Book Review: Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future (ARC) by A.S. King

August 15, 2014August 12, 2014Leave a comment

This review is based on an advanced reader’s copy of the novel obtained through Little Brown Books at the American Library Association Conference for free. This is in no way had an effect on the integrity of my review. Please note that published novel will differ from this ARC.

Genre:

Young Adult, mind Contemporary Fiction

Pages:

320

Part of a Series?:

Standalone Novel

Release Date:

October 14th, buy information pills 2014

You Can Find the Book At:

GoodReads Summary:

Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities—but not for Glory, who has no plan for what’s next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she’s never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way…until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person’s infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions—and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying.

A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women’s rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she’ll do everything in her power to make sure this one doesn’t come to pass.

In this masterpiece about freedom, feminism, and destiny, Printz Honor author A.S. King tells the epic story of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last—a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.

My Review:

In true AS King fashion, I was absolutely blown away when I read this book. Literally and completely blown away. She is able to tell such a bizarre and unbelievable story in such a beautiful and relatable and addicting way. I can’t stop thinking about this book and I actually read this last month. There are so many parts to this book and that’s what makes it so good. It reminds me a bit of Andrew Smith’s Grasshopper Jungle but minus the horny, hungry grasshoppers taking over the world.

In the world of Glory O’Brien, she’s graduated from high school, with no set plans past that. She doesn’t know if she wants to go to college, what she wants to do with her life, anything. She struggles to figure out who she is while also being there for the people around her. She has an insufferable best friend, who drives her absolutely crazy but she also feels love and loyalty for. There’s her father, who has sort of fallen apart since her mother’s death years ago. Lastly there’s the actual death of her mother, which she’s never truly mourned the death. These are all such real problems, and they come off the page effortlessly.

AS King has a way of capturing humanity, their emotions, and problems and lives so well that it reads like this. Her line at ALA was easily one of the longest ones that I was in and there is a reason for that. She’s an incredible writer and she captures her characters so that they feel so real and genuine. Sometimes its less about the story and more about the internal story of the character and I think that AS King is just perfect at that.

But there’s also the secondary part of the story, the out of this world but so familiar story. Glory suddenly can see the future and what she sees is absolutely horrifying, not just to her but to me as well. The United States falls to pieces and is broken apart by civil war, and states seceding and the rights of women are stripped over and over and over again. What seems to be unbelievable, fantasy in this book is a glaring reality at what happens every day in our laws and in our world to women, not just in this country, but all over the world. AS King offers up a scary potential reality and its absolutely horrifying and frightening. She calls attention to the way things are now and what direction they could be heading in.

All in all, simply put, there are not enough words to describe what an incredible writer and storyteller that AS King is. She writes unbelievable deep, genuine characters and incredible stories, unique and memorable. Her books stand out every single time that you read them, and I definitely recommend putting in your pre-order for it, or reserving your copy at the library. Trust me, you will definitely not regret it!

Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

Book Review: Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

August 12, 2014Leave a comment

Genre:

Science Fiction, pills Young Adult, Romance

Pages:

350

Part of a Series?:

The final, fifth novel of the Lux series

Release Date:

August 5th, 2014

You Can Find the Book At:

GoodReads Summary:

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can’t believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

My Review:

While there will be no spoilers for Opposition in this review, there will be spoilers for Obsidian, Onyx, Opal and Origin.

When I discovered the Lux series a little over a year ago, I had no idea that it would literally climb into my heart and stay there. Katy, Daemon, Dee, all of the characters would make such an impression on me and the story would make me laugh and swoon and cry. I was eagerly awaiting the end of the series to figure out how this crazy, fun, romantic, out of control story would end.

And for the most part, I felt okay with the ending. I have become accustomed to reading books by JLA and feeling overwhelmed by emotions: happiness, giddiness, excitement, swooning, terror, panic, and more. While there were definitely parts in this book that made me feel this way, I felt, overall, just massively underwhelmed by this book.

And this is not to say it was a bad book! Because I honestly don’t think that. It definitely wasn’t. The story was good, the characters were as lovable as ever, but it felt…rushed to me. Anti-climatic. It just didn’t feel like the finale book to this incredible series. The journey to get to the end seemed way too long for the actual end. It felt almost like things had been wrapped up too quickly and I was very disappointed in that.

Something that annoyed me a lot too was the relationship between Katy and Daemon. Now I adore the both of them SO much. Katy is the awkward, book obsessed book blogger with a sassy streak. What is not to like about that? And Daemon…can we even begin to start on how sexy he is? And I shipped them together from the first moment that they met each other. Easily. But in this book…it just got old. It got old fast. I was like “okay, we get it, you love each other, yes, these scenes are steamy, but let’s have some action or something…” It was like…I lost count how many times they told each other they loved each other, or admired how beautiful the other one was or something like that. I get that this book is a heavy romance science fiction but I missed the playfulness between them that wasn’t always lovey dovey. Plus the Luxen have basically invaded the earth and humanity is on the brink of extinction and let’s focus on that, yeah?

One thing that I did really like is that JLA knows how to make a sacrifice. She has killed Adam and Ash and Andrew, and in this book, she continues to do that, and I admire her for that. I hate finale books that don’t make the sacrifices necessary, especially when there is war involved. (cough cough Cassie Clare). Luxen have invaded, humans are dying, and JLA makes sacrifices. She understands that people need to die and its heartbreaking. There is a particular death in the book that I had…not quite expected and it was very heartbreaking to me, and I think that’s a mark of a good writer, when they can make you fall in love with a character so much that the death of that character just hurts so badly.

Basically, in the end, this is what I felt: underwhelmed. It wasn’t a bad book. In fact, it was fairly good. But as far as a finale book to a series, I just felt disappointed. I didn’t feel the need to speed through the book. I felt like I was slowly reading it and I read it in three hours. I probably could have read it in about 2 if I had really wanted to but I just didn’t. I loved seeing all the characters, I loved the story idea but I just thought it maybe needed to be fleshed out more, have more action, maybe be a slightly longer book. I honestly felt like Sentinel, the finale book to JLA’s Covenant series was much better and this book just disappointed me. I look forward to more books from her in the future, and having read “The Return”, her Covenant spin off, I know she’ll produce great books again and again.

Rating:

3.5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: The Iron Trial ARC by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

August 4, 2014August 4, 2014Leave a comment

This review is based on an advanced reader’s copy of the novel obtained through Scholastic at the American Library Association Conference for free. This is in no way had an effect on the integrity of my review. Please note that published novel will differ from this ARC.

Genre:

Middle Grade, malady Fantasy

Pages:

295

Part of a Series?:

This is the first novel in the Magisterium series, viagra 100mg of five planned novels.

Release Date:

September 8, medications 2014

You Can Find the Book At:

Cassandra’s Website / Holly’s Website

GoodReads Summary:

From two bestselling superstars, a dazzling and magical middle-grade collaboration centering on the students of the Magisterium, an academy for those with a propensity toward magic. In this first book, a new student comes to the Magisterium against his will — is it because he is destined to be a powerful magician, or is the truth more twisted than that? It’s a journey that will thrill you, surprise you, and make you wonder about the clear-cut distinction usually made between good and evil.

My Review:

When I heard that Holly Black and Cassandra Clare were releasing a new book together, I knew immediately that I had to read it. When I found out it was a middle grade, I was slightly deterred because I feel like I just getting older and older but I adore both of these authors and still felt the desire to read the book. I got my hands on an ARC at ALA in July and it was one of the first books that I knew I wanted to read.

That being said, it took me a couple weeks to read it. I started it, got about half way through and then had to put it aside for a bit. I read 8 other books, including my Bloodlines reread, before picking it up. Once I picked it up again, I sped through the last half and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I was used to YA and the sort of adult stories in that and it took me a second to adjust to a middle grade story. Once I was able to do that, I immediately fell in love with the stories and the characters.

This is perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and his Percy Jackson series, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series and John and Carole Barrowman’s Hollow Earth series. It’s obviously influenced by the first two. Its full of adventure and magic and humor and the uncertainties that come with being a tween. Callum Hunt has all these insecurities, hidden behind a pretty thick veil of sarcasm and dry humor, added in with the fact that he is handicapped too. He’s brought to the Magisterium to learn magic and it feels like Harry going off to Hogwarts or Percy arriving at Camp Half Blood. Its a whole new world and you get to experience that will Callum and its so fun. Throw in his mentor, his two new best friends and a pretty awesome animal that becomes a kind of an unusual pet.

But what I love about it is the depth that comes from that. What could be a silly story of magic and spells actually holds a lot of depth. I mean, don’t get me wrong: this story IS fun. Callum makes me laugh and his friends are awesome, and there’s just a lot about it that’s just so whimsical and really makes me think of Harry Potter. But, like HP, there’s a deeper story there, one that is very unexpected. It actually threw me quite off guard and when it happened, I knew immediately that I needed to keep reading. The story is twisting and turning and I honestly hope that it will make its way into plenty of middle grader readers because I think its a great book. There’s magic and adventure and friendship and insecurities, and doubt and learning and growing up and so much that I would want in a book at that age and even now, and that’s what made it so good.

I do believe that the beginning lagged a bit but whether that was because I wasn’t feeling that sort of book at the moment or it could be that the beginning honestly lagged. Only a reread of the book would tell me the answer completely but I do feel like the beginning lagged a bit due to the lessons that Callum and his companions were learning. As time went on and the story progressed, it made sense but I did struggle with the beginning, definitely.

In the end, it became a truly good novel, and it is a definitely one of the few middle grade series that will remain on my radar in the next couple years.

Rating:

4 out of 5 Stars

Book Review: Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead (Spoiler Free)

August 4, 2014August 4, 2014Leave a comment

Note: There will be a spoiler filled review uploaded on YouTube within the next couple days.

Genre:

Young Adult, medical Fantasy

Pages:

380

Part of a Series?:

This is the 5th novel in the Bloodlines Series

Release Date:

July 29th, diagnosis 2014

You Can Find the Book At:

GoodReads Summary:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

My Review:

Please note that while this review will have no spoilers for Silver Shadows, there will be spoilers for the rest of the Bloodlines series.

When I first picked up the Vampire Academy series just about a year ago, I didn’t know that it would lead to me to two incredible series that would literally change my life. The characters, the stories, all of it, means so incredibly much to me and in such a short period of time. I already have a VA tattoo because of it. After the end of VA, I felt empty, until I picked up a copy of Bloodlines, and literally sped through that series. To say that I was dying to read Silver Shadows at the end of the Fiery Heart would be a vast understatement.

I woke up on Tuesday, on release date, and immediately got ready and went out to buy my copy. I found it, clutched it to my chest and didn’t let it out of my sight until I got home. I then warned everyone that I would be disappearing for awhile while I read the book. I read it in less than four hours, which already goes to show you how much I enjoyed this book.

When I read Fiery Heart, I wasn’t a huge fan of the split point of view. I understand why she did it but it helped me keep my resolve as Indigo Spell as my favorite. Now in Silver Shadows, the split point of view was definitely necessary to the point of the story. Adrian and Sydney are separated, Adrian remaining in Palm Springs and Sydney in some unknown location as the Alchemists attempt to “re-educate” her. In this novel, I found myself eager for each of their points of view, hoping, with each turn of the page, that their stories would finally intersect and they would be back together. I really enjoyed the split POV and I hope she continues this in The Ruby Circle.

One thing that I really enjoyed about this novel, something that just kept me pushing page after page, until the end was Sydney Sage. I know that sounds weird because she’s the main character of the series but I’ve mostly read for Adrian more than Sydney. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Sydney but I think she really became one of my favorite characters, period, in this book. The strength that she shows, the resolve, the fact that she is determined and doesn’t stop trying. She is absolutely incredible in this novel. She blows me away, and I always kind of held her second best to Rose Hathaway but I think she’s her equal, just in a different way. I really began to truly appreciate Sydney in this novel.

I also liked the story of it. There was a lot more built into it than just the recovery of Sydney. It was a struggle for Adrian, handling his spirit and his vices and that sort of thing. He is miserable and he literally sends himself into a spiral. Its about his relationship to other people besides Sydney (and Jill and Eddie and Angeline), and his family, and even his friends back at Court, like Lissa, Rose and Dimitri. I love that Sydney’s story is more than just her own in the re-education center. We really get to see the person she’s become and what she’s willing to do to help not only herself but others as well.

And I mean, keeping this as spoiler free as possible, but there are some truly excellent Sydrian moments in this novel. Truly. There’s an entire segment with the two of them that I honestly thought I would be horrified by but instead, I was so full of joy and happiness, I could barely handle it. It made sense to the storyline, which is why I liked it. I don’t like things like this happening just for the sake of it. I know this is so vague and you can check out my spoiler filled review for more on that.

Loving all the appearances that Lissa, Rose and Dimitri make. My loves!

And OHMYGOD that cliffhanger. I can’t handle that cliffhanger. Just when you think …okay, everything is going to be okay, I can handle this, Richelle leaves us literally panicking on the last page, wondering what on earth could possibly happen next. Literally, I would sell my kidney to find out what happens next, maybe even a lung or two. I mean, those aren’t important right? I’m just saying. With a cliffhanger like that, anyone would want to read the next book!

Stay tuned for my spoiler filled vlog coming soon!

Rating:

4.5 out of 5 Stars

Book Review: The Young Elites (ARC) by Marie Lu

July 9, 2014July 9, 201415 Comments

This review is based on an advanced reader’s copy of the novel obtained through Penguin Teen at the American Library Association Conference for free. This is in no way had an effect on the integrity of my review. Please note that published novel will differ from this ARC.

Genre:

Young Adult, approved Fantasy

Pages:

368

Part of a Series?:

Yes, see the first novel of what I believe is a planned trilogy

Release Date:

October 7th, 2014

You Can Find the Book At:

GoodReads Summary:

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is amalfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

My Review:

Honestly, I can’t imagine there is ever going to be a book by Marie Lu that just doesn’t completely floor me and leave me absolutely dying for the next book.

This book is so incredibly different from her Legend trilogy but that is what makes it so good. You still have the great writing and storytelling and the unique “voice” that is Marie Lu, but it in an entirely new story, an entirely new world. I think sometimes its difficult for an author to venture outside the way they’ve written, but Marie Lu proves in The Young Elites that not only can she write fantastic dystopian but she writes dark, rich fantasy as well.

In Legend, there is a constant struggle for truth, who is right, who is wrong, what is the right thing to do, how much of the truth do you tell a person. In The Young Elites, its all about power, and the use and abuse of it. Adelina is a malfetto, an abomination. The malfettos are blamed for everything wrong in the country: poverty, starvation, bad crops, whatever. They have no power as those in power, the Inquisitors, take them out at every possible chance. Even Adelina’s own father shares in the opinion that she is worthless, she will gain no good for him.

Until it is discovered that she has an absolutely incredible, terrible, dark, and out of this world power, and suddenly she’s a hot commodity. She’s hunted down by two different men, one working for the queen and one trying to fight for a rebellion against them. What makes this beautiful is there is no clear right and wrong, no dark and light. Each side is full of darkness. Each side bears so many questions. Its hard to know who to trust. Even those who say they are the right side have their own things to gain, their own reasons for using Adelina. That’s what makes it so good. You are constantly questioning everyone in the book. You never really know who is telling the truth, or what the truth even is. Even the supposed good guys don’t always seem like good guys. You’re even questioning the main character throughout the novel as well.

Its a book full of darkness, and power and its chock full of mystery. That’s what keeps you turning the pages. Its so dark. I feel like…I never know what direction this story is going to take and its frustrating and exhilarating. I honestly have such a hard time figuring out who is going to do what, and what I want people to do. I can’t even figure out what I want for the characters because its so back and forth. As soon as I sort of kind of figure out what I want for them, what I hope happens to them, the direction veers so dramatically in the other direction that I suddenly feel like I was knocked off balance. This book kept me hooked because it kept surprising me. Every time I thought I got a measure of a character or a group of people or anything, something would change and it would make it a whole new story.

I read somewhere, I can’t remember where, that this book was a sort of cross between X-Men and Assassin’s Creed. Now I don’t know much about Assassin’s Creed so I can’t say much about that. From what I understand, the main character goes back in time, with his ancestors, to different parts of history? Something like that. The history, that sort of old time feel is definitely in the book. This is a world that could exist but there’s just a bit more to it than we know. The X-Men thing is easy: some of these malfettos have powers: power over fire, wind, animals, Adelina’s power of illusion. The Young Elites totally feel like medieval version of the X-Men and they too have their prejudices against them, because they are different. They are blamed for things, and they want to fight back. They remind me of both Professor X, who wants to live in peace with them, and Magneto, who is angry at the way they treat them and wants revenge. It had a very X-Men feel about it but in a very whimsical, dark and fantastical way. I loved every bit of it.

I don’t know how much of this book will or could change before its release in October but I hope its very little. This book was absolutely incredible and I am so insanely grateful that I managed to get my hands on a copy this weekend. Marie Lu is such a gifted writer, and tells such a fresh and interesting story every single time. I was intrigued immediately from page one to the last page, unsure of what to expect. In fact, the last few pages left me in wonder, my jaw dropped, in a revelation as I discovered just a bit of something that literally leaves me incredibly impatient for a book two, even though book one hasn’t even released officially yet. Just when you think, the story is wrapped up, but you’re unsure of what direction the characters are going in, a curveball is thrown and you’re left thinking “But wait, what happens next?” I hope to find out very, very soon.

Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

Book Review: Trial by Fire (ARC) by Josephine Angelini

July 8, 2014July 7, 20142 Comments

This review is based on an advanced reader’s copy of the novel obtained through Macmillan Publishers at the American Library Association Conference for free. This is in no way had an effect on the integrity of my review. Please note that published novel will differ from this ARC.

Genre:

Young Adult, generic Fantasy, this Science Fiction, Romance, Contemporary…this book has it all

Pages:

384

Part of a Series?:

Yes. This is the first novel in a planned trilogy

Release Date:

September 2nd, 2014

You Can Find the Book At:

GoodReads Summary:

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted…which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily’s life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem – one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily’s identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn’t understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can’t hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the savior of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

My Review:

This is proof, once again, that you never ever give up on an author, even if you’re not 100% satisfied with their previous works.

Let me be clear: I think Josie Angelini is a fantastic writer. Her writing is just beautiful, and she’s SUCH a fun person. Seriously. It blows my mind how fun she is. I would love to hang out with her. She’s about to have a baby and her baby is going to be the coolest kid ever. Okay, I’m getting off topic. I remembered Josie talking a bit about this book when I met her back in October at the LA Teen Book Fest and it sounded fantastic. Hearing her talk about it again at ALA, and the Viva la Fierce Reads event, made me want to read it even more. I had to get my hands on it. Long story short, I got my hands on it and proceeded to speed right through it in my hotel room in Vegas.

Josie Angelini is a beautiful writer. Seriously. Every word on the page feels like its been chosen with care to create such a perfectly woven story. I don’t write like that. I write like I write on this blog: casual, as if talking to a friend. So when I read books that are just written so fluidly and tell a story that you can’t help but turn the pages to find out the end…I am just blown away. She captures everything in the story from beginning to end. She is so able to capture love, and jealousy, power and fear, sickness, battle, whatever, without having to say “she was jealous”. She is just literally so brilliant at weaving her words and I am so incredibly impressed by it.

I think what really gets me about this story that never grabbed me about Starcrossed (even though I adore Greek mythology) was the main character. From the very first page, I knew me and Lily were going to get along just fine. Her allergies, her struggle to fit in, even her struggle to figure out what to do with her best friend turned kind of boyfriend, Tristan, was just so familiar. This is the kind of thing any outsider would have felt in high school and trust me, I was an outsider. Lily immediately jumps into your heart from page one and you follow her easily into this alternate world of Salem.

And this is where things get addicting. This new world seems like something I could be a part of: the Salem witches never burned, instead they took over. Women rule the world. Its everything a girl could want right? Girls, in charge, in power. Except…its not. This world has its own problems as well and Lily is dragged there by her counterpart for a purpose she can’t quite figure out. This alternate Salem is so dark and mysterious and sexy and intriguing. Even though Lily wants to go home, she’s drawn to it, and to the power that she’s capable of, and I don’t blame her. I was drawn to the world as well. Power, in the hands of women, even in this messed up society is just so tempting and I think that’s a huge problem in the book. But watching Lily struggle to find her way home, while also coming to terms with these new powers and get attached to people in this world (read: Rowan).

But I think the thing that Josie really accomplishes in this novel is that she manages to weave so many stories in one. There’s so many themes going on. Power. Family. Love. Politics. There’s science fiction of parallel worlds and the fantasy of magical powers. You have contemporary with the problems of Lily’s original world and you have the romance that builds between her and a character in this different Salem. But it all works. It makes for a completely addicting novel. You have no idea what is going to happen next. There’s just SO much going on. Everyone wants a piece of Lily, and Lily wants to go home, and she wants to learn her powers and she misses the people in her old life but she grows attached to those in this new life and agh. Its confusing and it jumps all over the place but that’s what makes it so good. You honestly have no idea what direction its going in. You start to think, oh, maybe they’re going to…and you’re yanked in a completely different direction. Its a complete thrill ride.

Basically, what I’ve been telling people is…I am so glad that I managed to get my hands on the ARC and I can’t wait until the actual release so I can get my hands on a pretty copy of the book with this beautiful cover. Plus I got some Thai food stains on my ARC, I’m not going to lie. I’m a messy reader. But I loved this book. I loved the romance and the intrigue. I loved the magic and the mystery. I can’t wait to get my actual copy of this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Because, seriously, Josie? That cliffhanger? SO NOT FAIR! ;)

Rating:

4.5 out of 5 Stars