Title: The Chaos of Stars
Author: Kiersten White
Genre: YA, Mythology
Format:  Hardcover, 288 pages
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC provided from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads




Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.


I have a been a huge fan of Kiersten for a long time, since she started writing the Paranormacly series, and honestly there were other books I have read of hers that didn't really do it for me, like Mind Games, but when I saw that she digging into Egyptian Mythology I knew I needed to read it. And i am so glad that I did because I would have missed out on an incredible story.

I thought the premise for this story was amazingly original because it put a spin on a genre that has been many times over. Instead of their being a human trust into the middle of mythological characters, there is a girl who is fully aware of who her family is and the fact that they are immortal. What she doesn't understand is why she isn't. Isadora is a character that I love to read, because she is fiercely independent but still longs to be loved by her family. No matter how many times she tries to deny it, her family means everything to her and i loved reading that.

What would a YA novel be without a love interest right? And I really loved this, not only because he was adorable and cute, but because of what it meant for Isadora. She refused to believe that she felt anything for him when it fact it was the exact opposite and the reveal of their true identities was brilliant because it brought forth a story line that includes mystery and the unknown. Which I love and honestly I cannot wait to see where Keirsten goes next because the end of this book was amazing and I seriously hope that there is more in this world because there is more there, and I really hope I get to read it someday. This was a refreshing way of looking at Egyptian Mythology and if you love that type of thing, this book is definitely for you. It is dark and funny, with some amazing historical facts mixed in. Amazing.

Title: The Bitter Kingdom
Author: Rae Carson
Genre: YA, High Fantasy
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC provided via edelweiss for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads





The epic conclusion to Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy. The seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen will travel into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny.

Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most.


What I have loved about this series from the very beginning was its ability to be a high fantasy young adult novel with the cliches of most stories out there today. Rea Carson is not afraid to kill off characters (very much like George R.R Martin), which is something I commend her doing, because it keeps us readers on the edge of our seats because we have no idea what she will do next. And I am happy to say that the tradition does not end with this last book in the series.

What I loved most about this conclusion was that we didn't just have Elisa's narrative but w also had Hectors. If you have read this series you will understand the brilliance of this element of the story. He is probably one of the most interesting love interests out there right ow and he does not disappoint in this book. And I really want to thank Rea Carson for giving me exactly what I had been waiting for; A window into Hectors mind.

Many questions were answered in this conclusion and i loved that certain characters grew even more through this book. For example, Mara and Belin were probably some of my favourite characters in this book because their personalities were heightened in this book which made them amazing to read. I loved their history together and their loyalty to Elisa. These two became essential to the advancement of the plot and it made me elated to see then being used so much more.

The one thing that diminished my liking of this book was the pacing. I thought that this was could have actually been two books, and that certain scenes were incredibly rushed- especially the final battle scene. In that scene I felt myself feeling the same way I felt reading the last Harry Potter book- a little disappointed and ripped off. We had been waiting through two books for this confrontation and it only lasted a chapter or two, and I was waiting for much more than I received. I felt like the actual ending did not live up to the build up from the previous two books. I just wish that there was more at stake because to me, it seemed clear what was going to happen. I guess I just wanted one last twist.

Overall I really enjoyed this last book in the Fire and Thorns trilogy and I am very happy that I stayed with the story through all of these years. It is a great series for fantasy lovers and i am telling you right now, you need to read this series, if only for Hector ;)

Title: Just Like Fate
Author: Cat Patrick & Suzanne Young
Genre: YA, Alternate Universe
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: eARC provided by publisher via edelweiss for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads





Caroline is at a crossroads. Her grandmother is sick, maybe dying. Like the rest of her family, Caroline's been at Gram's bedside since her stroke. With the pressure building, all Caroline wants to do is escape--both her family and the reality of Gram's failing health. So when Caroline's best friend offers to take her to a party one fateful Friday night, she must choose: stay by Gram's side, or go to the party and live her life.

The consequence of this one decision will split Caroline's fate into two separate paths--and she's about to live them both.

Friendships are tested and family drama hits an all-new high as Caroline attempts to rebuild old relationships, and even make a few new ones. If she stays, her longtime crush, Joel, might finally notice her, but if she goes, Chris, the charming college boy, might prove to be everything she's ever wanted.

Though there are two distinct ways for her fate to unfold, there is only one happy ending...


I feel like alternate universes are the new "it" plot line and I have to say that I am A-OK with that. There are so many things to explore with that plot line and I have to say that I really liked what Cat Patrick and Susanne Young did in Just Like Fate.

This book is in no way paranormal, which I loved. It does not go into alternate universes in the traditional sense. It takes what we know about this type of book and strips it down to its bare minimum. We meet Caroline just as she finds out her Grandmother is dying and one night she has the option to either stay with her family and her grandmother, or go out with friends. And it is here where the real story begins and the authors genius reveals itself. This story is both of those stories rolled into one. In alternating chapters we follow Caroline on each journey and they are both extremely touching and heartwarming.

What I think I loved about this story was its message. That even if you are faced with a difficult choice in your life, and it feels like one is better than the other. It is not. You have to follow what you feel in that moment and everything will turn out alright. Caroline's character was brilliant. She was selfish at times, but also showed extreme love towards her family and especially her grandmother.

This book was an amazing read, and I loved every second of it. The love story, well both love stories were great catalysts for each other and I loved that both drew out the same emotions in Caroline's character. Within both of these relationships she had her character never changed and I loved that. She was always true to who she was and what she loved and that was very apparent at the end of the novel. Which, by the way I loved. If you read this book you will smile from ear to ear at the end because it is just perfect, and you don't even think its what you want until you see it and then you realize just how perfect an ending it is. Brilliant.

Title: In the After
Author: Demitria Lunetta
Series: In the After #1
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: eARC copy provided by publisher via Edeweiss for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads




They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

This book had been very high on my list of books to read because I was hearing so many amazing things from a lot of bloggers and readers. And usually hype is not something I want to read with a book, because it allows for a very big let down. But in this instance I am happy to say that this book lived up to all of my expectations.

Demitria Lunetta is a talent that I am so glad I discovered because this story was so creepy from beginning to end, and what I think  I loved most was the reveal at the end of the novel. I did not see it coming and it changed my entire perspective of the entire story. You think you are reading one thing, but then it turns out to be something completely different. It takes a lot of surprise me and I loved that this book was able to do that.

I also loved the way each of the characters developed throughout the story. At the beginning we meet Amy who was home alone when "They" attacked. She eventually learned how to survive while the world around her collapsed and died. Them she finds a toddler she names "Baby" and then there is another person to think about. I loved their relationship throughout because it felt so real and it thrived in a very complicated scenario. I do want to go into some of the other characters because I feel like it would ruined the book. But there are many people in this book that left me feeling empty and wanting to punch them in the face. I feel like when you read it you will understand.

This story is split into parts, and after the first part I felt like shit hit the fan. The first part was mostly explanation of what happened and how Amy and Baby survived. But after that is where the real story begins and your has to process everything it is seeing. New Hope, the compound that Amy and Baby go to seems so perfect at first, and to Baby it is, but to Amy it is like a prison and there are things that are very wrong about their research and the way things are run. You start to question everything just like Amy, and once the truth is revealed is seems all too possible.

This book cannot be put into one category, is is both Dystopian and Science Fiction. It is both Action/Adventure and Family Drama. That is what makes it so amazing. It is about family and the lengths you will go in order to protect the ones you love. It is about the abuse of power and the impact that power has on humanity. This book is definitely a must read!

Title: Rush
Author: Eve Silver
Series: The Game #1
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Aliens
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Harpercollins
Source: eARC provided from publisher for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads





So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.


I am going to start off by saying that this book was amazing and this review might  have a few gushing moment in it. So you have been warned :)

Now, Rush is a YA novel that has such a unique concept that I don't even know if I can properly explain or give it justice. Let's just say that there is an alternate universe where teenagers are thrust into a "game" where they have to kill Aliens before they take over the earth. It seems pretty straight forward but there is so much more to it than that. But I will let you read the book so you can see for yourself.

I lobed Mikki, she was a fierce young woman who stood up for what she believed in and asked questions, even when she knew she shouldn't. She broke the rules, was independent and was strong. She was far from perfect and you could see that with her relationships, and how they were effected with her participation in the game. The other characters were just as amazing, Carly, Mikki's best friend was infuriating at times, especially near the end, but I found myself wanting to smack her so many times. Luka was a great character because he was mysterious, but really to Mikki because she had known him years prior. I found him to be very sweet, but at times I wanted him to grow a pair and stick up for his obvious feelings towards Mikki.

And then there is Jackson. I have officially made him one of my new book boyfriends. He was so aggravating throughout the entire book! he was sarcastic, cryptic and terribly dangerous (which is a great combination in YA, RIGHT?). But then Eve would writ in moment where you saw his true feelings towards Mikki and his true personality and I feel in love with him right away. He was a great catalyst for Mikki's character who liked to be in control all the time. They were a great pair.

This book was a rush (pun intended). it was pulse-pounding with action and adventure, with palpitating with potential romance and sexual tension. But Eve Silver, you are a mean woman with the way you ended the book. How dare you make me wait for the next book like that! ;) Everyone needs to pick up this books ASAP because it is a MUST READ!

Title: Another Little Piece
Author: Kate Karyus Quinn
Genre: YA, Horror, Paranormal
Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: eARC provided by publisher for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | TBD | Goodreads






The spine-tingling horror of Stephen King meets an eerie mystery worthy of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series in Kate Karyus Quinn's haunting debut.

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past.


This book was not what I expected at all . I was ready for creepy, but not to this extent. Another Little Piece breaks apart the YA Horror genre and makes into something that will haunt you from the very last page.

Kate Karyus Quinn is a talent I am so happy I discovered. At times when reading I questioned her sanity--but in a good way :). The main character Annaliese was a great character because she was essentially two characters in one. She was not the real Annaliesse that went missing a year prior, but she was also the only link we had to the real one. It is a great concept that took me completely by surprise. You have to decide early on if you believe what Annaliesse is saying. Is she really an imposter or is she just insane? But once the memories of past missing girls appear in Annaliesses mind, you what to believe.

I will warn you that there are some scenes in this book that rival some of the best Stephem King novels and I found myself cringing while I read. It felt like I was watching a movie unfold in front of my with every turn of the page. Another Little Piece is intensely unique with an author that has unmasked amount of talent. The level of writing was a pleasure to read. Kate has the ability to make you forget you are reading a novel, and I found myself invested in Annaliesse before I knew what was happening.

Another Little Piece is a book that needs to be read by YA fans because it is something rare and beautiful. It should be recognized for its pure ability to captivate and shock. And its author should be recognized not only for her prose writing ability but for her poetry as well. This was my favourite aspect of this story. It was our way to get to know the real Annalese and her poetry was the one thing that has stayed with me since I finsihed reading. Here is my favourite:

I am...

I am not the sum
of my imperfections. 
scars, pimples, and excess fat
do not define me. 
I am not your opinion
of who I am.
smart or smart-ass,
loquacious or shy-
only I know
all that I hold inside.
my failures of today are not
the measurement for the
success of my tomorrows.
now i appear weak
but I am not always
what I seem to be. 
This is not even close
to all there is
of me. 

I dare you to
underestimate me.
-Annaliese Rose Gordan
(Another Little Piece, page 266)

This book is so much more than a horror novel. It is the story of a girl desperate to find who she is, and it is the failure that comes with asking for too much. This book was, and is, a story that everyone should read. It gives new meaning to love, desperation and friendship. It is a book that should be on everyone's TBR list.