Guest Post: Book boyfriends & why they're the BEST

Hello, Cornerfolds readers!! I am so excited for the opportunity to guest post here and hopefully meet some new people! I blog at Sugar Dusted Pages, where I yell excitedly about books and beautiful book covers. I may have an addiction.

Anyway, this post is about book boyfriends and why they are the BEST. I like romance, but I’ll admit it annoys me sometimes, especially in YA. Because 1) I hate love triangles 2) it’s often extremely contrived and POINTLESS 3) I hate love triangles and 4) I get jealous?!?

BUT I am convinced that one of the few things that matches the wonderfulness of a good book is a swoonworthy book boyfriend.

Not only are they described in the most gorgeous way, you can imagine them being as absolutely swoony as you like. And of course, there are the staples: the chiseled jaw and straight nose, the crooked smile (a personal favorite), the wavy dark hair…

So clearly I’ll take a beautiful book boyfriend over a completely average real boyfriend any day, because who needs a real person when you could have a wonderful fictional boyfriend?!?

Either no one has flaws, or they have plenty of flaws but they’re really cool flaws. The perfect guy is legitimately perfect and has never done anything wrong. The bad boy who’s not very nice actually just had a tragic childhood. But in real life, no one is perfect and when they’re not perfect, well, they’re imperfect in awkward ways, like not having that straight jawline.

I mean, you literally open a book, think “I find this fictional guy attractive” and BAM you’re good to go. And then they’re YOURS and belong to YOU. (Besides the 78675653 other girls who also love them, but I digress.) And then they never go away (unless they die.) Whereas with real boyfriends you have to 1) like the right person at the right time 2) wait and see if they somehow magically like you back and 3) hope for the best.

Real guys are great!! They can be awesome friends and are wonderfully supportive and so much more. But let’s face it; boys are different from girls and sometimes you have to admit they can be 1) smelly 2) not inclined to respond to words with anything other than wut 3) oblivious 4) smelly 5) clueless.

But book boyfriends, on the other hand ALWAYS KNOW THE PERFECT THING TO SAY and are way more sensitive than real boys are. They also always smell good; in fact, the other day I read a book that had a guy who had been traveling around for a long period of time and he STILL smelled good. Can I go live in that world?? I will bring chocolate.

*AHEM*

As you shall see below, my favorite book boyfriend is the…morally ambiguous… Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows.

Now you have to understand: this guy is messed up. He kills people(!!!), is obsessed with getting revenge for his beloved older brother, can’t touch anyone, beats people up, kidnaps people…

I’m starting to become worried…??

But he’s also a tragically heartbreaking little guy who JUST HAD A HARD LIFE and I want to give him a hug. (He’d probably bite my head off but WHO CARES.) And he has that hair… And he’s really actually super sensitive under that tragically heartbreaking mask.

But if I were to like a guy like this in the real world?? My obsession with beautiful book covers would probably be the least of my problems.

Now, you might possibly be curious as to who MY book boyfriends are. So here are the top six (as of now.)

For reasons previously stated.

He’s slightly evil and dark and mysterious. Also, he has magical talents involving POISON.

Ignifex from Cruel Beauty

Well. He’s 1) an evil character who turns out to be sweet and wonderful and not actually evil whist still being dark and mysterious 2) magical 3) he has red eyes and 4) he is the ruler of evil shadowy demons, which is pretty exciting.

Okay, this is actually the first boyfriend who doesn’t raise uncomfortable questions. He 1) has never killed anyone 2) is actually genuinely sweet and 3) broke my heart and it’s clear I’m twisted.

He’s hilarious. And he’s a horse so he has respectable qualities. Also he’s never killed anyone and almost all of the other people on this list have…?

Another guy who’s never killed anyone!! I’m on a roll!! I actually love Felix because he was the first real book boyfriend I ever had. And he has the most amazing complexion. So he’s close to my heart *sobs*

*swoons*

So tell me!!! Do you agree with any of these points? Do you have any to add??

And of course, who is your favorite book boyfriend?

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Lenna is a book lover who reads practically every spare second of the day. (This does not include the time she spends staring lovingly at the beautiful book covers on her shelf) She also likes to write fairy tales that she imagines will someday be published. She is obsessed with fantasy, and her favorite characters to read and write about are villains and anyone who is morally ambiguous. Sometimes this causes her to worry… She is also a firm believer that books are infinitely better when read while eating chocolate or anything sweet.

You can find her online at her blog, Twitter, or Goodreads!

ARC Review: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Title: Heartless
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 464
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Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I'm going to be honest - I almost didn't read this book. Some friends had read it and really didn't enjoy it, especially in comparison to The Lunar Chronicles. But one day, in the mood for fantasy, I decided to give it a try and I knew within 20 pages that I was going to love it! I will warn you, this is not The Lunar Chronicles. (It's better.)

Catherine is the leading lady of this story and all she wants is to bake with her best friend and maid. Unfortunately, her parents have other plans for her. Catherine meets Jest the joker on the same night that she finds out the King of Hearts intends to ask for her hand in marriage. Together, Catherine and Jest manage to strategically delay the king's advances while they unintentionally grow closer together.

I loved Jest and Catherine, together and separate. Catherine is a strong, independent woman who is determined to live her life in a way that makes her happy. While she does have some issues with indecision, her goal never really changes. There were a few times when Catherine got under my skin. She made a few decisions that were absolutely ridiculous. I know this was done in order to get her from innocent baker to ruthless Queen of Hearts, but there were still some moments that were difficult to read. Jest is mysterious and magical and wholly unselfish. I swooned. The two of them together are so adorable it hurts!

I also adored several of the secondary characters, not least of which was Hatta (the hatter) who was as perfectly (nearly) mad as you'd expect. The Cheshire cat is also there along with the White Rabbit and the Hare (spelled Haiga). And, of course, a Wonderland story wouldn't be complete without the Jabberwocky. Each of these characters is familiar although they all have backstories you probably haven't heard before.

My absolute favorite thing about Heartless is that it is Wonderland. I felt like I had been dropped right back into the world I love so much and Marissa wrote it flawlessly. The world had just the right amount of madness and whimsy that made me want to crawl back to it every single time I got a chance. I loved the world of The Lunar Chronicles but this one surpasses it, in my opinion. Somehow this is the Wonderland we know while also being something unique and exciting with something new around every corner. Although we never get to see it, I also loved hearing about Chess and the war between the Red and White queens.

But let's talk about the plot. From the very beginning I wondered how in the world Catherine could possibly become the Queen we all love to hate. As the story went on and I got more and more invested in her and Jest, I became increasingly nervous about where it would all end up. Although I knew how things must end, I was still shocked more than once. Let me just say this book ripped my heart out but I enjoyed the journey so, so much! Marissa Meyer did a fantastic job of giving this villain a backstory that made her entirely sympathetic, which isn't surprising at all after reading Fairest.

So in case I haven't made it clear, I love this book. I could go on and on and on about all the things I loved, but I don't want this to become a fangirl post! Suffice it to say this is a book I will most definitely be reading multiple times, just to go back to Wonderland and see Jest again. I highly recommend Heartless to any fan of Wonderland who wants to know more about where the Queen of Hearts came from. Don't go into this expecting The Lunar Chronicles though! This is is a whole different animal!

Book Review: The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy #3) 
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publication Date: March 29, 2016
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 496
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Reviews for book 1 & book 2

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that’s what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

The Winner's Kiss was one of my MANY anticipated reads for 2016! While I loved The Winner's Curse, The Winner's Crime focused too much on politics for my taste and I was hoping this final book would redeem the series. I actually found a copy at Barnes and Noble four days before it was supposed to be released and immediately dropped everything and devoured it!

This book picks up where The Winner's Curse leaves off, with Kestrel being completely devastated that her father would send her to a work camp, essentially leaving her for dead. In true Kestrel fashion, she immediately starts looking for ways to escape. I love Kestrel so much. Throughout this book Kestrel overcomes so, so much. She pulls herself up from the absolute lowest place she could have gone and rises above everything! She is strong and she's smart and, as someone who would very likely be incapable of defending myself hand to hand, I love seeing a heroine who holds her own with brain instead of brawn!

I actually had a little bit of a problem with Arin in the last book, but in The Winner's Kiss he is back to being the amazing, incredible love interest that I loved! It takes him a little while to figure things out for himself, but once he did, he was basically perfect! (Maybe a little too perfect, but whatever - I love him.) The romance between Arin and Kestrel was amazing! For reasons I cannot disclose, their relationship had to start again pretty slowly and Arin was always perfectly patient with Kestrel and did nothing but love her. This romance is the very definition of "in good times and in bad!"

Apart from Kestrel and Arin, I absolutely adored Roshar!! He was hilarious and crude and the perfect yin to Arin's yang. Roshar is unabashedly himself regardless of whether things are blowing up or he's playing cards. I loved his relationships with both Arin and Kestrel and that he always backed up Kestrel in wanting to do her part in the army he was responsible for. I also really enjoyed watching him grow as a character, especially towards the end when his sister showed up. To be honest, I would definitely read a spinoff series that was entirely about Roshar!

One thing I loved about this book is that it wasted absolutely no time on fluffy filler - it is non-stop action from beginning to end. It hits every important note, never dragging but never seeming rushed either. The Winner's Kiss revolves largely around the war (less politics, more blowing things up!) between the Heranni people (with the help of their Eastern allies) and the emperor. Arin and Kestrel both played very major roles, Arin with his mad war skills, and Kestrel with her brilliant strategy. In any other book I might not be interested in reading about a war, but I was so invested in the characters by the time it actually started that I felt like my life was dependent on the outcome!

I also really appreciated that Marie Rutkoski focused mostly on the Herani lands. Although there was plenty of time to get to know Heran in The Winner's Kiss, having the opportunity to explore it further as opposed to branching out into parts unknown. This made the world building feel so much more thorough and I liked that I didn't feel like I had to absorb a ton of new information. Instead I just got to enjoy the story!

The Winner's Kiss is easily the best book in The Winner's Trilogy! It was honestly the perfect ending to a series that I had become a little wary of and I don't think there's anything Rutkoski could have done better! (Except maybe give us that Roshar book??) If, like me, you didn't have a fantastic experience with The Winner's Crime, please give this one a chance anyway!

Mini Book Reviews: Enshadowed & Oblivion by Kelly Creagh

Title: Enshadowed (Nevermore #2)
Author: Kelly Creagh
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Pages: 429
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Review for book 1 

True love takes a twisted turn in the second book of this modern gothic romance trilogy channeling the dark brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe.

Varen Nethers is trapped in a perilous dreamworld—a treacherous and desolate realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel Lanley, plagued by strange visions and haunted by the nightmares of Varen's creation, is the only one who can save him.

Isobel knows that her only hope lies within a Baltimore cemetery. There, in the early morning of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, a mysterious stranger known as the "Poe Toaster" will make his annual homage at the legendary poet's grave.

Only the Poe Toaster holds the key to the way between worlds. But great dangers lie ahead for Isobel. An ancient evil, draped in veils of white, is watching, challenging her for Varen's affections. When Isobel finally finds Varen, he is no longer the quiet and brooding boy who once captivated her, but a dark force, powerful and malevolent.

Could Isobel's greatest love also be her greatest adversary?

I read a ton of reviews for Enshadowed before deciding to continue with the series. Although I really loved Nevermore, people compared Isobel in Enshadowed to Bella in New Moon, which was a huge red flag. (Not to mention, who are those people on the cover?? That is NOT Varen and Isobel from the cover of Nevermore...) Ultimately though, I wanted to know what happened to Varen. I had to see him and Isobel reunited and I am so glad I decided to read this after all!

Enshadowed picks up a couple months after Nevermore with Isobel trying to make the best of her life without Varen. Although a good portion of the book was actually about Isobel trying to cover up her devastation over losing Varen, it didn't come off as mopey or annoying. I actually continued to find Isobel to be a strong character throughout this book. I was also worried about not having much Varen in the second book in this series, but I don't think it necessarily suffered for it. The little glimpses of Varen were honestly a little terrifying, but were just enough to keep me invested in his story. I also found myself enjoying Pinfeathers more and more as the book went on, surprisingly.

The story and world building in this second book were just as amazing as the first! The part of this book that actually broke my heart was when Isobel ran away. I felt so much for her parents, having grown enough to understand how painful those kinds of decisions can be, despite how good of an idea it might seem at the time, but I digress. I loved that the Poe Toaster was such a big element of the story, especially since he is someone you can actually research online. I love when books blend fantasy and non-fiction together! The dream world was explained in even more detail here and continued to be perfectly creepy!

Enshadowed had every opportunity to become an awful middle book suffering from what we like to call "middle book syndrome," but instead it held its own amazingly. And that ending was just incredible!! I finished Enshadowed and immediately had to pick up Oblivion to find out what happened next and (hopefully) get some more Varen in my life!

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Title: Oblivion (Nevermore #3)
Author: Kelly Creagh
Publication Date: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Atheneum Books
Pages: 448
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This electrifying conclusion to the Nevermore trilogy takes one last trip to the dream world of Edgar Allan Poe to reveal the intertwined fates of Isobel and Varen.

The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins? —Edgar Allan Poe

The fine line between life and death blurred long ago for Isobel Lanley. After a deadly confrontation with Varen in the dreamworld, she’s terrified to return to that desolate and dangerous place. But when her nightmares resume, bleeding into reality, she is left with no choice. Varen’s darkness is catching up to her. To everything. Threatening to devour it all.

Isobel fears for her world. For her sanity and Varen’s—especially after a fresh and devastating loss. To make matters worse, the ghostly demon Lilith wants Varen for her own, and she will do anything to keep him in her grasp—anything.

Can Isobel ever find her happy ending? Worlds collide and fates are sealed in this breathtaking finale to the Nevermore trilogy.

Let me start by saying I am SO GLAD they brought back the cover models from Nevermore for the final book in this series! Not that there was anything wrong with the models on the cover of Enshadowed, but these two ARE Varen and Isobel. When I first started reading Nevermore, I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I loved the first two books and Oblivion is an almost perfect conclusion to an absolutely amazing series!!

At the beginning of Oblivion, Isobel has once again found herself without Varen in the real world (or is it?). Things have begun to blur together and not only is Isobel not quite sure where the lines between real and dream even are, but her parents are thinking she's kind of insane, with good reason. Isobel continues to be a wonderful, strong heroine in this final book. It honestly surprises me that anyone has ever compared her to Bella! I love Isobel and the lengths she goes to to save Varen. Speaking of Varen, he's terrifying and so, so devastating to read about, but I loved him even when he wasn't particularly lovable.

This book is set mostly in the dream world which, while confusing at times, was completely awesome! I loved how much more was learned about the dream world and the veil. All of the mysteries surrounding this series came together and finally made sense. Battles were fought and won, characters loved and lost, and I loved almost every minute of it!

Honestly, there were some places where the book slowed down a bit, but it's really okay. Trilogies don't have to be all action all the time. I still really enjoyed this unique, creepy, wrap up to the Nevermore series. I feel like I actually learned a lot about Edgar Allan Poe's life and works and I feel compelled finally pick up my giant Poe book now! This amazing final chapter should definitely not be missed!

Book Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Title: Nevermore (Nevermore #1)
Author: Kelly Creagh
Publication Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Pages: 543
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Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

Okay, so here's the truth: I've never read much Poe. Do I own the complete works? You bet I do. Have I ever cracked it open? Nope. But the public school system didn't completely fail me. I read The Tell-Tale Heart... about a million years ago. What I'm getting at is I didn't know much about Edgar Allan Poe's actual works going into this. Still, I think I get the gist of it and even without that, have you seen the cover?? I knew I had to read this Poe retelling!

Nevermore begins as your classic goth guy meets good girl unlikely romance story. Isobel and Varen are paired up randomly for an English project and neither of them seems very happy about the prospect of working together outside of school. Obviously, they slowly begin to find out more about each other and realize that they're more than their stereotypes (no shocker there). What was kind of a shocker was how incredible this book turned out to be!

Isobel is a cheerleader, thus making her the kind of YA character I wasn't sure I could tolerate. Imagine my surprise when I actually ended up kind of *gasp* liking her. Isobel does initially come off as an annoying, full of herself cheerleader. You remember the ones from high school, don't you? At the beginning of the book she totally fits every stereotype you might imagine but as events progress, it becomes clear that she's really down to earth, despite the group of mean girls (and guys) she spends her time with.

Then there was Varen... Varen Nethers is the dark, tortured guy who sits in the back of the classroom wearing all black clothes, chains, and eyeliner. He carries a black journal that he writes mysteriously in, never talks to anyone outside of his own crew, and drives a 1967 black Cougar. I mean, come on. What girl WOULDN'T at least admire that guy from afar? I know I definitely would have when I was in high school. Not only is Varen super mysterious and kind of gorgeous, he's also obsessed with the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Perhaps a little too much.

I loved, loved, LOVED watching Isobel and Varen learn more about each other. I loved seeing Isobel becoming more comfortable around Varen and in his world, despite the looks and gossip from the snotty high school kids around them. One of the things I cannot stand in a lot of YA fiction is the insta-love relationships that just don't make sense. The relationship between Isobel and Varen was slow and immensely satisfying, but also torturous by the end!

Not knowing a whole lot about Poe's works going into this book, I feel like I was able to follow along without getting lost and actually ended up learning quite a bit. Nevermore combines several of Poe's stories with an entirely original plot. Varen has (accidentally?) created a link to a dream world that is somehow connected to Poe's stories and, as Isobel becomes more involved and enamored with Varen, she finds herself pulled in as well.

The writing was beautiful and descriptive and pulled me through this book at an alarming pace. Every single time I picked Nevermore up I was shocked at how much I was sucked into reading. The dream world Kelly Creagh created for Nevermore was incredibly well done. I felt like I was watching the events happen on a screen and, for me, that is a sign of an amazing book. I felt myself becoming totally unnerved by everything in the dream world and everything that seeped out of it. The horror here is definitely more of an uncomfortable creepy than jump scares.

Nevermore does have a cliffhanger of an ending - you've been warned. This is definitely a binge-read series for me! I've already picked up a copy of Enshadowed from the library and purchased the last two books from Book Outlet. I definitely recommend Nevermore if you're looking for a creepy YA horror/romance and are a fan of Poe (or even if you don't know much about him).

Book Review: The House by Christina Lauren

Title: The House
Author: Christina Lauren
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
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Gavin tells Delilah he’s hers—completely—but whatever lives inside that house with him disagrees.

After seven years tucked away at an East coast boarding school, Delilah Blue returns to her small Kansas hometown to find that not much has changed. Her parents are still uptight and disinterested, her bedroom is exactly the way she left it, and the outcast Gavin Timothy still looks like he’s crawled out of one of her dark, twisted drawings.

Delilah is instantly smitten.

Gavin has always lived in the strange house: an odd building isolated in a stand of trees where the town gives in to mild wilderness. The house is an irresistible lure for Delilah, but the tall fence surrounding it exists for good reason, and Gavin urges Delilah to be careful. Whatever lives with him there isn’t human, and isn’t afraid of hurting her to keep her away.

Whoomp! There it is! My first 5 star book of 2016. This book was completely and utterly amazing and totally not what I was expecting at all. Going into The House, I expected a straightforward haunted house story, but that's not what this is at all. The House is a story about love and commitment just as much as it is a horror novel and it's beautiful.

Delilah and Gavin are the main characters in this wonderfully amazing book and the story is told from alternating perspectives. Delilah has had a thing for Gavin since before she left for boarding school and Gavin has secretly wondered if she really liked him, liked him. But then she comes home and stakes claim almost immediately and they begin an awkward friendship that slowly becomes more. They're both super weird kids in their own ways. Delilah is obsessed with horror movies and hauntings and Gavin, well, he lives in a really weird house.

The romance between these two was a huge focus of the book and I was totally okay with that. Their relationship was not insta-lovey at all, despite Delilah going after Gavin so quickly, and the romance between them was believable, natural, and totally swoon-worthy. I completely adored both of these characters, separately and together.

But, hey, this is a horror novel, so where's the horror?? Well, let me tell you. It's there. The horrific elements of The House are slow and subtle and sneakily creep up your spine until you find yourself looking over your shoulder and around corners before realizing how totally ridiculous you're being. Despite the fact that this book does focus heavily on romance, it is one of the best YA horror novels I've read. Period. There was mystery and shock factor and twists that I never saw coming.

If I could find one teensy thing to complain about it would be the over emphasis on descriptors for Gavin and Delilah. Seriously, by the end of this book I was wondering if Gavin was actually Hagrid. He was described as large and long and huge and big and massive and giant and I get it! The guy is really tall! Delilah should really get checked out by a doctor because she has a few kinds of birds, horses, and butterflies in her chest and that probably isn't healthy. All things considered, these are seriously minute issues though.

I truly wish that I could rave and fangirl over this book for awhile longer, but it's a book that I think would be very easily spoiled and so I'm not going to say too much more about it. Suffice it to say that this is a terrifically creepy book with amazing romance and you should totally read it if you like either of those things!

Book Review: Untamed by A.G. Howard

Title: Untamed (Splintered #3.5)
Author: A.G. Howard
Publication Date: December 15, 2015
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Pages: 288
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Reviews for book 1, book 2, and book 3

A post-Ensnared collection of three stories—available in both print and e-versions.

Alyssa Gardner went down the rabbit hole and took control of her destiny. She survived the battle for Wonderland and the battle for her heart. In this collection of three novellas, join Alyssa and her family as they look back at their memories of Wonderland.

In Six Impossible Things, Alyssa recalls the most precious moments of her life after Ensnared, and the role magic plays in preserving the happiness of those she loves. Alyssa’s mother reminisces about her own time in Wonderland and rescuing the man who would become her husband in The Boy in the Web. And Morpheus delves into Jeb’s memories of the events of Splintered in The Moth in the Mirror, available in print for the first time.

This collection expands upon Ensnared's epilogue, and includes some deleted scenes to provide a “director’s cut” glimpse into the past and futures of our favorite Splintered characters. 

The Splintered series has been one of my absolute FAVORITE series since I picked up book one way back in the day... Okay, so it wasn't that long ago. Still, if you ask me what my favorite series is, chances are I'll probably say "SPLINTERED AND OHMYGOD YOU NEED TO READ IT!"

When I saw that A.G. Howard was releasing a companion to the series, I didn't think I could possibly contain my excitement. The day the book was released I checked the mail no less than three times and ran home to open the box when it finally came! I blew through it in near-record time and was... underwhelmed.

Untamed is a collection of three novellas, two of which have been previously published. The Boy in the Web is essentially the story of Alyssa's parents. While it was entertaining, it wasn't my favorite. Let's be honest, you're either reading this for Jeb or Morpheus. Still, it was a nice look into the family of the fairy queen we've come to know and love.

The second story, The Moth in the Mirror, told Jeb's side of the story through some key Splintered events. Although Jeb is not my favorite person for a few reasons, I actually really enjoyed this story a lot. I felt like I was able to get to know Jeb a little better and could even sympathize with him a little bit more.

Six Impossible Things was the part of this collection I was most looking forward to! It begins with Alyssa as a very old woman getting ready to make her journey back to Wonderland and it was just a little bit odd for me. For one, Alyssa did not seem very much different from her much (much) younger self. I did get a little of the sense that she'd matured, but it felt like I was hearing from a 16 year old telling me about how old she was. It felt a little strange for her to suddenly be back in her "pure" 16 year old body again.

The memories that Alyssa recounted were nice, but they just weren't exactly what I'd hoped for. So much of Six Impossible Things was focused on the delivery of their child that I felt like the memories were almost overwhelmed by it. The memory I most enjoyed, surprisingly, was reading about Alyssa and Jeb's wedding. I thought it was cute and made me like Jeb even more! This book had a really strange effect on my #TeamMorpheus status...

Overall I thought this was a fun companion to the Splintered series! The cover is absolutely the MOST gorgeous of the entire series, which is saying a lot because have you even seen Unhinged??Untamed did have some issues that I didn't expect to encounter, a little too much focus (for me, personally) on the children/grandchildren/etc. when I really just wanted to read about Alyssa and Jeb/Morpheus as couples. Still, this was an enjoyable collection of stories that I'd recommend to any fan of the Splintered series!

Book Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Title: Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication Date: November 10, 2015
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 827
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Reviews for book 1, book 2, book 3, & book 3.5

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

Winter, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.

Seriously though, this series. It's amazing. Every time I read one of these books, it starts out slow, I have a brief moment of uncertainty, and then it takes off and I'm sucked in and I'm awake until 3am. It's a problem.

Winter picks up right where Cress left off, with Winter and Scarlet becoming sort of friends, and Cinder and crew working on a plot to overthrow the evil queen. While this is the final chapter in a four book series and does a fantastically amazing job of wrapping things up over 800+ pages, it is also the story of Winter, the princess of Luna, and Jacin, a castle guard. I don't know why, but no matter how many times Jacin was described as pale and blonde, I couldn't help but picture him as a huge tall, dark, and handsome guy. My brain is still working this one out. Despite my inability to picture Jacin as Marissa Meyer intended, I completely adored their love story. In fact, I think that they might be my favorite couple out of the entire series. Maybe. I don't know.

I honestly spent most of the book trying to decide how I felt about Winter as a character. I constantly went back and forth by almost being repulsed by her complete insanity and the actions that came with that, to admiring her for refusing to use her Lunar gift to the point where she WAS insane. To be honest, I kind of agree with the others who said there had to be a way she could've used her gift enough to -not- be insane, while also not hurting people I mean, I can't believe every person on Luna is evil because they use their gift. Cinder isn't!

Speaking of Cinder... What a total badass. I mean, wow. She surpasses my expectations in every single book I read. I love her spirit and her humility and her, um, her Kai. Can I say that? Is that allowed? While he did feature from the beginning of this series, I feel like I got to know Kai so much better in this final book. I loved seeing him as the emperor and making necessary sacrifices while also putting so much faith in Cinder. It's just... swoony.

Honestly, the most impressive thing about Winter is how it brings together every single character from the first three books and isn't overwhelming. Cress, Iko, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, Thorne, Cress, Winter, and Jacin, all play major roles and I never found myself confused as to who was who or what was going on. Scarlet and Wolf's story was a little uncomfortable at times, but it had a satisfying conclusion. The same can be said for Cress and Thorne. These two... their cluelessness is something that might have irked me a little in another book, but here it was adorable and I loved every second of it! Levana is terrifying and insane as always and I don't think I have ever rooted against a villain so hard in my life. I truly don't have time to talk about all of the characters, so I'll just leave it there. Suffice it to say, I loved all of them. A lot. And I'm going to be sad to see them go.

The plot of Winter is just amazing. While I was terribly daunted by picking up a book that came in at 827 pages (not the kind of thing I usually spring for), I can definitely see why every single page was needed. The beginning was a little slow for me, but I honestly feel like all of the detail included was necessary for the big picture. The slow takeover of Luna, the final, heart-stopping battle, and the way everything came together was more perfect than I could have imagined! It's full of action and romance. I laughed, I gasped, I (almost) cried. Winter is the book you've been waiting for!

And of course, we FINALLY get to see Luna in all of it's glory. I feel like the series has slowly been building up to some kind of big reveal of Luna in its entirety and the waiting was all worth it because Luna is breathtaking! I loved the descriptions of each sector, the tunnels, even the caves! The amount of thought that went into making this fantasy world is really pretty impressive.

I could really go on and on (and on and on) about my feelings for Winter and The Lunar Chronicles in general, but I'll stop. I love this series and I'm kind of devastated that it's at an end. I binged Fairest in a day after finishing this one and I'll be pre-ordering Stars Above in the very, very near future. If you haven't started this series yet, I really hope you'll give it a chance!

Book Review: The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Title: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Publication Date: August 15, 2013
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 360
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You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch. 

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea caught my eye initially with its breathtaking cover and a promise of gothic horror, which I have generally found to be beautiful. I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into, but I went into it with an open mind and most definitely found myself satisfied at the end.

Violet and her brother live on a cliff overlooking the sea. And they live there alone. Their parents are off in France doing artsy things (they probably should not have had children). Meanwhile, the bills are stacking up and something has to be done. To keep themselves afloat without their parents to help them, Violet decides to rent out the guest house, which is where River comes in. From the very beginning, I really liked River. There was something a little off about him and I found myself often annoyed with his constant question evasions. Still, there was something incredibly romantic about him and I could totally sympathize with Violet's complete inability not to fall in love with him.

The mystery surrounding River really made this book's horror elements unique and amazing. The atmosphere of the small town the events took place in felt so realistically creepy... it was most definitely one of the better worlds I've read in a semi-contemporary setting. I was on edge from the very first chapter while also feeling wrapped up in the romance. Tucholke's writing plays no small part in the mood of this book! I found myself completely immersed in this world and had a hard time putting the book down. Something about her writing style just sucked me in!

And then that story... I had no clue what I was getting into with this one and I was totally blown away by the unique plot of The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. This is one of those books that doesn't leave me much room in the review to tell you -why- it's so good without giving too much away and ruining it (which might be why I had no idea what to expect). Just trust me on this one - you want to read it!

I love it when I have no expectations and find myself in the middle of a really unexpectedly awesome book! I won't say it's perfect, but I did really enjoy it and am definitely planning to pick up the sequel. If you're a fan of gothic horror that isn't too terribly scary and includes a little romance, definitely give this one a try!

ARC Review: Of Dreams and Rust by Sarah Fine

Title: Of Dreams and Rust (Of Metal and Wishes #2)
Author: Sarah Fine
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 288
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Review for book 1


I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

War erupts in this bittersweet sequel to Of Metal and Wishes, inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and called “relentlessly engrossing” by The Romantic Times.

In the year since the collapse of the slaughterhouse where Wen worked as her father’s medical assistant, she’s held all her secrets close. She works in the clinic at the weapons factory and sneaks away to nurse Bo, once the Ghost, now a boy determined to transform himself into a living machine. Their strange, fragile friendship soothes some of the ache of missing Melik, the strong-willed Noor who walked away from Wen all those months ago—but it can’t quell her fears for him.

The Noor are waging a rebellion in the west. When she overhears plans to crush Melik’s people with the powerful war machines created at the factory, Wen makes the painful decision to leave behind all she has known—including Bo—to warn them. But the farther she journeys into the warzone, the more confusing things become. A year of brutality seems to have changed Melik, and Wen has a decision to make about him and his people: How much is she willing to sacrifice to save them from complete annihilation? 

What an absolutely FANTASTIC sequel! When I finished Of Metal and Wishes a couple weeks ago, I knew there was a book two coming out and I knew I had to get my hands on it as soon as humanly possible. While book one wrapped up nicely (as it was originally meant as a standalone), just knowing there was more to the story basically ruined me for a solid week until I got this one. But then I did get it and, wow, what an ending! Sarah Fine has continued her Phantom of the Opera retelling in a way that totally diverges from the classic story while totally standing on its own.

All of the characters continued to shine in Of Dreams and Rust. Wen continued to surprise me as a strong woman amongst less-than-favorable odds and Bo remained sympathetic although I never felt like he was a truly viable love interest. Even though Bo and Wen definitely do have a unique relationship, it was SO nice not to have to deal with a real love triangle.

I mentioned in my review of the first book that I was feeling very confused by my love of Melik since I have always been team Phantom (or Bo, in this case). This book only cemented my feelings for Melik who has most definitely earned a spot on my "book boyfriends" list. I absolutely adored the romance between him and Wen. The angst was kept to a manageable level as the two characters tried to traverse the gap between their cultures and the outcome was a relationship really stood out amongst all of the others in the YA genre.

Speaking of culture, Sarah Fine has done such an awesome job of creating this world and cultures that felt real. The prejudices and divisions between the two distinct groups of people were believable and heart-wrenching. One final note on the world building: I've said before that I've never been a huge fan of steampunk, and I'm still not sure I am, but the steampunk elements of this book really fit into the bigger picture and had me on the edge of my seat.

This story is just amazing. As I've said, it diverges completely from the classic Phantom of the Opera story, which makes sense since the first book ended in a very similar way as the original. But I love what the author has done with the continuation of this story! The decisions that are made, the war that is underway, the love and loss... Everything about this story is perfect. I said in the last review that the writing seemed almost as if it was translated from another language, but I actually have really come to love the way it's written. Because of the writing I felt completely immersed in the story.

Of Dreams and Rust is a fantastic ending to this duology and I highly recommend it to any fan of The Phantom of the Opera! More than that, though, I'd recommend this to any fan of dystopian or steampunk fiction. Obviously it is a retelling, but I really believe it could stand completely on its own without any prior knowledge of the Phantom. This is an amazing series that you will not want to miss!

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I'm giving away one copy of Of Dreams and Rust (provided by the author)! 

I have both an ARC and a finished copy and will give away the winner's choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Paper to Popcorn #2: Of Metal and Wishes vs. The Phantom of the Opera

Welcome to Paper to Popcorn! Paper to Popcorn is not be your typical book vs. movie comparison. The focus is on retellings, although there will be some features of movie vs. the source material. Each chosen book/movie combo will battle it out in a showdown to prove which one is the best on its own merits. Posts will feature reviews of both the film and book, rating scales, a brief outline of differences between the two, and characters, and ultimately a victor will be chosen.

This week I'm featuring two Phantom of the Opera adaptations - Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine, and Phantom of the Opera, the 2004 film.

The Book

Title: Of Metal and Wishes (Of Metal and Wishes #1)
Author: Sarah Fine
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 320
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Review for book 2

There are whispers of a ghost in the slaughterhouse where sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic—a ghost who grants wishes to those who need them most. When one of the Noor, men hired as cheap factory labor, humiliates Wen, she makes an impulsive wish of her own, and the Ghost grants it. Brutally.

Guilt-ridden, Wen befriends the Noor, including their outspoken leader, a young man named Melik. At the same time, she is lured by the mystery of the Ghost and learns he has been watching her... for a very long time.

As deadly accidents fuel tensions within the factory, Wen must confront her growing feelings for Melik, who is enraged at the sadistic factory bosses and the prejudice faced by his people at the hand of Wen’s, and her need to appease the Ghost, who is determined to protect her against any threat—real or imagined. She must decide whom she can trust, because as her heart is torn, the factory is exploding around her... and she might go down with it.

It was pure luck that brought Of Metal and Wishes across my path. I saw the second book in the series in a Waiting on Wednesday post recently, saw "Phantom of the Opera retelling," quickly found out it was a series, and searched my local library! I was so excited when I got my hands on this that I started it immediately and I was not at all disappointed.

I have never been a fan of the steampunk genre (is it a genre?) and didn't actually realize this book fit that bill until it was too late to back out. There are metal spiders, metal appendages, metal rooms, metal war machines... there's metal in the title! But it really did work in this book. The setting is so realistically portrayed that it all fit together and I could see it like I was there. The mood was dreary and I felt like everything was shrouded in dust (or metal shavings) and it was amazing.

The characters were one area I wasn't totally sure about at first. The society this book is set in is one in which women are extremely suppressed, have no rights, and are viewed as property. While this was really, REALLY hard for me to stomach, I did come to terms that this was just the way the world was and did not reflect the heroine, Wen (Christine), who is remarkably strong against such terrible odds. Although she is deeply respectful of her father, she also finds ways to be strong in her own way.

And of course a Phantom of the Opera retelling would not be complete without a love triangle! In fact, I think Phantom of the Opera was THE original love triangle (okay, maybe not, but I'm saying that) and that is why it works here. I will admit I felt incredibly confusing emotions over this. I have always been a Phantom fan but this book had me feeling things for Melik (Raoul) that I had to come to terms with. This book has made me a Raoul, er... Melik fan. I think this is because this is the first time I've ever seen the Raoul character written as multi-dimensional. The Ghost (Phantom) of this story is so easy to sympathize with, but I also understand the fear and uncertainty that Wen was feeling throughout the book. This whole situation is just a very uncomfortable one.

My one, very minor complaint is that the writing seemed a little strange. It almost seemed like it was written in a different language and then translated to English. Then again, maybe this was done purposely to add to the overall feel of the story.

This is a fantastic retelling that totally blew me away! It made me want to watch the movie so bad (incidentally, I did) and I was picturing scenes in the film as I read along with this new retelling of the story. It wraps up nicely at the end very similarly to how the movie (and original book) left off so it could really be read as a standalone in my opinion, although I'm very excited about book two! I highly recommend this to retelling and Phantom fans!

Characters	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Setting	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Writing	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Storyline	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Cover	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Overall Rating	1/5	2/5	3/5	4/5	5/5

The Movie

Title: The Phantom of the Opera
Director: Joel Schumacher
Actors: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson
Release Date: December 22, 2004
Runtime: 143 minutes
View on IMDB

Based on the hit musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the tale tells the story of a disfigured musical genius that haunts the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera, waging a reign of terror over its occupants. When he falls fatally in love with the lovely Christine, the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera--exerting a strange sense of control over the young soprano as he nurtures her extraordinary talents.

I first saw The Phantom of the Opera in early 2015 when it came to theaters. Back in the day Gerard Butler was at the very top of my man crush list with only Johnny Depp as a rival. I always thought the Phantom should have won out in the end and I'm a little hesitant to say my opinion hasn't changed much. It seems that a lot of people grow to love Raoul as they get older, but I'm team Phantom until the end!

Let me start by saying this movie is visually stunning! I'm no expert when it comes to cinematography, but from my amateur point of view, this is one of the most beautifully filmed movies I've ever seen. Every time I see it, every single set and film angle takes my breath away. Likewise, the music is brilliant and I suppose we have Andrew Lloyd Webber to thank for that. The songs are amazing and give me chills every time. What woman could resist "Music of the Night" really?

One area I've always had a problem with is the casting. Watching this again ten years after I was obsessed with it I think I've gotten some fresh perspective on it. I don't like Patrick Wilson in general. There are many reasons for this, but... I just am not a Patrick Wilson fan. That being said, I think he plays the role of Raoul very well and he sings the part amazingly. Emmy Rossum, though... I think she LOOKS the part of Christine, but... No. Her singing is pretty good (for most of the movie, anyway), but her face drives me crazy! She just sits there with her mouth hanging open for 75% of the movie. And I'll never understand why these two are the only ones with American accents... All of the minor characters are spectacular! Especially Carlotta, who I just love to hate!

Then there's Erik/The Phantom. I feel like I need to bow down to the casting directors and thank them profusely. These people knew what they were doing with this character! The Phantom is undeniably gorgeous, dark, and seductive. He made me feel for him in so many ways, not the least of which was wanting him to win in the end! And I don't care what anyone says, Christine is totally into him when they're singing "Past the Point of No Return." I know a lot of people hate on Gerard Butler's vocals, but I feel like he is the strongest singer and the only one whose emotions I could FEEL! Chills. Every single time.

My one final complaint is the big reveal of the Phantom. Even as a teenager I thought it was ridiculous that he was so perfect with the mask on and then as soon as he takes it off his hair is a different color, completely ruined, and the whole half of his face is messed up. Um... what? To be honest, re-watching it just now on my 60" screen I could totally see the elastic on the wig that Christine pulls off with the mask. Well, that illusion has just been ruined. Oh well.

Other than Emmy Rossum and , this movie is almost perfect! This is one of the few films I can watch over and over! Even though the ending rips my heart out every single time.

Cast	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Cinematography	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Screenplay	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Performances	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Music	Terrible	Just okay	Pretty good	Really good	Amazing!
Overall Rating	1/5	2/5	3/5	4/5	5/5

Noteable Differences

• In Phantom of the Opera Christine is an orphan and she originally thinks the Phantom (Erik) is her father's ghost, but in Of Metal and Wishes Wen's father is a doctor.   
• Erik teaches Christine to sing, which is how their relationship begins, but in Of Metal and Wishes, the Ghost does not teach Wen anything. Instead, he's just kind of a creepy stalker. 
• Raoul is a very boring, one-dimensional White Knight character in Phantom of the Opera, but Melik is written to be the obvious love interest in Of Metal and Wishes.
• In The Phantom of the Opera Christine pulls off Erik's mask without his permission, but in Of Metal and Wishes, she has his permission. 
• Erik and Raoul fight in The Phantom of the Opera with Raoul almost winning, but no fight occurs in Of Metal and Wishes. 
• Christine helps to set up Erik in The Phantom of the Opera, but there is not a betrayal in Of Metal and Wishes. 
• There's no huge final choice in Of Metal and Wishes and no threat to make Wen choose. 

The Bottom Line

Not too surprisingly, this one is a tie! Both of these are beautiful (though very different) adaptations of an amazing piece of source material! One made me want Christine (Wen) to end up with Raoul (Melik), while the other always, ALWAYS keeps me on team tall, dark, and handsome (Erik)! Both are completely amazing and both should be experienced by everyone! But... if you're not going to read the book, PLEASE at least spend two hours of your life seeing the movie!

Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children
Pages: 416
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A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Warning: This review contains a lot of all caps, exclamations, and flailing. And I'm kind of going to do a lot of comparisons between the movie and the retelling. 

Like everyone else, I saw this book ALL OVER THE PLACE for months leading up to its release. Apparently unlike everyone else, I didn't actually pay attention to what it was about. I knew it was written by the author of Throne of Glass, which I still haven't read. What I didn't realize was that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Don't ask me how I missed that bolded text at the top of the synopsis. I have skills.

Once I took a good look at the book on the shelf at Target I thought I might faint from excitement. A part of me was really irritated that I'd somehow missed it, but then again, at least I wasn't dying of anticipation for months like the rest of you!

Let's be real for a second. I've had a crush on the Beast since before I knew what having a crush was. When I thought boys were icky, I thought the Beast was the real deal. So, while I love most all retellings, I am a huge sucker for BatB retellings! After Cruel Beauty blew my mind earlier this year, Sarah J. Maas had a lot to live up to. And HOLY CRAP did she deliver!

I've found the whole fairy (faery? fae? you know what I mean) angle to be really hit or miss over the years. Some books have it and some just totally miss the mark. I wasn't sure how making my Beast a fairy was going to work out, but A Court of Thorns and Roses totally pulled it off.

Tamlin (Beast) was totally, 100% amazing. I absolutely LOVED the fact that he could shift between "man" and beast because it made my love of the Beast seem way less creepy.  I liked that he wasn't exactly what I'd expect from the Beast. He was never awkward, for example. Tamlin was a gentleman from day one, which kind of threw me off a little, but it was honestly pretty refreshing. I feel like there are way too many jerk "heroes" in YA fiction these days, so it was nice to have one who wasn't an ass. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't warm and cuddly, but he was never outright mean either. Feyre, on the other hand...

The protagonist of this story, Feyre (Belle) was not initially likable. She wasn't particularly nice or relatable... But I will definitely say that Sarah J. Maas has mad character-writing skills because I ended up loving her. And despite the insistence in the book that her name is pronounced "Fay-ruh," it was always "Fair" in my head, because really? That's what it looks like. And... well, Belle/Fair. Come on.

Anyway, she was a total badass even when she was afraid and everything she did was ultimately selfless. She was an amazing character all around, despite the fact that she started out as kind of a not nice person.

Even the secondary characters in the book were amazing. I absolutely loved Lucien and, yes, even Rhysand, though he was supposed one of the bad guys. The big bad in A Court of Thorns and Roses is equally well-written and completely terrifying, although she isn't fully revealed until late in the book.

The world building was just as fantastic as the characters! I loved learning all about every part of the fairy world! I really enjoyed the map at the front of the book. I spent more than a couple minutes referring back to it. Every place Feyre went was almost tangible! Tamlin's estate itself was so much fun to explore with Feyre, getting to know all of the rooms as she did.

Just in case I haven't made it clear, I absolutely LOVE what was done with the story here! Not only is the Beauty and the Beast story totally recognizable and familiar, but there are so many new elements that it's just endlessly exciting and amazing and OMG I need book two to come out like, yesterday! The magical backstory added so much! I even loved that everyone was stuck wearing super mysterious masks...

But my absolute favorite thing about this book is that there were so many scenes that brought my love of the movie directly onto the pages... For example, this one:

I'll leave it at that, but suffice it to say there were others that nearly made my little heart explode with giddiness! 

A Court of Thorns and Roses is Beauty and the Beast for adults and it is perfect in every way! May 2016 honestly can't get here fast enough! 

Book Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner's Curse (Winner's Trilogy #1)
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 355
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Reviews for book 2 & book 3

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

I am almost ashamed to admit that The Winner's Curse sat on my shelf for over three months waiting to be read. To be honest, I really just wasn't sure what to expect from a book categorized as High Fantasty, Science Fiction, History, and Dystopia. I mean, how can a book be both historical AND dystopian? I really still don't know the answer to that question after reading it, but I am glad I took the plunge because this is one book that really lives up to the hype!

Kestrel is the main lady in the Winner's series and I loved her almost immediately. I loved that she went against the grain (what YA heroine doesn't though?). She's the general's daughter and is obviously in good social standing, but doesn't seem to let it go to her head. Her fighting skills aren't amazing, but she was just the right balance of awesome and "normal" for me to love her! I also really enjoyed getting to know Arin. There were things about him that I couldn't be sure of for most of the book and I really liked that. One of the things that really won me over was the romance between Kestrel and Arin.

First of all, NO love triangle! Not at all, not even a little bit. What a breath of fresh air! Not only that, but the romance was really slow and because of that it was believable. Kestrel was actually pretty indifferent towards Arin in the beginning, which made their eventual romance all the more satisfying. As the plot moves and things get more difficult, their relationship gets even better (better to read, at least).

Ahh, the plot... Who doesn't love a good conspiracy?! I loved the way what is happening in the book is slowly revealed to the reader in the same way it is to the characters. Sometimes it's nice to be completely in the know, but the way this book worked out was really fantastic! Seeing all the pieces of the bigger picture come together as more of the events unravel had me up late more than once because I couldn't put it down! The dynamics of the government that has been created and the long-past war and its outcomes were so detailed and...real. My one complaint is that it did seem to be a little slow in the middle, but it certainly picked up again in the last third of the book.

Oh, and when the synopsis says this book is "set in a richly imagined new world" it isn't joking! I'm about to move on to book two and I still can't figure out what cultures this is even based on. For a minute I was thinking maybe somewhere in Asia, then I thought Russia, but I think I've given up. This world is like nothing I've ever encountered before. It's complex and feels so real I almost feel like I could go there!

So anyway, welcome to another review where I just rant and rave about how awesome everything is. In case you couldn't tell, I loved this one! Yes, there was a little bit of lag in the for maybe the second third, but it definitely wasn't enough to detract from the story or its characters. The ending totally threw me for a loop! Definite cliffhanger alert!! I'm reading book two as soon as I can get my hands on it because now I have to know what happens next!