Sunday 28 June 2015

The Retribution of Mara Dyer

The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #3)

The Retribution of Mara Dyer is the final book of Michelle Hodkin's Mara Dyer trilogy.

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.

The Breakdown:
1.  This was the much anticipated conclusion to Mara Dyer's story, but to be honest it was a bit of a let down. I felt the story took a long time to get to why Mara is the way she is, and who was behind the whole Horizons thing.  It really dragged in places, and I felt like there were still a few unanswered questions at the end.

2. I did not like the change that Mara undergoes in this book at points.  I know that her power makes her dangerous, but in the first two books, she was not malicious about it.  In this book, she seems to have less of a conscience about using it, and I just could not get on board with that change.

3. Then there is the fact that Noah is missing for about 75% of the book.  He was such an important character in the first two books, he absence is keenly felt in this book. I know that she has Jamie and Stella in the book, but they are not as an important factor has Noah has been for her.

4. I know that Hodkin explains why it is important that Mara and Noah were born the way they are, but I felt she does not explain why others like Jamie, Stella, and even Lukumi exist.   Then there was the genetic memory in Mara, and why does she have it and no one else with this gene have it.  Just some things did not make sense for me.  I felt unsatisfied at the end of the book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Skip it, especially if you have not even started reading the trilogy.

Monday 22 June 2015

The Winner's Crime

The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, #2)

The Winner's Crime is the second book of Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's Trilogy.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria's crown prince means one celebration after another.  But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making.  As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him.  Yes can she even trust herself?  For- unknown to Arin- Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country's freedom, he can't fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows.  In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.  And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

The Breakdown:
1. Rutkoski's follow up to The Winner's Curse, is just as amazing, if not better than the first book. The intrigue and court games games make this a hard book to put down. This book definitely kept me on my toes, and guessing on how everything would come together, and who would lose at the game they are playing.

2.  Not going to lie, there are many times I just wanted to shake Arin in this book.  He could incredibly dense at times. He so easily dismiss's Kestrel's motives at times as self-serving, when really she is trying her hardest to protect him.  He confronts her several times, without even thinking about the consequences.

3. This book had some seriously heartbreaking moments. I think one of the saddest was seeing Kestrel and Jess grow apart, and the sadness that it brings to Kestrel. Of course, there is the distance that is between Kestrel and Arin,, and his bitterness because he does not understand why she did the things she did.

4.  Rutkoski introduces some new characters in this book that keep the story interesting.  There is Prince Verex, who I really did not want to like, but there was something enduring about him.  He is very different from his father, and I wonder what role he will play in the final book. There is Tensen, the Herrani Minister of Agriculture/ Spy Master.  He plays his role well, but at times he also plays Arin and Kestrel against each other.  The royalty of East, the Queen, Risha, and Roshar, all of who I think will be important in the last book.  And most importantly the Valorian Emperor.  He is someone that is definitely not to be trusted.  He is intelligent, and cunning, and always seems to be two steps ahead of any plot.

5. Good lord the ending of this book, it killed me. Talk about a serious cliff hanger, and oh the feels!  I am super sad to have to wait until March of next year for the conclusion of the series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Tuesday 16 June 2015

The Wrath & The Dawn

The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn, #1)

Debut author Renee Ahdieh's The Wrath & The Dawn is the first book of the series of the same name.

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in the land ruled by a killer.  Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise.  So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid.  But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls.  Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch... she's falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls.  Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

The Breakdown:
1. I am in love with this book.  Ahdieh does an amazing job using the inspiration of A Thousand and One Arabian Nights.  The story is beautifully written, and she does a wonderful job of building the world from the palace to the nomadic desert tribes.  The story is engaging from beginning to end with wonderful characters, lots of mystery and intrigue and a little bit of magic.

2. I absolutely adored the characters of Shahrzad and Khalid.  Shahrzad is a vibrant and intelligent girl, whose love for her friend drives to try the impossible.  She goes through so much in the book emotionally and personally, and learns that she is not only one who has lost so much.  Khalid is an enigma of character that has experienced so much loss in his young life, and the curse that is further tearing him apart.  I truly enjoyed reading as Shazi and Khalid's relationship progressed through the book.

3. Ahdieh not only spins the tale of Shazi and Khalid and the reason for the dawn deaths and Khalid's curse, but there other subplots to keep the story from growing stagnant.  From the rebellion brewing because the people do not understand Khalid's actions to the hostilities with the neighboring Sultan.  I cannot wait to see how will proceed in the next book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Sunday 14 June 2015

Silvern

Silvern (Gilded #2)

Silvern by Christina Farley is the second book of her Gilded series.

Jae Hwa Lee has destroyed Haemosu, the dangerous demi-god that held her ancestors captive, and now she's ready to forget about immortals and move on with her life.  Then the god of darkness, Kus, sends an assassin to kill her.  Jae escapes with the knowledge that Kud is seeking the lost White Tiger Orb, and joins the Guardians of Shinshi to seek out the orb before Kud can find it.

But Kud is stronger and more devious than Haemosu ever was.  Jae is soon painfully reminded that by making an enemy of Kud, she has placed her closest friends in danger, and must decide how much she can bear to sacrifice to defeat on the most powerful immortals in all of Korea.

The Breakdown:
1. This book has a darker feel to it than Gilded had.  Jae has become more paranoid, rightly so, after the events in the first book.  Marc is far more protective of her, and as her best friend Michelle says, he is stalkerish at times in his worry about her. Plus there is the strain in the relationship between Jae and her father, who refuses to believe in the Spirit World and thinks that Jae needs therapy.  Of course, there is Kud is a much darker and crueler antagonist that Haemosu.

2.  Despite the the darker tone to this book, I think that it goes well for the progression of the story and the development of both Jae and Marc's characters.  They both learn what true sacrifice is in the this book, and that somethings there is nothing you can do to save the ones you love. Both have to make some pretty tough decisions.

3.  Farley introduces Kang-dae in this book, another Guardian, like Marc.  Not going to lie, I did not like him from the beginning.  At first I thought Farley was trying to force the whole YA love triangle by introducing him, but as the story progressed that did not really fit.  Although multiple times, he just gave me the feeling of being untrustworthy, and it seemed every time something from the Spirit World was warning Jae about danger, he was involved.

4. The darker tone of this book carries through the end.  There are definitely some heartbreaking moments during this story that a tissue is needed for.  I have the admit that I was a little surprised by the ending, and it will be interesting to see where Farley takes the next book.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Wednesday 10 June 2015

ARC: The Novice

The Novice (Summoner, #1)

Debut author Taran Matharu's The Novice is the first book of his Summoner series.

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy.  There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning.  Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire's war against orcs.  He must treat carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles.  The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him.  Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.

As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie.  The fate of an empire is in his hands.  

The Breakdown:
1. I really liked the concept behind Matharu story, but in someways if fell a little flat for me.  Matharu spends a lot of the first half of the book setting up the background and history of Hominum.  I feel like the way he did it that showed that he was a new author. That being said, I do think that the overall story was good, and the last half of the book was much better than the first half.

2. I did think that Matharu did a good job of developing Fletcher as a character.  He is smart, inquisitive, and kind, but does have flaws, like being a little bit of a hothead.  Matharu does use his questions at times to have other characters tell the history of their people, like the dwarves, and the laws for bastard children of nobles.

3. Matharu has definitely set up some interesting political situations with the dwarves and the elves, and things that some of the nobles are plotting.  There is a lot of potential in this series in the books to come.  Plus he ends this book with quite the cliff hanger, so it will interesting to see where the next book goes, and how these events effect his characters.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Friday 5 June 2015

Pure

Pure (Covenant, #2)

Jennifer L. Armentrout's Pure is the second novel of her Covenant series.

There is need. And there is Fate.  Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome-- especially when Alexandria's other half is everywhere she goes.  Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom-- so not cool.  Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden.  Or what he will do-- and sacrifice-- for her.  

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies-- lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon-- and Alex.  And if that  and hordes of aether-sucking monster didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude-- or killing her.  When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

The Breakdown:
1. In this book, Armentrout further explores the politics of the Covenant.  There is a serious division in the Pures on how to deal with Halfs, and whether the should be made equal.  Not going to lie, to see how the servant Halfs are treated is a little disturbing.

2. There is also the whole daimons making their move on the Covenant in this book.  It does leading to some pretty exciting things, including the appearance of the furies, and one tear-jerking scene, so have your tissue ready. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book after what happened at the end of this one.

3. As much as I loved Aiden in the first book, he made me a little angry in this one.  He is putting Alex through an emotional roller-coaster, one minute pushing her away, and the next showing so much care for her.  I get that he trying to protect her from a fate worse than death, but seriously stop being such a tool about it.

4.  Not going to lie, I don't trust Seth.  There is just something about him that seems so false.  I feel like he is hiding some major secrets, and using Alex for what she is going to become.

5. Oh and then there is a prophecy that the Oracle gives Alex in this book.  It really has me questioning everyone around her, since someone is playing both sides.  Does that mean the Pures and the Halfs, or does it mean the Covenant and the gods? Then there is the clues about Alex's father, and the Half servant that does not appear drugged, how are those going to be significant in the story? So many questions!

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Crimson Bound

Crimson Bound

Crimson Bound is the new novel by Rosamund Hodge.

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good- apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic.  But she was also reckless- straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness.  After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone.  When the king orders her to guard his son Armand- the man she hates most- Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world.  As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and love that may be their undoing.  In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

The Breakdown:
1. Hodge puts a new spin on both Little Red Riding Hood and The Girl Without Hands (which I totally had to look up what the original tale was) fairy tales in this story, plus a setting heavily influences by 17th century France. The tales weaves interesting magic with some serious conspiracies.  It is amazing the twist and turns that occur during the story. It kept me guessing until the end on how things would work out and whose side everyone was on.

2. As much as I liked the story itself.  I had a hard time liking Rachelle, especially at the beginning.  She is very closed off, and bitter about her lot in life.  As the story progresses, she does get better, but because she is bitter at times, she misses opportunities to learn the truth about what is going on around her.

3. I did really like Armand.  He is a reluctant saint to the populace, and bears it for the greater good.  As the story continues, it is easy to see that he really wants what is best for the people.  He and Rachelle are very much alike at times on that, even if neither realizes it.

4. I did very much like the concept of the Great Forest, a magical forest hidden to most eyes.  There was something both terrifying and beautiful about it.  Plus the Forestborn, the once human creatures, that have lost their heart to the forest. I really thought that their legend and that of the Endless night were fantastic.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read