Audiobook Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Title: The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner #2)
Author: James Dashner
Publication Date: October 12, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 360
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Review for #1

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. 
Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.
The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. 
There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive. 

Well, I did this thing where I waited around to write this review and now I'm not sure what to say. I wasn't sure what to say once I finished the book either, which is probably why it's taken me so long to do it.

The Scorch Trials was just a really weird book for me. Thomas and co. wake up to find Teresa missing from the place they've been taken. After a weird guy shows up behind an invisible barrier, they learn that their trials are far from over and they'll have to spend the next two weeks trying to find a safe haven in the middle of a wasteland. Each of the characters is assigned a role - Minho is "The Leader," Newt is "The Glue," and Teresa is "The Betrayer." Unfortunately, Thomas is "To be killed by group B." There is also a new boy added to the Gladers - Aris from Group B, which is explained in much greater detail in The Scorch Trials.

The pacing for the second Maze Runner book is about on par with the first - that is to say, it can be very slow at times. Maybe if I had read it instead of listening to it, it would have kept me turning pages to see what happened. Then again, maybe I would've given up halfway through. While the storyline is very interesting, I feel that it could have been written in a way that would have kept me more invested. I found myself not caring a heck of a lot when a character died or was injured... And the Cranks weren't nearly as terrifying as they should have been.

On their way to the safe haven, the boys have to fight the elements, the Cranks, and more weird creatures created by Wicked. They meet two new characters, Brenda and Jorge, who help them through the Scorch. Wicked is unpredictable, helping when it fits their master plan and abandoning everyone in every other situation The Gladers eventually do find Teresa, who lives up to her new title, but might not be as bad as she seems.

The ending of The Scorch Trials is just as weird as the rest of the book, introducing new monsters and hidden agendas. It remains to be seen if the Gladers really are through with their trials, but I'm not sure if I can muster enough interest to read The Death Cure. I'm surprised to say that I'm really enjoying the Maze Runner movie series (well, the one that's out) more than the books so far.

Mini Book Reviews: The Elite & The One by Kiera Cass

Title: The Elite (The Selection #2)
Author: Kiera Cass
Publication Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 336
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Review for book 1, book 4, and book 5

The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

Usually I break up book series by reading something else in between, but every now and then I'll marathon a really good one. I couldn't even help it with The Selection series by Kiera Cass.The Selection was so amazing! There was no way I could NOT hurry up and read the second.

The Elite had a little bit of middle book syndrome. It definitely did drag more than The Selection. The majority of the book was focused on the politics of Illea, which was interesting, but definitely could have been summed up a lot quicker than it was.

I really enjoyed continuing to get to know the characters of The Selection. The storyline with Kriss was completely unexpected and heartbreaking! What completely blew my mind, though, was how America and Aspen behaved after! I mean, if you love someone, how can you put them in danger like Aspen continued to do throughout The Elite? FYI: That's not love.

The relationship between Maxon and America did become increasingly irritating, but remained believable. I couldn't imagine being in America's shoes as she watched Maxon date other people while she was falling in love with him. I'm not sure I could handle that process... In any case, the relationship between these two (and Aspen) was awesome to read!

As I did in my review of The Selection, I highly recommend this book to fans of YA romance! I love this series and I can't wait to see how it ends...

---

Title: The One (The Selection #3)

Author: Kiera Cass

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 323

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The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

The final chapter of The Selection was a wonderful wrap-up to the series! The marathon continued with book three and I could barely put it down until it was over. That's saying a lot considering I was on vacation and I usually put everything else aside while I'm at Disney World. This series had me hooked from start to finish and I am SO glad book four is coming out soon!

The political themes continued to overshadow much of the final book, but tied in nicely to the story. I loved getting to know the new characters and learning what made the different rebel groups tick. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually can't wait to see how this part of the story plays out in the next installment. 

America and Maxon continued to keep me intrigued, but I'll admit to getting a little fed up with their repetition this go round. It seemed like they were constantly having communication issues - America doing something dumb, Maxon overreacting and acting like a brat, them thinking it was over forever, and then making up. I'm really glad it finally all worked out (as if there was ever any doubt), but I wish they could've gotten there with a little more originality.

I love the way this book ended and I was sad to see the last page, but I'm super excited that there are at least two more books scheduled! I guess this wasn't a thing from the beginning... Seriously, go out and get this series ASAP if you haven't already! The romance is so good and I don't even care that it's like The Bachelor (I like that show!).

Book Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

Title: The Selection (The Selection #1)
Author: Kiera Cass
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 336
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Review for book 2, book 3, book 4, and book 5

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

The one thing that keeps replaying in my head is: WHY did I wait SO LONG to start this series?! I honestly picked it up a couple years ago and read the first chapter and, for some reason that I can't recall, ended up putting it right back down and didn't give it a second thought... until this year. When I started blogging I couldn't ignore this book showing up on so many lists! And so I gave it another try. And now I'm devastated that I missed out for two years.

Silver lining: there are three books and two novellas available to read with no wait.

I just need someone to do one thing for me. Okay? Here it is:

Someone draw me a map of Iléa! Because I've seriously been trying to make it make sense in my head and I just can't figure it out! I went to the Interwebs for help, but came up empty handed (I did find a super cool Pinterest board though). Yes, I'm the kind of person who is going to go totally insane trying to figure this out.

Okay, back on topic. The Selection was amazing from start to finish. I do love the idea of the selection! Of course, I'm not sure how it would work in modern societies, but I suppose all the girls volunteer, so it's fine by me. I felt like the whole process was believable and the added drama with the rebels kept me on the edge of my seat! Oh, and the characters!

You know how sometimes there are heroines who are so good they're irritating? America is not that. To me she was totally real and genuine and I totally get her (obviously Kiera Cass did a good job writing this character). I understand why she made the decisions she did regarding basically everything. I'm not sure I could have been as bold with Maxon about my intentions, but it made me like her even more! I loved the progression of their relationship and America's opinion of Maxon.

The other characters were equally easy to love. Marlee especially was so, so likable! I'm excited to see how her story progresses, but I'm predicting something less than wonderful considering her attitude towards Maxon. Oh, and the man himself! I like Maxon. I really do like him, but I'm not 100% sure I can trust him. The whole selection process is just so strange... I'm not quite sure how to feel about Aspen either. I can see where he's coming from when he first pushes America away. But if there's one thing that pisses me off it's when characters make decisions for each other because they think they know what's best. No. No you don't. Get over yourself.

I'm sure that America's actions later in the book (if you've read it then you know and if you haven't, well, that sucks but I'm not spoiling it for you) were probably totally reprehensible to some, but I got it. I mean, I could really feel what she was feeling and I'm sure there have been a lot of people who have gone through similar things.

One thing this book has going for it is that this is truly a love triangle! Sometimes it's super obvious who will end up with who, but I've really found myself unsure a time or two (even though it's pretty obvious if you look at the titles of subsequent books - not sure that was the best idea).

Okay, okay. I've said enough. The moral of the story is that this is an excellent book, I can't wait to read the rest of the series, and I can't believe I waited so long! If you've been waiting on this series like I was, stop that! Go get yourself a copy and you'll probably be hooked too.

Guest Book Review: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Publication Date: September 21, 1937
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (this edition)
Pages: 385
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In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001). Unforgettable!

After purchasing and watching “The Desolation of Smaug” for the first time since seeing it in theaters, I realized how much I enjoyed the movie. I then immediately came to the conclusion that I couldn’t wait till the third installment in the motion picture trilogy, “The Battle of the Five Armies,” was released this December to find out how the story resolved. The only solution was to pick up my copy of The Hobbit and attempt to read it again, a task I had not attempted since my sister first introduced the book to me in elementary school.

My attitude towards the book was influenced by my memory of being unable to finish it as a 4th or 5th grader; however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved the writing style of The Hobbit. I find it amazing that J.R.R Tolkien could be so intelligent and continually work in academia, yet could still write fiction that it is enjoyable and appropriate for leisure reading.

I decided to read the book after watching the first two movies in the trilogy and was surprised at just how different the book and movies are from one another. The most notable difference was the presentation of Bilbo. In the novel, Bilbo is presented essentially as a badass who assumes the role of the leader of the fellowship of dwarfs on their journey. This is almost in total contrast to the timid Bilbo who is constantly in need of help that has been shown in the cinematic trilogy thus far. Also, as is consistent with the move of a novel from literature to the big-screen, the story of The Hobbit takes place in a much longer time frame in the novel than the movies.

As a whole, I enjoyed reading the Hobbit from the beginning to the end. If I had to criticize any aspects of the book they would be in relation to how the story is told: first, the battles in the books seemed short and uneventful; second, the resolution of Smaug’s reign was a bit weak (this wont be discussed since it is the major plot line for the upcoming movie); third, there were many pages full of verses of songs, which became more tedious than entertaining. Though all three of these aspects could be seen as negatives, in a work of literature they work in perfect harmony. I believe that without comparing the book to the movies I would have no criticism at all of The Hobbit. Peter Jackson’s movies have likely simply set the entertainment expectation at a level that is nearly unattainable without the stimulation presented through a visual format.

Reading the book gave me the satisfaction of discovering the resolution of The Hobbit before the final installment of the movie trilogy is released but I also benefited from discovering for myself what all the hype around J.R.R Tolkien’s work is truly about. I enjoyed reading The Hobbit so much I’ve began reading Tolkien’s masterpiece The Lord of the Rings - something that, according to Tracy, is no easy feat.

Also: Legolas. If I didn’t mention his name in a comparison of the book and movie there would likely be a public outcry.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will be released in theaters on December 17, 2014.

---

Michael is the brother of Tracy, founder of Cornerfolds.com. He is currently a student at Bridges College working on his Bachelor's Degree in Theology and hopes to start the Master's program in counseling at Wake Forest University next Fall. He loves to read if he can get any free time between classes and homework. Michael's favorite author is C.S. Lewis and he's totally obsessed with acquiring every edition of The Chronicles of Narnia ever published.

You can follow him on Twitter or Instagram!

Book Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3)
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 470
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Reviews for book 1 & book 2

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.

She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.

Retribution has arrived.

Please excuse my severely lacking tact, but HOLY CRAP. 

Okay. Deep breath. Let me attempt to do this book justice. 

I wasn't planning on reading The Retribution of Mara Dyer right away. In fact, I wasn't planning on "reading" it at all. I listened to The Unbecoming and The Evolution of Mara Dyer on audiobook, and that was my intention here as well. However, I ended up finding an amazing, signed copy at Barnes and Noble and couldn't pass it up. So here we are a few days later and I feel like I just got off one hell of a roller coaster.

I'm going to be honest here for a minute. I usually read for an hour or two before bed, but not during the day. I am much more likely to be binging a show on Netflix, but I couldn't do it with this book (and my husband is happy to have had the TV all to himself for a couple days). It grabbed me from page one and I had a really hard time putting it down to attend to life's obligations.

This book begins with Mara waking up back in Horizons (sort-of) and not remembering a heck of a lot. What she does remember is that Noah is dead. At least, that's what she's been told, but she can't bring herself to believe it. From there, The Retribution takes off and it's one big whirlwind. The most unlikely person helps her to escape - along with Jamie and Stella - and they proceed to wreak havoc from Florida to New York in search of answers. And Noah.

Throughout the book, Mara struggles to deal with and accept her abilities. As the story progresses, she comes to embrace it more and more, accepting it as necessary to get what she wants and to help her friends.

Unfortunately, while helpful at times, her "gift" terrifies Jamie and Stella (understandably) and threatens to push them away completely. Both of these characters are more fully explored in light of the new information they come across. Stella's full story is explained and I enjoyed learning more about her, though I did not particularly care for her character, especially following her actions later in the book. Jamie continued to be one of my favorite characters, but I found his actions at the end a little reprehensible. Maybe it's just me.

The lack of Noah's presence in the first half of the book, while completely necessary, saddened me. I really kept turning pages because I was dying to see what would happen when he showed finally up. Because, let's be honest, no one thought he was actually dead.

Again, I didn't care for the flashbacks. I understand why they were included and did like how they tied into the present day, but I didn't feel invested in the story of Mara's grandmother. I almost wanted to skip these chapters (but I didn't). This is really the only negative thing I can say about this book.

The big reveal of the big bad at the end completely blew me away!

There was no way I could have seen it coming. At all. And if you did, I applaud you. Michelle Hodkin is the queen of twists, in my opinion. I was actually a little dizzy by by the end. Mara handled the reveal much better than I would have, but she also seems to have an emotional on/off switch that I'm lacking. I'd like to know where I can get one of those.

And then there's our power couple. I've noticed that some people thought the decisions of Noah and Mara were selfish and hated them for it, but it was exactly the ending I was hoping for.

I was truly scared to turn the page because I was worried the author would change it right at the very last minute (à la Allegiant).

There's not much negative that can be said about this book. I could keep going on and on about the things I loved, but I won't because I think you get the idea. Like the first two in the series, The Retribution of Mara Dyer is amazing in every way. This series has officially earned a spot on the top of my list of favorites. Go read it. Now.

Audiobook Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1)
Author: James Dashner
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 374
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Review for 2

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run. 

The entire time I was reading The Maze Runner one thought kept cycling through my mind: how is the movie even called "The Maze Runner"? Because, you see, I saw the movie first. I kept meaning to pick up the book, but something always got in the way. When the movie came out, I wanted to read the book first, but, you know, life happened. I went into the film and absolutely loved every second of it! So I of course made time for the book as soon as possible. My conclusion is that I probably would have hated the movie had I read the book first. Probably.

The Maze Runner, while slow at times, was actually pretty amazing. It begins with Thomas, the main character, in a pitch black box with no idea of where he is (or where he came from) and immediately I just had to know what happened next! I had kind of a hard time accepting the differences from the movie, but once I got over it I was hooked.

The most difficult thing to get over was the changes in the characters. The most obvious difference (and this is probably because I listened to the audiobook) was Alby. Hearing his southern accent was totally off-putting, as was his jerk attitude. I did enjoy getting to know Minho and Newt immensely, however. I also really appreciated the relationship between Thomas and Teresa a lot - especially their special ability that obviously wasn't mentioned in the film.

The world of The Maze Runner seemed a lot more interesting than the one I saw on the big screen. I loved the way the Glade and the Maze were described. It makes me wonder why they changed SO MUCH in the film when the book had already done such a great job! The Glade in the book was so jarringly different from the real world that it made me a little uncomfortable just reading about it. The Maze itself was also much more creepy - especially the way out. WHY would they change that?! Overall, things in the book just made a heck of a lot more sense. The movie left me with a million questions (which is probably why I was so quick to get the book).

At the end of the day, I really enjoyed both, but for different reasons. The movie was an amazing action film and the suspense was tangible. In the book I felt like I got to know the characters a lot better and learned a lot more. The way the puzzle of the Maze was handled in the book made me feel a lot more involved too. I would definitely recommend The Maze Runner, book and film, to everyone!

Notes on the Audiobook

I don't listen to a lot of books narrated by men, so it always takes a little while to get used to for some reason. Mark Deakins was actually pretty great! He had distinct voices for each character, which is always a bonus, and none of them sounded super cheesy or weird (except Alby, for reasons I've already stated). I'd definitely listen to more books narrated by Mark Deakins.

Book Review: The Appeal of Evil by Pembroke Sinclair

Title: The Appeal of Evil
Author: Pembroke Sinclair
Publication Date: January 13, 2014
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Pages: 210
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I received this book from the author 

in exchange for an honest review.

Katie wants to invest her heart and soul in love, but she may lose both to Hell.

Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the "good" guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn't keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the "bad" guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell. Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?

When I first read the synopsis for The Appeal of Evil I was pretty sure I was going to enjoy it. It's not often you come across a paranormal romance about demons instead of vampires or werewolves! Unfortunately, it was not all I had hoped it would be (not even close).

The Appeal of Evil begins with Katie and Wes arguing and the reader is immediately made privy to their relationship woes. Honestly, there is no relationship. Katie has a crush on Wes and Wes is an unreliable jerk. The end. But not for Katie. She's been pining over him for years even though he's literally never kept a promise and she doesn't really know anything about him (though that hasn't stopped her from sharing every detail of her life with him for whatever reason). But suddenly a new guy named Josh shows up and - INSTALOVE - she can't decide who she cares more about. Even when she finds out he's a demon who wants to kill Wes (who, by the way, is a demon slayer), she can't decide who to side with. Did I mention this is like, one day after she meets Josh?

I cannot wrap my head around the relationships in this book. There is literally no reason whatsoever for Katie to have any loyalty whatsoever to Josh. To be honest, there's no reason she should feel any loyalty towards Wes either since he's a total ass. But she does. And I can't handle it.

This book, despite what I read in other reviews, is not written in such a way that I would want to continue reading it. Apart from the annoyingly unbelievable relationships, Katie is irritating. There are literally full pages of her wondering about various scenarios. For example:

Katie's breath caught in her throat. What was she going to do? In either scenario, someone was going to get hurt. Did she want to alleviate her pain by helping Josh fight against Wes? Josh was right: she did want Wes out of her life, but not permanently. And she didn't want to watch him die. Sure, he'd been a jerk and broken her heart for eleven years, but that didn't mean he deserved to be killed. And why would Josh want her to travel around with him? He was a demon; what could he possibly like about her? What could she possibly see in a demon? Did she have any other choices? If she protected Wes, she'd probably be right back to where they started. If he didn't get close to anyone for fear of them getting hurt, he would totally abandon her after they got out of this alive. Or would he? What if he continued to play the same game, claiming he just wanted to make sure she was safe? Wes popping in and out of her life would drive her insane. It already did. If she helped Josh, she was helping evil, but he'd stayed true to his word and never let her down. Could she count the last day as him keeping his word? She thought so. Wes had never kept his word hours after giving it. What was she going to do? 

Please tell me that's not the most infuriating paragraph you've ever read in your life. That's just one of several I ran across in the 22% of the book that I made it through.

Alas, I cannot say much about the world building. All I can say is the main character is one of the most annoying I've ever come across and the plot is ridiculous (so far). It seems that other people enjoyed it and maybe you would too, but I couldn't make it.

Book Review: All I Want For Christmas by Jennifer Gracen

Title: All I Want For Christmas
Author: Jennifer Gracen
Publication Date: November 11, 2014
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Pages: Unknown
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I received this book from the publisher via

Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cassandra Baines almost has it all: a flourishing career as one of the youngest English Lit assistant professors at NYU, an apartment in a city she adores, and a close circle of lifelong girlfriends that are like sisters. The only thing she doesn’t have is someone special to share it with. She’s been married to her work since Sean McKinnon broke her heart seven years ago.

Musician and bar owner Sean McKinnon keeps busy – too busy for a love life. He blew it with Cassie all those years ago, and no one has held a candle to her since.

But then one fateful night, of all the people in New York City, Cassandra walks into his bar, and he’s drawn to her as strongly as ever. She wants nothing to do with him, but he’s not going to give up so easily.

Can a bit of New York Christmas magic help two people take a second chance on true love?

When I first selected All I Want For Christmas on Netgalley, I wasn't really sure how the author was going to fit a story spanning seven years into so few pages but Jennifer Gracen delivers. She made such great use of backstories and flashbacks that the story really seemed to come together without being overwhelming.

The romance between Cassie and Sean is believable and sweet. I loved watching the two of them come back together. I could totally identify with all of the conflicting emotions Cassie experienced as she tried to decide whether to allow Sean back into her life - I think a lot of us have been there before. I thought, at first, that Cassie was just going to let what he did slide, but she most definitely stood up for herself. I get so tired of male characters thinking they have the right to make major life decisions for their female counterparts, but Cassie wasn't having any of it once she realized what was really going on!

I also loved that the author wrote in such a way that I felt like I was actually in New York, despite my never having been there.

My only real issue with the book was the way Sean's dialogue was written. It's as if the author wanted us not to forget that he was Irish and so she picked a few words here and there to write differently. However, this was pretty inconsistent. For example, in back to back sentences, she'll go back and forth between "you" and "ya" and I'm not quite sure why she didn't just pick one and run with it. And one word I just could not get over was "Jaysus" as opposed to "Jesus." I get that he's Irish, but I just couldn't make that work in my head and found myself giggling a little every time I came across it.

All I Want For Christmas is a fun Christmas read that's quick and heartwarming. I definitely recommend picking it up this holiday season (or next)!

Mini Reviews: Once by Anna Carey & Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Title: Once (Eve #2)
Author: Anna Carey
Publication Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 354
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Review for 1

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past--and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together--but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

In this breathless sequel to "Eve," Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar. 

After finishing Eve, I was dying to jump right into Once to see where the story went next! This one started right where Eve left off. The book follows Eve's life in the City of Sand with her father, the king. We learn the things that are expected of her and also get to see what is going on with Caleb.

The romance between the main characters continues to progress throughout the book, but I can't help but feel like there's no real progression of the characters themselves. Many of the problems they encounter happen because of their own easily avoidable mistakes. The king is the obvious bad guy and the only sympathetic character is Charles.

Much of the book is spent watching Eve and Caleb plot to escape the city, so the tension was definitely there. I just felt like it needed... more. Maybe it could've used more reality too.

While I didn't end up loving it as much as the first book in the series, it was still a worthwhile read and I still plan to pick up the third one soon.

---

Title: Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1)

Author: Jamie McGuire

Publication Date: May 26, 2011
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 319
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INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

This book... I really wanted to love it. I loved the synopsis and the cover. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be.

The first half of Beautiful Disaster was tolerable, but then I got to part two. I found myself cringing every time Travis spoke. Seriously, no one in real life says the name of the person they're speaking to after every single sentence. In fact, nothing about Travis is okay. Going around beating the hell out of everyone who looks at a girl you aren't even dating yet is NOT normal. And attempting to control the people she hangs out with, the clothes she wears, the places she goes... None of this is normal.

The relationship between the two main characters is completely dysfunctional and bipolar. Seriously, who loses her virginity to someone just so he'll leave her alone? If some guy got my name tattooed on his wrist immediately after we got back together, I'd be out the door. Furthermore, there is no way a normal woman would get back together with her psycho ex-boyfriend and five minutes later book a trip to Vegas to get married. Basically, this book is a mess. I am seriously hoping no YA readers pick this up and think this relationship is normal or romantic.

By the way, someone who never trains would not be able to take out two guys in the mob. This book is ridiculous.

Book Review: The Merciless by Danielle Vega

Title: The Merciless
Author: Danielle Vega
Publication Date: June 12, 2014
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 279
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Reviews for book 3 & book 4

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.

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

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

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

In this chilling debut, Danielle Vega delivers blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. By the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?

I just finished this and I'm sitting here wondering what the hell I just read. This book is completely insane and, let me tell you, this is not your typical YA read. The Merciless is chock-full of horror, gore, and suspense and kept me up late on more than one night hoping to see what happened!

The book opens with Sofia who has just moved to a new town. It's very "Mean Girls" in that she finds herself torn between the "cool kids," Riley, Grace, and Alexis, and the weird, gothic girl, Brooklyn, who everyone loves to hate. Sofia never really makes a choice between the two, but finds herself in a very unfortunate situation when Riley kidnaps Brooklyn, determined to save her from the demon she believes to be possessing her. From that point on, the suspense is palpable and left me never quite knowing what would happen next.

Somehow I managed to read this book without having read the full blurb (even though I thought I did) so everything was kind of a surprise! I've read some reviews that claim the blurb ruined everything, but even after having read it, I don't think this would be the case. I spent much of my time wondering if Brooklyn was actually possessed or if Riley just needed to be in an insane asylum. Vega writes in such a way that it is extremely difficult to know for sure.

Character development in The Merciless wasn't that impressive, but I honestly don't feel that much development is needed in the horror genre - especially in a story that takes place over a few days. The mean girls were mean, Brooklyn was weird, and Sofia was torn. There was one character that did seem to grow (or at least came to feel remorseful) and, while Sofia may not have grown as a character, per se, pieces of her character were being revealed up until the very end of the book.

The world building here was also so-so. Then again, the entire thing took place between a school and a couple houses, so not much needed to be said, in my opinion. The atmosphere was sufficiently creepy and that's really what matters to me.

Horror is (shockingly) the most important factor in the horror genre, and this book nailed it. The Merciless has it all - it made me cringe, if it was a movie it would have made me jump, it grossed me out. And the ending was totally unexpected (to me, at least). I'm disappointed that this doesn't seem to be a series, but Danielle Vega does have another horror novel in the works, according to Goodreads, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! I highly recommend The Merciless to any fan of horror.

Book Review: Gabriel's Sacrifice by Noah Fregger

Title: Gabriel's Sacrifice (The Scrapman Trilogy #2)
Author: Noah Fregger
Publication Date: September 19, 2014
Publisher: T-16 Publishing
Pages: 236
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I received this book from the author 

in exchange for an honest review.

It's been only weeks since the war ended, since those things came down to offer humanity a second chance in the aftermath. But as the remaining survivors begin to hunt down the new species left behind, the rifleman stays tucked within the safety of his home, content to keep the chaos on the outside--until the hunt comes straight to his back door. And there, coming face to face with a member of this new race, the rifleman must decide whether to take part in this genocide, or to aid that which is hunted ... even if he becomes hunted in the process. 

The author of Gabriel's Sacrifice first contacted me whenever he released his first novel, Gabriel's Watch. I enjoyed that one and now he's back with Gabriel's Watch, a prequel to the first installment. It's kind of strange to see a second book in a trilogy as a prequel, but it was an interesting read, nonetheless. I don't read a lot in the sci-fi genre, so I can't really speak with too much confidence here, but I believe the concept is original and well executed.

Gabriel's Sacrifice begins when Mohammad meets Radia, the lone survivor of an alien race sent to earth. Radia is being hunted by Maddox, one of the humans who has holed up in a store to defend their own personal stockpile. Maddox has a posse of badasses, which really seems like the three stooges at times, who are responsible for his security. Unfortunately, after a bad move on their part, Mohammad comes at them with a vengeance and this is where the action begins.

The character development in this book was well done. Following Mohammad's journey from the guy who was holed up in his own fortress and hoping to stay out of view to a total badass out for blood was pretty awesome. It was unfortunate to see Radia go so soon - I would've liked to have seen more from her. I do understand why she had to leave for the sake of the story, though. Maddox was evil from start to finish, as were his cronies. It would've been nice to see more growth on the villain side of things. My number one problem with the characters was that I often got confused about who was talking at any given time. Some characters are given multiple titles - for example, Mohammad is called "the Fijian" and Maddox is called "the hunter." Honestly, I was halfway through the book before I realized that Maddox and "the hunter" were the same person!

One side note on characters: One character in particular was really weird for me to read. The son of "the hunter" is named Coda, which is my husband's name (Noah asked my husband for permission to use it). As you can imagine, this is a very rare name - Coda, not short for anything - and I've never met anyone else with it or read the name anywhere unless it was referring to music. I was so thrown off! I kept comparing the character to my husband and thinking, "no..." Of course, this has no bearing on the way anyone else will experience the book, I just thought it was funny.

Back to the point: The world of Gabriel's Sacrifice was interesting enough, though I do wish that the author had gone into more detail about the state of the world and how it came to be this way. I know this is touched on in both books, but I still wanted more. That being said, I felt like I could see the layout of the town and its buildings in my mind, which says something for quality of writing. In true Fregger fashion, little mythological tidbits were thrown in, which is always fun!

Connections to Gabriel's Watch were few, but it was just enough to make sense within the world the author has created. While it does fit with the first book, Gabriel's Sacrifice could definitely be read as a stand-alone novel or even before the first book in the series. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of adult sci-fi and post-apocalyptic fiction.

Audiobook Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Title: Eve (Eve #1)
Author: Anna Carey
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 336
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Where do you go when nowhere is safe?

Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth's population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust... and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying.

Eve kind of happened to me unexpectedly. I stumbled across it and, though I'd heard of it before, I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into. I was intrigued by the synopsis so it immediately jumped to the top of my audiobook reads list.

From what I've gathered, Eve is a story that takes a lot of its cues from The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and this seems to irk a lot of people. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) for me, I haven't read The Handmaid's Tale so I didn't have anything to compare this against. Knowing what I do know about the book, however, tells me that this might be a decent comparison for today's young readers. I'm just not sure if it teaches the same lesson that the "original" is known for. In any case, it was an entertaining read, and perhaps that is what today's authors are most concerned with.

The story begins in a school where all girls are sent for training to eventually contribute to the City of Sand, the last remaining (known) human settlement. The king runs the show and everyone else falls into line without question. It's only after Eve discovers that training is not what she's heading towards that the story really picks up. Upon her escape, she meets Caleb and becomes unlikely friends with Arden and the three of them set out on a mission to stay alive and free.

I actually really enjoyed the characters in this story - even Eve, for the most part. I didn't find her particularly whiney, although she is undoubtedly a little naive, which sometimes comes back to bite all of them. I really liked the progression of the friendship between Eve and Arden. Watching Arden's walls come down was somehow really satisfying. The relationship between Eve and Caleb was convincing enough and progressed at a believable rate. I really loved his character! He was sensitive without being ridiculous. He did bother me a little by being one of "those guys" who feel like they should decide the woman's fate because, well, he's a man... But overall, he was a good guy.

One thing that really did irritate me about all of the relationships was the way that Eve allowed others to sacrifice themselves over and over. While I maintain my opinion that she wasn't overly whiney, she did come off as pretty selfish at times, repeatedly letting others put themselves in harms way for her as if she was a gift to humanity that needed to be protected at the cost of all others.

Even with this issue, however, Eve was a great read! The suspense was palpable at times and the the world building was pretty excellent, in my opinion. The bad guys were likely enough to be pretty terrifying. The ending was pretty gut-wrenching, although it also made me want to punch Eve in the face and explain to her what love really means. I'd highly recommend Eve to any fan of post-apocalyptic fiction - especially the kind that might actually be possible.

Notes on the Audiobook

Tavia Gilbert is easily the best narrator I've ever listened to. Sure, she might be a little overly dramatic at times, but that's way better than monotone! She creates distinct voices for each of her characters. I'd love to listen to more by her!

Audiobook Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimée Carter
Publication Date: April 19, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 293
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Every girl who had taken the test has died.
Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom - and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear that her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld - and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy - until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride and a goddess.

If she fails...

The Goddess Test has been on my radar for a really long while now. For whatever reason I just took my sweet time getting around to it. But now I've read it and... I'm torn. I am a big proponent of Greek mythology - hell, I'm a Classics minor. I am totally, 100% cool with an author changing around the gods a little. One of my favorite series of all time is the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon! But Aimée Carter really did a number on these guys. She makes them totally... good. Like, way too moral to fit into the realm of Greek mythology at all...

Gluttony: Dionysus
Lust: Every god except Artemis, Athena, and Hestia
Wrath: Ares/Athena/Poseidon (to name a few)
Sloth: Dionysus/(possibly) Apollo
Pride: Aphrodite/Zeus
Envy: Hera/Hades/Aphrodite
Greed: Hades/Poseidon

I'm just saying. Has this woman ever read ANY Greek myth? There's only so much change an author can get away with in my opinion and Aimée has crossed the line.

Okay, so now that I've gotten the big god changes out of the way, let's talk about our protagonist. Kate Winters is the girl who is chosen for the tests. For whatever reason, Henry (Hades - what is with all the changed names, by the way?) thinks she's totally perfect. I think she's totally slow. Like, sloooooow. There were so many times that I was literally rolling my eyes and huffing and puffing because I was so exasperated with how amazingly SLOW she is to get anything! For example, once she's been told that Henry is Hades and he's done a million things to prove it to her, she's still like, "I dunno..." I mean, seriously? And then when Henry gave her the little clue to the tests and she wanted to sit there and argue with him about it and he literally had to spell it out for her! I mean, come on! Honestly though, she isn't the only one who's slow in this book. Henry has had literally decades to figure out who the "bad guy" is and he has a pretty huge clue to point directly at that person. He's a god. And he couldn't figure this out. Is this really who we want ruling the underworld (he calls it "hell" at one point, by the way)? But I digress.

More than being slow, Kate is kind of a bitch. I'm also pretty sure she's twelve. They talk about sex quite a bit in this book but they -never- call it "sex." They call it (I kid you not) "that." Over and over. "Not 'that...'" or "Are you going to do 'that'?" Can we please act like adults? You're 18 years old. This brings me to my (other) biggest complaint about The Goddess Test - the way they handle the "issue" of sex.

For whatever reason, the author of this book decided to treat sex as something dirty, wrong, and (quite literally) sinful. Kate's best friend (also a really weird topic), Ava, does "that" with a guy who she's known for literally six months. Because of *gasp* jealousy between men, something terrible happens to said guy. And who does Kate blame? The guys who acted like morons, surely. Um... no. Kate goes postal on Ava - like, full-on psychotic - literally calling her a slut and telling her everything is her fault for being easy. She forbids Ava from ever coming near her again lest Ava's slutty ways rub off on her. While I'm utterly appalled at Kate's behavior, everyone else proceeds to pat her on the freaking back and let her know her judgment was fair. Um... excuse me?! So because Ava had sex with some guy (and let's not forget, Ava is 18 years old - she is an adult and has known this guy for quite a while. Even if she'd just met him the night before, however, SHE IS AN ADULT AND CAN SLEEP WITH WHOEVER SHE WANTS TO!) she is the worst of people, everything is her fault, and she can never look in Kate's direction again. The amount of slut shaming (for lack of a better term) in this book is unreal. This obviously carries over to Kate's storyline, but I won't even get into that.

Let's go back to the Greek gods for just a minute. Who's familiar with the story of Leda and the Swan? Anyone? Go read it... Finished? Okay. Now, please tell me again how lust is totally not something the Greek gods are cool with. Aimée Carter should probably stay away from mythology. Forever.

The only redeeming quality of this book is that the story was actually interesting. I did like the original concept of the search for a new goddess. I was listening to the book on my iPhone and I did get through it fairly quickly. I enjoyed the romance between Kate and Henry even if it seemed to happen suddenly - something I've attributed to the fact that months at a time are skipped. I also kind of enjoyed the relationship between Kate and her mom. Because of these things, I'm actually going to go with a slightly higher rating. Just be prepared to be enraged if you are a woman of the 21st century who doesn't believe sleeping with a guy you've been seeing for six months makes you a slut.  I might listen to the next book just because I already own it, but I'm undecided at the moment.

Book Review: Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

Title: Suspicion
Author: Alexandra Monir
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
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//I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review//

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor.

"There's something hidden in the Maze." Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family's English country manor.

Haunted by her parents' deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin's untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess.

All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion's aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself--and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into?

Combining a fresh twist on the classic REBECCA with a spine-tingling mystery and powerful romance, SUSPICION is an action-packed thrill ride.

I first spotted this book on another blog's Waiting on Wednesday quite some time ago. When I spotted it on Netgalley I was thrilled with my discovery! I was even happier when I was approved! This book has everything - magic, romance, and mystery. The only problem was I'd never read Rebecca, so the retelling was ultimately lost on me. Still, I went into it ready to be wowed!

The book opens after all of the main events have transpired, setting the reader up for what is sure to be a thrilling mystery. Suddenly, we're transported back to earlier events - much earlier. Imogen is a ten year old little girl who has come to Rockford Manor, the family's home. Her cousin is a snotty little rich girl, but they share a close bond - and feelings for the same guy, it would seem (although I certainly did not have crushes at 10 years old). After the tragic loss of her family, Imogen is sent to New York as part of her parents' will. This is where she lives with her guardians until she has to return to Rockford and assume the role of Duchess at 17 years old.

Imogen's transition into English society was convincing enough. I really enjoyed how the author made it very clear that the lingo had changed, often pointing out what an unusual phrase meant. I felt like Imogen handled the situation well - much better than I would have! I'm not sure how much I connected with her as a person, but she was a good storyteller at the very least. Her relationship with Sebastian, while enjoyable, seemed a little strange considering he had been with her cousin for seven years prior. The fact that both of them were able to just jump into a new relationship together was a little off-putting.

The first two parts of the book - Imogen's background and her introduction to life as a duchess - were really a lot of fun and were very enjoyable. I was genuinely creeped out by the manor and the maids. I also liked the little (and I mean very little) I got to see of Imogen experimenting with her powers. Unfortunately, the third and final part of the book was where everything kind of fell apart for me.

At the beginning of part three Suspicion became very similar to an episode of Scooby Doo. There was a lot of, "I have to solve the mystery now!" I really expected the mask to come off and someone to scream, "If it weren't for those meddling kids!" I wasn't totally disappointed... The ending left more questions than answers. It seemed completely implausible. I can't say much without spoiling it, but it wasn't believable at all. The biggest question at the end was: why would Imogen have kept the title after everything that happened?

Overall, I did enjoy Suspicion. It just got a little too ridiculous and a little formulaic at the end. I really do wish I'd read Rebecca so I could compare them, but oh well. I'd still recommend this one to fans of paranormal romance, mystery, or even Downton Abbey!

Before I Blogged Book Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian (Lux #1)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 335
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Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.

This book has been sitting on my Kindle unread for quite sometime. It's a book I've browsed past at least a dozen times, but never actually read. I've even opened it, skimmed the first couple of pages, and given up. But with nothing I was dying to read, I decided to give it a go. I finished it in just four days, but I've found that a quick read doesn't always imply a good book... 

Obsidian was more of a soap opera than Downton Abbey. Honestly. And this is coming from a girl who actually (mostly) enjoyed the Twilight books.

Katy is a ridiculous character. As is the relationship between Katy and Daemon. She hates him, she wants to have his babies, she hates him while wanting to have his babies. And he's the same way! He hates her, he likes her. Seriously people, life is not this difficult. He is outright mean to her throughout the book, even in public, telling her to stay away from him and that he can't stand her. And yet she continues to spend time with him.

This is the Katy/Daemon relationship summed up in a few sentences: Katy and Dee hang out, Daemon is a jerk, threatens her constantly, and yet won't leave her alone at school for some reason, constantly poking her with a pen (wink wink nudge nudge) and flirting with her, much to the amazement of her super slutty classmates. You can never be sure from one second to the next how Katy will react to Daemon. Sometimes she's super pissed by his assholery and others she's super turned on because apparently his bright green eyes make the panties drop. At some point, he admits that he likes her (kinda) and wants to be with her because she's attractive.

Girls! This is not normal behavior! If a guy is a jerk to you, move on! And guys, if you like a girl, tell her. Don't be an ass. This is not third grade.

The premise behind the alien species is a breath of fresh air to the YA Paranormal Romance genre, but that's about where it ends. The whole thing seems a little silly, in my opinion. Every single Luxen in existence is super hot? Okay. Why would he give her his best weapon and then tell her to run the other way when he could have just ended things quickly? And who in her right mind runs off to lead the bad guy AWAY from the super strong girl who has a much better chance of winning? And don't even get me started on her decision to go to the bonfire...

The main characters are morons. The "romance" belongs on daytime television. The only reason this book got two stars is because I kept turning the pages to see what happened next - because surely one of the two would get over themselves and just say what they actually felt?!

I know a ton of people love this series and more power to you! I just couldn't deal with these characters. I doubt I'll be reading book two.