{BookTalk} The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone: Adele Griffin

Rating: 75%

Series: None

Genre: Realistic Fiction,  Mystery, Multi-Media, Young Adult, Fiction,

Publisher: Soho Teen

Publication Date: August 12, 2014

Page Count: 256

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

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Goodreads Synopsis: National Book Award-finalist Adele Griffin tells the fully illustrated story of a brilliant young artist, her mysterious death, and the fandom that won't let her go.

From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s subversive street art made her someone to watch, and her violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best—including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art dealers, boyfriends, and critics—and retraced the tumultuous path of Addison's life. I hope I can shed new light on what really happened the night of July 28.

Disclaimer: BookTalks mean that there are clearly marked spoilers, so proceed at your own risk.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

For fans of mysteries, unreliable narrators, and psychological thrillers like the Mara Dyer Trilogy, We Were Liars, Andrew Smith,

Background & Backstory?
I had no genuine desire to read The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone until my school's library got the book in and my librarian and I delved into this lengthy conversation about how to shelve multi-media novels. With that in mind, coupled with the intriguing premise, I had to read it.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

WTF!

Multi-Media Books | My latest Sofia Speculates dives into the nitty gritty of multi-media novels and my overall opinion of them, but now I want to discuss the way Adele Griffin used art to truly bring this story to life. Addison Stone is an art prodigy, so naturally, Griffin supplies us with photographs of her work from sculptures to drawings to paintings. What is more, there are also photographs of Addison with various characters in the story, aiding readers in picturing certain scenes and crucial events in the overall story arc. I have to admit that not all of the graphics made sense in the context they came from, nevertheless, they enriched the reading experience of this particular story, succeeding in their job of being the various threads making up a great tapestry.

The "It's Not a Biography" Issue | My school's librarian originally had issues with how to shelve The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone because Adele Griffin goes to painstaking measures to get the reader to believe Addison's story is a true one. Obviously, everyone in America would have heard of Addison Stone had she been a real person, but the amount of "newspaper clippings," "magazine articles," and "photographs" of her truly added to the larger-than-life image Adele painted of her protagonist. My librarian also pointed out that she would have loved to know how Griffin accumulated all of the photos/images and the whole behind-the-scenes process of creating this book.

Is this book a mystery? | One of the issues the librarian and I discussed was the mystery behind Addison Stone. As readers, we delve deeper and deeper in Addison's life, every bit and piece of people's narration being thrown onto the grand canvas known as the big picture of this story. But because of the way it ended, on has to ask themselves if Adele Griffin intended for it to be a mystery. I accepted the truths the author presented, but another reader could have easily interpreted the premise as a call to action "to find out what really happened." The best comparison I can make is with the book We Were Liars in terms of the type of character Addison was as well as the air of mystery and "something is not alright" that surrounded the novel.

Toxic Relationships & Teenage Love | The majority of the bookish community detests insta-love and love shapes of any kind. While it can be annoying, I never usually effected as much as I was with the dynamics between Addison, Lincoln, and Zach. She become so involved, both emotionally and physically with the both of them at different times. I have never once read about a relationship in a novel before and said to myself, "She should get out of this ASAP because of how bad he is for her." because I truly believe that she may not have gone to the same extremes she did, had it not been for the unhealthy relationships she was involved in,

How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By This Author?
50%

There is obviously no way Adele Griffin could possibly write another book like this, and I wouldn't be able to expect that either, but based off of everything that made up The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, I will likely pick up another book by Adele Griffin. 

Conclusion: The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is a gorgeously accomplished multi-media, multi-perspective masterpiece surrounding one unforgettable girl and an even more unforgettable story that will stay with you.

{Book Review} The Winner's Curse #1: Marie Rutkoski

Rating: 50%

Series: The Winner's Trilogy #1

Genre: High Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult, Fiction, 

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

Page Count: 359

Format: eBook

Source: Amazon

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Goodreads Synopsis: 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.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Fans of Pompeii/Ancient Rome, Political Intrigue, Legend (Marie Lu), Kiss of Deception (Mary E. Pearson)

Would I Buy It?

I already have.... the image of the book is from my Instagram -*shameless self-promo @sslluvsbooks & Marie Rutkoski RTed it on Twitter also @sslluvsbooks*- I bought it for $2.50 from BookOutlet's Boxing Day Sale. To my disappointment, I ended up not loving it and am glad I didn't splurge too much. From my peer book bloggers, this is either a love it or hate it novel, and I would advise borrowing a copy from the library or some other means of book obtaining unless you are CERTAIN you will love it, just in case you feel the same way I did.

Background & Backstory?

Spring 2014 was a HUGE new release season in publishing and The Winner's Curse was the most hyped, most anticipated Macmillan Series Debut. Even if you didn't know what this story was about, you head ALL of the bloggers rave about the gorgeous cover and it's even prettier insides.

I was one of those ravers. I was a baby blogger (still am, but at least I know more about upcoming releases) and if everyone else was raving.... it HAD to be good, right? I actually encouraged one of my greatest twitter BFF's Nath to read this book, and she ended up not loving it (for these reasons). I also borrowed The Winner's Curse from the library 50 billion times and I never read it and ended up returning it to the library ANOTHER 50 billion times.

Finally, I bought The Winner's Curse in eBook form when Fierce Reads was having their holiday eDeals AND I bought the hardcover off of BookOutlet. Can you say putting all of your eggs in one basket?

And now I shall proceed with telling you my unpopular opinion for this novel that everyone and their mothers seemed to adore. I hope I can show my face later on Twitter.


[I saw this video in my subscription feed a few days ago by Thoughts on Tomes about dealing with Hype and Disappointment and I HIGHLY recommend you check it out because she does a better job than I ever could with explaining my disappointment because of the Winner's Curse]

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

Suspenseful ending! It tipped the rating to 3 stars, I want to read the sequel. But.... the overall story was a huge, boring disappointment ;(

Con | Political Intrigue Promises: *imagine I'm 2 years old for this sentence* I was promised political intrigue and I didn't get it! *stomps foot indignantly*

Yes there was political dealings with the military and Kestral's father was a general, but when I hear the two magic words, my expectations are sky rocketed to LEGEND status. Aka the queen of making politics actually sound like fun. We got a bit of an idea of how the military worked and the expectations for females in this world, but there weren’t any dirty dealings pertaining to a plague or swoon-worthy, well-meaning Elector’s sons who want to change the way things are run…. so I would say that this book did not fulfill that particular expectation.

Pro | Tacticians for the WIN!: While I disliked the two protagonists as characters themselves, I adored the characteristics the were given. Arin and Kestral have extremely intelligent minds built for leadership and the military. The book would have been awesome if the ENTIRE thing was the two of them being presented with various problems/battles and them attempting to find a solution together. I loved how they were quick-thinking, and witty at times, Arin knew he had to push to envelope, but knew how to do it in a way so that it would gain him respect and not a beating. In these aspects, they were a lot like June and Day…. my favorite power couple of all time. 

This is going to sound like one of the most unusual statements EVER for someone talking about The Winner's Curse but my favorite character in this novel was Kestral’s father. The intimidating, powerful, rich, and vicious general of the emperor’s army. This goes along with my borderline-unhealthy obsession with loving psychopaths in Young Adult literature. He reminded me immensely of the Commander (Warner’s father) in the Shatter Me Trilogy. I loved how ruthless and unapologetic he was, and the word “regret” wasn’t even in his vocabulary…. like every all-powerful, life-ruining psychotic leader should be. 

Con | Romance: A lot of people loved the way that the developed and cheered for Arin and Kestral whenever an external factor pushed them together. I’m not sure how this could scientifically happen (if book writing is in the least bit scientific), but even though nothing physically happened between them until around 60% of the book had passed, it felt entirely too rushed, insta-lovey, and out of no where. Of course I knew this book had romance in it…. that’s one of the biggest attractions for the reader. Of course I knew they would eventually fall in love and there would be chaos ensuing because slave/master love affairs are taboo. Yet, I could not wrap my head around them. There was no foreshadowing, in terms of chemistry and the dynamic between them. If anything, they seemed more suited to a parabati relationship than a romantic one. There was sincere mutual respect… that’s why Kestral purchased Arin in the first place. Yet, there were no electrifying touches, sarcastic remarks, or other indicators that proved they were attracted to each other or would make a good couple. 

Neutral | Would anyone like to explain to me the kind of world/genre are we in?: On the world subject, I felt as if I was reading a novel set in Ancient Rome, set in Pompeii. Yet, this was a completely made-up world. There were slaves, an emperor with generals and province-like locations. There was a strong focus on military and protection. Women were expected to marry or join the army at age 20 (that one was unusual). All of the usual parties, galas, and overall frivolity that comes with being rich was present. So let me break it down for you - I felt like we were in Ancient Rome (historical fiction), but the world was made up (high fantasy), and there was a somewhat corrupt government slaves were determined to overtake (dystopian). What does this mean? What genre do I classify this as? *cries and collapses from confusion*

Con | Pacing: *We resume Sofia’s two-year old rant with this statement* I was told this book was fast-paced! *sits on ground to pout* but I was able to tear myself away for the sake of twitter. A good book should NOT be able to let Twitter get in my way. The entire novel, I was thinking, “When are we getting to the big climatic scene?” Things started happening around the 60% point, but once they did, they weren’t able to hold my interest very well and I grew bored quickly. 

Pro | Writing Style: As an author trying to please Sofia Li, the number one thing you can do to boost your star rating is writing well. There isn’t a magic recipe or equation for greatness, but readers can just sense good writing when they read it. It wasn’t so much the way Rutkoski told THE story, but how she TOLD story. Her word choice was exquisite and (as odd as this may sound) the arrangement of her words was flawless. This mostly shone through with her descriptions/metaphors when painting a beautiful picture of minuscule details. She made exiting a room eloquent and playing a game lyrical.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By This Author?

40%
There is so much pre-publication hype from a ton of bloggers I know, love, and respect their opinions. I'm obviously not going to purchase the hardcover at full retail price, but I am considering borrowing it from the library because Rutkoski could have a wonderful sophmore novel in this series. But it is most definitely not at the top of my list. (On top of putting too much faith in hype, I keep coming back for more.... no wonder I'm not in a romantic relationship with anyone)

Conclusion:I let the hype surrounding this novel get the best of me and didn’t enjoy the story or romance as much as I could have, but the way it was told was exquisite.

Let's Discuss~
Did you read/enjoy The Winner's Curse?
Was your reading experience spoiled for you because of hype?
Who was your favorite character?
Did you think this novel was fast-paced?
Do you ship Kestral & Arin together?
What do you think will be in store for us in The Winner's Crime?  

{BlogTour/Giveaway/Review} Chronicles of Steele #1: Raven: Pauline Creedan

Rating: 82%

Series: Chronicles of Steele #1

Genre: Steampunk, Romance, Young Adult, Fiction,

Publisher: AltWit Press

Publication Date: October 28, 2014

Page Count: UNKNOWN

Format: eBook

Source: Xpresso Book Tours

The Book Depository | Barnes & Nobles | Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis:
Human life has value.
The poor living in the gutter are as valuable as the rich living in a manor.
The scoundrel is no less valuable than the saint.
Because of this, every life a reaper takes must be redeemed.

Raven has lived by this first tenet since she was trained by her father to become a reaper. But since his death, she’s been spending years redeeming the lives she’s taken. By her count, she’s even and it’s time for that life to end. If she settles down and becomes a wife, she might just feel human again. But on the way to the life she thinks she wants, the baron of New Haven asks her to complete a task which she cannot ignore… Just when Raven decides to give up on her life as an assassin, she’s pulled right back in.

About The Author: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.

Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine. It is also the 2013 Book Junkie’s Choice Winner in Historical Fiction. Her debut novel, Sanctuary, won 1st Place Christian YA Title 2013 Dante Rosetti Award and 2014 Reader’s Choice Gold Award for Best YA Horror Novel.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Fans of The Clockwork Scarab (Collen Gleason), Infernal Devices (Cassandra Clare), Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas)

Background & Backstory?

This was actually one of those blog tours that I signed up for, forgot about, and was promptly sent into a blank panic when informed that I was part of the tour. I had intended on procrastinating reading this until Monday (the 12th) on my plane ride to California. As a blogger, I always read one digital and one physical book at a time, and I had finished my digital one sooner than I had expected. So I picked up Raven before I had intended to and am SOOO glad that I did.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

That LAST page kind of recked it for me.... But the book was good.

Steampunk: 90% | The very first steampunk novel I ever read was actually also an Xpresso Book Tour novel and I fell in love with the genre. I haven't read many since, but would love if you left me some suggestions. The steampunk elements were perfectly executed, not just in the subtle ways characters lived their lives, but were crucial to the plot. What reminded me of the Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare were the human-like automatons and I LOVED the role they played in the story as well as obstacles they provided.

Characters: 80% | If I could smoosh together the cast of Into The Woods and the Throne of Glass Series.... that's who would be in Chronicles of Steele: Raven. Raven seemed a lot like Celaena Sardothien, especially in the way she handled obstacles, plus a reaper is a synonym, of a sort, to an assassin. Celaena is more unapologetic than Raven, but their stubbornness and determination are perfectly matched.

This, of course, makes all of the surrounding character's lives hell. Jack Grant is the captain of the guard, and I couldn't help but draw the parallels between him and Chaol, especially because of his subtle, simmering attraction to Raven and the compassion he showed towards her. I thought Baron Solomon would have a larger role in the book, but the small amount of time we had with him constantly reminded me of Dorian. On the other hand, I envisioned the two witches as the one (played by Meryl Streep) in Into The Woods.
  

Romance: 69% | The romance was next to non-existent in this novel, and I sincerely wish there had been more to contrast Raven's steely personality with passion she felt towards another person. Without spoiling the novel, I will say that her romantic expectations don't follow through, but I wish they had OR that another character would have shown their feelings sooner.

Pacing: 70% | The pacing was a bit odd in the novel because I was interested in what was going on, but every time a new episode occurred, I was a bit bored afterwards. Nevertheless, the very beginning of every chapter were hands-down the best parts of this novel because there was a short passage or phrase in Creedan's beautiful prose that gave you an idea of what the chapter would be about. The moment I read the phrase that's paired with Chapter One, I knew I would enjoy this novel.

Ending: 78% | Chronicles of Steele: Raven, had a nearly flawless ending. The plot's wrap-up was well-done, bittersweet, and satisfying. I could have given the ending 100%.... if it weren't for the VERY last page. There's a conversation between the protagonist and a prominent side character that serves as a verbal montage (of a sort) of the events of the story. It's supposed to supplement the story and make the ending stronger, but what is said between them is hackneyed.

Quotes: 100% | The biggest WOW Factor of Pauline Creedan's writing is her prose. I have SOOO many highlights on my copy of Chronicles of Steele: Raven because of all the phrases that read like liquid poetry.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By This Author?

45%
It's unlikely that I will pick up another Creedan book BY MYSELF, but as most often happens, she will probably have another blog tour in a year or so, and I will most definitely sign up for it so I can support her.

Conclusion: Chronicles of Steele: Raven was an intriguing story in a perfectly executed steampunk world, with lovable characters, and relatable conflicts, all told in Pauline Creedan's gorgeous prose.

{Blog Tour+Giveaway+Review} Body Electric: Beth Revis

Rating: 85%
Series: None
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult,
Publisher: Scripturient Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2014
Page Count: 482
Format: eBook
Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Nobles

Synopsis:The future world is at peace.

Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.

But not all is at it seems.

Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

Someone’s altered her memory.

Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

About the Author: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter 
Beth Revis is the NY Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series. The complete trilogy is now available in more than 20 languages. A native of North Carolina, Beth’s most recent book is The Body Electric, which tells the story of what was happening on Earth while the characters of Across the Universe were in space.

What YOU Could Win!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received this book from Expresso Book Tours in exchange for honest review. 

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Fans of Exhilarating Science Fiction/Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic novels  with Strong Focuses on Science and Moral Reasoning such as Across the Universe (Beth Revis), Legend (Marie Lu), Partials (Dan Wells), Madman's Daughter (Megan Shepherd), Unwind (Neal Shusterman),  

Background & Backstory

I have a confession to make. I disliked Across the Universe, Beth's debut novel because I felt it was poorly paced, a tad confusing, and I disliked it because I dislike novels about space in general. Looking back, I can see that was a bit harsh, and I signed up for this tour to see if the book could redeem my opinion of Beth Revis. I am so happy to have read this novel and I see Beth Revis and her writing in an entirely new light now.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

What the frick just happened?

Warning: Whatever you do, do NOT have this book spoiled for you. It relies so much on the plot twists and mind-blowing revelations that it will not be half as enjoyable if it's spoiled. I am trying my best to be vague in this review, but there are so many little pieces of the puzzle that CANNOT be spoiled.

Science Fiction: A common misconception about Dystopian novels are that they are ALL under the umbrella known as Science Fiction. The Body Electric could be classified as a Dystopian novel, but more accurately.... it's Science Fiction. And may I just say.... this was a YA science fiction done right. I've seen Dystopian, Science-Fiction wannabes add a lot of cool technology and try to pass itself off as Science Fiction. On the other hand, books like Ender's Game are obviously Science Fiction with such complex worlds/conflicts, they can hardly be considered Young Adult. 

The Body Electric is a perfect combination of a thrilling, fast-paced world and intricate science fiction. The plot is NEVER slowed, but actually hastened by descriptions of new technology and concepts because they're answers to the mind-fudge that just took place. There were so many questions asked about what it means to be human (an oldie, but a goodie). And about the human brain and what it can do (always fascinating). And so many others that would make me want to live there if the government wasn't corrupt.

Romance: There wasn't a LEGITIMATE romance, in this novel... but there was a guy who insisted that he and the protagonist had been together for a long time. I felt so sorry for Jack because of how much he cared about Ella and her reactions to his feelings. At the same time, it was a wise decision to exclude romance because the plot was captivating enough without it, but the hints of it made the story even better. 

Praise Hafsah & Her Cover Design: I remember reading the "Journey to a Cover" post in September and was fascinated with the entire process. Of course, you won't recognize the significance of the cover until you read the book, but for a few minutes after finishing, all I could do was stare and revel in how perfectly it encapsulated the story. The bees and circuit boards hadn't made any sense, but they do now.... and the silhouette is perfect. 

How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By Beth Revis?

I probably won't pick up A Million Suns or Shades of Earth, but I will definitely put Beth's next book on my TBR because of how much I loved this one.

Conclusion: A brilliantly fast-paced novel with a captivating plot influenced by a future that could be ours.

{BookTalk} Retribution of Mara Dyer: Michelle Hodkin

Rating: 83%
Series: Mara Dyer #3
Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult,
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Page Count: 470
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

The Book Depository | Barnes & Nobles | Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis: 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.

How Likely Is It That I Will Buy This Book?

15%

I think it's highly unlikely unless there's some stellar sale on them because while the covers are pretty and feel AMAZING, they aren't worth the full-price purchase.

Plot 75%

Premise 89%

Characters 70%

Romance 90%

Originality 85%

Cover 98%

Title 100%

Feels 78%

Writing Style 80%

Pacing 60%

Ending 90%

Quotes 70%

How Likely Is It That I Will Read Another Book By This Author?

55% 

It's a toss-up. While I enjoyed the Mar Dyer Trilogy in terms of entertainment, it definitely isn't a staple YA that you MUST read. Maybe if Hodkin's next release has a particularly interesting review or receives a lot of hype, I will consider reading it.

{BookTalk} Snow Like Ashes #1: Sara Raasch

Rating: 96%
Series: Snow Like Ashes #1
Genre: High Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult,
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date:October 14, 2014
Page Count: 416
Format: Hardcover
Source: Gifted

The Book Depository | Barnes & Nobles | Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis: A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

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

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

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

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Fans of High Fantasy Novels such as Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas), Girl of Fire and Thorns (Rae Carson), Kiss of Deception (Mary E. Pearson), 

Would I Buy It?

This is an Instagram of SLA @ Katz's Deli in New York City

Considering I begged for the book for Hanukah and it was one of my most anticipated books of 2014, I would say.... yes. I would have absolutely 100% bought it if I hadn't begged my best friend to get it for me. 

Background & Backstory

I first heard about this book in January of 2014 when Fiction_The New Reality was doing her New Year, New Books celebration when there wasn't even a cover or a complete synopsis. I've been following Sara Raasch on Twitter ever since and knew I HAD to get her book. High Fantasy is a genre I have recently become interested in and this seemed like the perfect book to read. 

What Was My Reaction After I Finished This Book?

Oh. My. Gawd! This is my new obsession. Let me yell from the rooftops!

In past blog posts, I have talked about how I find a new bookish obsession every year or so. From an outsider's perspective, "obsession" is a word taken extremely lightly. A lot of friends have said, "You say every book you read is amazing." As anyone knows in any dedicated fandom.... "obsession" is something that should be taken 100% seriously with the assumption that whatever it is (book, movie, celebrity) will henceforth take over your life. And that anyone in the foreseeable future should know that this book will be pushed/forced on them.

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Freaking Amazing Raasch is that new obsession.

If anyone has followed this blog for more than a week, they will know that from January 2013 ON, the Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu was something I lived and breathed. I have gained my best twitter friends, met the author twice, and made the commitment to the fandom like no one else has before. While it is still one of the best trilogies of all my existence, it was time that a new book came to take the crown.

I have to admit, like Legend and the Hunger Games, it was not my immediate reaction to LOVE this book. It took time, but not enough that I was almost ready to give up on it (Throne of Glass). In fact, I have two critiques for it. This is Sara Raasch's debut novel, she's young, and obviously doesn't have the experience Ray Bradbury does.... or even Veronica Roth. So it is expected that her debut won't be 100% perfection. There were some cliche phrases and awkward wording that more seasoned authors have smoothed out in their writing. 

Because of this, the protagonist of this novel, Meira, was affected. It was most certainly not love-at-first-sight for me. In fact, even at the end of the novel it isn't. Meira is insecure and seeks out praise from her father-figure in the story, William Loren aka. "Sir." She seems extremely unsure of herself at times and a bit immature. Yet, with fantasy stories especially, the beauty of everything is that we as readers get to sit back and observe these character's development. Each time they overcome a new obstacle, each time they stand up for themselves/their obligations, you see them in a new light and I am so excited to see Meira's progression.

Something interesting throughout the first hundred pages or so of Snow Like Ashes, was that it seemed as if I was willing myself to dislike it. I don't know why, I don't know how (because of how undeniably awesome of a book it is), but I kept searching for some little quality to dislike. With this heightened sense of awarement (totally a word), my brain went into critical figure-everything-out mode. At each twist, turn, and bend in the road, I projected and inferred. To my (now pleasant) surprise, I was unable to guess what was going to happen. There are some common tropes/themes that make themselves prominent ONLY in fantasy (which is what has deterred me fro the genre the past 2 years) and Snow Like Ashes only had one of them, which I can overlook and forgive Sara for because of how well it was done and served only as a stepping stone in the plot versus a huge "What are we going to do now?" element.

Characters are an element that you could almost consider most important throughout a high-fantasy novel. Because of their reputation for being notoriously slow due to excessive world-buildind and build-up.... you have to rely on the characters to get you through the not-so-riveting sections. I am so happy to tell you that I liked nearly every one.

Despite Meira's short-comings in terms of confidence levels.... she had some excellent character traits. She was sassy and sarcastic at times, which was a surprising combination. On top of that, she was a bit of a theatric, especially when it came to Sir not allowing her to go on the mission for the locket half. All of these qualities and more are what made her relatable and lovable, versus Celaena Sardothien who takes some time to warm up to.

As I am composing my thoughts, I am having a conversation with Twitter BFF +Nathania Shuttleworth about Theron, who is one of Meira's two love interests. We are both firmly Team Theron. I don't know what was off about him, he was, in fact, endearing, during the majority of the novel towards Meira, but Mather was not the most likable character (plus his name annoys me). Theron is strong leader, he stood up to his father, is dependable for his kingdom, has an artistic writing side AND hot (according to Meira). He's the total princely package. I had brief suspicion that he was a bad guy and would turn against Winter.... but luckily that wasn't the case.

The dynamic between Meira and Sir is an intriguing one because of all the white lies that were told to hide Meira's identity. I am so looking forward to how their relationship will change in the sequels and how the positions of power will shift. For so long, she searched for his approval and she has finally done something to validate it, but how much will that change them?

It was a classic twist and one (out of the billion I thought of) that should have seemed the most glaringly obvious that Meira was the true heir. There were little hints/clues as to her true identity.... but I obviously sped right past them. I had a feeling (for some reason) that she wasn't a Winterian, but a citizen of another Season or even a Rhythm.

Can we just talk about the Chakram? In so many YA novels, the protagonist has some be-all, end-all weapon of choice. For Katniss, it's her Bow and Arrow. For June, it's her wits. For Jaron, it's his sword. Yet, I have never conceived of a weapon as epic as the chakram. It took some time for me to grasp as a kind of frisbee-boomerang, but once I did, I wished I could order it off of amazon. I have no clue how you would catch it without slicing your hand open OR how it comes back to you without bouncing off of another surface. Yet, I accept it anyway and think it's remarkably badass.

I remember when I first saw the cover back in (let's call it May) when it was first revealed and was sent reeling with how incredibly epic it was. And it is by far my best looking naked book.

The title is something interesting to discuss. The prequel novella is Icicle Like Kindling, first book is Snow Like Ashes, sequel is Ice Like Fire. There is a gradual progression of power and development between them and their power. Icicles and Kindling are the weakest forms of their power. Snow aka Winter is weak, fine, and powdery, similar to ashes. Ice is harsh and Fire is its opposite which gives me hope that the sequel will be just as complex with an equally good conflict. I especially look forward to hearing about Summer which is never mentioned in detail. 

The ending is satisfying and spins you around at a break-neck pace, yet is extremely conclusive. I have a feeling Raasch wanted to give us a mini reprieve before thrusting us into the action-packed sequel which I look forward to, especially if it means I can enjoy a little Theron/Meira fluff.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read The Sequel To This Book?

99.9%
I loved loved loved this book so much and the sequel -Ice Like Fire- is one of my most anticipated books of 2015. I will be requesting an ARC from the publisher and entering every giveaway under the sun so I may obtain it.

Conclusion: Snow Like Ashes was a stunning, gripping debut with a break-neck pace, lovable characters, and an intriguing plot.

 

{Book Review} A Thousand Pieces of You (Firebird #1): Claudia Gray

Rating: 87%
Series: Firebird Trilogy
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult,
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 4, 2014
Page Count: 357
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library

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Goodreads Synopsis: Cloud Atlas meets Orphan Black in this epic dimension-bending trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray about a girl who must chase her father's killer through multiple dimensions. Marguerite Caine's physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite's father is murdered, and the killer—her parent's handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul's guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father's death is far more sinister than she expected.

A Thousand Pieces of You, the first book in the Firebird trilogy, explores an amazingly intricate multiverse where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.

Who Would I Recommend This Book To?

Fans of Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc (P.K. Hezro) & Dissonance (Erica O'Rouke) & Pivot Point   (Kasie West)

Background & Backstory

I heard about this book about a month before it came out, read it (mostly) because of the gorgeous cover, and read it. Not that much of a back story.

What Was My Reaction Upon Finishing?

Tons of buildup.... but not explosive ending.

Make It A Sequel Or a Standalone? 95% of the time, I agree wholeheartedly with the author's choice to make a book a standalone or leave it open ended for a sequel. (There is the case, of course, where I want to author to write more books, but you get my point) However, with A Thousand Pieces of You, I don't think there should be a sequel with the way Gray set things up. I feel like it would have been easier to add an extra 50 pages and call it a day. There is definitely set-up for a sequel, I just felt that I wasn't convinced that I immediately NEED the sequel. All of the action and suspense 

Premise | 100%: I'm not sure this book's premise could have gotten any better. It was about a girl chasing down her father's murderer through various parallel universes. That just sounds like the "it" book of premise AND cover. Parallel Universes as well as Time Travel are two incredibly difficult concepts for scientists, let alone everyday people to grasp. Yet, fiction gives people the chance to invent their own answers and theories and no one can LEGITIMATELY challenge an author on their scientific integrity because it's assumed there is none. With that said, the way Claudia Gray both explained and sculpted the parallel universes was so easy to understand and mind boggling at the same time. 

Different Universes | 60%: The universes were extremely interesting because each one was created if something happened/some choice was made in the past that effects the current time when the traveler jumps between universes. The ones Marguerite spent the most time in were the most developed. Especially the Russian one where she was royalty (for an image of that universe, look at the bottom half of the ATPOY cover). There was also one where she and her family lived in an underwater colony (which was an extremely interesting concept). Besides that, they were all extremely similar and I felt there wasn't enough differentiation between them to make a comment. Although the VERY first one she jumps through is featured on the top half of the cover and looks so futuristic-ey and cool.

Romance | 70%: It was hard for me to differentiate my feelings for the romance and characters because in each universe, although the same person, the person has been effected in different ways.... and is therefore different in mannerisms and characteristics, such as hobbies. For example, Marguerite is a drawer in one world, a painter in another. Therefore, her relationship with both Theo and Paul is different. Without spoiling things, I would like to say that Marguerite and Paul's relationship in Russia makes me want to swoon.

Originality | 90%: There has never been a popularized, Young Adult book with Parallel Universes that isn't an extremely complicated Science-Fiction. It's hard to answer, "What books can I read that are like A Thousand Pieces of You?" because there are literally no other ones like ATPOY. The premise is completely original and the plot is a basic murder mystery with the added bonus of different personalities and conditions in different universes. No biggie, right?

Cover | 100%: A Thousand Pieces of You won with a landslide in the Book Shimmy Awards for the Cover Lust award with over HALF of the votes. It's gorgeous online and even better in person. (Although the texture could be better) On top of that, the font is one that I haven't seen before that looks incredible against the dark purple naked book.

How Likely Is It That I Will Read The Sequel?

40%

Like I JUST said, I thought it would have been good as a standalone because the build-up for the next book isn't very large. I'm not dying to know what will happen, but if I have the time, I will definitely get around to it.... eventually.

Conclusion: A completely original premise with a gorgeous cover to match and a sizzling romance people are sure to enjoy.

{ARC Review} Ignite (Defy #2): Sara B. Larson

Rating: 45%
Series: Defy
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: December 30, 2014
Page Count: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Edelwiess

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Synopsis: Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

Disclaimer: I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I don't have the most positive feedback for this novel, but I do not wish to deter you from reading it, I merely bring up some important points for discussion about my personal reading experience with Ignite. I obviously don't spoil Ignite, but there will be spoilers for Defy which are unavoidable pertaining to the plot and other literary elements. 

What was my reaction upon finishing?

After all of that, now I HAVE to read the sequel! *stomps foot in frustration*

Background & Backstory 

The first EVER Netgalley ARC I ever received was Defy, the first book in the series. (Click here for my amateur review and thoughts on the first book) My already click-happy self saw it was on READ NOW, the plot looked interesting, it wouldn't come out for another two weeks, and I was eager to be a "big shot" with a galley to review.

Ironically, my first ever Edelwiess galley I ever received is Ignite. I was absolutely terrified of requesting anything from them because of the whole "fill in your own stats" thing. Yet, I got over my fears, and was (obviously) accepted. 

Who knows, maybe the 3rd book in the series will be my first acceptance from a brand-new galley requesting site in 2015!

Originally, I filmed and partially edited a BookTalk, but I deleted it after I realized how bad it was going between two locations with two cameras in three time periods for one 10 minute video.

Neutral | Plot: In my honest opinion, the plot of Ignite was weak. Confusingly enough, its weakness that I picked up on stemmed from one of the PROS of this novel, and that is the fact that the novel was super fast-paced. I felt that it was entirely too dependent on the action and one event happening right after another. Any lull in pace or stopping to describe something seemed to set things off balance.   

Con | Characters: There were six main character this story revolved around, three who were present heavily in Defy, one who became a more important focal-point of the story, and two entirely new ones. Sadly, I felt that the characters we already knew hadn't developed that much despite being put under all of the pressure that was given in the last book.

Alexa - She seemed almost regressive instead of progressive with who she was as a character. We saw that she was truly naive in areas such as love and large-scale decision making. Besides her ability to fight, she wasn't strong emotionally or physically. She thought either ENTIRELY with her head or ENTIRELY with her heart. When I say that, I mean that she either made a decision, damning the consequences for the sake of herself or the people around her. OR she made a decision that was seeming the "best" for her kingdom which ended up harming some of the other characters.

Rylan - There was quite an intense Team Rylan or Team Damian debate going on upon and building up to Defy's release. I never liked Rylan, and Ignite did nothing to redeem him to me. Besides accompanying Alexa on a mission or two (which could easily have been done by somebody else), he seemed to be a plot device, merely put there so friction could be visible between him, Damian, and Alexa.

Damian - You would think that a month with such a high-pressure job would making a leader stronger. Sadly, this was not the case. Damian seemed insecure, weak, and untested... just as a new king would normally appear. What I disliked about him was the fact that we as the READERS saw his weakness, instead of maybe another character picking up on his inadequacies so we could see what the other characters thought about him instead of what we actually thought.

Jax - He plays into this story and the stakes are raised extremely high BECAUSE of him. Therefore, you would imagine that, as a reader, I would feel an overwhelming amount of both sympathy and love for him. The main characters of this novel are doing so much because they want to keep him alive. Yet, I didn't feel/care if anything happened to him.

Vera/Rafe - They are huge parts of the story in a negative way. They are the villains, but instead of either of them being the "villain you love to hate," I merely felt indifferent to them. I was unfeeling for either, and felt that none of them added to the story or brought anything new and refreshing to the table.

Pro | Cover & Title: There could not have been a better cover/title for this novel. The entire book was a buildup and subtle moving under the story's crust for the sequel. There was a spark that ignited with all aspects of the story such as the plot, romance, and world itself which I can't wait to read about in future. The arrow drawn back was a perfect symbol for instigating what is to come. 

Con | Originality: I felt as if Ignite was a strange hybrid mix of Throne of Glass, Graveling, Mulan, Kiss of Deception, Girl of Fire and Thorns, as well as a lot of other popular Young Adult high-fantasy novels of the 21st century. There were bits and pieces taken by all of them and thrown into Ignite. I would have definitely appreciated seeing some more creativity without some of usual tropes such as royalty falling in love with their supposedly "inferiors," as well as the oh-so-popular kidnapping occurrence.

Con | Romance: The entire love triangle I enjoyed in Defy seemed to fall apart at the hinges. It was flimsy, and unrealistic because of how obvious it was who would end up with who. Without spoiling anything, I will say that a semi-concusion was reached and it seemed like a decision made entirely in the spur-of-the-moment and will easily be taken back in the sequel. 

Con | Writing Style: My biggest issue with this novel was the writing style. It seemed entirely Disney-fied because the characters never had friction or conflict and there were so many grand-scale "happily ever after" gestures made. There were so many tropes such as "and I was whole again" throughout the novel which annoyed me to no end. 

On top of that, Alexa had an uncanny ability to detect Damian/Rylan's thoughts through their body language. It seemed entirely unneeded and excess detail. I could see it as an attempt for a rich, detailed story, maybe Larson was even going for a "June Iparis Effect." Yet I felt like her power of perception wasn't utilized properly, because it would have given them so much more of an advantage if she could sense Vera/Rafe.

Pro | Ending: I loved the ending. There was so much potential in the set-up the entire novel seemed to possess. There is going to be progression and characters put to their limits with the sequel, and although it was agonizing for a reader's feels.... it was done right.

Conclusion: I had multiple issues with this novel in writing style, plot, romance, and originality, but there is a lot of potential for the sequel.