[Review] An enchantment of ravens - Margaret Rogerson

Author: Margaret Rogerson
Original title: An enchantment of ravens

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release date: September 26th, 2017
Finished date: September 29th, 2017
Pages: 300
Read in: English

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. There's only one way to save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.

Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

I picked this up on a whim. I had heard it being compared to A court of thornes and roses, which I didn't particularly enjoy, but was a quick fantasy read, and since I was in a mood for that I decided to try it. It immediately surprised me. I wasn't expecting the writing to be this compelling and intricate, since this is Ms. Rogerson debut novel, but I quickly found myself immersed in the story.

Is is similar to A court of thornes and roses, at least in the beginning. The main character Isobel is a painter who is largely responsible for her family, and is kidnapped by her love interest, a centuries old brooding fae. Sounds familiar?

I thought so too. But while they sound very similar, the books are actually very different. Up until about 25% of the book, I was loving it. I was getting everything I wanted when I read A court of thornes and roses and didn't get. Unfortunately, I had some problems with the rest of the book. I didn't really like Rook, and while I actually really liked Isobel, one of her actions during the book completely ruined her character for me.

I feel like I should warn you this is a travelling book. Most of the book is spent with the two characters going from one place to the next, and then the next.

I found it very original in terms of the magic system, the worldbuilding was incredible and the writing, especially the descriptions were beautiful. There were some problems with it, some things didn't really make sense and the ending was kind of anti-climactic. Still, I am very curious to read more from this author; I see lots of potential here. Overall a good fantasy standalone read.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] The melody of you and me - M. Hollis

Author: M. Hollis
Original title: The melody of you and me
Publisher: -
Release date: February 19th, 2017
Finished date: October 2nd, 2017
Pages: 144
Read in: English

After dropping out of university and breaking up with her girlfriend of three years, Chris Morrison’s life is now a mind-numbing mess. She doubts that working at the small neighborhood bookstore is going to change that. The rest of her time is spent mostly playing guitar and ignoring the many messages her mother keeps sending her about going back to college.

But one day, an adorable and charming new bookseller waltzes her way into Chris’s life. Josie Navarro is sweet, flirty, and she always has a new book in her hands. The two girls start a fast friendship that, for Chris, holds the promise of something more. But is she reading too much into this or is it possible that Josie feels the same way?

Source: GoodReads

Rating

I was instantly sold on this novella when I heard it followed a pansexual main character. The books with these kinds of representation and diversity are so rare that I jumped at the chance to read it. Unfortunately, I am sorry to say that I didn't really like it. I really appreciated the discussion and themes represented in this book and I hope that the fact that books like this are being published is bringing awareness to these issues. I loved that most of the characters were queer, the portrayal of sexuality as a positive thing, the openness to subjects that still remain taboo in our society like female masturbation, female-female sex and the fact that most people don't know what they want to do with their lives in their early twenties.

However, I really did not enjoy the writing. I found out later that English is not this author's first language, but I wouldn't be fair if I said it didn't bother me. It was even kind of hard to read at times. I also didn't really enjoy the story itself. It was overly simple, insta-love-y and flat. There wasn't much happening besides Chris thinking about Josie, on her way to see Josie or being with Josie.

I guess I was just expecting there to be a little more substance to this.

[Review] Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Jack Thorne, John Tiffany & J. K. Rowling

Author: Jack Thorne, John Tiffany & J. K. Rowling

Original Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Publisher: Little, Brown

Release Date: July 31st, 2016
Finished Date: January 5th, 2017
Pages: 343
Read in: English

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

The reading experience of this book did not go as I expected it to. In fact, with the sole exception of one of the characters, I pretty much hated it.

I am an incredibly hardcore Harry Potter fan, and as I’m sure many fans have, I have been eagerly waiting for a continuation of some kind. As such, when this play was announced I was immediately excited to read it (although not as excited as I would have been with some Marauders content).

Anyway, I knew I had no hope of actually going to London to see the play, so I would have to make do with reading the script. And I have to say that although a lot of people complained about the format, it really didn’t make that much of a difference to me - we knew the world already, and we’d spent seven books following most of the characters so that we would automatically understand what would not be written. Or we would have, if the world’s rules hadn’t been overlooked for the sake of this (lack of) plot and the characters hadn’t been completely unrecognisable.

I truly believe that J. K. Rowling did not write this in order to squeeze the cash-cow, as she literally has no financial need for it. In fact, I do not, or better yet, I choose not to believe J. K. Rowling wrote this at all.

There are so many plotholes in this story that it is hard for me to believe this was even allowed by her to proceed to publishing and performing. And most worrying, everyone is out of character. I simply can’t imagine that J. K. Rowling would ever let her characters talk and behave as they did.

I have spent many hours of my life reading Harry Potter fanfiction, and I can with all certainty say that some of those fanfictions are much more believable than this script is. And trust me, this is hard for me to say. You have no idea how much I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Maybe I’m being too critical, or I’m looking at it through a magnifying lens and nitpicking, but that is my nature. You might actually find it entertaining. I just couldn’t overlook these flaws enough to actually appreciate the story’s entertainment value.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Original Title: A Court of Mist and Fury
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Release Date: May 3rd, 2016
Finished Date: June 5th, 2016
Pages: 624
Read in: English

“Tell me what you see.”

“A world divided in two.”

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

I did not particularly enjoy the first book in this series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (Is it a series? Is it a trilogy? I've no idea). I didn't even write a review for it, because I didn't feel like I had anything interesting to say about it. The characters seemed bland to me (with one peculiar exception, the mysterious Rhysand), the magic system was ambiguous and unexplained, and the plot felt too dramatic.

I had no intention of picking this one up, at all, especially since the ending of the first one was suggesting a love triangle. I mean, it seemed a bit contradictory to have the first book end like it did only to present a new love interest. It was as if the first book was completely invalidated.
But, after hearing much talk about it, I finally decided to pick it up and read a few pages to see if it grabbed my attention.
I must say, I'm very surprised with this book. First, because this was the first Sarah J. Maas book I really enjoyed. Second, because the characters that seemed bland to me on the first book, now were unique and compelling enough for me to not only keep reading, but to actually start caring. And lastly, because I really liked the way depression and abuse and PTSD was handled.
The magic system continues not to impress me. Everything seems unexplained and circumstantial, and we are never really told the extent of it or people's powers, which makes for poor tension in climaxes since the characters just use a new power that was never mentioned before to solve that particular problem. I understand some people might enjoy this kind of thing, but to me it just seems like lazy writing.
This book is not perfect, there are actually some really cringeworthy situations, especially the sex scenes. Still, I gave it four stars purely for my enjoyment while reading. It was a page-turner, and it didn't really feel like a 600+ page book.
I will say though that this is not YA. There are some sexy and steamy scenes in this book, and if you don't feel comfortable reading that kind of things, I would avoid this.

«Demons are made of shadow. Don't look at the shadows too long or a demon might look back.»

[Review] Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge

Author: Rosamund Hodge

Original Title: Cruel Beauty
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: January 28th, 2014
Finished Date: April 18th, 2015
Pages: 342
Read in: English

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom - all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth she has been in training to kill him.
With no choice but to fulfil her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.
But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle - a shifting maze of magical rooms - enthrals her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

This is a very peculiar book. I'm glad I went into it knowing little more than that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I can't decide whether this was beautifully weird or weirdly beautiful. Maybe it was both. The point is that this book should not have worked. But it did.

This book takes most of my buzzwords - greek mythology, Beauty and the beast retelling, morally grey characters - and blends them together in a complicated and strangely woven plot.

If you're looking for a great, out-of-the-box read, I definitely suggest picking this one up.

«Demons are made of shadow. Don't look at the shadows too long or a demon might look back.»

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2) - Marissa Meyer

Author: Marissa Meyer

Original Title: Scarlet
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Finished Date: August 15th, 2015
Pages: 452
Read in: English

Synopsis

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. 

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

For starters, the one thing that really surprised me in this book is that we continue following Cinder's adventures, as well as Scarlet's. I thought that each book would be centred on a different character, meaning that this one would revolve around Scarlet, and that maybe we'd only hear about Cinder through other characters' POVs.
I was very glad that was not the case. Even though I felt that this book was overall weaker than the previous one - especially because of the part the romance played in it, but I'll explain that in detail in the spoilery section -, it was still a wonderful story full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I ended up liking Scarlet as a character very much - maybe even more than I like Cinder. And of course there's the awesome addition of Carswell Thorne. I mean, Captain Carswell Thorne. With many of the characters from Cinder out of the picture, I was afraid this book would end up being dry or that I just wouldn't have enough time to get attached to another set of characters. But I did.
I honestly don't really know what to expect from the next two volumes. I thought I knew where this one was going and I really had no clue, so I think I'll just wait to be blown away.
If you haven't yet read the first book in the series, Cinder, go check that out. You won't regret it.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Glitches (The Lunar Chronicles, #0,5)

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Glitches (The Lunar Chronicles, #0,5) - Marissa Meyer

Author: Marissa Meyer

Original Title: Glitches
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: January 18th, 2012
Finished Date: August 1st, 2015
Pages: 32
Read in: English


Synopsis

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. In Glitches, a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch…

Source: GoodReads

Rating

There won't be any spoilery bits to this review as it is such a short novella.

This was very bittersweet. In a way I loved it, because even though it made me very sad it gave insight into Cinder's childhood as well as her friendship with both Iko and Peony. But at the same time, it was so short. And it made me so mad at Adri. I can't even, you guys. This series is taking over my life.

I always feel very strongly for characters when they're children, especially if there's any kind of abuse involved. Reading this and seeing first hand how Adri psychologically abused Cinder was awful. The part where she decides to be useful and puts Iko back together was so sad. And then that ending with Garan where Iko and Cinder have that first friendship moment left me a bit hollow inside.

This is really very short, and if you have read Cinder, I suggest you read it - it won't take long, and it'll provide some background on Cinder's character.

Click here to see my review of Cinder:

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) - Marissa Meyer : ★★★★.5

Have you read this? What did you think? Let me know! :)

[Review] Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) - Marissa Meyer

Author: Marissa Meyer

Original Title: Cinder
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: January 3rd, 2012
Finished Date: July 17th, 2015
Pages: 390
Read in: English

Synopsis

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

This is seriously awesome. Please, check it out. I have no idea why it took me so long to pick it up, it sounded amazing and it really didn't disappoint. This is both science fiction, a futuristic envisioning of Earth and a fairy tale retelling, which honestly sounds like it shouldn't work, but it does. The book has that kind of quality or feeling to it that fairy tales seem to possess, which is that even though everything is kind of predictable in the sense that you know everything will turn out all right, you can't help but enjoy it.
Cinder is a reimagining of Cinderella as a futuristic cyborg mechanic. Even though you know she is Cinderella, don't believe there are no surprises. Don't think you know where her story is going, because trust me, you don't.
This was an awesome ride, and I highly recommend it.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Hopeless (Hopeless, #1) - Colleen Hoover

Author: Colleen Hoover

Original Title: Hopeless
Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: March 7th, 2013
Finished Date: April 16th, 2015
Pages: 416
Read in: English

Synopsis

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

I don't get this one. I thought Hoover was growing on me after I thoroughly enjoyed Confess (click here to see that review) but this one was definitely not for me. A lot was happening - too much was happening.
I could see the big reveal coming from a mile away, and it honestly was so angsty and dramatic that I couldn't connect to the characters in any level. It felt just like I was watching it happen, but I didn't really care.
There was insta-love, there was drama, there were unrealistic situations - all in all it was a bunch of things glued together, and it made the book seem like a jumbled mess.
This might have been much better had Colleen Hoover decided to tackle only one of the million issues this book deals with.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #2) - Laini Taylor

Author: Laini Taylor

Original title: Days of blood & starlight

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Release date: November 6th, 2012

Finished date: April 17th, 2015

Pages: 517

Read in: English

Synopsis

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

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?

Rating

«(...) In these days of blood, there was no luxury of choice. Death ruled them all.»

This is it, guys. It doesn't get much better than this. This book was perfection.

The thing about Laini Taylor is that she can write the most beautiful words that make it seem as if though you were reading a fairytale, but her plotline, her characters, her whole world feel so real and so raw you can't help but wonder if there isn't always a bit of darkness to every fairytale. This book is a beautifully crafted piece of heaven. It is not a happy book - it is a hopeful one.

I can't really go too much into detail here, seeing as it is a second book in a trilogy, but if you're wondering whether or not you should read this - DO IT.

Even though I seriously can't wait to see how this trilogy comes to an end, I really don't want to do it at the same time. I love this books, and as soon as I read the next one, it's over. I'm just not ready for it to be over.

Daughter of smoke & bone (Book 1) - ★★★★

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Life and death (Twilight, #5) - Stephenie Meyer

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Original title: Life and death - Twilight reimagined
Publisher: Little, Brown
Release date: October 6th, 2015
Finished date: October 11th, 2015
Pages: 442
Read in: English


Synopsis

Celebrate the tenth anniversary of Twilight! This special double-feature book includes the classic novel, Twilight, and a bold and surprising reimagining, Life and Death, by Stephenie Meyer.

Packaged as an oversize, jacketed hardcover “flip book,” this edition features nearly 400 pages of new content as well as exquisite new back cover art. Readers will relish experiencing the deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful love story of Bella and Edward through fresh eyes.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

Life and death is a complete gender swapped version of Twilight, written by Stephenie Meyer to prove that Bella wasn't really a damsel in distress, but a human in distress. Did Stephenie prove her point? I'm not sure, but I really think not. What Stephenie did was show us in not such big words what a screwed up society we live in. But I'll get into that in the spoilery section of this review. The point is this is not Midnight Sun.

Now, what everyone wants to know: IS IT WORTH BUYING?

Let me start out by saying that I'm not a Twilight hater. I started out as a gullible Twilight lover, actually. As I grew up, I begin wondering why my 14/15 year-old self loved this book so much. I went back and reread it. I did not enjoy the story that time around, but I couldn't deny the feeling of nostalgia that came with reading it. You see, back in 1999, 6 year-old me began reading the Harry Potter series. I got a new book every few years, and can you guess what I read in between? The ones that were already out. So by 2007, with the release of the last Harry Potter book, my reading life fell to a standstill. I was in a book hangover for a very long time, during which I read mostly classics.

It's easy to see why Twilight revolutionised my reading - I began reading YA again. I began reading fantasy again. And even though I loved Harry Potter with all my heart, I could finally move on.

It sounds overly dramatic, I know, but everything feels this way when you're 15.

So back to the question, do I believe you should buy this book?

No.

Unless you want to read the Twilight series for the first time, and never came in direct contact with the franchise, in which case, if you're curious enough, go ahead.

If you're just super super curious but don't wish to spend that amount of money on it - lets be honest, the cash cow is moaning right now - and you already know Twilight, try reading the spoilery section to make sure you really are that interested.

All in all, I didn't hate this book - I actually thought it was better than Twilight in some ways -, but I couldn't really take it seriously. Because even though the characters were gender swapped, their dialogue and especially Beau's inner turmoil remained mostly identical to their opposite gender counterparts. 

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Tangled (Tangled, #1) - Emma Chase

Author: Emma Chase

Original Title: Tangled
Publisher: Gallery Books

Release Date: May 20th, 2013
Finished Date: April 13th, 2015
Pages: 256
Read in: English

Synopsis

When rich, handsome, and arrogant meets beautiful, brilliant, and ambitious, things are bound to get tangled.

Drew Evans makes multimillion-dollar business deals and seduces New York's most beautiful women with just a smile. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed? He'll tell you he has the flu, but we all know that's not really true.

When Katherine Brooks is hired as the new associate at Drew's father's investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy's life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating.

How can one woman turn a smooth-talking player into a broken, desperate man? By making the one thing he never wanted in life the only thing he can't live without.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

Despite the spoiler warning down below, I wouldn't worry too much about spoilers. And that's because I only managed to read about 20% of the book. Nothing had happened between the main characters yet. Why didn't I read more?, you ask. Well, it seemed to me like Drew had a cronic case of asshole. And I really dislike reading about presumptuous pigs who enjoy degrading women and think of them as lower beings only fit to have sex, cry and be, as he called them, bitches. No thank you.

The following extended review contains spoilers
If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Confess - Colleen Hoover

Author: Colleen Hoover

Original Title: Confess
Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: March 10th, 2015
Finished Date: April 9th, 2015
Pages: 306
Read in: English

Synopsis

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

Source: GoodReads

Rating

Yes. This book finally made me understand why people seem to praise Colleen Hoover so much that they almost treat her as a GOD. This was so much better than what I anticipated, I can't even put it into words. It wasn't perfect - there were some things that didn't really set quite right with me, but it was powerful. It was moving. It was beautiful.

As in Maybe Someday, which I've also read and reviewed (click here to go see that review), Colleen decided to transcend the written word as a way to tell her story. In Maybe Someday she used music to complement the story. In this book she used paintings. Beautiful, soulful paintings. And I don't even like paintings all that much.

The story was heart-wrenching, and even if it was a bit too much at times - which, lets face it, is Colleen's style - it still managed to throw me off with a big revelation that changed everything.

If you're looking for a good NA, go pick this one up.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Emerald Green (Precious Stone Trilogy, #3) - Kerstin Gier

Author: Kerstin Gier

Original Title: Smaragdgrün
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Release Date: October 8th, 2013 (December 8th, 2010)
Finished Date: April 3rd, 2015
Pages: 451
Read in: English

Synopsis

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along. Emerald Green is the stunning conclusion to Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red Trilogy, picking up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate.

Source: GoodReads

Final Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I was so sad when I finished reading this series. Not because the ending itself is sad, but because I was so disappointed. The first book was so good, it’s hard to believe the total downfall that took place in the next two instalments.

It was a light story and still fun to read but it had so much potential that I felt like it was lacking. It could have been much more developed than it was. It was overall a good story with a very convenient ending. But I’ll let you be the judge of that.

You can find my reviews for the other books in this series here:

Ruby Red - ★★★★☆

Sapphire Blue - ★★☆☆☆

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Maybe Not (Maybe Someday, #1.5) - Colleen Hoover

Author: Colleen Hoover

Original Title: Maybe Not

Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: November 24th, 2014
Finished Date: April 4th, 2015
Pages: 129
Read in: English

Synopsis

Colleen Hoover, the New York Times bestselling author of Maybe Someday brilliantly brings to life the story of the wonderfully hilarious and charismatic Warren in a new novella, Maybe Not.
When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.
Or maybe not.
Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.
Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?
Maybe.
Maybe not.

Source: GoodReads

Final Rating: ★★.5 out of 5

Well honestly, I don't even know where to start. This was an extremely popular novella - everyone seemed to love it. I didn't even know it was about Warren and Bridgette; I really thought it would be about Sydney and Ridge's downfall. And I might have enjoyed that more.
The problem I had with this was the problem I have with almost every NA out there: the virginalisation (is that even a word?) of the characters. I mean, no, Bridgette was not a virgin necessarily, but never having had an orgasm? Seriously? I find this hard to believe, that's all.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

Author: Stephen Chbosky

Original Title: The perks of being a wallflower

Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: February 2nd, 2009
Finished Date: March 31st, 2015
Pages: 232
Read in: English

Synopsis

"I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day...or wondering who did the heart breaking and wondering why."

Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Source: GoodReads

Final Rating: ★ out of 5

Please don’t hate me for this. I mean to offend no one.

I had heard wonderful things about The perks of being a wallflower. And by that I mean that it is many people’s favourite book ever. Yep. I was expecting greatness. I was expecting mindblowingness (And no, I don’t even care that that word does not exist. It does now). Instead, I got the meh of an awkward teenager’s life. And note that teenager is a term applied loosely here, considering Charlie sounds like he is a seven year-old.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a very real portrait of the (very) early years of teenager awkwardness. It is also kind of boring. Especially if you see the big twist/reveal at the end coming from the beginning, like I did.

I am a very strong advocate of reading the book before watching the film/tv adaptation, so even though I knew there was a film I did not watch it, but I seriously believe its potential to be better than the book was.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1) - Becca Fitzpatrick

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Original Title: Hush, hush

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: October 13th, 2009
Finished Date: April 5th, 2015
Pages: 391
Read in: English

Synopsis

A SACRED OATH

A FALLEN ANGEL

A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

Source: GoodReads

Final Rating: ★ out of 5

I would like to start by saying that I do not wish to be offensive  but as you can see I really did not like this book. Therefore, I'll try my best to warn others about what I thought, so that they won't be disappointed and don't spend money in a book that they might not like. You are welcome to defend the book if you so wish.
Now that you are warned I have to say I do not understand people. This piece of crap novel has a 4.01 rating on GoodReads, which is unfathomable to me. I expect great things of novels that have these kind of ratings.
This is a sexist, abusive story, and it certainly does not deserve all the hype surrounding it.

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.