[Review] A Thousand Beginnings and Endings - Edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings 

Edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman

Format: ARC

Rating: 4 stars

Release Date: June 26th 2018

Goodreads Synopsis:

Star-crossed lovers, meddling immortals, feigned identities, battles of wits, and dire warnings. These are the stuff of fairy tale, myth, and folklore that have drawn us in for centuries.

Fifteen bestselling and acclaimed authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate.

Compiled by We Need Diverse Books’s Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, the authors included in this exquisite collection are: Renee Ahdieh, Sona Charaipotra, Preeti Chhibber, Roshani Chokshi, Aliette de Bodard, Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Rahul Kanakia, Lori M. Lee, E. C. Myers, Cindy Pon, Aisha Saeed, Shveta Thakrar, and Alyssa Wong.

A mountain loses her heart. Two sisters transform into birds to escape captivity. A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother’s mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place. From fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge, these stories will beguile readers from start to finish. For fans of Neil Gaiman’s Unnatural Creatures and Ameriie’s New York Times–bestselling Because You Love to Hate Me.

I received this ARC from Miss Print's (Emma) ARC Adoption over here! Thank you Emma!

What a wonderful anthology! I normally struggle with more pieces in a collection than enjoy, but here it was the opposite. I loved how each short story honed in on different cultures and myths. The Filipino ones especially made me wish that I was more connected and aware of my own background.

[Review] Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers

Truest by Jackie Lea Sommers

Rating: 3 stars

Format: ARC Paperback

Published: September 1st 2015

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Silas Hart has seriously shaken up Westlin Beck's small-town life. Brand new to town, Silas is different than the guys in Green Lake. He's curious, poetic, philosophical, maddening-- and really, really cute. But Silas has a sister-- and she has a secret. And West has a boyfriend. And life in Green Lake is about to change forever.
Truest is a stunning, addictive debut. Romantic, fun, tender, and satisfying, it asks as many questions as it answers.

6th read for #ARCAugust

I have a lot of thoughts here, so bare with me.

I enjoyed how Truest touched down on a disorder that isn't really well-known, depersonalization disorder, or the feeling of living in a dream. It's part of the dissociative disorders in the DSM-5 (abnormal psychology was one of my favorite classes so recalling this is fun). This brought something different to the whole summer romance table.

[Review] All the Ways the World Can End by Abby Sher

All the Ways the World Can End by Abby Sher

Rating: 2.5 stars

Format: ARC Paperback

Published: July 11th 2017

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Lenny (short for Eleanor) feels like the world is about to end. Her best friend is moving to New York City to attend Julliard and her dad has terminal cancer. To cope with her stress Lenny is making a list of all the ways the world can end—designer pathogens, blood moon prophecies, alien invasion—and stockpiling supplies in a bunker in the backyard. Then she starts to develop feelings for her dad's very nice young doctor—and she thinks he may have feelings for her too. Spoiler alert: he doesn't. But a more age-appropriate love interest might. In a time of complete uncertainty, one thing's for sure: Lenny's about to see how everything is ending and beginning. All at the same time.

5th read for #ARCAugust

I'm a bit conflicted on the rating of this book, to be honest.

I understood it well enough. Eleanor, who is better known as Lenny, and her family are trying to cope with her dad's metastatic rectal cancer that he's slowly dying from. Her mom, who is nicknamed Sergeant Nutbags, tries her hardest to find a cure, and that often comes in the form of some insane diet or health video. Her older sister is away at college and seem to escape the stressors that come from her family to enjoy her college party life. Lenny is the frustrated one, and her method of venting is through anger. She also has a crush on her father's stand-in resident doctor, Dr. Ganesh.

[Review] Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

Series: Code Name Verity #2

Rating: 4 stars

Format: ARC Paperback

Published: September 10th 2013

Goodreads Synopsis: 

While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that's in store for her?
Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival.

4th read for #ARCAugust

Another moving and evocative fictional account of the horrors of World War II by Elizabeth Wein. It's one of those books you just feel sad after because it's a really sad book.

I'm being monosyllabic instead of descriptive, so time for me to break down Rose Under Fire.

This isn't really a sequel to Code Name Verity - it's more like a spinoff. We have Maddie in the beginning and the end getting married to Julie's cousin. Julie is mentioned in passing. Anna Engel (and her name sounded so familiar even though it's been years since reading CNV) has a more prominent role. Different setting, different cast of characters, same emotions captured.

Rose Justice is an American pilot who is part of the British ATA - essentially a air taxicab service. Just as progress is being made in the war, Rose lands herself and her plane on enemy lines, and is forced to spend time in Ravensbruck, a concentration camp. There she meets and befriends the Rabbits, women who were operated on inhumanly to test on various war injuries and diseases.

She recounts her days in the camp following her escape back into Allied territory, and you can tell how broken she is by the way she writes.

And I have been able to sleep a little longer each night. I don't jerk awake at four a.m. expecting the Screamer anymore. But I still have the dream about the cold wind in the empty bunks. Funny how my Ravensbruck nightmare is about the bunks being empty, because by the end they were never empty. The whole Camp was so overcrowded we had to sleep in shifts, even during the day.
I have to keep writing. I can't talk about it at all, not to Mother or Aunt Edie over the telephone, not to Fernande in broken French. It would break her heart, I think, if I told her about it. I keep wishing I could talk to Nick, but how could I explain any of it to Nick? How could I possibly make Nick understand?  

It's just so sad.

Rose is so different from Julie, but in a good way. I related to Rose a lot - in the end, she starts medical school! And she loves to write.  She specifically writes poetry to keep the moral of Block 32 high.

Her relationships with her fellow prisoners were strong and so heartbreaking at times. Roza, who laughed when she was afraid. Irina, her Russian pilot-in-crime. Anna, the angel of death. No matter where they came from, they were all victims of the war.

And suddenly it became like so many decisions I'd made during the war; I didn't have a choice. I had to do it whether or not I wanted to. Not just for Karolina, who was dead, but also for Anna, who was still alive and had no one to defend her.
You only fly straight and level in balance.
Anna and Roza are the opposing forces that perfectly balance each other to keep me in the air. 

And I find out that there's a prequel to Code Name Verity? Ugh, Elizabeth Wein, you can take all my money. 

[Review] Breaking by Danielle Rollins

Breaking by Danielle Rollins

Series: Burning companion novel

Rating: 3 stars

Format: ARC Paperback

Published: June 6th 2017

Goodreads Synopsis:

Monsters lurk where you least expect…
Charlotte has always felt ordinary compared to her two best friends at the prestigious Weston Preparatory Institute. Not enigmatic and daring like Ariel or beautiful and brilliant like Devon, Charlotte has never quite met the standards of the school—or those of her demanding mother. But with Ariel and Devon by her side, none of that mattered. They became the family she never had.
Until the unthinkable happens—Ariel commits suicide. And less than a month later, so does Devon.
Everyone accepts the suicides as tragic coincidences, but Charlotte refuses to believe that. And when she finds mysterious clues left behind by Ariel, Charlotte is thrust down a path that leads to a dangerous secret about Weston Prep. There’s a reason Weston students are so exceptional, and the people responsible are willing to kill to protect the truth… 

Third #ARCAugust read.

I keep on reading suspenseful books.

Breaking was alright. Its supposed to be a companion novel to Burning, but you don't really need to read the first one to read this one. Except I think the ending of this book would make a whole lot more sense with it.

[Review] The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: ARC Paperback

Published: August 25th 2015

Goodreads Synopsis: 

In this asylum, your mind plays tricks on you all the time…
Delia’s new house isn’t just a house. Long ago, it was the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females—an insane asylum nicknamed “Hysteria Hall.” However, many of the inmates were not insane, just defiant and strong willed. Kind of like Delia herself.
But the house still wants to keep “troubled” girls locked away. So, in the most horrifying way, Delia gets trapped.
And that’s when she learns that the house is also haunted.
Ghost girls wander the halls in their old-fashioned nightgowns. A handsome ghost boy named Theo roams the grounds. Delia finds that all the spirits are unsettled and full of dark secrets. The house, as well, harbors shocking truths within its walls—truths that only Delia can uncover, and that may set her free.
But she’ll need to act quickly, before the house’s power overtakes everything she loves.
From master of suspense Katie Alender comes a riveting tale of twisted memories and betrayals, and the meaning of madness.

My second book for #ARCAugust!

I don't normally read horror. I don't normally watch horror either - I would think them too silly or not scary enough for me.

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall surpassed my expectations on the horror genre. Coincidentally, I was also watching a Supernatural episode on an asylum the day before I picked up this book, so I guess I had some idea of what I was walking into.

[Review] The Possible by Tara Altebrando

The Possible by Tara Altebrando

Rating: 2 stars

Format: ARC Paperback

Published: June 7th 2017

Goodreads Synopsis:

Some storms rage from within.
What if…a teenage girl could move objects with her mind?
What if…someone turns up at her door asking questions she doesn’t want to answer?
Kaylee lives a normal life with her adoptive parents, and almost never thinks of her birth mother, Crystal, who is serving a life sentence in prison. But the woman at the front door is producing a podcast about Crystal that is about to blow Kaylee’s forgotten past wide open.
What if strange things have been happening Kaylee’s entire life, things she could not explain? What if she’s more like her mother than she ever imagined?
What if the podcast is about to put her on a collision course with Crystal—and her darkest self?

My first #ARCAugust read!

I can't really say much about it, because the book itself was very bland. The entire time we are dealt suspense around the main character, Kaylee, and whether or not she inherited telekinetic powers from her estranged, psychopathic mom, Crystal, who is currently in jail for killing Kaylee's little brother. There's a lot of buildup and not much spark for the reveals. The characters weren't that interesting - Kaylee more or less annoyed me at times. I found myself just trying to finish this book.

#ARCAugust TBR

Hello everyone! It's been a long time since I've posted something, and this is mostly because college took over my life and I did lose interest in reading my books up until recently. But I'm back! And I'm hoping on staying.

I'll be doing two reading challenges for August, and this is the first. I'm also behind my Goodreads challenge by 39 books so I gotta catch up somehow, right? 

Without further ado, here are my arcs for this year's challenge. 18 books is going to be a doozy. 

I'm Joining #ARCAugust, are you?

I have many books on my TBR (both finished copies and ARCs) and my list never seems to go under 60 books. Hopefully this month I can change that! 

Here's the 12 books I plan to read! 

[Review] Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Rating: 4 stars

Version: ARC

Release Date: September 1st 2015

Goodreads Synopsis:

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.
When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

[Review] Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

Version: Netgalley E-ARC

Rating: 4 stars

Published: January 5th 2016

Goodreads Synopsis:Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.
Keeping what goes on in her bedroom a secret has been easy- so far. Her absentee mother isn’t home nearly enough to know about Mercedes’ extracurricular activities, and her uber-religious best friend, Angela, won’t even say the word “sex” until she gets married. But Mercedes doesn’t bank on Angela’s boyfriend finding out about her services and wanting a turn- or on Zach, who likes her for who she is instead of what she can do in bed.
When Mercedes’ perfect system falls apart, she has to find a way to salvage her reputation and figure out where her heart really belongs in the process. Funny, smart, and true-to-life, FIRSTS is a one-of-a-kind young adult novel about growing up.

[Review] This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Version: ARC Paperback

Rating: 4 stars

Release Date: December 22nd 2015

[Review] Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Rating: 5 stars

Series: The Illuminae #1

Version: ARC

Release Date: October 20th 2015

Goodreads Synopsis:
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.
This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

 I started this book Sunday night. I finished Monday night. If we're being technical I read the first page on Saturday, but regardless - Every time I had to put this book down because I had to do something else, I couldn't. I couldn't even sleep without reading another 100 pages. There's something compelling about this book, because it is a conglomeration of everything, and it's a good conglomeration. Illuminae takes what you expect from a sci-fi, from a dystopian novel, from a romance, and tosses it out the window to create its own totally new experience.

(And my friends/fellow blogger buds at Wonderland Novels didn't read it yet so I will try my best to remain not so-spoiler-y, although they really should read it!)

That being said, Illuminae starts out following the attack of the small colony Kerenza by a corporation known as Beitech. Survivors Erza Mason and Kady Grant, the latter having dumped the former earlier that day, are two of thousands of survivors onboard the three ships - Copernicus, Hypatia, Alexander. You're introduced to a ton of characters as the book goes on, and for the hundred or so pages of the book I wasn't sure where everything was going, besides the fact that they were trying to escape the Lincoln. But then Copernicus blows up... and it starts to get really fishy.

From all the emails and artsy dialogues and comms with all the characters, you start to see that while everyone is trying to do the right thing, is it really the right thing? AIDAN (Alexander's supercomputer) was programmed to protect everyone, but sacrifices others in the process who are deemed "harmful" to protecting Hypatia. Captain David Torrence orders to shoot down those who tried to protect Copernicus. Acting-Captain Syra Boll has to flush out the survivors from Alexander into space when she finds out some have the Phobos virus. And the way Illuminae displays these decisions, whether in be in caps or swirls or words or names flashed across a page, tears at my heart.

A lot of these scenes were so artfully crafted so when they were revealed (as Kady never responds directly to Ezra asking about her mom), my feels were broken. The two moments I have to say rank the top of the 'Raisa actually got really sad' scenes had to do with Kady's mom and the one with Acting-Captian Syra Boll and 'Chatter' Mikael Carlin. When you read these, you'll see why.

*tears*

Illuminae took the whole dystopian genre to an entirely new level. Space, literally. There will be many characters you love. There will be many characters you question in terms of judgment. There will be AIDAN, and I couldn't tell if he was good or bad until the very end. I felt bad for everyone. I was attached to everyone, without even reading about them in the typical descriptive storytelling format. Zhang's banter or McNulty's talk about the "Astro Princess" or Ann Chau's strong conviction for the Hypatia and the crew. Whether they die or not, that remains to be seen if you read the book! But they're all tested, and some of them even go mad.

I didn't think this book could get scary. But it got scary. I'm not even scared of scary movies and I was scared of the 'DON'T LOOK AT ME" mantras of the afflicted. There's even a few visuals to match, that's the creepy part. And because I played Bioshock, I ended up comparing this to the splicers (the zombie things).

Before I make this into the longest review ever, I gotta say a few words about our main characters. Ezra and Kady. Their love isn't defined by kisses or hugs, but rather words of caring and looking out for each other and unlike other books, it felt real. Even though Kady broke up with him, she still cared. And Ezra tried to win her back (and succeeded) using the sweetest gestures ever! (If only a guy sent me computer roses).

This book broke a lot of tropes. Kady, sure she stood out, pink hair and all. She had a boyfriend. But she was antisocial. And she loved her mom! And while she was extremely determined to save Ezra, she was also scared. Moral righteousness or for the greater good, you ask? Most of the higher ups spoke for the greater good, even AIDAN, so this was not a walk in the park full of rainbows everyone will survive book.

This book came to life, in forms you would least expect - emails, texts? Everyone seems so dull in their texts in real life. But that isn't the case there. Kaufman and Kristoff utilized everything, from art to posters to font change, to bring us the masterpiece that is Illuminae.

Liked or disliked Illuminae? Hopefully liked it? Tell me what you think in the comments below!

[Review] Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Rating: 4.5 stars 

Series: Wolf by Wolf #1

Version: ARC

Release Date: October 20th 2015

Goodreads Synopsis:
Code Name Verity meets Inglourious Basterds in this fast-paced novel from the author of The Walled City.
The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball.
Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

I received this book from the Hatchette Book Group in exchange for an honest review.

As a Tarantino fan, yes. Yes to this book. I was reading Wolf by Wolf and came to the conclusion that Yael is basically YA Shosanna. Her story was my favorite part of Inglourious Basterds.

If a movie for Wolf by Wolf was a thing, she'd be Yael

But this is about Wolf by Wolf. Alternate Universe if Hitler and the Axis won WWII. Essentially, a living hell. In this world, Germany and Japan run most of Europe and Asia with an iron fist, but their ideal perfect world is collapsing from within. Starting with Yael...

Yael is one of those female heroines with a tragic backstory, but it's something that makes her persevere to complete her goal. For her wolves (Babushka, Mama, Miriam, Aaron-Klaus, Vlad), the ones who shaped her into who she is. She's certainly very relentless, to the point of doing rather reckless hurtful things to Felix and Luka. There is no love triangle actually, because Felix is her brother (Adele's brother), and all the love triangle trope haters can read this book in peace.

After all the things Yael did to Felix, I'm surprised her actually kept on following her and didn't hate her for ya' know, knocking him unconscious and stealing his bike. That's sibling love for you.

The romance between Yael/Adele and Luka - There are so many unanswered questions! What happened to them in the Axis Tour of last year? I really want to know, and the fact I didn't know clenched my insides! They were so complicated! It was so great, and the romance in this book was something I really needed because lately I've been reading unfulfilling romance.

Romance isn't even the main part. Graudin alternates between the past and present of Yael, telling the story of her life inside the camps, her escape, and eventual meeting with the resistance of Operation: Valkyrie. The present is the Axis Tour and Yael fighting tooth and nail to become first place and win a Double Iron Cross, and assassinate Hitler.

The pacing of this book was so fast-paced and a quick read. It was full of action and sadness and Yael realizing she can't be as ruthless as she thought. I literally read the last 150 pages in two hours because of sheer suspense - Who wins the Axis Tour? You'll have to read to find out!

But the questions remain... The entire time I wanted to know what happened to Adele? Do we hear more of the other competitors? Ryoko, I hope we see more of her in the sequel. I HOPE YAEL ACTUALLY KICKS HITLER'S BUTT. And not a decoy's.

The sequel, I'm dying to read and the first book still isn't out yet. Ah, the perks of being a blogger/fast reader.

If you read it, do you agree or disagree? Comment below! Also, casting ideas please! Shosanna Dreyfus aka Melanie Laurent as Yael needs to happen.

[Review] & Promo! The Touched by Jennifer Weiser

THE TOUCHED by Jennifer Weiser

Series: The Descendants # 1

Genre: YA Dystopian

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

- SYNOPSIS -

The first sixteen years of Arabella Penthallow’s life have been a lie…
In a world where deception is the key to survival, Ara has kept up the charade of being a perfect Legion Leader’s daughter. But a darkness stirs, and she discovers she is Touched, a mortal gifted by the Gods. The Touched are as rare as they are feared, and Ara is forced to leave Union City for neighboring Midnight City to protect herself and those she loves, leaving Tove Thorn, the boy who has always known her heart, behind.
Carter Decker has vowed to burn Union City to the ground…
Midnight City’s cocky, infamous bad boy always gets what he wants, and he wants Union City to pay for burning his mother alive because she was Touched. When Carter meets Ara, she is everything he’s been taught to hate. Then he learns she is Touched—just like him—he isn’t sure who he hates more…the Touched girl whose father killed his mother, or himself for being tempted by someone he’s sworn to kill.
They are told they’re fated to be soul mates…and they each wish the other never existed.
When Midnight City is attacked by Union City, Carter and Arabella will do the unthinkable…even if it means falling for the enemy. The truth lies in Arabella’s home nation, and Tove is waiting. Soul mates or not, he has an advantage Carter doesn’t, fated souls be damned.
War is coming…and Ara is the prize.

- PURCHASE -

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | PAPERBACK

- EXCERPT -

ARABELLA —

 “I’m not lying.”

Carter’s lips pull into a small smile. My heart flutters wildly in my chest with the sight of it. I want to loath myself for the feelings he’s causing. The confusion that has begun to occur. This isn’t Carter or me. We can’t stand one another, yet I can’t help the way my mind has sometimes wandered in the last few days, playing curious images of him pulling me close, his lips becoming lost on mine.

“You are,” Carter says, closing the gap I opened between us. The tips of his black boots touch my own. “You can’t lie to me. Or to anyone in this room for that matter. I know what you’re feeling.”

“You don’t know a thing about me or what I may be feeling.”

Carter snorts and shakes his head, his hair falling lazily over his forehead. He drops his head, moving within inches of my lips. I inhale sharply, the corset constricting. Damn him. I keep my eyes locked with his, refusing to look away. Too many emotions course through my body and I can’t decide which ones overrule the rest.

Carter licks his lips, jumpstarting my pulse. “I do, princess,” Carter whispers, “everyone does.”

“No…no they don’t.”

Carter purses his lips, his eyes smoldering slightly. “Oh, little Arabella, they do. Your emotions are staining this entire room. I can feel everything you feel for me. Taste every last one.”

I suck in a deep breath, pushing back from him.

Carter smiles darkly. “The one that tastes the most appealing is that white-hot lust you have coursing through you.”

For weeks Rob has been pushing me to block my emotions from the rest. To harness them in, keep them hidden. I have succeeded in some accounts, but when Carter is around, the defense that I’ve built comes crashing down. Which infuriates me.

Carter winks as he takes in my expressions and what I can only gauge as new emotions that rage inside me. “Though I have to say, the revulsion is a nice change for me. I’ve never had a taste of that one.”

“I can intensify it, if you want.”

“I want a lot from you, princess, but I think we both can agree that you would much rather have me feel and taste your lust.” Slowly he pushes his body against mine as he leans in close to my ear. Never in my life have I wanted to throttle someone as much as I do Carter. But that’s not all I would do if given the chance. He drives me crazy, in more ways than I want him to know. “I promise to be gentle,” he whispers.

The warmth of his breath against my ear has the pit of my stomach coiling tightly. My body tensing. Carter pulls himself from me. The scent of sweet spices I can’t place and lavender fill my nose. It’s distracting and enticing. I desperately want to wrap myself around him, feel his hands touch every inch of my skin, taste his lips. I swallow pitifully as my lips begin to ache with desire. Temptation can be cruel.

Cruel. In an instant, I remember his comments and the smugness that was laced in his tone. Carter doesn’t want me because he is attracted to me, he only wishes to prove his point. My jaw clenches. Instantly, I want to break his own. Carter takes a cocky step back, winking at me once more.

“All in due time,” he promises as he spins on his heels and crosses the training room, slamming the door behind him.

I’m not sure what he means. That in time I will come to him like every other girl has, or in time I will finally wipe that grin right off his face. 

Review

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

Rating: 3.5 stars 

The Touched tells the story of Arabella, or Ara, who lives in a world where those who are 'Touched', while blessed by the gods, are cursed to be hated by men. Ara herself finds out she's Touched, and now has to come to terms with her newfound powers, as well as having to cope with living in Midnight City, a place where the Touched are respected, and even rule. One of the Touched, and the Leader's son, Carter Decker, both antagonizes her and attracts her. 

With this conflict of romance, the conflict of politics, and the conflict of her powers, it'll either make or break Ara, and I'm happy to see that it was the former for her. Other heroines, or well weak-willed ones, would cry after being tormented by an attractive yet irksome love interest, or take the propaganda spewed about the Touched to heart, but Ara did the opposite. When she needed to break up with Caleb, she did it. When Carter was being too much, she shot back. When Leader Thorn was accusing her of assisting the rebels, she brought him down. Even her display of powers, though uncontrolled, showed how strong and passionate she was. 

Carter was also a pleasure to read. It's usually from a girl's perspective that I hear them waxing eloquently about how beautiful the girl is, and this time hearing it from Carter is a fresh new surprise. He certainly has an instant attraction to Ara, and his womanizing ways/inner monologue were entertaining, too.

Caleb, by far, was a character I loved to hate. In a good way, of course. After his memories of Ara were wiped, his character does a complete 180, and we see his true face, an extremely zealous brother loyal to his parents (esp. his father) and his city. He's unaware of the power Ara has, and ironically is strongly against the Touched. 

Now my favorite parts - two scenes in particular stand out. First, admitting to Tove she's a Touched, and then exploding at his initial response. Now, this could have gone in a way where Tove is extremely disgusted by her, and goes against her, but instead they talk it out and he's now helping her. This trope breaker is a brownie point from me. Also, powerful Ara was epic. Second, was the ending scene. Keeping spoilers out of here for the most part, but it makes me wonder what lies next for Ara now that Everett and Heatherly have caught her. How do they play a role with the two cities? Are they against or for The Touched? Are they the rebels? It raises all these questions, and our answers only lie in the next book, hopefully. 

Speaking of trope breaking, the love triangle (or square, depending on how you look at it), was a rather fragmented triangle, and all the attraction to Ara by numerous suitors is duly noted. It was more like a the various types of love, in one book. The unreciprocated love, the young love, the true love. Plus point!

What I disliked about this book - Maybe I'm just dissatisfied with romance as of late. I'm a picky romance reader, but I found that the whole romance between Carter and Ara was rushed, and lacked development. He provoked her a few times, he realizes he's genuinely attracted to her, she realizes vice versa, wishy-washy romance back and forth, they finally kiss, etc. It seemed like such a short time for them to get on this romance train, even when Ara was the daughter of the Leader who... well, you'll read it, won't you? 

Also, there was a lot of redundancy, particularly with the word corset. So many corsets. Couldn't tell what era fashion this was going for - a combo of modern/1900s, but girls should be able to not need corsets all the time.

Regardless, I recommend reading to get a taste of what strong plot-developed heroine is like, and to appreciate a new side of YA, one that actually breaks some tropes! Also, if you're a sucker for romance and hot guys. 

— ABOUT THE AUTHOR — 

JENNIFER WEISER

Jennifer Weiser is a young adult author who has always been a book nerd and a bit chocolate obsessed. Writing has always been a favorite escape, but quickly became a passion not long after the birth of her daughter. When she isn't combing the shelves of her local book stores or blogging about newest book obsessions, you can find her nestled in her nook creating worlds she hopes that one day will inspire her daughter, who not only has given her the courage to follow her dreams--but offers the inspirations that help color their worlds together.

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JenniferWeiser

WEBSITE: http://www.jenniferweiser.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/authorjenniferweiser

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/skittle01x/

[Review] Believarexic by J.J. Johnson

Believarexic by J.J. Johnson

Rating: 5 stars 

Version: Net Galley ARC (Kindle Version)

Release Date: October 1st 2015

Goodreads Synpopsis: 

In 1988, when she was fifteen, JJ Johnson was hospitalized for treatment of bulimarexia, a combination of bulimia and anorexia. During her ten-week stay, JJ had to eat everything on her tray, and took classes like "Assertiveness Training," "Depression Management," and "Body Image Workshop." She gained weight, but her path toward health was a constant struggle. In her heart, JJ knew-she knew-that she would be a happy, healthy adult one day.

But how? Instead of a clear path, there was a black abyss. She needed a guide, a mentor, someone who knew her inside and out.

So, one morning, just before weigh-in, JJ closed her eyes and made a deal with herself:

I promise myself that when I'm grown up, and happy, I will come back here, to these months. Healthy me will guide bulimarexic me through this.

This book is that promise, kept.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I read this year on overcoming a disorder. But unlike Sophie Kinsella's Finding Audrey, Believarexic is a combination of fiction and fact, of how Johnson faced the inner demons that kept her from being happy. 

Her story was not romanticized (and this tends to happen in YA - boy/girl helps boy/girl cope and get over -insert disease/disorder here-, happy ending, etc) and that, was a plus for me. Full emotions were displayed here. Nothing was held back. You hated the people JJ Johnson hated/disliked (Ratched... erh-hem Sheryl and eventually Monica) and you loved the people she loved too (Chuck and Sophia). You sympathized with the disgusting food that was served, and the calories they had to eat (3000+ calories?!). The entire experience of battling bulimiarexia, from entering the hospital to leaving, is within this book. 

That's perhaps the best part of it, how it's both fiction and nonfiction. When you read books making out a journey to be full of stars and rainbows, you don't believe it. Where are the hurdles? Where is the truth? Johnson pushes beyond those rainbows so we can see the truth. Her parents certainly weren't perfect. Her friends weren't either. And Johnson, especially, after the revelation from Dr. Prakash, learns to accept that she does not have to be perfect. 

Believarexic stands as a beacon to all the little girls (and boys), young men and women, and those who suffer from bulimia, anorexia, or both - basically this is a book for everyone to read! There are life lessons in this book everyone needs to hear. No one has to be perfect, your true friends are there for you every step of the way, and yes, you can befriend those inner demons of yours to find true peace. 

"Remember your first night in the hospital, when you told me you felt like you had a monster inside you?

I knew just what you meant.

And now, I think maybe it's not about killing the monster.

Maybe its' about making peace with it.

Turning it into a fuzzy warm friend, maybe even like your favorite Muppet. (Long live Super Grover!)

But most importantly, I think, is that you find people who love you - 

who understand you - 

monsters and all.

I love you."

- Believeraxic by JJ Johnson

(My favorite quote!)

I definitely recommend people to read it! If you have read it already, tell me what you think in the comments below. Or would you like to read it? Suddenly inspired to? Let me know too! 

And it's release day - Perfect opportunity for people to get it!

[Review] Air Awakens by Elise Kova

Air Awakens by Elise Kova

Rating: 5 stars

Series: Air Awakens Book #1

Version: Advanced Reader Copy

Release Date: August 27, 2015

Goodreads synopsis:

A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...
The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.
Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.

If I could give this book 6/5 stars, I definitely would. 10/5 stars? Even better. That's how amazing it was. Elise Kova, you won me over with such an awesome read.

And let this be known, as it's pretty obvious with my other reviews, that I'm an extremely hard to please reader. It's been a looooong time since a book captivated me so strongly from start to end. 

Has anyone watched the cartoon, Avatar: The Last Airbender? Because if you have, you'll notice similarities between the two. Mainly the fact that that there are four elements that people can use magically - air, water, earth, and fire, and that the Windwalkers (i.e. sorcerers who can control air), have been basically extinct for the last 100+ years.

Did anyone else think of ATLA or is it just me?

But Vhalla is far from being an avatar. She's initially strongly against the idea of even becoming a sorcerer, because in her world, magic is a dark and evil entity that no one wants to deal with. But with the help of Prince Aldrik, the strongest sorcerer, and Crown Prince to the throne, she grows to accept who she is, instead of running away from it. 

The moment I realized the similarities between Avatar and Air Awakens, I wanted to read more and more. But then it hit me... when Aldrik was being... well Aldrik (cold at first, but certainly warmer and caring the more Vhalla got to know him), and his brother Baldair was being his charming, charismatic self, it came to my attention that the two brothers are just like Thor and Loki! Well, Aldrik, as I told my friend, was a combination of Loki and Zuko from Avatar.

My inner fangirl loves them both so much <3 So that love extends to Aldrik, as well.

If it's not already obvious, my favorite character is Prince Aldrik! He's absolutely perfect. I read far too many books where the main female protagonist falls for the muscular toned pretty boy (with constant descriptions of their attractive physical features). But I've grown from that, and no longer want to hear about the male protagonist's abs. Prince Aldrik is complex, and Vhalla doesn't easily fall for him/trust him. In his strange way, he shows he cares for her.

And it's been a long time since I've read too quickly, and finished the book wanting more. The story flowed at a smooth speed - not too much exposition, and just the right amount of action. Some scenes do get graphic, but the way the fights play out makes you almost picture yourself right in that moment. Makes me wish I was an Windwalker, or a Groundbreaker, or a Firerunner, or even a Waterrunner.

And when scenes got intense... There are simply no words to describe Vhalla's Awakening or the strength of the magic she controls when her emotions got the best of her. It was heart-wrenching, watching her grow in touch with her powers but yet lose (or almost lose) many things she holds dear.  If you're like me, you're constantly flipping the pages in hopes that things turn out for the better.

Her relationship with Aldrik, is also touching. I normally don't root for the girl to go for the guy so quickly, but both of them complement each other to bring out the best qualities. He makes her stronger and more convicted; she calms and understands his silver-tongue and coldness. But I'm glad Kova went with the ending she did - it gives even more potential for their friendship to blossom into something stronger.

Speaking of the ending... That blew me away entirely. The final transformation of Vhalla - from stubborn library apprentice to a sorcerer of the Tower who wants to become stronger, was a powerful and moving moment.

The air has truly 'awakened' within Vhalla! 

I highly anticipate the sequel, and encourage everyone to read it.

Giveaway Time!

Because everyone should read this amazing book - There's a giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of Air Awakens! Simply follow this link right here - A Rafflecopter Giveaway 

About Elise Kova 

Elise Kova has always had a passion for storytelling. She wrote her first novella, a high-fantasy, in sixth grade. Over the years she’s honed her love of literature with everything from fantasy to romance, science fiction to mystery, and whatever else catches her eye.Elise lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida, where she’s currently working on the next installment in her debut YA fantasy series: Air Awakens. She enjoys video games, anime, table-top role playing games, and many other forms of “geekdom.” She loves talking with fans on Twitter and Facebook. Visit her website here for more extras and news on her books! 
Twitter: @EliseKova | Instagram: @Elise.Kova | Tumblr: EliseKova | Facebook: Elise Kova

Also if you read it, what did you think of Air Awakens? Am I the only one who think it's like Avatar? Agree/Disagree that Aldrik is Zuko/Loki? Tell me in the comments below! Also shoutout to Alice for lending me such a beautiful book!