Uprooted

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Publisher: Del Rey

Published: May 19, 2015

Rating: 2/5

Summary: Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

So I don’t have much to say about this book, mainly because it was so boring o wasn’t paying any attention to it.

But like this is such a disappointment because I was looking forward to this book for a long time! I even went a got a nice pretty cover because I had a feeling it would be a favorite of mine! And sadly it let me down big time.

Nothing happened it felt like.

Nothing was going on with the characters, all they would do is study magic, Agnieszka would go off and do exactly the opposite of what the Dragon would say, and then all she would obsess about it Kasia.

Kasia this.

Kasia that.

I didn’t care.

And then the Dragon would sulk Ana get angry over everything and I’d be like “really?? Again??”

I don’t know.

I just hated this book.

And the narrator was boring too. She had a such a monotone voice and I wouldn’t want to listen to the audiobook.

I guess I just didn’t agree with book.

And I even peeked in the back and again the ending didn’t sound like something interesting.

Overall a big disappointment and sadly I don’t think I’ll be retrying this book in the future. It jut wasn’t for me.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it if you did??

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All the Little Lights

All the Little Lights by Jamie McGuire

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Published: May 29th, 2018

Rating: 

Summary: The first time Elliott Youngblood spots Catherine Calhoun, he’s just a boy with a camera, and he’s never seen a sadder and more beautiful sight. Both Elliott and Catherine feel like outcasts, yet they find an easy friendship with each other. But when Catherine needs him most, Elliott is forced to leave town.

Elliott finally returns, but he and Catherine are now different people. He’s a star high school athlete, and she spends all her free time working at her mother’s mysterious bed-and-breakfast. Catherine hasn’t forgiven Elliott for abandoning her, but he’s determined to win back her friendship…and her heart.

Just when Catherine is ready to fully trust Elliott, he becomes the prime suspect in a local tragedy. Despite the town’s growing suspicions, Catherine clings to her love for Elliott. But a devastating secret that Catherine has buried could destroy whatever chance of happiness they have left.

So this is the first Jamie McGuire book that I read and wow let me tell you it was fantastic! It was such a complex story, lots of ups and downs with the characters in this story. It was very deep, sad, and just so amazing.

Elliott is such a good character, I adored him throughout this story and my love for him only grew during my time with him in this story. And my heart broke for Catherine all throughout this novel as well.

Elliott is Native American, and you see the racist behavior that is directed at him and you can tell that it affects him, and yet he has the power to overcome most of it and focus on what is important to him, Catherine. While he isn’t perfect and fights back at what they are saying to him, he doesn’t do it when it is directed solely at him. It really shows how deep his love of Catherine is, because he comes back, he fights hard to get back to her and he defends her whenever he can. He goes out of his way to help her, and does whatever he can to make her life easier. And he is willing to leave his scholarship for his top school to stay with her. He’s just a dedicated person. And his love for her is great! It’s just so cute to see him do everything for her. Like he takes her home and has to rush to his football practice, he says all the time that he takes pictures of what he loves, and it turns out he really does.

I don’t know, he’s just a sweetie and you see how being Native American in a predominantly white town was hard on him, and yet he powered through it for the girl he loved.

And his family life was very sad. His mother and father were very toxic, and in a toxic relationship. His father is a drunk, and isn’t a good person and even when Elliott is older, his father has no issue asking him for things because he can’t find it in himself to get a job. I did see some growth in his mother throughout the novel at the end. She was a bitter, angry woman, and finally learns what is important to Elliott.

Catherine was a very sad girl in this story. And you saw how when she was with Elliott she was at peace. I enjoyed seeing their relationship.

Catherine it seems never got the chance to have a life, because once a tragedy strikes her, she is thrust into the mother roll, while her mother is still alive. She has so much on her plate, and you see her trying to do everything she can to help her mother and the bed and breakfast, and also being a student.

But Catherine also has to get over being abandoned by Elliott, while it was unwilling on his part.

I enjoyed seeing Catherine, and how she was trying to be so strong, and yet was still able to lean on Elliott, and eventually another woman.

Just overall this story was great, and I got super invested in the characters, I just wanted this romance to never end, because I wanted to see more from Catherine and Elliott. They’re just so sweet, and I enjoyed that there was never any jealousy from anyone, and that they were a unit, and there for each other in the hard times they faced in this story.

But let me just say, that ending was intense!

Wow!!

WOW!

WOW!

I never expected that at all, just like at all. I never expected the way this ended, and the things that were revealed in this novel! I couldn’t even!!! I can’t!! Wow! Damn!

And that is my review for this novel! Let me know your thoughts and if you’ve read this book! I haven’t read any other Jamie McGuire books, but have you?? Did you enjoy them???

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I enjoyed this book so much!

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Published: February 28th 2017

Rating: 

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

This book was a masterpiece.

I listened to the audiobook and it was fantastic. This book blew me away and I can’t even believe that I got so invested in it.

The writing was fantastic, the characters were so real, and the storyline was so relevant and important.

There’s a lot I have to say about the different characters in this storyline. Starr was of course a superstar, and she just projected such a big voice through this novel. Seeing all of this go down through her eyes was definitely powerful, and seeing her be strong and do what she could for her friend was just awe-inspiring. Starr has her flaws, she’s not this perfect person, but her flaws make her perfect, and while she has moments where she wants to hide, she doesn’t. She steps up and does the right thing. It might be hard for her but she always tries to do what is right. She doesn’t mind stepping up and saying something isn’t right. She’s willing to be like “what you said was racist and that’s unacceptable”. And she really feels what people are saying about her friend, how they’re calling him a drug dealer and everything, and it was definitely a mystery to see how he got involved in everything.

Her family was super interesting to read about. They were different, supportive, and good people. Seven was my favorite, besides her mother. Her mother was definitely the voice of reason, and I could really see her side of the story when things were going down around her. She was all about her family and that was it. And Seven was a good kid. He really had a lot going for him. I enjoyed reading about how he cared about his family, and now just Starr and her family, but his other family as well.

Her father was another interesting character. He was tough, and also open to helping other people in his community. He was a good man who cared about his community, and wanted to help those he could. He might not be open to shore people, but he was definitely accepting of Chris eventually. That was a funny scene when that all played out.

And speaking of Chris I liked him! I liked that when it came down to it he stuck by Starr and supported her when he could. He even went to protest with her! I liked that their relationship wasn’t full of drama. It was a nice relationship. He didn’t run to her rescue, he supported her. She didn’t need him to make her better. She was a better person on her own. But they had like an equal partnership together. I just appreciated that they were there for each other, and cared about each other. There was no girl trying to get him, and no jealousy from him. I just appreciated their realistic, healthy relationship.

Overall this book was filled with good people, good writing, and just a powerful message. You just read it and get sucked into everything going on, and you can’t help but feel empowered. This is definitely something everyone should read one day. It’s just something that everyone would get something out of. It opens your eyes to things other people go through just being who they are.

I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE.

I love this novel, one of my all time favorites!

Have you read this book before? Let me know your thoughts below!

Hot Asset

Hot Asset by Lauren Layne

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Published: May 22nd, 2018

Rating: 

Summary: Ian Bradley is the definition of a Wall Street hotshot: seven-figure salary, designer suits, and a corner office. His drive off the floor is just as potent. Every woman who knows him has felt the rush. But now he’s met his match in Lara McKenzie—a woman with the power to bring Ian to his knees.

An ambitious, whip-smart daughter of FBI agents, Lara is a rising star in fighting white-collar crime. Her latest case—the investigation of Ian Bradley for insider trading—could make her career. She knows a scoundrel when she sees one. Ian fits the bill: a cocky, ridiculously handsome bad boy with a slick swagger.

She’ll do anything to prove he’s guilty. He’ll do anything to prove he’s not. But it’s only a matter of time before their fierce battle of wits gets oh so hot and personal. Now, taking down Ian has become more than business for Lara. It’s become a pleasure—and there’s more at risk than she ever dreamed.

So I read this book off Netgalley and I have to say that I wasn’t blown away by this romance.

It was actually a bit boring for a few chapters and for a while I just couldn’t get through it. I just like would pick it up and then put it down and just not read it. I wouldn’t want to read it because the beginning was pretty boring and again I just had no urge to continue on. I finally just picked it up and powered through it.

I just didn’t care about the relationship, mainly because there wasn’t really a relationship. It wasn’t like they were in a relationship and then suddenly weren’t and then back together. It was like it took them the whole novel to even get anywhere. I was just waiting for anything to happen between them! Nothing did! I feel like I don’t have much to review because I feel like nothing was going on for me to talk about.

I mean Lara was interesting, and tough and I liked her ambition she had for herself and her profession. That was cool to me that she wanted to be in the FBI. But it was just like put out there all the time and I was always like it’s cool that you want to do that but it doesn’t need to be thrown in there all the time. I did like her and thought she was a good character, but there wasn’t much to her in a way. She was just all her job and then suddenly she and Ian were all over each other and everything and then they were together.

And Ian was interesting as well, but again there wasn’t much to him. I did think as well, that he wasn’t very flushed out. I felt like I saw bits of him, but it was like second hand talk about him from the other people in the books. I just wish that I saw more about him. I liked what I read about him, but again we didn’t see much about his personality besides him being a hard worker and being sexy and a casual dater.

I don’t know…I just wish that I saw more of the characters and we got more from them during this story because I feel like we didn’t get anything from them.

I mean I liked the ending because then it felt like things were starting and going somewhere. But that didn’t really cover the fact that we didn’t get much from either of them throughout the book.

I don’t think I’ll be reading more in this series because this book didn’t wow me and I just don’t care that much. I wish I did! I love office romances but sadly this didn’t make me interested in reading more about these characters.

Overall not a really amazing book, but interesting concept that I wish was developed more.

Let me know if you’ve read this book and what your thoughts were. I’d love to know!

Bruja Born

Bruja Born by Zoraida Cordova

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Published: June, 5th 2018

Rating:

Summary: Three sisters. One spell. Countless dead.

Lula Mortiz feels like an outsider. Her sister’s newfound Encantrix powers have wounded her in ways that Lula’s bruja healing powers can’t fix, and she longs for the comfort her family once brought her. Thank the Deos for Maks, her sweet, steady boyfriend who sees the beauty within her and brings light to her life.

Then a bus crash turns Lula’s world upside down. Her classmates are all dead, including Maks. But Lula was born to heal, to fix. She can bring Maks back, even if it means seeking help from her sisters and defying Death herself. But magic that defies the laws of the deos is dangerous. Unpredictable. And when the dust settles, Maks isn’t the only one who’s been brought back…

So I actually enjoyed this one and it was a solid book.

I did have issues with Lula, mainly sometimes she would annoy me quite a bit and I really wanted to like her.

I enjoyed Alex more in this book more than I did in Labyrinth Lost. She definitely felt changed and matured. She was just so different since discovering her powers in book one and I just seemed to get along with her better in this book than in the previous book. I do wish we saw more of Rishi because she was adorable in the first book and I did enjoy seeing her in the first book. But I do hope she’s also in the third book more than she was in this one!

Okay so I had some issues with Lula. It was really confusing for me in a way. I liked Lula in the sense that she was like brave, and willing to do what she could so she can save the world and undo what she was trying to do in the beginning and I thought that was great of her to do. But I felt like it took so long to get there. She didn’t seem to care that what she did for Maks was hurting other people; and that maybe she wasn’t encouraged to do what she was doing for a reason. She didn’t seem to care that so many people died because of what she did, and like she was sad and did care; but at the same time didn’t care because she was trying to get her boyfriend back. It was just like stop being so blind to the pain you’re causing other people. I can understand her reason, because it did feel like Maks was important to her, but at the same time you can’t just decide to bring him back and then not take responsibility for the damage that he is causing.

Also I didn’t like how she kept guilting Alex to do her bidding after what happened in book one. I was like you don’t think she feels bad that she did that to you? You’re making it worse and don’t seem to care that it’s hurting her.

She would tell Alex that she owed her for what happened in book one, and so that was why she had to help Lula. Because she owed her. And I was pissed off for a bit, because Alex really did think she had to atone and do things she wasn’t sure she should do just to make it up to Lula.

There were parts of Lula I enjoyed, but also there were parts of Lula that I just did not like. I just didn’t enjoy reading about her having blinds up to other issues going on that she caused, as long as she got her boyfriend.

But Rose was interesting! I can’t wait to read more about Rose. She’s very mysterious I feel like.

You get this part of Rose and you see her a certain way, and you’re eyes are opened to her and she’s growing and changing and I just can’t wait to see that all in book three. She is definitely interesting to read about and she kicks butt! I mean all the girls do, but I can’t wait to see what Rose has to offer in her own book.

I do enjoy the family vibes from this book. The girls have each other’s backs no matter what; they are always there when the others need them. They stand up for their family, and you see them do whatever they can to defend each other. And they love their mother like no other and are slowly opening up to their father. But even that, he is there to protect them as best he can. I just feel like Zoraida does family vibes really well.

I do think this is a solid series and it’s great seeing my culture brought to life in these books. It never bothered me too much since that’s not why I read books, but it’s always nice seeing the Mexican culture brought to life.

Overall I like this book enough that I would like to continue with, and see where the storyline goes. Zoraida does have great writing, I do love how she writes a storyline and characters, but overall it wasn’t a book I would reread again and a book that I just thought was okay. It just didn’t stick with me like I hoped it would.

I do recommend this series to anyone interested but sadly it just wasn’t something that blew me away.

Let me know down below your thoughts, and if you’ve read this series and what you thoughts of it! I’d really like to know!

Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Published: August 31st 2010

Rating: 

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 Timesbestselling 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…

Oh my gosh this second book was even better than the first one! I died! And wow my poor heart!

I listened to this audiobook while at Disneyland again and I finished it on the Disneyland Railroad and wow I was legit in the corner of the train freaking out about the book and everything that was going on! I feel like that train has seen many of my freak out moments with books and many of my tears after reading a particularly hard scene! Like when I was crying during The Upside of Unrequited! I cried while on the train hahaha!

But wow this book was intense and so great and full of action and just everything I want in a paranormal novel! It was just super interesting with drama and just kept you hooked wanting to know more about the characters and the situations they were in!

I think what really interested me was Will and his backstory. I liked that we saw more of that in this novel than Clockwork Angel. Because he is very mysterious and you know he has some interesting, sad history and you start to see that more during this book that you didn’t know before. And wow is his history sad. Very sad and it made me feel for him even though he could be a real jerk to Tessa.

Also finding out why he is a jerk is just heartbreaking wow! I die!

And seeing how he plans to go around that and such breaks my heart! I can’t say much honestly but I wish I could! But basically Will is the way he is because of something that happened, and you finally see him push past his behavior and try to show himself and who he really is underneath the mask he puts on for everyone and something happens to kind of drive him to a halt almost. It breaks my heart because you see inside his head and you see him come to this realization and go to try and fix it and it kills me to see what he sees. Like damn…my heart dropped for him.

I mean you can’t blame the person but also like what were they supposed to do or think?

Its like you feel bad for Will but you also understand the direction the other person went.

Also you get to see Will’s sister and I’m excited for that! I want to know more about her!

And of course Jessamine was her usual horrible self, and wow did she really get herself into some shit. I expected this of her in a way, but at the same time I was shocked when she was doing what she was doing. She is kinda delusional at some points and I was like why would she think that? Did she not remember what happened in the first book with Tessa’s brother?? I just didn’t get how she could think what she did after facing everything she went through. Also she’s really desperate it seems to get out of the Institute if thats what she was willing to do what she was doing to get out. It’s kind of sad in a way, now that I kind of think about it because she’s that miserable with all she was doing at the Institute.

And of course Jem was amazing! I’ll always be a Jem girl. He was the sweetest character, and it just makes me sad that he’s sick! I just want him to be better! He’s just amazing!

And against Tessa was badass and I like how she’s developing in this story, and how she is really going out there and doing whatever she can do to help, she’s growing and it is great seeing how far she has come! I just adore her! She is one of my all time favorite characters in this world. Hands down. She kicks ass.

Overall in this novel, I am just so hooked on this series now and I love the direction of everything and I just think this series is so great and so well done! The world is just expanding and I love seeing it become that way! It’s just great! So glad I am reading it now! I cannot wait to see what happens in Clockwork Princess because it’s a massive book and it’s probably going to break my soul. Hands down.

Have you read the series yet? Let me know your thoughts below! If you haven’t read the series let me know why down below as well! I’d like to know!

 

Legendary

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publishes: May 29, 2018

Rating:

Summary: A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…the games have only just begun.

So I have loved Caraval since it’s came out and this book was prolly one of my Top 5 Most Anticipated Books all year and it definitely lived up to the hype! I loved it so much!! I binged it last night because I was so scared to read it and then I pushed myself to read it and couldn’t put it down!

if you love stories about enchanted carnivals and just a fun wild ride you should read this book series! It’s definitely worth checking out!!

Stephanie just creates characters you root for, and get attached to, and you can’t help but be amazed by the amazing adventure they’re going on trying to solve this event. You see them face choices they and you normally wouldn’t and you pull for them to really pick a good decision.

I just loved reading about Scarlett in Caraval and I equally loved her continuation in Legendary. But most of all I loved Tella and her story and that we saw more into her character than what was given to us in Caraval. I loved that we got to see her motivations and why she does certain things, and how she’s this really brave and cunning character, but she’s also flawed and those flaws build her into this amazing character. I feel like a good amount of people can relate to Tella and her need to maybe see why her mother left, and the whole story behind it. She’s determined to discover that and it drives her to be this motivated character. She’s just so smart and it’s great to see her mind at work!

And oh my gosh Dante!! I loved his wit and his cunning mind and man he blew it out of the water in this book! A lot of my favorite scenes involved him! He really challenged Tella and I liked their chemistry and interactions!

And Scarlett and Julian oh my gosh I wish we saw more of them but at the same time I understood it wasn’t their story anymore in this book. I can’t wait to see how things go with them in the next book! With the way it ended I’m freaking out!

And Jacks…he was another interesting character. One I didn’t think I’d enjoy with the way his attitude portrayed him. But he was a really fun and interesting character who had much to bring to this table. I enjoyed seeing him in action in this novel and thought he added something different to this story!

Overall this novel was fun and fast paced! Trust me when I say you ain’t gonna want to put this book down! I didn’t! It just sucked me in and held me prisoner. I just get so entranced with this magical world of Caraval and how it makes you look at things again because things aren’t always what they seem to be and it’s fun seeing that being brought to life in this novel! I really do highly recommend this novel! Stephanie Garber ups it up in this book and I cannot wait to see what else she brings to life in the future! She’s an author you must have on your TBR pile, and the author to watch!

Highly recommend checking Caraval and then Legendary out!

You won’t be disappointed!

Let me know if you’ve read this book or this series and your thoughts! I’d really love to know!!

The Young Elites

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Published: October 7th, 2014

Rating: 

Summary: I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

I loved Adelina. She’s a very dark, angry character but I think her story is really interesting and so different! She seems like a girl who is supposed to be this good person who is with this society to get help. But this is not how this goes for her. She is a very dark person and has such anger in her that makes it hard for her to control herself and her journey is so interesting in this book!

I really was shocked at what happened, and the way things unraveled in this story with her and her sister and the Society. I mean that ending was insane! And her actions afterwards were just woah!

It’s been a bit since I read this but I am still shocked! I haven’t read a novel like this before and I was just kind of shocked that Marie Lu ended this first book the way she did and I was so engrossed I didn’t want the novel to end! I think the epilogue was fantastic! And that is how you end a novel and bridge it over to the next book! This is how you do it! Marie is just a master! Dyinggg! I couldn’t listen to anything after that for the rest of the day because I was so shocked!

I think that the plot was so complex and intense! The story starts off hooking you right away and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what is going to happen to Adelina and I was just taken on this wild ride as Adelina is taken in by the Dagger Society and you meet Enzo and Raffaele.

Raffaele is the leader of the society and Raffaele is also part of the society, and for some reason Raffaele is against Adelina joining them. I loved seeing Enzo’s power! It was really cool!

Raffaele it think is interesting because of his job working in a brothel, and he had a lot of stuff to say. I enjoyed seeing him and Adelina and their connection and how that ended up in the end. It was insane! I expected but also didn’t expect that ending with him and Adelina. Seeing how things turned out with Enzo and Teren, that didn’t surprise me with what Raffaele did; but I didn’t expect Adelina’s reaction to be that way and I liked that I was shocked and such!

I felt bad for Adelina though, because she was tortured mentally by her father for surviving this disease and being scared in a way; and then while training the different members of the society are mean to her while she’s training; and Teren bothers her for secrets. I just felt so bad and people were cruel to her and it definitely helped her anger to grow. But I love that she is supposed to be the main good character, but ends up being this antihero but you can’t help but root for her.

I think one of my favorite parts is this:

“Through the whirlwind, I hear my father’s harsh whisper.
I know who you really are. Who will ever want you, Adelina?
My fury heightens. Everyone. They will cower at my feet, and I will make them bleed.”
― Marie Lu, The Young Elites

LIKE WOW! Blows me away!!

But I do like the romance, even though it’s not very prominent in this novel, I like that there was an aspect of it in there!

I also hate her father, he’s a cruel bastard! And I feel bad that her sister, Violetta, while she loves Adelina, she is so happy and under her father’s thumb that she doesn’t do much. It’s just sad because her father really cares for Violetta, and she doesn’t seem to do much to help Adelina because she feels that her father loves her and she shouldn’t go against him. I hated that she saw how horrible her father was to her, and didn’t really do anything. I mean she did but you don’t see that until later on, which was unexpected to me at least! I was shocked!

Anyways I have gone on enough about this but definitely check it out! I really think you’ll enjoy it and it’s so good and I cannot wait to continue with the series, which I am going to be doing this week hopefully! I cannot handle my excitement! I will update you all on that once I start it!

Let me know your thoughts as I would love to know and if you’ve read this series!

 

Turtles All The Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Published: October 10th, 2017

Rating: 

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.

Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.

In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.

Damn this book..I have never read a book and felt as seen as this made me feel, except with The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli. But this one really made me feel heard and seen.

I honestly have been miss with John Green. I didn’t want to read his other books, they just didn’t seem like my thing. But I read The Fault in Our Stars and thought it was just okay, nothing super amazing. So I was kind of hesitant to pick this up, but I heard the good comments and felt the need to pick it up. I listened to the audiobook in about a day and I was blown away.

Aza has OCD and anxiety and I could relate a lot to the circle her thoughts go in sometimes. She has this issue with a cut on her finger and she picks at it almost and has to always clean it and get a new bandaid on it and such. She can’t get water on it or anything, or else she gets into this obsessive circle of thought where she needs to clean it. I can understand what she goes through in a way.

I have a condition in my head where if I feel like my hands are dirty I need to wash them. I am constantly needing to wash my hands for some reason or another, and I cannot do anything or focus until they are washed. It goes in a circle where I try to convince myself I’m fine, or that I just washed them and don’t need to clean them again, until it goes in a circle and I end up caving in.

Just reading Aza and her struggles and her thoughts, and it was just amazing for me to read about.

I thought it was great that in a way, Aza wasn’t cured, and she still actively sought therapy for her issue. Therapy wasn’t seen as this horrible place, she was actively engaging in it.

I just really appreciated John Green and his ability to tell this story that has touched not just me, but so many other people. He just created this character and story that many people can feel related to, and showed how living with these illnesses is. Many people can relate to Aza for her anxiety issues, and I know I related to her with her OCD issues and I know I wasn’t the only one. Can’t thank him enough for helping many people feel heard.

Overall one of my all time favorite novels and I cannot recommend this book enough.

Let me know below if you’ve read this book, and your thoughts as I would love to know! Did this book affect you like it did me?

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon & Schuster,

Published: August 31st 2010

Rating: 

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 Timesbestselling 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…

Fuck me…

If I thought I liked the Mortal Instruments series I definitely like this a whole lot more!

I didn’t think I would continue with Cassandra Clare but I did and I’m so happy that I did! In all honestly you can really tell the growth Cassandra has as a writer from City of Bones to now! Having read two of her books in this series, I honestly feel this is her best writing yet and she continues to amaze me as the series continues on! I love them and her writing!

This book was action packed from the start it seems! I literally felt like I was hooked to this book because I could not stop listening to the audiobook and was dying to figure out what was going on next! I die! I just love this series so much!

This book overall was so interesting and unique, and I loved going back in time to England with Tessa and seeing her as a character develop in this book. She’s a very tough cookie and I loved seeing her get thrust into this world, and interact with the different characters that come in, and seeing her develop her own abilities. I adore her probably more than Clary! I do love Clary, but Tessa for some reason has my heart! Tessa definitely faced troubles and always seemed to come out a stronger person for all her hard times.

And before I started the Infernal Devices I talked with a friend who loves this series and we talked about which guy she thought I’d be all for and she said she felt with the way I am that I would go with Jem. She was right. I am all Team Jem…I enjoy Will and I see the perks of her character, but I feel like she’s better with Jem! I can’t help it! I love him so much and I just want them to be together! And Will is just too harsh for my liking, I mean I love him but at the same time I just feel he needs to calm down and not be such a jerk.

And don’t get me started on Jessamine because ughhhh she is a piece of work! I’m ready to write her off, but my friend told me to give her a chance and that I’ll see what she means later. I am just..ugh! She’s a shitty person! I don’t see how she deserves my sympathy!

But again overall this book was really good! I loved it so much! It was amazing and so full of action, and mysteries to solve, and I just was taken on such a great ride that I was sad it was over! I didn’t want this book to end and I am sad that I only have to read Clockwork Princess now since I finished Clockwork Prince already. I’m scared and so excited, and so nervous! I just need everyone to be okay! I love them too much!

But Cassandra’s character development for the characters was out of this world! And again her growth as a writer is just getting so much better each book of hers I read! I just can’t wait for her future works as an author. She is just out of this universe! Love her work!

So let me know down below your thoughts on this series and if you’ve read it! No spoilers please! Let me know what team you’re on! I’d love to know!