Stacking the Shelves (5) and A Week in Review

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  It features books you've recently added to your shelves, be it from the library, bookstore, or ebooks.

Only two books this week from the physical library!

Rebel by Amy Tintera

Amazon  Goodreads  Book Depository  Barnes and Noble

I read the first book in this series a while back so I figured it was time to read the next one!

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Amazon  Goodreads  Book Depository  Barnes and Noble

I've heard such good things about this book and it's been the BOTM for several of my GR groups so I had to give it a shot!

Check out what's been happening this week!

Sunday: Review of Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

Monday: ARC Review of The Last Thing by Briana Gaitan (Blog tour)

Tuesday: Countdown Survey

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday: Review of Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau

Friday: R&R Review of Goodbye Normal by Lily N. Anderson

(I'm on vacation for the next couple days so I'll get the links up ASAP!)

What did you add to your shelves this week?

R&R Review Friday: Goodbye Normal by Lily N. Anderson

Amazon  Goodreads

Goodreads Blurb:

"Being a daughter, sister, friend and crush-sick with an ex-schoolmate, Zoe Brown is just another ordinary high school graduate. In defiance of coming from Doomsberg, a town that was once in history abandoned for witchcraft, Zoe has never believed in the craft. 

But when a magical pentagram chain defines her fate, the Never theory is put to rest. In the midst of Doomsberg Association of witchery, she witnesses a prophesy that has failed for 186 years pick her responsible for safeguarding her town against black magic witches. 

This fight is waged against the wrath of a vicious untraceable black magic humeleon (human chameleon) and his master, a powerless but immortal witch. Her chances of attaining victory are only viable by forming an alliance with the association's confined, ruthless and dangerous humeleons (the same ones that had caused massacre and abandonment upon her town)

Terrifying revelations, secrets and tough decisions succumb her small world. With that, her normal life is bid farewell."

Review:

Thank you so much to the author, Lily N. Anderson, for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I've been going through all of the books I've ever read and I don't think I've read one about witches.  At least, none that I recall - if you know one, let me know!  So because of that, I was going into this not knowing what to expect.  I really liked the plot overall.  Ms. Anderson did a very nice job introducing us to the world of witches.

Oh wait I HAVE read a witches series before!  How could I forget the Everwild series by Kayla Jo??  Hehe don't mind me...

Anyway, when I was reading the first couple of pages, it seemed like Ms. Anderson didn't really have her footing in the story and hadn't quite decided what exactly was going to play out and how to introduce that.  However, after the first 30 or so pages, it got so much better and cleaner and smoother.  The same goes for the dialogue.  In the beginning, it was pretty stiff and only improved slightly throughout the book.  Adding a few contractions would do wonders.

I also would like more explanations about the Humeleons (for some reason that confused me but it's probably just me).  Just in general, it seemed like events blurred together for me.

Other than all that jazz, I really liked the characters and the betrayal was an amazing part of the plot!  I absolutely loved the ending!  Not a cliffhanger, but not totally softened off either.

Final Verdict:

Goodbye Normal is a pretty compelling read with a nice plotline and well-developed characters.  Someitmes, I was unsure if the author was sure of herself and it showed in some stiff dialogue and a somewhat awkward beginning.  After the first few pages though, it all smoothed out into an amazing story with just the right plot points and twists to keep me interested.

3.5 stars

Book Review Thursday: Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau

Amazon  Goodreads  Book Depository  Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Blurb:

"In book three of the Testing series, the United Commonwealth wants to eliminate the rebel alliance fighting to destroy The Testing for good. Cia is ready to lead the charge, but will her lethal classmates follow her into battle?

She wants to put an end to the Testing
In a scarred and brutal future, The United Commonwealth teeters on the brink of all-out civil war. The rebel resistance plots against a government that rules with cruelty and cunning. Gifted student and Testing survivor, Cia Vale, vows to fight.

But she can't do it alone.
This is the chance to lead that Cia has trained for - but who will follow? Plunging through layers of danger and deception, Cia must risk the lives of those she loves--and gamble on the loyalty of her lethal classmates.

Who can Cia trust?
The stakes are higher than ever-lives of promise cut short or fulfilled; a future ruled by fear or hope--in the electrifying conclusion to Joelle Charbonneau's epic Testing trilogy. Ready or not…it's Graduation Day.

The Final Test is the Deadliest!"

Review:

Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable series.  However, it isn't one of my favorite dystopian series'.

I loved the world that Ms. Charbonneau created.  The Stages of War added a lot of interest for me.  The world building was definitely something that she nailed in this series.

On the down side, I felt like it was just lacking in emotion.  I realize that Cia is a very logical person but it was so cold and calculating.  That transferred into her relationship with Thomas.  They never seemed to be going anywhere with their relationship.  It's the reason why I'm actually glad that Zeen died.  He was one of my favorite characters but if someone didn't go who was close to Cia, the book would have lost the remaining meaning and feeling that it possessed.

That being said, I really liked the ending.  It didn't need anything extra added on like some dystopian books.  I was okay with Ms. Charbonneau leaving it where it was because you could reasonably wonder about what happened next.  It didn't feel like the ending was just cut off.  I also really liked the dynamics between Cia, the president, and Dr. Barnes at the end.  It tied in the tests from the first book which I really liked.

I do wish there had been more information on the secret colony where the failed Testing subjects went.  It seemed a little glossed over even though finding out where they went was a big part of the plot.

Final Verdict:

A pretty good read overall.  The logic was a bit overdone but the world-building and the ending were terrific.  This was a decent dystopian series although it's only mediocre to me.

3 stars

Quotes:

“People will believe the crisis is over because they want to believe their world is safe.” 

“We can meet after dinner and go for a walk.” He says with a smile. “After our disappearance into Tosu this weekend, everyone already assumes I have a crush on you. This will seal the deal.”
“They don’t know you very well, do they?”
Raffe’s smile fades. “Not many people do.”
A reminder that despite his having passed this test, neither do I.
Shaking off my concern, I return the list to my bag and slide the strap onto my shoulder. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Wait,” Raffe says as I head for the door. He disappears again into his bedroom. When he returns he hands me the pulse radio test I designed. “You forgot this. I didn’t listen to the message.”
“I know.” I take the device and carefully set it in my bag.
Raffe folds his arms over his chest and leans against the wall. “What would have happened if I had turned those switches?”

 “The time to lead is now.”




I'm leaving for vacation so I've taken the opportunity to schedule reviews for the next week and get all caught up.  I'll still be online to answer comments, just a little less than usual!

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine.  It features a book every Wednesday that haven't been released yet and you're anxiously awaiting!  My book this week is:

Talon by Julie Kagawa

Amazon  Goodreads  Book Depository  Barnes and Noble

Publication Date: October 28th, 2014

Blurb:

"Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons."

I've read Julie Kagawa's The Iron Fey and The Call of the Forgotten series' and loved them both!  I'm also in the middle of reading her Blood of Eden series which is equally as good - maybe even better.  Suffice to say, she's pretty much an auto-read and probably auto-buy author for me!

What are you waiting for?

Countdown Survey

I found this survey at Reading is Dreaming with Open Eyes by Veronika!  It all started back at Christy's Book Addiction.  You count down from ten all the books for that particular topic.

10 Books already released on your wishlist:

1.  Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2.  Empower by Jessica Shirvington

3.  Four: A Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth

4.  Ignited by Corrine Jackson

5.  The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (I've read them but I don't own them!)

6.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

7.  The Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

8.  Black City by Elizabeth Richards

9.  The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

10.  The Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead

9 Favorite covers:

8 Not yet released books that you can't wait for:

1.  Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

2.  Echoes of Us by Kat Zhang

3.  The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

4.  The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

5.  Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins

6.  The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore

7.  365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts by R.J. Palacio

8.  Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

7 Auto-buy authors:

1.  Jennifer L. Armentrout

2.  Rick Riordan

3.  Wendy Higgins

4.  Kiera Cass

5.  Richelle Mead

6.  Sarah J. Maas

7.  Veronica Roth

6 Book Boyfriends:

1.  Adrian from the Bloodlines series

2.  Chaol from the Throne of Glass series

3.  Maxon from The Selection series

4.  Daemon from the Lux series

5.  Warner from the Shatter Me series

6.  Four/Tobias from the Divergent series

5 Books you recommend the most:

1.  Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2.  Paper Towns by John Green

3.  Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

4.  Wonder by R.J. Palacio

5.  Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

4 Books you thought you'd like but didn't

1.  The Elite by Kiera Cass

2.  Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

3.  Extras by Scott Westerfield

4.  Pandora's Box by Kayla Jo

3 Books that made you cry:

1.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2.  The Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

3.  Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2 Books you never plan on reading

1.  Any new Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (these were amazing when I was like 12 but the series really needs to end now)

2.  Finishing Extra's by Scott Westerfield

1 Favorite Genre at the moment:

Fantasy

This was so much fun and gave me the chance to revisit in my head all the books I've read so far!  The favorite covers one isn't entirely acurate because I have so many favorite covers but it's pretty close.  Go do this survey and link up over at Christy's!

ARC Review (Blog Tour): The Last Thing by Briana Gaitan

Amazon (during the blog tour (Aug 15-Sep 2), it's on sale for $2.99 instead of $3.99)  Goodreads

Goodreads Blurb:

"Plagued by past mistakes in both love and life, Quinn Bardot is in a bad place. With nowhere else to turn, she escapes to LA clinging to the promise of a fresh start. 

Chase Crowley is known for being selfish and unbelievably persistent. All he's ever wanted is to become a successful actor. But now that he is about to have it all, he finds that something is still missing. Money and fame isn't what he expected.

After a fervent encounter, the two of them are thrown into a situation that neither is prepared for. Can Quinn extinguish her fears and let Chase in? Can Chase learn to put someone else's needs before his own?

The Last Thing is a novel all about love, Hollywood, and accepting what life throws at you even if it is the last thing you want. 


(This is a New Adult Romance novel & contains language & adult situations. Not recommended for readers younger than 17)

***The Last Thing is a stand alone book with NO cliff hanger ending. It is book one in the series.***"

Review:

Thank you to the author, Briana Gaitan for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a page-turner.  No doubt about that.  I read it all in one shot and went to bed at like 3am!  So let's get the icky stuff out of the way before I start gushing :)

The only thing I could possibly think of that I didn't like while I read this book was a certain part of the ending.  I liked the ending for Chase and Quinn but I didn't like where Ginger ended up.  Throughout the book, we see the major problem she is tangled in and it doesn't really change much.  I mean, I know the story is about Chase and Quinn, but I think Ginger's problem would have made a great subplot (resolving it).  However at the end of the book, it said there's going to be a sequel all about Ginger named The One Thing!  So I'm not too upset about the ending.  I won't tell you what kind of problems she has - just go read the book!

Besides that, everything was simply perfection.  The dual POV added so much to the story and help you understand the choices both Chase and Quinn are making.  ANNNDDD  I always knew what character's eyes I was looking through.

I just loved the storyline in general - how Chase helped Quinn with her issues, how real problems were confronted, and how it ended.  It created a message that's definitely relevant in today's world.  The book started with a wonderful hook that kept me reading until the very last page!

Last but not least, the characters.  I loved them all and how they were developed.  I felt connected and immersed in the story which is only possible if you believe, in your own piece of reality, that the characters are real.

The Final Verdict:

From the beginning, this book wowed me with an amazing hook, brilliant characters, and an amazing storyline.  I do wish I could change part of the ending though but having another book come out is better!  Overall, a page-turner and intense read!

4.5 stars

Quotes: WARNING: some spoilery quotes ahead!  Quotes are subject to change (ARC copy).

"Did you really just suggest buying toothpaste over attending a Hollywood mixer?"

"In my own way, I guess I was trying to warn him.  I was broken."

It was time I started thinking about someone other than myself"

"Nothing was my coping mechanism"

"Dating etiquette also said we weren't supposed to bring up exes on a first date,"

I laughed at his comment, impressed that he had done a bit of research on dating.

"Did you read a book or something?" I asked.

"No a self-help app on my phone.  It's for singles over the age of fifty who are back in the dating scene, see?"

"Quinn, I swear.  You really are something else.  You lay here.  I'll get you your gummy worms, and when you're feeling better we will go look at houses."

"You can't run from your past, Quinn.  It'll always catch up with you."

"People always left, but they never came back, not until you."

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."...  It fit.  My child was my new beginning, but it was the end of the fresh start I'd moved to LA for.  Things would turn out better this time.

Book Review Sunday: Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

Amazon  Goodreads  Book Depository  Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Blurb:

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

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive. 

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off."

Review: I've blocked off the worst of the spoilers but be warned!

I've been waiting for this book for so long and I finally read it and OMG!  I mean there still is one left in the series... but still!!

I really, really, really wish I could rate this 5 stars but there are some things that I didn't like.  Like how the beginning was a bit slow.  I felt like there could have been a bit more happening there.  Maybe not from Sydney's end but from Adrian's.  Also, I didn't really like how it reminded me of Origin by JLA (the whole marriage fiasco).  I mean, I realize that it was necessary but it just doesn't give me a good feeling.  Oh and one more thing!  I wish the escape from the re-education facility was more clear.  I didn't really get where the other people went (besides Marcus' group and obviously Sydney and Adrian).  It was like they all just disappeared and they weren't given a second thought until the author realized that like 10 pages later and just gave them a sentence.  A SINGLE sentence.  Ugh.

So now onto the good stuff!  I actually liked how the author had Adrian relapse into his partying habits.  It really showed how much both Sydney and Adrian need each other.  And how Sydney really does help Adrian to become a better person.

I loved how Sydney stayed strong in re-education and didn't break.  And all that stuff she did to help everyone else was amazing!  I can't believe the Alchemist's can justify their actions!

I loved the humor as always (do I even need to mention it anymore?).  Oh and I loved the final chase thing.  Even though it was dragged out for like 20% of the book, I felt like that was necessary.  It showed how persistent the Alchemists are and how many resources they have.

The Final Verdict:

I loved nearly everything in this book: the humor, Sydney's strength, Adrian's relapse, etc. etc.  The only things wrong with this book are the lack on info after the escape and the resemblance to Origin.  Everything else was fabulous!

4 stars

Quotes: There are some spoilery ones in here!  I couldn't help it *smiles sheepishly*

“What is it with you and girls, Adrian, dear? Why do they either mean nothing to you or everything? It's always an extreme."

"Because I don't do things in halves, mom. Especially when it comes to love.” 

“You’re better than this, Adrian. Whatever the reason, you’re better than it. Don’t trick yourself into thinking you’re weaker than you are” 

“Sydney Katherine Sage,” he said, his green eyes full of love and earnestness. “Would you do a brooding, deadbeat Moroi the honor of being his wife?” 

“Are you in a suit?” I managed at last, my voice chocking up. “You didn’t have to dress up for me.”
“Quiet, Sage,” he said. “I’ll make the hilarious one-liners during this daring rescue.”

“I know what love is, Mom. I’ve had love that burns in every fiber of my being, that drives me to be a better person and empowers me through each moment of the day. If you’d ever had something like that, you’d hold on to it with every bit of strength you had.” 

“Sanity’s overated, my darling.” 

“Dad,” I said quietly, “I’ve always made it a rule in my life not to pick fights with children, cute animals, or ignorant old men. I will, however, make an exception for you if you ever touch or insult my wife again.”

“Out of old habit, I put my hand on my collarbone, touching a cross that was no longer there. 
Don't let them change me, I prayed silently.Let me keep my mind. Let me endure whatever there is to come.”