Review: The Ruby Circle

Title: The Ruby Circle
Author: Richelle Meade
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: February 10th ,2015
Series: Bloodlines #6
How I Served It:Kindle
How I Got It:Live-brary

Summary:
 "Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world." -- Goodreads

Review:
Normally I'm not a huge fan of everyone in a story getting a picture-perfect happy ending.  Does that make me a bad person? Maybe. It's just that I generally prefer endings that are a little more real.  That's why I liked the ending of the original Vampire Academy series I think, not everyone was happy. That said, I still really liked Ruby Circle.  Yeah, the epilogue was a little sugary for my tastes,  but it still felt genuine. :) 

Review: The Jewel

Title: The Jewel
Author:Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: September 2nd, 2014
Series: The Lone City Trilogy #1
How I Served It: Audiobook
How I Got It:Live-brary

Summary:
"The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for." -- Goodreads

Review:
Frankly I am so over trilogies.  I know I've been saying that for legitimately years now.  I know that I still buy and read trilogies in excess despite my insistence that I'm over them but... seriously.  I'm over books that don't need to be trilogies being trilogies because Twilight and the Hunger Games were such successes.  This  book could've been a standalone book.  It could've done what ___ did and make a series out of linked standalone books set in the same world.  It did not need to take a girl who is not especially fascinating and turn her into the center of a revolution (because clearly, that's what's going to happen).  That said, I'll still probably read the sequels.

Review: Red Queen

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Orion
Published: February 10th, 2015
Series: Red Queen Trilogy
How I Served It:Kindle
How I Got It:Live-brary

 Summary:
 "The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?" - Goodreads

Review:
This book was so, so good.  I mean, it wasn't perfect, but I had exceedingly high expectations (it was definitely the most hyped up debut this winter), and it didn't fall short.  I'm going to try to do the five and three style review again, since I liked it so much with Clockwork Prince.  Overall though, I like what Aveyard is setting up here. I think it has promise.
Top 5 Things About the Book:

 1. The World Building - The world Aveyard has created clearly has a deep history.  It's implied that the Silvers were once angels who fell, and that the world that Mare lives in is just a far distance future.  Unlike some, I like how Aveyard doesn't weigh us down with the particulars of how this future came about.  There's just enough implication that I can fill in the gaps with my own assumptions, and in truth the specifics of this world's history don't matter nearly as much as the present, and Aveyard has the present covered.  There's a clear power dynamic here and I think the idea of distinguishing by blood color (while a little reminiscent of Harry Potter) is unique.  

2. The Trick Love Triangle, or Rather, the Fact That Love/Lust Isn't the Focus - Spoilers!  I like how Aveyard does not fall into the stupid love triangle trap that is the basis of basically every other trilogy in the genre right now.  Yes, I know I am ignoring what is obviously set to come in the sequel.  Let me have the moment!  I like how Mare, while she has feelings for both her childhood best friend and Cal, the heir, doesn't spend the whole book crying about that. She has real feelings too for her betrothed, but even that isn't the center of the novel..  It reminds me vaguely of what Collins did in the Hunger Games, in that there is a romantic issue happening, but the girl has other issues to deal with and prioritizes them like a person.  There might be a love-quadrangle going on in the background, but it's written in such a way that you're never confused as to whether or not this book is a romance novel in disguise. I am desperately hopeful that Aveyard maintains this approach throughout the series.

3.  The Powers - I saw on Goodreads one reviewer compared the powers in this book to those in X-Men.  I like it.  I like how the Silvers have these supernatural powers that the Reds do not because it makes it clear why the Silvers are still in power and how they got there.  It also at least kind of explains the difference in blood colors and stuff; Silvers and Reds are probably different species (back to the fallen angels theory!).  I think it's neat how different Silver Families are associated with different types of abilities and how there are names for the different types of ability-users. I am a little worried about how Mare has a 'mutation' that makes her special and able to toss around lightning but I suspect that that's just PTSD from Allegiant.  I also wonder how they'll explain away the rise of this mutation.

4. Mare - She will also probably be on the list of things I didn't like, but I like it when a heroine is real.  Mare felt real to me.  She made stupid decisions because she acted like a teenaged girl.  If I was still sixteen I would probably like her even more.  At 20-something, some of her choices made me want to slap her, but that's hindsight for you.  I like how she was aware of what she needed to do to survive and didn't lose herself in the pretty palace life being offered.  I know the Queen was crazy and the threats to Mare's safety were always present, but even so she definitely could have abandoned herself to what the royals wanted.  I liked that she kept who she was.  I also liked  that she started out with no special talent or skill set aside from being a thief. Maybe I've seen Captain America too many times, but I really think that there's something to the idea that those who have nothing appreciate it more when they get something.

5.  Cal - Now, I'm not saying that out of all of Mare's options this is the guy I like best.  To be honest, I'm not really sold on any of them (though I did love Maven up until the reveal), but I like how realistic Cal is.  A prince whose father never treated him cruelly isn't exactly likely to grow up questioning the world around him.  It made sense for Maven to be interested in revolution because he was always in the background, but I like how Cal is both a good guy and someone with a twisted perception.  He was raised to believe a certain way and I like that Aveyard didn't undermine all of his good loyal, kingly qualities.  That said, I also like how it's clear that he can grow to understand the problems in society and become an actually decent human instead of just a decent prince.  


3 Things I Didn't Love:

1. The Super Big Plot Twist - Major Spoiler.  Okay, I'm still not sure how much I buy the plot twist. I am, of course, referring to Maven's huge betrayal at the end.  I liked how Mare repeated the like "anyone can betray anyone" over and over, very cryptic, but I didn't really see this coming.  Or well, that's kind of a lie. I expected someone to turn on someone else.  I sort of thought Maven was going to turn on Mare, but I didn't think it would have been premeditated.  Don't get me wrong, I love a plot twist.  I liked the fact that it surprised me, but I'm not sure that if I re-read the book knowing what I know now that I would be able to pick up signs of what was coming. 

2. Kilorn - I feel like Kilorn is the Gale of this series.  He's the obvious choice for pre-events Mare, but after all that Mare is going to go through she's going to change too much to be able to be with him.  Plus, while I know his intentions are good, he sort of comes off as a jerk.  Not that she has a single love interest who doesn't act like a butt-head at least once in this book, but  Kilorn strikes me as especially... weak?  I'm assuming his character will be further developed in the books to come, but right now he sort of strikes me as a flat representation of a blind revolutionist who doesn't fully understand what's going on.  Not that Mare does understand, just that I think Kilorn's character hasn't been developed enough to make me care what he's doing.  To be honest I fully expected Aveyard to kill him off as sort of an incentive for Mare to join the rebels.

3.  Stupid Decisions - Now I know I said earlier that I liked how Mare acted like a real sixteen year old girl and I do.  That said, I also wanted to shake her at times. She wasn't more naive than would be humanly possible or anything, it's just that she seemed way to easy to trust the two princes even after openly acknowledging that she had suspcions about Maven.  Also she just jumped in to the rebel movement after like, barely any time at all in the palace.  I know she needed to jump in and that it would be a boring book if she didn't do it early but... I feel like I would have waited a few months until the queen thought I was trustworthy. She just seemed a little too free with trust, though I suspect that this might have been the lesson intended for this book.  Either way, I know I'm nitpicking.

The Final Noodle: 
I really, really liked this book.  It's surely not perfect but it's a great start for a series and I think it lives up to its hype.  The true test for the series will probably be the next book since it seems like the days of dresses and princes are over for the heroine at the end of the novel, but I definitely think that it's worth reading.

Review: Clockwork Prince

Title: Clockwork Prince
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: December 6th, 2011
Series: The Infernal Devices #2
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Own

Summary:
"In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart." 

--Goodreads

Review:
I liked this book so much better than the last one, which admittedly is saying something because I loved the first book in the series too!  It just, had all all of the elements of a good novel and God knows seconds books in trilogies are so often disappointing.  This one was awesome.  So awesome in fact, that I don't even know how to tackle reviewing it... So I'm just going to do what I do best.  That is, make lists!  Spoilers abound.

Review: Clockwork Angel

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: August 31st, 2010
Series: The Infernal Devices
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Own

Summary:
"In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...." --- Goodreads


Review:
So this is kind of a re-read.  I say kind of because honestly, I didn't remember any of the things that happened despite the fact that I'm fairly positive that I read this when it was released back in 2010.  Pretty sure this either means that I'm getting old or going crazy, but that's an issue for my roommate and a bottle of wine to handle. Anyway, I read/loved the original Mortal Instruments series.  I'm actually pretty sure that I read Clare's work back when it was a fan-fiction, but I can't swear to that (like I said, I'm getting old).  I read the fourth book Clare popped out but haven't been able to get myself to read the fifth; is it worth it?

Clockwork Angel reminded me why I really liked the first three books.  It had that same spark and levity to it, a love triangle that I didn't hate on contact and characters who all have some serious issues.  It's a lot like Degrassi, but with supernatural stuff, and set in Steampunk London.  Now, my feelings on steampunk vary vastly.  I loved the Gail Carriger books, but for the most part don't love the other steampunk stuff.  I know Angel had/has a huge following from non-steampunk people, so maybe that's why I liked it?  It doesn't focus on the cogs and gears but rather just allows them to be in the background.  That makes sense to me.

Review: Branded

Title: Branded
Author: Abi Ketner & 
Publisher: Month9Books
Published: June 25th, 2014
Series: Sinners
How I Served It: e-book
How I Got It: Purchased, amazon

Summary:
"Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. 

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home. 

Constant darkness. 

Brutal and savage violence. 

Excruciating pain. 

Every day is a fight for survival. 

But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole. 

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story." ---Goodreads

Review:
Once again I find myself saying that I really, really wanted to like this book.  The premise just sounded... different?  I mean, dystopian is so in right now that it's hard to find anything truly original, but the idea of people being branded with their sins and condemned to live as inferiors... it just sounded like something vaguely fresh.  And the whole 'falling for the one person you're not allowed to love' thing is the basis of nearly all of my favorite books. So, when I used that stupid '1-Click Buy' button on amazon to purchase Branded, I had pretty high hopes.  I so wanted to fall in love with this story.  I didn't expect it to be a Pulitzer Prize worthy work of life-changing fiction.  I didn't want it to be, I just wanted an escapist story filled with angst and romance and all of the ya tropes we all hate to love!

Review: Princess of Thorns

Title: Princess of Thorns
Author: Stacey Jay
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: December 9th, 2014
How I Served It: Kindle eBook
How I Got It: Stalked it on goodreads for months, then bought

Summary:
"Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?" -- Goodreads

Review:
I loved this book.  Couldn't put it down from the minute I picked it up.  This is the book that forced me to learn how to master the Kindle app for my iPhone.  I've always loved girl-power books where the girls kick ass or dress up as guys to infiltrate an army.  This was like taking the Lioness (Tamora Pierce) books and amp-ing up all of the things I loved about them.  It's definitely not a book for everyone, and I really don't think it can/should be sold as a fairy-tale retelling, but I will recommend it to anyone who loves losing themselves in ink (or pixels, whatever floats your boat).

This is not a retelling of Sleeping Beauty or really any fairy tale. Yes, Aurora is the daughter of a woman presented as Sleeping Beauty, and Niklaas a twelfth son of a mad king, and there are hints of Rapunzel and a few other famous princesses, but this isn't a retelling as much as it is a new adventure that hints at familiar roots.  At the start of the novel Aurora has disguised herself as her brother Jor in an attempt to win an army to storm the palace of the ogre queen.  Aurora is the rightful queen but the ogres took control through murder and bloodshed and literal soul-sucking.  The ogres aim to invoke a prophecy that will doom the world but requires the blood of a fairy-blessed briar-born child... which as far as I can tell really just means Aurora or Jor.   Ogre Queen Ekeeta has kidnapped Jor (not knowing that it's Aurora who is fairy blessed), and it's the mission of the novel for Aurora to save her brother.  Hence the need for an army.

Review: The Winner's Curse

Title: The Winner's Curse
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Published: March 4th, 2014
Series: The Winner's Trilogy#1
How I Served It: Kindle eBook
How I Got It: That Stupid Easy 'Buy With One Click' Button

Summary:
"Winning what you want may cost you everything you love 

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. 

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined. 


Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart." --- Goodreads

Review:
Okay, I know this book has rave reviews and a cult following and obsessed fans but... I'm sorry I just don't get it.  Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate it, it wasn't terrible, I even liked parts of it but... I'm just not getting why this book is such a phenomenon.  To be honest I don't even feel the need to read the sequel.  Please, disagree with me.  I want to love this book as much as everyone else did.  I want to understand but, I just... don't.

Review: Heir of Fire

Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: September 2nd, 2014
Series: Throne of Glass #3
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Library

"Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien’s only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan’s Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King’s Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan’s biggest threat – and his own toughest enemy. 

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take to the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?" -- Goodreads
Review:
 Okay, so I'm not good at regular updates. Sorry. Life's been weird, I'll be better! 

You know what my main issue was?  Television. It came back. All of my lovely melodramas and comedies and soap operas that are socially acceptable because they're on ABC, they all came back to me a torrent of LEDs and long lost sisters and murder. Maybe I'll start reviewing television too. This is my catch all blog after all...

So anyway, I've been reading the Throne of Glass series since it came out. It was one of the first times that I trusted a Goodreads recommendation. I liked the first one okay, but adored, ADORED, the second one. It was the romance.  Call me thirteen, but I love a will-they, won't-they, snarky relationship. Basically all of my favorite pairings in any genre started with mistrust and sarcasm.  So I loved the caelena/chaol pairing. And I really liked the increased level of intrigue and the revelations about what was really going on in the palace and everything. Suffice it to say that Crown of Midnight and I were tight, we got along great, it was a happy read. 

Review: The Blood of Olympus

Title: The Blood Of Olympus
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney Hyperion//Listening Library
Published: October 7th 2014
Series: The Heroes of Olympus #5
How I Served It: Audiobook (Read by Nick Chamian)
How I Got It: Borrowed (Library) (purchased the hardcover)


"Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them—and they're stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake.

The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance. Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it "might" be able to stop a war between the two camps.

The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over."  --- Goodreads

I hate endings.  I mean, this book had an amazing ending but I hate the thought that this was the last time I'll get to delve into this world.  A huge part of me was hoping Riordan would pull another Last Olympian and throw in another prophecy at the last moment and give us another series and... he didn't.  I guess it makes sense, what with them all being pretty close to too old to be the subjects of YA/middle grade books... but... :(  I hate letting go of books.  

Review: Mortal Heart

Title: Mortal Heart
Author: Robin LaFevers
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Published: November 4th 2014
Series: His Fair Assassins #3
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Purchased

"Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has..." -- Goodreads

Review:
First thought upon finishing this: Damn.

Second thought: I don't know how to feel.

I love and have loved LaFevers's trilogy since the second I picked up Grave Mercy.  To be honest I might have even fallen in love after reading the Goodreads summary. I have been waiting for Mortal Heart for what feels like forever (I'm melodramatic, remember?) and I'm having a lot of difficulties accepting that this trilogy is over. A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES.

Review: The Perilous Sea

Title: The Perilous Sea
Author: Sherry Thomas
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: September 16th 2014
Series: The Elemental Trilogy #2
How I Served It: Audiobook (Read by Philip Battley)
How I Got It: Borrowed (Library)

Summary:
"After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny - especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.

Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that throws into question everything he believed about their mission. Faced with this revelation, Iolanthe struggles to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies - or forging a divergent path to an unknowable future." -- Goodreads

Review:
I liked the first book in this series - Burning Sky.  I know it got some really mixed feels from most people, and I'm definitely not saying it was perfect or without faults, but I liked it. I liked the way the relationship between Titus and Iolanthe/Fairfax grew and I liked the overarching plot line.

I feel basically the same way about The Perilous Sea.  It was far from perfect, but it made me happy when I was reading it.  It's one of those books that has a lot of heart.  Yeah, there are a lot of plotholes and eye-brow raises, but it's easy to ignore them and just smile.  I like books that make me smile.

The Perilous Sea is written in a kind of cool way. It bounces between the present and future (or present and past depending on how you view it).  At the start of the future-y time, Titus and Iolanthe have lost their memories and are stuck together in a desert.  The only thing they both know is that they must avoid Atlantis.  In the present-y time, they're facing a severe conflict of interest. Wintervale has suddenly begin to display immense amounts of elemental magic leading Titus to believe that it's Wintervale and not Iolanthe who is the prophesied savior. Talk about trouble in paradise.

Review: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line

Title: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line
Author: Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
Publisher: Random House
Published: March 25th 2014
Series: Veronica Mars #1
How I Served It: Audiobook (Read by Kristen Bell)
How I Got It: Purchased (Barnes and Noble)

"The first book in an original mystery series featuring twenty-eight-year-old Veronica Mars, back in action after the events of Veronica Mars: The Movie. 

With the help of old friends—Logan Echolls, Mac Mackenzie, Wallace Fennel, and even Dick Casablancas—Veronica is ready to take on Neptune's darkest cases with her trademark sass and smarts." -- Goodreads


So, maybe it's a bad sign or a bad showing of my loyalty to the franchise or whatever, but my hopes for this book were not especially high.  I just didn't see how a book could live up to the show (and I loved the show, and the movie too - LoVe was/is/always will be my OTP).  Even with Rob Thomas behind the wheel I just wasn't sure how good it could possibly be.  I think I was actually thinking in terms of how bad it was going to be.


Let's be straight, this is NOT Veronica Mars the TV show.  There is no Jason Dohring. In fact, Logan is barely in this, which bounces from a little to a lot disappointing.  That said, this is by no means bad.  In fact, I thought it was really good for what it was.  I listened to the audiobook which was read by Kristen Bell, and I think that helped make it feel more real to me.  Otherwise I think I would have had a hard time adjusting to accepting that this story is really what happens after the movie and not just someones very well-written fan fiction.  I really hope she does the second one too - it really added to the noir feeling legitimately hearing everything in Veronica's voice... plus it was super amusing listening to Bell's attempts at putting on her costars' voices.

Review: These Broken Stars

Title: These Broken Stars
Authors: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Published: December 10th, 2013
Series: Starbound #1
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Found It: Purchased (work book sale)

Summary (From Goodreads):
"It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it."

Review So at work they have this big quarterly book sale (to get rid of all the free books the hosts acquire).  They basically give books away, $8 for hardcovers that have never been opened, less for kids books (more for cookbooks).  It's a poor post-grad's best and worst nightmare. And it's where I found this book.  I bought it solely for the cover - I do that.  I judge books by their covers.  I know it's a bad habit but, I mean, it's steered me pretty well so far! It found me this, after all.

I've had These Broken Stars on my shelf since early September (and by shelf I now mean floor since I've moved out of my parent's house and am holing up in Bushwick at least for the month).  I would pick it up, read the description, shrug and put it back down.  SO MANY WEEKS WASTED!  On Saturday night at like 10 I was like, I'll read a chapter and then go to bed (let's not talk about what I do with my Saturday nights, 'kay?).  One chapter turned into the entire novel and suddenly it was 1 AM and I was staring at my ceiling half crying, half beaming because this novel was beautiful.

Review: The Poison Study

Title: Poison Study

Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira
Published: March 1st 2007
Series: Chronicles of Ixia #1
How I Served It: Paperback
How I Got It: Purchased (YA Fest in Easton PA, April 2014)

"Choose: A quick death…Or slow poison...

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear..." -- Goodreads

This series has been on my 'To Read' shelf for basically forever, so when I heard the author was going to be at the YA Fest in Easton PA I was pretty pumped.  It's not exactly an easy book to find (in print I mean, I know Amazon has a great bundle deal on the kindle), and I dig having my books signed.  So I bought my copy of The Poison Study when my (totally awesome) creative writing professor brought me to the fest and then put it in my book box which is where it sat through Finals and Senior Week and Graduation and the first half of summer.  It became 'that book I was going to read next' for months.  Kind of like Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Laini Taylor, I swear I'm going to read it eventually...).  I don't know why I had such issues cracking the spine.  I live for medieval-y assassin books - the third books in the His Fair Assassins and Throne of Glass series are legit my most longed for reads of 2014.  Poison Study should have been something I was super excited to crack open... but I basically had to force myself to sit down and read it.

Review: The House of Hades

Title: The House of Hades
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Listening Library
Published: October 8th 2013
Series: Heroes of Olympus # 4
How I Served It: Audiobook
How I Got It: Library

Summary: "At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy's instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea's forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape? 

They have no choice. If the demigods don't succeed, Gaea's armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus." -- Goodreads

The hardcover edition of this book has been sitting on my shelf since October 8th, 2013.  It was at the point where I'd forgotten I bought it!  Call me a wimp but Riordan's hardcover books are a commitment and, frankly, my purse isn't big enough to squeeze them into.  So for the past summer every time I've thought about reading The House of Hades, I'd end up opting for a smaller book or a book that my library had in e-book form instead.  I know, I know, wimpy.  But then suddenly it was late August and The Blood of Olympus already had cover art and I knew it was time to suck it up and... the library had it on audiobook. Audiobook is actually how I experienced all five of the original Percy Jackson books, so in many ways it felt like coming home.