The Checquy Files Review

 The Rook and Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley, books #1 and #2 of The Checquy Files 

Synopsis of The Rook

"The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.

She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.

In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.

Filled with characters both fascinating and fantastical, The Rook is a richly inventive, suspenseful, and often wry thriller that marks an ambitious debut from a promising young writer

My Feelings

Let us begin with The Rook. I am a sucker for secret societies, it is a weakness of mind but I am just so much more likely to purchase a book I have never heard of if it has a secret society in it. And I LOVE the Checquy. The entire organization is weird and quirky, I mean the whole command structure is based around chess pieces, and there is just something about it that makes it seem so possible yet so ridiculous all at the same time. Also, its kinda funny that the exception to the chess thing is the fact that the top dogs are considered Lord and Lady since they obviously can't compete with the, seemingly immortal, queen herself. But I digress. The organization brings so much to the table by way of  never ending unique characters, modern day locals, and talks about just how long this organization (and others) have been around leading to a rich history and depth to the organization. Oh, and this story isn't being held by the bounds of a brooding romance between two lead characters, in fact there is no real romantic pulls within the main plot, just pure bad-ass conspiracy. All of this being said, what really made me fall in love with this book was the main antagonist, the wonderful Rook Myfanwy Thomas. 

“You look like Cinderella," said Val in awe.

"Yeah, if she'd been into bondage and had Christian Dior for a godmother.”

So I tend not to be really into stories about people with powers because...well...don't hate me but, I am not a fan of superheros (other than the show The Boys on amazon, but lets be honest, we watch it because of how messed up it is more than anything else). Anyways, I was very interested in Myfanwys character because she is someone who has powers who doesn't just use them for the hell of it, or ever really. This is a girl who rose through the ranks of a secret society within the British government purely on merit (well, mostly). Not only that but she has the cheeky personality that made her both relate-able and made it so hard no to want to cheer her on as she dug through the deep depths of the society she has come to be apart of in an attempt to unravel a tightly bound dark conspiracy. Oh, and one of the best parts, throughout the entire story she is following letters that she wrote herself from before her memories got wiped. You heard me! in case everything else wasn't crazy enough this is also an amnesia story. Nothing like diving head first into the secret world of people with powers and politics and also trying to pretend to be a ranking executive in said society all while trying to pretend like you actually know where your office is located. All in all, Myfanwy, as well as the story itself, as layers to it (yes, like an onion donkey). 

“Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine.” 

The glowing opinions aside, there has to be something said in regards to the negatives of the book, don't worry, this is gonna be real short. The biggest one being that sometimes I would loose track of all the characters within the story. It's nothing compared to the thrown around narratives of vastly different characters like in the Song of Ice and Fire series, but still, I got lost a few times. Also, the pacing was a bit erratic sometimes but hardly enough to distract from the richness of the story. 

“Oh, well, thanks an awful lot, Thomas, Myfanwy thought bitterly. It sounds like I'm the Defense Minister of Ghosts and Goblins, but as long as the job is "all fairly self-explanatory," I've no doubt it will be fine. The country might get overrun by brownies and talking trees, but what the hell--there's always Australia!”

I want to say that I would recommend this book to everyone I pass on the street but I am not going to let myself be blinded by my bias. This book however, would definitely bee a great read for those who are fans of urban fantasy, including  powers, secret society's and general British humor. 

Stiletto

I am not going to add to much about this book for the sake of not spoiling anything for those who haven't read the first one yet so I am going to just link the synopsis of Stiletto here. But there may be some spoilers ahead.

“The interior of the animal was much as one would expect: close and dark and damp, with an odd smell. It was rather, Odette thought, like trying to enter a really popular nightclub on New Year’s Eve.”

Stiletto primarily takes place from the perspective of two seemingly different people. Badass, people stomping, no bs taking, fearless Pawn Felecity Clements and descendant of one of the original leaders of the Broederschap, and genius behind a scalpel Odette Leliefeld. 

I wanted so badly for this book to live up to the first book but I was mildly disappointed. Honestly though, my main thing with this book is that it wasn't a story about Rook Thomas anymore. O'Malley introduces the reader to two new female antagonists, both of which can still kick some ass in their own way, as the story turns from the Checquy and the Broederschap being the biggest of enemies to trying to form an alliance between the two organizations. In general, I truly did enjoy this book, the plot took you outside of London to places all over Britain an through you into so many different battles between the foes they are trying to join with and those that some of them don't even know about. You get to see two people with very different skill sets join together to do what it takes to keep the alliance going so that neither side kills it before it even gets off the ground. 

“Plus, anyone who wants to clone himself is usually an asshole. You don’t want any more of those running around than absolutely necessary.” 

The few things that made this book not quiet live up to what I wanted it to be was one small side story that I felt was unnecessary and the fact that this book was probably about 150 pages longer than it needed to be. That being said, I would still give this book a 4/4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoyed The Rook. oh, and don't worry, Myfanwy is still in it quite a bit, just as more often a supporting character. 

P.S. Apparently now there is going to be a third book. I don't know how I feel about it but it sounds like its a side story and not a continuation of the original story. I guess we will just have to wait until next year to find out. 

The Mermaid's Sister Book Review

The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble



Synopsis

There is no cure for being who you truly are…

In a cottage high atop Llanfair Mountain, sixteen-year-old Clara lives with her sister, Maren, and guardian, Auntie. By day, they gather herbs for Auntie’s healing potions; by night, Auntie spins tales of faraway lands and wicked fairies. Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphan infants—Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree.

One day, Clara discovers shimmering scales just beneath her sister’s skin: Maren is becoming a mermaid and must be taken to the sea or she will die. So Clara, O’Neill, and the mermaid-girl set out for the shore. But the trio encounters trouble around every bend. Ensnared by an evil troupe of traveling performers, Clara and O’Neill must find a way to save themselves and the ever-weakening Maren.

And always in the back of her mind, Clara wonders, if my sister is a mermaid, then what am I?

Opinion

This is a tale of two sisters raised together on the side of a beautiful mountain, and a traveler boy whom has been raised on the road, all of them with their own orphan stories, brought together to be a family. Their story truly begins when they set off on a journey full of magic, danger, captivity and adventure, as they have to fight to save each other, one sister fading fast. 

“Sometimes the plainest of things conceal the most unimaginable wonders,”

I originally picked this up because it was on Kindle Unlimited and I thought, why not? For the most part I found this to be an enjoyable book, the magic and the children's stories were intriguing, but nothing about this book was overly surprising or great; the book was nothing more than enjoyable. I really like the magical realism and the elements of magic in 19th c. Pennsylvania. Also, the whole traveling carnival part was gripping in the fact that it added some mystery and made you actually develop feelings for the characters, and I'm not just talking about Clara and O'Neil. 

“There's no cure for being who you truly are.”

The main frustration I had with this story is that it had so much promise. but it was just poorly delivered. I am in no way saying it was bad, I'm just saying that there could have been so much more to this. Also, the ending....ugh! It was very expected, yes, but how it happened was so abrupt and oddly timed. I just really wish that the world and characters were more developed, making the story more touching, instead of a hasty story, honestly, I would not have minded if this was longer, 236 pages just wasn't enough for this to become and amazing read. Plus, when the story was over I was still left with questions. How did baby Maren get to Llanfair Mountain? Why was she taken there in the first place? That, and there was a love triangle...Now, I'm going to forgive the author this time, but oh my goodness, I can't take love triangles! *growls in frustration* 

*sigh* Overall it was a sweet story; an enjoyable, light read for beach days and, in my case, downtime at work. Clara's sisterly devotion really made you want to cheer her on, though I wasn't Maren's biggest fan. Regardless, I would read another book by this author, and it was a good debut novel. (3.5/5) --- (I totally acknowledge that these last few sentences sounded like the end of a terrible essay your forced to write in like freshman English class...I don't know what to tell you)

Any one else read this book yet? If so what did you think? Also, have you read any wonderful mermaid books recently? Let me know! 

A Cure For Madness Book Review

A Cure For Madness by Jodi McIsaac 

Synopsis

Clare Campbell has worked hard to create distance between herself and her troubled family. But when she receives news of her parents’ murder, she’s forced to return to the quiet town of Clarkeston, Maine, to arrange their funeral and take legal guardianship of her unpredictable and mentally ill brother, Wes.

While Clare struggles to come to grips with the death of her parents, a terrifying pathogen outbreak overtakes the town. She is all too familiar with the resulting symptoms, which resemble those of her brother’s schizophrenia: hallucinations, paranoia, and bizarre, even violent, behavior. Before long, the government steps in—and one agent takes a special interest in Wes. Clare must make a horrifying decision: save her brother or save the world.

Review

After discovering that her parents were murdered Clare goes back to her home town, Clarkeston, Maine, to plan their funeral and take legal guardianship of her mentally ill brother, Wes. Soon after arriving, however, a terrifying pathogen outbreak overtakes her town, leaving the infected with symptoms similar to her brother's schizophrenia. Then when an agent of the CDC takes a special interest in Wes, Clare has to face more horrifying decisions than whether or not to move back to Seattle. 

I will be the first to admit that this book was not what I expected when I read the synopsis. I was expecting a terrifying outbreak of crazy people running around the street trying to kill each other...but that's not exactly what happens, the book, instead, follows Clare and her brother as they try to hide from the CDC and decisions that could change weather or not the outbreak spreads across the whole world. 
What I like most about the story as a whole were the characters. What they thought, felt, and said seemed incredibly real to me, like something I would actually do in their situation, there wasn't really any awkward wordings or anything. Wes was great in that he seemed pretty normal until he wasn't, making the schizophrenia believable, though he came off as such a stoner sometimes. Clare was the confused yet clear minded sister who worked through what needed to be done and faced the hard truth of the reality of what was really happening. Overall, it wasn't difficult to connect or even feel empathy for some of what they did, the characters were, for lack of a better way to say it, realistic. Also, you really wanted to know what would happen to them next and how it would end. 

“You’re ordering pizza over the Internet?” “It’s not a new thing.” “Yeah, but now the government knows what kind of pizza you like.” 

There were, however, quite a few things I had problems with. For one, the scariness of the stories concept wasn't embraced enough for me, that is, this could of have been a book with scared and disillusion people running around the place practically flipping out, but instead the worst that really happened was some rioting. The story mainly followed the main characters while they were on the run and kind of skipped over  the big picture of the outbreak, in turn, loosing much of the suspense and horror factors. I'm not saying it had to be a horror story. but I was disappointed because I thought it would be. Overall, that was my main problem with is...it could have been scarier. The author had potential to make this either longer or a duology wherein the outbreak spread further and they were really on the run from what was happening as well as the CDC; give it more of a Walking Dead vibe. 
All in all, it was a good story that made you want to know how it ends. Not a good choice for those looking for something horror or zombie-esc, though an interesting suspense. Plus, the cover is kind of amazing. 

"But there's something powerful about embracing the worst parts of yourself, the parts you hope no one ever finds out about. to admit that you are not all light and bravery, that you are both hero and villain in your life's story." 

***THE FOLLOWING RANT HAS SPOILERS***
Okay, I have to get my feeling about the end of this book out of my system. Like WHAT?! The ending was very 50 First Dates and I don't think I like it. Plus! I really wish that the author at least said how long it had been, I mean, her hair has regrown and the government is on trial, you know it has obviously been at least a few weeks, but still it could have been even longer than that! I just wanted more from the ending, it felt almost too calm. She wakes up, the government is on trial, Wes has obviously had the same conversation with her more than once, and the outbreak has been completely dealt with. WHAT THE WHAT?! I mean, you kind of see it coming...but still. No lie, I was pretty upset with the ending, but I'll get over it. 
***END OF SPOILER FILLED RANT***

All The Beautiful People Book Review

All The Beautiful People (A Dread Novel) by Jonathan Yanez 

Synopsis

Taylor Hart has one job—she’s a cleaner for the largest pharmaceutical company in the world. But cleaning doesn’t mean mopping floors… 
Taylor cleans up illegal messes Lazarus Pharmaceuticals creates, making sure their atrocities are never discovered by the public. But when their latest multi-trillion-dollar drug goes terribly wrong, not even Taylor can keep the fallout in check. 
Vanidrum was supposed to be a miracle drug to drive away mankind’s inner demons—but it’s managed to achieve the opposite effect… 
Paid to look the other way, Taylor can’t ignore the spreading epidemic. Rather than cure anxiety and depression, Vanidrum has caused the very darkest part of human nature to push though to the surface. 
While infected maniacs spread the virus, Taylor and her team fight for survival… 
Forced to a secluded lab hidden in the tundra of Alaska, an elite group of scientists works to find a cure. In a world infested with violent creatures spreading humanity’s darkness, no one is safe.
It isn’t until Taylor herself falls victim to the threat that she discovers her connection to this darkness runs far deeper than she’d ever imagined. 

Can Taylor and the surviving scientists bring humanity back from the edge of extinction? Or will they be forced to watch as the darkness inside mankind consumes… 

Opinion 

Taylor Hart is a cleaner for Lazarus Pharmaceuticals. the biggest pharmaceutical company in the world. Her job, to clean up any illegal mess that might occur when one of their drugs has an adverse affect on someone, usually before the police or media get involved. When she has to deal with a situation involving a Mr. Jones, she immediately knows something is up, that this is different than her usual clean up. As her and her employers scramble to contain the damage that Vanidrum is causing, the world around them begins to spin out of control. Is there any hope in curing this?

"MANKIND'S GREATEST ENEMY HAS ALWAYS LURKED WITHIN..."

Let me start off by saying that I am not a big fan of zombies, the whole eating people thing freaks me out, but this story was something more. Originally I immediately started getting a World War Z kind of feeling from this, the way the disease spread and all that. What freaked me out the most though, they could still sort of talk, though, more often than not, it was a screeching noise. The main difference between these "zombies" and your traditional, walk the earth in perpetual hunger wanting to eat anything that moves because your brain is as fried as a morning omelet, zombie, is that they have a purpose and it goes a lot deeper than taste. These people starve for perfection and want to spread "beauty" to everyone, even if that includes a little skin removal and self mutilation along the way. Because zombies just wanting to kill you wasn't creepy enough, without adding in a mood-altering drug that makes you crave perfection in yourself and everyone around you. After all, the darkness wants to spread. 

My reaction after the first attack, and yes, Jim captures it perfectly.

Taylor Hart, the main character, is everything you expect from your lead female protagonist, she's a kick ass kind of girl who wants to complete her mission. But there's a little more to it than that, and after making some friends along the way you really get to see more sides to her hard shell exterior. Don't get me wrong, the characters are pretty much exactly what you expect in this kind of story, but the crazy twists and turn throughout the novel makes you happy to have something you know. Plus, the ending to the book is nothing like what you would expect to happen, making the story as a whole brilliant in its own way. I will admit though, it lost me a little bit at the end, but I still really enjoyed where the author went with this. Plus the fight scenes were crazy and actually pretty realistic, considering it's basically crazy zombie people trying to make you beautiful. 

All in all if you are a fan of science fiction, zombie or dystopian books I would definitely recommend this. I just wish I had read this a little closer to Halloween. 

Mini Reviews #2: The One Where I Want To Slap Just About Everyone

**WARNING: Most of this is utter nonsense I wrote up late at night when I needed to vent about some of my more recent reads. It's probably poorly written and mostly ridiculous. Thank you**

The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Hazards #1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy 

Synopsis: This isn't a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I'd be happy to recommend one, but I don't have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It's the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it's also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.

My Opinion: Okay, first of all, to say I wanted to slap the nonsense out of her would be a bit of an understatement. She realized he was a total tool, practically off the bat, and yet she was with him for months! You know what they say, love blinds, but apparently it makes you a complete idiot too. I get it, she was trying to be nice. But....I couldn't get over how obvious it was that she was actually falling for another man. Also, the reasons she broke up with certain people made we want to yell at her for being such a pain and to actually think things through without reacting like a mad person. But the hickey thing...yeah, that was probably the only time in the entire book that I was completely on her side. Plus, she was pretty witty when she wanted to be. All in all. this wasn't a bad read, and a decent choice for something quick and light. (3/5)

April's Fool by Blanche Marriott 

Synopsis: How can a wedding album start a tug-of-war between the bride and groom? When they aren't really married and an April Fools joke goes awry.In a moment of self-pity, April Vaillancourt, a graphic designer and all-around dreamer, creates a fake wedding album. She accidentally leaves it behind at a restaurant after a girls night out. Weeks later, when it turns up on the desk of the fake groom, he confronts her, and she's faced with telling the truth or living a lie.

Michael Goode is a high-powered investment advisor on the threshold of becoming CEO. His neat and orderly bachelor life is jarred when April's prank appears on his desk. Ready to take her to task for the brazen invasion of his privacy, he instead falls captive to her charms. Intrigued by her evasive tactics, he pursues her, but when he finds himself wanting to spend every minute with April, he begins to question his bachelor life. Could there be something better? 

My Opinion: Okay, okay, I know no one reads these kind of books because they are incredibly realistic or anything, but I am practically dumbfounded as to where this story went. I mean, yeah, it ended exactly how we all expected it would, but damn, the book takes place over like two weeks...talk about a fast relationship with someone. Also, what was she thinking when she made that book and why did her friends think it was so damn funny?! And how could you forget something like that in a restaurant?!?!? Ugh, I just had so many problems with the details, in regards to the two of them coming together. Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't terrible and in some ways I can see why people would like it but...insta-love is not something I'm a fan of. Plus, the boy-chases-girl situation was dragged on a little too much. All in all, this just was not my cup of tea in any way, shape, or form. I will say, I did laugh and aw at some of the super gushy parts though...no lie. (2/5)

Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter Book Review

Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3) by William Ritter 

Synopsis 

Jenny Cavanaugh, the ghostly lady of 926 Augur Lane, has enlisted the investigative services of her fellow residents to solve a decade-old murder—her own. Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, Detective R. F. Jackaby, dive into the cold case, starting with a search for Jenny’s fiancé, who went missing the night she died. But when a new, gruesome murder closely mirrors the events of ten years prior, Abigail and Jackaby realize that Jenny’s case isn’t so cold after all, and her killer may be far more dangerous than they suspected.

Fantasy and folklore mix with mad science as Abigail’s race to unravel the mystery leads her across the cold cobblestones of nineteenth-century New England, down to the mythical underworld, and deep into her colleagues’ grim histories to battle the most deadly foe she has ever faced.

Opinion 

I originally picked up Jackaby when I was in the mood for a fun, easy read, and since I love Sherlock Holmes I thought the choice was a no-brainer. But, OH MY GOODNESS, this series has becomes so much more. This is Sherlock Holmes meets the supernatural in some of the best ways. Abigail, being the prime caring companion of, the almost clueless to the real world, Jackaby. The characters in this book are flawless (okay, obviously no one is perfect, but these characters can frustrate/surprise you in some of the best ways). Jenny Cavanaugh, being the wonderful soul that she is makes you want to route for her throughout this entire book, and I'm so happy that we get the opportunity to learn more about her, her life, and her (former) fiance. 

"My brick. My house. My whole wide world." She slid through the demolished wall. "My turn."

This series just keeps getting better and better. In Ghostly Echoes, Ritter definitely brings more depth into the story, both literally and metaphorically. While you slowly get to learn more and more about the layers of people, timelines, and worlds in the story, you also get dragged into them as well. While learning more about the dark corners of New Fiddleham, Ritter brings in more experiences with the Unseely and Seely, and their roles in the gates between the mythical underworld and the only world that Abigail has ever known. The plot as a whole becomes much more intricate than what we first encountered in books one and two, and I couldn't have asked for a better build up to whatever Ritter has in-store for the final installment. 

I will say, that their were a few spots in the book where the writing was a little rough and I had to reread some parts a time or two before I understood exactly what was going on. Overall, however, I am a huge fan of this series! I'm not really one for anticipating and aggravatingly waiting for books to come out, but I have done just that with this series, I can already tell that the wait for book four, especially since I don't know the title or even the release date, is going to be killer. The series is so action packed, fast paced, and fun that it's hard not to enjoy. One of my favorite things about it so far, is how the stories from the other books as well have been really brought into book three and the way that it's building up to one hell of a finale. And though there's plenty of light hearted humor, there's also that darkness, which makes for such a heartbreaking yet whirl-wind of a book (and series), making it that much better. (4.5/5)

 PS. The Barnes & Noble near me (accidentally?) released it a day early and this is how I felt when I saw it on the shelf: 

Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman Book Review

Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman 

Synopsis 

Adorkable (ah-dor-kuh-bul): Descriptive term meaning to be equal parts dorky and adorable. For reference, see Sally Spitz.

Seventeen-year-old Sally Spitz is done with dating. Or at least, she's done with the horrible blind dates/hookups/sneak attacks her matchmaking bestie, Hooker, sets her up on. There's only so much one geek girl and Gryffindor supporter can take.

Her solution: she needs a fake boyfriend. And fast.

Enter Becks, soccer phenom, all-around-hottie, and Sally's best friend practically since birth. When Sally asks Becks to be her F.B.F. (fake boyfriend), Becks is only too happy to be used. He'd do anything for Sal--even if that means giving her PDA lessons in his bedroom, saying she's "more than pretty," and expertly kissing her at parties.

The problem: Sally's been in love with Becks all her life--and he's completely clueless.

This book features two best friends, one special edition Yoda snuggie, countless beneath-the-ear kisses and begs the question:

Who wants a real boyfriend when faking it is so much more fun?

Opinion 

True to the title, I only have one word to describe this book; Adorkable. Sally Spitz is a proud dork and Becks is the sweet as can be, hottie of a jock, how can this not turn into something adorable? I mean, yeah, the story is far from original and fluffy as all hell, but sometimes that's all you need. 

I originally picked this up as a free ebook on KU when I was bored at work one day and thought I would take a little break from fantasy novels and dive into a genre I rarely ever go near, and I am so happy I did. From start to finish, even though anyone with half a brain could figure out how it was going to end, you can't wait to see what is going to happen between Sally and Becks next, their just so damn cute, and it made me happy when they were together, even if he was her FBF. The fact that he was always smiling and his whole no-shave-pregame thing, oh, and the fact that he was a sweetheart (earning him major brownie points in my book), made it hard not to love his character. Than Sally's shameless Star Trek references and full on German overload when she lost her temper, made you want to be her best friend. 

“Not even after I’d told him about my secret life-long crush on Lucius Malfoy from the Harry Potter series. That hair, the voice, that whole uptight baddie/aristocrat thing... It was embarrassing, but the guy was just yum.” 

Though this was far from anything revolutionary, I have to give O'Gorman major props on how witty and fun the conversations withing the book were. Sally and Becks banter were pretty on point. I find that this is something that can really make or break a book for me and the fact that it was cute and fun made the book all that much more enjoyable. My teenage side (even though I'm still 19, so technically still a teenager) could really relate to a lot of what was happening. Admittedly, I've never had a fake boyfriend, but all the drama and such brought me back to my high school mind set for so much of the book. 

All in all, if you're looking for a light, fluffy, fun read I suggest you pick this up. If anything, it'll put a smile on your face. Though Sally's best friend Hooker drove me crazy sometimes, and Sally and Becks chemistry makes the book worth the read. (3.5/5)

Raven by Stacey Rourke Book Review

Raven (The Legends Saga #2) by Stacey Rourke



Synopsis

An infamous love, destined nevermore,

For death could not claim, the enchanting Lenore.

Cursed by the malevolent spirit of the Headless Horseman, Ireland Crane ventures to Manhattan in search of a way to break her soul crushing bond. Instead, she discovers the lines between fact and fiction are blurring once more. Croaking ravens. Telltale hearts. Could the works of Poe be coming to pass with handsome Wall Street Midas Ridley Peolte as their unwilling target?

She walks the Earth, a plague on mankind,

searching for he, her rotted heart doth pine.

Together, the two unknowingly release a dark force death itself could not tame. Surrounded by the unrelenting violence and mayhem they’ve unleashed, Ireland feels her control over the Horseman slipping. Before the beast within consumes her, she and her crew must follow the clues of the dead to right a centuries’ old wrong. Will it be enough to sate the Horseman’s appetite?

Hell hath no fury like a ghoul scorned. 

My Opinion 

Let me start off by saying that I love Rourke's characters. Ireland is sarcastic and a great female lead, Noah is witty and supportive; all the characters are fun and not overly serious about themselves. I just love that the characters a funny and almost lighthearted when the tone of what is happening to them is dark and terrifying. 

On another note, this story was a great clash of two dark stories twisted together. Especially how she manages to mix two live/stories, one in the present the other in the past, and not make it confusing but instead add to the tragedy and twists of the story as a whole. Reading of one characters hardships and heartbreak in the past, while also reading about them trying to mend said past mistakes in the present add so much to the overall. 

“She … uh … suffers from low blood sugar. It turns her into a slightly demonic nympho. Awkward as it is here, family gatherings are the real bitch.” 

However, I will say that Raven, while still great, was not as good as Crane. Ireland's hessian revival was just such a great story that Ridley's just couldn't compare. Also, I felt like their were parts of this story that just seemed a little rushed. It's hard to really put my finger on what it was without spoiling anything, but there were parts towards the middle/end that seemed almost random or forced into the story. Basically it seemed like sh tried really hard to make this whole story to transition into the third book without a hwole lot of explanation as to what was happening.

Overall, Raven was such a fun read! I'm happy I got to see more of Ireland and Noah's witty banter and more behind the twisting and tragic tales behind the legends. (4/5)

The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey Book Review

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Synopsis 

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.

Opinion 

To say this book was not what I expected would be a bit of an understatement. The story itself was much more chilling, and eerily creative than the synopsis made it seem. I've never really been a big fan of zombies, to me they just down right suck and the people in zombie stories are always incredibly terrible at making logical decisions. However, there was nothing really traditional about this story, it was like a mixture of the Walking Dead, World War Z, and so much else.

“you can't save people from the world. There's nowhere else to take them.” 

One if the things I really enjoyed about this story was the authors new take on zombies, the idea of some of them being intelligent and emotional. In the beginning Carey brings you right into how the children are feeling and how they think, making you understand how they are basically frightened children and not just lab rats to be sacrificed to the cause. This book really makes you think about what being "human" really means. There were times when I thought some of the non-infected people were total dicks for no real reason. (Don't even get me started in Dr. Caldwell). The story, however, really centers around Melanie and how, through the teachings of her beloved Miss Justineau, she learns about those like Pandora sparking her fire making her want to understand more of who she is and her feelings of love and acceptance. One of my favorite parts about the book, however, was all the science behind the infections and what makes children like Melanie special. Obviously I don't want to spoil anything, but damn, it was way better than I expected.

“And then like Pandora, opening the great big box of the world and not being afraid, not even caring whether what’s inside is good or bad. Because it’s both. Everything is always both. But you have to open it to find that out.” 

Okay, as much as I truly enjoyed this story, I acknowledge that there were a few flaws. For one, the story dragged a bit too much in some parts for me. Also, there were a few things I feel like Casey could have expanded on, for example, I want to know more or at least see more of the junkers in the story. Plus, I wish they got more into the ways of Beacon...but that's a whole other thing.

“the horror of the unknown is more frightening than any horror you can understand” 

All in all, this book was beautiful and creepy and left you asking for more. (Don't even get me started on the ending of the book...I just...damn it Carey). If you are a fan of zombie stories and enjoy twists on original 'monsters' I highly recommend giving this book a chance! (4/5)

P.S. I just found out that it's going to be a movie! Check out the trailer

The Looking Glass Wars Book Review

The Looking Glass Wars (The Looking Glass Wars #1) by Frank Beddor

Synopsis

Alyss of Wonderland?
When Alyss Heart, newly orphaned heir to the Wonderland throne, flees through the Pool of Tears to escape her murderous Aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carroll, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story - and he's searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland, to battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions of mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

Opinion

I feel like this is a book you either love or hate. Personally, I'm on the fence. On one hand I really enjoyed the more unique take on the original Alice story, on the other hand, it wasn't executed very well.

“You can't spend so much time in a place and not carry a bit of it inside you.”

I was totally into the whole twist on the original Alice story and how Carroll got the story all wrong, at first. But Beddor kind of lost me at the whole imagination thing as being a 'power', I just couldn't get into it now matter how hard I tried. Also, the time line was awful. One paragraph she is 10 than a sentence later she's 16 than all of a sudden she's 20. There was a lot that was basically skipped over with that and then there were so many times that were dragged on to the point I wanted to just skip them (I didn't).

“For most of the universe's life is not all gummy wads and tarty tarts; is a struggle against hardship, unfairness, corruption, abuse, and adversity in all its guises, where even to survive - let alone survive with dignity - is heroic. To soldier through the days in the wake of failure is the courageous act of many.” 

The story did have some cool factors in it though. I really enjoyed the foot soldiers and the looking glass continuum (or whatever it was called). The way that the card soldiers actually acted like cards and soldiers, folding into themselves but then becoming really tall was incredibly cool to them, and bonus points to the author for the drawings to go along with it. Also I was sort of captivated by the world, *SPOILERS* both before and after the whole takeover. Oddly though, I thought it was kind of great how Beddor added in the whole drug problem with the imagination stuff (sorry, I'm honestly drawing a blank), I mean, that is incredibly realistic and such a fun small detail.

All in all, the book may not be executed in the best way and some of the dialogue made me want to cringe, but the story itself was fun and new. I was into the story and I wanted to know what would happen next the whole time. If you're a retelling buff, like myself, though, I would say to read this book with caution because you will either really like it or want to throw it across a room. (4/5)

“I've finished running from you, Redd. It's time for you to run."--Alyss”  

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay Book Review

Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Dexter #1) by Jeff Lindsay 

Synopsis 

Meet Dexter Morgan, a polite wolf in sheep's clothing. He's handsome and charming, but something in his past has made him abide by a different set of rules. He's a serial killer whose one golden rule makes him immensely likeable: he only kills bad people. And his job as a blood splatter expert for the Miami police department puts him in the perfect position to identify his victims. But when a series of brutal murders bearing a striking similarity to his own style start turning up, Dexter is caught between being flattered and being frightened -- of himself or some other fiend.

Opinion

Well shit (pardon my french), but, in short, that's about as eloquently as I can put it. Okay, let me backtrack a minute. So, to start things off, let me admit to a blaring fact, I enjoyed the TV show much more than this book. What? How is that possible, you may ask. Well, let me explain. 

For one, this book is far too short. FAR TOO SHORT. 288 pages in this small paperback book is not enough to give this story justice. The first season of the show was full of so many twists and turns, and dare I say, surprises. The book, however, probably had like one surprise in it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book, but I believe that the main reason I did was for the nostalgia of the show I once loved (why I don't love it anymore is such a spoiler). Regardless, my enjoyment of the book was heavily carried by my enjoyment of the show. Like I said, the it just had so much more muchness to it than the book. 

Two, the character are flat...again this goes back to the show. Yes, I believe Lindsay really got into parts of the innate creepiness and dark minded Dexter, however it was not quite enough for me. I mean, c'mon, he's a wolf in sheeps skin, and he's portrayed as a man with a conscious built by another. Don't get me wrong, I get why Harry was such a big deal to him and that he has this "dark passenger" in the back of his brain basically making him kill people, but it makes it seem like Dexter himself isn't all that bad and he just has a different kind of itch to scratch. I mean, I guess in some ways he really isn't all that bad, thanks to Harry. But he's basically a sociopathic serial killer writing the book on how to act normal and not get caught. Still...I wanted him to be darker. Is that wrong? 

Three, I just liked where they went with the show much better. I prefer where they went with the 'Ice Truck Killer' (deemed by the tv show), making him seem much darker, and showing way more into the thought processes of how these people think. Also, Deborah was given way more chances to kind of be a badass, in the books she was to reliant on Dexter to help her be a cop. 

All in the book was good but I think it would have been better if I hadn't watched (most of) the tv series first. I'd have to give this book a 3.5/5 on its own...the show is pretty awesome though...just sayin'.

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi Book Review

The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen #1) by Roshani Chokshi 

Synopsis 

Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself.

Opinion

Wow, I don't think I book has ever left me so...speechless? I have to admit I have so many conflicting feelings about this book. I love the story and the magic; the way that Chokshi brought the universe alive, making it almost tangible in every way imaginable. However, the story also left me confused as to what I just read. I can't decide how exactly I feel about this book. 

“I wanted a love thick with time, as inscrutable as if a lathe had carved it from night and as familiar as the marrow in my bones. I wanted the impossible, which made it that much easier to push out of my mind.” 

In it's essence this is nothing more than a love story weaved with the impossible and the magical, however, it is also a story about finding oneself, looking deeper and looking closer at everything. Chokshi used Indian mythology to weave all of this together and I feel like that, in-itself, made the story. Indian mythology is so beautiful and so heartbreaking and I believe she really captured that in this story. Maya, who had lost herself and who was sentenced to a life she didn't want, fought and in the end, found the love she always knew was out there. 

“I know your soul. Everything else is just an ornament.” 

I would have to say that the biggest flaw with this story overall, was it cold be incredibly confusing at times. Sometimes I would be reading it and the next thing I knew I had no idea what was going on. The story had a tendency to jump around a lot, and be very dependent on the mythology. Altogether, that's were I thing Chokshi lost a lot of people within the story; the mythology. See, I don't know about you, but I know very little Indian mythology, and much of that mythology wasn't explained, almost like it was expected that you knew it before going into the book, and that really affected the world building. It was as though she was discussing the similarities and differences from the original mythological stories and not making anything its own. I wanted the lands, the kingdoms to be described as though you were talking to a blind person, and not someone who had been there before. 

The ending to this book was not a surprise, but also not what I expected. It's hard to really talk about without giving anything away, so all I will say is that you shouldn't focus all of your energy on all the small details, but also look at everything as a whole. 

All-in-all I still believe that for those who love fantasy and mythology based stories, this is a book you should definitely give a shot, just don't rush into it.

Oh, and can we just talk about the second book that is coming out. Is it going to be a companion? I mean, this was originally written as a standalone and I can't picture it as a series. Opinions?

Illuminae Book Review

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Summary 

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes

Opinion

Holy...Wow. I'm pretty sure that Jay Kristoff summarized this book better than anyone, "ILLUMINAE is the classic story of girl meets boy: Girl Loses Boy: And Parents: And Planet: and Ends Up on a Cripples Spaceship: with a Mad Computer: and a Deadly Virus Outbreak: in the Middle of an Interstellar War." Illuminae is one of those books that are really hard to talk about without spoiling something. 

“Perhaps bravery is simply the face humanity wraps around its collective madness.” 

The way this book was put together was a work of art in itself. The creativity that was put into this book, everything from computer programming to teen angst, was incredibly entertaining and very engaging. The formatting for the AIDAN and the way 'he' thought and processed things, was probably my favorite; especially during the space fight scenes. AIDAN really made this book what it was.

“Am I not merciful?” 

The human characters were so real and relatable that you couldn't help feel for them. The way the ship captains lead their ships and worked through the crisis was realistic and slightly heartbreaking. They were having such a hard time but had to do everything in their power to hide the worst of it from everyone else. What made matters worse, was the forced enlistment of all capable bodies into the army. I just couldn't deal with everyone getting even more separated. 

“She is catalyst.She is chaos.I can see why he loves her.” 

In the end there was just so much that pulled your emotions in so many different directions, and the story was just awesome. I can already say this is going to be one of my favorite reads of the year. Definitely a good read for those whom love Science Fiction and adventure stores. (5/5)

The Haunting Of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie Book Review

The Haunting of Sunshine Girl (The Haunting of Sunshine Girl #1)
by Paige McKenzie and Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Synopsis

Something freaky's going on with Sunshine's new house . . . there's the chill that wraps itself around her bones, the giggling she can hear in the dead of night, and then the strange shadows that lurk in her photographs. But the more weird stuff that happens, the less her mom believes her. Sunshine's always had a quirky affiliation with the past, but this time, history is getting much too close for comfort . . .

If there is something, or someone, haunting her house, what do they want? And what will they do if Sunshine can't help them?

As things become more frightening and dangerous, and the giggles she hears turn to sobs and screams, Sunshine has no choice but to accept what she is, face the test before her and save her mother from a fate worse than death.

Opinion 

Usually, for me when it comes to YA ghost stories they tend to fall flat, being very predictable and ending a little to nice. This story was not the same. McKenzie made sure her story had layers, was set a good pace, and left you wanting to know more. The overuse of 'creepy' definitely fits in when describing the book.

“I prefer creeptastic,” Mom answers with a smile.” 

The book starts with Sunshine and Kat's move to Washington. I really enjoyed the description of the desolate streets; no children playing, houses practically silent. The moment they pull up into the driveway and the house comes into view, Sunshine immediately has a reaction to the 'creepiness' that it seems to have over it and the seemingly never ending dullness of everything. One of the things I really enjoyed was that the story as a whole was the pace at which the story is set, with 'paranormal' things happening basically right off the bat, the first few chapters really drawing you in.

“Mom was just teasing when she asked whether I felt safe being left alone in a haunted house. But now I know: once you move into one, you're never really alone again.” 

I will say that the first third or so of the book was definitely pretty creepy, but after that I felt like it lost some of its momentum. You start to learn more about Sunshine's past and some of the other players that are making things happen behind the scenes. Which, don't get me wrong, add much more depth to what would otherwise be a pretty normal, 'creeptastic' ghost story, but the story sort of sways into something much more than your average ghost story, which is both kind of exciting, but also a little frustrating. Once you learn more about what is going on, what everyone is capable of, and who's behind certain things that are happening, much of the story begins to loose its creep factor. (Like when you learn how a magician does one of his tricks.) I mean, towards the end it stops being about the haunting and more about Sunshine's 'destiny'. Which of course takes a little bit away from the whole ambiance of the story, things begin to become kind of convenient and even more predictable. In the end, the twists and turns made the ending just a little bit disappointing. But! I will say that I absolutely loved the stalking mentor. His perspective was always fun to read and though I was kind of mad about one of the things he does to Sunshine (in regards to boys), I found him quite entertaining. 
Overall the book was a fun read but far from fantastic. The writing was relatively armature, only being saved be the overall feeling of the book and the story-line. (3.5/5) - Can't decide.

Soundless by Richelle Mead Book Review

Soundless by Richelle Mead 

Goodreads Synopsis

 In a village without sound…

For as long as Fei can remember, no one in her village has been able to hear. Rocky terrain and frequent avalanches make it impossible to leave the village, so Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom.

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink. Many go hungry. Fei and all the people she loves are plunged into crisis, with nothing to look forward to but darkness and starvation.

One girl hears a call to action…

Until one night, Fei is awoken by a searing noise. Sound becomes her weapon.

She sets out to uncover what’s happened to her and to fight the dangers threatening her village. A handsome miner with a revolutionary spirit accompanies Fei on her quest, bringing with him new risks and the possibility of romance. They embark on a majestic journey from the peak of their jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiguo, where a startling truth will change their lives forever…

And unlocks a power that will save her people.

Review

This was the first Richelle Mead book that I've ever read and part of me wishes it hadn't been. I hear such great things about her work, such as the Vampire academy series and the Bloodlines series. Having read this book I can already tell it wasn't her best work, and I won't give up on her books as a whole because of it.
After first finishing the book I didn't really know how I felt. But now that I've collected my thoughts I'd say that, even though the book isn't bad or anything, I was disappointed with it as a whole. I expected more sacrifice, adventure, and journey. Much of the book was predictable and, compared to the rest of the book, the ending seemed a little far-fetched. Mead at such a good start to the story. The main character, Fei, regains her hearing, which is the beginning to a string of events that leads her down the mountain in which she was raised. So many, normal things, that you'd expect in such a journey, occur, and the fantasy elements of the book mostly all happen in the last 15 or so pages. Like, what? Honestly, it kind of confused my at first, almost like the idea was just thrown in there in the end because Mead wasn't completely sure how to end it. Even though, the story wasn't very strong, you could still get the feeling of what the village was like, and what they were going through. I do still wish there was some more world building and that she went more in depth into the characters, the villages past, and the line system as a whole.

“Look what we've done so far. We're pretty good at the impossible.” 

The characters made me feel so back and forth towards them. Fei was a strong female lead but sometimes she could be so incredibly indecisive and naive. Li Wei is exactly what you would expect in a love interest, and the sister, Zhang Jing, is so clueless and has obviously given up to the point you want to slap her, hug her, than tell her to stop being so negative. Though I did enjoy the characters to an extent, I wish that they had more depth to them.

“Some things don't need words. Sometimes it's enough to just feel. You don't have to label and articulate all that's around you.” 

In general the book was just alright to me. I really enjoyed the play on Chinese mythology and some of the turns that Mead took within the story. It was a fast paced, short read, that was good for someone like me who was just getting out of a reading slump when I was going into this book. Oddly,  thinking about the book now, it almost reminds me of M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. Please tell me I wasn't the only one who thought this... (3.25/5) 

The Reflections Of Queen Snow White by David Meredith Book Review

The Reflections Of Queen Snow White by David Meredith



Goodreads Synopsis

What happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone? 

On the eve of her only daughter, Princess Raven's wedding, an aging Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion. The ceremony itself promises to be the most glamorous social event of the decade. Snow White’s castle has been meticulously scrubbed, polished and opulently decorated for the celebration. It is already nearly bursting with jubilant guests and merry well-wishers. Prince Edel, Raven's fiancé, is a fine man from a neighboring kingdom and Snow White's own domain is prosperous and at peace. Things could not be better, in fact, except for one thing: 

The king is dead. 

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old. 

It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what "happily ever after" really means? 

Only time will tell as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront The Reflections of Queen Snow White.

My Opinion 

This was an interesting take on Snow Whites life after the "happily ever after". In this story, Snow has aged and lost her dear Charming. This loss had sent her into a seemingly unending depression that she can't escape, causing her to shamingly ignore her daughter Raven. One of these days, over a year after Charming's passing, Snow stumbles upon her Arglist's (her step-mother) magic mirror. It is the mirror that shows Snow parts of her life that she had tucked deep into her memories, teaching Snow that there was more to her than her deep love for her late husband. It show's flashbacks of what it was like for her growing up under Arglist's rule, how she was practically shunned and wore a burlap sack in place of proper clothing. The mirror reminds Snow how she used to have strength within herself that she has apparently forgotten. 

I enjoyed so much about the story. For one, I appreciated how Meredith incorporated German into names and places. I for one though Charming's full name was pretty great; Charming Von Gerechtigkeit Von Freide Von Gnadenbrot, Crowned Prince of Geschictia. I mean c'mon, that's pretty great right? Also, the story itself was very realistic, it showed that there is no such thing as perfect and how even though you can whole heatedly love someone, you have your own strength to rely on as well. Also, Meredith nailed the length of a fairy tale quite well, it wasn't too long, but it was also not so short that the details weren't ignored.
Though I enjoyed the story greatly, I did have a few problems with it as well. For one, I found a few grammatical errors within the story that momentarily distracted me. That, and when the mirror was speaking to Snow, I feel like there could have been a significantly less amount exclamation points in his (it's?) dialogue. Oh! and for goodness sake I did not expect Snow's story to be so violent. Holy cow, it was a little crazy. Especially when they go on about harming's wedding gift to Snow...let's just say Arglist was in a world of pain when that went down. That and the gruesome details of Snow's poisoning, that's a whole other thing. Don't get me wrong, what happened to her is a hell of a lot more realistic than the prince waking her up from a long sleep with nothing more than a kiss. Either way this book was better than I expected, a fun read for those who enjoy fairy-tales. (3.5/5)

I know this gif didn't really have anything to do with this review, but I just thought it was funny...Comment if you know where it's from, so I know I'm not the only one.

**This book was generously given to me by the author for an honest review**