Review: Glass Sword by: Victoria Aveyard

Glass Sword
By: Victoria Aveyard

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Dystopian

Length: 444 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. 

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. 

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. 

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.


My Review:

My Rating:

***Caution May Contain Spoilers***

If you follow our blog, ya'll know that I absolutely loved Red Queen, from beginning to end. I was so excited when Glass Sword we released, I couldn't wait to read this book. So picture my disappointment when I started this book only to dislike much of how the story played out. Now don't get me wrong the book was still very well written and I look forward to the next installment, hoping for a few things to recover that took a huge dip for me. 

The first being Mare, she was one of my favorite female characters so when her attitude did a complete shift I was disappointed. Her character went from strong-willed and caring, to a cold warrior determined to destroy Queen Elara and Maven. It was hard to read the book at times because I hated almost every decision she made. The only time you saw a semblance of the old Mare was the last chapter, when she sacrifices her freedom to save those that she loved. I hope to see more of that Mare in the next book.

I truly loved Mare's brother Shade (once presumed dead), he was quite the character. He and Farley made the story a bit more enjoyable and I had hoped for more of them. I was looking forward to more Shade and Farley in the next book, however it appears we won't be getting that. Shade's death was probably one of saddest deaths I have read since Allegiant. 

I was also hoping for more Cal and Mare, especially after they escaped death together and spent months together. It was alluded throughout the book that they had "grown closer" and in a way "loved each other." However, I was hoping to read a few more scenes with these two lovebirds. Hopefully we can get that in the next book. 

Instead, we got a lot of descriptive scenes, describing the places they were going to find newbloods, like Mare and Shade. While I love scenes like this, I was getting a little over the missions and constant traveling to find newbloods for Mare's army. Mare was so goal-oriented on finding people like her that she forgot about her family and friends in the process. I think that is what bothered me most about this part of the story.

All in all the book was just okay in my opinion. I was expecting more after such a spectacular first book. I am hoping the next installment of this series goes back to the amazing story telling of Red Queen. 

Published by: K

Review: Unhinged by: A.G. Howard

Unhinged 

By: A.G. Howard

Series: Splintered Series

Length: 387 pages

Genre: Fairytale Retelling

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

Review:

My Rating:

Caution May Contain Spoilers!!

First, I have to say I absolutely love the cover art for this series! It truly draws you into the book making it even more appealing than just the synopsis on the back cover.

Gah! I LOVE this book!! I can't wait to finish Ensnared now. I love how Jeb wanted to marry  Alyssa in order for her to leave with him to London. If I had a daughter who had this happen I think I would die. It's so sweet how the rival between Morpheus and Jeb continues in a love triangle still. Even with Taelor coming in and harassing Alyssa about her and her love life. 

"Shh." I squeeze his hand. His palm feels clammy. "We have to keep it down, okay? We don't want my dad coming in."

He grits his teeth against more shivers. "Always knew I'd end up in your bed...and hear you say those words one day." He manages a smirk.

Jeb snarls. "Unbelievable. Even when he's at death's door he's a tool." He arranges a pillow beneath Morpheus's neck. "Why don't you keep your mouth shut while we help you."

Morpheus laughs weekly, his skin flashing with blue light. "What say Alyssa"--his breath rattles--"give my mouth something else to do?"

Ugh, the love triangle is real! So many feels happen in this book that it kills me!

Published by: C

HUGE Flea Market Book Haul!!

Hey ya'll!!! 

Sorry we have been absent lately in posting. We got a new puppy and have been busy with training our fuzzy new member of the family. So it's been a hectic past few weeks and we haven't had much time for reading let alone blogging. :( Hopefully we can get a couple reviews posted this month, since  Chloe has finished a couple series while finishing up her last few weeks of middle school! 

So we have some new books that we are excited to share with you guys. We went to the flea market a couple weekends ago and hit the mother-load in books!. We were able to find a couple complete series which we are both SUPER excited to read!! 

Alright now lets get to these new books!

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Flea Market Purchases:

The Red Pyramid by: Rick Roirdan

Dorothy Must Die by: Danielle Paige

Gathering Darkness by: Morgan Rhodes

The Raven Boys by: Maggie Stiefvater

Wake by: Amanda Hocking

Lullaby by: Amanda Hocking

Tidal by: Amanda Hocking

Elegy by: Amanda Hocking

Lola and the Boy Next Door by: Stephanie Perkins

Nightshade by: Andrea Cremer

Wolfsbane by: Andrea Cremer

Bloodrose by: Andrea Cremer

Kayla's Birthday Purchases:

The Power by: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Christmas Books That Have Finally Been Released:

Return to the Isle of the Lost by: Melissa de la Cruz

Published by: K&C

Review: Allegiant by: Veronica Roth

Allegiant

By: Veronica Roth

Series: Divergent Series

Genre: Dystopian

Length: 544 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads: 

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningliess. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, ALLEGIANT, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the DIVERGENT series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in DIVERGENT and INSURGENT.

My Review:

Rating:

My sister got to meet Veronica Roth when we went to YallFest a couple years ago in Charleston. She and my best friend stood in line for up to an hour and a half to meet her and she was so excited when she did. It was an amazing event, with so many remarkable authors. We look forward to trying to go again this year. 

Now on to my review of this amazing finale!

Okay so going into this book, I had already heard the spoilers about what happens to Tris. That being said I wasn't really interested in reading a book where something so terrible happens to such a loved character, so I put this book on hold for a long time and now I have finally read the final installment to the amazing Divergent Series and I am glad I finally picked up the book.

Veronica Roth is a phenomenal author and she truly knows how to develop such an intense and dangerous world. I felt has though I was living through all the experiences the characters went through. It was great getting to read from both Tobias and Tris's POV's. I always wondered what was going through Tobias's head. It was kind of sad to see that he wasn't the always confident, brave soul from Divergent. It was nice actually getting to read more about him and see what he thought of everything that was occurring. 

I loved how the story took a genetic turn, I honestly did not see that coming and it was a unique twist on a dystopian story. I liked getting to meet new people, Mathew was probably one of my favorite new characters. As for Nita, I didn't trust her for a second. It really ticked me off when Tobias went right along with her in her plans to rebel against the Bureau all because they told him he was "genetically damaged." 

As we all know I was prepared for the death of Tris because of all the spoilers on social network. However, I was not ready to lose so many beloved characters through this book and it felt as though their deaths all hit at once. This ending was probably the saddest ending I have read in a long time, it almost felt as though I was reading a Nicholas Sparks book. Reading from Tobias's POV only made her death more real. But I can't blame Veronica Roth for killing off Tris, the entire time she focuses on how far one will go to protect those that they love and for Tris that was sacrificing her own life. It made her death mean something and made it that much harder to deal with.

This was a great ending to an already pretty amazing series, plus I could stand Tris a lot more in this book. Insurgent was hard for me to get through because of her drastic personality change. It was nice to see her back to the strong female role she played.

I am a big fan of Veronica Roth, and look forward to reading any future books she writes!

Published by: K

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered 

By: A.G. Howard

Genre: Fairytale Retelling

Length: 371 pages 

Synopsis From Goodreads:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence.

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

My Review: 

Rating:

*** Caution Spoilers Ahead ***

I loved this book from beginning to end! I had no desire in putting it down and I just couldn't stopping talking about it to friends and family. This story takes you through the miraculous world of Wonderland! A.G. Howard does an amazing job developing a world that you wish you lived in and characters that you fall in love with. Take Morpheus and Jeb for example, both great characters!

I was literally crying in the end. The way they killed off Morpheus and Jeb in the end and then bring them both back. I honestly didn't know why I was crying. I couldn't figure out whether it was happiness they were alive or sadness that A.G. Howard would do such a thing. I mean honestly what girl wouldn't love both of them and not want either to get hurt or die. I felt as though a part of myself was dying when I read that part of the book. 

But can we just put that aside and talk about something for a moment. Was this honestly a real connection between Jeb and Alyssa?

"Al." His Adam's apple moves as he swallows. "I want you to put a stop to this Hitch thing. Whatever's going on, it's not worth..." He pauses. "Losing an important part of you." Unbelievable. He thinks I'm such a prude, he won't even say the word. "You mean my virginity?" His neck flashes red. "You deserve better than some one-night thing. You're the kind of girl who should have a commitment from a guy who actually cares. Okay?"

Like can we just except the fact that he got all jealous about the entire Hitch thing, just shows how much he cares about her. An uncontrollable love that he would even bleed for her to live! 

I am so excited to start reading book two, Unhinged, thanks to my amazing mom who bought me the rest of the series "just because." I can not wait to see what the future has in story for these amazing characters!  

Published by: C

Review: The Maze Runner Series by: James Dashner

The Maze Runner Series

By: James Dashner

Series: The Maze Runner

Genre: Dystopian

The Maze Runner Synopsis:

Length: 384 pages

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

My Rating:

The Scorch Trials

Length: 368 pages

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. 

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch. 

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. 

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. 

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.

My Rating:

The Death Cure

Length: 325 pages

It’s the end of the line.

WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends—the Gladers. But it’s finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test.

Will anyone survive?

What WICKED doesn’t know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it’s enough to prove that he can’t believe a word of what they say.

The truth will be terrifying.

Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. He’ll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all. 

The time for lies is over.

My Rating:

The Kill Order

Length: 327 pages

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

My Rating:

My Overall Review: 

My mom read this series a few months back after we meet James Dashner at Ya'llFest and she absolutely loved it. Which is saying a lot because it is rare that my mom finds a book that she truly enjoys. She actually couldn't wait to finish the series she went out the day after finishing The Scorch Trials to purchase the last book in the series, The Death Cure. After seeing how much she loved this series I moved it to the top of my To-Read list. I just had to see what the hype was all about. 

Sadly, I watched the movies before I read the books so I had a bit of a biased opinion when it came to the books because I absolutely loved the movies. However, I do have to say if you want the full effect of the books I would try and refrain from watching the movies before reading the books, because the movies take a bit of a different turn than the books. Even so, I still really enjoyed this series. It did take my some time to read these books because I was doing a Buddy Read at the same time and had to put The Maze Runner on hold for a bit, but once I picked the books back up I had no interest in putting them down. 

The books start with a group of boys stuck in a maze fighting for survival and a way out, back home. However, they are without memories of their past and have no clue how to leave the maze, until Thomas and Teresa arrive and shake things up. After they arrive everything changes. I loved the way James Dashner developed the world of the Gladers, he really made it seem as though you were stuck in the maze with these the characters. 

I really enjoyed the ending to the first book, it was full of action and really set you up for the next installment of the series. It left you wondering what was going to happen to the remaining Gladers. I couldn't wait to start The Scorch Trails and once I did it took me some time to get used to the path the story was taking because like I said I watched the movie first and the movie and book are not similar in the least. There are very few similarities between the two. Even so, I still really enjoyed the books. 

In book two, the Gladers think the have been rescued from WICKED, only to find out that it is more of the same; more trails, more death and more lies. So the boys find themselves stuck in the Scorch, hiding from Cranks and racing against time to a WICKED safe haven for a cure to The Flare. We are introduced to two great characters in book two, Jorge and Brenda; liked those two from the very beginning. I had no idea they were hiding so many secrets; in which you don't find out until book three. So much happened throughout this book with Thomas and the other Gladers, as well as with Teresa. I never really trusted that girl. Brenda and Thomas all the way!!

After finishing book two I couldn't wait to read The Death Cure, however I was a bit disappointed in the story, I was expected a much more climactic ending then what we got. However, I still really enjoyed the book and all the developments that unfolded about WICKED and The Flare. I wasn't expecting all the twists and turns that occurred throughout the final book, such as Gally working for the Right Arm. Did not see that coming, I mean who knew he was even still alive. 

Aside from Thomas, Newt and Minho had to be my two favorite characters throughout this series. They had such distinct personalities and no matter what happened they always had Thomas back. I loved the bond those three shared. It only made it harder when we found out that Newt was infected with The Flare. Another, twist I was not prepared for in the final installment. 

After finishing The Maze Runner trilogy, I decide to read The Kill Order. My mom tried to read it has well as a family friend and they both could not finish the book, so of course I had to see why they had such a hard time reading it. After starting the book I figured out real quick why, the characters in The Kill Order are not the same characters as from The Maze Runner. The Kill Order follows Mark, Alec, Trina and their friends through the world after the sun-flares destroy humanity. Throughout the book we follow this group of people as they try to discover why the government has infected them with such a deadly and corruptive virus and if they can find a cure. We also get to see where one of the main characters from The Maze Runner came from and how their experiences may have effected their choices in the future series. 

Even though the characters where not the same in The Kill Order, I really enjoyed the story. For me it was like reading a whole new series. 

If you haven't already read this series I highly recommend that you do. James Dashner is a phenomenal author and he has developed a remarkable dystopian world. Now that I have read the books I look forward to re-watching the movies now in a different light. 

Published by: K

***All synopses come from Goodreads***

Review: The Iron Trial by: Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

The Iron Trial

By: Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

Series: The Magisterium Series

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Length: 295 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.

Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .

My Review:

Rating:

Wow...this has to be one of the best books I have read by far! I didn't want to put this book down for anything. While I have read many of Cassandra Clare's books (The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, two of my FAVORITE series!!), this is my first book written by Holly Black and I have to say she is as phenomenal an author as Cassandra. I look forward of reading more of her work, starting with book two of The Magisterium Series. 

As I read this book it took me back to the days of Hogwarts, so much of this book had a Harry Potter feel, from the characters to the remarkable world of magic that Holly and Cassandra developed. Which only made me love this book even more, my friends and I think it is almost as good as J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter Series. 

I absolutely loved Callum and Aaron's friendship, their witty banter reminded me a lot of Harry and Ron from Harry Potter. Like the scene where Aaron offers Callum some chips, I can totally see Ron doing the same to Harry on the Hogwarts Express. They are both the best main characters I've every had the pleasure of reading about and sharing a splendid adventure through dangerous obstacles and magical wonders with. 

Then there is Tamara, whom acts all motherly just like Hermione. The characters that Holly and Cassandra developed takes me back to my Harry Potter reading crazy. This new series feels as though Hogwarts has been reborn for a new generation of book lovers. 

I highly recommend reading this series, especially if you have a love for Harry Potter. I can't wait to start reading book two of this already great series. Stay tune for my review on book two, I have feeling I am going to fly through book two.

Published by: C