The Darkest Part of the Forest

Title: The Darkest Part of the Forest
Author: Holly Black
Genre: YA Fantasy/UF
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 9/10

"Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?" 

***

I have been reading so many books with faeries in them lately (I'm calling it my Fantasy Run), this seemed like the obvious continuation.

Now, Black did an amazing job of creating an intriguing, fun world.
But, there was just something missing to make it amazing. Don't get me wrong, I loved the pairings, and even did a full happy dance to the positive LGBTQ+ representation. Severin was bi and Ben was gay? Loved it, really did, and like I mentioned to someone a while back, this wasn't a gay character just for the representation; it was an actually properly fleshed-out gay character, with good character development, and actual point in the plot. So, kudos to Ms Black for that.
I also want to make my relief over the lack of a love triangle very, very clear. Yes, thank you for writing a good YA book that doesn't have two guys fighting over a girl (or, you know, a guy and a girl fighting over one guy, as it would have been in this case.)

I guess it was just that, for a story that deals with scary, trickful faeries, they didn't feel all too scary at all. It was more like funny pranks - oh well take years off your life, but not by killing you, no, by training you to be an awesome soldier. The scariest part, honestly, was Sorrow - and while I really liked the symbolism of how she was "defeated", it was also a bit of an anticlimax, and sort of made the ending very predictable.

Overall though, an enjoyable read. For my introduction to Black's books, I was pleasantly surprised.

Waiting for April

Title: Waiting for April
Author: Jamie Loren
Genre: NA Sci-fi
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher via netgalley. This in no way influences my review and opinion.

"April Fletcher has died nineteen times... but she doesn't know it.

As far as April is concerned, she's just a normal seventeen-year-old, looking forward to spending spring break with her friends and going to college in the fall. April doesn't know she has never lived past her eighteenth birthday, nor does she realize that Scott Parker, her best friend, is actually her childhood sweetheart and fiancé from her very first life.

For nineteen-year-old Scott Parker, spending quality time with his soul mate has proved difficult ever since her tragic death in 1729. Since then he has lost her an additional eighteen times—each of her deaths more devastating than the last, and each of her births wiping the slate of her memory clean. Unable to save her but unwilling to give up, Scott has to hide the fact he's immortal—and will be until April confesses her love again.

But this time, things have changed. April has denied her feelings for him, is dating someone else, and with her eighteenth birthday fast approaching, their friendship is falling to pieces. Fearing their souls are irrevocably drifting apart, Scott must race against the clock to win her heart and save her life.

Or risk losing her forever."

***

This wasn't even on my plan to be read anytime soon, but I finished another book and was bored, so decided to give it a head-start before going to sleep. It's laughable, really, because sleep was the last thing I did once I got started with Waiting for April.
The story starts out slightly creepy-like, with Scott staring out at April's window the entire night, but once we get to know him, and understand his pain, it becomes clear that he isn't watching her so that he can control her; he just wants her to be safe, whether it's with him or not.

Scott and April's love story(ies?) was so beautifully rendered by Loren. It was achingly tender and so, so sad. I lost count of how many times I'd sobbed before I finished the book. Fate might be on their side, always bringing her back to him, but karma sure as hell hates them.

And the best part was the bomb dropped on us towards the end. The first thing I did when I finished Waiting for April, was rush to find out if there was a sequel, because it could not end like that - no way, no how. So, big sigh of relief at finding out it'll be a trilogy. I'm really looking forward to finding out more about what makes these people the way they are - why do some come back, and what happens when the other doesn't? Is that what happened to the other guy (you'll know who I mean once you've read it, but I won't name names because spoilers!)

Overall, a touching, beautifully written debut by Jamie Loren that any romance fans will gobble down!

All That Glitters

Title: All The Glitters (Geek Girl #4)
Author: Holly Smale
Genre: YA Contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 8/10
Release Date: 26th February

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

""My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek." The fourth book in the award-winning GEEK GIRL series. Harriet Manners has high hopes for the new school year: she's a Sixth Former now, and things are going to be different. But with Nat busy falling in love at college and Toby preoccupied with a Top Secret project, Harriet soon discovers that's not necessarily a good thing... "

***

"If people are kind to you, Harriet, it's because you're kind to them. If people are there for you, it's because you are there for them."

Oh, I am sobbing like a baby. I did not expect this. Excuse me while I take a moment to compose myself *deep breaths*. Not gonna lie, I did not expect this to hurt quite this much.

I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you read Geek Girl #3, you know that the ending was absolutely heart-reanding. It hurt. So for some reason, I expected this to be different. Don't ask me why. And, in a way, it was different. Harriet Manners is still up to her usual nerdy shenanigans, entertaining me to no end. But, at the same time, she's grown incredibly since we first saw her in Geek Girl. Smale did a brilliant job of bringing this home in All That Glitters; because, while she grew and matured steadily throughout the last three books, always surrounded by the same people and relying on them to get her feet back under her, that growth and maturity didn't really shine through. 

So, it's only in All That Glitters, when she's separated from Nick, Wilbur (both of whom have my heart for all eternity, it's not even funny), Toby and Nat, that we really see her strength and steel come through. Yes, she's still geeky, and yes, she still trusts too easily. But, she has also learned from her past, and is moving forward with her life.

I especially applaud the way in which Smale managed to keep secrets from us throughout the entire novel. Most of them, when they came to light, caught me completely by surprise. And even though he made me cry like a baby (you think I'm kidding. I'm not), I really really liked the ending. I saw it coming, but still sobbed. It was a painfully real echo of a pain we've all experienced at one point in our lives (or will do, if we haven't yet), and Smale portrayed it brilliantly.

I look forward to the next volume with eager anticipation, and hope to see much more of Jasper here on out.

Reluctantly Charmed

Title: Reluctantly Charmed
Author: Ellie O'Neill
Genre: Magical Realism
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 8/10

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

"Kate McDaid is listing her new-year’s resolutions hoping to kick-start her rather stagnant love life and career when she gets some very strange news. To her surprise, she is the sole benefactor of a great great-great-great aunt and self-proclaimed witch also called Kate McDaid, who died over 130 years ago. As if that isn’t strange enough, the will instructs that, in order to receive the inheritance, Kate must publish seven letters, one by one, week by week.

Burning with curiosity, Kate agrees and opens the first letter – and finds that it’s a passionate plea to reconnect with the long-forgotten fairies of Irish folklore. Almost instantaneously, Kate’s life is turned upside down. Her romantic life takes a surprising turn and she is catapulted into the public eye.

As events become stranger and stranger – and she discovers things about herself she’s never known before – Kate must decide whether she can fulfil her great-aunt’s final, devastating request ... and whether she can face the consequences if she doesn’t.

Witty, enchanting and utterly addictive, Reluctantly Charmed is about what happens when life in the fast lane collides with the legacy of family, love and its possibilities … and a little bit of magic. "

***

Reluctantly Charmed was a delight to read; easy and sweet, the book flowed well through the ups and downs of Kate's life.

O'Neill does a fabulous job of getting Kate's character across at all times. The narrative twists and turns, lose and filled with digressions at times, which is exactly the kind of person Kate is presented as being: always a little confused by life, but happy to go along with it. The line O'Neill treads with the narrative is a thin one between cute, good characterisation and an overwhelming amount of telling instead of showing; she successfully manages to keep it always on the good side of it throughout the novel.

I loved the fact that, for all that it starts off as a funny, quirky novel about what would happen if fairies were real and suddenly wanted to reconnect, in the end it posed much more important questions about freedom, about humanity and human nature. Seeing Kate grow was a beautiful process, aided by an extremely colourful secondary cast of characters.

Definitely worth a read to anyone looking for a fun, whacky novel that will sweep you away to a charming world.

The Ruby Circle

Title: The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6)
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: YA
Rating: 3/5
Cover: 2/10

"The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here...

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world."

***

Having to write down that 3/5 up there nearly killed me; I've been an avid Mead fan for years now, so it pains me to have to write a less favourable review.

This book was about Sydney and Adrian, apparently. I hardly noticed them amidst the Rose and Dimitri show. To be honest, the only saving grace of this entire novel was Rose and Dimitri's continued presence. They made things interesting, brought the fun of the Strigoi and gave us some pretty awesome news and twists.

Aside from that though, the book was rushed, and the problems easily brushed aside. Something I often look to when I buy the last book in a series, is the length of it. And, the first signifier that Ruby Circle would fall short came at the quick comparison between Ruby Circle and Last Sacrifice. Whereas Last Sacrifice could be used as a door stopper, Ruby Circle hardly hit 300 pages - and I'm being kind. The result of that was a plot that, while slightly more compelling than that of the last two books, felt cramped, rushed and we were left with a disgruntled, unfulfilled feeling, as in the end Sydney simply swept all their troubles under the rug, easy as pie.

And I won't even talk about how OOC (out of character) some characters were, because I could spend a day harping off that; but let's just say I didn't buy one second of Daniella's sudden change of heart, and kept expecting her to turn on everyone... except she didn't, she apparently just really doesn't care if her son married a human - this from a woman who threw a fit that would make a prima donna proud when he brought Rose to dinner.

Was I happy with the ending? In many ways, yes. I feel like it's probably time Richelle stepped away from this world for a while, since the characters seem to be evading her, and focus on writing us an awesome Loki for Age of X. I also very much liked the... situation the book left some characters. It was cute, and way overdue.
But at the same time, it felt a bit like a repeat of the Dark Swan series - a tantalising possibility for a future filled with everything we've ever wished for, forever left out of our reach. So, while I think maybe some time away from the VA world might be good, I have to say, I do very much hope she comes back to it one day; even if it's just another short story, to let us know what's going on in Rose and Dimitri's life, and if he managed to get her down the aisle finally.

Waiting on Wednesdays #4: Firewalker

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

There's still no cover for #2, so let's
stare are this pretty instead.

Title: Firewalker (Worldwalker #2)
Author: Josephine Angelini
Genre: YA
Publication Date: September 1st

"Worlds divide, magic slays, and love lies in the second book of Josephine Angelini’s The Worldwalker Trilogy.

You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.

Lily is back in her own universe, and she's ready to relax with Rowan. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape, and must hide her magic for the safety of the world, but compared to fighting the monstrous Woven and leading armies in the alternate Salem, life is looking good.

Unfortunately, Lillian, ruthless ruler of the 13 Cities, is not willing to let Lily go that easily. If she can’t persuade Lily to return to her world, she’ll have to find a way to make her come back.

Picking up right where Trial By Fire left off, Firewalker is another sexy, fast-paced, heartbreaking thrill ride from internationally bestselling author Josephine Angelini!"

I mentioned last year that I made the (wonderful) mistake of reading Trial by Fire directly after reading Heir of Fire, resulting in me being overwhelmed by Rowan feelings (and creating the Unofficial Rowan Fire Fan Club. It's made up by, well, me). Well, looks like this is going to be a pattern; Queen of Shadows, the book spotlighted in last week's WOW is the proud owner of fae prince Rowan Whitethorn, Husband #1, and Trail of Tears has Rowan #2. So I guess it'll be another happy day for the fan club!

What books are you looking forward to this year?

Thoughtful

Title: Thoughtful (Thoughtless #1.5)
Author: S. C. Stephens
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Publication Date: February 24th

I was given an egalley of this novel by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"In Thoughtless, Kiera told her story. Now it's time for Kellan Kyle to share his side in Thoughtful . . .

The only place Kellan has ever felt at home is on stage. Gripping his guitar in a darkened bar, he can forget his painful past. These days his life revolves around his music and his band mates, and that's the way he likes it. And then one woman changes everything . . .

Kiera is the kind of girl Kellan has no business wanting - she's smart, sweet, and dating his best friend. Certain he could never be worthy of her love, he hides his growing attraction . . . until Kiera's own tormented heart hints that his feelings might not be one-sided. Now, no matter the consequences, Kellan is sure of one thing: he won't let Kiera go without a fight."

***

I knew from the get-go that this book would shred my very soul to pieces.

I wasn't wrong.

Out of all three books, Thoughtless is the only one I haven't re-read because I couldn't face dealing with all that pain again, so I knew what I was doing. I knew exactly what I was doing.

And, as usual, Stephens doesn't pull any punches. We know what's coming, but we can't stop reading; it's like watching a train wreck. But boy, what a hot hot hot train wreck it was!

For starters, don't skip any part of the book - not the dedication, not the acknowledgements, nothing. Trust me. Suffice it so say at this point, I was crying ridiculously early into the book.

All the scenes that we love - and the ones that we love to hate - are in there, which means that yes, Thoughtful is just as long as Thoughtless. To be honest, Kellan was a fun narrator. Seeing things through his eyes did clear up a few things - like his woman binge and what was really going through his head when Anna was around. It also made me consistently want to wrap him up in a security blanket and tell him how much he's loved. It's one thing to be told about insecurities and his belief that he doesn't deserve to be loved through the medium of Kiera; to have them right there, shoved in your face... made it all the more painful and unfair.

One of my favourite things about Thoughtful though, was getting to see a couple more of the lyrics of the songs he writes for Kiera. Heartbreaking, yes, but also achingly beautiful.

This is a definite must-read for all fans of Kellan and Kiera. Just make sure the tissues are nearby, and maybe a stiff drink too for when you finish. If you really want to sob, a good song to go with it is Taylor Swift's Style. I guarantee it'll make you shed a few tears, just listen to the lyrics; it fits them to a T.

Red Queen

Title: Red Queen (Red Queen #1)
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

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

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

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?"

***

Suspend your disbelief. 

That's what we're asked to do every time we so much as pick up a book, especially a fantasy one. But Red Queen takes it a step further, asking us to so much more than just accept the new rules. This might just be the hardest review I've ever had to write, because while hindsight is 20/20, it also permeates everything that came before. Still, I promise no spoilers. I'm keeping those for the GIF review that will be up later on.

The first thing you need to know about Red Queen is it's got the mother of all plot twists. I've seen some people say they saw it coming clear as day, and I have to ask how they managed to do that. I will admit I had my reservations, but by the end, they were pretty much dust, and then... well. Not so much.

And now to the crutch of the business: there's rumours of a love triangle going around. I can't help wondering if those people actually read the end. And even without the ending, let me assure you: there is no seesawing that makes you want to strangle a bitch.

You'll want to strangle many bitches, but for very different reasons. I don't trust myself to talk about the two boys of the not-triangle without any spoilers, so we're skipping that part. Suffice to say, they're hot.

Mare was a delight of a narrator. Her unflinching loyalty and courage, not mention the fact that she is a veritable well of sass (I personally think they should change the title to Sass Queen, but that's just me...) made being in her head no hardship. And speaking of titles, it's very clever, because you go in with certain expectations because of it, so I spent so long just going around in circles in my head, wondering how on earth that was going to work out. But work out it did. Sorta.

Go read it, I promise you won't be disappointed - this is a debut that hints at the amazing quality of books to come this year, and let me tell you, I am so excited for this years' books, it's gonna be quite a year.

Want more of Mare and her world? Check out the GIF review here! As usual, it is full of spoilers, so only click if you're okay with that or have read the book.

Cover Love: Ice Like Fire

Fresh out today, is the cover for Snow Like Ashes #2, Ice Like Fire; and, much to our happiness, it's just as pretty as the cover of the first. And look at how dark and ominous! Gorgeous.

Ice Like Fire is scheduled to be released October 13th.

"It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world."

Waiting on Wednesdays #3: Queen of Shadows

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Title: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: September 1st

"Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world."

We don't even have a cover yet, and I'm already desperate for it. In all honesty, I challenge you to find one person who finished Heir of Fire, and wasn't already crazy for the next one! At least I managed to wait until we had an actual title before doing this. There are so many questions, and I need more Rowan in my life!

What books are you looking forward to?

Spotlight Wednesdays: Vampire Academy

Info
Series Title: Vampire Academy
Title of First Book: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: YA
Rating: 5/5

Why you should read it

The word 'vampire' carries a lot of baggage these days, but rest assured, these do not sparkle.

In Mead's vampiric world, there are two kinds of vampires - the good, live Moroi, who only feed without killing and can control the elements, and the bad, undead Strigoi; the Strigoi are your basic vampire: can't go out in the sun, enjoy killing for the fun of it and have no soul.
The plot is based off the idea that Moroi can have kids with humans, and their offspring is called dhampirs. This is what our protagonist, the badass Rose Hathaway, is. Because of the vampire genes, dhampirs are stronger and faster than normal humans, which makes them the perfect bodyguards against the Strigoi.

Rose will not hesitate before kicking your ass to kingdom come, and quite honestly, I'm pretty sure the term BAMF was made with her in mind. And to make it better?

Well, the icing on the cake is what my circle of friends affectionately calls the 'badass Russian god', aka Dimitri Belikov.

For you to have an idea of how amazing these books are, you might think that their appeal is mostly for teenage girls, right? Well, my 54 year-old father picked these up a few years back and kept pestering me to give him the next one, he was so hooked.

And no wonder as well, it has some of the best plot twists known to man (handy hint and tip: do not finish Shadow Kiss without having Blood Promise around handy. Trust me, you'll thank me later on), magic, vampires, fighting sequences worthy of Hollywood (we don't talk about the movie; it was a sad, sad thing - but if you liked that, you will love the books!) and scorching romance that will make literally anyone swoon.

Covers are of first and fourth books respectively.

The Storyspinner

Title: The Storyspinner (The Keepers' Chronicles #1)
Author: Becky Wallace
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10
Publication Date: March 3rd

I was given an egalley of this book by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

"Drama and danger abound in this fantasy realm where dukes play a game for the throne, magical warriors race to find the missing heir, and romance blossoms where it is least expected.

In a world where dukes plot their way to the throne, a Performer’s life can get tricky. And in Johanna Von Arlo’s case, it can be fatal. Expelled from her troupe after her father’s death, Johanna is forced to work for the handsome Lord Rafael DeSilva. Too bad they don’t get along. But while Johanna’s father’s death was deemed an accident, the Keepers aren’t so sure.

The Keepers, a race of people with magical abilities, are on a quest to find the princess—the same princess who is supposed to be dead and whose throne the dukes are fighting over. But they aren’t the only ones looking for her. And in the wake of their search, murdered girls keep turning up—girls who look exactly like the princess, and exactly like Johanna.

With dukes, Keepers, and a killer all after the princess, Johanna finds herself caught up in political machinations for the throne, threats on her life, and an unexpected romance that could change everything."

***

As you may know if you've read my 'About Me' section, I'm from Brazil. Why that's relevant? Half of the places and names in The Storyspinner are Portuguese words or actual names of cities and states in Brazil. It was a charming and lovely twist to the story. It felt a bit like diving into a conversation with my sister, where the majority of our words are in English, with some words in Portuguese sprinkled throughout.

And maybe that's what killed some of the mystery for me, in the end. Because knowing what each of the characters' names meant, also gave me some forewarning of their personality. But, that aside, The Storyspinner was a truly enjoyable read.

Wallace's skill is commendable in managing to create fully dimensional and well-rounded characters, while skipping between as many as six different POVs throughout the entire novel - not an easy feat, and one that she pulled off seamlessly.

The plot was engaging, if slightly predictable, and the characters were likeable. The plot twists were superbly presented, and I have to give Wallace kudos for not flinching away from some tough choices. 

All told, a very entertaining story, and a definite must-read for any lovers of fantasy, with lots to offer in the way of sword fights and magic wielding. Also a cute romance between a pig-headed guy and a sassy girl. What's not to love?

UKYA Book Blogger Awards: Shortlist Voting is Now Open!

Hey Guys!
Today I am here with VERY exciting news! It is the shortlist of the UKYA Book Blogger Awards! You voted for your three favourite in each category, and now is the time for YOU to vote for your favourite from the lists!

Voting is open until 16th February. Make sure you don't miss out!

There's quite a lot of awards and choices so you may need a few minutes to vote on them all. You get one vote per award, so don't rush it!