Review: Restore Me (Shatter Me #4) by Tahereh Mafi

Dear Tahereh,

Are you sure this book is really entitled “Restore Me”? Because this didn’t restore me AT ALL. This DESTROYED AND SHATTERED ME. Which, now that I think about it, is the title of the whole series so I should’ve expected that.

Love,
Kai

Title: Restore Me (Shatter Me #4) by Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: March 6, 2018
Published by: HarperCollins
Source: Bought (Kindle)

Buy online: National Bookstore


Summary:
Juliette Ferrars thought she'd won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

I thought I was done with this series. I will admit that I was surprised when I found out there was another book because I always thought stories that could’ve ended the way they did must be left that way, and I've read quite a few that felt forced and was continued for the sake of having more books because it was popular, but I am so glad this series have more books still! It’s been years and I was hit with the realization that I craved for a continuation, and now here I am, a big ball of feelings.

The story starts where Ignite Me ended, and Juliette now faces life as Sector 45’s Supreme Commander. She thought it was going to be easy, but being a leader is putting her through such a tough test, not just of confidence but her ability to lead. She’s always lived such an enclosed, sheltered life, mostly disconnected to humans that she finds herself lacking in many ways. Warner, on the other hand, is facing enough challenges on his own. He isn’t the unfeeling commander anymore, but instead is hit with unexpected grief for his father’s death.

I love how Tahereh managed to move forward with the story without it feeling forced or making it look artificial with a shallow plotline. Without giving much away, what transpired gave me something to look forward to, and made me realize how much more there is to tell about the characters I love. 

The pacing in this book was much slower, but I’m glad it was because it gave me time to soak in what was happening in the aftermath. The sense of nostalgia was there upon seeing so many familiar characters and reading of their life after the events in Ignite Me. And though many things are changing as the story moves forward, I am glad that some things remain constant, like how Kenji is still an insufferable dork! His sense of humor gives me a brief break from Warner and Juliette's emotions. It felt more intense because the alternating POV between Juliette and Warner gradually increases not just the tension but the conflict not just between them, but with how they deal with things. There was so much work to do, so much to fix that sometimes they didn't know where to start. What happened in the previous book wasn’t an ending but a beginning of something much bigger and more complicated. 

Going through Juliette’s fragmented thoughts on paper and seeing those broken lines, feeling so much from it made me realize how much I missed being in their world, no matter how dark it felt compared to the other books in the series.

I would like to think that with the slow pace, we are instead given a chance to delve more into Juliette’s and Warner’s psyche, their worries and fears, their doubts and insecurities, their feelings and  all the aspects that made up their relationship. So much has been left unsaid and not discussed that it was one of the integral points of the story that left me so frustrated. Without giving away anything major, I think this book affected me more because I am presented with so much emotions and thoughts going back and forth that I can’t help but absorb and be immersed with them. I see faults and flaws. I see shortcomings. I see things that gave me more perspective when it comes to both Juliette and Warner. They felt more human here and more in touch with themselves than in the 3 books combined. 

I am delighted by the plot twist right in the middle of the book. I never thought it would come but when it was there, I had to brace myself because now the story is heading somewhere. New characters were introduced and with it comes the intrigue and that sense of foreboding that things really will start unraveling soon. In case no one's noticed in my tweets, I totally love Nazeera! And I feel like Juliette's world is expanding, and with it comes frightening truths about not just herself but Warner as well.

And that ending. THAT. ENDING. I can't believe the book ended that way! That ending, after I sat there speechless for a full minute, made me scramble to look at the calendar and count the days until the next book comes out because I have so many questions that needs to be answered! What a freaking roller coaster of emotions! One moment I was so happy and giggly and then the next I want to pull my hair out of my head and hit the table so hard because of extreme frustration. Tahereh gives me life only to kill me over and over again.

Restore Me is a great set up for what is sure to be an action packed, intriguing fifth book. Reading it felt like meeting an old friend after a long time and catching up because there's so much more I have to know. What an exhilarating ride that was. And what an amazing way to introduce me back to a series I love so dearly. Restore Me delivered, and boy did it deliver so much. Now I sit here and wait for another year to read the next book!

Kai's favorite quote:

“I have a great fear of drowning in the ocean of my own silence.”

Content (plot, story flow, character):

I just love this book so much. I missed Juliette. I missed Warner. I missed Kenji. I missed literally everyone in this book that I was overcome with emotions the moment I flipped to the last page. IS THAT ALL? WHERE IS THE NEXT PAGE?!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
I am so glad that cover is consistent with the design of the other four books! You guys don't know how relieved I am for that.

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ARC Review: Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Better late than never! It took me quite some time to post my review, mostly because I need to sort out my feelings and translate them into words and coherent thoughts and sentences, but here it is!

Title: Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
Release Date: May 30th 2017
Published by: HarperCollins
Source: From the publisher

Buy online: Book Depository

Summary: Eighteen-year-old Eliza Mirk is the anonymous creator of Monstrous Sea, a wildly popular webcomic, but when a new boy at school tempts her to live a life offline, everything she’s worked for begins to crumble.

In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, smart, and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of a popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea. With millions of followers and fans throughout the world, Eliza’s persona is popular. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community. Then Wallace Warland transfers to her school, and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart. With pages from Eliza’s webcomic, as well as screenshots from Eliza’s online forums, this uniquely formatted book will appeal to fans of Noelle Stevenson’s Nimona and Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl.

I was especially drawn to the story right after I've read the summary. A story about a webcomic creator? And said webcomic creator's real life colliding with her online identity? Sign me up. I have, however, severely underestimated this book.

The biggest surprise for me is Eliza. I related to her in a much more deeper level than I expected. But no, not at first. Not much, at first. I was curious enough because she's a reserved person, so talented but shy and quiet. Her online life was much more exciting and a complete opposite of her real life self. I found myself soaking in her thoughts. I do not agree with some of the things she complained about but the rest feels like I'm reading about a part of myself. The power you have online, people read about you and you're popular and you feel a sense of accomplishment for yourself. The lowest points when everything started to fall apart. Zero motivation, and what comes after the end. I really think how it was brave for writers to write an ending and think of what comes after it and still continue to write. I do write, that's why this story speaks to me so much and so clearly and so vividly. My work is mostly fanfiction, because I never ventured much outside of it, but every single thing that Eliza thought about her webcomic, it spoke to me on a level that I didn't really think I can relate to. But I did. I really did. I still think some of the sentences Francesa Zappia wrote still echo inside me days after I've finished reading the book.

This book understands me. This book perfectly puts into words the things I want to say. It's real, and it is not afraid to talk about anxiety and how it affects not just the person but the relationships and the people around her. It does not sugarcoat Eliza's mental state, even the suicidal thoughts when things become too much to bear.

Eliza and Her Monsters did not just tackle about writing, or Eliza's art, but also the fandom, online friends, real life friends, her relationship as the webcomic creator to her fans, and what happens behind the scenes of Monstrous Sea. There was so much to read and I find myself nodding to all of it. It happens, people. It's real. And I like how Francesza Zappia put it into words exactly right, including the highs and especially the lows. The self doubts, the fear of not being good enough, the pressure to produce, the guilt on the thought of not finishing and letting her readers and fans down. Eliza is such a courageous character, every day she battles these "monsters" and keep on trying still. I wish I can be this hopeful, and it makes me think about all the stories I could've finished were I not afraid, or if I realized the things Eliza did. Readers would oftentimes complain about the lack of parental presence in some YA books, but not here, and I love how one point has been stressed in the story: to try to understand each other better (this mostly applies to Eliza and her relationship with her family, especially her parents who do not really understand what she does and Monstrous Sea) and determine which friends are "real".

I never paid much attention on Sully and Church, but they made me smile towards the end. When life becomes tough, they were there for Eliza. And did I talked about Wallace? No? Wallace has his own monsters to battle, but I like how he was this soft spoken, talented person who was there with Eliza. The sweet, tender, awkward moments he and Eliza shared and how we also got a glimpse of what his life was like in contrast with Eliza. He wasn't perfect, he had his own problems to deal with and things to think about but he was such a bright presence that made the story whole.

I loved the format of the book! It did not just make me curious about Eliza's story, but the story she's crafting as well. I would love to see Monstrous Sea have its own story!

Ah, Francesca Zappia. This is the first book of hers I've ever read and I don't think it'll be the last! I love everything about this book. Eliza and Her Monsters (unexpectedly) blew me away.

P.S.: Guys, Children of Hypnos is real. You can read it on Wattpad here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/95478833-the-children-of-hypnos

Kai's favorite quote:

If you want the motivation back, you must feed it. Feed it everything. Books, television, movies, paintings stage plays, real-life experiences. Sometimes feeding simply means working, working through nonmotivation, working even when you hate it.

We create art for many reasons- wealth, fame, love, admiration- but I find the one thing that produces the best results is desire. When you want the thing you're creating, the beauty of it will shine through, even if the details aren't all in order. Desire is the fuel of creators, and when we have that, motivation will come in its wake.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

What else can I say? I love it, plain and simple.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
The hands stained with paint, sketches of two characters. I'm sure you'll get it when you read the book!

There's also a giveaway for this as I'm part of the blog tour for Eliza and Her Monsters! Go enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Mini review: The Summer Palace (Captive Prince #3.5) by C.S. Pacat

What a way to start 2017! I've almost forgotten about the short stories, but I saw CS Pacat's post on Facebook and I've never 1-clicked any book faster in my life until this came out.

Title: The Summer Palace (Captive Prince #3.5) by C.S. Pacat
Release Date: January 5th 2017
Published by: Gatto
Source: Bought from Amazon


Buy online: Amazon

Summary:

Set after the events of the Captive Prince trilogy, The Summer Palace is a story about Damen and Laurent during summer. It's an epilogue of sorts to the Captive Prince series.

Captive Prince, as you may (or may not) know is one of my favorite reads in recent years. I don't think I've ever read anything like it and C.S. Pacat's writing is just divine. I've yet to post my review of the three main books in the Captive Prince series here but I am making an exception today as this is the first read that officially got me out of a year long reading slump and jumpstarted my 2017 quest to get back to book blogging and basically loving books again.

After the end of King's Rising, many fans were craving for more material to read about our beloved pair, Damen and Laurent. If you are a fan like me, the end of King's Rising made you cry out in disbelief because you too couldn't believe it was over JUST. LIKE. THAT. There is another short story released called Green but for a Season but I find that this short story, the "epilogue", is what I'm really waiting for.

What do I say? I love everything about it. This short story filled the book shaped hole made empty when the series ended. I love how after everything that had happened between both Damen and Laurent, they had something to look forward to and now they're here, and every single moment they shared together brings a smile to my face. It is a happy ending, but I love how C.S. Pacat made sure to let the readers know that the past shaped what they have in the present and what they will have in the future, that it can't be forgotten and will always be with them, that it is part of them. There's closure, and then there's the two of them ready to face the future, together. And you know what made me happier? I love how Laurent is now more honest with himself and more open with what he wants! He can laugh openly now, and be more at ease with Damen.

Also: the bath scene just made me swoon. The tables were turned and OH BOY wasn't that interesting. Laurent never fails to amaze me every single time.

I don't know how she does it, but C.S. Pacat just makes every encounter between Damen and Laurent as intense as it can possibly get. I love how there's a softer, gentler edge to it now, but the scenes just take your breath away like always.

The Summer Palace also offered a look at what happened immediately after the events in King's Rising, giving us readers a more complete view of the story, tying loose ends and answering more of the questions we had in the third book. So if you were craving for more like I was, then this short story just staved off the hunger for details.

I am looking forward to the other Captive Prince short stories! I know there's more to come (2 more?) and these stories just make me fall in love with C.S. Pacat's writing even more. I am definitely going to be on the look out for her new work, I hope she has one coming out this year!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Just. I wish it was longer? It wouldn't be a short story if it was but I just want more! I don't think I'll ever get enough of Damen and Laurent, to be honest.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
In the spirit of the simple covers. I like how they're consistent. Haha!

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[Blog tour] Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Keeping in mind the title of the book, and the conversation format between Jessie and SN (Somebody Nobody), I will tell you my initial reactions after finishing this book in the same way:

1. Oh wow, the feels. I am drowning in feelings. And by feelings I mean this in a good way. It alternates from drowning in a tsunami of fluff and me sporting a goofy smile, to feeling emphatic and soaking in grief and all the teenage drama that unfolds in the pages.
2. This is like a movie in my head. So very entertaining and such a fun read. I love how I can just imagine every single moment in this book vividly.
3. Ethan. Because Ethan is Ethan is Ethan. (You'll get this once you read the book!) And that's all that matters. He makes everything better and I just can't get enough of him! I'm sure a lot of readers feel the same way.

Title: Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
Release Date: April 5th 2016
Published by: Delacorte Press
Source: From the publisher (Thanks Julia!)

Buy locally: Fully Booked
Buy online: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School. Is it an elaborate hoax? Or can she rely on SN for some much-needed help?

It’s been barely two years since her mother’s death, and because her father eloped with a woman he met online, Jessie has been forced to move across the country to live with her stepmonster and her pretentious teenage son.

In a leap of faith—or an act of complete desperation—Jessie begins to rely on SN, and SN quickly becomes her lifeline and closest ally. Jessie can’t help wanting to meet SN in person. But are some mysteries better left unsolved?

Don't you just love the initial intrigue you feel right after you read the summary? I did, and my expectations for the novel weren't really that high to begin with. But oh wow, as soon as I was 20 pages in I know I'm going to enjoy reading Jessie's story. So let me tell you three things that made this such a good read for me.

One: Jessie, Jessie and Jessie. S/N. Theo, Scar, Liam, Dri, Agnes. In short, the characters.

I absolutely love stories that hooks the reader right from the start, and meeting Jessie pulled me right in. A lot of aspects in her life is something I have experienced myself, and reading, remembering that similar place and point in my life instantly made me connect and relate with Jessie. I don't know how she did it but there's something in the way that Julie Buxbaum shaped Jessie's character that didn't make her an annoying person despite her life being very dramatic, and her being in the midst on an emotional time of her life. Here is a teenager, grieving, suddenly presented with a life drastically different than she's used to, alone, surrounded with everything unfamiliar. I admired Jessie in a lot of ways because she got through it. Jessie is fascinating, and her thoughts allowed me to know her more. What better way to present the story than being seen in her eyes.

And S/N. S/N, S/N, S/N. Oh, I just love him. Entertaining, witty, humorous, and despite being weird (Yes, even I can use the word to describe S/N) I can't get enough of S/N. Before I knew it I was looking forward to reading the banter, the IMs, the conversations with Jessie. Because that's just it, full of laughs and amusing thoughts of two teenagers. Though shrouded with secrecy, we also get to know S/N through the random facts shared in their conversations. It's like Julie was giving away bits and pieces and clues so the readers can find out who this person is, and I just ate up every single thing thrown my way. I loved that the uncertainty of S/N and Jessie's relationship was evident, and how it was properly expressed that real life and cyber versions of themselves aren't similar, that not all things might be real or true, how easy it is to say things online than to say it in person.

One more thing that I love: how there's a spectrum of other interesting characters throughout the book, each of them contributing in making the story likable and lovable. Theo, who I love to hate and hate to love. He has his own share of grief, and though most of the time he confuses me, grabbed my attention as well. Scar, who I loved because she's such a great best friend. And thrown in a couple of other hot guys like Liam, Caleb, Ethan to the mix to further muddle the trail that leads to S/N and it makes the story all the more adorable.

Two: The feelings, oh the feelings.

I've lost count how many times I found myself chuckling or full on laughing while reading. I was also frustrated, worried, anxious at various points of the book. To be able to feel such a variety of emotions while reading is something I don't always get to experience, but this book just gave me so much joy, laughter, made me a little teary eyed, sad, nervous and made me hold my breath in a span of 300 pages. Finding a place to belong, learning to live a good life after such a devastating loss and finding love in unexpected times and places, the story takes me through all of that. In the history of big secret revelations, the twist in this book is probably the best anti-climactic moment I will like for a long time. It was so... S/N.

Three: Julie Buxbaum's writing

I will be honest, I've figured out who S/N is very early in the story. But you know what? I think figuring out just who this online, mysterious friend is added an extra dimension to my reading. Because then I get to know this person as S/N and as who they are in real life. The contrasts in personalities, the why's, the what's and the how's that made them such a person. (I refuse to give unnecessary clues away!) The journey S/N and Jessie made before the secrets were revealed. I didn't give up until I see it happen, how Julie will bring the readers to that point. The story itself is simple and straightforward, but I like how as a reader, I get more than what I expected and that's what makes it such a special read. There's depth, emotions, lively characters, and it was such an engaging story. Who am I not to fall in love with such a potent combination?

In closing, here are the three things I know:

1. I recommend this book to all of you. It's already been a week since release date and you need to grab a copy NOW.
2. I am so glad I had a chance to read such a story. Another book to add on my favorite YA contemporary list. And I am proud to say that I will read anything Julie Buxbaum writes from now on.
3. Do I need a third reason? If yes, please read my review again and see if I can convince you one more time.

Kai's favorite quote:

When I close my eyes at night, I see last moments, impossible goodbyes.
But I don't dream anymore. Do you dream? I miss it.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

YA contemporaries just keep getting better and better this year. Wow. I just love this book so much I don't even know what else there is left to say! Just read it!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Of course. Waffles!

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Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

If I'd known Nicola Yoon's book will get me out of my year long reading slump, I would've done anything to get it in my hands sooner. I owe this book a lot. And it owes me a whole set of neon tabs and a box of tissues for my tears.

Title: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Release Date: September 1st 2015
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher (Thanks Claire!)

Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Maddy is allergic to the outside world, and has since lived in the safety of her home all her life. Now 18, Maddy was supposed to live her life just like every other year, safe, in an environment her mother can control. That is, until a new family moved next door. And then Maddy finds herself helplessly drawn to the boy next door who climbs roofs and wears black and makes her want to set foot outside and explore the world. But what can she do if the very thing she wants just might be the one which will kill her?

Maddy has SCID, a very rare disease where she can be allergic to anything, even the air she breathes. My first reaction was to pity her, because who would want to spend their lives bound to the four walls of her house? Her world was very limited, but you know what? I came to love Maddy because of who she is. Her sense of humor, her love for reading, as she understands that all too familiar feeling of existing in another world just by reading stories and it made me identify with her easily. And maybe because she has been confined all her life, she has this yearning for more, which she tries to reign in most of the time because it's hard to hope and she knew she's incurable. There's this growing thirst in her to explore that just makes me want to watch and see what she will do. Take a risk? Accept her fate and live all her life in a bubble or take the leap? She's intriguing in her own way.

And that kind of personality is what draws her to Olly. Ah, Olly... the boy who can't seem to stand still, always moving and leaping to places and climbing on walls. The boy who prefers limericks over haikus and loves math, chaos theory and how it can be related to our lives. What's not to love there? He's sweet and supportive, though a little jaded with life over the abuse he, his sister and his mom receives from his dad. I love how their chemistry eventually worked out, from being funny to cute to something worthy enough to swoon over, the push and pull, the "we can't" and "we can". The chats they exchanged made me laugh so much and it's just wonderful to see Maddy living her life with all the firsts she has encountered and many of which she shared with and is sometimes because of Olly.

The book is a wonderful mix of everything, from Maddy's illustrations, lists, word definitions, and the diversity is evident in each page which gave the novel an extra special feeling for me. It didn't matter if Maddy's father is African American and her mother is Japanese American. She's just Maddy who's in love with the boy with eyes as blue as the Atlantic Ocean. As much as I was looking forward to where Olly and Maddy's love will take them, it wouldn't be possible without Carla. The oh so lovable Carla, a fountain of wisdom with so much love to give and lessons to impart with to Maddy.

The fluff and the sweetness of firsts were enough to keep me fascinated with Everything, Everything but it turns out Nicola Yoon had more in store for her readers. The last 50 or so pages of the book made me snatch the tissue box and grip the book so hard. There is a twist, dear readers. If you are perceptive and are open to the thought then the twist has always been there, but then it happens. What if it's not just Maddy who has a problem? I loved how Nicola Yoon presented that part to her readers, and I loved how Maddy faced that possibility that turned out to be the truth and how she dealt with it. It felt truthful to me, though some might disagree. Some choices you just have to make though it is hard.

What else is there to say? There was no need for fanciful words to make a story so good and appealing to the readers. Nicola Yoon wove feelings and emotions in each and every word of Everything, Everything and filled it with characters experiencing such life changing moments that they felt so alive. I got hooked before I knew it. I was quietly sitting in front of my study table and in the next moment I was totally immersed in the story and until now I have no idea what happened.

Kai's favorite quote:

“I decided then that love is a terrible, terrible thing. Loving someone as fiercely as my mom loves me must be like wearing your heart outside of your body with no skin, no bones, no nothing to protect it.”

Content (plot, story flow, character):

A heartfelt, very emotional read filled with firsts, about love and family and taking risks and living the life we want to live. This won't be the last Nicola Yoon book that I will read, that's for sure. I want more!

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
I love everything about that cover.

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Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Today is one of those rare days where I tell myself: "Well, it looks like we've been introduced to another great author, eh?".

*spreads arms to meet the legions of fellow Sarah Maas fans*

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Release Date: May 5th 2015
Published by: Bloomsbury Children's
Source: Publisher (Thanks Bloomsbury!) | Bought a physical copy
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

I have never, in my entire blogging life, read any of Sarah J. Maas' books. So while everyone was swooning and fangirling over her works, there is this little voice inside me wondering what the big deal was. And then I picked up a copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses and well, now I know. I really know why.

Where do I start? This is my poor attempt to put into words the magnificence that was A Court of Thorns and Roses. I realized quite a bit late into my reading that there was a touch of Beauty and the Beast in the story, but I can barely sense it because Sarah Maas just took this story to a whole new level that was wholly her own. How much of a creative mind does she have to be able to make this story as vivid and as memorable as it is?

There is Feyre, who lives for her family, hunting and doing everything she could to put food on the table and keep what's left of her once wealthy household together. I liked her for being a stubborn girl who consistently tries to be strong because she didn't want to get hurt anymore than she already does. Strong isn't the first word that comes to mind when I try to describe her, but her will to see things through and fight for what she wants made me like her. The way she can be a girl who skins a wolf, wield a bow, kill a naga and still be this vulnerable person who just wants to be loved and expresses her feelings best through colors and paints was an amazing contrast.

And then there's the men. If you see me on Twitter, I am consistently going back and forth through hitting my work table countless of times for Tamlin, and then trying to tear my hair out for Rhysand. It has been a long time since I have felt this conflicted over two different love interests. Yes, I said that. Tamlin... how do I even begin to describe you? Are you even real? (Wait, that was a rhetorical question!) He was by no means perfect, but I just loved how Sarah Maas fashioned his character to be this totally different person one expects. To be fiercely protective of his people, to laugh and smile and be powerful, compassionate, loving. To be scared and fascinated of him at the same time. And Rhys. Oh, Rhys. You just had to complicate things, huh? There are people in this novel who do not seem to be what they are at first glance and Rhys is a poster boy for that. Lethally beautiful, cunning, dark and mysterious, dangerous. He's the type of bad boy everyone is attracted to.

A Court of Thorns and Roses hosts a string of characters that are as unforgettable as the leads, like Lucien! That irritating but thoroughly entertaining mischievous friend of Tamlin who carries his own share of sorrows, Alis, even Feyre's sister, Nesta who I've come to love. All of them fit perfectly in the story, woven in to make it feel whole and complete.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book so much that even though I devour page after page and at one point felt like it was never going to end, I still pushed on, thoroughly mesmerized by how rich the setting was, how each word teased my mind and urged me to imagine the colorful, bright world Sarah Maas has crafted, wanting to know more. A Court of Thorns and Roses had a perfect balance of intrigue, romance, wickedness. I love how Sarah Maas managed to inject that human struggle as shown by Feyre in the various stages of her stay in Prythia, even when she went back home, portraying delicate emotions at the right time, and putting just the right amount of amorousness in the story to tease the readers. I have been finally exposed to Sarah Maas' stunning writing and my life will never be the same. Tension filled, gripping and heart rendering, A Court of Thorns and Roses is such an unforgettable read!

Everything, as they say, felt like magic.

What a sensational start for what is shaping to be an addictive series to watch out for! I have so much love for this book that I encourage everyone to read it!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Yep, must read more of Sarah Maas' books! I think I just got one of the best introductions for an author. I am still in awe at how imaginative Sarah is to craft such a book, and with the kind of writing that is rich and deeply engaging? Consider me a fan from now on.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Awesome depiction of Fayre!

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Review: I Wrote This For You and Only You by pleasefindthis

I first discovered Iain Thomas (pleasefindthis) from a friend of mine who loves poems, and I was surprised and happy that there was more to look forward to with this book. Now that I've read this, the words just reminded me of why I'm starting to love poetry. I am equally delighted and stunned with the myriad of emotions this book held and presented to the readers.

Title: I Wrote This For You and Only You by pleasefindthis (Author), Jon Ellis (Photographer)
Release Date: March 1st 2015
Published by: Central Avenue Publishing
Source: Publisher (Thanks Michelle!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

"I need you to understand something. I wrote this for you. I wrote this for you and only you. Everyone else who reads it, doesn't get it."

Replete with the most recent and original entries, this third book based on the I Wrote This For You project continues the exploration of hauntingly beautiful words, photography and emotion that’s unique to each person that reads it.

Poetry is powerful. How a few, carefully chosen words form beautiful, complete thoughts attempting to convey a thousand and one feelings to the reader. Various interpretations can be drawn from it, but the feeling stays. That's what makes this book so fascinating. Where I Wrote This For You hooks your heart and wraps it around a complicated series of emotions, I Wrote This For You and Only You felt more thoughtful, more mature, and more encompassing, with the familiar hard hitting feelings coursing through each poem. There is at least one poem that is bound to speak to you a lot deeper than the rest, where you will feel like that particular poem, that particular group of words were strung together for you, and only you.

The combination of words and photos is a one of a kind experience where you will think "why this particular photo?" "how does this fit the words the author has written?" and you do not just interpret the words, you also look at the photographs and think just what kind of message it might also convey, given the words that follow after it. Does the photo capture the essence of the words or does the words describe what message the photo aims to get across?

It's like a journey through life, through heartaches, falling in love, being let down by that love, moving on, learning through living, of people you meet, friendships, the ghosts of the past and what haunts us, of moving on, dreaming and hoping. Wise words. Advices. A little bit of everything. It's a book filled of poetry and yet there's so much to read. It's just a beautiful thing to read.

It's not so much as what words were used, it's the tone, like it's just speaking to you and telling you something, and you, as a reader, cannot help but respond. Not many big words were needed nor used and yet the impact was there, sustained, embedded in each poem. Kudos for another wonderful compilation of words and emotions, Iain Thomas.

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

This. Is. Amazing.

The most memorable (part of a) poem of all, for me is this:

You're wrong. The question is not "How many times can your heart be broken?" The question is, "How many times can it heal?" #feels

A few favorites of mine, which might say a lot about what type of poems I like: The Nature of Science, The Soft Crackle, The Pictures from the Camera we Threw Away, The Heart Outgrows the Chest, The Image Repeated Over and Over, The Removal of Me, The Language Breaks, The Nerve Endings Shatter Like Glass, The Efficiency and Perfection of the Lost, The Dark Words You Walk Down at Night, The Heart Cannot be Discounted, The Train Hit Me and I Didn't Feel It, The Missing Bread Crumbs, The Correct and Proper Way To Feel, The Breaking of People and The Light That Shines When Things End.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Very simple, I like it!

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ARC Review: Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy, #2) by Pierce Brown

Allow me to borrow that swear word often used in the book and use it in a sentence that will somehow express my feelings for this sequel, which I loved more than I ever did with Red Rising. That was bloodydamn amazing and traumatically painful.

I just suffered full emotional carnage of the worst kind at the hands of this book, and I wouldn't have it any other way. And when I say carnage, it was like I opened a box that held all my emotions and Pierce Brown took everything, the joy, laughter, sadness, pain, surprise and ripped every single one of them into shreds.

Title: Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy #2) by Pierce Brown
Release Date: January 6th 2015
Published by: Del Rey
Source: Publisher (Thank you, Penguin Random House!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

With shades of The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Game of Thrones, debut author Pierce Brown’s genre-defying epic Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within. A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.

I started reading the book partially clueless because I had no idea what has happened in the story. It felt like I was immediately immersed in Darrow's life as a Gold, and I had no idea how to piece the story back together. I abruptly noticed the time skip, and my brain was left questioning what the heck happened in the years that followed that got Darrow to where he was. As soon as I did, I knew I shouldn't have asked that question. Darrow has integrated well in the Gold culture, and if in Red Rising he's on the outside looking in, now he's smack in the middle of court politics, power struggle and a never ending fight for power as a Gold. And boy, was it cut throat, dirty and vicious.

Oh how he almost reached the peak of power, only to fall from grace so low you wouldn't think it was possible for him to rise up again. And rise up he did, but not without incurring losses, betrayals and facing heartbreak countless of times. Reading Golden Son and looking back at Red Rising's story made me feel like the first book was just a very long prequel, and then Pierce Brown threw everything in the reader's way in Golden Son.

Ah, Darrow. What else can I say about this boy? I liked how unconventional he is. In the eyes of everyone he's a hero, but you see more than a handful of moments when he's just like everyone else: a scared boy, unsure, confused, torn between the paths he had to take and burdened by a mission he was having doubts he can fulfill. Rash. Bold. Proud. He makes mistakes and suffers the consequences greatly. He doesn't know how to handle his emotions and relationship with Mustang. He couldn't balance being the leader of a war, still keep friendships intact and look over the people he cared for. Despite all the cruelty he has seen and has suffered in the hands of the people he now fights with, he's still capable of being kind. And no matter how powerful they think he is, he still can't save everyone worth saving. He's perfectly flawed, his journey as well, and I like it that way.

As if the suffering isn't enough with what Darrow has to go through for his vengeance, for war, for freedom, he has finally learned to deal with his feelings. For Victra, for Cassius, for Eo and for Mustang. Mustang. Ah, Mustang. I am starting to think that his story with Virginia is one that will never, ever get a happy ending. It's like one moment they're at the cusp of attaining happiness, only to be separated by circumstances that were bigger than the both of them. And I desperately want Darrow to be happy, and not only because there's a shortage of that particular emotion in this book. Pierce Brown's writing isn't only solid and strong in describing such a rich world, but he's also managed to scratch hearts and illicit raw emotions from his characters, beloved (like Sevro, Quinn and Roque) or not, with all the deaths, losses and goodbyes.

Just like how it was when Red Rising was released early last year, Golden Son has raised the bar very high for sci-fi novels this early in the new year. It will be hard to rival this book in terms of writing style, world building and story telling. Pierce Brown's superb writing has once again been made obvious by crafting another masterpiece that readers will devour in a flash. Golden Son revealed yet another facet in the life of Darrow, a tale of success and ruin amidst betrayals and lies with alliances made and broken, set in a grisly futuristic universe of warfare and politics. Unpredictable, exhilarating and stunning, Golden Son has wonderfully set the stage for the third book in the series by presenting to the readers one hell of a story, leaving them guessing what else is there in store for the third and last book, Morning Star.

It's impossible not to be affected by this book. It's intense, suspenseful, tragic, twisted. I literally broke down in tears from all the tension and stress thrown my way while I was reading this and after I finished. I couldn't take it. I was taken in for such a wonderful but heart wrenching, tiring ride. Bravo, Pearce Brown, you've done it again. And in a grander fashion this time around. Now can you please tell me how do I survive with an obliterated heart, waiting for the next book?

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

FIVE. BLOODYDAMN BUTTERFLIES. AND ABOUT A BILLION MORE.

Treat your heart as a sacrifice while you read this book. You will feel the absence of one at the end because of all it has to endure throughout the whole reading experience. I am not exaggerating. Pierce Brown has ruthlessly piled one tension-filled scene on top of another, snatched away well-loved characters, introduced ones that you'll like only to disappear, re-introduced hateful ones, and the readers just had to deal with all of it. Amazing.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
*caresses cover* Hello there, gorgeous!

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

My brain, my heart and my soul isn't fully functioning a few minutes before I wrote this review. I am THAT affected by this book.

Title: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: September 17th 2013
Published by: Scholastic Press
Source: Publisher (Thanks Ms. Joyce!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

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...

I don't really know where to start, but this book has just made me feel so much emotion that I am not sure what to discuss, what to say, and what to feel. All I know is this, The Dream Thieves is very, very good.

After reading The Raven Boys, I have gotten used to the very slow pacing of the story, and instead I enjoyed my time reading as I discover more about the relationships and the bonds that bind each Aglionby boy to the other. Ronan has been dreaming of things, and has discovered that he can take things out of them. Gansey is still hell bent on his quest to find Glendower, Adam is slowly suffocating in the life he's leading, and Noah is flickering in and out of their lives. The prophecy surrounding Blue's doomed love life is slowly becoming a real obstacle as she struggles to figure out her feelings for at least two Aglionby boys, and lives begin to unravel in this lovely, amazing sequel.

Oh Ronan, Ronan, Ronan. How I loved you in this book. See, if you feel that The Raven Boys is (still) lacking of Ronan, then you will get so much more of him in this book to the point that you think you might just get sick of him, but you wouldn't. I just loved reading about him, the things he could dream of, the nightmares, the struggle with his own pain, anguish and longing for his family while figuring out just what he really is and what he could do. My feelings are as intense for Gansey, who was as delightful as he was in the first book and more. You get a more complete picture of the faces he keeps as Dick, the child from a wealthy, influential family, to the Gansey who was Ronan's rock and Adam's friend, the boy who only feels free when he's in Henrietta, to the boy who was slowly but surely feeling emotions he shouldn't. And Adam, which I am slowly distancing myself from. Maybe it's because of the changes he has undergone in this book, the feelings he had to deal with and the acceptance of who he needs to become. He's not unlikable, but I find myself just pitying him most of the time. And no one should forget Noah, who appeared so little in this book but is still as enjoyable to read as the other three.

I loved how the Gray Man inserted himself in Henrietta and the chaotic lives of the boys, Blue and her quirky family so easily. A man who was supposed to be invisible, unnoticeable and full of mystery. He's a character that I find very interesting, a dangerous hit man who has a dark past of his own and ghosts he's running away from, but I can't seem to bring myself to dislike him. His unfazed attitude with Maura and her sisters' abilities, and his eventual feelings for her felt so unconventional and unexpected and delightful all at the same time. I can't say he's a bad guy though he's done horrible things.

The Dream Thieves moved in a much faster pace than The Raven Boys and along with the introduction of The Gray Man and Kavinsky, secrets and clues are a lot easier to come by in this story. There were major moments in the book that will make it faster for the reader to figure out what's going on and yet with some answers come more puzzles, more questions to add to the intrigue and allure of the story and you'll just find yourself neck deep in and you just push on and read and try to know more with each turn of a page. The Dream Thieves had everything I was asking for in the first book, and I appreciated the story more because of it. More intrigue, more tension, and most importantly, more romance. Blue's rocky relationship with Adam and her inevitable realization that Adam will not be the boy she'd like to kiss was something that made my heart clench in this sequel, more than Gansey's search for Glendower, or Ronan's longing for his mother. Because we all know what the prophecy says when it comes to Blue and her feelings for the boy she will kiss, and she knew now who she wants to kiss. And along with it comes the complicated ties of friendship, the magic, the future.

The Dream Thieves is such a fantastical follow-up to an already amazing first book! I can honestly say I've enjoyed reading this book much, much more. It's magical, intriguing and a bonafide page turner. Again, hats off to Maggie Stiefvater for crafting such a story that made me feel so much and give me such a big book hangover afterwards.

My favorite quote:

She felt bigger than her body. High as the stars. He leaned towards her - her heart spun again - and pressed his cheek against hers. His lips didn't touch her skin, but she felt his breath, hot and uneven, on her face. His fingers splayed on either side of her spine. Her lips were so close to his jaw that she felt his hint of stubble at the end of them. It was mint and memories and the past and the future and she felt as if she’d done this before and already she longed to do it again.

Oh help, she thought. Help, help, help.

He pulled away. He said, "And now we never speak of it again."

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

My heart began to cry out in pain and anguish from page 360 onwards. Oh, by the gods, it was agony from then on, when I think of Blue and Gansey and all the things that surround them.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
Hello, Ronan!

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Review: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

There was a warning at the back of this book, "If someone asks you how it ends, just lie.".
Heed that warning.

Title: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Release Date: May 13th 2014
Published by: Random House Inc
Source: Publisher (Thanks Random House!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.
Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Cadence belongs to the Sinclair family, daughter of the youngest Sinclair and the first grandchild. They're a family of old-money Democrats, prestigious, with wealth and power. Blessed, perfect, beautiful. Except no one knows what happens inside the family, or in their private island off the coast of Massachusetts. No one knows that Cadence's father left her and her mom, that one of her aunts is a single mom, while the other lives with a guy who will never marry into the family because he's of a different race. No one knows that they use their children to be in the Sinclair patriarch's good graces, or that they all rely on family money. And no one must know. As a Sinclair, they have to look the part.

This is admittedly my first Lockhart book, and with friends going on and on about how well thought out her books are, I'm not entirely sure what to expect myself. The story sounds so deceptively simple, but it truly is not. I felt like I was in over my head while I was trying to go with the flow that was Cadence's feelings. It was tiring, the ups and downs, the flashbacks, exploring the web that connects each family member to another. Most of the time I felt like I know a lot and still don't know much, like I was barely touching the surface of what it was like to be a Sinclair. Dealing with Cadence's feelings when her father left and when her mother tried to cover up her misery with spending money, her encounter with Gat and her cousins was an experience in itself with the way E. Lockhart described those moments. Then I was gradually fed with subtle clues and hints that all is not well in the Sinclair family, that they're that kind of family, pretending to be okay outside but chaotic inside. And as Cadence tries to figure out the dynamics in the friendship that binds her to her cousins, The Liars, and her complicated feelings for Gat the outsider, things started to get bizarre and the lines between reality and hallucination starts to blur.

I discovered Gat and his worldly views and opinions, his anger and his passion, Johnny and Mirren and the issues they had to deal with in their lives, the pressure of being the first born grandson, of competing with his cousins, of inventing an ideal version of yourself and lying. Each character had their own fascinating side that you just want to explore, but all you see is what Cadence saw. And everything looks different in the eyes of a girl who lost years worth of memories, fragile, lonely, broken. I've developed a certain apprehension and confusion to Gat and his very inconsistent attitude, felt sad for Johnny and Mirren and there are reasons for that. They wanted to change the world, and change the world they did, just not the way they expected to.

There was a certain disarray of information in my mind because the story plays tricks on you. You understand what you're reading but it doesn't make much sense story wise. What was happening? Until the last fifty pages of the book presented itself to me and the story unraveled and I found myself reliving the story and piecing it the way E. Lockhart intended it to, and it was brilliantly exhausting and beautifully sorrowful at the same time. When everything starts to make sense, that's when you realize you have a heart and that it just shattered into a million pieces, thanks to the masterful way E. Lockhart has woven this story. No pretty words, no fancy twists or turns, just magnificent execution and honest writing you will feel in your bones.

You know when you've read a book so great that you find yourself incapable of transforming what you felt into words, coherent sentences and concrete descriptions of what you've been through? That's what I felt when I leafed through the last page of this book. We Were Liars literally made me speechless. I found myself staring at a wall for a good 60 seconds before I realized that my mind has just been messed with real good by a book.

Once you picked up a copy of this book and you started reading, you will not stop until you reached the last page. You will not stop until you find out what happened. You will not stop until you find out the truth. It's an honor to have experience the magnificence of E. Lockhart's writing through this one of a kind mystery thriller. We Were Liars is such a memorable read, leaving such an big impression on me that it will take a long time before another book takes its place in my heart.

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

This book has just set the bar high when it comes to my expectations for a mystery thriller read. It was so difficult to deal with my feelings after I've read We Were Liars. I felt lost and sad and just incapable of functioning for a good while. I have never received such a good shock to my system after reading a book. We Were Liars just lived up to my expectations and more! Wow, just... wow.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
You know that cover is a fitting image to the story, but it still makes me sad when I think about it.

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ARC Review: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

I expected overly romantic scenes and cheesy lines, too much laughter and very light conversations.

I got more than that.

Title: The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: April 15th 2014
Published by: Little, Brown for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

Lucy and Owen meet somewhere between the tenth and eleventh floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, they spend a single night together, wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is restored, so is reality. Lucy soon moves to Edinburgh with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

Lucy and Owen's relationship plays out across the globe as they stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and -- finally -- a reunion in the city where they first met.

What does Owen and Lucy really have? Whatever it was between them had started that day when Lucy chased after the elevator in her apartment. Owen was just the new building superintendent's son, Lucy was the daughter of a wealthy, jet-setter parents. They had nothing in common, but the half hour they spent trapped inside the elevator will set in motion the wheels of fate and set their paths to collide in ways they never expected it to.

I loved how Jennifer E. Smith gradually expanded and built both Owen and Lucy's characters, from that citywide blackout and that day's explorations, the tentative conversations, to wherever the current circumstances of their lives took them. I saw a boy grieving for a mother who recently passed away, lonely, lost and untethered, with a father who can barely manage to stay in one place himself. Owen's character appealed to me, at the start because of pity, but as I read on, the hope inside me gradually builds, wishing that he finds a reason that will make him stay and seek out what he wants, and live his own life. The boy deserves a lot, he deserves better. He was smart, with a bright future ahead of him, and he shouldn't be suffering the way he was. I know grief transforms people and Owen loves his father, but to see him with no destination, no permanent place to go home to, just makes my heart constrict in the most painful of ways. 

And then I saw a girl who experiences loneliness akin to what Owen was feeling. Different, but at some level they're the same, missing their family even though they're merely a breath away. Owen's father became a different person when his wife died, and Lucy, though rich, never had enough of her parents attention given to her, never felt as loved as she wanted to. Her older brothers went away for College, her only friends, and so she was alone, her parents traveling to other parts of the world and she was always left behind. It may look like her life was easy, but Lucy just wants her parents to realize that she's there, a kid who maybe does not want to move a few thousand miles from home and go to a new school, a kid who left her heart, possibly, in New York.

What I liked the most about this story is the experiences that both Lucy and Owen went through that gradually shaped what they will become: stronger, more determined and more sure of what they want. They both grew, both encountered truths about themselves through the hardships they faced, the experiences they had with their family, friends. Through their time apart, they discovered what it's like to live in different places, to explore love, the possibilities and complications it can bring to their lives. They stood alone as two separate people but even though they live their lives separately, those moments when the gradual tug of that bond they formed that half hour inside that dark elevator in New York makes them re-evaluate the things they could've had, if they were worth giving a try, worth fighting for, worth seeing through. It was those moments that made me love them, not as a couple, but as two separate people who have this something vague between them that can be something. It was the wait for each of their decisions, if they will make that effort to bring each other closer and see what happens that made me anticipate and hold my breath for both Lucy and Owen.

I savored every moment Lucy and Owen had. The hit or miss vibe, the doubts and worries, the awkwardness, even the way they communicate makes me feel how treasured those moments were. The postcards, letters, emails, the thought exchanges and the struggle to think of what and what not to tell each other. Nothing ever works for a good way all the time. It's not always happy. And there's always that bittersweet edge every time Lucy and Owen touch base with each other at different points of their lives that just endears their story to me. Thousands of miles separate them from each other yet they were still connected by those little things they do and think.

I am once again captivated by Jennifer E. Smith's dazzling writing in The Geography of You and Me. It's such a heartfelt read. That tinge of bittersweet love throughout the novel, the hopefulness, the infinite possibilities in the dizzying, confusing relationship Owen and Lucy had. It was wonderful! There was a certain type of anticipation and that small ache of wanting to find out how it will all end that made me devour this novel in one sitting. 

I fell in love with Jen Smith's writing all over again because of this book. Lovely, lovely, just lovely. Give this book a try and be amazed by how great a storyteller Jen E. Smith is!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Wholeheartedly giving Jen these five butterflies because this novel really deserves it. I was a bit skeptical before reading this since I had issues with This Is What Happy Looks Like, but this novel just blew me away. I loved every bit of it. I wanted more from the ending, but I love how it's open to various interpretations for readers. I'm content thinking that they both got the happy ending they so deserve.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
LOVE LOVE LOVE.

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ARC Review: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

My reaction when I reached the last page: &^@%!$@#^+*~~!!!!
And then I threw my Kindle across the room.

Title: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington
Release Date: March 11th 2014
Published by: Soho Teen
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

When Liv Bloom lands an art scholarship at Wickham Hall, it’s her ticket out of the foster system. Liv isn’t sure what to make of the school’s weird traditions and rituals, but she couldn’t be happier. For the first time ever, she has her own studio, her own supply of paints. Everything she could want.

Then she meets Malcolm Astor, a legacy student, a fellow artist, and the one person who’s ever been able to melt her defenses. Liv’s only friend at Wickham, fellow scholarship kid Gabe Nichols, warns her not to get involved, but life is finally going Liv’s way, and all she wants to do is enjoy the ride.

But Liv’s bliss is doomed. Weeks after arriving, she is viciously murdered and, in death, she discovers that she’s the latest victim of a dark conspiracy that has claimed many lives. Cursed with the ability to see the many ghosts on Wickham’s campus, Gabe is now Liv’s only link to the world of the living. To Malcolm.

Together, Liv, Gabe, and Malcolm fight to expose the terrible truth that haunts the halls of Wickham. But Liv must fight alone to come to grips with the ultimate star-crossed love.

I have never been in despair ever while reading a book as much as I was when I was reading Amy Talkington's Liv, Forever. I will not even provide a summary, just take a look at what's pasted before this review started.

I will coherently try to explain why I love this book, because I REALLY loved it. From the bottom of my heart kind of love.

From the moment I've read the first chapter, a flashback, a tale of someone's gruesome death, swift and over in an instant, I know that I'm in for a treat in this book.

As it turns out, Liv is quite the likable character. She's quirky and creative and an art junkie, quiet, artistic and passionate at what she does. She's also a little bit pessimistic when it comes to love, holding herself back because of her past. She spouts names and lines from poems and mentioned artsy people but she didn't sound pretentious at all, just someone with a deep love and appreciation of art. I detested the way she was treated in Wickham Hall though. And as for Malcolm, unlike all the other YA book male leads I've read of, I've been suspicious of him right at the start. This is a YA mystery thriller after all, and I have to admit he was my prime suspect! He's Wickham's golden boy, but as the story unfolds, I discover how him being popular and well-liked was because he had good qualities after all. He's smart and loves art like Liv. He's a bit mischievous and rash and spontaneous but he means well. That belief that sometimes border on crazy that Liv is still there, the way he was hanging on. Those moments made my heart lurch countless of times. Gabe is weird, but in a good way. I liked how he's sarcastic at times, but a really good friend to Liv. He provides the link between Liv and Malcolm, and what he does isn't easy. Despite everyone telling him he's crazy, he just really wants to make sense of what he hears and sees. He's also quite imaginative with his conspiracy theories which helped Liv and Malcolm solve the mystery in Wickham.

Liv, Forever was the kind of story that's so easy to read. I was swept in by the secrets and the truth hiding behind Wickham's halls the moment I've read the first flashback. It helped that Amy Talkington wrote this in such a way that the story flows easily, injecting the right amount of questions and answers at the right time and with great pacing! Reading Liv, Forever is like watching a movie inside my head. The way Amy Talkington writes makes me feel that way. Every single element that makes this a good mystery thriller was well placed and explained in good detail. The secret society inside Wickham, what started it and its purpose. The murders, the reason why they happen, when they happen and why those girls. Amy Talkington created a rich history that provided a great backdrop for Wickham, dark, mysterious, inviting and evil. Thinking of it now makes the hair at the back of my neck stand up.

You know what it feels like to read a book while knowing all the while that it has that spontaneous, wonderful kind of love and that it can never ever be? No? Read this book if you want to know. How do you think a love between a ghost and a boy ends? That kind of love that started in an unbelievably sweet way, full of potential, of what-ifs and maybes and endless possibilities. Liv and Malcolm had so much going on between them, and I'll always be terribly sad whenever I remember what could've been between them, cut short and separated by death. I couldn't get enough of those bittersweet moments between them, even though I feel like I'm being kicked in the gut over and over. Liv and Malcolm's love story gave meaning to the words "bitter" and "sweet". They make it sound like a once in a lifetime, enduring kind of love that was so wonderful.

Liv, Forever has this quiet, unexpected kind of charm that surprised me. It's not so much as being scared of the ghosts that was in it, but that perfect combination of murder mystery romance that captivated me. Amy Talkington is a vivid storyteller, and you can tell how her being a screenwriter helped to make Liv, Forever a really enjoyable read. All the references about art, the poems, even that playlist constructed for Liv clearly shows that Amy knows what she's talking about in this book. The romance gets to you, the mystery intrigues you, and the machinations behind all these secrets and mysteries will fascinate you until you find yourself neck deep within the story. Absolutely a memorable debut for Amy! What a novel!

My rating:

Content (plot, story flow, character):

The way it ended! I really wasn't expecting that! I felt like I was cut off as swiftly as the murders did and I was taken a back. I realized I had been craving for more of the story and that is such a good thing! My heart calls out to Malcolm and Liv, and I am genuinely happy for Gabe. That unlikely friendship of his with Malcolm, and Malcolm's eventual "freedom" from being an Astor. I'd like to think that Liv's death brought some good as well.

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
One of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen!

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