Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Title: Me Before You
Author: Jojo Moyes
Page Count: 369
Rating: A
Keywords: Love, Depression, Controversy, Paralyzed, Starting Over
Genre: Fiction
Younger Readers: This book contains controversial topics such as depression and suicide that may not be easily understood by very young readers. There is some language.

Synopsis from Good Reads:

   Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.
   What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.
   Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.
   What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of color. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

Review:

   I bought this book on a whim, not really sure what to expect. The synopsis worried me a bit. Was this book going to be one of those really sad ones that drags on? Would I even be able to finish it? I certainly did not expect for this to become one of my favorite books.
   As the synopsis describes Lou and Will are the two main characters of our story. Lou is a young woman living in a crowded home with her parents, grandfather, sister, and nephew. She has a steady boyfriend and has worked at the same café for years. Her life is turned upside down when the Buttered Bun closes and she must find a job to continue supporting her family. This is when she meets the Traynor family. The adult son, Will Traynor, was once a successful businessman and exceptionally adventurous. After an accident leaves him wheelchair bound he falls into a depression and needs help with everyday tasks. His mother ends up hiring Lou to stay with him during the day. And so begins the heartbreaking, gorgeous, amazing story.
   The characters were complex and fully fleshed. Lou on the surface is an eccentric girl who loves crazy clothes and never stops talking, maybe she is even a little ditzy. On the surface Will is a depressed, mean, and hopeless man that tragedy has fallen upon. Mrs. Traynor is a cold woman. Mr. Traynor is good natured but not always present. The Clark family is insane. This is the world that Moyes introduces the reader to slowly at first. Before you realize what is happening, you are immersed in the this world and can see beyond the surface.
   Getting to know these characters and seeing their relationships form was a wonderful reading experience. Over the 369 pages I felt an entire range of emotions. Moyes conveyed the warmth of falling in love, the hopelessness of an impossible situation, the embarrassment of mistakes, the fear of the past, and the impossible sorrow of loss. I laughed and I cried. I would absolutely recommend this book.

The Iron Trial (Magisterium Series #1) by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

Title: The Iron Trial
Authors: Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
Page Count: 304
Rating: B
Keywords: Magic, School, Elementals
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Younger Readers: This is a middle grade book so appropriate for younger readers, unless you have a problem with magic.

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.

Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .

Review:

   A lot of people have been apprehensive about starting this series. Many claim that the description is nothing more than a rip-off of Harry Potter. I do not think that this story is anything like that of the beloved Harry Potter series. There are certain similarities, but these can be found in many other series as well. They include magic, the description of Callum does conjure an image of Harry, a group of three friends composed of two boys and a girl, and the students all go to a school to learn how to use their magic. Apart from this, the two series are quite different. There are no wands, flying brooms, or talking hats. There are elementals, trials for admission, and animals with swirling eyes.
   I have not read a middle grade novel in quite a while, so I was not sure what to expect. As a whole, I really enjoyed the book. It was fun and fast-paced. The small illustrations at the start of every chapter were a cool touch. Callum is difficult to connect with at first but he is easier to like as the story progresses. His friendship with Tamara and Aaron is fun to watch because he does not necessarily expect it and has never had real friends before. As with most middle grade books this one showed the importance of friendship and trust, focusing on morals important for children to learn.
   Honestly, the first quarter or so of the book was not my favorite. There was something missing and I felt like I was reading a draft rather than a completed novel. I wanted more from the story, more descriptions, more feelings, more substance. The pacing also felt somewhat stunted and awkward. By the middle of the book though this all faded away and I was engrossed in the story. I could have never guessed the ending in a thousand years. Holy plot twist! It was this ending that saved the whole book for me and make me excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
   I recommend this for both younger readers and the young at heart.

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Title: Horrorstor
Author: Grady Hendrix
Page Count: 243
Rating: B
Keywords: Cheesy, Ikea Parody, Ghosts, Possession
Genre: Horror
Younger Readers: Not overly scary but not recommended for young children, gory and kind of gross at points, mild language

Synopsis from Good Reads:

   Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Columbus, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring wardrobes, shattered Brooka glassware, and vandalized Liripip sofa beds. Clearly, someone or something is up to no good.
   To unravel the mystery, five young employees volunteer for a long dusk-till-dawn shift—and they encounter horrors that defy imagination. Along the way, author Grady Hendrix infuses sly social commentary on the nature of work in the new 21st century economy.
   A traditional haunted house story in a contemporary setting (and full of current fears), Horrorstör comes conveniently packaged in the form of a retail catalog, complete with illustrations of ready-to-assemble furniture and other, more sinister accessories. We promise you’ve never seen anything quite like it!

Review:

   This book is formatted to look like an Ikea catalogue. There are drawings and descriptions of furniture at the beginning of each chapter and the descriptions become more sinister as the horror factor builds. The inside cover is a map of the Ikea-ish store, Orsk. Even the author's bio and photo are formatted to look like an Orsk employee badge. The formatting and concept are brilliant and if my rating was based on these factors alone then this book would receive an A.
   I was bored for the first quarter of the book. The characters were irritating and not overly entertaining. Amy, our main character, is whiny and difficult to care about initially. When her boss, Basil, asks her and another employee to stay after hours to try and catch a vandal is when things become entertaining. Creepy graffiti, horrible smells, and ghost hunting ensue. While this section was really entertaining and made me like the book overall, some of the descriptions were just plain disgusting. If you don't handle gross descriptions well, this might not be the book for you.
   Through all of the gore and grossness there were moments when the author's writing skill were evident. Certain descriptions were oddly well crafted and beautiful for the genre and made me wonder what this author could do writing in another genre.
   While this is not a brilliantly moving novel, it is highly entertaining and original. Perfect for the Halloween season. I recommend it to anyone who likes the cheesy brand of horror and doesn't gag too easily.

The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman Series #1) by Paullina Simons

Title: The Bronze Horseman
Author: Paullina Simons
Page Count: 810
Rating: A
Keywords: Epic, Love Story, WWII, USSR, Russia
Genre: Historical Fiction
Younger Readers: This is an ADULT book, there is cursing and an abundance of sex scenes

Synopsis from Good Reads:

During the summer of 1941 the Metanov family are living a hard life in Leningrad. As the German armies advance their future looks bleak. For Tatiana, love arrives in the guise of Alexander, who harbors a deadly and extraordinary secret.

Review:

   I was really torn on how to rate this book. It was LONG (810 pages!) and while it was a surprisingly quick read for its length it took be forever to finish the last 70 pages. It was not that the story was dragging along. In fact it was a major turning point in the plot. I just could not get through it for the longest time. As I read the last sentence on the last page I realized what the problem was. I did not want it to end.
   I love this book so much! It is romantic, chaotic, gorgeous, and breathtaking.
   Tatiana Metanov is our heroine. Just as WWII comes to Russia she turns seventeen. She thinks that the war is the biggest thing that has ever happened to her. That is until she sees a soldier watching her across the street. His name is Alexander. When he crosses that street and follows her across the city on the tram her world is forever changed. It is love at first sight.
    The remainder of the novel follows the struggles of their life together, in terms of both love and the war. One major obstacle is that Alexander has been seeing Tatiana's older sister Dasha. Not wanting to hurt her family, Tatiana pushes Alexander away. But since it is the sort of love only explainable by fate they are unable to stay away from one another. It is not that they want each other. They NEED each other. This beautiful novel made me laugh, cry, and yell in frustration. It is absolutely an emotional roller coaster, but so worth the time. I recommend this to anyone who has an interest in epic love stories, Russia, WWII, and just good books.


Clearing up some criticism for this book:

   A lot of people had issues with two main parts of this book, and while I understand their complaints I do not necessarily agree with them. First was that they were so annoyed with the way that Tatiana and Alexander behaved throughout the story. These people typically wanted more focus on the history aspect of the book. The Bronze Horseman is a love story. It says so right on the cover in pretty pink script, at least on the American paperback. Another thing to remember is that Tatiana is seventeen! Most teenagers have not had to deal with a level of catastrophe anywhere near the blockade of Leningrad. She reacts like a child because she is a child. She does begin the process of growing up over the eight hundred plus pages though and many of her actions are motivated by all-consuming love, a standard of the genre.
   Another complaint is that the two were very selfish and that the only decent character was Dimitri. If you read the book all the way through you will be able to see quite clearly why this is not accurate. If there is a villain in this book, aside from the looming Soviet Union, then it would be Dimitri.
   Most of the people who gave this book low ratings did not even finish. Keep an open mind while reading and persevere. You won't regret it.

Suggestion Before Reading:

If you are unfamiliar with the Russian system of diminutive variants of names I would just read a quick explanation of them. It is small but might help in understanding some of the significance in the names used throughout the novel. Wikipedia actually has a pretty good explanation for it. Click here for the link.
  

October Book Haul

I love October! It is the perfect month to read all of my darker fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction books that I adore but just seem out of place in the sunnier months. This month I have purchased nine books. Two of them are coming in later this month so I will do a book haul once those come in but for now I'll show you the seven that I have received so far.

Sweet Peril (Sweet Trilogy #2) by Wendy Higgins

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naïve to make such a vow. She’d been naïve about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Why I picked this up: I loved Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins. The twist on the normal angel story is entertaining and not entirely expected.

Sweet Reckoning (Sweet Trilogy #3) by Wendy Higgins

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Why I picked this up: I really enjoyed Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series and the tone of this book just seems super creepy. Perfect for October!

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

Why I picked this up: Kat from Katytastic on YouTube raved about this book and I love creepy creature books. Plus, the cover is gorgeous!

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Nalia is a jinni of tremendous ancient power, the only survivor of a coup that killed nearly everyone she loved. Stuffed into a bottle and sold by a slave trader, she’s now in hiding on the dark caravan, the lucrative jinni slave trade between Arjinna and Earth, where jinn are forced to grant wishes and obey their human masters’ every command. She’d give almost anything to be free of the golden shackles that bind her to Malek, her handsome, cruel master, and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle.

Enter Raif, the enigmatic leader of Arjinna’s revolution and Nalia’s sworn enemy. He promises to free Nalia from her master so that she can return to her ravaged homeland and free her imprisoned brother—all for an unbearably high price. Nalia’s not sure she can trust him, but Raif’s her only hope of escape. With her enemies on the hunt, Earth has become more perilous than ever for Nalia. There’s just one catch: for Raif’s unbinding magic to work, Nalia must gain possession of her bottle…and convince the dangerously persuasive Malek that she truly loves him. Battling a dark past and harboring a terrible secret, Nalia soon realizes her freedom may come at a price too terrible to pay: but how far is she willing to go for it?

Inspired by Arabian Nights, EXQUISITE CAPTIVE brings to life a deliciously seductive world where a wish can be a curse and shadows are sometimes safer than the light.

Why I picked this up: There have been some mixed reviews on this book. Some people have been claiming that there is a less than pleasant love triangle and problems with domestic violence. Despite this, I think that the premise is interesting and original. I am excited to dive into this mix of Hollywood and a royal jinni.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

Why I picked this up: I've been interested in this story for some time (a girl falling in love with the Devil? totally interesting) but I was reluctant to read it while it was still in hardcover. Finally I was walking through a bookstore when my friend pointed it out. It was in paperback! Lovely cover, lovely title, and wicked description. The other reason is that the second book in this duology, Between the Spark and the Burn, just came out so if I enjoy this one I won't have to wait to read the sequel!

Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto

Synopsis from Good Reads:

After the loss of her mother, Chloe Kennedy starts seeing the ghosts that haunted her as a young girl again. Spending time at her grandmother's country estate in the south of England is her chance to get away from her grief and the spirits that haunt her. Until she meets a mysterious stranger…

Alexander Reade is 157 years dead, with secrets darker than the lake surrounding Grange Hall and a lifelike presence that draws Chloe more strongly than any ghost before. But the bond between them awakens the vengeful spirit of Alexander's past love, Isobel. And she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who threatens to take him from her.

To stop Isobel, Chloe must push her developing abilities to their most dangerous limits, even if it means losing Alex forever… and giving the hungry dead a chance to claim her for their own.

Why I picked this up: The synopsis sounds interesting and perfectly creepy. I hope I like this, but I'm not sure if I will. I've had Halo by Alexandra Adornetto for four years now and still have not been able to make myself finish it. It was just kind of slow. We'll have to see if this is better!

The Dewey 24 Hour Readathon TBR!

Saturday October 18th is the Dewey 24 hour Readathon! Want to participate? Click on the link for start times and general information regarding the event: http://24hourreadathon.com/start-times/

Since I am a university student my TBR is going to be part fun reading and part academic articles.

Fun Reading
   I plan on finishing:
                    Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
                    Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix
   I plan on starting:
                   Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout
                   Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

School Reading

• the effects of globalization on London
• cultural changes in Native Americans of the Northwest Coast since contact with Europeans
• 19th century Romanticism in Europe
• the poet Giacomo Leopardi

It should be a really fun day of reading. Comment below if you are thinking about participating!

Onyx (Lux Series #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx                                                                                                                                               

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout                                                                                                             

Page Count: 366                                                                                                                                       

Rating: A                                                                                                                                                  

Keywords: Funny, Action, Awesome, ALIENS                                                                                      

Genre: YA                                                                                                                                              

Younger Readers: Some language, similar to Obsidian                                                                      

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…
Review: I love this book! It was a really fast read and had me laughing throughout.

 

Non-Spoiler Review:

 

   I loved this book! It was hilarious throughout and I ended up getting plenty of weird looks for laughing out loud in public. Daemon and Katy were just as hot in this books as they were in Obsidian. Constantly wavering between bickering and making out they certainly are entertaining, though it was nice to see in this book that it began to move beyond the physical relationship and the question of if they actually like like each other was more prominent. There is less of a focus on the friendship between Dee and Katy though. Adam and Dee are together constantly which makes Katy feel uncomfortable. Then Katy is also trying to deal with the consequences of being in contact with so many aliens and fighting her feelings for Daemon.

   On the negative side their was the introduction of the love triangle between Daemon, Katy, and a new character named Blake. Sometimes these work and make sense but here it was more on the annoying side. Even Katy's narration brings up how pointless it all is. Blake's treatment of Katy and all of the risky situations he puts her in were certainly annoying. The entire time I just wanted to scream at all the characters. Aside from my disdain for Blake there was also the fact that Katy refuses to accept that she has feelings for Daemon. Everyone else can see it but she spends over half of the book denying them.

   Overall, a strong sequel that I would highly recommend.

 

 

Spoiler Discussion Below:

 

   I just thought I would list off some of my favorite/most memorable scenes from the book. Don't read unless you've already finished the book!

• A really cute moment was towards the beginning of the book when Daemon comes home after his meeting with the Department of Defense. Katy being really worried and running up and hugging him as soon as he gets back is adorable and really hints at what the ramifications of their connection will be.
• I don't know about anyone else but I kept laughing during the scene when Kat and Daemon are talking about their relationship and they keep saying that their lives are not a book.
• Leading up from when Will kidnaps Katy to when Daemon comes and saves her. This really shows how vulnerable they are and I like how it opened up for possibilities in the remainder of the series.
• Dawson is alive! The description of how haunted he seems and how crazy Bethany was really cool in how they almost serve as a warning for Katy and Daemon.
• I would be lying if I said I didn't cry I little when Dee and Adam rush in to save Katy from Blake. Dee had just started feeling normal with her best friend and a boyfriend she was crazy about when all of a sudden everything is ripped away from her. Even Ash's reaction got to me.

 



Obsidian (Lux Series #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Page Count: 335

Rating: A

Keywords: Funny, Fun, Awesome, ALIENS

Genre: YA

Younger Readers: Some language, Kissing

 

*eBook currently free on Kindle*

 

Summary from Good Reads:        

 

   Starting over sucks.
   When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
   And then he opened his mouth.
   Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens.
   The hot alien living next door marks me.
   You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
   If I don't kill him first, that is.

 

 

Review: I had heard that this book is basically Twilight but with aliens. There is truth to this, but don't let that deter you! There is a seventeen year old girl, named Katy, that moves to a small town and meets a hot guy, Daemon, who hates her for no reason. Something is just off about his family and any time Katy is around them weird things start happening. Beyond this the story is a fun, engrossing, funny, and a really fast read.

   Katy is a really fun protagonist to read about. Aside from being sarcastic and speaking her mind, she loves books. She even has her own book blog! Kat is not the typical timid character as she says and does things that other characters would only wish they could do. (Hint: the spaghetti scene is hilarious.) Daemon is the bad boy that you will learn to love and hate, which sums up his relationship with our protagonist. Watching these two interact, usually bickering, is so much fun and made me laugh out loud more than once. Secondary characters are also enjoyable, especially Daemon's sister Dee.

   Armentrout has crafted an enjoyable read that is reminiscent of the ever popular Twilight but is fresh enough to hold a reader's attention and maybe even earn a rave review. Absolutely recommended.