Under my Skin

Title: Under my Skin (The Immortality Strain #1)
Author: Shawntelle Madison
Genre: YA dystopia
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10
Publication Date: December 9th

I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of those 'oh my god I love that cover... and oh yay the blurb looks amazing' kind of situation. And let me tell you, I just love it when the first impressions turn out to be right.

Tate was a very engaging character - and even if she wasn't, the nemesis would make sure that we'd all be rooting for her. Her independence and self-reliance aren't seen enough in YA protagonists, and it made her so much more special. Her love for her family was really touching - and I really liked how Madison kept reminding us of them. Tate didn't forget about her family even in the face of her own astronomical problems.
Zoe was a delight to read about. I know she's about the same age as Tate, but her excitement over all the luxury was very childlike and endearing, even though we just know everything's going to go to hell soon.
The whole idea of the Guild was very original, I thought. The two-minds-one-body thing did, at times, remind me of The Host, but obviously the similarities pretty much start and end there, since the person who's taken over Tate's body isn't a friendly alien, but a ruthless general.
And of course this review wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention Quinn. His character intrigued me from the start. It was obvious that he'd be love interest, so of course I payed special attention to him. I liked his backstory, but quite honestly, I'd like to maybe hear more about him in the next book. Surely he'd be pretty pissed off that she had told the General everything he needed to know to mess up his life?
Anyway, so if it's so awesome, why 4.5/5? While the characters were fabulous and the plot was brilliant, there were moments, particularly towards the end of the novel, where the descriptions grew weirdly vague. It wasn't at a point where description was particularly needed, but it felt almost like a too-casual treatment of what was happening.
Definitely read this one! I'd say this is a weird mix between The Host and The Selection, with an awesome main character who just won't take no for an answer.

Shipping Saturdays #6: The Infernal Love Triangle

The winner of last week's Shipping Saturdays was: Damon Salvatore!

Welcome to Shipping Saturdays! Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

These three gave everyone a hell of a lot of heartache, and are, quite possibly, the only true, actual love triangle I've ever come across, because all three entities loved each other. Cassie Clare wins the cake for painful books with the heartbreaking story of Will, Tessa and Jem.

I think, though, that we can all agree that in the end, everyone had their chance at happiness, right?

With that in mind, I'm going to be very selfish and say that I am so, so happy she married Will. She's Tessa Herondale (see how that name suits her?!) now, and Jace will always have a living relative (ha!). She lived a lifetime with my baby William, and he died happy in the knowledge that he was loved by the woman he loved more than anything. It's been a year now, and they still give me a barrage of feels, just thinking about them. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled she gets to tease Jem about his backward ways as he accustoms himself to the XXI century, but I really hope she doesn't marry him. In part because it's not a necessity anymore like it was in the Victorian times, but also largely because then I can happily sleep, knowing she was Will's wife and only his. It gives me the warm and fuzzies.

But mostly I'm just glad Will got everything he deserved, because if that boy had suffered one more tiny bit, I'd very likely lose my shit. My favourite pass time is imagining his reaction if he were to find out his great-great grandson is parabatai with a Lightworm. It provides hours of entertainment. It also probably does me no favours that I've recently moved to Wales, and every time I come across the Welsh flag, I dissolve into hysterical giggles. I'm getting better with exposure, though!

Now, we're voting this week for who we prefer Tessa with, because honestly let's face, she got the cake and ate it too. So really just pick your favourite guy, even if you exclude Tessa from the equation; even if you shipped Will and Jem (I am so, so sorry if you did. Truly. Because ouch), just pick the guy you like the most ;)

Will or Jem?

Will!

Jem!

Other (do tell!)

Magnus

Poll Maker

The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Title: The Retribution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #3)
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Genre: YA Paranormal
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

For any of you unfortunate enough to follow me on twitter, you saw my progress through this book last night; it was riddled with expletives and lots of shouty capital letters. So I thought I'd give myself some to calm down (and sleep) before writing the review so it would be slightly more understandable than randomly interjected f-bombs everywhere.

Part of me didn't want to even start Retribution, because it's Mara's last book, and - insane and whacky as she is - I've come to be very emotionally attached to her. A much bigger part of me was so desperate to know that Noah was, in fact, still alive, that I couldn't wait the extra two days for it to be out in the UK, and bought it off US Amazon; it was my self-given present for finishing a piece of coursework.
Very much in the style of the previous books, Mara is awesomely creepy. I'm not sure what it says about me that I wasn't scandalised at most of the things she did, but I've accepted the slightly scary side of me a long time ago, and it was wonderful to see Mara learn to do the same. I wanted to cheer when she says she doesn't want to be cured; she does need to learn impulse control so she doesn't go around killing people for cutting in front of her in traffic, but her power is sort of awesome in a way that we truly appreciate in this book. There's this very specific scene I have in mind when I say this, but I don't want to spoil anything - I think it's pretty self-evident when you read the book, though, so you'll know what I mean.
I absolutely loved Jamie. He's the best friend to Mara, because he doesn't care; and because, deep down, a part of him kind of envies her ability, I think. Really deep down, so it doesn't affect his love for her, but does let him see past her ability to who she is - an assassin kitten, to quote the man himself.
There's a point, toward the end of the book, where the POV changes, and I shit you not, I was on the verge of tears. Much as I respect and admire Roth for the ending of Allegiant, it doesn't mean I wasn't instantly on the alert with that stuff. Which is stupid, because we all know Mara survives (I'm not counting this as a spoiler; we've all read the first book, we all know how it starts... It's just common sense) since she's telling the story in past tense. Still. Those were a tense couple of chapters, not gonna lie.
I also want to put it on the record that chapter 73 is forever my favourite of its' kind in YA literature, trumping even Jeri Smith-Ready's that she got a bag of cookies for two years ago. It was beautifully written, and I applaud Hodkin for it. Truly, truly, well done.

Some of you may be madly skimming this review for news of Noah. I'm not squeaking. I'm aware of the damage done on twitter, spoiler-wise, but I won't say anything here. Just go read it and find out for yourselves! ;)

All in all, I loved how the ending came full circle, ending with the beginning. It was neat and well orchestrated. Definitely worth the extra money paid in the pounds-to-dollars conversion!

Finished the book? Want some more Mara? You can find a link to the GIF Review of the book here!

Roulette

Title: Roulette
Author: Megan Mulry
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, oh, my excitement over Miki's character knows absolutely no bounds. She is exactly what we need more of in terms of heroines - she's strong, independent and self-assured. She knows she's got it good, and that she doesn't need any guy to make her life complete. The fact that she desperately wants Rome does nothing to take away from her stunning independence. I honestly wanted to stand up and clap when she tells Landon to go take a hike over his "full package" comment. For the first time since Hunger Games and Harry Potter, the girl stole the scene entirely from the love interest/guy, and it was glorious.

I also loved how she just sort of went around making friends with everyone, even - and maybe especially so - if they initially seemed quite scary; even Pavel.
As for Rome, I don't know. I mean, he was dreamy all right, and damn him and his smooth, sexy French accent to hell. But the way he reacted to some things I think maybe deserved an explanation. Which is really why it's a 4.5/5: I felt some point could have been explored in a little more detail; and, even though the ending was slightly predictable, it worked - it really, really worked.
Definitely give this a read, if you're sick and tired of all the Christmas-themed books!
Roulette is out December 2nd.

Part-Time Princess

Title: Part-Time Princess (Ladies in Waiting #1)
Author: Pamela DuMond
Genre: contemporary YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 9/10

I received an egalley of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

One too-hot Prince. One almost-killer. One sassy American girl. One Lady with a secret. A couple of very cool Ladies-in-Waiting. One very cute lab puppy.
What's not to love?
Yeah, that's right, absolutely nothing.

Lucy's voice was like a breath of fresh air. Her problems at the beginning of the novel are real and very relatable, so it's hilarious to see her go from worrying about paying to mortgage to worrying about what to do when the Grandmother Queen rolls over her foot with her walker. I loved the fact that all of the Ladies stuck by her.
I don't want to give too much away, but she definitely needed it! Her blunders through royal life were hilarious to read about, and a much-needed lighthearted fun.

But rewinding a little, perhaps my favourite part of the entire book was her flight from Chicago to London. Hot guys with blue eyes and black hair are a very soft spot for me, so is it any wonder I fell head over heels for Nick?

The one thing I will say, though, was that the ending felt almost rushed. It would have been nice to see them go back, settle in; find out what was going on with the rest of the family, and then actually get married for real this time. I'm hoping book 2 will explore some of those aspects, as well as David's reaction.

Shipping Saturdays #5: The One that Introduced me to Ships

The winner of last week's Shipping Saturdays was: Dimitri Belikov

Welcome to Shipping Saturdays! Basically, I talk about my favourite ship in a book/series, and then you guys get to vote on which favourite pairing of that book/series you prefer. If there are any couples you'd like me to talk about, let me know in the comments (along with what book they're from, in case I haven't read it yet!) and I'll add them to the list.

Like the title says, these three suckers (I mean that literally, but we'll get there in a minute) introduced me to the painful world of shipping, back in the day when I still wasn't quite sure what I was doing with books. Sure, I subconsciously shipped Harmony (all about that in the Shipping Saturdays #2 here) as a kid, but this trio was the first one that made me consciously stop and say 'she better end up with Damon, or so help me God'.

And I kind of let the cat out of the bag with that comment. Yeah, that's right. My first ever conscious ship was while reading The Vampire Diaries. I always feel dated when talking about these books, because these days people don't even know there are books, it's all about the TV show. But yes, I read the books first. In fact, I boycotted the TV show at first out of pure principle and in respect for all the changes they'd made. I then quit the books cold turkey when HarperTeen fired L. J. Smith (the author) and hired a ghost writer to write under Smith's name because they couldn't take the fact that she was going to make Delena endgame.

Publishing's twelve year-old tantrums aside, one thing that did not change from books to TV, was my love for Damon (helped along greatly on-screen by the delicious Ian Somerhalder of course). By book 3, when Elena turns into a vamp and is sired to Damon, I was cheering in my chair when she nearly kills Stefan because he hurt Damon. 

Those two are like two peas in a pod. And sure, Elena lacks Damon's penchant for cruelty (unless we're talking about Katherine. She so did not see Elena being a bitch coming), but she makes him want to be a better person, and he makes her live. With Stefan, she exists; with Damon, she lives. Plus, Stefan spent a whole season moping over the fact that she's a vampire and now he can't love her because ew she can be with me forever! Or whatever his excuse was, I don't even know. I don't think he does, either. Fact is, Damon's love for Elena is unconditional - as shown time and again when he tirelessly loves her through her various forms: human, vamp, ghost, angel-like thing and everything in between. In the books, if you're looking to read some awesome Delena goodness, dive into The Return: Midnight; it's guaranteed to leave any Delena fan in a puddle of fangirling goo on the floor. It's pure beauty.

But enough of me waffling on about how dreamy Damon is, even as he asks - nay, begs - her to be his Queen of Not-So-Dark Darkness *sigh*. You know what to do.

Stefan or Damon?

Stefan

Damon

Matt

Nope, Elena should've gone for the kitsune! (replace here by Elijah is you've only seen the TV show)

free polls

Releases to look out for in November

November is a relatively calm month, publishing-wise, compared to the mad frenzy of September and October. Here are three books you don't want to miss out on this month!

Starting out the month with a bang, Mara Dyer is back, and she's out for blood.

"Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.

There is.
She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.
She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.
Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.
Retribution has arrived."
The Retribution of Mara Dyer is out November 4th.

On November 6th, get rid of your Halloween decorations, because Christmas has arrived!
"Running out on your wedding shouldn’t be this much fun!

A remote Scottish castle on a snowy Christmas Eve. A handsome husband-to-be. A dress to die for. It should have been the happiest day of Leah Harvey’s life – but the fairytale wedding turns sour when she finds her fiancé halfway up the bridesmaid’s skirt just hours before the ceremony!

Fleeing the scene in a blizzard, Leah ends up stranded at the nearest cottage, where she collapses into the arms of its inhabitant – a man so handsome she thinks she must have died and gone to heaven!

And when Rob Cavelli suddenly finds himself with an armful of soaking wet, freezing cold, and absolutely gorgeous bride on the run, he’s more than happy to welcome her into his snowbound cottage this Christmas…"
You can read my review of Cold Feet at Christmas here.

And on the 11th, Arcana brings some magic and hot guys.
"A romantic, suspenseful, genre-bending debut set in Edwardian London.

Amid the sumptuous backdrop of the London season in 1905, headstrong Katherine Sinclair must join the ranks of debutantes vying for suitors. Unfortunately for Katherine, she cannot imagine anything more loathsome—or dangerous. To help ease her entrance into society, Katherine’s family has elicited the assistance of the Earl of Thornewood, a friend and London’s most eligible bachelor, to be her constant companion at the endless fetes and balls. But upon her arrival in London, Katherine realizes there will be more to this season than just white gowns and husband hunting.

Through her late mother’s enchanted diary, Katherine receives warning to keep hidden her otherworldly ability to perform arcana, a magic fueled by the power of the sun. Any misstep could mean ruin—and not just for her family name. The Order of the Eternal Sun is everywhere—hunting for those like her, able to feed on arcana with only a touch of the hand.

But society intrigue can be just as perilous as the Order. The machinations of the fashionable elite are a constant threat, and those who covet Katherine’s arcana, seeking the power of her birthright, could be hiding behind the façade of every suitor—even the darkly handsome Earl of Thornewood.

With so much danger and suspicion, can she give her heart to the one who captivates her, or is he just another after her power?"
You can read my review of Arcana here.