Review: The Conspiration of The Universe by Kenneth Olanday

Hello readers! Long time no post? :) Anyway, yes this blog is still alive and today is my stop for The Conspiration of The Universe blog tour.

Title: The Conspiration of the Universe by Kenneth Olanday
Release Date: October 2017
Published by: Popfiction
Source: From the publisher (Thanks Ishi and Jesselle!)

Summary:
Luke believes in a quote by his favorite author -- that is you want something so bad, the universe will conspire to help you get it.

Luke must have wanted to find love so much that Eureka, the heroine of his favorite book, comes to life and falls in love with him.

There is just one catch: once Eureka reaches the end of her book's storylike in the real world, then her story with Luke will end, too.

Will the universe conspire to help the star-crossed lovers find true happiness with each other?

One thing is for sure, Luke will do everything he can to keep Eureka forever.

Now, I will be completely honest. There are things in the book that worked for me and unfortunately a lot that didn't. I'll do my best to explain why, but again keep in mind that every reading experience is different, so read this review with your own preferences in mind.

When I first read the summary, I was immediately hooked. I'm a sucker for stories like this, and when I saw the cover, I was more eager to read the book and find out for myself if it's really good. A girl who came to life from a book you love? Her life following the book's story line? Very, very interesting indeed.

This is technically my 3rd Pop Fiction book, and I really loved the one I've read before this, which was Better Than Fiction. (My rave review for that will be posted soon, for those who haven't seen my tweeting spree a few days ago.) It might have set my expectations higher, and I have hoped that reading The Conspiration of The Universe will sustain those feelings but the reading experience is a bit different with this one.

It was very hard for me to connect with Luke. He was not the best protagonist I've read about, and having a love-hate relationship with the person whose POV I'm reading the book from tends to lessen my enjoyment of a story. While I can understand how he can be a pessimist at times, but can he at least have a better attitude towards his mother? Is it teenage angst? I didn't like his thoughts at all when he broke up with Sydney, and I didn't like Sydney any better too, so no love lost there. Do you really invite your ex out for lunch in the aftermath of a break up and get angry because they said NO? Come on.

On the other hand, I feel like Luke's love for books made me connect with him even just a little. I understand that feeling, where you love a book so much you wish the characters were real. In that sense, I was so amused when Eureka showed up. She's like a breath of fresh air in the story. She's quirky, dorky and cheerful. Though her cluelessness sometimes confuse me because 3 years seems like a short amount of time to not have an idea that the internet does exist and yes there are DVD players, she's still an interesting character. I was rooting for her. I want to see her carve her own path and do what she loves and break out of that box of expectations her parents had set for her life. She wanted to be a videographer and I admire her reason for aspiring to be one.

Slow burn is my jam, but that was not the case here. The story started out very shaky for me, what with having a book whose pages suddenly became blank and eventually have an e-book where you can read everything is a bit weird. I felt like the chemistry between Eureka and Luke were at a level of strong, platonic friendship at best and falling in love, really, was out of the question. There are also scenes where I felt were unnecessarily added and then having so little time to establish having Luke and Eureka fall in love. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the way they interacted with each other and find myself smiling when Matt teased them about being a nerdy couple.

The ending is to be expected. There were lots of moments that set the story up for the conclusion, so it was sensible that it ends that way, but I still feel like it could have been explained better. Why was there a video at the end from Eureka? Did she just disappear or just left Luke behind for good? Did she return to the book? I was very confused with that part. The author made an effort in giving the story an ending that was open to interpretation, and I feel that it gave the book more depth. The portrayal of Luke's struggle to move on was very emotional, and that eventually gave the book an extra kick in the heart as it ends.

My absolute favorite part of the book is, admittedly, Matt. He's like that friend who tends to fight with you all the time but is always there to set you straight and get you out of the mess you're in when you need them to. He's fun and sarcastic and basically delivers the hard punches and truths and the personified version of a very good smack in the head for Luke. His prequel story was EXTREMELY good, and it was such an uplifting snippet that I wished was longer so I can drown in the feels a little bit more.

The Conspiration of the Universe is not what I expected it to be, but the elements that worked for me gave brief moments that were sweet, enjoyable and entertaining. Insta love and meeting the author of the book you've obsessed over for years kind of plot twists aside, people will find the light-hearted moments between friends (Matt and Luke), lovers (nerdy couple Luke and Eureka) and that extra dose of angst a good combination in a story like this.


Content (plot, story flow, character):

I'm not trying to nitpick, but the typos also bothered me a little bit. Maybe I'm a jaded older reader, but more fluff please. This had so much potential but fell a little short for me.

Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Book Cover:
Oh my goodness, I love everything about the cover! The illustration is SO good and it blends well with the typography used. It's stunning and if you have the chance to get your hands on a real copy, the texture of the cover is really nice. Kudos to whoever designed the cover, what an amazing job!

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[Blog tour] Review: Cities by Carla de Guzman + Interview & Giveaway!

"What if in another universe, I loved you too?" That tagline just got to me enough to make me curious about this book. I'm glad I was able to read it! Interesting, fascinating, confusing and bittersweet.

Title: Cities by Carla de Guzman
Release Date: November 30th 2014
Published by: Midnight Books
Buy: Amazon | Createspace

Summary:

Celia has dreams.
She dreams of going to Seoul for that scholarship she never took, of leaving everything behind and moving to New York.
In all those dreams, she finds herself attached to Benedict, the boy she has always loved, who didn’t love her back.

Ben believes in parallel worlds.
Worlds where the things you didn’t do come true—worlds where he went to London and fell in love with Celia, where he shows up on the day she needed him most. He believes that dreams are glimpses into that parallel world, and it’s not a coincidence that Celia’s been having them too.

It’s the day of Ben’s wedding, in the middle of a typhoon in Manila. How will these dreams and unmade decisions change their lives? Will they bring them closer together, or just drive them further apart?

A friend of mine had mentioned this book in passing one day while we were waiting in line for a cab, and then a few days after I found myself reading this for a tour. It's destiny.

And speaking of destiny, this book talks about it and a whole lot more. All the possibilities, all the what-ifs. Worlds and cities. Various circumstances that could have led to varying outcomes. Broken hearts. Hope.

Celia is attending a friend's wedding, and she was plagued by dreams. Dreams of what could have been if she had decided to do things she didn't, visited places she could have gone to. After all, it was the wedding of her best friend, Vivian, and Ben, the guy she loved who broke her heart that faithful night back in college.

The idea of multi-verses is a tricky one to handle, and it could lead into a total disaster if not written well. Cities confused me because of the jumps from one dream to another, to a city, to another life, to what could've been but I enjoyed the ride with a few bumps, so to speak. That question, what if?, presents itself over and over in various scenarios and set-ups that a reader like me couldn't help but feel completely different emotions every single time Celia dreams. Her dreams made me feel hopeful, but reality doesn't, and reality is what Celia must face.

Carla de Guzman wrote a book wrapped in an interesting premise, a story that many can relate to.  The dynamics of friendship and the strain it is put through when love gets mixed in and the kind of love that you want but couldn't get. Unfulfilled, unreciprocated feelings? Check. Supportive friends? Check. Cool places and pop culture references we all know? Check. Being an Asian Pop fan, I loved the Seoul City story the most!

Cities pinches the reader's heart quite a few times while being immersed in a world within worlds. It's fascinating to see what these "could've been" are, from Celia's perspective to the various transformations her friends made in the places Celia's dreams took her. Definitely an interesting, quick read!

Content (plot, story flow, character):
Very interesting concept, but like I said, if you're not aware of the presence of multi-verses (and you will only get it once Ben mentions it), you will be confused very early by the jumps in every chapter. But you'll get it eventually, don't worry. I didn't like Vivian that much because is she really that kind and perfect? (In every "City", yes) And Henry, how I wish I know you more. I like him a lot! Ben? Not so much...

.5
Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Book Cover:
I am so in love with the cover!

THE AUTHOR
Carla de Guzman (ck.deguzman@gmail.com) had horrible handwriting as a kid. That didn't stop her from writing, though. Riddled with too much energy and a vivid imagination, she started writing every midnight. She grew up with her toes in the sand and her bags packed and ready to go on adventures. Her books are chronicles of her journeys, with a little romance mixed in.

When she’s not sitting in a plane or working, Carla writes for her blog, Some Midnights (www.somemidnight.wordpress.com) and for When in Manila.


FOLLOW CARLA:
Blog: http://somemidnight.wordpress.com/
Tumblr: http://www.somemidnights.tumblr.com/
Archive of Our Own: http://archiveofourown.org/users/ckwhales/pseuds/ckwhales
Instagram: @ckwhales

-----

I had a chance to ask the author a few questions and here are answers. How fun would it be to read a book set in Camiguin AND Osaka? I need to read that book now.

1. First up: describe Cities in 3 words
Travel, Love, Multiverses

2. What inspired you to write Cities and why the idea of multiverses?
Cities started out as a short story, the concept of which I got from Throught Catalog. For a sadsack, no boyfriend since birth type like me, it was comforting to know that somewhere out there, there was a version of myself was braver, that could have the ones that got away. As the story grew, the multiverses began to have personalities of their own--meaning certain situations fit only in certain cities, making each city a different universe in itself.

3. Given that Cities is a story where multi-verses exists, do you believe in them? Given the choice, in what alternate universe would you like to be in if you can go to one?
It's an idea that I find incredibly fascinating. I love stories that explore what ifs. But I think totally believing in parallel universes would drive me crazy! If I could live in an alternate universe, it would be the one where I actually pursued musical theatre instead of writing. I'm still very much attached to that world, and I wonder what it would be like if I stayed on that path.

4. Which of the "Cities" is your favorite? Mine had to be the one in Seoul. I love how it's familiar like something out of a KDrama but still managed to have that bite of bittersweet kind of love.
I'm glad you liked the Seoul verse--a lot of it is a reflection of everyhing I know about Korean dramas (and I've seen a lot)! Ben's character espescially was fun because I had a good archetype to work with! But I have to say that the London story is my favorite, only because you really get to see Celia's relationships with the other characters, and how interconnected they are.
Plus I got to reference Doctor Who quite a lot, which is always a bonus!

5. Are you working on a new story other than Cities?
Yes! I'm plotting out a letter-driven story set in Camiguin and Osaka. That's all I have about it so far, because I'm still working out a lot of...kinks in the plot. It was originally going to be set in Bali, but maybe next time.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

WIN 1 OF 5 EBOOK COPIES OF CITIES BY CARLA DE GUZMAN!

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ARC Review: Where the Rock Splits the Sky by Philip Webb

What if the world stopped spinning?

Title: Where the Rock Splits the Sky by Philip Webb
Release Date: March 25th 2014
Published by: Chicken House
Source: Publisher (Thanks Ms. Joyce!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

The moon has been split, and the Visitors have Earth in their alien grip. But the captive planet? That's not her problem. Megan just wants to track down her missing dad...

The world stopped turning long before Megan was born. Ever since the Visitors split the moon and stilled the Earth, permanent sunset is all anyone has known. But now, riding her trusty steed Cisco, joined by her posse, Kelly and Luis, Megan is on the run from her Texas hometown, journeying across the vast, dystopic American West to hunt down her father. To find him, she must face the Zone, a notorious landscape where the laws of nature do not apply. The desert can play deadly tricks on the mind, and the quest will push Megan past her limits. But to solve the mystery of not just her missing father but of the paralyzed planet itself, she must survive it--and an alien showdown.

The Earth is in perpetual sunset. It has also stopped spinning. The Moon has been split in half. Only thirteen states remain. All of these happened during the Visitation, and Visitors have come to the planet masquerading as humans. Megan was born in this kind of world, with a dead mother and a father (who might be Earth's hope for salvation) presumed dead, she lives in a place near the Zone, a place where time and space is distorted. But Megan believes her father isn't dead, and to find him, she has to travel to the Zone.

The whole book has this unusual vibe from the first page, so I had a hard time figuring out how to connect with Megan. She's got a stubborn streak, which works in her favor sometimes, plus she's also serious and quiet. Sometimes she has this single minded desire to get through the Zone which clouds her decisions. It takes her a while to trust people and at first, I didn't know how her relationship will work out with Luis and Kelly. Kelly, admittedly, annoyed me. I don't know how friendship eventually formed between the three of them, as Kelly makes bad decisions one after another in the story. For a potential love interest, I forget Luis half of the time as he's barely felt in the story. He had his own struggles and motivations, but they paled in comparison to Megan's.

Sci-fi books tend to introduce concepts and ideas that are new to the readers, often to liven up the story and the plot and ultimately make it more fascinating and interesting, and for Where the Rock Splits the Sky it's the existence of the Zone. But when not done right, it can create confusion than help move the story in an interesting place. For the most part, I had to re-read the concept behind the Visitors, taking over bodies, and being a tracker. They're aliens? Body snatchers? Also, the concept of setting up "perimeters" using your mind? Being pushed to do things and go a certain way by the Zone? How does that work? There are a lot of intangibles in this novel that needed stronger descriptions. What really is the Zone? What is it for? I can't form an idea on what it really is, and most of the story relies on this Zone's existence, so I had a hard time forming a concrete view of the world inside my head.

I do, however, like how this is fast paced from the very start. Megan was in a chase immediately when the story opened and that instantly makes the reader focus on the story. Guns blazing, shooting, running, and that gets the story going most of the time. One thing that I also liked was despite my struggle to build a solid world, there are fascinating and equally frightening places Philip Webb managed to insert into the story that gives the reader an idea on how Earth looked like when it stopped spinning. The people, the dire situations they are facing, and the kind of miserable, hopeless life they have been dealt with by the Visitation was narrated in good detail.

What gets weird for me, was the secret behind Megan's very existence, and the very reason why she was looking for her father. Yes, it was an unexpected twist in the story, but I couldn't fathom how the story came to that conclusion. Again, how?! I felt like it needed more explanation which wasn't really given and it didn't clear much of the questions that arose throughout the story.

Anyway, this book had its good points, and someone more into sci-fi might enjoy this better than I did, so if you ever get to read this book, let me know what your thoughts are!

Content (plot, story flow, character):
Interesting concept for a book, but a bit lacking in execution. It's a bit disappointing for me as it fell short on the criteria that could've made this one heck of a read. I wish I could connect more with the characters. I wish they were more likable. I wish those places Megan, Kelly and Luis visited added more intrigue to the story instead of making it weirder and more confusing by each turn of the page. I wish there was more explanation on why it had to be Megan. Overall, this needed more of impact and more emotion.

Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Book Cover:
Really awesome cover though!

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ARC Review: Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley

This book tackles that question: how much of your life can you share online? And what does privacy mean for a blogger who blogs about not just her life as a mom, but of her daughter's?

Title: Don't Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley
Release Date: April 22nd 2014
Published by: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher (Thanks Megan!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
Buy from local bookstores: National Bookstore | Fully Booked

Summary:

All her life, Imogene has been known as the girl on THAT blog.

Imogene's mother has been writing an incredibly embarrassing, and incredibly popular, blog about her since before she was born. Hundreds of thousands of perfect strangers knew when Imogene had her first period. Imogene's crush saw her "before and after" orthodontia photos. But Imogene is fifteen now, and her mother is still blogging about her, in gruesome detail, against her will.

When a mandatory school project compels Imogene to start her own blog, Imogene is reluctant to expose even more of her life online...until she realizes that the project is the opportunity she's been waiting for to tell the truth about her life under the virtual microscope and to define herself for the first time.

There are a few words I can use to summarize this book. Communication, understanding and letting go. Imogene had to put in more effort to connect with her mother and make her listen and listen well to what she has to say. In the book, Imogene used her blog to get back at her mother. In a sense, I can't blame her for what she did, because that's the only way she knew of to get her mother's attention and look at Imogene long and hard and think of how the blog is affecting her. Understanding, and this should come from both sides since Imogene's mom refused to listen to her, and Imogene refused to listen what her mom had to say. They had to understand what blogging means for the both of them, understand what they can and cannot share online and understand what the effects of using social media brings to their family. They had to understand that it's not just "mommylicious" and "babylicious". They had to learn to compromise, see what to let go and when it's time to let go, when it's time to change and try to live in the real world without having social networking invade what's supposed to be private. Because why wait for something online to affect you in real life? And it's not just Imogene, but her whole family as well.

This book reminds me of that trademark Gwendolyn Heasley way of making me hate her characters at the onset and gradually changing my mind as the story progresses. Though this book essentially is about blogging, I could not easily connect with Imogene or her mother at first. They both had their faults and committed mistakes that can't easily be forgiven. I am not a mother, and I couldn't bring myself to sympathize or put myself in Imogene's shoes, but I did feel for her at times. Why would you want to have a whole blog dedicated to you? Have strangers recognize you? Know things about you that people normally wouldn't know? I understand Imogene's desire to break free of the "babylicious" persona and be her own unique self apart from it, though sometimes I think she and her friend Sage, who has a vegan blogger for a mom, takes their "rebellion" too far to the point that they just sound petty, immature and juvenile. But they learned. Oh they did learn their lesson, along with their moms.

What I did like in the story though is amidst all the disaster and chaos both Imogene and Sage's rebellion has created, things happened that made them learn and discover things about themselves on their own. Sure there are misunderstandings and fights, but Imogene discovered what she and her family can do even if her mom doesn't blog, the reasons why her mother was blogging and why she couldn't just let go, that she can just be Imogene and not be babylicious, that she can have crushes too. Sage too, forged her own path. And though it was a little bit sad that they had to find out about these things separately, they both grew to be a little more understanding and kinder.

Dylan is so cute! It's hard to believe that an understanding and kind guy like him exists, but he was (sometimes) the voice of reason for Imogene. Sure there were a lot of awkward moments and their opinions differ from each most of the time, but their moments together, though simple and fleeting, were fun to read of! Imogene's grandmother was so cool, and I liked her father as well, levelheaded and calm even when things start to get ugly.

You don't have a story about blogging and not get blog posts as parts of the book! Don't Call Me Baby was peppered with blog posts that helped shed light and gave more insight to Imogene, her mom, and Sage's feelings, no matter how unpleasant they are. It helped give the characters more depth as well and what ultimately helped to make me like the book just a little bit more. Though I didn't get how the fallout of Sage and Imogene's relationship started and why it seemed to happen out of nowhere, the conflict moved the story forward, though it was abrupt.

Don't Call Me Baby is that kind of heartfelt read that felt a little ordinary and too typical at first that ends up giving you an "awww" moment and making you feel a little bit warm inside. It makes you think of moms and daughters, their relationships, the hit or miss, conflicts which are all part of growing up and being in a family. Gwendolyn Heasley attempts to explain what it's like to blog, how it can affect real life and how social networking can influence relationships in this lighthearted, quick, enjoyable story.

Content (plot, story flow, character):
Days after I finished reading this book, I still can't put my finger on what exactly it is that this book needs more to leave a stronger impression on a reader. I did enjoy the reading experience, but I feel like it needed to have more impact reading wise especially with the theme it tackles. Still a fun, steady read though.

.5
Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Love the cover!

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ARC Review: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

I wish I liked this book much more than I did.

Title: Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1) by Victoria Scott
Release Date: February 25th 2014
Published by: Scholastic Press
Source: Publisher (Thanks Scholastic!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Time is slipping away....

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Tella's older brother Cody is dying. They said there's no cure, and now she finds herself living in the middle of nowhere with her family, bored out of her wits with nothing to do. That is, until that mysterious blue box appears on her bed, until she gets instructions from a mysterious voice. It says she's a participant in the Brimstone Bleed, where if she wins she can get the ultimate price: a Cure for any kind of sickness. Now Tella's braving the jungle, making alliances and trying to stay alive long enough to win. But the longer Tella stays in the game, the more Brimstone Bleed seems to be more than just a game.

Admittedly, what drew me in to this book was the premise: a race with a cure for whatever disease as a prize. But a lot of things in this book didn't go as well for me as I thought it would. One of the reasons is my inability to connect with the main character, Tella. My dislike for her was immediate. She's selfish, shallow and vain at the worst possible time. Consider this: your brother is dying and all you care about is that you live in a secluded house away from civilization, with no internet. And will you even think of bringing a nail polish when you're joining a game where only one person will win? Also, come on girl, you're supposed to be in a race. Do you really have the time to fix yourself and be concerned with how you look? Her character makes you wonder how she can even survive the Brimstone Bleed. Granted, she did exhibit a bit of growth throughout the story, stronger, more sensible and even a little bit smarter, and that added to my drive to enjoy the story a little more.

Fire & Flood however, had a good set of secondary characters that provided much support and injected a lot of interest to the story. They helped move the story forward with their diverse personalities. I liked how I kept guessing who is a friend and who can possibly be a foe, each one of their motivations and reasons for being in the Brimstone Bleed. I also liked the gradual romance build up between Guy and Tella. They weren't even friends to start with, Tella looking so pathetic and desperate while Guy was withdrawn and mysteriously prepared. Their interactions with each other led to a gradual shift in their personalities. I loved how despite of all the secrets they still withhold from each other, there's a somewhat complete, clear picture of themselves. I'm more certain of Tella and Guy's alliances than everyone else's. They're not the star-crossed lovers type as well. They're determined and they fight, which isn't to say that their moments together aren't swoon worthy, because they are.

Fire & Flood had its moments, but the hurdle for me to get over my initial dislike for Tella and the disconnect I had with her personality dramatically lessened my enjoyment of the reading experience. Granted, there was development in her character, but flashes of her old personality comes back at the most inconvenient of times, ruining the moment. But I loved everything else in the story. I loved the Pandoras and their abilities, their relationships with the Contenders and how they're not merely tools to use in order to win the race. I loved how friendships were formed, that despite being contenders in the same race, they can all work together. I even loved how the antagonist showed up because he really is bad, and amidst all that is happening, with all of them trying to survive, there's still one who'd be evil and hateful enough to want to outwit everyone else by doing gruesome things.

I can't say that I'm surprised with the way the first book ended, as certain parts of the story are predictable (Titus' role, the betrayal and deaths of certain characters), but there are certain twists in the story that still managed to catch me off guard (Dink's identity, Guy's tattoo, it's meaning and the real reason why the race exists). Victoria Scott was able to keep back secrets and mysterious well enough to keep the story interesting going into the next book. With steady pace and enough action, Fire & Flood has a potential of being a good trilogy, I'm just sad that it didn't work well with me as much as I wanted it to, and it was because of the main character. I hope I  get to see Tella in a more likable light in the sequel.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

I tried to give Tella a chance, really. But you know how they're in the middle or the aftermath of a particularly intense scene and then she wonders what she looks like? How she keeps in worrying about the little insignificant things like wishing for a mirror while in the middle of a desert? Those times ruin anything she has built up in the story for me. I wish she was more likable, because that dislike seriously is what hindered my appreciation of the story more.

Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Book Cover:
Awesome cover.

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ARC Review: Defy by Sarah B. Larson

My 2014 started in a good fashion because of this book.

Title: Defy (Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson
Release Date: January 7th 2014
Published by: Scholastic Press
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

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?

I can just imagine the first scene happening inside my head as if it was real. Alex and her twin brother Marcel, standing in front of the destruction left by the fire that stole their parents away from them. The horror evident on both child's faces as they realized what awaits them as orphans in the kingdom of Antion. At that moment I decided that I will read this book through the very end.

The summary was deceiving, readers are not shoved head on to battle at once, but into a world of careful re-imagining and building by Sara Larson. We see Alexa years after she had lost her parents as she lived her life as a boy with her twin brother, Marcel. She was the best guard, the captain if only she wasn't so young. With Marcel by her side and friends like Rylan and comrades like Deron, her job becomes bearable, that is if the Prince wasn't being the stubborn, pampered Royal he always was.

I loved Alexa, the way her character was built, through death, destruction, the loss and sacrifice of the ones she loved, and it has made her a strong, tough person. The life she was leading wasn't easy, having to hide her true identity, lie and deceive people, all the while serving a man who has done unspeakable horrors to her fellow citizens. I cannot imagine how it was like to be in her shoes, aside from being forced to masquerade as someone she's never going to be (a male) if she wanted to live, she was given such daunting tasks one after another. Her struggle to hide her identity as a woman intrigued me at first, and that was what kept me going through most parts of this book, always anticipating that moment when she was discovered. That, and her electrifying, tension-filled interactions with Price Damian.

Cliche as it might look, I was caught in the emotions Sara Larson was able to weave in each and every encounter Alexa had with Damian. He comes off as a spoiled Prince who throws tantrums in the most irrational way, but Damian's just as deceiving as Alex was, and his infuriating, smart way of exchanging words and banter with Alex was such a delight to read. He was, in a sense, swoon worthy, especially when more of his character was revealed when he was abducted! I have to say that the secrets he was keeping gave way for a lot of confusion and questions, because while we wait for each secret to be revealed, readers also wait to see what his character as a whole has to offer. Was there more to him than the flowery words and magnetic charm? There was, and I'm glad that his past was revealed because it gave him the needed backbone for his story, a reason for why he was acting the way he was. It was frustrating, however, how he and Alexa always seem to tease each other, but when they get too close, they pull back without warning.

Like Alexa, I seem to have been torn between Damian and Rylan. While Damian's title definitely adds to his charm, Rylan, as a Royal Guard, only has that to compare against Damian. But I did feel like Rylan's character was a lot more stable and consistent than Damian was. Granted, he might be a little to kind and a martyr, having been that guy who decided to give way and wait for a girl who he knew doesn't love him, but Rylan had his own charms. In a perfect setting, he would be better suited for Alexa, and at times I felt just that. I felt bad for him quite often. Maybe good guys do finish last, but his supportive attitude, understanding and acceptance of Alexa should have earned him a little more credit for her. He was suffering there, watching as Alexa's and Damian's story happen right before his eyes and he can't do anything about it. I hope he becomes more assertive in the next book. Fight for what you want, Rylan!

I give Sara Larson a salute for creating an interesting world for Defy. This might be her debut novel, but I loved how she painted such a convincing world for her story. Antion, Osgard, Dansii, the inner workings for each kingdom, the Royalty, its citizens, the state of their lives and how they are all connected gave the book a solid setting that served as a great backdrop for Alex, Rylan and Damian's story to unfold. Though it was largely a story of a girl keeping her true identity a secret, it was also that of a war torn world, the terrors that comes along with it and the struggle to make it a better place for everyone. The motivations behind Damian's actions, the force that drives Alex to keep her secret and protect her people, all of it contributed to a solid, entertaining read.

Not a bad start for 2014, if I may say so.

If there was anything I'd like to ask for in the sequel, it's that I want more of everything. More action,  more breath taking and heart stopping moments and a little more resolution on the very vague relationship going on with Damian, Alex and Rylan.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

.5
Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

I would have given this a 5 were it not for Alexa's personality shift, which was the biggest issue for me here. I was unconvinced. I understand that she has been pretending as a boy, but it felt like the shift was so sudden. And I kept on thinking, was it all because she was falling for the idea that Damian was a Prince? How about Rylan then? Pretending for so long, was it really that easy to give in and toss aside the male persona she has adopted for years? Also, I felt that everything that happened was so unfair to Rylan, that he was shut down before he was given a chance to do anything. Also, it would have been nicer if the impact the opening scene had left was consistent throughout the book, but it dwindles quite often, only to pick up and go down again.

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
I have a serious crush on this book's cover!

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