Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West - Ashley's Review

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Title: Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)
Author: Kasie West
Year Published: 2013

My Pivot Point Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Knowing the outcome doesn't always make a choice easier...

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

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Review: There were just so many things that I loved about this book! It's thrilling and deals with so many tough topics and was everything I hoped it would be. It's got a paranormal twist to it, but it really wasn't too outlandish or anything. The teenagers acted like teenagers even though they have special gifts and the relationships are believable.

One of my favorite things about this book was how each chapter began. You would think that switching between realities would be incredibly confusing, but Kasie makes it easy to decipher which one is which. Each chapter begins with a word, followed by its definition. At the beginning of the chapters where Addie adjusts to life outside the Compound, "NORM" is emphasized in the words defined. For the chapters in which Addie has chosen to stay in the Compound, "PARA" is emphasized. This made it really easy for me to jump between her two lives and follow what was happening. The chapters that are not part of the search  have neither "NORM" nor "PARA" emphasized.

I think one of the things that this book deals with really well is loss. Loss is never easy no matter what form it comes in, and Addie deals with it in so many different forms. Her parents get divorced, so she loses either her mother (if she leaves) or her father (if she stays). She loses friends in both realities. No matter which reality she chooses, she has to give up one love. There's so much at stake that I can't imagine being able to search the future and then having to decide which life would be the best. Her decision at the end of the book is a brave one, and one I hoped she would never have to make. But there is hope for the future, and hope is always an excellent note to end on. 

I don't want to give anything away because I think this book is better experienced on your own. The writing is beautiful and kept me hooked from the beginning. I found myself wanting to read this book into the wee hours of the morning, and I am a little upset that I didn't immediately get the sequel to continue Addie's story. I will definitely be picking it up ASAP, because that ending (while not a cliffhanger) makes me want it now! 

I would totally recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of paranormal YA and is looking for something totally different from most paranormal YA out there. All of the abilities are mental ones, and I found that to be really interesting and I think most people will too. I also think fans of Contemporary YA would enjoy this as well, as long as you're willing to accept a paranormal aspect. It's not too much and not totally far-fetched. A 5/5! 

--Ashley

Mind Games (Mind Games #1) by Kiersten White - Ashley's Review

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Title: Mind Games (Mind Games #1)
Author: Kiersten White
Year Published: 2013

My Mind Games Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heart-stoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

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Review: WOW. That basically sums up my reaction to this book. I was pleasantly surprised by most of this book, and I am so glad that I gave it a chance. It's been a while since I've read a good psychological thriller, and I loved that this one had a super-power thing going on. I also really enjoyed that it was written from both Fia's and Annie's perspectives - I think it really helped to figure out what was going on.

At first, I had a little bit of trouble getting into this book because of the writing style. It's written as if you were in the minds of Fia and Annie, and is literally their stream-of-conscience thoughts. It's a little jarring at first, and it took me a few chapters to get into. Once I was finally able to get past that though, I fell into the rhythm of this book and was able to really appreciate it. I liked all of the subtle things that you don't realize until later - like why Fia always does things and says things in patterns of three. I think it also really helped convey the panic the girls felt when they thought their sister was being threatened or could possibly be harmed.

Besides jumping from Fia to Annie, this book also jumps from the past to the present. It really helped me to discover who the girls really were and to figure out why they act the way they do. And seeing the sisters through each others' eyes helped me to learn more about them than I would have otherwise. Fia isn't allowed to visit Annie whenever she wants, and so she doesn't know what happens most of the time. Annie can only see glimpses of Fia, but never knows what will happen because Fia never plans ahead. It's very interesting, and I would imagine incredibly frustrating for the girls. I know I would be frustrated if I were in either of their positions. 

Although there are romantic relationships in this book. the main focus is on the relationship between the sisters. They are each others' weakness, and neither wants to see her sister hurt in any way. Annie comes across as the weaker, helpless sister (since she can't see and her visions are only of Fia and even those are unreliable) and Fia is always taking care of her. But honestly, I felt like both girls had their weaknesses and really needed to learn to stand on their own. They both rely heavily on each other and while I appreciated that their sisterly bond is crazy strong, I thought that it was almost to strong. 

The plot moves quickly despite the time jumps, and I found myself not wanting to put this book down. I wanted to keep reading to the very end just to find out what happens to Fia and Annie and how they protect each other. The ending was kind of what I expected, but some of the details surprised me. I can't wait to get my hands on Perfect Lies to find out how the story continues/ends. I want to know more about The Keane Foundation and about James. I want to know what Annie is doing. I have so many questions! 

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced psychological thriller with hints of the X-Men. I wouldn't really recommend it to a younger audience though, because there are some scenes that I don't really think a younger audience would handle well. I want to read the next book ASAP! 4/5 for this one.

--Ashley

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi - Ashley's Review

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Title: Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Year Published: 2014

My Into the Still Blue (#3) Pre-Reading 
My Through the Ever Night (#2) Review
My Through the Ever Night (#2) Pre-Reading 
My Under the Never Sky (#1) Review
My Under the Never Sky (#1) Pre-Reading
My Roar and Liv (#0.5) Review

Paul's Through the Ever Night (#2) Review
Paul's Through the Ever Night (#2) Pre-Reading 
Paul's Under the Never Sky (#1) Review
Paul's Under the Never Sky (#1) Pre-Reading

Synopsis: The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

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Review: Holy moly, guys. This book was everything I hoped it would be. It was action and adventure and romance and mystery and danger and fantasy and just everything I wanted it to be. I've loved this trilogy from the beginning, and I am so glad that this last book did it all justice. The ending was perfect, the characters are incredible, the world building is fantastic, and the Still Blue is what I wanted it to be. I could go on and on and on about how incredible this book (and the whole trilogy, really) is, but I'll try to keep it to a manageable length. 

One of my favorite things about this book was the character development. We've seen Aria and Perry change and grow and mature over the course of the whole series, and they still continue to do that here. They have to make decisions and choices that are unlike anything they've ever dealt with, and I really did not envy them for most of the time. They make mistakes, but they learn from them and try not to make the same mistakes again. Their relationship has its snags, but they work things out because they love each other. They trust each other and the decisions they make, and understand the reasoning when they might not agree or might have wanted another outcome. 

But you'd expect all that from the main characters, right? My favorite part of the character growth was in the secondary characters - in Soren, Roar, Jupiter, and Brooke. The characters that we know, but haven't necessarily had a chance to experience yet. Soren has always been the kid that got Aria into this whole mess to begin with. He's a Dweller that cannot find any good in Perry and his tribe. I honestly think his character changed the most throughout this book, and I loved watching him being put in his place and then giving some sass right back. It often helped to break the tension, and was understated enough that it didn't seem out of place. I could talk about Roar all day (he's my absolute favorite character in the whole series), but I thought that him trying to work through the grief of losing Liv was really interesting and it felt so real. 

I also enjoyed learning more about the Aether and the Still Blue and the Komodo. You'd think that by this point there wouldn't be much world-building left to do. But Rossi really surprised me by expanding the world even further and giving a richer history and a fuller understanding of things. I have very few unanswered questions left about the world, and I think that made the ending that much more enjoyable.

Like the rest of the series, this book is pretty fast-paced. Once Perry and Aria and crew get into the action, it's pretty much non-stop until the end. I found myself not wanting to put this book down, and ended up staying up into the wee hours of the morning trying to find out what was going to happen next! I'm so sad that Perry and Aria's story is over now, but I am glad it ended the way it did. I felt all of the feels, and definitely came out of it satisfied with the story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read the other books in this series. You do NOT want to miss this thrilling, beautiful conclusion! I would also recommend this series to anyone looking for a futuristic dystopian YA book. Especially fans of sci-fi/fantasy. I think readers who enjoyed The Maze Runner will really like this book too. 5/5!


  --Ashley

Mind Games (Mind Games #1) by Kiersten White - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Mind Games (Mind Games #1)
Author: Kiersten White
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heart-stoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Why?: Well, honestly, this was available to read for free for a weekend on EpicReads' website, so I figured I would give it a chance. It sounds really interesting - two sisters with vastly different powers who are forced to used them or else risk each other's lives? It sounds really intense and like it will be a roller coaster of emotions, and like something right up my alley. 

Expectations: I haven't read anything by Kiersten White, so I'm not sure what to expect. This sounds vastly different from her other books though, so I don't think that would have helped very much anyway! Based on the synopsis, I except a fast-faced thriller with a fantasy edge to it and a school kind of like the one in X-Men only all-female and with more limited powers. 

Judging a book by its cover: I really like this cover. It kind of has a digital feel to it, and I love how the girl's face is over all of it. I like the colors and the way her blue eyes and her pink lips pop, and I think it would definitely stand out on a shelf. The title is really simple too, which is nice with such a busy cover. I would probably pick it up if I saw it in a store. 


--Ashley

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1)

Author: Kasie West

Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without

Why?: I've heard really excellent things about this book, so I finally decided to give it a try. The synopsis also sounds like something I would really enjoy - a book set in our time but with a paranormal twist. I'm really curious what it would be like to be able to see into the future every time you're faced with a difficult choice.

Expectations: Since I've heard so many good things about this book, I've got relatively high expectations even though I've never read anything by Kasie West. I expect a fast-paced book with romance and mystery and loss, although I'm not sure what to expect other than that.

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is really interesting. Mirror images of the same girl, which I guess represents the two futures. It doesn't look paranormal, but maybe that's a good thing. I would most likely pick it up if I saw it on a shelf somewhere. 

--Ashley

Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) by Bethany Griffin - Ashley's Review

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Title: Masque of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Year Published: 2012

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

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Review: I honestly don't even know where to start with this book. I mean, I could tell you that this is a retelling of a classic Poe story set in a post-apocalyptic world where a plaque has devastated the world and continues to inflict the population. But it's so much more than that. Araby isn't your typical heroine, and her friends are not at all what they appear to be. In fact, you can't trust anyone because everyone has secrets. 

And I think that's is a huge reason why this book was so good. You have to expect the unexpected, because there's no telling what Araby will find out about someone she thought she knew. There were so many twists and so many secrets that I was kept guessing the whole time. As soon as I thought I had someone figured out, there would be some new piece of information or they would do something totally unexpected. I loved that, and I thought Bethany did an excellent job in developing each and every one of her characters. They're all so multidimensional and dynamic. I also liked that there was a little bit of romance, but that it didn't overshadow the rest of the story. I can't decide who I want Araby to end up with, and I'm actually kind of excited that both boys have both redeeming and failing qualities.

Araby was especially interesting. She changes so much over the course of the book that it almost seems like she's a totally different person by the end. At first, she goes to the Debauchery Club to forget - she drinks and does drugs and does whatever else she can to forget that the world will never be the same and her twin brother is gone. But then, everything changes. She becomes stronger emotionally and begins to realize that what she thought she was doing for her brother is exactly the opposite of what he would want for her. She's flawed, but she wants to do what she can to help everyone else. I thought it was really nice to see a heroine who isn't a fighter from the get go, and I think it made her easier to relate to.

I really loved all of the references to Poe's short story. There are major references (like Prince Prospero and the Red Death) and more subtle ones. I loved how Prospero is so much like Poe's Prospero, but is still a new and exciting villain. And the way Griffin incorporates the masks and the Red Death is really well done too. I can't wait to read the next book to find out how she sneaks even more references in, but still keeps this story unique and her own.

I'm not really sure that there's even a category for this book. It's post-apocalyptic and I guess a little bit sci-fi with a dash of steampunk, but it's so unlike anything I've read that I just don't know where to place it. I think anyone who enjoyed Ann Aguirre's Enclave and Susan Dennard's Something Strange and Deadly would also really enjoy this novel. Also, fans of any post-apocalyptic YA and anyone who wants to see a fresh new take on Poe's The Masque of the Red Death would probably like this book. A 5/5! 

--Ashley

Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) by Bethany Griffin - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Masque of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Why?: I'm all about those creepy stories that make you think... And what could be creepier than a retelling of an Edgar Allen Poe story? I'm really interested as to how Griffin will take the classic story with all of its mystery and colors and Death and turn it into a plague, debauchery, nightlife, and all the glitz and glamour of an underground party world. Pretty much everything about this book just makes me want to sit down and read it all in one go.

Expectations: I expect a pretty intense story with quite a bit of death, mystery, and double meanings. I'm hoping for some obvious Poe references as well as some more unique ones, and definitely some creative new spins on a classic. Masque of the Red Death is one of the more popular Poe stories, so I have pretty big expectations for this story. It should definitely live up to its namesake!

Judging a book by its cover: I'm pretty much in love with this cover. I love how the rd stands out against the blacks and whites and grays. I love that the girl has her face hidden so she comes off as very mysterious. I love the dress and the parasol among the doom and gloom of the clouds and the weeds. The whole thing really reminds me of the covers for the Anna Dressed in Blood series, which is one of my all time favorites. If I saw this on a shelf somewhere, I would totally pick it up. 


--Ashley

The Crown of Embers (Girl of Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson - Ashley's Review

My Pre-Reading
Paul's Review

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Title: Crown of Embers
Author: Rae Carson
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. 

As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.


Review: This book was absolutely fantastic. It was completely different from The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and I think that made it even better. While the series opens with a story of epic adventures and fighting and a girl maturing from someone not qualified at all to be a leader to someone who wins a major battle for her people, this book really delves more into the politics and Elisa's emotions. Now that her husband is dead and she is left to rule her country alone, being a war hero won't keep her happy or loyal or even safe for long. 

Being on the political side of things for this book was really interesting, even though I'm not one to go looking for books about politics and such. I think it really helps expand the world. I mean, it's one thing to be able to create a world and describe its physical attributes, but it's a completely different thing to be able to describe its government in a way that makes for an interesting story and keeps the same feel as the previous book. I love Carson's writing style, and she does an excellent job keeping the reader engaged. 

I also loved the way that Elisa grows and matures in this book. She learns important lessons, and gives up things that could help her be the most powerful ruler to save friends and rule on her own terms with her own strengths. And then there's the budding romance (that I totally called from the end of Girl of Fire and Thorns). I was very happy with how it was done - not too much, not too pushy, and just enough at the right time. I also love how Carson included same sex relationships like they were nothing out of the ordinary. 

In my opinion, the way religion is dealt with is done very well. A monothiestic religion is practiced, but there is magic and fantasy and all sorts of things built in to it. And although they refer to "God," it's very clear that the religion is a fictional one and not meant to offend or make a statement about any existing religions. I personally think that's a fine line to tread, and that Carson does an exceptional job with it.

I would totally recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA Fantasy novels. Especially fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling series, Kiera Cass' The Selection, and all those types of books. Politics, fantasy, religion, and epic adventures come together for one amazing story. I can't wait to see how Elisa's story will end! 5/5 for sure on this book!


--Ashley

Asunder (Newsoul #2) by Jodi Meadows - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: Asunder 
Author: Jodi Meadows
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.

SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.

In this second book in the Newsoul trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

Why?: I read and loved Incarnate, and so I'm really excited to find out what is in store for Ana and Sam. And what Ana finds out about reincarnation. And I'm so curious about the sylph, I really want to know more about them. 

Expectations: I expect a pretty epic story. Lots of fantastical creatures and idea. And also a mystery that needs to be solved, conflicts to be dealt with, and definitely a lot of romance between Sam and Ana.

Judging a book by its cover: I think the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I would pick this book up off a shelf any day. 


--Ashley