Book Review: Spindle by E.K. Johnston

Release Date: December 6th, 2016
Read: October 12th-December 6th, 2016
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: A Thousand Nights, #2
Format: ARC, 386 pages
Source: BEA 2016

Description from GoodReads:

   The world is made safe by a woman...but it is a very big world.

   It has been generations since the Storyteller Queen drove the demon out of her husband and saved her country from fire and blood. Her family has prospered beyond the borders of their village, and two new kingdoms have sprouted on either side of the mountains where the demons are kept prisoner by bright iron, and by the creatures the Storyteller Queen made to keep them contained.

   But the prison is crumbling. Through years of careful manipulation, a demon has regained her power. She has made one kingdom strong and brought the other to its knees, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When a princess is born, the demon is ready with the final blow: a curse that will cost the princess her very soul, or force her to destroy her own people to save her life.

The threads of magic are tightly spun, binding princess and exiled spinners into a desperate plot to break the curse before the demon can become a queen of men. But the web of power is dangerously tangled--and they may not see the true pattern until it is unspooled.

Review:

   They have to make sure there aren't any loose threads.
   It took me a long time to get through Spindle, almost 3 months to be exact. Although that mostly had to do with school taking up most of my time, but the story itself was also kind of slow.
   I went into Spindle thinking it was just going to be a Sleeping Beauty retelling, I also went into it knowing that it was a sequel to A Thousand Nights, but you would not need to have read the first book in order to understand Spindle. Knowing that, I was excited to hop into the book. I found myself a little disappointed with the story, I found the idea to be interesting but for some reason I could just not find a hook in the story to keep me enticed.
   Overall, my favourite part of the story was what I believe a Islamic/Arabic feel to it. The world having been made up, had no specific location in our world associated with it, but the characters and people in the story could be connected to the specific culture(s). The characters names, their customs, their attire, they could all be associated with the culture. My favourite part was that it was obviously not the main focus of the story, but rather just who they were as people, and not just something added to further the plot. There aren't enough of these kinds of stories in YA, and I look forward to seeing more stories like this in the future.
  Spindle was a story filled with mythical creatures and adventure, I would definitely recommend to people who are fans of retellings. 

   

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"This is how curses work. They poison everything."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Sleeping Beauty, Adventure, Magical Creatures

Book Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: October 15th, 2013
Read: April 22nd-May 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: The Darkest Minds, #2
Format: ARC, 512 pages
Source: Gift

Description from GoodReads:

   Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

   When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 


   As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself? 

Review:

   Give 'em hell, darlin.
   I thought after what occurred in The Darkest Minds, that Never Fade would be as exciting as the first novel in the series. The Darkest Minds certainly left us off in a good place for it to be so, but unfortunately that was not the case for me, I found it to be a slow and not as entertaining novel.
   The whole book was honestly just ridiculous to me, Ruby our main character had made a deal in the first novel that left her in the possession of the Children's League, and all it was a one giant bad decision. She could clearly see how bad the League was, and the things that were doing were wrong, but she stayed with them anyway. Even with the deal she made, it was honestly not in her best interest, even if it was to protect Liam.
   With such a slow pace, and nothing really important happening until the very end, I found Never Fade not to be to my taste. The only reason I'd consider picking up the final book in the trilogy would be to see how the final events in Never Fade, play out in In The Afterlight. 

   

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"Ghosts don't haunt people--their memories do."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian, Paranormal, Post-Appocalyptic, Super Powers

Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Release Date: October 22nd, 2013
Read: March 23rd -April 22nd, 2014
Publisher: Disney- Hyperion
Series: The Darkest Minds, #1
Format: Paperback, 488 pages
Source: Bought

Description from GoodReads:

   When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

   Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.' to

Review:

   I'm afraid of how much I don't know.

   I had heard about The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken, so very long ago. Time went by and then I found myself with an ARC of Never Fade, the sequel to The Darkest Minds, but I still hadn't picked up the series to read. It wasn't until I was leaving for my school trip and needed something to read that I went finally and picked up the first book.
   Starting the book I instantly got dija vu, like I'd read a book similar to this one before. Children suddenly getting powers, I'd just felt like I've seen it before. Fortunately that didn't stop me from continuing on with the story.
   I loved how The Darkest Minds had so many things going on in the story all at once, the objective to get to Slip Kid, the ongoing chase of the four, on the road to get away from Cate and the League, and from the PSF's, it all created an adventurous read that even with the slightest addition to the game board making it all that more interesting. And that's exactly what happened at the end of the novel, making the cliffhanger more unbearable.
   I loved Ruby, even with her rough situation of her powers, especially when they caused her to loose so many important things in her life, she stood strong and would always try to keep Zu, Chubs and Liam safe. Her need to protect them made her all that more of an admirable character.
   I also enjoyed reading about Liam, he reminded me a lot of one of my closest friends, so I would always picture them the same.
   I'm glad I finally got around to reading The Darkest Minds, It was an exciting fast paced read that I would recommend to anyone in need of a  little bit of adventure. Now onto Never Fade!
   

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"The Darkest Minds tend to hide behind the most unlikely faces."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy:

Young Adult, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Dystopian, Apocalyptic, super powers, chosen ones, mutations, diseases

Book Blitz: Starflight by Melissa Landers

   Hello and welcome to the Starflight Book Blitz! I am a big fan of Melissa's first series, Alienated and when I heard of Starflight I just knew that it would be another great one! So I hope you all love it and give it a buy!

Starfight by Melissa Landers

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: Starfight, #1
Format: Hardcover, 358 pages

Description from GoodReads:

   Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

   When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

   Hey there, booklovers! 

   I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce the release of STARFLIGHT, the first in a brand new sci-fi series from Disney-Hyperion. I originally pitched this story to my editor as “Overboard” (one of my favorite romantic comedies) meets “Firefly” (an amazing show that was tragically cancelled after one season). STARFLIGHT follows the misadventures of Solara Brooks, a penniless felon who indentures herself to her high school nemesis, Doran Spaulding, in exchange for passage to a new world. But when Doran’s memory is temporarily erased, Solara convinces him their roles are reversed—that she’s the master and he’s the servant—and leads him onto a renegade spaceship, where intergalactic shenanigans ensue. STARFLIGHT is very different in tone from the Alienated trilogy, but the story is still filled with all the things I love: humor, heart, and adventure.

   What do reviewers have to say?

   “Get ready for blast-off! Action-packed and utterly addictive, nobody writes like Melissa Landers. A smart, satisfying romance set in a vividly detailed world, Starflight was just plain fun!” –New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman

   “Teens will be bracing themselves during the swashbuckling action scenes. A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” –School Library Journal

   “A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” –Booklist 

   If you like your sci-fi adventure served with a side of romance, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of STARFLIGHT today. It’s now available in stores and online.

   Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi www.melissa-landers.com.

geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit

   To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a STARFLIGHT swag pack, complete with custom nail wraps, bookmarks, and a mini poster! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

   Best of luck, and happy reading!

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   Thanks for stopping by, and good luck with the giveaway!

Waiting on Wednesday: (43)

Every Last Word

Tamara Ireland Stone

Disney-Hyperion

Expected: June 16th, 2015

Description from GoodReads:

   If you could read my mind, you wouldn't be smiling.

   Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. 

   Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn't help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she'd be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam's weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

   Caroline introduces Sam to Poet's Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more "normal" than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear. 

Why I Want It:

   I've heard nothing but good things about Every Last Word, enough to make me really want to read it. I'm not a big fan of contemporary, but I'm excited to give this one a try!

Book Blitz: Invaded by Melissa Landers

   I am so thrilled to help Melissa Landers with her release week launch party for INVADED! See a note from Melissa below and make sure to enter the giveaway!

   Hey, fiction lovers. I’m Melissa Landers, author of the Alienated series (YA sci-fi from Disney-Hyperion), and today I’m bouncing with excitement because THE SEQUEL IS FINALLY HERE!

   It’s been a year since we left Aelyx and Cara onboard the intergalactic transport, and INVADED begins with an emotional goodbye as they part ways—Aelyx returning to Earth to salvage the alliance, and Cara continuing to L’eihr to serve out her part of the student exchange. While they’re apart, our star-crossed lovers will face assassination attempts, betrayal, crippling self-doubt, and a sadistic alien Phys Ed class. (Because there’s no escaping PE, even in another galaxy.) When Aelyx and Cara finally reunite…well, let’s just say it’s combustive. ;-)

Invaded by Melissa Landers

Release Date: February 3rd, 2015

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Series: Alienated #2

Description from GoodReads:

   Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

   Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

   Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

   The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return? 

What do reviewers think? I’m glad you asked!

“Readers will love the seamless blend of suspense, humor, and romance set against an interstellar landscape. Dual narratives and a tightly plotted mystery keep the suspense running high, and the chemistry between Aelyx and Cara smolders.” –Booklist

“Excellent character development and integration between modern reality and science fiction. Teens will be rooting for the galactic couple while enjoying the action and suspense that runs through the two volumes.” –School Library Journal

“The protagonists' forced separation gives greater depth to their romance. Each learns to turn a critical eye upon the flaws of their native societies while confronting genuine obstacles to a future together. These complications only underscore the growing sense of menace that propels the narrative to an action-packed climax.” –Kirkus

   I hope you’ll make tracks to the nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of INVADED! If you’re snowed in, here are some easy links to bring the sequel right to you:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Book Depository | Indie Bound | Indigo | Books-A-Million

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information, or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr | Instagram

   To celebrate Invaded's book birthday, Melissa is offering one lucky winner a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble and an autographed swag pack, complete with mini posters of BOTH books! This giveaway is open internationally, and due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

   Best of luck, and happy reading!

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   Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you end up picking up Invaded!