Rebel Springs by Morgan Rhodes

Rebel Springs by Morgan Rhodes

Published: July 15th 2014 by Razorbill

Auranos has been conquered and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now unwillingly united as one country called Mytica. But alluring, dangerous magic still beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world. . . .

CLEO is now a prisoner in her own palace, forced to be an ambassador for Mytica as the evil King Gaius lies to her people MAGNUS stands to eventually inherit the new kingdom but is still obsessed with his feelings for his adopted sister, Lucia LUCIA is haunted by the deadly outcome of her breathtaking display of magic that allowed her father to capture the kingdoms JONAS watches at the palace gates, a troop of rebels behind him, waiting for him to tell them how he plans to overtake King Gaius When Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of cataclysmic events that will forever change the face of this land.

Since the final book in this series was recently published, I thought it was probably a good time to return to this series! Whilst I found the plot enjoyable, there were other aspects of this book that I really struggled with which were ultimately a let down.

As mentioned, I enjoyed the plot. Despite the jumping between various PoVs (characters who are located a various different places on the continent(?)), the plot was extremely easy to follow and it was interesting watching all the various points start to come together as the characters begin to have similar goals – albeit for different reasons. I liked the magical aspect of this book and the mystery that surrounds the watchers, the kindred etc.

I enjoyed the various different PoVs! I feel that Rhodes did a great job of making each voice unique and, in doing so, the voices didn’t bleed together. I could easily put the book down mid chapter (which I try not to do) and come back and remember who’s PoV I was reading because the voices are unique. They all have their own personalities and each one brought something different to the story.

I am so intrigued by the prince of Kaesia. We don’t get to see a lot of him in this book, but he is such a mysterious figure and I cannot wait until we find to more about him and what is role will be in the bigger picture! I am also low key ready to jump aboard a particular ship if the canon develops – that is all I am saying.

I struggled with the romance element of this book. A lot of it felt forced and I wasn’t really getting any of the feels from the characters who were claiming to be into Cleo. I liked the fact that Cleo and Magnus’ relationship is one that will probably grow and develop as the series continues because it is a slow burn that I will probably enjoy more. I honestly don’t understand why everyone keeps flinging themselves at Cleo because there hasn’t really been a build up of emotions before declaring love – I feel like Cleo needs to arm herself with a bat so she can keep them all away!

Despite the fact that I enjoyed the plot, I am relatively sure I have already figured out the complete end game based off of the prophecy – I just don’t know whats going to happen to actually get there. Everything clicked into place when the prophecy was revealed and I wish that there was more of a mystery to the plot – it was a little to predictable in this sense.

Another aspect of this book that I don’t really understand is the skepticism of magic. A big portion of the book is the characters denouncing the existence of magic and them being skeptical about it… despite the fact that IT IS IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES!! This literally makes no sense to me. They have seen magic and that it exists, but they still refuse to believe it? This elicited a lot of eye rolling from me.

All in all, while I enjoyed the plot and there were intriguing aspects, there were still some flaws that I felt could have been addressed. I am looking forward to picking up the next book in this series and finding out how things will play out to the ultimate end goal. I gave this book 4/5 stars.

Shooter by Caroline Pignat

Shooter by Caroline Pignat

Published: May 3rd 2016 by Razorbill

A lockdown catches five grade 12 students by surprise and throws them together in the only unlocked room on that empty third floor wing: the boys’ washroom. They sit in silence, judging each other by what they see, by the stories they’ve heard over the years. Stuck here with them–could anything be worse?
There’s Alice: an introverted writer, trapped in the role of big sister to her older autistic brother, Noah.
Isabelle: the popular, high-achieving, student council president, whose greatest performance is her everyday life. 
Hogan: an ex-football player with a troubled past and a hopeless future.
Xander: that socially awkward guy hiding behind the camera, whose candid pictures of school life, especially those of Isabelle, have brought him more trouble than answers.
Told in five unique voices through prose, poetry, text messages, journals, and homework assignments, each student reveals pieces of their true story as they wait for the drill to end. But this modern-day Breakfast Club takes a twist when Isabelle gets a text that changes everything: NOT A DRILL!! Shooter in the school!
Suddenly, the bathroom doesn’t seem so safe anymore. Especially when they learn that one of them knows more about the shooter than they realized…

I was really excited about getting a copy of this book and getting around to reading it. I really enjoy reading books with this kind of genre, so I guess that I had hyped it up a little bit in my head. Unfortunately, it did not live up to that hype! I feel like I didn’t really get what I was asking for and the shooting itself was secondary to the lives of the 5 teenagers that were stuck in the bathroom.

I really enjoyed the introduction to the book. A random awakening and being faced by a rabbit… it was a bit crazy and it definitely had me turning the pages to see what was going on! I also liked the introduction to each of the characters and their voices. They all seemed so different at the beginning, especially because the personalities were different and you had a range of the typical crowds you would have found in a secondary school. However, the voices seemed to begin to mesh together as the book went on and I often found myself having to go back to see whose perspective I was reading. The two voices who really stood out on its own was Xanders (who was socially awkward) and Noahs (an autistic character, whose perspective was written in a complete unique view…).

I definitely feel like the shooting was a secondary subject in this book. Most of the book actually focuses on the lives and issues of the 5 teens stuck in the mens bathroom in lockdown. We were faced with the typical issues of feeling lonely and insignificant and having absolutely no idea what they wanted to do after leaving secondary school (because they were at that point), along with the issues of stressful home life, college applications etc. It all came spilling out between the teens, who usually would never talk to each other or even look at each other on a general basis. It was almost like all this stuff came spilling out and then they remembered they were under lock down, and a school shooting was under way. It seemed very disassociated from each other – almost like I picked up a different book from about 65%.

Another issue I had with this book was how the shooting was actually resolved. It didn’t resemble real life at all and it was almost insulting to people who have suffered the horrors that happen in a school shooting like that. It was an extremely fake kind of thing and almost resembled a comic book like Xander was talking about. It didn’t seem very factual and didn’t actually focus all that much on the shooter himself. I was expecting more and I was definitely expecting someone who was stuck in the bathroom to be in on it in some form or another, but I was very disenchanted and disappointed with the whole thing.

All in all, I was pretty disappointed with this book because I was expecting some spectacular. I always have high expectations of books like this because of the subject matter and I am disappointed when it doesn’t live up to the seriousness of the nature of the book. I gave this book 2/5 stars.

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Hey guys! It is time for another STS. I have pretty much given up on trying any form of self control – I think I will just bury myself even further!!

Netgalley:

 The Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova. Expected Publication: January 10th 2017 by Keymaster Press. I actually requested a copy of this from the publisher a couple of weeks ago – they invited me to review a digital copy of this book!! To say I am excited doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings!!

 Dear Charlie by N. D. Gomes. Expected publication: October 20th 2016 by Harlequin. I wished for this book on Netgalley, again a while back, and I was invited by the publishers to read this book!! I love books that centre around these kind of issues, so I am definitely looking forward to this one!

 Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova. Expected Publication: September 6th 2016 by Sourcebooks Fire. I was originally declined on Netgalley to review this book, but I sent an email to the publisher afterward and they granted me access!! 🙂 I have heard a lot about this book and I can’t wait to read it!

Bought:

 A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir. Expected Publication: August 30th 2016 by Razorbill. I’m not sure if the bookstore made a mistake, or whether it was published here earlier or whatever, but I bought a copy of this book from my local bookstore on Thursday!! It is so pretty and blue!!

That’s it for me!! I am excited for all of these books!

What have you guys added to your shelves this week? Feel free to leave links and comments and I will check them all out! 

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The Merciless by Danielle Vega

The Merciless by Danielle Vega

Published: June 12th 2014 by Razorbill

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.
 
Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.
 
Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . . unless she wants to be next. . . .
 
In this chilling debut, Danielle Vega delivers blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. By the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?

I have had this book on my TBR for absolutely ages now. I only actually remembered it being on there when I noticed that the second book in this series was going to be released at some point soon… which it has already been! So, you know, obviously I had to grab myself a copy. I had seen reviews running around mentioning just how violent this book was etc. But  me being me, I kept thinking “It cannot be that bad”… well, I was wrong!

I actually really liked Sofia at the beginning of the book. She was reliable and relatable and definitely someone who was the sort of person that could easily become friends with. I loved her wit at times because she just didn’t seem like the character who would be that witty… She is one of those, when you get to know her, she is actually much funnier than when you don’t know her! I also admired the fact that she didn’t join the crowd when they were trying to perform an exorcism on Brooklyn. She was constantly trying to help Brooklyn in secret, eve though she knew that if she was found out by anyone else(especially Riley) she would be next. She seemed brave in way that no one else was. Of course… that all came to an end when we found out what her sin was!! You think you know someone and then you don’t!

Riley came across as psycho throughout the entire book. You know those religious fanatics you see in zombie movies or wherever? Where they break under the pressure, bow to God, pray all the time, preach – go crazy… well… welcome to Riley! Her religiousness actually bugged me a little bit and I don’t understand how anyone would want to be friends with someone who was constantly preaching! I think this was probably the point the author was trying to make, but still! Plus, all the things she did to Brooklyn had me tingling all over… and not in a good way! I felt like I was watching Saw or something similar, when the violence is so much your body tingles and you start shaking the body parts that are being affected int he film/book just to make sure they are all there and nothing has happened to them? yep! My point. Riley = pyscho! Her friends (Grace and Alexis) seem like sheep with Riley. The exorcism sends Alexis over the edge and she starts ripping out her and hair and generally going a little bit mad. Grace also seems to start to change as events unfurl, but she is unreliable. One minute she is trying to help Sofia escape and the next she is with Riley trying to punish Sofia.

I think this book probably should have come with a warning about the violence! It is marketed as young adult horror, but it is pretty gory and violent and probably not something someone should read they have issues with that kind of thing. Despite the bone tingling, body shaking thing going on with me, I don’t normally have an issues with stuff like that – but I know others that might! So.. probably should have warning issued!

I was also not expecting that ending! Like, what?? I wasn’t expecting Sofia’s sin to be what it was and I was actually kinda shocked and betrayed! You get this idea in your head about someone and then you are completely wrong and it leaves you reeling. I probably should have learnt with Dangerous Girls not to trust anyone in the YA world!!

I actually pretty enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the next instalment. I gave this book 4/5 stars.

Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme hosted here. To participate, choose a random book on your TBR and show it off. Don’t forget to link back here! If enough people participate, I will add a link up! 🙂

Hey guys! I can’t believe it is the beginning of the week already! The weekend was definitely too short! This week’s TBR is book that I ordered from Amazon yesterday (finally) after an extensive amount of time on my TBR list! I can’t wait to get to it!

The Merciless by Danielle Vega

Published June 12th 2014 by Razorbill

Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned

Brooklyn Stevens sits in a pool of her own blood, tied up and gagged. No one outside of these dank basement walls knows she’s here. No one can hear her scream.
 
Sofia Flores knows she shouldn’t have gotten involved. When she befriended Riley, Grace, and Alexis on her first day at school, she admired them, with their perfect hair and their good-girl ways. They said they wanted to save Brooklyn. They wanted to help her. Sofia didn’t realize they believed Brooklyn was possessed.
 
Now, Riley and the girls are performing an exorcism on Brooklyn—but their idea of an exorcism is closer to torture than salvation. All Sofia wants is to get out of this house. But there is no way out. Sofia can’t go against the other girls . . . unless she wants to be next. . . .
 
In this chilling debut, Danielle Vega delivers blood-curdling suspense and terror on every page. By the shockingly twisted end, readers will be faced with the most haunting question of all: Is there evil in all of us?

This sounds pretty creepy with some whacked out teenagers! Who doesn’t love that? I am not too keen on the cover, but I have high hopes for this book!

What are on your TBR’s? 

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and Bookish

Hey guys! It’s freebie week! So, I was scrolling through the TBR pile on my Goodreads and I found a lot of series that I need to start! Like… a lot a lot. So, I have decided to do my TTT on top ten series I need to start reading… soon! In no particular order:

10.  Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Published December 8th 2014. I have been meaning to read more of Armentrouts work since I read Don’t Look Back almost 2 years ago. Clearly I need to get around to it!!!

9.  Avery by Charlotte McConaghy. Published February 2nd 2015 by Random House Australia. I have heard so much about this book and I have been meaning to get to it for a while! It definitely looks unique – plus the cover is a bonus!

8.  Storm Siren by Mary Weber. Published August 19th 2014 by Harper Collins. I have been seeing this book floating around a lot lately and it is definitely something I want to read myself and make up my own mind about!

7.  Into the Light by Aleatha Romig Published June 14th 2016 by Thomas and Mercer. Ok, so this was only very recently published, and I have been trying to catch up on my series recently so that I can start some new ones, but I still need to read this book!!

6.  The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight Published May 3rd 2016 by Harper Collins.  Again, this book was only published earlier on this year, but I have heard so much about it since then and I cannot wait to grab my own copy!

5.  Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarry Fisher. Published January 7th 2015 by Hoover Ink. I actually already have a copy of this on my kindle waiting for me – I managed to grab a freebie from Amazon! Can’t wait to get stuck into it!

4.  Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes. Published December 11 2012 by Razorbill. This is another book that I have been seeing a lot of recently, despite its publication date coming from 2012!

3.  City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Published March 27th 2007 by Margaret K. McElderry Books. I have never actually read a Cassandra Clare books that she wrote on her own. I read the Iron Trial a while back, which she co wrote with Holly Black, but this is a series that I clearly need to start! Preferably before someone decides to hit me around the head with this book!

2.  Air Awakens by Elise Kova Published August 27th 2015 by Silver Wing Press. Again, this is another book I have waiting for me on my kindle. I am an impulsive buyer with no self control and it just ends up with me having books pretty much everywhere waiting to be read. Just like this one!

1.  The Queen of All the Dies by Laura Thalassa. Published January 15th 2015 by Lavabrook Publishing Group. This book has been hyped up by pretty much everyone who has read it! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!

So thats it! What did you guys choose to do this week? Feel free to leave links and comments and I will check them all out!