Lucas have to be the most adorable people in the history of ever, and frankly, they are believable to me too because I've met people sort of like that. I won't get to the next two characters of note because that would be a pretty big spoiler, but they had such a fascinating dynamic as well.

The reason I consider the characters "charming" rather than great is that Cold Spell lacks some development. Everything occurs so quickly and if you go along with it, the story is good. But the story needs more emotion and to really love the story, you need more. I think that's what was so appealing about Fathomless. It was long and angsty and it took its time. Cold Spell is not a long read, it's more entertaining so it's more readable in that sense. I just want a little more time with these characters because the build-up of their relationships is nice, but fairytalesque in its speed, which makes sense since this is a retelling. However, the strength of Pearce's stories have been that they can be read emotionally like contemporaries because they're that well written and developed. So, Cold Spell was lacking a little of that.

Overall though, Cold Spell was what I needed to break out of my reading slump. I really like Pearce's writing and the mythology in these companion type novels is amazing. I only regret that I couldn't find some sort of series review to read before I started Cold Spell so I could better remember Sisters Red, Sweetly, and the aforementioned Fathomless. I would rate the series as Fathomless, Sisters Red, Cold Spell, then Sweetly. They're all good books however, and you don't need to read then in order because they take place in the same world but are about different characters with only the loosest of relations.

Anyway, I liked Cold Spell. 3 stars!

-P.E.

Author: Diana Peterfreund
Date of Publication: June 12 2014
Pages: 407
Source: Library

It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth--an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret--one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever.


Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

Review:

First and foremost, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a slow burn. It will take quite some time for the story to unravel, and the story lacks the complexity to warrant this book's quite lengthy page count. However, I am known to prefer longer reads with details, and this one skirted the fine line between dull and savoury.

The world is the future, far after humans begin to alter their own genes. The setting is a dystopia: Luddites, those descendants of the people that refused genetic manipulation rule over estates and all the Reduced and Posts within then. The Reduced are the children of those that experimented, and they seem to have sorts of mental disabilities. The Posts are the very few children of Reduced that are born like people of the past again. They are akin to Luddites in all but station.

Naturally, this star crossed story mostly centres around a Luddite, Elliot. Elliot North is the type of character I'd love to be friends with in real life. Elliot is determined, strong and she is always does what is her duty. I respect that because she ends up having to make some sacrifices. Elliot is the rare character that doesn't give everything up for a boy, and I admired her.

Her story, told by Peterfreund, took quite some time to get going. There were letters back and forth between her childhood friend and the one that got away, Kai, a Post. There was a great deal of narration and description which ended up explaining the world, and the well rounded characters within it.

The actual plot is underwhelming. It's full of tension and an interesting cast is created but they don't do very much. If it weren't for liking Elliot, I wouldn't have ended up finishing For Darkness Shows the Stars because the plot is almost nonexistent. And so, if you always need a strong plot, I would not recommend this story to you. Its charm is in the characterization and setting.

I suppose the writing is nice too. It's very hypnotic and full of little thoughtful moments that really explain the differences that exist between classes in a society. Although the plot wasn't enthralling, the writing was very readable and I comfortably fell into the flow of reading.

Now, I mentioned that there was great characterization, like Elliott and the people around her (being vague to avoid spoilers) but the one thing there wasn't was a character that really ever stole the slow. Elliot was good, and no one ended up being great.

The ending was fine. It closed the story, and I don't understand why the author wrote a sequel when this sort of ending works well. You could easily read For Darkness Shows the Stars as a standalone. Overall, it's a good read. I feel like it could have had the potential to be so much more, and the plot wasn't impressive in the slightest, which is why this book gets 3 stars. I liked it.

-P.E.

Author: Victoria Scott
Date of Publication: February 25 2014
Pages: 305
Source: Library

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?


Victoria Scott's breathtaking novel grabs readers by the throat and doesn't let go.

Review:

Fire & Flood is a book that can be read in one sitting. Furthermore, at some point the plot becomes extremely engrossing and the pages fly by.

Relative to my expectations, I am disappointed in the story. That being said, it is quite likely I was expecting too much from the story after having read some extremely gushy reviews. No, I don't believe Fire & Flood is a new Hunger Games. It's lacking the real darkness of The Hunger Games. Fire & Flood is a book meant to entertain, and it does that well.

Tella is flamboyant and cheerful. She is a rarity in YA; a female character with a love for clothing, fashion, and someone with attitude. She won't bite anyone's fingers off, but Tella's character improved as the story progressed. Tella's narration was always filled with sass. Little comments about her need for internet or memories of the past endeared Tella to me.

The plot is extremely fast-paced. The page count is low, and that's because the main plot begins very early on. The writing isn't the most descriptive. It's to the point, witty and entertaining when it needs to be, and it gives Fire & Flood some charm. The story begins with Tella lamenting her new home in Montana and introducing her sick brother. There are a few short scenes with Tella and her family before she is off to the races.

I think what disappointed me in Fire & Flood was that I felt like the story was a missed opportunity. There were some scenes where there was great potential for exploring some dark subject matter, and the story instead focused on the plot. Fire & Flood does feature death and violence, but it's not a horrifying book. Its demeanor is light and I would have wanted so more ambiguity and moral relativity.

One of the villains, for example, doesn't make sense to me. They were evil and bad, no doubt, but I wish they had some redeemable feature, even a little, so the story stopped being good people vs bad people. There was a lot of potential, however. Characters like Harper shined, with her strength and badassery. Even Tella had weaknesses.

The flaw with the world building, as far as I know, is that the reason behind the games makes no sense. I mean, it's completely questionable, especially since Fire & Flood is set in contemporary America so it's subject to regular American laws. I mean, it's entertaining, but why is this even happening? I thought Fire & Flood lacked believability.

One part I enjoyed was the part about the Pandoras which are kind of like guardians. I thought seeing their powers and how different Contenders reacted to their Pandoras fascinating. To be honest, I want a Pandora. They're adorable. They kind of reminded me of Pokemon.

All in all, I can't say this was what I wanted, but Fire & Flood was still a good story. It's a story that is so readable and I was shocked to discover how late I ended up staying up to finish the story. I didn't even realize I had read it all because it never even crossed my mind to put Fire & Flood down. It's absolutely an entertaining read. A little slow at the beginning, and I thought needing a little more darkness and development for the world beyond what's already given (I hope it can become something that makes sense!) and the series has promise. Hopefully, the sequel goes further. Till then, on the lower scale of 3 stars because I liked it.

-P.E.

Author: Elizabeth Wein
Date of Publication: September 10 2013
Pages: 368
Source: Library Ebook

While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that's in store for her?

Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival.

Review:

I'm not the first, nor the last to write this, but Rose Under Fire didn't have the punch of Code Name Verity. It was more of a cold heartbreak, and the end, especially the author's note, furthered the point.

Rose Justice is a regular girl, except she comes from a reasonably well-off family and is a pilot. She has worked hard to get to England, and is actually friends with Maddie from Code Name Verity. She's someone relatable and I liked that she always had an American perspective on everything. There are so many nuances to every culture and Rose Under Fire really emphasized that in the war, there were only individuals doing what they could.

The topic is harsh and well written. Rose's time at camp almost felt sensationalized, and I shivered when I read that all of the major events she experienced were real. They occurred, and those women were tortured. Humanity's capacity for cruelty was horrifying to read about, but it was also heartbreaking to read that midst all the suffering, friendships and families were still being formed. No one would have thought less of those girls if they broke, but they kept going. Their strength was incredible.

World building wise, everything felt well researched and real. Rose's story resonated because it was the story of someone who went through something awful, and she was a normal girl. Rose wrote poetry, and it's a big part of her character. I can't say that I was the biggest fan of the poetry, mostly because I was so engrossed in the story, but some will enjoy the multiple writing styles.

Plot wise, the story was rather slow. It was about Rose's journey from regular ATA pilot to Ravensbruck and it was very heavy on the details. It's not the type of book I usually read, and Elizabeth Wein didn't try to make the story overly emotional. A theme in Rose Under Fire is tell the world, and that's what I felt the story was doing: being a testimony of what happened to Rose and the other girls when they were imprisoned in the camp.

The character development was good because all the characters were a little different. Obviously, Rose was the character best known and that's because what we were reading was her narration through her journal. Still, every character was distinctive. I especially liked that Rose Under Fire explored an area of the second world war that I haven't really read too much about, and I feel like I learned something about that world. The Jews weren't the only targets.

My enjoyment of the story is not as high as I want it to be, but it's worth considering that this isn't the type of story to enjoy. It's rather bleak. It's more of a learning experience. I didn't have the greatest emotional connection, and I did feel some parts were overwritten and the book could have been shortened. So for that, I have to give Rose Under Fire 3 stars because it was a good book.

-P.E.

Author: Demitria Lunetta
Date of Publication: June 25 2013
Pages: 455
Source: Library Ebook

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Review:

There was a lot I liked about In The After, and there were some things I didn't like. Overall, I thought it was a good book.

Amy's story is compelling and sad. She has spent the last few years surviving silently with a girl she found, Baby. Amy takes care of Baby and the two of them could be the last living humans on the planet after the apocalypse when the human-eating green aliens came and destroyed the world. Amy is a survivor and I couldn't help but adore her. She is smart and capable. She has such a strong sense of responsibility for Baby and Amy is full of regrets.

Much of the story is character development for Amy as she copes with her loss and the realization that this bleak, lonely world is her future. The plot starts from there and it spans quite some time. I think the concept of the story was fascinating and it was interesting. I was very fascinated by the world building and I liked the characters. I think my issue is that the plot felt like it was crawling to me.

At some point, I started to wonder what exactly this book is about. Furthermore, I guessed the plot twist very early on, and so I was irritated that it took Amy so long to get there. At some point, In the After switches its narration to a sort of dual perspective of before and after, and while I like that the author tried something new about halfway through the story, it made the plot very slow.

I wish more had happened in the story and at this point, the overall story arc of the series hasn't been established. I've checked and it's a duology, and I guess I'll read the next book. That being said, I feel like In the After could be a standalone.

Generally, I liked In the After, yet I feel like it's missing a spark. The story kind of goes on and the villains aren't that scary. There's a lot of dull horror and pain, and the atmosphere is well done but I think maybe having more of those key, climatic, emotional events where the scenes are emotionally very sharp wouldn't be a bad idea. I don't know if that makes much sense. Either way, I thought In The After was very readable and it gets 3 stars.

                                       

-P.E.

Author: Kai Strand
Date of Publication: May 6, 2014
Pages: 78
Source: Author for review - Thank you!

Ella Jones is a coward. There is a teen boy living in the alley behind her work and she is terrified of him.

Desperate to leave behind the stereotypical and judgmental world she was raised in, Ella forces herself to make a true connection with seventeen-year-old Ayden Worth. As their friendship grows Ayden’s quiet, gentle ways teach her true courage. 

But there’s more to Ayden’s story than Ella knows. When their worlds collide in the most unexpected place, Ella feels betrayed. Will she find the courage to learn who Ayden really is, or will she determine he’s not worth the effort?

GOODREADS

Review:

Worth the Effort is a unique story. It tackles the tough topic of homelessness, something I’ve only ever come upon in one other novel. The topic is quite obviously a taboo subject and people become uncomfortable when discussing it but when has avoiding something helped solve the problem? Strand managed to give us a quick view of the life on the streets in this 78 page story and it made the novella for me.

Ella is a sweet, down to earth narrator when she comes across Ayden, a homeless boy taking refuge in the ally behind the coffee shop she works at. Reacting as anyone would, her heart rate quickens and she fumbles with her keys as anxiety takes over and makes the easy task much harder. What if he attacks her, she is alone defenceless. But all Ayden does is give her key back.

The novella made me think so much. We always manage to find ways to distinguish ourselves from others, sometimes were smarter, prettier or richer and that apparently makes us better. The homeless are seen as less than human sometimes because why else would we be terrified to face them. Just because they don’t have a home shouldn't mean that they are bent on hurting those that do. 

As always topics of homelessness arise because of hardships that push people on to the street. Kai Strand managed to explore all these details and at the same time build a relationship around Ella and Ayden. They both grow as they get to know each other and this fascinated me. Ella was already a round character with a lot of background and personality. As she got to know Ayden and started to question societies judgements on homelessness she grew as a character and became so much more.

My only issue arose with the romance angle which I felt was a little unrealistic and rushed but I realize that this was a novella of only 78 pages and so, many things couldn't be dragged out for as long as I wished they would be.

Still, for it’s length this story was a great joy to read. I learned things and was able to appreciate two very likeable characters as well as a well written story. I think that this story has the makings of a book but I’m happy with what I got in the novella.

-MARI

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Date of Publication: January 7, 2014
Pages: 391
Source: Library

For the past five years, Hayley Kincain and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

 GOODREADS

Review:

I began this story quite unremarkably. I wasn't very into the plot, nor the characters. I just didn't get it and my emotional connection was lacking. It took one scene in order to turn the tide. It was an incredibly heartfelt scene between father and daughter that was so awkward and sad, and Andy said something so tragic, and I guess I could relate to it more than I'm comfortable to admit.

The true star of The Impossible Knife of Memory is the father-daughter relationship. Family and all its intricacies, all the hate and love, was on full display. I thought it was incredibly genuine. I fell for Hayley and her need to take care of her father. I fell for Andy and how lost he was in the world.

It was the first time I read about a character with PTSD. I didn't know too much about PTSD but I do know that war has impacts on people. It was heartbreaking to read the little bits about Andy as he remembered what happened. He was a brilliant person but sometimes he faded as his past haunted him. Reading about Haley as she protected him, and seeing how strange their family was, and yet how unique they were, made the story so genuine.

Hayley was someone whom I considered quite bitter and reserved and she grew on me. Hayley had the previously fatal flaw of thinking everyone besides her was so typically mainstream and zombies while somehow she was different and special and real. Normally, I frown upon this kind of arrogance, but for Hayley it worked because it was explainable. Her character developed and grew. She was faced with many temptations and while she was a bitch sometimes, she was sweet other times. She didn't know she had a future and seeing her grow was great.

There was even a romance, which I'm not normally a big fan of, but in this case it worked well. I don't understand how they got so attracted to each other so fast, or the initial spark, but I don't deny that their love was genuine. Finn was adorably complex and intelligent. He's funny and charming and the type of guy I can get behind because he had so much personality. I liked that the people Hayley had relationships with were actually real people. They had backgrounds and concerns in story lines that weren't all about Hayley.

So obviously, characterization was strong. This was effectuated through awesome writing. The writing never took away from the story and was emotional when it needed to be and detached when it needed to be. Furthermore, the plot was pretty good. I'm not much of a contemporary reader to begin with so I was pleasantly surprised when The Impossible Knife of Memory proved to be an engrossing read. The ending was especially powerful, and you could see it coming but I still teared up. That was a little problematic because I was reading it on a screaming bus of mature seniors on the way to a field trip to an amusement park. I tried so hard to keep the tears in, and I think the ending was well done because it allowed for the possibility of failure or success.

I shouldn't be surprised to enjoy this book, but I was. I think it was a good story, and it gets 3 stars.

 

-P.E.

Author: Sarah J. Maas
Date of Publication: August 27 2013
Pages: 420
Source: Library
Series: Throne of Glass #2

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Review:

I gave Celaena Sardothien another chance after not enjoying Throne of Glass.

Crown of Midnight is an entertaining novel. It has an interesting plot and mythology that, I admit, I was suspicious of, up to a certain point where it completely won me over. There was a plot twist that I totally didn't expect, and when it came, it kind of "saved" my opinion of this series because all my questions and concerns were answered.

My feelings for Celaena also evolved from irritation to, well, not irritation. I think Crown of Midnight helped me understand her character and her reactions. I'm still not completely won over because I feel like Celaena is a bit of a hypocrite. She does awful things yet she is still righteous, judging people for the stuff they do yet this same moral code doesn't seem to apply when it comes to her. Also, the level of violence she is responsible for personally is a bit staggering, and I don't think she's very accountable for her actions.

One of my surprise favourite characters is Dorian. I adore Dorian. Dorian has his own storyline in Crown of Midnight and I feel like he was quite human. What I like about Dorian is the constant contrast between what he feels and how he acts. As a prince, he has grown up to be diplomatic under a ruthless father. Fate has some shit in store for Dorian, and his parts were probably my favorite of the story. On the other hand, I'm still not completely sold on Chaol. I mean, I think he's a nice guy and all, but he's really not a character I find very compelling. He is so solidly loyal, and reminds me a bit like a puppy. He made some decisions he'll have to live with at the end of Crown of Midnight, so I'm hopeful that his character will grow.

There is a bit of a love triangle in Crown of Midnight, but it is resolved rather quickly. And, this is a positive: I didn't find Crown of Midnight to be a romance masking itself as a fantasy. There was some romance, but it had its role furthering the plot. It wasn't the entire plot, and I liked the way it was handled, if not the specifics of the characters' actions.

Learning about Adarlan was also a highlight. The king's sinister hold on the kingdom, and the means behind his conquest were introduced. In fact, I think Crown of Midnight introduced the series better than Throne of Glass. Crown of Midnight advanced the plot more, while Throne of Glass was all about the characters. And I recall thinking most of the characters didn't interest me in ToG, so there has been some progress!

Ultimately, Crown of Midnight made me so much more interested in Celaena's series. It was an engrossing read that was often exciting. I think the story had improved, and I hope to see more improvements as the story progresses! And yes, I will finish the series because I am now quite hooked on the plot.

-P.E.