ARC Review: Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press
336 Pages

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

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Defy is love story set in a fantasy world where gender discrimination is high. In order to avoid being taken to the breeding house when their village is raided, Alexa’s twin brother quickly cuts off her hair and passes her as a boy. The two are trained for the kings’ army and then assigned to the Prince’s Royal Guard. There are secrets and lies littered throughout this book that it’s extremely hard to know who to trust. And unfortunately, the story is a little predictable. 

Larson’s set up of the world is pretty good. Early on, we get a nice overview of the world we are reading about and the war that is threatening the people. Under the current king rule, all conquest of war are separated into two different stations: boys are trained to fight, girls are sent to the breeding houses. The breeding houses (exactly what they sound like) creeped me out and every time I read about them I just wanted to put the book down. 

There is a love triangle in this book. The writer lets us know that right in the description of the book. So the story tends to veer away from strength in fighting the gender stereotypes and right into which boy should Alexa choose, which disappointed me a little. I loved the idea of a girl hiding in plain sight in a man’s world. Alexa is a strong character, but I feel this got lost somewhere. When she’s around the Prince or Rylan it becomes “ooh look at his abs” “ooh he’s so pretty”.  And then there’s her attitude of “I want to be treated like a boy” and then two seconds later “why aren’t they treating me like a girl? Do they not think that I’m pretty?”.

The most interesting character to me was Prince Damian. From Alexa’s description of him early on:

There had been a moment when I’d first met him when I wished I didn’t have to hide that I was a girl. But then he’d opened his mouth to speak, and it didn’t take long for me to come to dislike him.

To watching him grow throughout the course of the book, I was intrigued by him. While I guessed a majority of his secrets, I felt for him. He was a Prince of a kingdom under a rule of a king he didn’t support, but had to pretend in order to survive. He was one character that I honestly questioned throughout. His motives were either blatantly obvious or extremely secretive and I kept trying to figure out which way Larson was leaning. 

My one wish, and this may be slightly spoilerish, was that I wished that both Rylan and the Prince didn’t know Alexa was a girl. While it made sense that Rylan knew, I would liked to have seen the struggle with the Prince and his feelings for a “boy” of his guard. It seemed a little easy that they both knew and in this, we lost a storyline of something a little deeper. 

Overall, it was an enjoyable book and I look forward to the next one to see what happens.

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

Book Review: The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: September 18, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic
409 Pages

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

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I have to be honest and say if Jenn hadn't kept pushing me to read this, I probably would've waited until the entire series had been released, maybe even longer to pick up The Raven Boys. But her raving about this book, and its sequelThe Dream Thieves, piqued my curiosity to a level that I just couldn't ignore. So I finally decided to open my copy and I'm so, so glad that I did because damn, that was the most imaginative, and gorgeous story. There was so much mystery behind the magic of The Raven Boys that I found it impossible not to be sucked in.

It is so hard to explain what this novel is actually about, because I'm not even one-hundred percent sure myself. That may sound bizarre, but Maggie Stiefvater really pulls out a unique tale that left me confused, and dying for more. The Raven Boys is basically the story of Blue Sargent, and the four boys that she never would've imagined herself getting entangled with. Gansey, Noah, Ronan and Adam are a band of misfit best friends/brothers on a search for magic that leads them directly into the arms of Blue and her psychic family, but the adventure they embark on will bring twists that they never expected and take them to places of which they had never dreamed.

The plot moves very slowly, but I believe that it really works for the story. Though it moves languidly, it never dragged, and I was never bored. Actually, I was quite fascinated with the set-up and lives of the characters. The intrigue of the plot was just a major bonus. I especially like the incorporation of Latin--that was a new twist on myths. It's rare to see Latin (at least from what I've read) play such a large role in a story, and I thought that made The Raven Boys all the more unique. I cannot wait to see how book two plays out, and what mysteries, adventures and dilemmas lie ahead.

These boys… I love these boys. I didn't expect to feel so much for them, but I do. I hurt when they hurt, and get mad when they are mad. Each one has been through trials of his own and watching them grow and change as the story progressed just blew me away. The author did an excellent job at giving the readers characters with which to connect. It is impossible not to fall in love. What I love even more about this story, and those who lives it revolves around, is that it isn't superficial. It doesn't deal with petty problems, or try to stuff itself full of drama. These characters are humans with faults, flaws and fears who have somehow become a part of this magical adventure. So you can relate, and you can feel what they feel. Blue is definitely included in this. She herself is a mystery that I can't wait to see unfold. I am so curious about her patronage, and why is she is the way she is (magically, I mean). Plus her relationships with the boys made me smile. The dynamic of the group as a whole was just so wonderful. Their wit and ability to play off of each other only made the book that much stronger. I loved reading their interactions, especially when Gansey and Blue are together--their gentle teasing made me giggle. This book is just utterly fantastic.

There is no doubt that Maggie Stiefvater is talented. Her story lines are insanely unique. Her prose is magnificent and captivating. Plus she easily weaves relatable relationships between her characters that make them feel real and connections with said characters are so easy to form. The Raven Boys is no different than Maggie's previous stories in that sense. The tale she created for Blue, Gansey, Adam, Noah and Ronan will leave readers delighted and entranced, begging for the sequel. I know that as soon as I finished, I immediately texted Jenn saying that I was going to pick up book two because I am not quite ready to let go of Blue and her boys and the mischief they've found themselves tied up in.

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

ARC Review: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

The blurb as see on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic Press
448 Pages

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

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All of us have secrets in our lives. We’re keepers or keptfrom, players or played. Secrets and cockroaches – that’s what will be left at the end of it all.

I don’t think I could love this series any more if I tried. The Dream Thieves is the continuation of The Raven Boys. Gansey and Co. are still looking for the lost Welsh king with Blue now a permanent staple in their group. However, the tightknit group they were in the first one is slowly unraveling. Each boy has his own secrets, has his own reason for continuing on in this mission, even Blue is hiding something.  But I adore these characters, flaws and all. While the first book focused more on Blue and Gansey, The Dream Thieves focuses on two of the other boys:

Ronan

Finally, finally, we get to go inside his mind and learn more about him and his family. 

The three brothers were nothing if not handsome copies of their father, although each flatted a different side of Niall himself. Declan had the same way of taking a room and shaking its hand. Matthew’s curls were netted with Niall’s charm and humor. And Ronan was everything that was left: molten eyes and a smile made for war.

Ronan is so broken. My heart hurt for him as he struggled with his newfound power and was overwhelmed as secrets from his past just kept coming out at every turn. Keeping his dream side of him hidden from Gansey took its toll, however. Ronan grew so much in this book and his pain was so raw that you can’t help but root for him. 

Adam 

Sometimes Ronan thought Adam was so used to the right way being painful that he doubted any path that didn’t come with agony.

Oh Adam…what am I ever going to do with you? At the end of The Raven Boys, Adam made a deal with Cabeswater. Now, he’s different and everyone is worried. Through the course of the book Adam struggles to find his place while he’s currently fading away. Adam just wants a place to belong and he wants to get there on his own.

The rest of the gang is still all here: Noah, Blue, and Gansey – who owns my soul. 

Magic was real, magic was real, magic was real.

What I loved about this book, and the series as a whole, is the mystery wrapped in mythology but in a contemporary setting. This is one series that has stayed on my mind since I’ve finished it. I keep going back to it, constantly wanting to reread it and look for more clues as to where this journey will take us. Once again, the writing is so vivid and smart that you don’t really realize how powerful it is until you’ve finished. Each voice is written so distinctly, the characters really standing on their own, making mistakes and growing. There really aren’t many “AHA” moments; it’s more of a slow burn, pulling you in one chapter as a time with its brilliant prose, smartly timed humor, and emotional revelations. 

And the kiss that wasn’t a kiss - just kill me now. That was one of the most heartwrenching yet beautifully written scenes I’ve ever read. The weight of the actions that bear down on the contributing parties aren’t overlooked, in fact, they are always there, hanging over them. It was a “kiss” of what could have been and what can never be. I honestly can’t do it justice, just know that it was perfect.

Maggie Stiefvater, you continue to amaze me with this series and I cannot wait to see what’s in store next. I have my theories, but I’m sure they’re all wrong. All I know is I need more Raven Boys in my life. 

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

The blub as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
468 Pages

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

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“Fate is a very weighty word to throw around before breakfast.” 

Fate: the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.

Are we fated to meet certain people in our lives? Blue Sargent has spent her entire life in Henrietta and has never had any interest in the ‘Raven Boys’ – boys who attend the prestigious local private school, Aglionby. Then on St. Mark’s Eve, she sees the spirit of one and suddenly their fates are intertwined.  

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve, Blue. Either you’re his true love or you killed him.” 

Since Blue has always been told that if she were to kiss her true love he would die, this warning weighs heavily on her. She doesn’t seek him out, but an interesting twist of fate brings him directly to her doorstep.

Richard ‘Dick’ Campbell Gansey III, just Gansey as he likes to be called, has been searching for a dead Welsh king hidden for centuries. He is aided by his friends Adam, Ronan, and Noah.  

They were explorers, scientists, anthropologists of historical magic.

I had read Stiefvater’s work before with the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. And while I enjoyed those, they didn’t really stand out against other books I’ve read. However, The Raven Boys is something I will never forget. The story is told in third person omniscient which works perfectly for this type of tale. We not only get to dive into the heads of our main characters, but we also get to really know those close to them.

This was a very character driven book. The pace was a little slow, but I felt it was perfectly timed (if that even makes sense). I enjoyed the slow reveal of secrets, as I too was trying to solve the mystery. But during this time we got to know and fall in love (and boy did I) with these people. Blue, who only fit in when around her family suddenly found herself the missing piece of a puzzle she didn’t know existed. Gansey with his studious quality and big money perfection who was so obsessed with his mythical king that at times he seemed like two different people. Adam, sweet sweet Adam, who wanted acceptance and freedom not knowing the cost he would have to pay to get it. Angry Ronan who’s past haunted him everyday. And Noah, the sad and extremely patient soul who knows more than we do. I loved each and every one of them. 

The writing and the descriptive way Stiefvater sucks you in and keeps you hooked. The mystery surrounding this group weighs heavy on every page until you’re drowning in it, but I didn’t mind. Suffocate me, as long as I can find the truth along with them. The characters love for each other and deep connection makes this one of the best character work I’ve read. 

The ending was rather poetic, but left me wanting more and I cannot wait to delve into the sequel. Because I am completely owned by these Raven Boys and I guarantee you will be too. 

Cover Reveal: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: March 2014
Publisher: Scholastic
320 Pages

In a perilous race across the world, having the best Pandora can be the difference between life and death. 

Sixteen-year-old Tella Holloway isn’t happy. Her mother rushed them out of Boston and into a craptastic house nestled in Middle of Nowhere, Montana. To make matters worse, Tella’s brother is sick, and though a dozen doctors can’t determine the cause, her mother is sure Montana’s “fresh air” will help. Now Tella spends her days being homeschooled, and uses her imagination as entertainment.

But when a small blue box appears on her bed, Tella’s world is rocked. Inside the strange package she finds a white ear bud—and after she fits it into place and touches its blinking button—an unknown voice fills her head. Tella is invited to join the Brimstone Bleed, a race across four ecosystems: desert, sea, mountains, jungle. The voice in Tella’s ear explains she has 48 hours to retrieve her Pandora, an animal genetically designed to help her win.

Tella has never been the sporty type; she’s more a cheerleader than an athlete. But despite her mother’s warnings, she’s determined to compete in the race. And she’ll do anything to win, because if Tella is the Brimstone Bleed victor, she'll be granted a specific gift—the cure to save her brother’s life.

FIRE & FLOOD is a teen thriller set in modern day.

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Holy crap. Holy. Crap. Look at this cover? I am obsessed. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO WAIT GUYS? I'm sure I am not alone when I say that as soon as pre-orders are available, I will be on this one!