Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Paperback; 336 pages

Published by Harry N. Abrams on May 26, 2015 

(First published March 1, 2012)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

My Thoughts:
Most of the book was really forgettable to me but some of it I did like. The writing style definitely wasn't for me and I didn't particularly enjoy the humor much either. I honestly did enjoy some of the book though but for the most part I felt like I was just reading to fill time rather than to enjoy a story. It didn't engage me the way I wanted to be. I can see how some people would really enjoy this book, and I'm glad that some people do, it just wasn't the one for me. More than once I had considered having to DNF this book but I really hate doing that and it wasn't that I disliked the story, I would just find myself bored from time to time. Overall I'm glad I finished it, but I don't think I'll make an effort to read any more of Jesse Andrews' books.

★★½

Review: Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox #1) by Jacqueline Garlick

Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox #1) by Jacqueline Garlick

Paperback

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Even in a land of eternal twilight, secrets can’t stay in the dark forever.

Seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth has only one hope left: finding her late father’s most prized invention, the Illuminator. It’s been missing since the day of the mysterious flash—a day that saw the sun wiped out forever over England.

But living in darkness is nothing new to Eyelet. She’s hidden her secret affliction all of her life—a life that would be in danger if superstitious townspeople ever guessed the truth. And after her mother is accused and executed for a crime that she didn’t commit, the now-orphaned Eyelet has no choice but to track down the machine that was created with the sole purpose of being her cure.

Alone and on the run, she finally discovers the Illuminator—only to see a young man hauling it off. Determined to follow the thief and recover the machine, she ventures into the deepest, darkest, most dangerous part of her twisted world.

My Thoughts: 
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This has by no means influenced the rating of my review.

Wow! I found this book really interesting. More so than I thought I would before reading. Eyelet and Urlick are very interesting characters. Eyelet is feisty and pushes at any boundaries placed upon her. When Urlick tells her not to go somewhere or do something, she does it. She doesn't like secrets kept from her, and when she's on a mission, she'll do whatever it takes. Urlick on the other hand gets frustrated with her to no end, but is also fascinated with her. He's keeping secrets from her though, which is never a good thing.

The illuminator, the main focus of the story, really is a mystery. No one knows exactly what it is, but as the story unfolds, you learn more about it and its capabilities. I found all the steampunk elements of this book really interesting and I loved hearing about all the inventions created.

There's also plenty of action and suspense in this book! From running from people trying to catch them to facing the Turned, vapors, and criminals, the outside world away from the main city area is crazy and unpredictable. Every second out there could be the last, and danger lurks around the corner.


Honestly I just really enjoyed this book. It ends on a cliffhanger and now all I want is for the next book to be in my hands!

★★★★★

Review: Awake by Natasha Preston

Awake by Natasha Preston

ARC Paperback

Published August 4th 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire

Rating: 3 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Scarlett doesn’t remember anything before the age of five. Her parents say it’s from the trauma of seeing her house burn down, and she accepts the life they’ve created for her without question—until a car accident causes Scarlett to start remembering pieces of an unfamiliar past.

When a new guy moves into town, Scarlett feels an instant spark. But Noah knows the truth of Scarlett’s past, and he’s determined to shield her from it...because Scarlett grew up in a cult called Eternal Light, controlled by her biological parents.

And they want her back.

My Thoughts: 

I received Awake through a goodreads first reads giveaway. This does not affect my rating or review, it is still an honest one.

Scarlett is a teenage girl in high school, just like every other girl her age - except for one thing. She can't remember anything before the fire that happened when she was little. She's happy enough to forget about it after the constant headaches from trying so hard to remember when she was younger. This all changes when she and her family find themselves in a car crash, and Scarlett's dreams take her into her memories. This leads her to having more questions on her past though than answers, and unfortunately, those answers are less than ideal. Scarlett finds this out the hard way.

Awake by Natasha Preston was definitely a unique book for me to read. I've never read a book that had a cult in it. The idea of it sparked my interest over the concept and dragged me into the story.

Unfortunately, at the beginning of the story, I was left unimpressed. The first few lines involve the new student arriving and forming an instant bond with Scarlett, and when I say instant, I mean instant. While it made this part of the story quicker so the more important things could start happening, the insta-love was awful. I mean I understand instant attraction, but they were basically in love with one another after day one. Not to mention the way it was portrayed made the characters seem very flat. I personally didn't like any of the characters for a long time.

Thankfully this book was to have more than just the insta-love romance. The twist is what kept me reading on. Once the memories began coming back I started to gain some interest in Scarlett's story. I was still annoyed by the romance, but while it was still a big focus, it wasn't the only focus. The mystery around her past drew me in though, and as big things began happening, I didn't mind the romance as much. By the end of the story I could even say I liked the couple together, I just didn't like a good chunk of them together in the story itself.

I feel like the writing of this book is a little hit or miss. Though I felt like the parts drug in the beginning to plot the story points for the reader, I felt like the author didn't put much effort into it. Later on in the book I feel like her writing was much better as it was the big thing she had been building up to (that or by that time I was just used to it?). It did make it very hard in the beginning to keep reading on because the writing fell flat, just like the characters. I am glad I kept reading though as I began to enjoy the story more and actually like some of the characters. It was definitely unique for me to read about the crazy cult in the story. I liked seeing the characters' mental struggles when facing the seven rituals and how they fought to overcome what felt like the inevitable. 

If you like reading about cults, killers, and the like - and you don't mind reading a decent amount of insta-love romance to get to the interesting parts,then I would give it a try. If you absolutely hate insta-love turn away now. You'll have trouble making it past little more than the first page.

 ★★★

Review: Counteract (The Resistance Series #1) by Tracy Lawson

Counteract (The Resistance Series #1) by Tracy Lawson

ebook

Published by Buddhapuss Ink, LLC. on August 6, 2014

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Two strangers-their destinies entwined-must work together to thwart a terrorist the country never suspected.

The Office of Civilian Safety and Defense has guarded the public against the rampant threat of terrorism for the last fifteen years with the full backing of the US government. Their carefully crafted list of Civilian Restrictions means no concerts or sporting events, no travel, no social media, no cash transactions, and no driver's licenses for eighteen-year-olds Tommy and Careen. The OCSD has even outlawed grocery stores, all in the name of safety.
Now, there's a new threat-airborne chemical weapons that could be activated at any time. But the OCSD has an antidote: Just three drops a day is all it takes to stay safe. It's a small price to pay for safety.
Or is it...

My Thoughts: 
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I really enjoyed getting the chance to read this book. The novel is based in the United States in the not so distant future. There's a new thing in the government, the Office of Civilian Safety and Defense (OCSD), which was created to help fight against terrorists and keep the people of the US safe from them.

The story seems to jump right into something from the first page. There's an alert, and people find out that there are toxic poisons in the air released from terrorists and they needed to get the antidote, CSD, and take it daily or they would risk death. They talk about it being a "small price to pay for your safety." This is when I knew something wouldn't be right about this, and it drew me into the story even more.

This novel is very intricate with a variety of characters. The perspective changes throughout the novel between several of them This gives the reader a full view of all that is going on. As a reader, I learned so much about the OCSD from both the inside and out, and I got to see the way each of the characters' thoughts changed throughout the novel which helped me understand all of their actions, regardless of my thoughts about them. 

The two main characters were interesting to get to learn about. I enjoyed seeing their changes throughout the novel. Careen is a feisty girl, but when she does what she is told, take her CSD, there's a complete change in who she is. It's honestly crazy that the OCSD has enough power in the novel to incorporate something like this into the daily lives of the entire population, and it's scary to think of it happening to our country.

Tommy on the other hand is pretty down in the beginning of the novel, having lost his parents and injuring his leg, but he seems to get a grasp on himself as the novel progresses. Seeing both Careen and him on CSD made me angry at their government, and I was ecstatic when things went awry and they couldn't take any for a few days. They were able to clear their heads, and they realized what was going on. This is when I feel the story really picked up because they sprang into action.

The other perspectives I found really intriguing were Kevin and Trina. I loved getting to see the inner workings of the OCSD and the corruption throughout it. They learn about the awful things their director is planning on doing, and they begin discretely working toward eradicating this issue before it's too late. 

It was really interesting getting to see all the changes that Lawson made to the US throughout her novel. It takes place much sooner than most novels, only about 20 years, and because of that, all that was happening in her world resonated with me on a different level than most dystopian novels located in the US. Some things are definitely the same, kids go to college, they have cell phones to communicate, etc, but there were also drastic changes that shocked me. People stopped shopping outside of the home entirely, and air travel became restricted. It's a little difficult for me to picture this happening now, since in the novel it happens in 4 years. Then again, I can also understand it in this circumstance to a level because the nation does crazy things when threatened by terrorists. 

Overall, Lawson created a terrifying concept that shows the epitome of corruption and the thirst for absolute power over an entire population. I honestly can't wait to get the next book in this series. I hope certain things happen in the next novel that are good for the characters, though I also know there will be plenty more things that don't go the way I want them to for Careen and Tommy. 

★★★★½

Review: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

Paperback; 424 pages

Published by Margaret K. McElderry on October 2, 2012 (first published on April 5, 2011)

Rating: 3 stars

Summary (Goodreads): The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

The stakes are higher than ever in the #1 New York Times bestselling fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series.

My Thoughts: 
I honestly went back and forth with this book. I both enjoyed it and didn't enjoy it. 

In the beginning, the story started out strong and held my interest rather well. As the story progressed however, it slowly started to disappoint me. I just wasn't interested in the direction Clare wanted to bring this story. I believe the decline really started to show around the halfway point of the book.

With the different perspectives of each of the characters, there was able to be several different stories that were all connected but also separate. I enjoyed this, because when I wasn't enjoying a perspective of one of the characters, I knew that soon enough I would be back with another.

When the book starts out, I enjoyed everyone's perspective. I didn't care much for one thing Simon was doing that Clary knew about, but that's not something that would make me dislike the story or anything at all. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading about Simon and his life now as a vampire, even though he was trying to be as normal as possible. I also really enjoyed reading from Clary's perspective and seeing her training, as she is now going to be a shadowhunter. Jace's perspective was interesting as well, as he has issues he is personally dealing with that revolve around his family.

Then comes his dreams.

I didn't like this part of the book at all. It made me kind of sad, because I really like reading about Clary and Jace, but in this book I found myself dreading their sections in the book. I just didn't like the plot that Clare was making between them, and I didn't like how Jace didn't want to tell Clary what was wrong. That's literally the worst thing you can do, not tell someone what is wrong when there is something going on, and then start to completely ignore and avoid them. It just really annoyed me.

I will say this though, while it did annoy me when it came to Jace's actions, I did enjoy having him around when I was reading about Simon. When the story wasn't filled with Jace's angsty problems, I found myself liking what I was reading. Even when things like Jace's appearance were brought into play and the issues that came from that, when it wasn't from his perspective I didn't mind it much.

Simon really was the only person that kept me happy with this novel. His storyline was more captivating to me since he was learning more about the consequences of being a vampire, and he also was learning the consequences about the mark of Cain that Clary placed on him. The mark was really interesting to me, and while it was awful how it worked, I also found myself fascinated with it. 

Really I don't know what direction I should take this review in. By the end of the book, I felt like I was going to be happy with the turn of events, as it began to go in a direction I liked, but then, in the final pages, that was squashed. I don't like the way the series seems to be going, but we'll have to see. My close friend told me she loved the fifth book, so I'm hoping I do as well. I also don't want people to think I disliked this book, I did enjoy the read at some points, but I didn't like not being happy with the turn of events the way I was. Either way, Simon was the saving grace of this novel and I hope to see more of him in the next book!

★★★

Review: Night of Cake and Puppets (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

Night of Cake and Puppets (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

ebook; 89 pages

Published by Little, Brown Books on November 26, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): In Night of Cake & Puppets, Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Told in alternating perspectives, it’s the perfect love story for fans of the series and new readers alike. Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to meet him, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before finally leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy’s not going to know what hit him.

My Thoughts: 

Oh my God I loved this ebook to pieces! It honestly is so cute and amazing. I would love for a first date to be like this (no matter how unrealistic its possibility really is!). 

I love the alternating point of views and the uncertainty each one of them feels even though they both clearly like one another. Zuzana is the same spit-fire girl she always is, but she is still so sweet as well and I honestly love her idea of making a treasure map to herself. It was so clever!

Mik is also interesting to read about, and it's cool to see the way he reacts to all of the things Zuzana does for him, especially since she has some magic to use. I love how, even though the night was supposed to be a bunch of surprises for him from Zuzana, he jumps at the chance to make a surprise of his own, even if it's last minute and he has to think on his toes.

There's honestly not much to say about this because it's just a short little story, but it was so magical! Even the parts without the magic. I was so curious to see each new event unfold, as Zuze and Mik both were as well.

I also really love the way that Zuzana relies on texting Karou and seeing their interactions because it's so normal, even though Karou is supposedly in South Africa looking for wishes. They just show such an amazing friendship, and you can really see how they help one another out no matter what it's about. 

Overall, this is not a necessary story to read in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, but it is definitely a memorable one that I'll no doubt be rereading in the future! It adds a new perspective to Zuzana and Mik and makes my love for their characters so much more than it was before, even though I didn't think it possible!

★★★★★

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

Hardcover; 517 pages

Published by Little Brown Books on November 6, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

My Thoughts: 
Wow! What an amazing book. I will admit that I wasn't as refreshed with the world as I would have liked to be, as it has been two years since I read the first book, but I was able to remember a decent amount of information and a lot of things were refreshed in my memory while I read the novel.

I loved the different perspectives we got to see throughout the whole novel. It was interesting getting to look at the way everyone read different situations and how they were doing when they weren't in the same area as another character happened to be. I really felt connected to each and every character, and as new ones were introduced, I felt for them just as much as I felt for those who had been there from the start.

Karou is honestly such a strong and amazing character. My favorite parts of the book were when they were from her perspective. She was faced with a horrible tragedy, and yet she was pushing on and works through hardships no one should have to face, all while knowing she was not safe. She was really aptly named though, as she became the hope for the chimaera, even if they didn't believe in her or particularly like her. Without her though, where would they be? She became their resurrectionist, and without her, they would be gone. She did everything for her people even though they didn't care or respect her in return. I felt like I saw a lot of growth in her character and she was rather cunning when she needed to be. She learned more of the situation she was facing and did what was in her power to change it for the better. 

Akiva also was a main character throughout this novel. He's devastated, thinking Karou is dead, and it doesn't help the matter when he finds a thurible with her name on it. I was honestly not as interested in his part of the story line for a while, but as the book went on, I began to have an increased interest in what happened to him. I liked the way that he changed and showed mercy to the chimaera, and I loved seeing interactions with him and Liraz and Hazael. Though this ultimately led me to be more sad in the end, it was nice to see their relationship as his brother and sister. They really rely on and care deeply for one another, and they truly make a family. Things with his story, in my opinion, really pick up as the story goes on, and while I don't want to mention things to spoil it, I began to look forward to his sections of the story more and more.

Zuzana and Mik were amazing to read about. I love the first chapter that starts with them, it brought a grin to my face. Zuze is so spunky and her personality is the best. She's an amazing friend to Karou and does whatever she can to talk to and find her to help her out however is necessary, even if the work is way out of her league. Mik is pretty much the same way. He has come to care for Karou as well, since she is such a big part of Zuze's life. They are honestly so cute together and I love the way they interact with one another. Their point of view always made me happy and they're definitely the icing on the cake of this novel. The story is there without them, like cake is without icing, but they make it so much better than it is on its own!

There are other characters' perspectives we see things through, and I loved each and every one of them. They showed the war and the things going on through new eyes, and it really gave the reader a view of the world as a whole, rather than just through the original main characters' eyes.

There's honestly so much I can say about this novel, as it's jam-packed with information. It took me a while to read it, but I'm actually glad it did because I was able to soak it all in and really get a good idea of the story. I would fall asleep at night thinking of the world Laini Taylor created and going over the new things I had read in the past day, reliving the moments through the images created from her writing in my head. This series really is amazing, and I'm so glad that I went out to get the last book to read soon!

★★★★★

Review: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Paperback; 487 pages

Published by Katherine Tegan Books on February 28, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Click here to read my review of the movie

Summary (Goodreads): In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Thoughts:
The first time I read this book was nearly a year and a half ago, and at the time, I read the book within a day or two. This time around, it took me much longer, but I loved and appreciated the story just the same.

I love the way the story is pieced together. The world is interesting, and while it's obviously corrupt by this time, I think it would be neat to see the way everything ran before all of the corruption. Regardless of that, the world itself drew me in, especially the way things went in Dauntless. I personally would never make it in Dauntless, but I loved seeing Tris there.

Tris went through such a transformation throughout this novel. Sure, she starts out brave, and the things she does at the beginning of the book to show this bravery is outstanding, but as the story progresses, she becomes a much stronger person in both mind and body. This only serves to make her braver than ever, and she is able to do things that she would never have imagined in her wildest dreams with no thought to it anymore. The transformation in both her character and in her physical aspects is really impressive, and I feel like she was able to discover herself more as well.

Seeing Four in this novel is amazing as well. I love his standoffish behavior and the way he responds to the initiates. Even more than that, I love the way that he interacts with Tris and the little hints at his attraction to her are thrown in here and there for both Tris and the readers to swoon over. I love seeing the layers of the walls he built around himself peel away as Tris gets closer and closer to him and we get to see him in a new light. He's still that guy he was in the beginning, but he has so much more to him when he is unguarded.

I honestly love reading about initiation in Dauntless and the way that it all is put together. It's brutal and harsh, but it really helps build up the strength in every single one of the initiates, even if there are some that shouldn't be trained that way. Those who read the book should know exactly who shouldn't be trained to use knives and fight. It's terrifying how they have to face their fears day in and day out, and I'm sure it's even worse when they aren't Divergent like Tris is. I personally thought it was bad enough when she was in the simulations, so I can't even imagine how it would be in the mind of someone who isn't Divergent. I wish we were able to get more of a peek at all the other factions' initiations, I think it would be really interesting to really know how it went. I'm glad we got a little information on this through Tris and Christina.

The romance between Four and Tris had me at the edge of my seat, even the second time around. I could feel their attraction oozing out of the pages and was anxiously awaiting their first kiss. I love the way they both are able to work together and bring out whatever is needed for the other to either be their best or get through something difficult that required a little extra strength and push. I don't think Four sees her as a little girl or anything like that, I think he sees her as an equal, even though he is her instructor. I like this, because while he is her instructor, he really is only two years older than her. Sure, this gives him a higher position of power and a little bit more maturity, but not enough for him to act too superior over her. 

The ending of this book is both intense and heartbreaking, and I couldn't turn the page fast enough to get to the next page. There's barely a chance to catch a breather or take too much time to process one horrific event, because a second later something new and just as awful is happening. The way Tris handles everything is spot on, and while it's agonizing that she has to go through what she does, she stays true to herself and the people she loves. 

★★★★★

Review: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Hardcover, 439 pages

Published by Scholastic Press on September 17, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. 

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. 

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

This review may contain spoilers for The Raven Boys, the first book in the series.
My Thoughts:
I honestly hate how long it took me to read this book. It had nothing to do with the book itself, it was just that life happened to get in the way of my reading. Besides that, I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't get enough of it!

The way that Maggie writes always captivates me in ways other writers don't. It's not that I don't love their stories just as much, but Maggie has such a way with words and I could see her thoughts and reasoning behind each and every one of them.

I thought it was interesting getting to learn so much more of Ronan. He's obviously able to take things out of his dreams, as we've seen with Chainsaw, and we get to learn a lot more about that. His "gift" or curse as some might see it, is definitely explored at great lengths, and so many secrets about him and his life are brought out to the open to the readers. It was very interesting getting to learn more about his family and all that happened. 

Another thing I found interesting was the Gray Man. I initially didn't like him, as I had a bad vibe, but that's to be expected from his profession. It turned out that I actually really did like him, and I loved how the people at 300 Fox Way treated him as well. It was definitely a different approach to a new person than most people would take, and it was intriguing to get to experience.

This leads me to the people at 300 Fox Way. I absolutely adore them all. They have so many quirks and different ways at life than most, but it all works and they all live like a family. Though it can be chaotic, they all love each other and work well together. This was something that was interesting to see through different eyes, as we usually see them through Blue, but we got to see them with the Gray Man, who was a complete outsider. I loved his perspective though, it just made me love all the inhabitants of 300 Fox Way that much more.

Now I'll go to Gansey. I know there are people who don't like him, but I'm one of the people who really do. I don't know why exactly, but I do. I feel like he has a hidden quality to him that shows up every so often. I love the way he interacts with Blue, and I think it's cool how she knows if he calls her Blue instead of Jane, then something is up. I thought the concern he had for Adam was interesting to see as well, since it shows how much he cares for his friends, though he sometimes does have a hard way of showing it.

Adam on the other hand, I always feel so bad for him. He honestly has the worst of luck when it comes to anything, and he doesn't want to accept any help from anyone. He really grows throughout the book, and he learns a lot more about the sacrifice he made in the previous book and how it affects him now. I honestly don't see Adam as the same Adam he was in the beginning of the first book, but I still care for him and enjoy reading about him just the same. It just shows how much strength of character he has and how much he's evolving as a person. 

I also really liked the whole thing with Cabeswater. It has a lot of significance to everyone, much more than originally expected. Both Ronan and Adam have some kind of connection to it, and there are some issues because of this. There's also controversy about it because of the ley line, but I'll leave this for those who read the book to figure out. 

One other person that really caught my eye was Kavinsky. He is definitely much more important in this book than the last, and though I personally don't like him, we learn a lot about him and his character. 

I found it interesting how invested I was in the car aspect of this book as well. I know nothing about cars at all, but I felt an odd thrill whenever the Camaro was brought into the story again, and it was definitely interesting seeing how issues with it come to play with Ronan, and the way he fixes them.

Overall, I felt this book had an amazing story line and I couldn't believe how well Maggie delivered her characters and showed their growth throughout the novel. I'll definitely be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, and I hope I read it at a time I'm not so busy so I can read it more often! It was almost torture when I wanted to read and couldn't get my hands on the book, it's that good. Sadly, the ending is a cliffhanger, but all it does is make me itch for the next book to come out! Props to Maggie Stiefvater, as that shows how good of a writer she is. She's able to bring the one book to a close and wrap it all up while making you still want more. I feel that this is a hard thing to do, but Maggie pulled it off well. 

★★★★★

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 384 pages

Published by Harlequin on February 25, 2014

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): One kiss could be the last

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

My Thoughts: 
This was my first full length novel of Armentrout's, and let me tell you, I can't help but stay up all night to read her books! It all started with this novel, as the characters and storyline drew me in. 

Layla is a half Warden half Demon hybrid. She's living among the Wardens in Washington D.C., though most of them are wary and hesitant to approach her. Unable to transform into the gargoyle state that all Wardens are able to achieve, she really only has a few Wardens who don't mind being around her, as others fear her demon side, or even loathe her for it. This includes Zayne, her previous mentor in school until she reached an age where it would begin to be too difficult for her to be taught. Zayne is 4 years older than Layla, and she has a huge crush on him. The only problem? If she gets close enough to kiss him, she'll suck out his soul. This would make him as good as dead.

So with almost no hope at a relationship with Zayne, Layla goes about her days doing what she knows best. She goes to school and interacts with people who think of her as a normal human - except for her living situation, as they know she lives with the Wardens. After school though, she does something entirely non-human. She goes around finding demons and tags them. This makes it so at night, when the Wardens go hunting to eradicate the city of as many demons as they can, it's like the demons have big glowing signs on them that say "I'm a demon!!!" This makes it super easy for them to hunt, and it makes Layla feel helpful to them, so she enjoys it.

Then it all goes wrong. She follows a demon that disguised itself as a lesser demon, and ends up in an alley with it. All she hears is it say "Gotcha!" before she is attacked by it. Surprisingly, an Upper Level Demon, the most dangerous kind, comes and saves the day. She runs away though, terrified of what damage could be done to her if he got a hold of her. She doesn't tell the Wardens as she doesn't want to be told to stop the tagging, so she goes along as if nothing is wrong.

Then he shows up at her school the next day. It seems it's inevitable for them to meet and talk, and slowly, Layla begins to warm up to him. His name is Roth, and he has a snake tattoo named Bambi. She can come off of his skin and help him fight when needed. Also, since Roth is a demon, he has no soul. This means that Layla can kiss him with no repercussions. They get close, and Roth begins to reveal some interesting stuff to Layla about her and what's going on around her that make her question her whole existence both in general and living with the Wardens. She doesn't know who she can trust anymore, and her whole world is thrown upside down.

This book keeps you on your toes constantly, as you don't know who you can trust and who is telling the truth. Nothing is black and white, everything is in shades of grey. The demons vary from good to evil, and the Wardens vary as well. you can't tell who is honest and truthful to Layla, and I honestly sympathized with her, because while she was able to live where she was and interact with those around her, she never truly would fit in. The twists and turns this book takes had my mind spinning, and I couldn't get enough of the story. When you finally thought you had everything figured out, Armentrout threw another curveball and something new was revealed. 

It was really interesting getting a story about Demons without angels involved. The Wardens were a nice spin on them, where they weren't angels but they had powers to level out the playing field between themselves and the demons. I also thought it was interesting how the humans knew about them, even if they didn't know about the demons, because normally humans are kept in the dark about anything supernatural in stories. 

I honestly wish I didn't come across this book when I did, because now all I want to do is read the next one. The ending is amazing but sad, and it's not at all what I want to leave off on! Hopefully as time passes, this book stays in the forefront of my mind, and I'll be able to pick up the next one when it's released!!

★★★★★

Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements, #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements, #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 116 pages

Published by Harlequin Teen on December 1, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Summary (Goodreads): In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything...right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again...

My Thoughts:
Jasmine is a Warden, a gargoyle-like protector of the world from demons. Of course, she isn't allowed to go after the demons with the other Wardens because she's a female. They want the females to stay safe and have children, because their race has seen better days. Because of this, Jasmine must sneak out when she wants to go flying, and that's exactly what she does.

Then one day, as she is coming home from her unsupervised flying trip, her father returns home. She knows he isn't happy about it, but he has news he thinks will make her happy.

Dez is home.

Dez is her long lost best friend. His clan of Wardens was completely destroyed by an Upper Level demon. He was the only one left. Because of this, he was brought to another Warden clan to live with and be taken care of. He was not happy, and he didn't really speak much to anyone, but he eventually caved with Jasmine, as she was persistent. After this, they became inseparable, even with their 3 year age gap.

Then Dez turned 18, and he was to be mated to Jasmine. The next day, he left. Jasmine had no idea where he was or what he was doing. She questioned their entire friendship, and always feared the worst. She believed he left because he didn't want to be mated with her, and this was the easiest way for him to escape it. 

She was wrong, because he's back now, and he's ready to mate with her. She isn't ready to mate with him though, as she wants and needs an explanation, and honestly doesn't feel she will ever want to mate with him, even if she can't deny his attractiveness.

She gives him seven days to complete certain tasks with her, and he agrees. Only then will she consider mating with him. 

This novella was definitely interesting. I loved the introduction into the world of Wardens and Demons, and getting to understand the aspects of the different ways they live as a community from the humans, who also know about them. Though I opposed the first kiss Dez and Jasmine had, as I felt a more appropriate response from her would be to slap him, besides that, I loved the way their chemistry was and how she did her best to avoid falling into his trap, even if in the end it was futile. 

I honestly felt like this was a great way to ease into this world, and I liked how we got a glimpse at the main character of the main series through someone else's eyes. We got to see what it was like as an observer instead of in the head of the main character, and while she was younger than she is in the main series, you still got a handle on her and her unique powers from the views of an outsider. It was also interesting to see her interactions with Zayne and to be introduced to the Upper Level demon that Jasmine notices watching her. 

Overall, by the end I felt like most of the point of this story was to introduce those three characters, Layla, Zayne, and the Upper Level demon, because it adds a curiosity to the upcoming story. The story of Dez and Jas was fun to see unfold, but I honestly felt it was cut way too short. I think there should have been a lot more to it, but then again, it wouldn't be a novella if that happened. Because of the fact that I felt it was too short, I only gave it a four star rating. Besides that, I enjoyed the story and started reading White Hot Kiss almost immediately after finishing, as it made me want to experience more of the demons and Wardens. 

★★★★

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 271 pages

Published by Entangled Publishing on May 8, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): When seventeen-year-old Katy Swartz moved to West Virginia right before her senior year, she'd pretty much resigned herself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring, but then she spotted her hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up...until he opened his mouth. Daemon Black is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. It's hate at first sight, but when a stranger attacks her and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. The hot guy next door? Well, he's an alien. Turns out that Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities and Katy is caught in the crosshairs. Daemon's touch has lit her up like the Vegas Strip and the only way she's getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until her alien mojo fades. That is if she doesn't kill him first.

My Thoughts:

Though I had already read and loved the last book I read by Jennifer L. Armentrout, I was still somewhat skeptical about this book. The alien premise seemed interesting, but I wasn't sure how I would feel about it when I read it. Thankfully, my doubts were put aside after I began reading.

Katy Swartz has moved from Florida to an in-the-middle-of-nowhere town in West Virginia. She just wants to be unpacked and able to blog about her books, as she runs a book blog, but they didn't have everything set up yet so she couldn't. Her mother encourages her to introduce herself to the neighbors, as she spotted them and thinks they're about Katy's age. 

Not really wanting to but needing directions to get to the store, Katy knocks on the neighbors door, only to be answered by an incredibly hot, shirtless guy named Daemon who immediately catches her eye. Her thoughts of him are squashed seconds later when he opens his mouth. He's arrogant and cocky, and just an overall asshole to her. Still, she gets given her directions and is on her way.

As she's shopping in the store, an astonishingly beautiful girl approaches her and starts talking. She's Dee, her other neighbor. A complete contrast to her brother Daemon, Katy and Dee hit it off and make plans to hang out together.

Even though Dee loves being friends with Katy, Daemon is strongly against it, being hostile and rude to Katy at every chance he gets, that is, until Dee makes him play nice. He helps Katy with washing her car, and then he invites her to go swimming. She reluctantly accepts.

This is when she begins to notice things are wrong. She could have sworn that Daemon was under water for at least ten minutes, though he denies it. He also begins to break down some of his walls, and you start seeing a little bit of a different side of him. He still keeps his distance though, as he has his reasons.

They all go out the window when Katy is attacked by someone and later almost gets hit by a truck. After this, she finds out all about the Luxen, as she has experienced their powers. She's also got a trace on her, which means Arum, the Luxen's enemy, will be drawn to her. Because of this, she has to stick by Daemon's side, regardless of how much she doesn't want to. This is when the story really begins to pick up, and we see more and more events unfold before our very eyes. I was glued to the page the whole time!

I loved getting to experience the interactions between Daemon and Katy. I liked how he called her Kitten and Kat, even though she claims not to like it. They're both witty and are an able match for one another with their snarky comments. Not to mention the chemistry! Though they're not together at all really in the book, there is a moment where they kiss, and it's literally explosive!

In the end, it was amazing to get to experience this new world with beings that were completely unique from any I've read about before. I absolutely adore this series, and I'm so glad I was willing to give it a try, even with my hesitance. I read this book in one day! It kept me up well past my bedtime, as I had to be up at a decent hour the next day. Totally worth it though. As I'm writing this review after I've read most of the books, I'm going to await anxiously for the last book in the series to be released!

★★★★★

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 271 pages

Published by Entangled Publishing on May 31, 2013

Rating: 2 stars

Summary (Goodreads): This is a stand alone novel that is an adult spin-off of the Lux Series You do not need to read a Lux book to read Obsession and vice versa.

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

My Thoughts: 
I really wanted to like this novel more than I did. It begins very promising, and I was attached to it immediately. I wanted to see the world from a different perspective, where the Arum where who you were cheering on, rather than the Luxen. As it began, you hear about crazy things from Serena's friend, Mel, and she's completely freaked. As they go to leave the place they were at to go to Serena's place, Mel is attacked by a Luxen and killed. This is traumatic to Serena because only a few hours before she had no inkling of aliens of any kind existing. 

The DOD (Department of Defense) is called and they ask Serena some questions. After this, thinking she might remember other things later on, they have Hunter, an Arum take her in to keep her safe from the Luxen. This is shocking for Hunter that they would even ask him, as he's nearly as dangerous to her as they are.

He goes and gets her anyway, and he fights off a Luxen to do so. Along with this, he feeds off of her, which renders her unconscious for several days. As time goes on, they begin to be romantically involved, and this is mostly where my issue came in. I know this is an adult book, but it just seemed too focused on sex sex sex rather than a story or a build up to their romance. It got to the point where I almost put the book down, because I was tired of the plot being disregarded for chapters just so you could read about them doing it over and over. Okay, some people might go for that, but I would have been happier without it. I feel as though Armentrout should have kept writing Young Adult rather than write this an Adult novel. I understand why it is because of the Arum personality, but it got too much and I started to even dislike the characters because there wasn't as much character building. All of it was just sex. 

Even though at that point I almost put the book down, I struggled on through it, skimming several chapters until the plot returned and the romance dulled down to being present in a way that wasn't overbearing or like the two adults in the story were horny teenagers with nothing but sex on their minds even when there's a possibility of someone coming to kill you at any moment. Once the plot returned more though, it was rather interesting, and I enjoyed getting a sneak peak at some characters I've seen previously in the Lux series. Though they're not that significant, they caught my attention because I absolutely adored them!

The ending - minus the sex cause I skimmed and completely skipped paragraphs of - was very satisfying. I enjoyed seeing the lengths Hunter went to, and the strength that Serena had even as a human. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book, though I say this regretfully because I really wish I would have been able to. It just didn't own up to what potential it had, and I felt like it lost its purpose about a third of the way through, only to pick up the scattered pieces at the end.

★★