Review: My Life With The Walter Boys by Ali Novak

From Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Jackie Howard is devastated when her parents are killed in a car accident. She has no one to turn to except for her mom's best friend Katherine Walter. Jackie quickly discovers that Katherine is no stranger to being a mom-she's got twelve boys! And every single one is a handful ... Adjusting to life with the Walter boys is not going to be easy, especially when two of them start to show an interest that definitely goes beyond brotherly. 

My Rating: 2.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: When I saw the synopsis for Ali Novak’s My Life With The Walter Boys, I expected a light, breezy read. Thankfully, I got that because My Life With The Walter Boys was just so full of drama – so much so, that I laughed at times because I couldn’t believe anybody saying or doing anything similar in real life.

There isn’t much of a plot in My Life With The Walter Boys. Instead, the book relies on the reader getting emotionally invested with its characters. For me, that didn’t happen to the degree that I wanted it to.

I’m not sure why some of the Walter boys were so interested in Jackie because I just couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. A couple of characters described her as a goody two shoes, and I think that’s an appropriate description since she was so boring and uptight. I did like though that she refused to be a doormat and let Cole walk all over her.

I also found the romance quite dull, particularly because neither guy appealed to me. Not only did Alex and Jackie have nothing in common, but they had no chemistry whatsoever either. As well, I didn’t like how Alex kept emphasizing that Jackie was his girlfriend because it made it seem like she was simply a property to own.

On the other end of the love triangle was Cole, who I thought was a major ass. Basically, I detested him for the way he treated girls and the way he acted towards Jackie and his brothers when he didn’t get his way.

The other Walters had equally distinct personalities, and I liked the way they interacted with each other. I also found their reactions towards Jackie when she moved in with them to be very understandable. As for the rest of the secondary characters, they were girls whose sole purpose seemed to be to gush over Cole or be one of his hookups.

Ultimately, I don’t think My Life With The Walter Boys and I were a great fit because the book seemed very juvenile to me. Novak apparently wrote My Life With The Walter Boys when she was fifteen, and I find that shows in the book not only through her writing but also because her characters – who were supposed to be older than her – didn’t act like their age.

My Life With The Walter Boys will be released on March 1, 2014 by Sourcebooks Fire. 

Comments About the Cover: I find it rather amateurish looking. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Raincoast Books) for free.

Review: Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

From Goodreads: Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself ... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon - or die. Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally - but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him - and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

My Rating: 2 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Having loved both Everneath and Everbound, I was really looking forward to finding out how Brodi Ashton’s Everneath trilogy would end. Unfortunately, Evertrue let me down in so many ways. 

*Note that in order to properly discuss my thoughts about Evertrue, this review will contain a few spoilers about the book.*

The main reason I was disappointed by Evertrue was because of the plot. While I was expecting it to be a daunting task to take down the Everneath, I didn’t find that to be the case through the story. For someone who was supposed to be so powerful, Adonia was defeated quite easily in the end. I’m surprised nobody succeeded in doing so before Nikki!

I also didn’t like the plot twist involving Cole. I still can’t believe that Ashton thought the only way that Cole would help Nikki willingly would be if he developed amnesia! I’m beyond pissed that she reduced this amazing, complex character to such a childlike state for a large chunk of the book! Then, once he regained his memories, I found it so out of character that he would continue to help Nikki, especially because he knew how things would end for him if she destroyed the Everneath. I can’t imagine Cole sacrificing himself for anybody!

The characterization of Nikki and Jack bothered me as well. For example, I found it very surprising that Nikki forgave Cole so rapidly for everything he had put her through, even if he did become a blank slate. Jack, meanwhile, had major anger management issues and only seemed to be good for his Hulk-like ability of superhuman strength.

Lastly, I was bummed out by the lack of flashbacks. Although there were a couple of flashbacks, I figured there would have been more since Ashton has been able to use them so effectively in the past. I definitely think Cole’s loss of memories would have been a great opportunity to share with readers more about Cole’s past. I would have loved to learn how he met the other members of the Dead Elvis, for example.

A conclusion that left a bad taste in my mouth, Evertrue was released in January 2014 by Balzer + Bray.   

Comments About the Cover: Every cover in this series has displayed a model in a pretty dress. But, I’m still confused as to how the “girl in a pretty dress” concept relates to the overall theme of each novel.

Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

From Goodreads: Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil, no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart. 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Having read Julie Kagawa’s Blood of Eden series, I recently decided that it was time to give her other series a try. Over the past couple of years, I’d seen great reviews about The Iron Fey series – and I finally wanted to see what all the fuss was about. While I didn’t find the first book, The Iron King, to be amazing; I did think it was a solid read.

A huge reason why I enjoyed The Iron King was because of the worldbuilding. I really liked the idea of the faerie realm’s existence being dependent upon human imagination, and seeing the rise of the iron fey and the deterioration of the faerie realm as a result of humans dreaming about science and technology instead.

There was just something lacking with the characters, however. For example, although I found Meghan to be very determined in her quest to get her brother back, I still felt a bit disconnected from her for some reason.

I also didn’t care much about the romance because Ash was cold and kind of a jerk. As well, it seemed that he fell for Meghan because she reminded him of his dead girlfriend, which I find a bit creepy. But, I’m not on Team Puck either because he came off as friend material to me. 

The Iron King was released by Harlequin Teen in February 2010.  

Comments About the Cover: It’s okay; I like the foreground and the font.

Review: Salt by Danielle Ellison

From Goodreads: Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents - and stole her magic. Since then, she’s been pretending to be something she’s not, using her sister’s magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent away. When she’s finally given the chance to join the elite demon-hunting force, Penelope thinks that will finally change. With her sister’s help, she can squeeze through the tests and get access to the information she needs to find "her" demon. To take back what was stolen. Then she meets Carter. He’s cute, smart, and she can borrow his magic, too. He knows her secret - but he also has one of his own. Suddenly, Penelope’s impossible quest becomes far more complicated. Because Carter’s not telling her everything, and it’s starting to seem like the demons have their own agenda ... and they’re far too interested in her. 

My Rating: 3 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Since I haven’t read too many books about witches, I was interested enough by the synopsis of Danielle Ellison’s Salt to give it a try. I also liked the idea of a witch trying to get her powers back from a demon because it suggested that there would be quite a bit of action in the novel.

While I did get my wish of some action in Salt, I never really got the feeling that something terrible would happen to Penelope or her friends. As well, I wasn’t too thrilled that the action sometimes occurred as a result of dumb decisions made by Penelope.

Despite her tendency of being occasionally stupid, I thought Penelope was a decent character overall. She wasn’t as funny as she thought she was, and fell fairly quickly for Carter; but I liked that she knew she what she wanted and was determined enough to do whatever she could to achieve her goals.

I think where Salt could have been vastly improved was with its cast of secondary characters. Aside from Poncho, I felt that the secondary characters faded into the background, more or less. Even Carter wasn’t as interesting as I thought he would be!

Salt was released in January 2014 by Entangled Teen. 

Comments About the Cover: I like the purple background because purple is my favourite colour. Otherwise, there’s nothing particularly outstanding about the cover. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Entangled Publishing) for free.

Mini Reviews: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg and Two Lies and a Spy by Kat Carlton

From Goodreads: Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice ... and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways ... which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like ... 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg was a light, albeit cheesy, read. After being cheated on, Penny decides to open up a club for girls who are fed up of getting their hearts broken by guys. While I thought Penny’s reason for opening up the club was really lame, I did like the eventual outcome of The Lonely Hearts Club because it led to the creation of a diverse group of girls who supported each other, were loyal to their friends, and learned that they didn’t need a boyfriend to feel validated.

The Lonely Hearts Club was released in January 2010 by Point. 
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From Goodreads: When sixteen-year-old Kari’s dad sends her an unexpected text, she and her brother immediately go into hiding. Because when your parents are superspies and your dad declares a Code Black, it can only mean something bad. Very bad. Kari soon discovers that her parents have been disavowed and declared traitors, and she’s determined to clear their names. Breaking into the Agency seems like a reasonable plan, especially with the help of a team that includes her longtime crush, Luke, as well as her two best friends - an expert hacker with attitude and a master martial artist - and Luke’s popular, vindictive twin sister. Oh, and a new guy, who’s as cute as he is complicated ... 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Two Lies and a Spy by Kat Carlton had a completely outrageous but fun plot. I liked that there was plenty of action and an ending that I wasn’t expecting. I also really liked Kari and the secondary characters. Lacey and Evan both made me laugh, and seven-year-old Charlie, Kari’s brother, was pretty cute. As well, although the synopsis makes it seem like there may be a love triangle in Two Lies and a Spy, I liked that that didn’t end up being the case. Kari never veered from having a crush on Luke, but since we really don’t see much of him, I don't know how I feel about him. 

Two Lies and a Spy was released by Simon and Schuster in September 2013.

Waiting on Wednesday: Since You've Been Gone

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Since You've Been Gone  
Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 
Date of Release: May 6, 2014 

Goodreads Description: The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend - the one who yanks you out of your shell. But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just ... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try ... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough. Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait ... what? Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find? Go Skinny Dipping? Um ... 

Why am I waiting? After loving both Amy and Roger's Epic Detour and Second Chance Summer, I'd have to say that Morgan Matson has become one of my favourite YA contemporary authors. Any book written by her is one I'm interested in reading!

I Finally Got My Internet Back!

I don’t normally post about non-bookish things but since this kind of relates to my blog and I need to vent, I figured why not. So … my family recently decided to try Primus’ Internet and phone services. I – and my friends – had never heard of the company before, but according to their website, they are apparently Canada’s largest alternative telecommunications service provider. Well, I’m not sure how they got to that position because they clearly don’t give a crap about their customers! Although we called customer services numerous times and were repeatedly told that our Internet would be activated the next day, we still had no Internet after two weeks! It was just such a frustrating and stressful experience! We finally decided that we had had enough and switched to Bell – and they had our Internet running within a few hours.

And on that note, now that I have my Internet back, I can finally leave some comments :)

Review: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

From Goodreads: Emrys - a fiery, red-headed Fae - always embraced her life in the Highlands, far from the city’s draining technology, until she’s sent to London to rejoin the Faery Guard. But this isn’t any normal assignment - she’s sent to guard Prince Richard: Britain’s notorious, partying bad boy and soon-to-be King. The prince’s careless ways and royal blood make him the irresistible for the dark spirits that feed on mortals. Sweet, disheveled, and alive with adventure - Richard is one charge who will put Emrys’s magic and heart to the test. When an ancient force begins preying on the monarchy, Emrys must hunt through the London’s magical underworld, facing down Banshees, Black Dogs and Green Women to find the one who threatens Richard’s life. In this chaos of dark magic, palace murders and paparazzi, Emrys finds herself facing an impossible choice. For despite all her powers, Emrys has discovered a force that burns brighter than magic: love. 

My Rating: 3 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Although I haven’t had much luck with faerie novels in the past, I was hoping that All That Glows by Ryan Graudin would break that trend. Unfortunately, while it wasn’t a bad read, All That Glows could have been better with some changes. I therefore thought a pros and cons list would best highlight what I enjoyed about the novel and what I didn’t. 

Pros:

• I liked the mix of fantasy with contemporary elements. 
• I always love reading books that have foreign settings – in this case, London. 
• I thought the plot was decent, and remained curious throughout the novel about who could be behind the attacks on Richard. 

Cons:

• For a faery who is supposed to be centuries old, Emrys acted very much like a teenage girl.
• The romance was an insta-love romance.
• Richard wasn’t a very memorable character so I didn’t really understand what made him stand out in Emrys’ mind from all the other mortals she has ever seen.
• I hate when couples give each other cutesy nicknames! Repeatedly having to read Emrys be called Embers by Prince Richard was very annoying!

All That Glows will be released by HarperTeen on February 11, 2014. 

Comments About the Cover: It’s so pretty! I love the colour scheme and the font that was used for the title. I also think whoever was responsible for makeup did a good job of making the model’s face kind of look fae-like.  

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (HarperCollins) for free via Edelweiss.    

Review: Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

From Goodreads: When Sybella arrived at the doorstep of St Mortain half mad with grief and despair the convent were only too happy to offer her refuge - but at a price. The sisters of this convent serve Death, and with Sybella naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, she could become one of their most dangerous weapons. But her assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to the life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. But when Sybella discovers an unexpected ally she discovers that a daughter of Death may find something other than vengeance to live for ... 

My Rating: 4.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: After reading and loving Robin LaFevers’ Grave Mercy way back when it was released, I knew that sooner or later, I’d read Dark Triumph, the second novel in the His Fair Assassin series. While I was a bit bummed out that it wasn’t about Ismae and Duval, I was curious to learn more about Sybella, who I found fascinating in Grave Mercy.

Whereas the political backdrop was such a large part of the story in Grave Mercy because of Duval’s presence and his association with Brittany’s Duchess Anne, Dark Triumph focuses more on Sybella’s narrative. It’s therefore much easier to mentally keep track of all the characters, but it becomes harder to know what is happening at court since Sybella has been assigned to d’Albret’s household. She does eventually make her way to court though, where we get to see Ismae and Duval.

As much as I loved Ismae in Grave Mercy, I love Sybella even more. Her story is so sad and awful that you not only can understand the reasoning behind her choices in the past, but also admire her resiliency. 

As well, I loved the romance. Although I thought that Sybella developed feelings for Beast a little too quickly considering her backstory, it’s easy to see why she did. Unlike the men she is surrounded by, Beast is loyal, honourable, and courageous. Another thing I liked about the romance was that Sybella fell for Beast based on his personality rather than his looks and acknowledges that he isn’t and will never be labelled as handsome. But, this was very realistic because as a man who is overcome by bloodlust on the battlefield, it makes no sense for Beast to not be a physically scarred warrior.

A fantastic companion novel to Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph was released in April 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. 

Comments About the Cover: I really like the tagline and how deadly Sybella looks. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Stolen Songbird

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on.  

Title: Stolen Songbird 
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Date of Release: April 1, 2014

Goodreads Description: For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined. Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity. But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader. As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever. 

Why am I waiting? Besides Jensen being a Canadian author, I love fantasy and haven't read a book involving trolls yet.  

Guest Post: Rebecca Behrens

First Daughter Audrey Rhodes is convinced that living in the White House is like being permanently grounded. Except with better security. What good is having your own bowling alley if you don’t have anyone to play with? After the Secret Service cancels the party she'd spent forever planning, Audrey is ready to give up and spend the next four years totally friendless - until she discovers Alice Roosevelt’s hidden diary. Alice was a White House wild child, and her diary tells all about her outrageous turn-of-the-century exploits, like shocking State visitors with her pet snake and racking up speeding tickets in her runabout. Audrey starts asking herself: What Would Alice Do? The former First Daughter’s outrageous antics give Audrey a ton of ideas for having fun ... and get her into more trouble than she can handle!

Today, I'd like to welcome Rebecca Behrens, the author of When Audrey Met Alice to my blog. Rebecca is here to talk about whose name she would have used when she was a tween if she had to ask herself, "What would ______ do? 

In When Audrey Met Alice, Audrey finds inspiration in former First Daughter Alice Roosevelt’s wild antics and high spirits. Struggling to find her place in the White House and the world, she asks herself, What Would Alice Do? But if I’d asked myself What Would ______ Do? when I was a tween, whose name would I have used?

I was Audrey’s age during the Clinton presidency, so I might’ve asked myself What Would Chelsea Do? And for a bookish, slightly shy kid like myself, Chelsea would probably be a better fit than Alice Roosevelt! Chelsea was just twelve years old when the Clinton family moved into the White House in 1992. She lived a fairly quiet life there with her parents and Socks the cat, although once in a while she was photographed at public events or walking home from a high-profile trip to the bookstore. But Chelsea did have some fun while she lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. She recently revealed on The Rachael Ray Show that she had her first kiss while living in the White House, which led to a First Boyfriend, too.

Some mid-nineties fictional characters might’ve inspired my actions a little more. When I was a tween, one of my favorite TV shows was The X-Files, and I was a huge fan of Agent Scully. She was smart, brave, and independent - and I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. (Well, except for some of the scarier paranormal stuff.) In fact, my best friend and I were convinced that the unoccupied house next door to hers was haunted. We asked ourselves What Would Scully Do?, and spent our free time skulking around it investigating, even trying to find ways to sneak inside - until the new owners moved in.

Tween-me did ask What Would Clarissa Do? to inspire how I dressed. And thanks to Clarissa Explains It All’s unique ‘90s style, that meant a lot of bright colors, scrunchies, and occasionally crimped hair.

As a teenager, I found more inspiration from Daria Morgendorffer and Jane Lane of MTV’s Daria. That’s still one of my favorite shows. Daria didn’t teach me how to snark, but the show definitely encouraged me to embrace it.

If I were a teenager today, I’d probably be inspired by talented young actresses like Jennifer Lawrence and writer/bloggers like Tavi Gevinson (of Rookie). And I like to think that tween-me would be inspired by prominent women in politics and government today, such as Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gabrielle Giffords, and Olympia Snowe - grownup-me admires them. I also think Diana Nyad is a great role model - she’s the world record long-distance swimmer who finally completed her goal of swimming (without a protective shark cage!) from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida last year - 35 years after her first attempt, and at age 64. That’s stick-to-itiveness! Whenever I feel like things are not necessarily going according to my plans, I ask myself, What Would Diana Nyad Do? She’d keep on swimming. 

Thanks for dropping by, Rebecca! 

A bit about Rebecca (as found on her website): Growing up in Wisconsin, Rebecca Behrens dreamed of becoming the following: a zoologist, an Olympic swimmer, or an author. One out of three isn’t bad! Today she lives in New York City, where she works as a production editor for children’s books. Some of her favorite things are: the beach, bright shoes, running, doughnuts, and laughing.

Waiting on Wednesday: Love and Other Foreign Words

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Love and Other Foreign Words

Author: Erin McCahan
Publisher: Dial
Date of Release: May 1, 2014 

Goodreads Description: Sixteen-year-old Josie lives her life in translation. She speaks High School, College, Friends, Boyfriends, Break-ups, and even the language of Beautiful Girls. But none of these is her native tongue--the only people who speak that are her best friend Stu and her sister Kate. So when Kate gets engaged to an epically insufferable guy, how can Josie see it as anything but the mistake of a lifetime? Kate is determined to bend Josie to her will for the wedding; Josie is determined to break Kate and her fiancé up. As battles are waged over secrets and semantics, Josie is forced to examine her feelings for the boyfriend who says he loves her, the sister she loves but doesn't always like, and the best friend who hasn't said a word--at least not in a language Josie understands. 

Why am I waiting? I loved McCahan's debut novel I Now Pronounce You Someone Else when I read it way back in 2010 and have been patiently waiting for her sophomore novel. I hope the four years of wait will be worth it!

Mini Reviews: Consume by Melissa Darnell and Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

From Goodreads: Tristan Coleman has survived the change from Clann magic user to vampire, much to Savannah Colbert's joy - and despair. By changing the Clann's golden boy and newly elected leader, even to save him from death, she has unleashed a fury of hatred and fear that they cannot escape. As the Clann and the vampire council go to war, Tristan and Sav face a new threat - a fracturing of the all-consuming bond they share. To fight for peace, they must forge a new trust and risk everything to take down their deadliest enemy, even as they must run for their lives. Soon they will learn that some bonds are stronger than love - and some battles cannot be won without sacrifice.

My Rating: 2 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Although I didn’t love Crave or Covet, I’ve kept up with Melissa Darnell’s The Clann series because of their cliffhanger endings. The final book in the trilogy, Consume, was arguably the weakest from all three novels. There was very little action for most of the book because Tristan and Savannah were on the run with their families. What frustrated me more though was that they kept having to come back to their hometown for what I felt were very contrived reasons to move the plot along. Additionally, the romance in Consume was rather nonexistent since Tristan and Savannah were angry with each other for a large portion of the book. 

Consume was released in August 2013 by Harlequin Teen. 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.
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From Goodreads: Mel is horrified when Francis Duvarney, arrogant, gorgeous, and undead, starts at her high school. Mel’s best friend, Cathy, immediately falls for the vampire. Cathy is determined to be with him forever, even if having him turn her could inadvertently make her a zombie. And Mel is equally determined to prove to her BFF that Francis is no good, braving the city’s vampire district and kissing a cute boy raised by vampires as she searches evidence in this touching and comic novel.  

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: After seeing so many novels with heroines falling for vampires, Mel from Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan’s Team Human clearly stands out. Unlike her supposedly smart best friend Cathy who automatically falls for the new vampire attending their school, Mel can’t comprehend why anybody would want to be a vampire and continually discourages her friend from engaging in a romance with Francis. Although she seemed almost prejudiced against vampires, I generally liked Mel because I found her to be snarky and very loyal. Through her interactions with Kit, a human raised by vampires, Mel also comes to realize that not every vampire is evil incarnate.

An entertaining satire about vampire romances, Team Human was released in July 2012 by HarperTeen.

Review: Alienated by Melissa Landers

From Goodreads: Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket. Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking. But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life - not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. 

My Rating: Between 3 and 3.5 hearts for the first half; 2.5 hearts for the second half 

Thoughts on the Novel: Alienated by Melissa Landers began quite promisingly. However, my interest slowly waned over the course of the novel because the plot became kind of repetitive with Aelyx and Cara going to school and seeing Humans Against L’eihr Occupation protesters on the way, being snubbed by their classmates at school, and then coming home.

The latter portion of Alienated also received a lower rating because it became more focused on the romance. I really liked Aelyx and Cara’s relationship early in the novel when they were slowly getting to know each other since neither person made a good first impression on the other. As soon as they hooked up though, the pacing of the romance changed dramatically. For example, after not being ready to give up her virginity to her boyfriend (who she breaks up with later), Cara is all too willing to do so after just one makeout session with Aelyx! Spoiler: Nor was I entirely thrilled that she chooses to give up everything and leave Earth so that she can stay with Aelyx and then forgives him so easily after he betrays her. I wanted her to have a reaction more like Karou's from Laini Taylor's Days of Blood and Starlight and make Aelyx work for her forgiveness.

Although smart and stubborn, I felt that Cara was a bit naïve as well. Just because the L’eihrs provided a drug that cures cancer, she only briefly wonders what the L’eihrs might eventually want from humans. Cara also never became really curious about Aelyx’s suspicious looking nightly activities or followed him to see what he was up to, despite reports of crop failure around all the areas where the L’eihr exchange students were living.

I liked Aelyx a bit more because I was able to relate to him better. While Cara perceives him as robotic in the beginning, his own POV shows that he isn’t very happy about being sent to Earth as an exchange student. (I’d be too if I was a more advanced species!) Slowly though, his interactions with humans causes him to not only become more proficient at expressing emotions, but also forces him to change his mindset.

Alienated will be released by Disney Hyperion on February 4, 2014. 

Comments About the Cover: It’s nice and simple. I think Aelyx’s half is more eye-catching, but Cara’s half is more relaxing.  

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Disney Book Group) for free via NetGalley.

Waiting on Wednesday: Side Effects May Vary

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Side Effects May Vary 
Author: Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Date of Release: March 18, 2014 

Goodreads Description: When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs - however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission. Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?  

Why am I waiting? Although this one deals with cancer, it sounds like it may be more humourous than depressing. I'm really curious to see what Alice's bucket list consists of and to find out how she deals with the consequences of her actions once she goes into remission. 

Review: If I Should Die by Amy Plum

From Goodreads: I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself. Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want. It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him. After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying - to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others - so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Though the cliffhanger ending of Amy Plum’s Until I Die seemed ominous, I had a feeling that the revenants would somehow find a way to make things alright in If I Should Die. I guess this is where I was disappointed by the pacing of If I Should Die. Not only did it seem a little too easy for Kate to uncover the mythology that had been lost to the revenants for centuries, but too much time was also spent on trying to deduce its interpretation. As a result, that left Plum only about 20% of the book to squish in a huge showdown between the numa and the revenants and to somehow conclude the Revenants series.

Another reason I was disappointed by If I Should Die was because of the lack of resolution with Jules, one of my favourite characters from the trilogy. It was kind of obvious through the series that he developed some feelings for Kate, but I always assumed it was more of a crush. Falling in love with Kate though seemed a bit out of character for him. Admittedly, I haven’t read the novella Die For Her so it’s entirely possible that his change in feelings are more believable there.

While it may seem so far that I didn’t like If I Should Die, that’s actually not the case. I thought the romance was still sweet, and continued to enjoy the presence of the other revenants. I also really liked the greater inclusion of Kate’s family into the revenants' affairs. It’s just that in comparison to Die For Me and Until I Die, the finale was slightly underwhelming. 

If I Should Die was released by HarperTeen in May 2013. 

Comments About the Cover: I like it better than the cover of Until I Die, but don’t think it’s as pretty as Die For Me’s. Also, I think the model’s pose is a bit weird. 

Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

From Goodreads: Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world. The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do - and they are just as determined to stay together. Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost. Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission - because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most. 

My Rating: 4 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Having loved both Under the Never Sky and Through the Ever Night, Veronica Rossi’s Into the Still Blue was one of my most anticipated reads of early 2014. So when I saw the ARC was available on Edelweiss, I requested it and crossed my fingers that I would be approved.

One of the reasons I love the Under the Never Sky series so much is because of the continued growth of the characters. While Through the Ever Night showed the development of Perry as a leader, Into the Still Blue enables Aria to blossom into a leader as she encourages the Dwellers she and Perry have saved from Reverie to integrate with the Tides and assume some responsibility for finding Cinder.

Another reason why I love this series is because of the relationships. Though the romance between Aria and Perry continued to be steamy, I liked it even more that they were no longer keeping it a secret in Into the Still Blue. As a result, they had more time and opportunity to open up to each other to resolve their problems.

As great as the romance between Aria and Perry is however, I love their individual friendships with Roar even more. In Into the Still Blue, you finally get to see just how strong these bonds are as Roar and Perry’s friendship is finally tested due to their differing reactions to events in Through the Ever Night.

Although Into the Still Blue wasn’t quite the explosive ending that I hoped for, I thought Rossi did a good job of incorporating some twists that didn’t make the story entirely predictable. Overall, I was left satisfied with how Rossi wrapped up the Under the Never Sky trilogy.  

Into the Still Blue will be released by HarperTeen on January 28, 2014.  

Comments About the Cover: I like how the covers for this series match each other and have slowly become a darker blue. I think the tagline of Into the Still Blue is a bit cheesy though.   

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (HarperCollins) for free via Edelweiss.   

Waiting on Wednesday: Fire and Flood

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Fire and Flood
Author: Victoria Scott
Publisher: Scholastic
Date of Release: February 25, 2014

Goodreads Description: Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying - and she's helpless to change anything. Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race. The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place? 

Why am I waiting? Although the premise reminds me a bit of The Hunger Games, I love stories involving quests. Also, from Scott's website, I know that this book features creatures called Pandoras that each Contender gets. I really enjoy stories where the main character's pet plays an important role and hope that Pandoras can talk, which would make them even more awesome.

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

From Goodreads: Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is - and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it. In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life. While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream? 

My Rating: 5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Since I loved Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone, another sequel that I caught up on over my winter break was Days of Blood and Starlight. Besides having more of Akiva’s perspective *cue my inner fangirl screaming*, I loved that Days of Blood and Starlight was a much darker read with some very surprising twists. 

Although the main perspectives remain Akiva's and Karou's, Days of Blood and Starlight enables you to get into the heads of other major and minor characters too. I really loved this because it showed how war can affect people in such different positions of life. Through these different perspectives, the novel introduces you to new characters like Ziri and Jael and fleshes out some of the secondary characters from Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I particularly enjoyed reading the perspectives of Liraz and Zuzana, and hope that their perspectives are included in Dreams of Gods and Monsters. 

Days of Blood and Starlight also lacks the insta-love romance that was present in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. In fact, considering how badly he betrayed her, I love that Karou doesn’t forgive Akiva! At the same time though, I love that Taylor leaves open the possibility of redemption for Akiva.

A sequel that definitely doesn’t suffer from the dreaded middle book syndrome, Days of Blood and Starlight was released in November 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Comments About the Cover: I love how everything is in shades of black and white except for the painted mask and the author's name, which therefore really stand out.

Mini Reviews: Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott and Broken by C.J. Lyons

From Goodreads: Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with. But Emma can't tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her. Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn't have interested Old Emma. But New Emma-the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia-New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge. Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death-and maybe, for love?

My Rating: 2 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Before I began blogging, one of my favourite YA contemporary authors was Elizabeth Scott. I’m pretty sure though that I haven’t read any of her novels since I began blogging so I decided to give her latest book, Heartbeat, a try.

Considering Heartbeat is such a character-driven novel, it’s essential that the reader love – or at least, like – its protagonist. Unfortunately, the interesting premise of Heartbeat was utterly ruined by the character of Emma! She was so incredibly mean to her loving stepfather and all woe-is-me that I didn’t even want to connect with her! (The fact that I totally disagreed with her logic may have also contributed to that.) As well, I didn’t like the romance. I thought that Caleb and Emma should have just stayed as friends because I didn’t really feel the chemistry between them.

Heartbeat will be released by Harlequin Teen on January 28, 2014. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.  

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From Goodreads: The only thing fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has ever wanted is a chance at a normal life. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, she has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. So when her parents offer her three days to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now ... or never. Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But this high school is far from normal. And finding out the truth might just kill Scarlet before her heart does. 

My Rating: 3 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: I think I would have liked C.J. Lyons’ Broken better if it had been a straight up contemporary about a girl with Long QT trying to live a normal life with an overbearing mother or if the thriller elements had come in earlier in the novel. Had Broken been a contemporary (which is what I would have preferred), Lyons could have dealt with themes like bullying and having a seriously ill family member with more depth. On the other hand, if the thriller aspect hadn’t taken so long to come into play, there could have been a bit more suspense and the ending may not have been so rushed. Since neither of these situations occurred and I completely forgot that Broken was marketed as a thriller, the plot twist was slightly unexpected. With only one suspect in the novel, however, the only mystery was their motive. 

Broken was released by Sourcebooks Fire in November 2013. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Sourcebooks) for free via NetGalley.