Review: Blind by Rachel DeWoskin

Blind
by Rachel DeWoskin
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Publication Date: August 7th, 2014
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780670785223
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Netgalley

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Imagine this: You are fourteen, watching the fireworks at a 4th of July party, when a rocket backfires into the crowd and strikes your eyes, leaving you blind. In that instant, your life is changed forever. How do you face a future in which all your expectations must be different? You will never see the face of your newborn sister, never learn to drive. Will you ever have a job or fall in love? This is Emma’s story. The drama is in her manysmall victories as she returns to high school in her home town and struggles to define herself and make sense of her life, determined not to be dismissed as a PBK – Poor Blind Kid. This heartfelt and heart wrenching story takes you on Emma’s journey and leaves you with a new understanding of the challenges to be faced when life deals a devastating blow. (Goodreads)

Blind is the story of fourteen year old Emma, whose life changed in an instant after being struck by a firework that backfired at a 4th of July party. This is a story about learning to cope with a devastating loss that can change your life forever.

Emma was a really interesting main character. In the beginning of the book, she was scared and insecure and exactly how any of us would feel if we suddenly lost our vision. But as the story progresses, and Emma learns to cope, she becomes a much stronger young lady, one with infinite possibilities ahead of her. The way that Emma came to terms and learns to cope with her blindness felt very realistic. I can only imagine the anger and frustration that she felt for her sudden loss. I thought it was interesting to get to view Emma’s daily life throughout the story. She ‘sees’ with her hands, ears, and mind, instead of with her eyes. To Emma, sounds could be felt and tasted, and words were colors and shapes. It was all very interesting to be inside of Emma’s head during the story, even at times when it was uncomfortable and embarrassing. We get to share all of these feelings with Emma.

This book had some really great secondary characters in it. Emma had a really amazing family that was super supportive of her. (Ok, maybe not by one sibling, but everyone else.) I love books where that have really great family ties, and this book definitely had that. Not only that, she had friends that really cared about her, even when she thought that no one did.

Most of the storyline for the book revolves around Emma learning to cope and come to terms with her blindness. I can only imagine how hard a feat this would be to achieve, but DeWoskin did a wonderful job describing all the things that Emma had to go through. The story is very descriptive, especially about all the things that Emma is hearing, touching and thinking, and I think that really helps the readers to ‘see’ what Emma sees. The book definitely puts into perspective all of the things that people take for granted; like being able to see.

Overall; I thought Blind was a really interesting book.  I can’t say that I’ve read many books where the main character is blind, and it was really different to read the book from Emma’s point of view. I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Waiting on Wednesday #163 - Love, Lucy by April Lindner

Love, Lucy
by April Lindner
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Publication Date: January 27th 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 9780316400695



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While backpacking through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to college, 17-year-old Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the culture, the architecture, the food...and Jesse Palladino, a handsome street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home, determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too.

Inspired by E.M. Forster's A Room with a View. (Goodreads)

Summer in Italy??
Count me in!
Maybe it's because I'm still on a summer reading kick at the moment,
but this book sounds like it's going to be a really fun read.
I can't wait to check it out!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Review: Trial By Fire by Josephine Angelini

Trial By Fire
(The Worldwalker Trilogy #1)
by Josephine Angelini
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Publication Date: September 2nd 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781250050885
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: From Publisher for Review

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This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected. (Goodreads)

I was super excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of Trial By Fire, as I adore Josephine Angelini’s ‘Starcrossed’ series and I couldn’t wait to see what she had in store for us next. I was definitely not disappointed by this new book! It made for a fascinating read.

After being humiliated by her best friend, who is also her long time crush, Lily Proctor has had enough. Tired of being sick and overlooked all the time, she wants nothing more than to just disappear. When she hears a little voice asking her if she was ready, she gives in, and finds herself in a world that is so unlike the one she knew before.

When we first meet Lily in the book, she is a sickly and fragile character whose life-threatening allergies keep her from being a normal teenager. But once she enters this new world, things start to change for her dramatically. Not only is she no longer plagued by the allergies that held her back before, but she realizes just how strong she really is and all the things that she could never do before. I loved watching Lily bloom into this stronger character. She turned into a really kick-butt heroine.

Roman is the main love interested in the story, and he is oh so swoon-worthy. I loved his interactions with Lily and how he taught her so much about becoming a witch. They were a really great, strong couple. Not only was Roman a great character, but there were SO many other great secondary characters in the story that I grew to love. And a few I even grew to hate.

The storyline for the book was fascinating, and kept me engrossed throughout the whole book. I’ve always been an infatuated by the witches, and especially the Salem Witches. And while Salem Witches is the background for the story, I really love that Angelini took the subject and made it all her own. I also really enjoyed the uniqueness of the story, and can honestly say that I’ve not read anything like this before. I loved it!

Overall; Trial By Fire is the wonderful beginning of a very promising series! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next books in the series, as I must know what is going to happen next for these characters!

Review: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Mortal Danger
(Immortal Game #1)
by Ann Aguirre
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Publication Date: August 5th 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 372
ISBN: 9781250024640
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: From Publisher for Review

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Revenge is a dish best served cold.

In Ann Aguirre's Mortal Danger, Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn’t imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She’s not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he’s impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly . . . bad things are happening. It’s a head rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil’s bargains, she isn’t sure who—or what—she can trust. Not even her own mind.(Goodreads)

Mortal Danger is the first book that I’ve read by Ann Aguirre. I was really looking forward to starting the book as I had heard many great things about the author. The book was not what I expected, but was an intriguing read.

When we first meet Edie in the story, she’s absolutely had enough, she can’t take anymore of the torture that her classmates put her through on a daily basis. Not being beautiful or rich makes you a target for bullies at her exclusive private school. And the torture that her classmates put her through was brutal. So when she meets Kian and he proposes an opportunity to change all that, she jumps at his offer. Little does she know that while things might get better, they can also get much worse. 

I found parts of Edie’s ‘transformation’ into a popular girl to be a little unrealistic. Mostly that while she never had confidence and was super insecure before, she was instantly able to overcome that one she changed. It would have been nice to see her grow into her new confidence a little more. I liked that she didn’t really turn into a ‘mean girl’ once she changed, especially since that was pretty much her plan all along. While she wanted revenge on the people that had humiliated and tortured her in the past, she never actually did anything bad to them, and when things did start to happen to them, she felt really bad. I felt really bad for Edie for the things that had happened not only in her past, but for the things that happened after her change as well.

Kian was a very mysterious character. I was curious about him throughout the whole book, and I was on the fence on if he was trustworthy or not, especially knowing that he could have helped Edie SO many times in the past but didn’t. That made me feel a bit leery of him, and it bothered me that Edie was able to overlook it so easily. However, he definitely does have the swoon-worthy factor going on, and that is always a plus.

The storyline for the book was interesting, but also a bit confusing. There were a lot of characters to have to keep up with, and also some information in the book that just left me hanging. I had a lot of questions when I finished reading the book, as I felt a lot of things were left undone, but I’m hoping that we will get answers to those questions in the next book. I did enjoy the creepiness of the novel, and that it constantly kept me guessing on what would happen next.

Overall, while I didn’t love this book, I did think that it was pretty interesting read, and the series definitely has potential. I’m curious to see what is going to happen in the rest of the series for these characters.

Waiting on Wednesday #162 - The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma

The Walls Around Us
by Nova Ren Suma
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Publication Date: March 24th 2015
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
ISBN: 9781616203726



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“Ori’s dead because of what happened out behind the theater, in the tunnel made out of trees. She’s dead because she got sent to that place upstate, locked up with those monsters. And she got sent there because of me.”

The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices—one still living and one long dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries.

We hear Amber’s story and Violet’s, and through them Orianna’s, first from one angle, then from another, until gradually we begin to get the whole picture—which is not necessarily the one that either Amber or Violet wants us to see.

Nova Ren Suma tells a supernatural tale of guilt and innocence, and what happens when one is mistaken for the other. (Goodreads)

So, I've never actually read a book by Nova Ren Suma,
but I've had both Imaginary Girls and 17 & Gone on my to read list for a while now.
The Walls Around Us sounds like it's going to be a really awesome read.
I've added it to my to-read list, and I can't wait to check it out!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Review: Magnolia by Kristi Cook

Magnolia
by Kristi Cook
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Publication Date: August 5th 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781442485358
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss
From Publisher for Review

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In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over. (Goodreads)

Magnolia reads like a Romeo & Juliet story in reverse. Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden’s parents want nothing more than for them to be a couple, and to eventually unite their two families through marriage. However, Jemma and Ryder are not having any of it. In fact, they pretty much hate each other, and have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. That is until a hurricane blasts through their southern town, terrifying everyone in its path, and shakes the true feelings out of these two stubborn kids.

Jemma was a really interesting character to read about. Not only is she a cheerleader and a good student, she’s awesome pretty awesome with a camera and a prized pistol shooter. She also has a bit of a rebellious nature in her, and that rebellion is mostly against the future that her parents want for her. She knows what she wants from her future, and it’s not the future that her parents had in mind for her. The only thing that bothered me about Jemma was that at times she seemed a bit indifferent about some of the things that were going on around her. Otherwise, I found her to be a pretty likable character.

Ryder was such a swoon-worthy character. I love that he was a completely perfect southern gentleman throughout the whole story. Although he also wanted to rebel against the future that his parents had planned out for him, he also did want that future as well. Of course, he couldn’t let anyone know this. Ryder was definitely my favorite character in the story. And together, when they weren’t being stubborn or fighting, Jemma and Ryder were super cute together.

Living in Tennessee all my life, I really loved the southern feel to the story. Cook really described the southern parts spot on for how some things are in the south.  I also really enjoyed the laid back feel to this book, except when the storm was raging. The book had a good flow through it, and it kept me turning the pages.

Overall; I thought that Magnolia was a really cute read. It’s great to read if you need something fluffy to pass the time. Add it to your to-read list today!

Review: The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson

The Kiss of Deception
(The Remnant Chronicles #1)
by Mary E. Pearson
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Publication Date: July 8th 2014
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pages: 486
ISBN: 9780805099232
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: ARC from Publisher

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A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.

She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love. (Goodreads)

I received The Kiss of Deception a few months ago, and sadly it sat on my shelf for longer than I care to admit. When I finally had a chance to get caught up, it was the first book on my list to read. After finishing the book, I felt like kicking myself for not having read the book sooner, especially since I had already heard so many great things about the book. I loved this story; it was beyond excellent.

After fleeing in secrecy on her wedding day, Lia sets out to find a new life for herself. A life that is free of arranged marriages and political alliances. When she starts her new life in a new town, she finally believes things have changed for the better. Until two new strangers show up in town and threaten to unravel the new life she has begun.

The main character in the story, Lia, is one of those super strong characters that I always love in my books. Of course she wasn’t always this way. She was always told what to do and how to act, not even allowed to choose her own husband. But there was a rebellious fire burning inside of her, and she finally decided to act on it. I liked that while she was a princess, she put all of that aside when she started her new life and did what she had to do to survive. It was very admirable.

I really want to go on and on about the two strangers that show up in Lia’s life, but I really think you should read the story yourself and form your own thoughts about them. Let’s just say that they were both swoon-worthy and hard to resist, and each for different reasons. While it was set up to be a bit of a love triangle, it really didn’t feel that way to me. I did, however, pick a side pretty early on in the story.

The story is told from mainly from Lia’s point of view, but every now and then we get a chapter that is from someone else’s point of view. While the chapters were titled for everyone but Lia, it’s titled in a vague way that will keep you guessing on whose point of view you are actually reading from. I LOVED THIS! It made the mystery even sweeter as you go through the book.

I loved the storyline and setting for the novel. Not only was the world building intriguing, but the character development was as well; and not with just one specific set of characters, but with ALL of the characters in the story. Also, it almost felt like there were two different parts of this story, and the story changes about halfway through the book. So really, it’s like you get to go on two different adventures instead of one.

I have a super short attention span, so sometimes when reading a really long book I find myself getting bored and wanting the book to end already. That was not the case with this book. Even after reading 486 pages, I did NOT want this book to end!  And now I’m dying for the next book to be released. I must find out what’s going to happen next!

Overall; if you’re into fantasy reads, I definitely recommend that you check out The Kiss of Deception. It was just what I needed to pull me out of my reading slump. I was completely taken in by the story, and now I’m longing for the next book in the series, The Heart of Deception! Add both of these books to your to-read list today!

Waiting on Wednesday #161 - The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons

The Glass Arrow
(Untitled Trilogy #1)
by Kristen Simmons
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Publication Date: February 10th 2015
Publisher: Tor Teen
ISBN: 9780765336613



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The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning. (Goodreads)

Sooooo... I'm kind of REALLY excited about this book.
Did you read the synopsis???
It sounds like it's going to be a great start to an awesome series!
I can't wait to check it out!
Is it February yet???

I adored Kristen's Article 5 series, if you haven't read those books,
you TOTALLY SHOULD!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After
(Anna and the French Kiss #3)
by Stephanie Perkins
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Publication Date: August 14th 2014
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 339
ISBN: 9780525425632
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Source: Own
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IndieBound

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new. (Goodreads)

I’ve been waiting over 2½ years to get my hands on Isla and the Happily Ever After, and now that I’ve finished it I can honestly say, it was definitely worth the wait. Stephanie Perkins has totally outdone herself with this novel. As much as I loved Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, my new favorite book in this series is definitely Isla and the Happily Ever After!

Isla and the Happily Ever After is Isla and Josh’s story. Isla has had a crush on Josh since she first saw him three years ago at SOAP, School of America in Paris. After a chance meeting one night in a small café, Isla finally summons up the courage to talk to Josh.  Thus begins a whirlwind romance that leaves them both falling hard for each other.  But is a happy ever after in their future, or will fate pull them apart?

Isla was such a great character. She was very shy and patient, but she also had a lot of insecurities that were hard for her to overcome. I found her to be an extremely likeable character. Josh is oh-so-swoon-worthy, and also very easy to like. While he seems to be almost perfect at times, he has his own set of insecurities and doubts that he deals with on a daily basis. But that just makes you love him even more. These characters were so alike, and yet so different, that they worked perfectly together. They were so freaking cute, it was so sweet.

The secondary characters in the novel were all very well written, especially Kurt, Isla’s best friend who is autistic. I really liked the families for both characters as well, even though we really don’t get to see as much of either family as much as I would have liked. I also love that we get to revisit with some of the characters that we have already met previously in the series. It was great to ‘catch up’ with them.

As I’ve mentioned before in my previous reviews, I am a sucker for a good love story. I can’t help it, I just can’t resist them. And I especially love a book that brings out all the feels. This book brought out so many emotions in me. There was happiness and sadness, embarrassment and jealousy, and even anger and immense joy. You will feel all these things and more when reading this book. All the feels, seriously, you will feel them.

The ending of the book made me squeal like a little school girl. It’s an ending that will leave you feeling super giddy long after you turn the last pages. It was SO SWEET. I thought the story wrapped up the series very nicely, even though I think there are people in the series that more stories could be written about. That would be awesome!

Overall, this book was a wonderful ending to an already wonderful series. I really hate to see it come to an end, as I love these characters and their stories. If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend that you do so, as soon as possible. If you loved Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, you’re definitely going to love Isla and the Happily Ever After as well!


Also in this series....



Anna and the French Kiss  |  Lola and the Boy Next Door

Waiting on Wednesday #160 - The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites
(The Young Elites #1)
by Marie Lu
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Publication Date: October 7th 2014
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
ISBN: 9780399167836



Available for Pre-Order:
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I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt. (Goodreads)

I have a confession...
I've never read a book my Marie Lu before.
{ducks for cover}
I've wanted to read the Legend series for so long now,
I must get to it soon.
I managed to snag a copy of The Young Elites from Penguin's First To Read program,
and I'm super anxious to start the book.
So excited!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**