Category Archives: Book Reviews

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

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Title: Everneath
Author: Brodi Ashton
Series: Everneath #1
Genre: Mythological Fantasy Romance (YA)
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Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned–to her old life, her family, her friends–before being banished back to the underworld … this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back–this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s …

When I first finished reading Everneath, I told Brodi that I wished I could’ve posted my full review then because I’d sing her high praises because I loved the book so much. But, I wanted to wait closer to release day.

I loved Everneath so much that it has earned a spot on my Favorites shelf. It was interesting, intriguing, sad, happy, moving, every emotion imaginable. Interspersed with the story of Persephone and Hades and Brodi’s own ideas and take on those events, I felt as if I was there, living what the characters lived.

I was anxious the entire time I read the book. It wasn’t a bad anxious. It’s just that I was hooked from the very beginning, so I wanted to know what was going to happen to Nikki. There was no way I could possibly understand what Nikki was going through, but I could feel her pain. I was invested in her character and I wanted her to feel happy again.

I really liked Nikki. Even though she came back to the Surface drained of all her emotions, I thought she still came across as strong. Although she was sad and wished she hadn’t gone to the Everneath, she owned her part in it. She didn’t blame her family or friends, even though other teenagers in her stead probably would’ve. That made her a very likeable protagonist.

“I let you go once and you disappeared on me. Without a word. I’m not asking it to be the same as it was, but I just want to know you again. Please. Can I know you again?” Jack

I absolutely loved Jack, Nikki’s boyfriend before she went to the Everneath. I don’t know exactly what to say about him other than that he’s a strong, selfless, and unconditionally loving character. I loved how loyal he was to Nikki and that he’d go to any lengths imaginable to help her. Any girl would be lucky to have him as a boyfriend, if only he were real.

As I’ve said in the past, I normally hate love triangles so much that I despise the third wheel. And, when I say despise, I mean I literally want that character wiped from the story. But, even with these feelings about love triangles, I wanted to hate Cole, but I couldn’t. I also wanted to love him, but I couldn’t. I had a very strong love/hate relationship with him. I think there’s much more to him than meets the eye, even knowing from the beginning that he’s an Everliving–the immortals that feed on the emotions of humans. I’m excited to see how his character progresses and falls into the rest of the series. And, I’m super excited to see how my feelings for him will change or maybe even remain the same–confused and intrigued by him.

I love how the book ended and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one because there’s so much potential to this story.

Personal Note

I was surprised to find out that I was mentioned in the Acknowledgements. I was also very moved.

Hugs all around for friends who have helped me through the madness of trying to get a book published, either by reading early drafts or providing emotional support and chocolate: … Jenni Elyse.

Thanks, Brodi! Any time I can help lift up your spirits, you can count on me.

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

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15

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Series: Stand-alone with two companion books
Genre: Contemporary Romance (YA)
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Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion … she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit–more sparkly, more fun, more wild–the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket–a gifted inventor–steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

There are a few very slight spoilers in this review. However, I don’t think it will ruin the book for you if you haven’t read it.

I was so excited to read Lola and the Boy Next Door because I loved Anna and the French Kiss so much. And, even though I love Anna more, Lola didn’t disappoint me. It was such a fun story!

I loved Lola’s parents (all three of them). You could tell that they really loved her and wanted what was best for her. I also loved that they weren’t absent like most parents are in YA stories. It made for some interesting dynamics.

“I was crazy about you, but I didn’t know what to do. It was paralyzing. There were so many times when I wanted to take your hand, but … I couldn’t. That one small move felt impossible.” Cricket

I loved Cricket from the get go. He was such a great guy. He was so nice and so devoted to Lola that I almost thought he was too good for her. But, in the end, I changed my mind and realized that they were perfect for each other.

I had a hard time with Lola a little bit. Most YA characters act older than they are, but I felt like Lola acted her age–seventeen. And, because of that, she seemed a little immature, whiny, and selfish at times. But, she grew on me and I realized she was just confused and didn’t know what she wanted like most teenagers her age. By the end of the book, I really liked her.

I loved reading about all of her awesome outfits. I kept thinking how would it be to dress like her? It would be so fun, but I don’t think I could deal with the insults like she did. I’m too self-conscious. I’m glad she was able to find herself because she struggled with who she was amidst all her crazy outfits.

I especially loved seeing Anna and Étienne from Anna and the French Kiss. It was so much fun to see them from a different perspective and to see that they were still together. Seeing them also reminded me of how much I loved Anna and the French Kiss. I may have to reread it soon.

I’m looking forward to reading more books by Stephanie Perkins and I can’t wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After, the third companion novel. It’ll be fun to see if they all end up in Paris for the reason I think they all would end up there and to see if all three couples come together as friends.

Content Warning

There are a couple of instances of the F-word. Also, this story is a bit edgier than Anna and the French Kiss, but I still loved it.

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

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10

Title: Clockwork Prince
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: Infernal Devices #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, and Romance (YA)
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In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

There are a few very slight spoilers in this review. However, I don’t think it will ruin the book for you if you haven’t read it.

I absolutely adored Clockwork Prince. It has earned a spot on my Favorites shelf and is probably my favorite of all the books Cassandra Clare has written. That’s saying something since it’s the middle book in a trilogy!

This story had it all–suspense, intrigue, humor, love, happiness, and anguish. There were times when I was giddy while reading this story and other times when I wanted to sob because of the heartache I was feeling. And, I have been left on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next, wondering if things will be resolved the way I want them to be, wondering if I even know how I want things to be resolved.

“Will has always been the brighter burning star, the one to catch attention–but Jem is a steady flame, unwavering and honest.” Sophie

It’s funny. I must be getting over my extreme dislike for love triangles because I couldn’t bring myself to hate Will or Jem. I like them both and either one could be good for Tessa. Honestly, I just don’t want either of them to be heartbroken or for this situation to ruin what they have as friends and parabatai. In fact, I was so worried about this that I asked Cassandra Clare about it on Tumblr. And, while she answered my question which I’m so happy about, her answer left me more worried and anxious because of the scenarios she described that could happen. I have a feeling they probably will. I can only hope that things will be okay in the end. (Click here if you’d like to read my question and her answer.)

Clockwork Prince was worth the wait. It definitely met and exceeded my expectations. I loved the story and character development. There’s so many places everything could go that I have a feeling Clockwork Princess is going to be the most intense of the trilogy. I’m excited to see how it all resolves itself. I only hope my heart can take it.

Review: The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

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Title: The Wednesday Wars
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Series: Stand-alone
Genre: Contemporary Historical Fiction (YA)
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Holling Hoodhood is really in for it. He’s just started seventh grade with Mrs. Baker, a teacher he knows is out to get him. Why else would she make him read Shakespeare … outside class?

The year is 1967, and everyone has bigger things to worry about, especially Vietnam. Then there’s the family business. As far as Holling’s father is concerned, the Hoodhoods need to be on their best behavior: the success of Hoodhood and Associates depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? Rats, for one thing; cream puffs, for another. And Ariel’s costume: tights. That’s just for starters. In a series of mishaps and adventures over the course of the school year, fate sneaks up on Holling again and again.

Gary D. Schmidt has written a novel that is at turns comic and compelling, down-to-earth and over-the-top. In The Wednesday Wars, he offers an unforgettable antihero in Holling Hoodhood, a kid from the suburbs who embraces his destiny in spite of himself.

Oh my gosh. What a sweet, comedic story. During this read, there were many times that I laughed out loud, wanted to chuck something at Holling’s father, and felt a warmth so great that I felt like Hallmark couldn’t have produced a better feeling with one of their happy-go-lucky cards.

“When gods die, they die hard. It’s not like they fade away, or grow old, or fall asleep. They die in fire and pain, and when they come out of you, they leave your guts burned. It hurts more than anything you can talk about. And maybe worst of all is, you’re not sure if there will ever be another god to fill their place. Or if you’d ever want another god to fill their place. You don’t want the fire to go out inside you twice.” Holling

As I said, I wanted to chuck something at Holling’s father on more than one occasion. He made me so angry! First off, who in their right mind names their son Holling? Especially with a last name like Hoodhood. Second, he was just a selfish, arrogant jerk. And, I really enjoyed seeing Holling come out from under his grasp and learn that he could be whatever he wanted to be not what his father wanted.

I’ve never been a fan of Shakespeare. I don’t really understand it. The only play I’ve ever read through was Othello. After reading The Wednesday Wars, I really want to read more, especially the plays that Mrs. Baker had Holling read. Holling learned a lot of valuable lessons from those plays, lessons I think I need some help with. Who knew Shakespeare could do that? (I know a lot of people. It’s rhetorical for pity sake.)

The humor in this story was awesome. Normally, I have a hard time laughing out loud when I read. Not because a story isn’t funny, but because it’s usually not blatant enough for me to follow it. I don’t catch subtle humor very well. But, this humor is subtle and blatant. You can’t help but laugh because I was also once a seventh grader. And although I wasn’t a boy in the seventh grade, I still understood what it was like to be a seventh grader. The Wednesday Wars brought back so many memories of how I thought things like a costume made up of “yellow tights with feather on the butt” was the end of the world. Or, how I thought my teachers hated me because of the type of stuff they made me do in class. Or, how if you made one wrong move, because all the other seventh graders thought it was the end of the world too, you were cast aside like a pile of brick. Or, how even being cast aside like that, you could still come out on top.

I’m quite surprised at how much I enjoyed The Wednesday Wars. This is not usually my typical read and I thought that although I may like it, I wouldn’t like it enough to read again. But, I could honestly read this one again and enjoy it just as much the second time around as I did this first time.

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

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Title: Anna Dressed in Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Series: Anna #1
Genre: Horror (YA)
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Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead–keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas’s life.

I’ve never read a ghost story before. And, now having read one, I have no idea why. This was a fun adventure, one I’m looking forward to repeating.

This story was so unique. I didn’t expect anything that happened to happen. Although, since this was my first experience with this type of story, I’m not really sure what I was expecting. All I know is that I loved all the unexpected twists and turns.

I loved Blake’s writing. It was so descriptive. I also loved the characters’ personalities. They all had distinct ones and I loved the humor they brought into such a serious story. I particularly liked that the story was written from Cas’s point-of-view. I don’t read many male points-of-view and it was a refreshing change.

“Yes. Smashing. You’ll be just like those four chaps in the movie. You know the one, with the oversized marshmallow.” Gideon

I absolutely loved all the pop culture references Blake had in Anna Dressed in Blood. It brought back my own memories of experiencing them throughout my life. It helped me relate to the characters better. I just hope this doesn’t date the novel in the future because I think this is one that many generations could enjoy.

I look forward to reading more books by Blake. And, I especially look forward to Anna Dressed in Blood‘s sequel to find out what happens next.

Content Warning

There’s a lot of swearing in this book and a lot of it is the use of the F-word. I didn’t particularly care for it, but I loved the story so much that I was able to look past it and still enjoy it.