Book Review: This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
427 Pages

There’s no such thing as safe.

Kate Harker wants to be as ruthless as her father. After five years and six boarding schools, she’s finally going home to prove that she can be.

August Flynn wants to be human. But he isn’t. He’s a monster, one that can steal souls with a song. He’s one of the three most powerful monsters in a city overrun with them. His own father’s secret weapon.

Their city is divided.

Their city is crumbling.

Kate and August are the only two who see both sides, the only two who could do something.

But how do you decide to be a hero or a villain when it’s hard to tell which is which?

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Monsters, monsters, big and small,
They're gonna come and eat you all.

Imagine living in a world where the things that go bump in the night actually exist. That's This Savage Song. Monsters are real and they live among us. In fact, they exist because of us. They are our shadows born of evil deeds and have divided a city. On one side you can live with the monsters and you will be safe as long as you have the protection of Harker. On the other side, is Flynn domain - the resistance so to speak. They don't allow the monsters on their side (there's an exception) and are basically trying to make the world a better place.

Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.

There are three types of monsters: the Corsai, the Malchai, and the Sunai. Basically the Corsai and the Malchai are evil. The Sunai, not so much. While the city is overrun by Corsai and Malchai, there are only three Sunai in existence and they live with the Flynns (see? exception). For the most part they cannot die but are able to kill the other monsters. Leo, Isla, and one of our MC's, August make up the Sunai.

Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.

So I don't know if it was just me, but I found this book...dull? Confusing? I don't know. I have very mixed feelings about this one. I liked it but I didn't at the same time. I felt that the world and the monsters weren't well explained. I just didn't get it. Maybe I missed the part where she really explained just exactly how the Corsai and Malchai are made. But I just have so many questions about the validity of this world!

Then there were the characters. I wasn't too fond of Kate. The whole book she was pretending to be someone she's not just to get approval from her father. But because of this it was hard to get to know her. Then with August, he was just like this little puppy monster thing. He was a monster (technically) but wanted to be a puppy...sorry, human. He was at least interesting because of the monster part, but take that away and he would have just been boring.

The side characters were predictable - with the exception of Isla, who seems to be the most interesting person/monster/thing in this book and I'm hoping that Schwab includes much more of her in the second book.

Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.

I realize as I write this that it seems like I should have rated it lower than 3 stars, but I did really like the writing style of Schwab. The world she created was interesting, the plot made me want to know more. I just feel like it wasn't seen through. I didn't get that immersion in a book that I wanted. And I wish it wasn't so predictable. 

 

ARC Review: Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
400 Pages

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

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Ugh...this was just...

Boring.

And I really wanted to love it because that cover is beautiful and I love that same sex relationships are starting to break into young adult, but I just couldn't.

Dennaleia (Denna) travels to the country of Mynaria to wed the Prince with whom she's been promised to since pretty much birth. Their wedding will solidify an alliance between their countries. But Denna's hiding something. She has an affinity for fire - a kind of magic that's not tolerated in her new land. When people start dying from magical means, Denna starts to wonder when they will point the finger at her. And on top of all of her troubles, she seems to have fallen in love with the Prince's sister, Mare. 

Gah! It could have been so good!

But alas, it was mostly people just sitting around talking about what they should do. How has this country survived so long by just placing blame wherever they felt like it. It was pretty much, 'This county over here hates us. It's them. Let's plan an attack.' Great deduction skills there. Never mind all of this evidence to the contrary.

Then there was the love story - or rather, lack of. Mare despises Denna instantly. Then is forced to teach her how to ride a horse (yup, the caretaker of the horses is named Mare...okaayyy...). And somewhere they fall in love. If anyone can find out where this happened in the book, please let me know. I seemed to have missed it and just jumped from hate to love.

And there was no real character development. It's like the author wrote her character descriptions down as:
Mare - hates anything feminine, rebellious, bad
Denna - proper, perfect, good
And that's all. Such a small little box for the two main characters. The side characters weren;t much better. Whatever first line the author used to describe them was basically how they were for the rest of the book - which was mostly things like Prince, King, Lord... no one was interesting. Character growth is so important in books.

The world building was lacking. Important history glossed over to further the plot faster. Also, is this a series? Because it kind of ended like one.

Sigh...pretty cover, I need to stop falling to your whims!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
401 Pages


Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

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Source

Imagine a world where your status was defined by the color of your blood. I know what you're thinking, isn't all blood red? Well, no. In this world, there are the Reds and the Silvers. Reds are the workers, the poor, and seen as the lower class. Whereas, on the opposite spectrum, Silvers are seen as superior, rulers, and are more often than not, rich. And the Silvers also possess mutant like powers, allowing them to manipulate the elements around them. 

17 year old Mare Barrow is a Red. Even worse, she's about to turn 18 and has no job prospects which means upon coming of age, she will be shipped off to the war where most Reds end up dead. When her best friend gets word that he's about to be shipped off, Mare decides it's time to leave. A very good thief, Mare ends up pickpocketing the wrong (or right, depending on how you look at it) persons pocket one night and suddenly finds herself working in the King's palace as a maid. It is there, during the ceremony to find the Prince a bride, that Mare discovers something about herself - she's not quite the Red she thought she was.

Source

Turns out Mare is special, not the first of her kind, but still very rare. Now, not really knowing who to trust, Mare turns to the rebel army in hopes of bringing equality to her country. There's action, love, betrayal, murder, and secrets everywhere. I never knew who to trust and just when I thought I figured it out, something else would happen and I'd have to rethink everything I thought I knew.

 

I really liked Mare as the protagonist. She knew that she was in a shitty situation, but she kept constantly trying to change that. For the most part, her instincts were dead on. The things she was fooled on, I was as well. And while there was a love story, it didn't overpower the main plot. 

Speaking of love story, this one kind of followed the cliched love triangle. There were two guys - princes actually - one she was betrothed to, the other saved her from her fate. Cal and Maven, brothers who are as alike as night and day. I know which one I want her with, but right now, I 'm a little concerned with where this story left off.

There were so many twists and add that to the magical quality and the cliff hanger ending and I just absolutely enjoyed this debut and cannot wait to see how everything plays out.

Source

Book Review: Asa (Marked Men #6) by Jay Crownover

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
384 Pages

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

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We were marked...

 

It's no secret that I love these boys. Crownover has had me hooked since Rule, and hasn't let me go. So, to say that I was super excited for Asa is an understatement. While this may not have been my favorite book of the series, it still held that fire and sass that the Marked Men are known for, and I gobbled up every sentence.

We first met Asa way back in book 2, Jet. And not going to lie, there wasn't a whole lot that was likeable about him. He's an ex-criminal with a rap sheet that could probably cover the state of Texas. He's a con man, a thief, and a liar...or actually he was. A near death experience has Asa rethinking his lifestyle, not to mention, he wants to make up his past mistakes to his sister. Since working for Rome at The Bar, Asa has seemed to turn his life around. At least that's how it looks to everyone else, but to Asa himself, his past will always define him. He's no good, and he's definitely not good enough for that redheaded cop who keeps propositioning him.

Being a cop is all Royal has ever known. When her partner and best friend is injured on the
job, Royal starts to question how good of a cop she actually is, and more importantly, if this is what she should be doing with her life. On a path of self-destruction, Royal sets her sights on Asa. That southern charmer has always been on her mind, but deep down, she knew she should stay away. But now, she doesn't care and she wants Asa.

We tasted like sex and always.

I loved these two together. They were both a mess and both so full of self-loathing, but with each other, they were safe and free. Asa was used to charming the pants of women, but with Royal, he was determined to keep her pants on, so to speak. He fought his own want because of his hatred of himself. Meanwhile, Royal hated herself so much that she just wanted to feel something other than regret. With Asa, she felt everything - good and bad. She also didn't take his shit and constantly called him out.  When Asa finally gives in, he gives in believing he'll tear her up but in reality, she's the one owning him.

My only hitch with this one was that it didn't seem to have the same vibe as the rest. Not that it was a bad thing, but compared to the other books, this one just felt...off. I think it's because Asa was an outsider. He wasn't part of the tattoo crew, and while he was around from almost the beginning, it was more like he was looking through the windows instead of being an active participant. I also think that the lack of the other guys threw me. The Marked Men series has always seemed to be rooted in the friendships of these guys and that just wasn't present here. Most of the story was just Asa by himself. I missed the camaraderie of the gang. 

This series will remain one of my favorites. Each boy has a special place in my heart and I can see myself going back to them multiple times. Crownover's writing style is so real and the characters so vivid. These boys were so alive and jumped off of the page demanding to tell their story. The series wrapped up perfectly with us knowing where each boy lies. And that last paragraph...perfection. Can't wait for the spin-off series!

Book Review: Wait For You (Wait For You #1) by Jennifer Armentrout

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow
384 Pages

Some things are worth waiting for.

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago--an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe--please God--make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she's building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing.

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that's just so... so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet.

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she's has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for.

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I want a Cam. Like seriously, where can I find one?

This was my first book by Jennifer Armentrout. I had read it awhile ago, forgot to write the review, and then reread it so it would be fresh in my mind. And boy, am I glad I did.

Avery is running from her past - all the way across the US to a college far far away from the life she grew up in. Something happened to her when she was fourteen and the repercussions of her actions have followed her since. In her mind, her only option was to run and it's on her first day where she literally runs into Cam. But because of her past, she has no time for him and goes out of her way to avoid contact even when it seems like the fates aren't helping (he lives across the hall from her).

Cam is just adorable. I mean, he has a pet turtle named Raphael. He was funny and sweet, and extremely patient. The author took the time to build a friendship between the two. They had a good rapport with each other and on top of that, you felt their chemistry. Cam never pushed Avery for anything more but was always there when he needed her. He makes her eggs every Sunday, come on!

What bothered me about this book was Avery's lying. She was constantly on Cam about being able to trust him and being honest, yet when he asks her point blank what happened to her, she lies. She lies all the time. And, don't get me wrong, my heart breaks for what she went through and how it was handled - that was horrible and should have never happened. But the way she treats Cam, the getting mad at him for not believing her, everything, I honestly don't understand how he stayed around. Trust is a two way street and that's what Avery couldn't understand.

Aside from that issue, I really enjoyed this book. The side characters also added life to the story so that it wasn't just focused on the two mains. I love when there are strong ensembles in stories. It just makes everything that much more believable. I will be continuing this series because I'm interested in the other characters and what Armentrout can bring to the table.

Book Review: Rowdy (Marked Men #5) by Jay Crownover

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: October 21, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
416 Pages

After the only girl he ever loved told him he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and decided he was going to do everything in his power to live up to his nickname. Life was all about a good time, good friends and never taking much too seriously. Rowdy learned his lesson early on, when you care that much about anything it can destroy you, and he never wants to risk feeling like that again. Only now he has a new coworker, a ghost from the past who’s making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in a house with too many rules, too many regulations, and no fun allowed. That never worked for her so she left it all behind as soon as she could, but she never forgot the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been in love with her little sister. Fate and good intentions from an old friend have placed her right in Rowdy’s path and she’s determined to show him he picked the wrong sister all those years ago. A mission that is going along perfectly until the one person that ties them together shows up and could very well tear them back.

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“I always thought it was the firsts that matter, but now I know it’s the lasts that stay with you.”

Finally! Finally I get to Rowdy’s book. I had an inkling early on that Rowdy would be my boy, and damn, I was not wrong. There was just something about him that hooked me, even though I couldn’t place it. His blue eyes and pompadour just hooked me. And now…now I’m gone.

Source

In previous books in this series, Rowdy St. James comes across as being the carefree one. He’s the one who just rolls with the punches, always looking for a good time. It just seemed like nothing could rattle him. That is until Salem Cruz walks in. Not much was known about Rowdy except that he was in love once in his past and when that ended, he basically just decided that love was too much of an effort. It was something he didn’t need in his life. But it wasn’t Salem that made Rowdy swore off love; it was her little sister, Poppy.

Salem may not have been the one who turned him off of love back in the day, but she did break his heart. When she was younger, she and Rowdy formed an unlikely friendship. Along with Poppy, the three of them grew fiercely close. However, living under the harsh rule of her father proved to be too much and Salem left town as soon as she could. Leaving Rowdy in the dust. But she never forgot him. And when a job opens up in the Marked business, Salem packs up her life and heads to Colorado, completely unprepared for the welcome she receives.

While I was worried about the storyline going in – boy loves one sister, gets dumped, falls in love with the other – I should have known just to trust Crownover. This was more than a classic love story, this was about accepting and facing the past and coming out stronger on the other side. Rowdy’s been running this whole time from the pain inflicted upon him by Poppy, and when Salem shows up, he not only has to face that but also Salem’s betrayal. 

I was a little iffy on Salem in the beginning. She just came in, guns blazing, and basically gave Rowdy no room to process and then she was upset when he didn’t welcome her with open arms. But the more we got to know her, the more I warmed up to her. She didn’t end up being my favorite girl in the series, and honestly I’m not sure that I completely love her with Rowdy, but I did come to appreciate her strength and how much she cared for those around her. And her puppy was just adorable.

Then there was Rowdy.

Source

All of these boys are broken in their own way and I love how each story is so different from the others. None of them overshadow each other and I still care about the other guys when they show up. But it’s Rowdy’s vulnerability and overall sweetness that won me. I loved watching him struggle with understanding the different feelings he felt for both sisters in the past. While he puts on this ‘bad boy’ front, he is more like a lost little boy just waiting for everyone to leave him and I wanted to hug him. So much was thrown at him here- more than just the arrival of Salem- that my heart constantly ached for him. 

All in all, I believe that Rowdy is my favorite book of the series and definitely my favorite boy. I look forward to whatever else Crownover has in store for these boys especially based on the little hints that were dropped in this book. I can’t wait!