Books You Should Be Reading

There are so many books out there, so many series to read, and it seems like the list is endless!...And that's only YA. My TBR list is never ending because I have started all of these beautiful series and the next book is always coming out. Never quick enough, but there's always something to be read and another world to fall in love with.

If you're having trouble trying to figure out what book to read next, or which book will help get you out of your latest literary hangover, here are some books and series that I think you should be reading, if you're not already.

1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book is by far my favorite book I've ever read. There is no doubt in my mind that The Night Circus will one day be a classic novel that is read in schools. It is beautifully articulated and it is the kind of book that sucks you in and, to be honest, I haven't even left it yet. And it's been a while since I read it. This book follows the story of two magicians competing against each other, not knowing who their opponent is, in the beautiful setting of a mysterious night circus. It's magical, romantic, adventurous, and encapsulates everything a book should be.

2. The Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

If you haven't heard of this series, you may be living under a rock...or just not apart of the fantasy novel world. Sarah J. Maas has taken over fantasy, so if you're into fantasy, you're probably already reading her magnificent books. This particular series follows an assassin named Celeana in a world cut off from magic. It's hard to give a good summary about the whole series without spoiling anything because, trust me, this book has so many twists and turns and it's just an amazingly crafted story that you need to be reading.

3. A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

Yes, Maas is on this list twice. Why? Because she is queen. This was actually the first book I read by her, which then opened me up to the Throne of Glass series, and I am completely hooked. It was a bit of a beauty and the beast retelling, which immediately caught my eye, and then it morphed into something completely different. Feyre is kidnapped by the Fae where she has to break this curse on Tamlin, only she doesn't know that she has to, and she hates Fae. So, yeah, this is an intense read, but it is a great read. Not to mention, when you read the sequel to this one, your mind will be blown. Just saying.

4. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

While I am still working my way through this series, I have to say that I am hooked and the fairytale retelling is only a part of the reason why I think this is a such a good series. This story, a dystopian retelling of some of our favorite fairytales including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, and Snow White is going to take you on a ride. A good ride, one that you will refuse to get off of.

5. The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

While there has been some mixed reviews of this series, especially pertaining to the last two, I think this is a great series that is definitely worth reading. It's addicting, romantic, and you will have your ships by the end of book one. If you're looking for a solid read, a quality obsession, then the story of America entering the Selection, a process where the prince picks his true love out of thirty some odd girls, is the book for you. You won't regret it.

6. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This book was hot the second it came off the presses. Literally. Tahir was a best seller with her first book. If that's not enough to entice you to read this book, just to see what all the hype is about, then many the summary will. Set in the Martial Empire, inspired by Rome, when Laia's brother is taken for treason, Laia has to make a decision. And that decision is to work for the rebellion within the walls of the Martial Empire, so that they can take it down. And there's a sequel coming soon, so best to start now! It's a brutal world with awesome characters and a story you're going to fall in love with.

7. The Splintered Series by A. G. Howard

While this series isn't new or hot right now, this is one of my favorite book series ever. Mostly because I love Alice in Wonderland and this is a twisted approach to that beloved story. I can tell you how much I love it, but I literally have a post dedicated to why you should read this book. If you're looking for a read, into some creepy stuff and twisted stories, and you haven't gotten around to this one, then you definitely should.

8. The Shadow Falls Series by C. C. Hunter

This is a book series I read a long time ago, but it's good. You know what they say, Old but gold. Well, it's not old old, but when it comes to the YA spotlight, it kind of is. When Kylie Galen is shipped off to a reform camp for troubled teens, she learns that the trouble these kids are in is the supernatural kind. They're all coming to terms and learning to harness their abilities safely and at camp. The characters in this book are relatable, the story is intriguing, all in all this series encapsulates the heart of YA from a couple years ago when werewolves and vampires ran the show, but also shone some light on Fae who are getting their light now. This series is everything. And I mean that in every sense of the word.

9. Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This series has kind of taken the world by storm. Even Tim Burton has gotten his creative hands on this series. With the movie coming out, this is a book you need to read before the movie is released.

10. The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

This is actually a group of books in a group of series and basically if you start reading Clare's works, you are in for a very long ride with a very beautiful outcome. If you're going to start with Clare's Shadowhunters world, you should start with The Mortal Instruments and then work your way through it. There is also The Infernal Devices and the newest series in the chronicles The Dark Artifices. Your emotions will be manipulated by Clare and this is definitely a fandom you should be apart of.


So what do you think? Did I cover the good ones? Are there any you think should have been on this list? I know for sure that there are SO MANY MORE fantastic books out there that I haven't gotten around to reading yet and I can't wait to discover what they hold for me, too!

At the end of the day, when you pick up a book, there is a connection there. Something draws a permanent line between book and reader. Not always is there that connection, which sucks, but what's important for every reader is to find the books out there that do that for them. The ten books above are just a few of the ones that have captured my heart and I hope you do too. And let me know what you discover when you read these books cover to cover!

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas Review

For those of you who don't know much about me, there is one YA/NA author that I love and her name is Sarah J. Maas. I love all of her works and her writing style is so captivating. She literally makes me feel so many emotions when reading any and all of her books that I can't help but buy the newest one as soon as it comes out and then hate myself for the year long wait I've just brought upon myself once I finish it. I am a huge fangirl of all S J Maas does (please see my countdown to Queen of Shadows on this blog), so of course I bought A Court of Mist and Fury as soon as it came out and read that thing like my life depended on it.

The first book I ever read by Maas was A Court of Thorns and Roses, which got me on the S J Maas fan train leading me to binge read the entire Throne of Glass series and was still left wanting more. Before I read ACOTAR, I was never the biggest fan of Fae inspired novels. Maas had me changing my tune after I got involved with the beautiful story of Feyre, Tamlin, Lucien, Rhysander, and all the other completely dynamic characters that I decided Fae novels were a breed of YA/NA that I needed to learn more about. And thank God I did.

I digress...A Court of Mist and Fury is the sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses, which is a fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, although no where near the beloved children's tale we all fell in love with. Maas created a complex, sexy, and engulfing new story in a world that I feel apart of now. When the first book ended, I thought it wrapped up kind of nicely. There was room for development (at the time I was team Tamlin, but I wanted to know what this Rhys character's deal was) and I wanted more of the Fae world outside of the Spring Court. In the sequel, Maas delivered on all of my desires as Feyre decides that maybe the Spring Court just isn't the right court for her.

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD***

Maas may be the only author that can cause someone like me to jump ship so fast that it makes my head spin. (Please skip this next part if you haven't read Throne of Glass and want to avoid spoilers) In Throne of Glass, I was team Chaol all the way. Loved that guy. Then we had to go and meet Rowan and I found myself on another ship it was crazy. (Those of you that skipped the TOG spoiler you can continue reading again) And here I am, in the middle of a story I thought I had all figured out and knew who I was going to ship and what not, deciding that I was wrong and Maas is right. She is always right.

The love story between Feyre and Tamlin was a beautiful one. A classic one. It made total sense to be the winner of ACOTAR, but now that Feyre is changed, now that she is in a new world living a different life than she's ever had to live before, it makes sense that maybe her heart beats a different way. And then it made total sense for the Rhys ship to sail because, I mean, you should read the book. You'll fall in love with him so fast...ugh.

Aside from the romance in this book, which is hot and perfect, Maas also introduces a slew of new characters that you can't help but fall for. Azriel, Mor, Cassian, and Amren are a few people that I want to know more about. Damn, I should've bought the Target edition just so I can get a short story revolving around a few of those characters. Anyways, these are characters that mean something and build a story. 

For a while, I was really blah on the idea of introducing a seemingly original storyline in this one. What was the point of making me love the secondary characters like Lucien when she was just going to divert attention away from him in the end? Then it all made sense thanks to that heartbreaking ending. Everything came full circle and I am in dire need of the next book. ASAP.

Maas does a fantastic job of world weaving. It's truly a raw talent. At the end of this book, all I can say is that if you haven't read this series, you need to, and be prepared to have your heart ripped out and still beating at the end of it because I think it's going to be a long while before I can fully function again. And that's what I learned when I read this book cover to cover.

On a side note, who all is excited for Empire of Storms????? I literally cannot wait. Maas, you are a genius and I can't wait to see what's in store in both of your beautiful tales.

The Crown by Kiera Cass Review

So I'm jumping a little out of order here on my TBR list, but it's only because I have been awaiting this release since I found out there was going to be two more books in the beloved Selection Series. So when this book hit shelves, I had it downloaded on my Kindle in seconds. Then I tore through this beauty so fast and was left with so many emotions...Ugh.

Anyways, for those of you who don't know anything about the Selection Series. I highly suggest you hop on that train and binge read the entire series since all five books are finally out. The first three books in the series follow the story of America Singer, a girl in the country of Illea, who is competing with thirty-five other girls for the heart of the prince. However, America isn't trying to win his love, but keep the stipend the crown is sending her family. Now, it's hard to go much further into detail without giving away anything about the series so if you haven't read the Selection Series I would STOP READING NOW. And for those of you who haven't yet read The Crown and don't want any spoilers, then you should also STOP READING NOW.

The Crown follows the end of America and Maxon's daughter's journey to find love and eventually run the country. Eadlyn never though she would find love in The Selection, but she has, and now it is a matter of holding on to it or doing what is best for her country.

Alright, so first off, I think this is a very classic and simple way to end such a beautiful story. Very fitting. I know this might not be a popular idea, some people might be wanting more, especially with the mixed feelings towards the series to begin with, but I thought this story was great. It wasn't supposed to be anything incredibly mind blowing, it wasn't supposed to tug on your though process and make you think about the world differently. It was written to entertain readers and it definitely succeeded.

Now onto my reactions. First of all: MY SHIP SANK. Oh man, since The Heir I had formed a beautiful ship between Eadlyn and Kile and I wanted that ship to sail so badly. I loved them. Their story was perfect. Children who grew up hating each other, then turned into friends, and then grew feelings for each other...UGH perfect. I hate that my ship sank so badly, but at the same time I see why it had to. Kill would have to sacrifice everything to be with Eadlyn - as romantic as that is. Eadlyn loved Kile too much to take away his dreams. Am I a terrible person for wanting her to take away his dreams? Probably.

On the other side of the romance, the guy Eady actually fell in love with, Eikko or Erik. I think this romance had some build up going towards it, but I wanted so much more build up. I think I could have really gotten on board with this ship if only there had been just a bit more. More drama. More tension. More. Honestly I think they work and I'm so happy they get their perfect ending, but I felt like there could have been more build up towards it.

I'm also very confused. Why would a king and queen just happily hand their reign over to their teenaged daughter so they can live their happy life as just people? I get the appeal, and I can see that they're going to have a tough time being the king and queen, but there is no way in hell they would just let their teenage daughter run their country. Doesn't make any sense. Sorry Kiera Cass.

However, I loved this story. I was so happy with it, kind of put off by some of the things that happened and it took me a while to get over the shipwreck. And that's what I uncovered when I read this lovely book cover to cover.

The Carnelian Legacy by Cheryl Koevoet Review

The Carnelian Legacy follows the story of Marisa MacCallum as she goes for a ride and then finds herself in a new dimension where she must make tough decisions that challenge her heart. As Marisa falls for a boy in this new dimension, she finds out that love is complicated no matter what dimension you are in. In the end, she must decide if she's going to betray the boy she loves for the greater good of his kingdom or will she abandon everything and risk starting a war.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I must say, this book did not do it for me. I hate writing negative reviews, so I'm going to keep this short and as sweet as possible. Frankly, it took me a long while to get through this book. I kept having to stop and put it down before I could pick it back up again. The writing style didn't hook me and the story wasn't anything too special to get me to want to push through it. Frankly, I was disappointed. I wanted so much more from this book and just did not get it.

When I started this book, especially after reading the synopsis, I had high hopes for this story, that it just didn't get up to. It had a really good concept, I just felt like it fell a little flat. Of course, this could just be me. If the synopsis hooks you like it did me, then don't let my poor review stop you from getting yourself a copy of this book. This might just be the kind of story and that needs a certain person to read and fall in love with it. I'm sorry to say, but that person is just not me. And that's what I have discovered after I read this book cover to cover.

Crystallum by Laney McMann Review

**I received this book free from the publisher through Netgalley in return for an honest review**

Crystallum is the first book in The Primordial Principles that follows the story of Kadence Sparrow as she finds herself in the middle of the Primordial race that she has always known about, but never been apart of until now. Here's the full jacket flap summary:

Kadence Sparrow wasn't born a devil's child-she was turned into one. Now, she's hiding from the truth, and running for her life. 

For years, Kade's true nature has lurked behind an illusion, so when her dad gets another job transfer, she knows the drill: no close friends, no boyfriends, and most importantly: don't expose what she is. Ever. Keeping secrets is easy. Lies are second nature. So is the loneliness-and the fear, but when the Shadows attack, and Kade meets Cole Spires, she could expose everything she's trying to hide. 

As one of the Celestial Children, Cole lives by an oath: defend the Ward, protect the Primordial race, guard the gateways, and stick to his own. Everything else is a distraction, and besides, he's lost enough. Cole's job is clear, and no one his age does it better. So, when he meets Kade in a club downtown, he assumes she just wants his attention. Most girls do, but Cole soon realizes ... Kade isn't like most girls. 

The children of heaven and hell are living among us, fighting an age-old war. And falling for someone from the opposition is not an option. But a chance encounter between Kade and Cole will blur the rules, as Kade's journey to keep her truth hidden catapults them together and into a web of lies, forcing her to not only face the demon inside her, but to answer the hardest question of all. 

Which is thicker-blood or water?

I started reading this book and it immediately sucked me in. I am very much acquainted with the ideas of half-angel and half-devil children, but Crystallum took a different approach to the whole idea of it that I really enjoyed.

One of the things that I can't ignore that bothered me, is just how much some of the aspects of the story reminded me of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters series. Aside from that, it was a very fun read that had me hooked from start to finish. If you're looking for an enjoyable read that feels a bit familiar at the same time, then Crystallum is the book for you. By the end of it, I was thrusting for more.

The characters in this book were diverse, entertaining, relatable, and had readers really connecting with them. I really love the secondary characters in this book and hope that Lane delves more into their stories in the next books.

Basically, this a good book that deserves a read and I will definitely be picking up the next book when it hits shelves! And that's what I discovered when I read this book cover to cover!

The Best Fairytale Retellings of YA

I don't know what it is about this time of year that gets me in the mood for fairytales. Maybe it's because the new year brings hope often felt in fairytales or maybe it's just because I like finding excuses to talk about fairytales. Regardless, fairytales have become an inspiration for many writers and have influenced many aspects of their stories. Popular in young adult fiction is fairytale retellings. Here are some that I've read and loved and recommend for those of you out there that have a soft spot for them.

1. The Lunar Chronicles by: Marissa Meyer

The Lunar Chronicles is a series about classic retelling fairytales set way into the future. It's filled with sci-fi and fantasy and is promised to fill all of your fairytale needs.

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by: Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses  is a beauty and the beast retelling. Although Maas has added a fae element, which was something I was unsure of when I picked up this book, I haven't let it influence my opinion of the book in one way. Instead, I was reading the book and I fell in love with it.

3. Throne of Glass Series by: Sarah J. Maas

While this series may not seem like a retelling from first read, there is definitely a fairytale influence to it. It's not really seen at first, so I won't give anything away, but once you continue on with the series, you'll see those aspects.

4. The Selection Series by: Kiera Cass

This series is a bit of a Cinderella retelling. A poor girl gets invited into the palace and ends up winning the prince's heart. However, this is not without Cass's own twists and turns. Our protagonist is only there to keep food on her family's table and she's not a step-child. It's the perfect story that will have you swooning.

5. Entwined by: Heather Dixon

This is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses. It's enrapturing and fulfilling for the fairytale lover in all of us.

6. The Hollow Series by: Jessica Verday

 This is the retelling of the legend of Sleepy Hollow. This is one of my favorite books series of all time. There are so many aspects about this book that kept me reading had me up at night thinking about it once I had finished the series.

7. Red by: Alyxandra Harvey

This book, inspired by the tale of Red Riding Hood, follows one girl as she's forced to live with her grandmother at some giant manor surrounded by secrets and monsters.

8. Beastly by: Alex Finn

This book, turned into a movie, is another beauty and the beast retelling. The boy, cursed by a witch to be as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside, is forced to find love to break the curse in the modern world or live the rest of his life like that.

9. Splintered by: A.G. Howard

This series sheds a new light on the stories of Alice in Wonderland. The dark twisty elements make the light tale we all knew growing up more enticing to our older selves. This is, in my opinion, one of the best Alice in Wonderland retellings. If you haven't read this series yet, you must.

10. The White Rabbit Chronicles by:  Gena Showalter

Another fabulous Alice in Wonderland retelling. This one, however, is much darker. Ali has fallen down the rabbit hole and found herself in zombieland.

12. Drown by: Esther Dalseno

This is a very well written retelling of the Little Mermaid, but with so much more. This is a complete reinvention of the original story from Hans Christian Anderson bound to impress readers.










And I'm sure there are many more, but let's be honest, these are just a few that have taken over the YA world. Maybe you've heard of some of these. Maybe you've read them all already. Regardless, these twelve need to be on your book shelf.

The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel Review

A book that is highly anticipated, particularly in the Entangled Teen realm of YA publishing, is The Revolution of Ivy after the first installment, The Book of Ivy, took off gathered a rather large following, including the trending hashtag #BishopIsMine. This is easily one of the most popular books from the publisher. I, myself, fell into the mass following of Ivy. So when I got the opportunity to review the sequel, and supposed conclusion,  I could not pass this one up.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

The first installment, for those who don't know, is about a city called Westfall that is one of the surviving communal towns after the War when everything went downhill. So it's a little dystopian, but it has a new and refreshing take on what the future looks like in literature. At sixteen, they force the daughters from the losing side of town to marry the sons of the winning sons of town. And in this installment, Ivy Westfall is being forced to marry her father's sworn enemy's son Bishop Lattimer - the son of the president of Westfall. Only there is one stipulation to that marriage contract that Bishop and the Lattimers don't know. Ivy's father has trained Ivy to kill Bishop; to put their family back in power. As all romance YA novels go, Ivy fell in love with Bishop and couldn't kill him. But she loved her family as well and couldn't let them go down for the planned assassination, either. So she took the blame and was put out of the "fence", which hardly anyone survives. And that's where The Revolution of Ivy picks up.

Ivy Westfall is lying beyond the fence, open to any threats out here. But she has this sort of hope that she can survive.

No one survives beyond the fence. At least that’s what my father always told me when I was a child. But I’m not a little girl anymore, and I no longer believe in the words of my father. 

Amy Engel has an enrapturing way of writing. She has easily created some of the most lovable characters in YA. The reason for the Bishop hashtag is simple: Engel wrote the perfect guy into Bishop with imagined skill and everyone loved him. With the first novel being such a success, and setting up this series for a whirlwind of events, I was expecting a lot out of this second novel. And she delivered.

All of our fears were realized as readers as we go through this installment. Mark Laird makes an appearance and it becomes pretty intense from there on out. 

I loved the new introductions of characters that were relatable and lovable. I would like to know more about the relationship side of Ash and Caleb, however. The idea of a civilization thriving outside of Westfall's walls is not far fetched. Rogue societies like that would definitely exist - and some even do know. Ivy stumbling across them was only good luck on her part.

Once Bishop shows up, the story-telling remains kind of lulled, hanging suspended, because as a reader, I knew something big was going to happen. And then something did. Bishop and Ivy finally have that long anticipated heart-to-heart after months of tension, but it's Callie's sister's head on the chopping block that sends this story back into motion.

I don't know why Ivy would want to go back and save her sister after all the hell she put Ivy through, but whatever Ivy needs to do. The fact that what happens actually happens makes me kind of annoyed that they even returned at all. They were doing just fine beyond the fence. But then everything works out and we get a happily ever after.

I was expecting a bit more of a morose ending with the world they live in being so dark. But everything worked itself out. Sure, there was that big explosion of an ending that had my head whirling, but Engel wrapped it all up nicely, leaving little to few loose ends. It's the perfect conclusion to The Book of Ivy. And if you haven't read either, now is the time. It's a wonderful series that will bring you in and hold you hostage for the duration. It's a definite recommend. I wonder if Amy Engel plans on writing more...I wouldn't object.

The Revolution of Ivy is the perfect ending to a perfect story. Many conclusions lack the emphasis the series needs, but this one did not. It's filled with relatable and lovable characters and a storyline that's a little refreshing, in some ways. And that's what I discovered when I read this book cover to cover.

The Revolution of Ivy will be on sale November 5th. 

The Summer Marked by: Rebekah L. Purdy Review

Ah! It's finally here! I must say, I was not expecting a sequel to The Winter People because it just ended so perfectly and nicely. I don't know what went into Purdy's decision making on a sequel, whether is was just the need to return to that world or she really did have so much more to say, but I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to receive and review this ARC from Entangled Teen.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

All of my initial reservations about this book disappeared as soon as I started reading it. I loved seeing immediately in to Salome's life with Gareth in the Faerie realm. It was like a glimpse at "happily ever after" until Nevin had to show up and burst that beautiful bubble. But before that, we see a glimpse of the past where Salome's grandma is actually hiding a girl for the Faerie Queen that the queen bestows all of her powers in. Your inference that the girl is actually Salome isn't ever actually confirmed, but it's almost as good as confirmed over the course of the story and, especially, that first chapter where Doris (the grandma) is telling the real stories to little Salome and little Kadie, but the stories are actually based in truth.

Clearly, not everything ended happily at the end of The Winter People, although I didn't want to believe that. There was still turmoil in Faerie, which is probably one of the reasons a sequel was in order. The Winter Kingdom is still trying to take over everything and the Summer Kingdom is the only other one still standing - Autumn and Spring having already fallen to Winter. Nevin is king of Summer and Gareth is one of their best warriors, so Salome can't get out of Faerie trouble. That and Winter is still hellbent on killing her. Fun.

Meanwhile, Salome's best friend Kadie is returning from college for Thanksgiving with the plans of making this stay at home permanent. She followed her high school boyfriend to Texas and he ended up cheating on her. Of course, when Kadie returns home, something isn't quite right at her house. So she goes to Salome's where things are even weirder. She gets turned away at the door, and then gets a text "from Salome" that she's at this club and had a fight with Gareth (totally not true because Salome is off in Faerie trying to save Summer). So Kadie goes to the club and ends up getting kidnapped and dragged to Winter where she's held prisoner for information about Gareth and Salome and Summer.

Kadie is forced to spend her first night in Winter in the Red Room (which immediately reminded me of Fifty Shades of Grey). In the Red Room, it's really decorated with human body parts such as skin and bones (completely grossed, but I honestly loved it). So Kadie runs out of the room and comes face to face with a tree that is actually Salome's father. So let's throw it back to the time in The Winter People where Salome's dad hit her. Yeah, apparently that was not her dad. That was a Fae disguised as him, while her dad was really in Winter being turned into the tree. That piece of the story has yet to be fully explained, but her dad does die because Kadie puts him out of his misery towards the end of the story.

While Kadie is being held prisoner and having Etionne, one of the Winter Princes, take care of her and is probably the only reason she survived as long as she did with that mouth of hers, Salome is traveling to Summer with Gareth. First, they pick up some weapons in the ruins of Spring and a sword of the four kingdoms chooses Salome (major foreshadowing here). As they continue on, the run into some former soldiers of Spring and Salome is hearing voices. There's so much going on!

Trolls attack Gareth and Salome and Gareth sends Salome on ahead for safety with her horse that protects virgins. Why was this relevant? I mean, it did save her ass in the end, however. While trying to stay safe, Salome runs into ghosts that are tied to the ruins she's hiding in. They say she's the only one who can save them and we start to get this whole chosen one thing going on. I liked how in the first book, you didn't feel this, but it's okay that we do now.

Nevin shows up to save Salome. Gareth is still fighting off the trolls, and while Salome is rightfully worried, Nevin keeps trying to get her to calm down and it feels kind of sketchy and like he has ulterior motives. Gareth shows back up and everything is currently fine for Salome. Not so much for Kadie who's resilience has gotten her work in the Bone Yard. Basically in the Bone Yard, they separate the bones from the skin and muscles and blood. I found myself asking why all this darkness was necessary, but the answer was just that it made it more interesting. It shows how dark Winter really is and, let's be honest, who doesn't love a little gore?

Back in Summer, Nevin drops the bomb that he needs a queen so that the magic in Summer is more powerful than the magic in Winter. He wants his queen to be Salome. Like really? She already has Gareth and is like in love with him. Why does he have to complicate things!? But shockingly, it's not because he has secret feelings for her and wants to steal her from Gareth (because that just would have been too much for me). He actually has only loved once in his life and it was the King of Autumn. Awesome.

So everything is all crazy and twisted and Kadie is fighting for her life, Salome is dodging attempts on her life as well, and I'm starting to wonder what is this going to boil down to. The Winter Queen befriends Kadie (completely weird, but I see where it's going) and asks her to kill Salome. Etionne escorts Kadie to Summer so she can do her job and while Kadie is blood bound to the Winter Queen, she kind of has no choice. Etionne runs away to go and try to fight to save Faerie, and somehow Salome survives a dagger to the heart. Salome becomes Summer Queen, but also has the markings to be queen of all the other kingdoms (I am set in my inference that it's because she has the Faerie Queen's magic in her and only that reason), saves Gareth after he almost dies on one of Nevin's missions, and that happily ever after I loved so much from the first book is completely shot out the window.

So, basically, I had only a few qualms with this book and here they are: Kadie just accepts this Faerie-ness way too easily and quickly, and at one point she actually just states that she's in Winter and I was like "how do you know" with a bajillion question marks after it; I did not like how Kadie became all self-centered and tried to kill Salome because I thought she had more willpower than that (note: this is not a comment on the story or choices, just personal opinion I had while reading); and I don't really understand how Salome came back to life?

However, there is much praise I have for this book. Bringing in the other fae made it way more interesting. It still kept the darkness I loved from the first book even though they were in the sparkly faerie realm. Salome is slowly becoming a badass and I love it. And at least Gareth and Salome get to still be together even though Salome is married to Nevin and Queen of Summer.

I cannot wait to figure out how all of this plays out in the next installment. Hopefully that book comes out soon...

Hope you enjoyed this review! Please leave comments!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer Review

A series that is taking the YA world by storm is none other than The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. I'm ashamed to admit, but I am a little late to the Lunar Train, but with the final installment, Winter, coming out soon, I figured now was as good a time as any to hop on board.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

The first installment in this series is Cinder. It's a dystopian twist on the classic fairytale Cinderella, as I'm sure you probably guessed from the title. Now, I'm not a big fan of robots when taking that approach to dystopian novels. I just don't like robots, they seem cheesy to me. And that's one of the reasons it took me so long to pick up this book. But I did, I put my bias opinions aside about robots, and ended up falling in love with this story.

Now, this one took a bit to get going for me, but it did it in a way that was very relatable to the classic tale. A lot happens in the story, but it doesn't really pick up the pace until the last quarter of the movie. Same with this story. I liked it in the beginning, but I didn't love it until the last part of the novel.

One of the greatest aspects of this story is the parallels between the original and the dystopian. The futuristic inspired characters based off the original ones, is incredibly adorable. The evil step-mom, the fairy godmother, the carriage, IKO! Meyer creates adorable and lovable characters in a very dark setting. Her style really pulls you in and the story keeps you hooked.

The rest of this series is going to be thrilling and I can't wait for it. Cinder is a marvelous retelling and an enthralling set up for an exciting adventure and that's what I discovered Cover To Cover.

Illuminate by Tracy Clark Review

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

Since this is my first review of the series, let me go back over the first two books to get you caught up.

In the first book, protagonist Cora Sandoval discovers she can see auras and that her aura is solid silver unlike the many colors of the regular people around her. She also ends up falling for Irish exchange student Finn who randomly leaves after they have a few intense make-out sessions. Anyways, on Cora's journey to discover who she really is and what her special aura means, she travels to Ireland where she delves deep into her roots. She discovers she's Scintilla and thanks to her new friend Giovanni, she's on the road to finding all the answers with his help.

Of course, what is a good story without some bad guys. So these Arazzi guys show up and are actually the kind of people who kill by taking someone's energy/soul into their own creating a solid white aura. Oh, and they desperately want to kill Cora because she's like their natural born enemy.

Now, both of these books kind of ran together in my head, so I can't remember quite when book two picks up, so I'm just going to summarize them all together now.

Cora gets captured by this Arazzi man who happens to be Finn's uncle. And Finn happens to be an Arazzi (Ooh! Drama). Only Finn hates what he is and refuses to accept it. Cora still is doesn't know how she should feel about her first love being her natural born enemy and then there's Giovanni who's like perfect and Scintilla and helping her, but she swears he's hiding something from her. Anyways, Giovanni and Cora get captured by Clancy (Finn's Arazzi Uncle) and it turns out that Clancy has Cora's mother who was presumably dead for the majority of Cora's life. The reunion is short lived as Cora's father shows up to save them and dies so that they can all escape.

There's still so much more to discover about Scintilla in Ireland, so Cora can't just return home like everything is okay. Especially since her father died trying to help her. But luckily, that little secret Giovanni has been keeping is going to help them (supposedly). There's this facility in Dublin that can help them and he knows the doctor running it. They manage to get there and everything is fine and all until it's not.

They lock Cora in one room and Giovanni in the other in hopes that their strong feelings for one another will cause them to hook up and create children so that they can be studied like lab rats. They fake it, sort of, to get the doctor guy off their backs, but Finn walks in and sees it and everything goes down hill from there.

See, Finn was at the facility in time to see that because his "good friend" Lorcan (note the sarcasm there) brought him because Lorcan's mothers Ultanna is working with the doctor. Now, Ultanna is a very interesting lady. She believes she's immortal and is head of this Arazzi organization known as Xepa, which is hellbent on destroying each and every Scintilla. (Cora actually manages to sneak into a Xepa party wearing Ultanna's ring to do so recon).

Anyways, they manage to escape from the facility, leaving a lot of people dea. And literally nothing is okay anymore.

Cora gets kidnapped again, her mother gets kidnapped again, and then Mami Tulke (Cora's grandmother) gets kidnapped by Clancy and he's planning on using them for some kind of sacrifice. Cora's mother dies, but Mami Tulke and her both manage to escape.

Things happen, etcetera etcetera, and here we are. Book three: Illuminate.

This book starts off with a bang. Finn and Cora both kill Arazzi and regular humans working with the Arazzi. But the trouble they are facing is way bigger than an ambush leaving them murderers. Cora must go to Italy, Giovanni must go to Chile to be with his surprise daughter Claire (the offspring of an experiment done at the facility), and Finn must stay in Ireland.

I did not like how these guys were split up for the majority of the book. I get why it needed to happen, though. Real life does not mean they all get to hang out and do research together. Finn had responsibilities in Ireland. Giovanni had to be with his daughter for obvious reasons. And Cora needed to finish this lead. I just wish it hadn't been that way for selfish reader reasons.

Giovanni starts to prepare the Scintilla in Chile who were hiding out on Mami Tulke's ranch, which was like major news and made me really happy, for war with the Arazzi. Now this approach seemed pretty rushed and kind of sat awkward with me. I mean, I probably would have been the same way in a situation like that, but it was just a little odd feeling for Giovanni to hop right on in to battle strategy.

Finn's off in Ireland getting cozy for strategic purposes with Ultanna's daughter, who inherits the throne her mother left behind. Lorcan gets super pissed about that and Soarise is kind of sketchy this entire time. (I would like to say that I pegged her as the bad guy the moment she walked onto the page!) Finn isn't completely helpless towards Cora's cause. He's researching and doing as much as he can to help her using his Arazzi status.

Cora, on the other hand, makes a shocking discovery in Italy that I think we need to discuss. Cora discovers what that key that's been around her neck forever unlocks. And it's a picture of Mary and Jesus. Surrounded in a silver aura. As Scintilla.

First off, this is very dangerous for a writer to do. You don't know how your audience is going to react to taking something religious and powerful like that and messing with it in your writing. But I applaud Tracy Clark for doing it at the same time.

Now I know that many of you probably weren't too happy about this approach because it could be considered slightly blasphemous, but before you bring out the torches, hear what I have to say about it and why I think it was a smart thing for her to do.

Tracy Clark's world is entirely her own. If it were real, the odds are that someone like Jesus would have been Scintilla and there's literally nothing wrong with that. I mean, why wouldn't he be? He brought people back to life, so did Cora. It makes total sense and it would almost be inaccurate for that not to be the case.

Of course, it was kind of strange and it did take me a while to get used to it, being a Catholic myself, but I see where she was coming from and I respect that. It did work for the story as well, I must say. And when the story goes on and talks about the corruptness of the Church, I feel conflicted on that part. There is truth in it. Many churches are corrupted although I think our pope now is doing wonders for the Catholic community. But hey it is what it is and it worked for the story.

The story goes on and everything is sort of weird for a while. Cora enlists the help of some documentary person in return that she expose Scintilla. It reminded me of some book I read, but I couldn't place it. It was a nice road she took it down, however, because it offered more to the story than just going to Chile and saving the world would have. She had someone documenting it the entire time.

But then the Arazzi show up and Cora touches some age old book and suddenly everything is put in perspective. Arazzi and Scintilla are not natural born enemies. They were born to be together. So does this mean Cora chooses Finn? Because I was still stuck in that love triangle. And I guess I still am because what they decide to do doesn't exactly explain anything to me. Other than that they restored balance to the world (I'm talking Arazzi and Scintilla as a whole and not just Cora and Finn).

The Arazzi and Scintilla join themselves to each other by the Scintilla giving themselves to the Arazzi and then they all kind of erupt into light and disappear. It's a beautiful idea. But I'm going to be honest with you, I was left with no closure!

What happened to Claire? Was she really Arazzi because I didn't think so. And what about all those people falling down randomly and not because of Arazzi attacks? And who did Cora choose? Because it didn't feel like she chose Finn for romantic reasons. Please Tracy Clark, answer these questions and I will be able to die in peace!

Overall, it was a good book. I rated it four out of five stars on Goodreads. Deviate is still my favorite installment of the series, especially since it's got the best cover (in my opinion) and I'm really sad to see this series end. Cora was a character I related to and loved. I can't believe it's all over.

Illusion Cover Reveal!

Hey viewers! Guess what I have for you! That's right! I have the cover reveal for the third installment in The Hoodoo Apprentice Series, Illusion by Lea Nolan! And I might even have an exclusive excerpt for you...

So for those of you that have not heard of The Hoodoo Apprentice series, here are the summaries of the first two books:

Conjure:

Be careful what you search for…Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma's ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper's soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.But when a strange girl bent on revenge appears, demon dogs become a threat, and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before the last days of summer--and her friends--are lost forever.

CONJURE: Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

Allure:

Worst. Summer. Ever. Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper’s sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries. Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Faced with the horror of a soul-eating boo hag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all.

ALLURE: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

And finally, here is the cover reveal and summary of Illusion!

New school. Cross-country move. Broken heart. If only these were Emma Guthrie’s worst problems as the first day of her sophomore year dawns. Instead, she must battle a trio of enemies—human and spectral—who may or may not have joined forces against her. All while pretending to be over Cooper Beaumont, her ex-boyfriend and true love, to shield him from her arch-nemesis’s revenge.

Worse, when the fight escalates, Emma is tempted to use the black magic she’s always fought against, endangering her own soul. As her enemies close in, join forces, and fight with new and dark magic she’s never seen before, Emma must finally harness the power within her to fulfill an ancient prophecy, defeat a centuries-old evil, save her family, and reclaim the only boy she’s ever loved.

This book is set for release October 5th, 2015! I am so excited for this one!

Author Lea Nolan is a USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance and YA. Her books for young adults feature bright heroes, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, an d a sprinkle of history. She also pens smart, witty contemporary stories for adults filled with head-swooning, heart-throbbing, sweep-you-off your feet romance. Born and raised in Long Island, NY, she loves the water far too much to live inland. With her heroically supportive husband and three clever children, she resides in Maryland where she scarfs down crab cakes whenever she gets the chance.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Newsletter

Here is an exclusive excerpt from the novel! 

A screech echoes through the woods. The sound is like a nail scraped against tin and raises the tiny hairs on the back of my neck. It’s the unmistakable caw of a crow. Spinning, I search the dimness for the source. Before my eyes can focus, a glossy black shadow bursts through a sheet of Spanish moss draped on a nearby live oak.

Shrieking, I cover my head with my hands and duck, then dart toward the path that brought me here. The bird pursues, flapping its large wings and gaining ground fast. With a whoosh, it swoops from the sky and slams into me, sinking its talons into my arm. I scream, then thrash around, trying to knock it loose. Its spiky nails clamp deeper into my flesh.

“Get off her!” Cooper’s voice booms.

Tears, the very best kind, surge. I’ve never been so happy to have him near. “Help!” I lamely shake my arm again, but the psychotic bird hangs on.

Cooper’s feet pound against the dirt as he races toward me and my winged assailant. As he draws close, the crow squawks, then jams its beak into my scalp, yanking out a clump of hair.

Pain, brilliant yellow and blinding, flashes across my vision. I wail, overcome.

“Emma, duck.”

I drop to my knees. Something hard thumps against the bird, launching it into the air like a golf ball from a tee. Its piercing caw bounces across the clearing. As the bird soars into the moonlit sky, it attempts to beat its wings, but something’s wrong. Only one of its feathered sides extends. Midair the shiny black crow stalls then careens back toward the earth. Just as I’m sure it’s headed straight for us, the lame wing unfolds then beats furiously to avoid what is sure to be a deadly collision. Veering off, it follows a wobbly flight path toward the shadowy forest.

Cooper tosses a long, heavy stick onto the ground, then reaches for my hand and pulls me to my feet. “Are you okay?” His wide hands clutch my arms as his eyes search mine.

“I—I think so.” My voice shakes as I work to process all that’s happened in the last few minutes. My temperature drops as shock sets in. Was it real, or just an immensely screwed-up dream? One glance at the slick streak of blood dripping down my skin confirms my new wound, though I can’t tell how bad it is until I see it in the light.

Grabbing me close, he wraps his strong arms around my back. The heady scent of his Cooperness swirls around me, filling me with familiar warmth that heads off my shock. My thoughts zoom to the red stain that has likely already smeared his polo. “I’m bleeding.” I try to pull away.

“I know.” He grips me close, like he’s fallen from a ship and I’m the only life preserver.

“But it’ll get it on your shirt.” A tear streams down the side of my face.

He pulls away, just enough to meet my gaze. “Who cares about my shirt? I thought I lost you, Emmaline.” Brushing his thumb against my cheek, he wipes away the salty liquid.

“But you didn’t. You saved me.”

“I was almost too late.” His voice is breathy and so full of despair it nearly breaks my heart.

Now don't forget to enter the giveaway and get excited! Because Illusion is going to be here October 5th!