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Review: Death Sworn by Leah Cypess

Title: Death Sworn
Author: Leah Cypess
Series: The Death Sworn Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★

Death Sworn takes a girl, places her in a near-impossible situation, and makes her do the impossible. It had action, mystery, and secrets. There’s a little bit of romance in there, but it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the story. It was a great read.

Ileni is losing her magic. She was once thought to be one of the most powerful sorceresses, but now she’s been sent on a nearly impossible mission. She knows the only reason she was selected was because the Elders knew she’d fail. She was a disappointment to her people and sees this task as the last contribution she can give. She knows it will cost her life, but she is determined to learn all she can about the assassins before that time.

Ileni is not the strongest character physically. She’s losing her magic and has no fight training. She’s living in an underground cavern filled with assassins who know how to kill in as many ways possible. Her only hope is that she lives long enough to find some information that’s valuable. Sorin, the assassin assigned to protect her, helps keep her safe, but she’s not entirely sure she can trust him completely to do that. Every assassin listens and obeys every order the master gives and her life is dependent upon the master not ordering her death.

Ileni is clever and works with what she has. She makes the best out of her waning magic, teaching her classes in a way that doesn’t give her secret away. She learns to fight to protect herself. She questions the morals of herself and the assassins. Sure, she has her flaws, but she finds a way to work around them. She tries to keep those flaws from interfering too much with her goals. She doesn’t make the mistake of trust anyone but herself.

Sorin is commanded to protect her. They develop a friendship that leads to a little something more. Even so, it can be difficult to see Sorin battle between doing things he wants to do and doing the things the master tells him to do. The master saved him and gave him purpose; to go against him doesn’t seem right. I’m glad Ileni, while dependent upon him for protection against the other assassins, doesn’t look to him for everything in her life.

Death Sworn is an excellent fantasy novel that has an interesting setup for what comes next. There’s murder and mystery, magic and power. I can’t wait to read what Ileni does next.

If you’d like to purchase a copy of Death Sworn, you can do so here:
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Thank you to Edelweiss and Greenwillow Books for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange from an honest review.

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Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

Title: Panic
Author: Lauren Oliver
Rating: ★★★★

Panic is an interesting book. On the surface, it’s a bunch of just graduated teens, looking for a way to spend the summer in a town with not much to do. Panic is invented as a way to test the bravery of teens and give entertainment to the participants and the spectators. But it’s more than that. It’s about revenge and anger, about looking for a future; it’s about finding a place to belong.

Heather and Dodge are competitors, each fighting for a different reason. They both come from less than ideal homes. Heather has a drunk, barely there mother who doesn’t care about taking care of her children. Dodge lives behind a diner in an area of town known as Meth Row. Heather had no intention of joining Panic, but she wants to feel important, valued. Panic gives her a way to do that. Dodge wants revenge after holding onto his anger for years. This is his chance to do it.

Heather is not the strongest character in the beginning. She’s doing this as a way to try and heal the heartbreak of teen love. She’s got courage, but she doesn’t know how to fight. She goes along with things, wanting to change them, but not actually doing it. Through the game, she discovers that she can do something about her life. She can fight and make changes. The life she has now doesn’t have to be the life she has to have.

Dodge, on the other hand, is fighting for something he believes in. Unfortunately, he’s so blinded by anger that he can’t see that the people around him don’t need revenge. He sees the game and the only way to even the score. He has a lot of demons he has to fight, but instead of realizing they are personal, he thinks the only way to defeat them in to get revenge.

Even the secondary characters are fantastic. Nat and Bishop, originally Heather’s best friends, become Dodge’s friends as well. They have a perfectly realistic friendship, complete with jealousies, insecurities, and not being able to completely understand a person, even when you’ve known them your entire life. It’s wonderfully well written and real.

The action plot of the book is unique. It starts a little slow, but the game isn’t the main focus of the novel. It’s there to drive the character development, but it’s pretty interesting as well. It’s a game that’s entertaining and frightening to those watching, and a way to test endurance and courage of those participating.

Panic is probably not the book you thought it was. It’s about a game, yes, but there’s so much more. It’s about fighting personal demons and finding a way to fight for yourself. It’s a wonderful book that’s worth a read.

If Panic sounds like a book you’d like to read, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Title: The Shadow Throne
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★★

The Shadow Throne is the conclusion to a fantastic series. Jaron has spent the last two novels growing from the orphan thief Sage into the king his country needs. Everything about it was wonderful. My heart was in knots the entire book, and after I finished, I had to take a few moments to catch my breath. That’s the best feeling to have after finishing a book.

War has come to Carthya. From every direction, they are under attack. If that wasn’t bad enough, Avenia has kidnapped Imogen, the girl Jaron loves. They know she is his weakness and plan on using her to bring Jaron down. Jaron knows there is no easy path to take. Every choice he makes puts him in danger, but he makes the best choices he can. His wit and quick thinking have been able to save him in the past, but he’s not sure they will be enough to save his kingdom.

I have loved Jaron’s growth across all three novels. To see him come from the hurting, combative, angry boy he was in The False Prince to the boy trying to fill a role he was never meant to play in The Runaway King and now the king trying to save his country and the people he loves. He has grown in so many ways, maturing and finding out who he is as a ruler. He learns to accept friendship and love, something he struggled with before. He sacrifices his strongest desires in order to keep his country safe. He still has his flaws, but he learns how to make them work for the greater good.

The Shadow Throne was the most heart wrenching novel for me to read. I was on the edge of my seat, chewing my fingernails. I couldn’t see how things were going to work out and I couldn’t stop reading until I knew. Nielsen always seems to write only as much as needed before surprising the characters and the readers a few paragraphs or pages later. I love this and all the little surprises I had while reading. Jaron remains a thief, even as king, in how cunning he is. His personality and wits are written on every page.

The Shadow Throne is the perfect ending to this series. It took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. I felt everything while reading this book and wasn’t prepared for it to end. But it did and I couldn’t be happier with it. This is the ending Jaron deserved and I’m so happy he got it. The Shadow Throne is a must read book of a must read series.

If you’d like to purchase The Shadow Throne, you can do so here:
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Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Title: The Runaway King
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Series: The Ascendance Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★

I have been anxious to read this book from the second I finished The False Prince. After the amazing story told in the first novel, I couldn’t wait to see what happens next for Jaron. Nielsen did not disappoint.

Jaron has just taken the throne, but his regents only know him as the reckless child always causing problems. They aren’t sure if he can lead a country. After an assassination attempt, the regents are even more convinced that the best way to keep the country safe is to appoint a steward until Jaron can lead. Jaron has a different idea about how he can save his country, one that takes him right into danger.

I’m not sure word I’d use to describe Jaron. He’s clever and smart, but not always in the perfect moment. He’s sarcastic and likes to act as though nothing gets to him. In reality, he uses his humor to keep people at a safe distance. He’s still hurt by what his family did to him, and if his only family could do that, what reason does he have to trust everyone else? He is a fascinating character and I’m so glad we have another book to spend with him.

The secondary characters are just as fantastic in this novel. They play major roles, even if they aren’t the main character. Jaron needs them; he wouldn’t be able to find success without them. Jaron might take the lead, but he’s nothing without his help.

The plot of this novel was perfect. It didn’t feel like one of those, “I have to sacrifice myself for the greater good” plots. Jaron is throwing himself to the wolves, but he’s doing it with the intention of fighting until he can’t fight anymore. And even at that point, the lowest of low, he will find a way to keep going, There’s eve a little romance thrown in there for good measure.

The Runaway King is a superb sequel that does not disappoint. It’s just as wonderful as the first. The action is there and now the stakes are even bigger. It was only Jaron’s life on the line in the first book, now the lives of those he cares about and his country are at risk. He knows what happens if he fails. Nielsen has another amazing novel and I can’t wait to see what she does in the last installment.

If you’d like to read The Runaway King, you can purchase it here:
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Review: Me Since You by Laura Wiess

Title: Me Since You
Author: Laura Wiess
Rating: ★★★★

Me Since You is about more than just a romance after tragedy. In fact, the romance plays major second fiddle to the main message about grief. This book is about how people handle grief. Some can move past tragedy. Some struggle. Some just can’t find a way to move on. This book was not about Rowan moves on from tragedy after finding a kindred soul in Eli. It was about all the pieces of her life finding a way to come together again after they’ve been torn apart and ripped to shreds.

Every little choice in life affects more than just a single moment. It all ripples out and has an impact on lives. What starts out as Rowan skipping school, Eli walking his dog, and a man without choices ends in ways no one thought possible. Lives are shattered, people are brought together, and relationships are tested. Add grief into those little ripples and things become even worse. Grief is a hard thing to handle, with no right answer on how to free yourself from it. Me Since You does a great job of showing that.

I felt for Rowan. Her one choice to skip school is only a small part of the giant story, but it’s a huge weight she carries. She’s a teen who no longer sees her father as the great hero she thought he was when she was little. That doesn’t mean he’s not on a pedestal anymore. It hurts Rowan to see her father fall. She may not idolize him anymore, but even as teens we view parents as strong and superhuman. For Rowan, the realization that her father is only human comes hard and fast, leaving her dizzy, confused, and hurt.

Eli is not in the novel to “fix” Rowan. He is there for her, but makes no grand gestures of mending. He is a piece of the larger puzzle, playing his own part in the events before and after. He is good for Rowan and helps her heal, but is not the only piece that does this. I loved his role in the book. His entire story is one I’d love to explore more. There was just enough of him to be perfect.

Me Since You is a fantastic look into grief, depression, and the ripple effect of the choices everyone makes. It’s realistic and tough to read at times, but worth working through. It doesn’t shy away from any of the less than pretty parts of grieving. This is definitely not a happy read, but it is worth picking up.

If Me Since You sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster, and MTV Books for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for a honest review.

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Review: The Taker by Alma Katsu

Title: The Taker
Author: Alma Katsu
Series: The Taker Trilogy
Rating: ★★

The Taker is not the novel I thought it would be. Sometimes that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, in this case it meant I was let down and just wanting to finish the book. I have this problem where I have to finish a book, even if I don’t enjoy it. I can’t give it an honest review if I don’t read the entire story and I always hold out a small bit of hope that things improve. Those are the only two reasons I stuck with the book until the end.

Luke is an ER doctor in a small town, working a normal night shift, when the police bring in a girl accused of killing a man. When Luke agrees to help the girl, she tells him her story, one that spans 200 years. She lived in the town when it was founded and fell in love with the son of the town’s founder, Jonathan. He’s not one to settle down and when Lanny finds herself in some trouble, she is sent to Boston. Feeling alone, confused, and betrayed, she finds Adair and falls into his lifestyle. She lives a life of excess, but when Adair finds out about Jonathan, he demands Lanny bring Jonathan to him. She’s trapped and can’t disobey him as much as she wants to. The story is told from the present day and from Lanny’s past.

Sometimes, if a story just isn’t for me I can still find enjoyment in the characters. I couldn’t in this book. Lanny was nearly a doormat, pinning for someone she knew she’d never have. She doesn’t stand up for herself and while some of that is due to the time, she just felt flat to me. Jonathan is nothing that a love interest should be. He’s manipulative and uses Lanny for his personal reasons without even considering giving her up so she can try and find a way to be happy. Adair has no redeeming qualities, as far as I’m concerned, and I really don’t think there’s any way Katsu could make me like him at all. Some of the secondary characters were interesting, but they weren’t enough to make up for everyone else.

The story itself has two personalities. Some of the beginning and some of the end were good to read, but the middle was just not for me. A lot happened that just didn’t seem to make sense in the grand scheme of the novel. It felt like it was there for shock value and not for actual plot or development. Lanny’s story could have been told without all of it.

I was really hoping The Taker would be something great. The book description was not what was in the novel. The characters are unlikeable, the plot was full of unnecessary details, and I just didn’t enjoy reading this book. I am sure this is a book that some people will like, but I am definitely not one of them. I won’t be continuing the series, either.

If you’d like to purchase The Taker, you can do so here:
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Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Series: Cruel Beauty Universe
Rating: ★★★

I am confused on how to rate this. There is no denying that Hodge created a beautiful, interesting world with an interesting history. The characters are flawed, yet wonderful. The ending felt a little fast, but I still liked it. I’m not quite sure that it’s “Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast,” but it’s still a captivating read.

Nyx has known for most of her life that she would be the sacrifice. Here sister is the beloved daughter and she is the useful one kept at a distance. She knows she will be married to the Gentle Lord, the one who rules all demons. She knows she is expected to destroy him, and in the process either be trapped with his forever or die. Nyx has never felt loved or valuable to her family, something that plays an important role later in the story. She’d developed a tough skin and an even tougher heart. She knows that if she doesn’t let herself care for anyone, no one can use that against her.

Nyx fascinated me as a character. Her father has never shown her much love, instead showering her sister with affection while training Nyx to be the revenge he desires upon Ignifex. Nyx and her sister were part of a bargain their father struck with Ignifex, but it cost him his wife. As revenge, Nyx is supposed to marry and destroy him and his castle. Her father’s desire for revenge leaves no room for compassion and love for Nyx. She’s angry and hurt. She wants someone to feel for her situation. She feels like she is not a person, just a tool.

Ignifex somehow breaks her down and reveals a different side to Nyx. She suddenly has someone she wants to care for. She’s meant to destroy him, but finds common bonds that make that task difficult. The main fault I find between Ignifex and Nix is that they barely spend much time together before it becomes love. I wish the relationship had been developed a little more right from the beginning.

The world building was done well. There’s some Greek mythology mixed with the Beauty and the Beast elements. My favorite piece was the castle, though. It’s forever changing, revealing new secrets and hiding others constantly. I loved reading Nyx’s wanderings of the castle. Everything was so vividly described I could picture it all easily. The castle is its own character.

In the end, despite how I loved individual pieces of the novel, I didn’t fall head over heels in love with it. It was good, yes, but not amazing. I think the Beauty and the Beast elements will really draw people in. It’s a lovely and well-written novel, just not exactly what I thought I was getting into. Still worth a read for the imagery alone. Everything else is just an added bonus.

If Cruel Beauty sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Thank you to Edelweiss and Balzer + Bray for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: This is What Happy Looks Like
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Rating: ★★★★

I’ve only read two books by Smith, but I think I already know why I find myself enjoying them so much. They’re happy books. I don’t mean that everything is rainbows and sunshine and unicorns. It’s not. But when you finish reading, you just feel happy.

Graham is a movie star, but he’d rather stay at home with his pet pig, Wilbur. Ellie lives with her mom and dreams of being able to do more. When Graham accidentally emails Ellie, the two start a friendship. They don’t know names, but they know the small things. Through those emails, they learn the details about each other, the little things that matter. When Graham convinces the movie production to move the shoot to Ellie’s small Maine town, he knows it’s his chance to finally meet the girl on the other side of the computer. The relationship that develops is sweet and heartwarming.

Ellie knows her life with her mother is the best one she could have had. That doesn’t stop her from wondering what life would be like if she had grown up with a relationship with her father. All she has are foggy memories. She can’t help but feel a little resentful of the life he lives while she and her mother have a home and shop that could use some help and Ellie dreams of attending an Ivy League school, something far out of their budget.

Graham was found by chance. He tried out for a spot in a school play to impress a girl and from there he went straight to Hollywood. He’s still a 17-year-old boy, though. He’s not into the famous life with the fake people and big parties. He wants a more quiet life with his family and the people who mean most to him. He loves acting; he just doesn’t like the life that comes with it.

The relationship brings something out in both of them. Ellie discovers how much she can take and Graham finds he values his family more than anything. They show each other that there is something more that they can hope for. But on top of that, they just make each other happy. Maybe it’s not the best relationship for either of them from on outside observer, but being together makes them happy. It makes everything else in their lives manageable.

This is What Happy Looks Like is the prefect title for this book. Nearly every page of this book just feels happy. This is the book you pick up when you want to smile and feel your heart flutter.

If This is What Happy Looks Like sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: Champion by Marie Lu

Title: Champion
Author: Marie Lu
Series: The Legend Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★★

The Legend series has gotten better with each book. After reading Legend, I didn’t think Lu could write anything better. Then I read Prodigy and was amazed at how Lu outdid herself, but was sure she couldn’t top it. There was no way. And then there was Champion. Even if she had written a novel that wasn’t as great as the first two, it would still be fantastic. But I loved this book even more than the first two. It’s not a “let’s wrap this up in the perfect bow” book. It’s a “let’s make an impact and give the characters the ending they deserve” book.

June is one of three Princeps-Elects. She is getting a firsthand experience in the world of politics. Day has a high-level military position and works to keep the peoples’ faith in the Republic. Despite their high ranks, life isn’t perfect for them. June feels out of place in politics, even though she knows it’s a position of high honor. Day is trying to move beyond the past and make a new life for him and his brother. But there’s a piece missing in their lives they both try to ignore. When they are brought together again because of a growing threat, they have to deal with saving the Republic and saving their relationship.

The characters are what make me love this novel. The plot and action are nice, but without the right characters, I probably wouldn’t have loved reading this book so much. June is analytical, but that’s the way she keeps her head when everything is falling apart around her. When she lets her guard down, though, she’s vulnerable and just wants something, someone real to hold on to. Day has a tough exterior, having to fight for everything growing up. But he cares so much for the people he loves that he would do anything to take pain away from them. These two characters alone are what make this novel so amazing, not to mention all the secondary characters.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I wasn’t sure how Lu would be able to end things. I had all these ideas and scenarios in my head, but none of them compared to what actually happened. Just when things look like they’re getting better, something pops up and a whole new plan has to be formed. I felt my heart drop at times, only to have it lodged in my throat a few moments later.

Champion is the best ending this series could have. It wrapped things up, but left pieces to the imagination of the reader. There’s tragedy and pain, but hope and happiness, too. This is the ending the characters deserved. The entire Legend series is a must read.

If Champion sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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Review: The Offering by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Offering
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: The Pledge Trilogy
Rating: ★★★★

After reading The Pledge, I knew this series would be one that I loved. It had wonderful characters, and interesting storyline, and it was well written. Throughout the series, I have only fallen more in love. With the end of the series coming in The Offering, I knew I wasn’t ready yet. Once I read those final words, there was no going back. Sure, I can reread. But it’s never quite the same.

Charlie has done amazing things for her country. She’s brought back communications and removed the evils of Sabara from their country. She’s learned how to control Sabara’s Essence. She knows she’s doing the right things for her country, but with the eyes of everyone on her, she feels the pressure. A neighboring country has delivered a gruesome warning and the only way for her to keep war from entering her borders is to sacrifice herself. She’s not sure what will happen after she meets Queen Elena, but she knows she has to try to save her country.

Charlie finally comes into her own in this novel. She knows how to fight, but she knows how to think, too. Sure, she’s still nervous and has a few flaws, but they are what make her shine. She knows that her country cannot save a war and that one person’s life is not more valuable than another’s, but she is willing to give herself up in order to save her people. She shows true courage and I admire her for that.

Max, although not a huge presence in parts of the novel, is still as wonderful as ever. Whenever he was around, it was perfect. I could feel myself melting anytime the love he has for Charlie was shown. He’s courageous, yet vulnerable. He’s always ready to show Charlie just how much she means to him. I’m a little happy he’s not in the entire book, though. It makes the moments we see him even sweeter.

The story itself was fantastic. I’d always try to guess what was about to happen, and I’d maybe get a little piece right, but I was still shocked when things were revealed. The way Derting can throw something in that’s completely unexpected yet makes perfect sense is amazing. Her curveballs never feel like they were thrown in to make things more dramatic. They always feel like that was exactly how things were supposed to happen.

The Offering is an amazing end to a fantastic series. It has action, love, and a fantasy dystopia that’s perfect for the novel. It’s definitely a must read.

If The Offering sounds like your kind of novel, you can purchase it here:
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