Review: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Trilogy)

Title: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Published: March 4^th, 2014 by Farrar Straus Giroux

Source: ARC (thanks Macmillan

Format: Paperback

Genre: Fantasy | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Review

The Winner’s Curse is the first book I read by Marie Rutkiski and it will certainly not be the last.  In this book I found a real gem, reminiscent, at least to me, of Maas’ Throne of Glass and Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns.   

World building is really important when writing fantasy and it was expertly done in Winner’s Curse. The differences between the Herrani and the Valorian’s culture are marked, even if at their core they are more similar that they believe possible.  The plot is intricate and scattered with the political unrest that only conquest can bring and also with military strategy.  Rutkoski’s writing is exquisite, it’s full of imaginary, and it’s lyrical and poetic. 

The characterization is remarkable.  The story is told from the third point of view, from Kestrel and Arin’s perspectives. Kestrel is from the Valorian nobility and she lives in the conquered land or Herrani.  All that society expects of her is to make a choice between marriage and the military career.  Either option relinquishes her independence and her music, two of the things that she holds dear, and she wants to rebel against it.  Kestrel tries to be fair to the person behind the titles, to grant love to who deserves it, regardless of where they came from.  She is a brilliant strategist and loyal to her father (her only family) and her country, even when her heart dictates otherwise.

Arin is harder to know, at least on the first part of the book. However, he shines on the second part of the book and tries his hardest to make Kastrel happy and secure, regardless of her new circumstances.  He is also brilliant and has a big responsibility over his shoulders at a very young age.  I’m eager to know (given the ending) how this couple will survive what’s to come.  From my end, it looks like a hopeless relationship, but I hope it turns out to be an epic love story.

The ending of The Winner’s Curse was torturous.  It is a subtle cliffhanger, just enough to make me sit at the edge of my seat for the many months that will take to its sequel to be published. An outstanding book, with awesome characters and an even more amazing writing, The Winner’s Curse is a clear winner (pun intended.)

Quotes (from the ARC):

“The pointy-chinned woman snickered. “Looks like someone’s suffering the Winner’s Curse. The Winner’s Curse is when you come out on top of the bid, but only by paying a steep price.”

”His eyes met hers. They were the color of the winter sea-the water far below Kestrel’s feet when she had looked down and imagined what it would be like to drown.”

“Arin smiled. It was a true smile, which let her know that all the others he had given her were not. ”Thank you,” he said. 

Kestrel felt herself blush. She focused on the keys and played something, anything. A simple pattern to distract herself from the fact that she wasn’t someone who easily blushed, particularly for no clear reason.”

About the cover: This is one of the most stunning covers I have ever seen.  The grace of the captured movement, the delicacy of her hand holding the ‘R’, the beautiful font and colors.  Gorgeous. 

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Device #1)

Title: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Published: August 31^st, 2010 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Purchased for Audible

Format: Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Ehle

Genre: Steampunk | Paranormal | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

Review

Let me start by explaining why I took so long to start this series.  I was mad. There, I said it.  Why was I mad?  Well, I loved Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments, that is until she turned it from a trilogy to a series of six books.  I was happy with the ending of City of Glass and so disappointed when I realized that it was not the ending of the series.  Anyway, I decided to read (listen) to Clockwork Angel, and I Ioved it!

I think in many ways I enjoyed Clockwork Angel even better than the Mortal Instruments.  I love steampunk and this book has plenty of it, from angels to robots and nice doohickeys. 

I think what made the book for me were the characters.  Tessa, is a mystery for sure.  She doesn’t know what she is, but she has a really neat power.  Tessa is very pragmatic and tries to take this new world and her new circumstances in stride.  She is loyal, smart, and not afraid to voice her opinion.  Will and Jem are Shadowhunters, blood brothers and best friends; and yet so different.  Will is very handsome, strong, stubborn, loyal, intelligent, and devious and tries very hard to push everyone away.  Jem is so sweet, calm, composed, resigned, yet strong, loyal and the default peace maker. Can you smell the love triangle coming?  I can from a mile away!

There is no shortage of amazing supporting characters: strong Charlotte, scatter minded Henry, bitter Jessamine, lovely Sophie, the always grand Magnus, and much more.  Our evil figure here (well, the main one at least) is The Magister and we really don’t know too much about his throughout the story.

Cassandra Claire is a genius in many levels.  Her writing is so good, it takes serious talent to invent a world full of new and old beings, of mythology, stories, culture and make you not only understand what it all means, but learn to love it.  The plot of the Clockwork Angel is very intricate, full of mystery and betrayal.  It is one of the things that makes the story so interesting and addictive. 

I already had the chance to listen to Clockwork Prince and it is, if at all possible, even better.  I can’t wait to read the last book in the series, and I will.  Soon.

About the audiobook: I really like the narrator of the book, the pace and voices.

About the cover:  The cover of the Clockwork Angel is beautiful.  We can see Will in all his handsomeness and with light coming out of his runes.  In the background we see clockwork and the city of London.  On the forefront is Tessa’s angel.  As I said, beautiful.

Review: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott (Fire & Flood #1)

Title: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Publisher: Scholastic

Release date: February 25^th, 2014

Source: ARC

Format: Paperback

Genre: ?

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

My Review

Wow, that was a wild ride! It is not secret that I love Scott’s Collector’s series (*waves at Dante*) and this new series is just as amazing, but in a very different way.  I loved Fire & Flood!

Let me first start by telling you that this book can be best described as a mix between “The Hunger Games” (the ‘game’ part) and Pokemon.  You’re probably shaking your head in confusion right about now, but have no fear, ‘cause I would never lead you astray.  Let me explain a little bit more:  There is a game being played with the ultimate prize, The Cure, and the Contenders can only be helped by their engineered animal companions.  The plot, as you can see, it’s incredibly good.  It is full of action, mystery, trilling adventure, and even romance.  That’s why I couldn’t figure out what genre did it fall under (you might have noticed the question mark above.)

On to the characters.  Tella is awesome!  She’s completely ignorant (as most of the Contenders are) about what the heck is going on.  Even though she is uncertain and afraid, she has compassion, loyalty, empathy and not only a desire to live, but to see his brother well.  Her family tried to keep this from happening, but it seems there’s like a pact of silence going on. Being on Tella’s mind is a trip!  She is snarky, cynical, and very girly; even if she can be that way during the Bleed.

Guy (appropriate name, right?), is good at survival and many other things, except talking that is. Gosh! It felt like talking to Guy was like talking to my oldest son, like forcing the words out with a spoon. BUT, when he does talk, you better listen.  He became the default leader of an unlikely group of allies. Guy knows a lot more than anyone else, and thankfully he is sharing that knowledge with Tella. I can’t wait to see how Tella and Guy’s relationship develops next.

I won’t go over all the characters because it will take a while and you will know them soon enough, because I assume that this glorious recommendation will have you running to the store to buy the book.  I will, however, tell you that there are a lot of them, good, and bad; crazy and sane; amazing and horrible.  The bullies are atrocious, cruel and I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of them.

The animals (called Pandoras), are so different. They intend to protect, defend and help their Contenders.  The trick is that the Contenders don’t know what they can do or what they are capable off. You would think that would be it more fun, but indeed, it’s quite frustrating.  Madox, I’m a big fan of yours!  We have quite a diversity of animals and things they can do.  Scott has a BIG imagination.

The writing, like always is easy to read, intense, funny and snarky. In summary: Fire & Flood is a trilling book full of awesomeness. I cannot wait for the second book and conclusion to this duology!

Some quotes for you:

“I lean my head back and reinspect my reflection, try to see things in a new light. With curls trimmed close to my head and a roguish green-and-blue feather dangling over my right shoulder, I decide I just might seem like someone who would enter a daring race – and win.”

“…It gets cooler at night, and for some reason, my skin is doing something funky that worsens in the evening…It freaks me out to no end, but I can’t tell what the issue is.  I think maybe I’m allergic to walking this much.”

“Okay, I’m going to ask it”, Ransom says. “How much friggin’ farther do you think base camp is from here?”

“Forever,” Levi answers, one hand on his ram’s curled horn. “It’s forever from here. That’s what it feels like anyway.”

About the cover: I guess the title, Fire & Flood, mean the first two environments (desert and rain forest) in the race.  The feather might be the one Tella wears on her hair, but is not the right color. The cover though, does little for me. 

Review: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Title: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Published: December 31^st, 2013 by Viking

Source: Purchased

Format: eBook

Genre: Romance

Group age: Adult

Grade rate: A-

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick. What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane. Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that. What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

My Review

Oh my goodness!  This book should come with a warning or at least a book of tissues!  Now I need to tell you why I think this book was full of pure awesomeness.

I read this book during my winter vacation, while I was in Puerto Rico, and thus my whole family got to see me with red, swollen after I finished it.  This, my dear readers, is a sure sign that this was a great story.  What’s so great, you ask?  Everything!

I loved these characters, most specially Lou.  It is always so good to see so much character growth within the pages of a story.  Lou has settled for everything in life, her job, her love life, family dynamics, and her beliefs.  That all changes (eventually) when she meets Will.  Even though Will can barely move physically, he manages to induce joy, awareness, and much needed change in Lou.  It is so nice to see the interactions and the banter between the two of them.

Poor Will.  Prior to the accident, he was so active and he had such a fulfilling and amazing life that he just couldn’t adjust to life after the accident.  Nevertheless, it brought him a clearer understanding of what means to fully live life. I think that’s why he saw Lou’s potential and it bothers him to see how even though she’s whole, she wastes her life by conforming to what others think of her and limiting her potential.  The overall character development is really good.

The plot is so good and unexpected.  I have to say that while I was reading, I kept wishing for a miracle, for that magic pill or at least for Will’s attitude towards life to change.  I truly understand his decision, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept.  The writing is easy to read, funny, quirky and so insightful and heart felt.  Me Before You is the first book I’ve read by Moyes and it will not be the last. It is a true gem.

To recap, Me Before You, is a story of finding inner strength, finding a purpose and not settling in life.  It’s a story of reaching out to the sky and grabbing what you want.  It’s a story of knowing when to let go.

About the cover:  This cover really doesn’t to a lot for me, it’s probably the reason why it took me so long to read the book in the first place.

Review: Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Published by: Point

Release date: February 25, 2014

Source: ARC from ALA-MW

Format: Paperback

Genre: Contemporary romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rating: A+

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way. Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated? From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

My Review

How good was this book?  It was so good that I read it in one sitting.  You might think that that’s nothing extraordinary, but when you have three kids, this is quite a feat!  I couldn’t put it down, Better off Friends was AMAZING!

The layout of the book is different.  Each chapter starts with a conversation between Macallan and Levi, then the story is told in the first POV from each of our main characters.  We know who is talking because each of their “voices” have a different font associated with them. 

Macallan is recovering from her mom’s death and starting a new school year when she meets Levi, who just moved from California.  They find that they are both fans of a British TV show called Buggy and Floyd, and that’s all it takes to make these fast friends. They grow up together, so to speak, and each family adopts each other as well.  Macallan is so strong.  She stands up to bullies to defend those that she loves and all the injustice in the world.  She is really smart, loyal, and has a strong belief of what’s right and wrong.  Oh, and she’s a great cook, which can’t hurt any relationship, right?

Levi is funny, handsome, and eager to be accepted and to be popular.  In Macallan he finds a loyal friend that he just ‘gets’.  The banter between these two is SO good and comical.  It’s like they think like one person and finish each other sentences.  Their moments and dialogue together are like little treasures.  Everyone thinks they are a couple because the chemistry between the two is incredible. When their feelings from each other start changing, their relationship and friendship is put to the test.  It must be excruciating to have to see someone you love with someone else. It takes a lot of hurt and heart ache to bring these to together and figure out if they are really better off friends.

It is nice to see that both Macallan and Levi’s family were very involved in their lives.  This is not a tale of drugs, underage drinking, abandonment or abuse.  To me, it is more realistic because these teenagers have supervision, and people in their lives that care.  Macallan’s dad and uncle and Levi’s mom are really family to them all.  Other characters are well defined and had an individual voice.

The writing is funny, descriptive, and easy to read.  Ms. Eulgerg really has a gift for storytelling. The plot is simple, but unpredictable.  I just love Macallan and Levi, I felt invested in them as characters and I couldn’t wait to see if they ended of together (thus the reason I couldn’t stop reading!)

Finally, to quote the words of the master: Blimey, that was brilliant!

Here are some quotes for you:

“I’d never seen Macallan so mad.  I knew she had very little tolerance for crap, but I’d had no idea how much it would set her off.  You’re right,” I told her “And I’m proud of you. I also know to never make you angry. That was something else.”

A smile started to warm her face. “Sorry. I can’t help myself.”

No, I’m serious. That was awesome. I never saw you as the confronting type. Lesson learned.”

“Silence fell between us.  This was a common occurrence whenever we’re alone. When you’re comfortable with someone, you don’t need to always fill the void with noise. I like it when we would just be.”

“… Listen, nothing will change with us.  I promise you rith here, right now, that I’ll be there for you through good times, bad times, friend issues, boy issues, teacher issues, whatever issues.  And you’ll always have a date to any social event that requires a male companion. I hear I clean up nicely.”

About the cover:  The cover has Levi and Macallan in their favorite hangout, Riverside Park, sitting on the swings. Lovely.

Review: World After by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days #2)

Title: World After by Susan Ee

Published: November 21^st, 2013 by Skyscape

Format: eBook

Source: Purchased for Kindle

Genre: Paranormal | Dystopian

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A-

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken. Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go. Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

My Review

Like the rest of the world I LOVED Angelfall.  It took forever to get book two, and unlike it usually happens to me with sequels, I couldn’t wait to read World After.  It was not as good as its predecessor, but good nonetheless.

Penryn is still our kick-ass hero.  Sorry, but there is no better way to describe her.  She is loyal, stubborn, strong, fearless, smart, caring; in short, she’s awesome.  After she comes back from the dead (almost literary), she is trying to reconcile her past with the crude reality of the world after the angel invasion and with Paige has become.  Nothing is getting easier for anyone, but we learned a lot about angel politics, crazy scientists, Paige, and future plans. 

Raffe (insert *sigh* here) is one hot angel.  He’s loyal to Penryn (the only one on his side) and trying to find out what the heck happen with the rest of the angels, while still wearing demon wings.  I think my disappointment with World After strives from the fact that Raffe and Penryn were NOT together for most of the book.  It seems like once they were (maybe after 2/3^rd?) the story became so much better.  

The chemistry between Penryn and Raffe is absolutely amazing!  Even if it is forbidden for an angel and a human to be together, and they are fully conscious of the fact, they can’t help what they feel.  I hope that the next books have more time of them together.

The characterization is great.  I love Dee and Dum, and their reliability to Penryn.  Penryn’s mom is still crazy (there’s no cure for her kind of crazy!), but she’s still smart and her survival skills are uncanny; also she tries to keep her daughters safe the only way she knows how. 

The plot and world building of this book is outstanding.  You don’t know what to expect or when, it’s in constant horrific motion.  This book is not for the faint of heart as the angels are even more ruthless and the mad science experiments are getting crazier by the minute. The writing is impeccable and easy to read (even when it’s not easy to digest what’s actually happening!).   

It seems like Penryn & the End of Days will be a five book series, and of course it will take years for us to know the ending, but I wish the best for Penryn, Raffe and the rest of the World After.  I can just hope that the next book won’t take two years to be published.

Some quotes for you:

“I look up to say something but he puts his finger to my lips and whispers, “Don’t talk. You’ll just spoil my fantasy of rescuing an innocent damsel in distress as soon as you open your mouth.”

“It is painful to see that people prefer a bad guy who looks like an angel to a good guy who looks like a

demon.”

“I kick him in the face point blank with my high heel.

He wasn't expecting that.

The Angel flies back off the stage.

"It really is you,"says Raffe.”

“My only thought is that I am not going to end up truly dead this time in Raffe’s arms. I am not going to be one more wound on his soul.”

“He glares at me. "I've had to watch you die once, isn't that enough?"

"All you have to do is make sure it doesn't happen again." I give him a sunny smile. "Simple."

"The only thing simple is you. Stubborn little..." His grumbles fades to a point where I can't hear them, but I suspect they're not compliments.”

About the cover: This one is not as pretty as Angelfall, but then again, these are Raffe’s new wings.  Nothing is pretty in the World After.

Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #3)

Title: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Release date: January 28^th, 2013 by Harper Collins

Source: ARC from Harper Collins and Edelweiss

Format: eBook

Genre: Dystopian | Paranormal | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Challenge(s): Finish the Series 2013, Dystopia Challenge

Grade rate: A+

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.

My Review

Amazing?  Wonderful? Marvelous?  I wish I could find the right words to describe, not only how good this book is, but how good the series is.  Into the Still Blue is the perfect ending for what has been a worthy addition to the YA dystopian genre. 

Into the Still Blue starts right were Through the Ever Night ended and finds Perry planning a rescue mission for Cinder.   The Dwellers and the Outsiders are having a really difficult time getting along and getting past their views and prejudices about each other.  An unlikely group is pulled together and off they go.  Everything that could go wrong probably does, and the Tides and the Outsiders that escape band together in an attempt to survive the worsening ether storms.

Aria and Perry are a perfect example of a couple that not only complements each other, but they make each other better.  There is no love triangle, there’s no unreasonable jealously; just love, understanding and absolute trust in each other.  I can really appreciate this.  They keep growing as individual and leaders as well and don’t strangle each other.

The road to the Still Blue doesn’t come without sacrifices and many give their lives (some unwillingly and some not) for the good of the tribe.  What happens next is a combination of war, scare tactics, strategy and stealth.  Sable is one of the best villains that I ever encountered in literature.  Like a typical dictator, he forces his will unto others, all the while pretending that it’s for their own good. 

Roar remains one of my favorite characters; he still mourning, but by the end I saw a semblance of his old self and I’m happy for it.  Brooke, Cinder, Hess, Sorren, characters old and new join our beloved couple.  I have to say that the characterization is phenomenal.  I felt so close to these characters. Aria and Sorren go through one of the best character growth that I’ve read about lately.

The plot can make you dizzy because it’s so full of twist and turns!  Really, the unexpected seemed to always be happening and I just enjoyed the ride and went with the flow.  The writing is fluid, easy to read and understand, even if we are reading about a dystopian world.

Veronica Rossi has become one of the best author in my list and I will read anything she writes for sure!  Into the Still Blue is the perfect end to one of my favorite series.  I hope you give it a try.

About the cover: Perfect. Just like everything else about this book :)

Review: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Title: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Published: November 13^th, 2012 by Atria Books

Source: Purchased

Format: Audio book narrated by Candace Thaxton and Kirby Heyborne

Genre: Contemporary romance

Group age: Young adult | New adult

Grade rate: A+

I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk.
Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.
Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.
Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.
The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

My Review

How shall I explain the utter heartbreaking depth of this book?  How can I make you understand the remarkable writing?  How can I make you see the awesomeness of The Sea of Tranquility?  I’m not sure how, but I’m going to try.

The Sea of Tranquility is the story of two broken people and second chances.  Josh and Nastya are both broken in different ways.  Josh by the unexplainable death of his family and Nastya by a tragic and traumatic event.  They both need mending, they need to make difficult changes, they need help, and in a way, acceptance.  

Nastya has been irrevocably changed by an undeserved attack.  In the aftermath, she doesn’t know how to heal, how to deal with what happens, she loses her identify and goals for the future, so she decides to stop talking.  It is a conscious and difficult to maintain decision that huts a lot of people, principally her family.  Nastya’s sense of self-worth is very low and she dresses up very sexy in order to alienate any possible friends.  Thankfully, a few people are able to see past her façade and become close (or as close as she allows them to be) to her.  Although, she hints a lot about what happened, she doesn’t really talks about it or wants to put words to her feelings.  She does everything possible to sabotage any happiness that might come her way.  One thing did appreciate about Nastya is that she was a baker, like I am ;)

Josh is lost.  He has suffered through many deaths in his short life and because of it and because of the angry way he behaved when the first ones happen, everyone leaves him alone.  Even though he thinks he likes to be left alone, he is so very lonely.  Just a handful of people care about him and he likes it that way.  Josh is an artisan that creates beautiful things with wood; that’s his outlet and his passion. That is, until Nastya becomes his friend, and later so much more.

Josh, I’m so glad that you were able to see past Nastya’s lies and her ‘costume’, past her silence and hear her scream for help.  I’m glad you were able to see the Sunshine behind the clouds and let it warm you in the process.

The characterization is miraculous.  I found myself invested in these characters.  Not only on Nastya and Josh, but also in the loyal and misguided Drew.  In Drew’s family, and Nastya’s own. 

The writing is some of the best I’ve ever seen.  So good, fluid, illustrative, full of feelings, hurt, anger, self-loathing, and so much more.  It’s an absolute priceless gem.  It is part mystery, as we get small snippets of information at a time. Please read the quotes below and then form your own opinion.  The story is told from Josh and Nastya’s point to views, which I loved.  The characters have so much depth that I adored being in their heads.  The plot is simple and masterfully crafted.  It is done in a way that the reader knows much more than the rest of the characters, but still hearing the whole tale is heart wrenching. I’m pleased that we had a resolution, not a pink with ribbons ending, but a resolution nonetheless.  Please don’t be upset if you cry (I do it all the time!)

A note about the narrators of the audio book: It was awesome.  Since the story is told by Josh and Nastya’s point of view and there are two narrators, the book made more sense. The acting was really good, I almost wish that I could see them while they were reading to witness the anguish that I’m sure I would have seen.

As you can tell form my glowing review and from the reviews that you are sure to find, The Sea of Tranquility is one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.  The combination of the amazing writing and style, awesome characterization, and the plot, makes this a must read.

A few quotes for you:

“It’s about the dream of second chances,” he says finally. He hasn’t raised his eyes from the paper on his desk and I feel him looking at me without looking when he uses his grandfather’s words. “The narrator doesn’t respect the beauty of life and the world around her, so it crushes her into the ground and once she’s dead, she realizes everything she took for granted and didn’t see right in front of her while she was alive. She’s begging for another chance to live again so she can appreciate it this time.”

“And does she get that chance?” she asks Josh while I desperately focus on the poster of literary terms on the wall and wait for absolution. When it comes, I barely hear it.

“She does.”

“There's a reverence in the way he kisses me that frightens me, because it's the most wonderful thing I've ever felt.”

“I'm not sure how long we sit in Josh's truck, holding hands, surrounded by darkness and unspoken regrets. But it's long enough to know that there are no stories or secrets in the world worth holding onto more than his hand.”

“I wished that my hand would work again," I tell him when he climbs in after me. it was my first wish and the only one that mattered.

"I wished my mother was here tonight, which is stupid, because it's an impossible wish." He shrugs and turns to me, drowning the smile that cracks me every time.

"It's not stupid to want to see her again."

"It wasn't so much that I wanted to see her again,” he says, looking at me with the depth of more than seventeen years in his eyes. "I wanted her to see you.”

"He hasn't given me a place to sit. He's given me a place to belong."

About the cover:  The cover is pretty good, it has the silhouette of a couple looking at each other and in between there is spilled cup with melting ice cream. I’m sure there is some symbolism to it, I just can’t see it. 

Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #3)

Hi there gorgeous people!  I hope your Thanksgiving went well and that you are rested from all the shopping :) Welcome to Reading with ABC's stop of the Crash Into You Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours, follow this link for the rest of the tour.

Title: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Published: November 26th
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Format: eBook / Hardcover 
Grade rate: A+

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast laneThe girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Find it here: Goodreads| Amazon |  B&N | TBD | Kobo | Audible

My Review

Well, color me surprised!  I didn’t think that I would love a book in this series as well as I did Pushing the Limits, but McGarry has proven me wrong.  Crash Into You was absolutely incredible!

I think what I liked most about Crash Into You was the characters.  To be honest, I was ready to dislike Isaiah, but I really fell in love with him.  He is overprotective to be sure, but he’s also honest, loving, loyal, and strong.  I really liked being in his head.  He is a foster child and has suffered a lot in his life, but he has always strive to do what he thinks is best and to improve himself.  His love and knowledge of cars is his ticket out of system. 

Rachel, is a gorgeous, rich girl.  She is also a lot more than that.  She feels like she has to lie and pretend to fit in her family and understandably so.  I felt so bad for her and so mad at her parents and even her brothers for putting so much pressure on her.  Even though she thinks of herself as weak, she is not.  She cannot see herself clearly, because of the way her family treats her. Her panic attacks were so painful to read, and what sucks is that she felt she couldn’t cry out and get help.

In this installment, we get to see more of Noah, Beth, Echo, Ryan and specially Logan.  Rachel’s family is introduced too, which includes four gorgeous brothers.  Ethan and West being my favorite. Avery is an unexpected and welcomed addition to the group and she becomes fast friends with Rachel, which she needed a lot.

The writing is, as always, so very good.  I particularly love Rachel and Isaiah’s dialogue and how McGarry portrait family and friend dynamics.  The story is simple and yet I found myself surprised by some of the unexpected turns.  I will most definitely anxiously wait for Take Me On, the next installment in the series and West’s story. 

About the cover: This is my favorite of all.  It shows Isaiah and Rachel lovingly embracing each other on the back of a car. 

About the Author

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Find Katie here: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

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*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of YA Bound Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by YA Bound Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Published: March 14^th, 2006 by Knopf Books

Source: Purchased

Format: Audio book narrated by Alan Corduner

Genre: Historical fiction

Group age: Young adult

Grade rate: A++

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

My Review

To start with a quote, this book is:

“It’s a small story really, about, among other things:

* A girl

* Some words

* An accordionist

* Some fanatical Germans

* A Jewish fist fighter

* And quite a lot of thievery”

I typically avoid historical fiction when it’s based on real wars.  Why?  I’m not sure myself, but it’s probably because of the toll of death and suffering that I’m sure to find.  I finally picked up The Book Thief, after seeing both the previous for the movie and also after seeing so many recommendations around the book blogs and Goodreads.

I wish, not for the first time, and I’m sure it will not be the last, that I was a gifted writer.  I wish that I was someone that could put into words the magic that sits between the pages of The Book Thief.  Alas, since I cannot, you are stuck with this review instead.  The Book Thief is, without any doubt, one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

What made this book perfection for me is Zusak’s unusual writing.  Words have a meaning beyond words and feelings, they convey colors, visions, smells, pain, touch; words become concrete, tangible and above all, powerful.  The narrator of Liesel’s story is Death itself.  It’s not a scary book at all, it is filled with many emotions, but horror is not one of them.

Liesel has seen a lot of heartache in her short life. She is taken to a small town near Munich to foster parents just before WWII starts.  Here Liesel finds a family, a best friend and words.  I think words, and therefore, books, have such a big meaning for Liesel because she was deprived of both in her earlier years.  She forms bonds forged in fear, love, hate,

The characterization is incredibly amazing.  Rudy, Papa, Mama, Max, friends and enemies alike become alive.  They are all distinct individuals with their own lives, fears and stories.  I wish I could tell you more about these characters, but I don’t want to ruin the story for you.  Just know that regardless of what happened, I was glad I got to meet all of you.

The Book Thief is not about the allies or the Germans or about right and wrong; it’s about how the decisions of others changed the life of many in an irreversible way.  It’s about feeling and showing hate because it’s safer to do so, and the courage to do otherwise. It’s about doing the right thing when the right thing is viewed as betrayal. It’s about the power of words to change the life one girl, her adopted parents, her friends, and one Jew.

I cannot find fault with this book and I will not try to find any.  As I mentioned above, the writing is sublime.  The format of the book is different, as it’s divided in parts, each with a set of subtitles that might constitute chapters.  Death, our narrator gives us advanced glimpses as what is to come, but I still felt the ending hit me like a punch on the face.  As I listen to the final chapters of the book (and I was driving, mind you!), I cried like a baby.

I consider it my duty to tell you that if you decide to read The Book Thief, and I hope you do, please have tissues handy because there’s not getting away from crying.  Even now as I think back to the story or as I selected a few quotes to include in this review, my eyes water and I have to hold back tears.  That, my dear readers, is powerful. Perfection.

Some quotes for you:

“People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them."

“A small but noteworthy note. I've seen so many young men over the years who think they're running at other young men. They are not. They are running at me.”

 “She said it out loud, the words distributed into a room that was full of cold air and books. Books everywhere! Each wall was armed with overcrowded yet immaculate shelving. It was barely possible to see paintwork. There were all different styles and sizes of lettering on the spines of the black, the red, the gray, the every-colored books. It was one of the most beautiful things Liesel Meminger had ever seen.

With wonder, she smiled.

That such a room existed!”

“I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely do I even simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant...I AM HAUNTED BY HUMANS.”

About the Cover:  This is probably the only bad thing about the book. It’s uninspiring and not relevant. 

Have you read the Book Thief?  Have you seen the movie yet?  Do you like bookd/movies about wars?  Why or why not?