SPRING FLING BLOG HOP: Vicious by V.E. Schwab + GIVEAWAY

Happy Tuesday! We're super excited to be participating in Good Tales Book Tours' April Blog Hop! All of the fabulous blogs participating today are highlighting books that they'd give up anything to read, and we're really looking forward to adding all kinds of new books to our TBR lists. Ashley's been wanting to re-read Vicious by V.E. Schwab for a while now and is about ready to just drop everything now and read it again, so that's what we're featuring here!

You can find Ashley's review from the first time she read Vicious here,

We've also got a giveaway from a $25 Amazon gift card and some other great books, so be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form below!

About the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Vicious
Author: V.E. Schwab
Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Synopsis: A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and superpowers, set in a near-future world.

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Blogs!

https://lauriestarkey.wordpress.com/blog/

http://wackymommareads.blogspot.com

http://obsessedwithmyshelf.com

https://gloriouspanic.wordpress.com/

http://sarasbooksandthings.blogspot.com/?m=1

http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

http://soulcleverbooks.blogspot.com

http://bfdbookblog.net/

http://www.anovelkindofbliss.blogspot.com

https://bookandbastille.wordpress.com/

http://onceuponawish.weebly.com

https://blogtasticreviews.wordpress.com/

http://lovelyparanormalbooks.blogspot.co.nz

http://thebookish-life.blogspot.com

http://herbookthoughts.reads-it.com

http://mnonmklreviews.blogspot.com

http://athousandwordsamillionbooks.blogspot.in

http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com

http://themistresscase.blogspot.com/

https://bookandbastille.wordpress.com/

http://recklessindulgence.wordpress.com

http://thebookishowl.net

https://blogtasticreviews.wordpress.com/

http://www.naturalbri.com

http://aamzybookwonder.blogspot.co.uk/

http://mistralkdawn.blogspot.com/

http://archiestandwoodsreviewsandwritings.blogspot.com

http://britishbookwormblog.com

http://lexicalcreations.weebly.com/jens-blog

http://www.naturalbri.com

http://aamzybookwonder.blogspot.co.uk/

http://mistralkdawn.blogspot.com/

http://archiestandwoodsreviewsandwritings.blogspot.com

http://britishbookwormblog.com

http://lexicalcreations.weebly.com/jens-blog

http://shadetreeblogging.blogspot.com

What book would YOU give up everything to read? Let us know in the comments! 

--Ashley & Paul

Organized by Good Tales Book Tours

Rocket Girl Volume 1: Times Squared (graphic novel) - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Diamond Book Distributors and Image Comics on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads


Title: Rocket Girl Volume 1: Times Squared
Author:  Brandon Montclare
Illustrator:  Amy Reeder
Year Published: 2014


Synopsis: A teenage cop from a high-tech future is sent back in time to 1986 New York City. 

Dayoung Johansson is investigating the Quintum Mechanics megacorporation for crimes against time. 

As she pieces together the clues, she discovers the “future” she calls home — an alternate reality version of 2014 — shouldn’t exist at all!

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Review: Time travel stories always interest me, but I'm always critical of them. What method of time travel theory will they use? Will their actions in the past effect the future or will their actions have already happened and they just didn't realize they were the butterfly? In this first volume of Rocket Girl, it is unclear how the time travel will pan out. The reader's pre-existing thoughts on time travel add to the mystery of the story. 

Dayoung comes from a futuristic 2013 that is quite different from our own present. She finds herself in 1986 with all things 80's. I enjoyed the pop culture references, but may not have got them all considering I only experienced a little over a year in the 80's myself and I wasn't exactly observant then. 

There are many different time periods the story takes the reader: the 2013 past, the 2013 present, and the 1986 present. The teenage police unit is a cool concept. 

The artwork is done nicely with futuristic technology contrasting the 80's colors. There are some pages that feature art of both time periods side-by-side. 

This volume alone isn't a completed story. It's just the start of Rocket Girl's adventures in the 80's. I am interested how the time travel concepts will be dealt with. What is the technology that created the futuristic 2013 and where (or when) did it come from? I give this first volume a 3/5. 


--PAUL

Legend of the Jamaican Dragon by Rashaun Smith - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Goodreads

Title: Legend of the Jamaican Dragon
Author: Rashaun Smith
Publication Date: September 10, 2013

Synopsis: All is not well in paradise; threatened by an unforeseen evil thought irreversibly banished for what would have amounted to forever, one must now rise and overcome to protect what is precious. Can the land be saved? With the death of their leader, who will save them now? 

Witness what history has withheld from its books - a short story worth the read - Legend Of The Jamaican Dragon!

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Review: I love dragons. I love reading pretty much anything to do with dragons, because I think there's just so much you can do with such a popular mythological creature. So when I was introduced to The Legend of the Jamaican Dragon, I knew I would have to read this story. And I was not disappointed!

The Legend of the Jamaican Dragon is a very short story (only about 28 pages) that tells the story of how an island nation is facing great evil and must be saved by the one remaining creature who can fight off the darkness. I really enjoyed seeing the little dragon grow from a baby into something greater, and seeing the unnamed Baby Dragon do something great for the people on his island.

The artwork is really interesting too. It's black and white and reminded me quite a bit of the style found in the manga I've read. It gets the story across and Rashaun is definitely a very talented artist. I think it might have been a little better if the artwork had been sharper and more defined, especially in the battle scenes, or if this comic had been in color. It's still really good and has a lot of potential, but I think there's still some room for improvement.

I really enjoyed this story - it's a nice little fantasy story about the origin of Jamaica, and I think it would be really great for a younger audience. It's not too intense during the battle scenes, and I think younger fans who like dragons would love this. Even older dragon fans would probably enjoy this comic too! I definitely did, and can't wait to see what Rashaun has in store for the future. 4/5!


--Ashley

Bitter Fruits (Eden's Fall #1) by Sarah Daltry - Ashley's Review

*I was gifted a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Bitter Fruits (Eden's Fall #1)
Author: Sarah Daltry
Publication Date: December 1, 2013

Synopsis: For fans of dark urban fantasy comes a novel that questions why forbidden fruit is always the most tempting...

A vampire-themed masquerade party isn't really her scene, but Nora is sick of frat parties and bars. When she meets Alec, the appeal suddenly becomes clear. It's obvious that they've been struck by the same intense mutual attraction, but Alec keeps his distance. Intrigued despite herself, Nora pushes a little deeper -- and discovers Alec's unimaginable secret...

Nora is not afraid of following Alec into the darkness, but the choice is soon taken from her. Someone is hunting her -- someone tied to the secret and desperate to see it play out. But when Nora finally meets her aggressor, she finds herself hopelessly drawn to him. She needs to make a choice between the two men, but can she save them both, knowing one is destined to die?

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Review: I usually am not a huge fan of vampire romance books. The only vampire books I really get excited about are ones like Buffy where the vampires are the ones being killed or ones where there are vampires that are a new take on a classic horror creature. So I was really pleasantly surprised when I actually enjoyed this book! 

The romance in this book is a main plot point, but it's messy and complicated. Oh, and very steamy. Definitely 18+. Nora is torn between two men - Alec and Caleb - and feels inexplicably drawn to both of them. Alec is the sweet one; he refuses to sleep with her until she knows his story and even then wants to make sure she understands what exactly will happen to him. He doesn't want to involve her in his world unless she decides that's where she wants to be. I really enjoyed learning more about him as Nora did and watching his secrets unfold.

And then there's Caleb, who is seen as the "bad boy" and the scarier of the two. His fate is tied to Alec's in a big way and I really enjoyed the connection that's endured through time. Nora feels totally different with him than with Alec and tries to avoid him as much as possible until the pull is just too much. There's a really strong connection there, and I thought it was really interesting to see how Nora was connected to both men in totally different ways. I also really liked how she made her choice when the time came, and am glad that things worked out for them.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of the Biblical mythology. Lilith plays a huge role in this book, and I really liked how she was portrayed. She's not really evil, but she's definitely not good. I think she's just really misunderstood and I appreciated her side of the story too. I also think there's still a lot more to learn about her, and I really hope that Sarah continues this series and completes the trilogy she had planned. 

This book is so much better than the Twilight series, in my opinion, and I think that fans of vampire romances will really enjoy this book. Even if the vampires are unlike any you've read about before. The writing is excellent, the characters are likeable and relateable, and the plot is exciting. There are quite a few really steamy scenes so I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone under 18 though. The explicit scenes are important to understand Nora, Alec, and Caleb, so they are pretty necessary, but they're well written and don't take away from the other major problems that need solving. I really can't wait to read the rest of this trilogy eventually! 4/5!

--Ashley

Board Stiff (Xanth #38) by Piers Anthony - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Premier Digital Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Board Stiff
Author: Piers Anthony
Publication Date: December 17, 2013

My Board Stiff Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Be careful what you wish for...

"I'm actually a smart girl who would make any man an excellent wife. But no man sees that. No man is interested in my mind or personality, just my whatevers. So here is my wish: I'm board stiff. I want Adventure, Excitement, and Romance.”

So begins Piers Anthony's 38th Xanth novel, in which Irrelevant Kandy, looks at her reflection in the water of the shallow well and sees luxuriant midnight black hair to her breathtakingly slender waist, matching dark eyes in a lovely face. A torso coming yea-close to absolute perfection. She was man's desire. That was part of the problem.

And in the shallow magic of a wishing well, she asks her wish to be granted. Something happens. A sudden whirlwind surrounds her, lifting her up and ripping off her clothing. She is changing, somehow. Then she falls flat on the ground.

Literally. She has been transformed into a flat, stiff board with two knotholes for eyes.

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Review: It's been a really long time since I've read a Xanth book. Like, several years. And I'm pretty sure the last one I read I was a re-read of A Spell For Chameleon. But the thing I love about these books is that I don't have to remember much to become fully immersed again in this magical, puntastic world!

I really liked Kandy in this book. It was fun to see things from her perspective since she spends most of the time as a literal board. That's totally what she deserves for saying she's "bored stiff" though, since she should know better having grown up with puns all around. She's looking for Romance, Adventure, and Excitement, and I loved how the Wishing Well grants her wish in a most ridiculous manner. I do think she learns a lot throughout her adventure and is definitely a different person at the end of the book than she was at the beginning. She knows more about life, love, adventure, and men and is a better person for it. 

I also really enjoyed getting to know the other characters she meets along the way. Ease is kind of an idiot and I'm not sure I would ever pick him to be the romantic interest, but whatever. Some times I just wanted him to do something idiotic and not have Kandy save him, but I guess that's not how Xanth works. Astrid was probably my favorite character in the group and I think her friendship was Kandy was an even better relationship than any of the romantic ones. We also get to see Com Pewter again, which was pretty neat since he's one of my favorite Xanth characters of all time. 

The plot is this book feels really pieced together. Kind of like Piers Anthony was like "Ok, I want this group to do this, this, and this even though they are not related in any way. How can I string them together to make a cohesive story?" and I'm not really convinced that it worked as well as he hoped it would. I mean, it's tied together loosely, but all of the Events are just so random. There's a little bit of an explanation near the end... but it's not a very strong argument and feels kind of like he thought of it last minute.

Speaking of the ending, I thought it was a little lame. As I was reading, I looked at the amount remaining and was concerned that things wouldn't wrap up by the end. They do, but it just felt really rushed. We spend this entire book trying to figure out how to save the puns and in the end it's so much easier than you would ever think. And it was kind of annoying. This book could serve as a standalone because this plot is wrapped up pretty nicely, but I can still see there being a sequel because it felt like it was setting one up. 

I would recommend this book to any fans of previous Xanth books. Even if you haven't read one in a while, there's enough here to get you right back into that magical place. All of the groan-worthy puns are there, and familiar characters show up. I would also recommend this series (and this book even) to pun-lovers and casual fantasy readers. Not my favorite Xanth book, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. 3/5!


--Ashley

Seven Forges (Seven Forges #1) by James A. Moore - Ashley's Review

In case you missed it, you can also check out James Moore's Top Five First Contacts as a part of the blog tour for the sequel to Seven Forges, The Blasted Lands! 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Seven Forges (Seven Forges #1)
Author: James A. Moore
Year Published: 2013

My Pre-Reading
Paul's Review


Synopsis: Captain Merros Dulver is the first in many lifetimes to find a path beyond the great mountains known as the Seven Forges and encounter, at last, the half-forgotten race who live there. And it would appear that they were expecting him. As he returns home, bringing an entourage of strangers with him, he starts to wonder whether his discovery has been such a good thing. For the gods of this lost race are the gods of war, and their memories of that far-off cataclysm have not faded.

The people of Fellein have live with legends for many centuries. To their far north, the Blasted Lands, a legacy of an ancient time of cataclysm, are vast, desolate and impassable, but that doesn't stop the occasional expedition into their fringes in search of any trace of the ancients who had once lived there... and oft-rumored riches.

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Review: I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I had a little bit of trouble getting into it for the first couple of pages, but after that I devoured it in pretty much one sitting. I took a couple breaks to do the necessary things like eat, but that was about it. I could not learn enough about Fellein and the Seven Forges. 

The world-building in this book is absolutely phenomenal. We discover the world as Merros and the other characters do, and learn about the Blasted Lands and the Seven Forges through stories told to Merros. Nobody has ever made it as far as Merros and his group, and I think that just added to the excitement of discovering a new land. The people and the creatures are just as interesting as the world, and I can't wait to find out more about them. 

I also really enjoyed that this book is told in third-person, but switches characters fairly often. At first, it was a little disorienting, but after the first chapter or so it was easy to recognize when we were moving to another character in another location. We get to see things from the perspectives of a soldier, an Emperor, a sorcerer, an apprentice, an assassin, and several other interesting characters. I think it really added to the depth of the world and the story without becoming too convoluted. 

The next book will be really interesting after that ending, and I can't wait to see how things will play out. Potential allies are now enemies, the emperor is dead, part of the prophecy Merros received has come true, and there's so much more to find out about the Blasted Lands and the people who live there! 

I would 100% recommend this book to any fans of high fantasy. Especially if you're looking for a more digestible fantasy series. I mean, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series is great, but it's 14 huge book. George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series is wildly popular, but is a lot to tackle if you don't normal read epic fantasy books. Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is the same way. But Seven Forges would be great for anyone looking to get into the genre. 5/5!


--Ashley

The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor: Part One by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor: Part One
Author: Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga
Publication Date: October 8, 2013

My The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury Review
My The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury Pre-Reading

My The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor Review
My The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor Pre-Reading
My The Walking Dead: Compendium 1 Review
Synopsis: The third book in Robert Kirkman's New York Times bestselling series, The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor!

The Walking Dead original novel series, set in the universe of Robert Kirkman's iconic universe, continues with The Fall of the Governor. From co-authors Kirkman, creator of the Eisner Award-winning comic book and executive producer of AMC's blockbuster TV series, and Jay Bonansinga, Stoker Award-finalist and internationally acclaimed author, comes the gripping third novel in this richly woven, page-turning literary saga, which began with The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor.

In Rise of the Governor, uber-villain Philip Blake journeyed from his humble beginnings directly into the dark heart of the zombie apocalypse, and became the self-proclaimed leader of a small town called Woodbury. In The Road to Woodbury, an innocent traveler named Lilly Caul wound up in the terrifying thrall of Phillip Blake’s twisted, violent dictatorship within Woodbury’s ever tightening barricades.

And now, in The Fall of the Governor, the Governor’s complex story continues in a tour de force of action and horror. Iconic characters from the comic book, including Rick, Michonne and Glenn, finally make their entrance onto this nightmarish stage, and fans of The Walking Dead will see these characters in a whole new light.

Why?: I love the TV show and I love the comics, and I've enjoyed the other two books in this series, so it only makes sense to continue with The Fall of the Governor! Plus, I'm excited to see more familiar characters in a new form, and I hope that this book will give more information about them. 

Expectations: I'm expecting a story about Phillip Blake's downfall full of zombies and characters that fans of The Walking Dead already know and love. I'm also expecting to learn new things about old characters. 

Judging a book by its cover: I think this might be my favorite cover in the series so far! I like the zombies (or people? I'm not sure, which makes me like it even more) in the background, and Phillip's eye patch in the foreground. I would totally pick up this book if I saw it on a shelf! 


--Ashley

BLOG TOUR: The Silver Sickle by Ellie Ann - Ashley's Review + GIVEAWAY!

Hello! We're really excited to be a part of the blog tour for The Silver Sickle by Ellie Ann today! We've got Ashley's review of the book for you, as well as a pretty nice giveaway. In celebration of the blog tour, Ellie Ann is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner! So be sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form at the end of the post for your chance to win.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the stops on the tour for more reviews and excerpts. You can find the list of stops by visiting the tour schedule.

About the book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title:The Silver Sickle

Author: Ellie Ann 

Published by: Stonehouse Ink

Publication date: July 2013

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis: The Silver Sickle is for fans of steampunk, cyberpunk, Veronica Roth, Scott Westerfield, and Allie Condie.

The end of humanity will come through the Silver Sickle . . .

Farissa lives every moment with reckless abandon, for it may be her last. Any day now, the alien goddesses will harvest her and take her to the mysterious Silver Sickle, never to return. She’s accepted that. What she can’t accept is this new idea of freedom Zel has planted in her head. She’d give almost anything to be with Zel, but how can she run from her destiny if it means putting the whole kingdom in danger?

Everyone in the desert kingdom believes the goddesses are immortal, but Zel has invented a way to kill them. Now all he has to do is convince Farissa to run away with him and plant a seed of hope in her heart that she’s not destined to die. Little does he know that one seed of hope could change the course of the future.

About the author

Ellie Ann is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of science fiction, comics, and thrillers.

I was born in the jungles of Thailand, was raised in a small farming village in Iowa, lived in the middle of a Texan desert, and now abide in the Ozarks.

I like writing fairy tales, tall tales, thrillers, science fiction, and am seriously interested in transmedia storytelling.

I’m a creative editor for Stonehouse Ink. I’m a producer of interactive books at Noble Beast.

Come say hi! I don’t bite. Unless I’ve been turned into a zombie.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Ashley's Review

The Silver Sickle is a wonderful mix of sci-fi, romance, steampunk/cyberpunk, and good vs. evil. There's action, adventure, secrets, romance, aliens, and all kinds of things that make a story great! Once I got a few chapters in, I was sucked into this world and the characters and had a hard time putting this book down. 

There is quite a bit of world building, and I felt like it was enough to know a little bit about the structure of the world and why things are the way they are. It's enough to know that the Amar are worshiped as goddesses, there's a king who rules the people but worships the Amar, the cogsmen are metalmen who function as the king's guard, and there are people who are "harvested" as sacrifices to the Amar. But I still had so many questions about this world, and I finished the book feeling like I had been told more things than I had been shown. I wanted more, and I still have so many questions about this world and its people. Also about the world the Amar came from, but I think that's a story for a different day.

I did really enjoy how the romance was done though. There's no instalove, which was really nice. Zel and Farissa are in love from the beginning of the story, and it's implied that they have been for quite some time. The only thing standing in the way of their happily ever after is the Amar - they've marked Farissa as one of the consecrated and there is no way she can escape without them finding her. They both are forced to make choices and sacrifices that could ruin their plans to run away together, but they do it because they love each other. Friendships and rivalries are also dealt with, and I really enjoyed the way Ellie handled all of the relationships in general. 

The book is told from three perspectives - Farissa's, Zel's, and Gira's. Gira is the leader of the Amar, and her chapters really made me think about why she does the things she does and about how the "evil" characters aren't always totally bad. I wish there were more chapters from her, because I think it would have been interesting to learn more about the Amar from their leader. I mean, we learn about why they're there and what they're planning and how they mourn and think, but I really felt like there was just so much more to be learned. I also kind of wish there was a fourth perspective so that we could have learned more about the cogsmen. They were my favorite characters, and I feel like I don't know enough about them!

Overall, I think this book had a lot of potential. I think it might have made a good duology, especially if more information was included about the Amar and the cogsmen. Or maybe some short stories to go along with it would be nice. I enjoyed the stories and the characters, but I always felt like something was missing. I definitely think sci-fi  and steampunk fans would enjoy The Silver Sickle, especially if you like a little bit of romance and dystopia thrown in. I would give it a 3.5/5, but I will definitely be looking in to more of Ellie Ann's works! 

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by today! 

--Ashley & Paul

Seven Forges (Seven Forges #1) by James A. Moore - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Seven Forges (Seven Forges #1)
Author: James A. Moore
Year Published: 2013

Paul's Review


Synopsis: Captain Merros Dulver is the first in many lifetimes to find a path beyond the great mountains known as the Seven Forges and encounter, at last, the half-forgotten race who live there. And it would appear that they were expecting him. As he returns home, bringing an entourage of strangers with him, he starts to wonder whether his discovery has been such a good thing. For the gods of this lost race are the gods of war, and their memories of that far-off cataclysm have not faded.

The people of Fellein have live with legends for many centuries. To their far north, the Blasted Lands, a legacy of an ancient time of cataclysm, are vast, desolate and impassable, but that doesn't stop the occasional expedition into their fringes in search of any trace of the ancients who had once lived there... and oft-rumored riches.

Why?: I am always down for a good fantasy, and this one sounds really exciting! Paul enjoyed it (he read it as an eARC a while back), but I had so many other books on my TBR list that I just didn't have a chance to read it. Now, with The Blasted Lands coming out later this month, I made time for it. 

Expectations: I expect quite a bit of world building, since this is a fantasy novel. Probably a lot of characters as well. I'm not really sure what to expect past that though, as I've never read any of James Moore's other books. I'm excited to start a new adventure!

Judging a book by its cover: I think the blue on this cover really makes it stand out. Most fantasy books that I've read have very dark covers, and I like the contrast of the blue to the ark uniform. I also like that you can't really tell what the man is supposed to look like. I think it adds a bit of mystery to the character. If I saw this on a shelf, I would probably pick it up. I think it's different enough from most other fantasy books that it would catch my eye! 


--Ashley

The Silver Sickle by Ellie Ann - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Silver Sickle
Author: Ellie Ann
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: The end of humanity will come through the Silver Sickle . . .

Farissa lives every moment with reckless abandon, for it may be her last. Any day now, the alien goddesses will harvest her and take her to the mysterious Silver Sickle, never to return. She’s accepted that. What she can’t accept is this new idea of freedom Zel has planted in her head. She’d give almost anything to be with Zel, but how can she run from her destiny if it means putting the whole kingdom in danger?

Everyone in the desert kingdom believes the goddesses are immortal, but Zel has invented a way to kill them. Now all he has to do is convince Farissa to run away with him and plant a seed of hope in her heart that she’s not destined to die. Little does he know that one seed of hope could change the course of the future.

Why?: I saw on Goodreads that this book is being marketed as one for fans of Veronica Roth, Scott Westerfield, and Allie Condie. Since I love all of those authors, I figured I should definitely give this book a chance! It also apparently has steampunk and cyberpunk elements, which excites me. And Alien goddesses makes me think there will be a little bit of mythology, even if it's new to this book. It all just sounds really exciting! 

Expectations: Since The Silver Sickle is being pushed towards fans of three very well known authors, I kind of expect it to be on par with their books. I also expect a lot of world building between the aliens, the desert kingdom, and the mythology. 

Judging a book by its cover: I'm not really sure how I feel about this cover. It definitely has some steampunk elements, and the silver sickle on the front is pretty obvious, but I'm curious what the robots will have to do with anything. I do like the red and how it looks like part of the cover is torn away though. I would probably pick this book up off of a shelf based on the cover alone. 


--Ashley

Awakening (The Geis #1) by Christy Dorrity - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from the author as part of the Girls on Fire box set in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Awakening (The Geis #1)
Author: Christy Dorrity
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth . . .

A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a psychic for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has a best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital—and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.

When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities. 

After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened deadly powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.

A thrilling debut novel based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

Why?: Celtic mythology and magic? And it all starts with Irish dance? Yes please! This sounds like it's going to be the start of an epic series. I'm not really all that familiar with Celtic mythology, but I'm always willing to learn! 

Expectations: I definitely expect a pretty fast-paced and intense story with a strong female lead, but other than that I'm not really sure. I've never read anything by Christy Dorrity and I haven't really read many books based on Celtic myths. I'm expecting a new and exciting experience! 

Judging a book by its cover: This book has such a creepy cover, and I love it! Her fingers are super weird looking (maybe reptilian? I'm not entirely sure), and she looks like a ghost. I love the way her blue eyes are the only color on the cover since it makes them pop. I would be really likely to pick up this book based solely on the cover. 


--Ashley

The Moth in the Mirror (Splintered #1.5) by A.G. Howard - Ashley's Review

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Title: The Moth in the Mirror (Splintered #1.5)
Author: A.G. Howard
Year Published: 2013

My Splintered Review
My Splintered Pre-Reading

Synopsis: An original ebook-only novella in the Splintered series, told from the points of view of both Jeb and Morpheus. Morpheus wants to know more about his rival for Alyssa's affections, so he digs into Jeb's memories of his time in Wonderland. But he may be surprised by what he finds. 

This brand-new story and perspective from A.G. Howard's dark, magical world stands alone, but also provides a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come in Unhinged, the sequel to Splintered.

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Review: Splintered was absolutely phenomenal, and The Moth in the Mirror was the perfect novella to tide me over until I can get my hands on Unhinged. It's just as dark, mesmerizing, and wonderful as Splintered was! 

It was really neat being able to see a little bit more into Jeb and Morpheus' minds. Most of this novella is told from Jeb's perspective. We're given several of his memories, and we get to see his thoughts and feelings while Alyssa is off doing something else. We learn why he does certain things (think the Jabberlock box), and just how much he actually loves Alyssa. She's the only girl for him, and he's willing to do so much to keep her safe.

Morpheus is viewing Jeb's memories, so we see his thoughts before and after the memories. He even starts to feel things that Jeb feels, and even though he doesn't want to keep most of the emotions (since they came from a weak human), I enjoyed seeing how he will use Jeb's forgotten memories to possibly get closer to Alyssa and try to win her heart. He's also ridiculously in love with Alyssa, although for different reasons. 

This story left me wanting so much more (in a good way!) and I can't wait to read Unhinged and Ensnared. I also am even more conflicted over which boy to pick! If you've read Splintered, you'll definitely want to read this novella. It's a great refresher of the important points and a fun glimpse into the boys' minds. I do wish it was longer though! A 4/5. 


--Ashley

Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake - Ashley's Review

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Title: Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)
Author: Kendare Blake
Year Published: 2013

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

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Review: I loved Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares, so I've been really excited to read Antigoddess. Kendare Blake tackles Greek mythology? Heck yes! And I was definitely not disappointed, this book was most excellent! 

This book felt like it was a lot of setup, and I didn't think the plot moved along very quickly. It took me a few chapters to get into, but once I finally did I really didn't want to put it down. There's a lot of character introduction, and background information on each of the characters. I did like how famous humans from mythology were incorporated, since I think they're overlooked much too often. I don't know much about Cassandra, Hector, or Andromache (past reading The Illiad and The Odyssey a really long time ago), so it was nice to have some of their background included as a refresher. I also really enjoyed how the relationship between Cassandra of Troy and Apollo plays out in this book. 

I didn't really connect with Athena for most of this book - sure she's dying, but so is every other god and goddess. Why should she be the heroine of the story? I eventually began to understand why Athena and Hermes were the better team to root for (Poseidon is ridiculously creepy, Aphrodite has lost her mind, and Hera doesn't care at all about the human population), and it was interesting to learn more about Aphrodite and Hermes and their opinions of each other. I think there's a lot more to learn about them, and I'm looking forward to meeting more of the gods and goddesses as the series progresses.

Although the plot doesn't race along at a breakneck speed, I really enjoyed how the pacing matched up with the two interwoven story lines (one follows Athena and the other follow Cassandra). They run pretty parallel for a while, and then eventually converge into one crazy story. I think it will be really interesting to see how far Cassandra is willing to go after the end of the book, and what Athena might have to do to rein her in. 

Overall, I think this was a really great start to what will be an excellent series! If you like books that have Greek mythology, you should definitely check out Antigoddess. While it's definitely different from Anna Dressed in Blood, this book is still filled to the brim with Kendare's beautiful writing and incredible characters. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! 4/5. 

--Ashley

Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Antigoddess (Goddess War #1)
Author: Kendare Blake
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god. 

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning. 

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out. 

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

Why?: I loved Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares, so I was super excited when I found out about Kendare Blake's newest series. I really enjoy Greek mythology and stories based around it, so I knew I just had to read Antigoddess! 

Expectations: I have really high expectations for this book, since I loved the Anna Dressed in Blood books so much. I expect this to be a pretty dark book, since it involves the gods dying. I'm just so excited to read this book that I hope it's everything I think it will be!

Judging a book by its cover: I really love this cover. I love that it doesn't give anything away, but the feathers are still related to the book. I also love how stark the white is against the black background and how this cover is totally unlike most other YA book covers out there. I'd totally pick it up if I saw it on a shelf in a bookstore or library somewhere.


--Ashley