LUCK OF THE TITANIC By Stacey Lee

July 31, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

LUCK OF THE TITANIC By Stacey LeeLuck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on 5/4/21
Genres: Historical, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise though, she's turned away at the gangway; apparently, Chinese aren't allowed into America.

But Val has to get on that ship. Her twin brother Jamie, who has spent two long years at sea, is there, as is an influential circus owner, whom Val hopes to audition for. Thankfully, there's not much a trained acrobat like Val can't overcome when she puts her mind to it.

As a stowaway, Val should keep her head down and stay out of sight. But the clock is ticking and she has just seven days as the ship makes its way across the Atlantic to find Jamie, perform for the circus owner, and convince him to help get them both into America.

Then one night the unthinkable happens, and suddenly Val's dreams of a new life are crushed under the weight of the only thing that matters: survival.

Short and Sweet Review

The year is 1912 and Valora Luck has quit her job and is planning on smuggling her way onto the Titanic to find her brother and make a better life for them in America. A part owner of the Ringling Brothers Circus is on board and Valora wants to convince him to allow her and Jamie to become acrobats in the circus. Valora can only keep her ruse so long and she’s not even sure if Jamie wants the life she’s proposing. One night the unsinkable ship is dealt a fatal blow.

Luck of the Titanic starts off with us meeting Valora. She’s determined to get on the ship and reunite with her brother, they only have each other now that both of their parents are dead. Valora doesn’t really have a way on the ship since it was her employer who was the one who had the ticket. So now Valora smuggles her way on the ship, and is pretending to be her dead employer Mrs. Sloane and makes her way to first class. Valora finds her brother in third class with other Chinese laborers. While Valora thinks that her and Jamie should move to America and become acrobats in the circus Jamie is more reluctant and clearly shows he doesn’t like the idea.

This book was okay but not much happened. Valora goes between first and third class and tries not to get caught by the staff. Valora also spends a lot of time trying to convince Jamie to join the circus. There’s a subplot where an aspiring fashion designer, April Hart, wants Valora to wear her designs around the titanic. Anyway that’s all that happened in the book there was a romance, kind of, nothing really happened. I like how Valora was determined at first I felt sorry for her but then she became annoying. It’s like she couldn’t imagine that Jamie might not want the same thing she does. She would not leave Jamie alone even though he’s fine with the life he has now and the new friends he made, it’s almost like she couldn’t wrap her head around that and it was her way or the highway.

Everyone knows what happened on the Titanic and we also see that in the book but the ending was… it was something and I don’t have the right word for it. When the book ended I was relieved, the pacing was slow and when nothing’s happening it just makes for a boring time.

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BORN OF ILLUSION By Teri Brown

July 28, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

BORN OF ILLUSION By Teri BrownBorn of Illusion by Teri Brown
Series: Born of Illusion #1
Published by Balzer + Bray on 6/11/13
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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As the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini—or so her mother claims—gifted illusionist Anna Van Housen easily navigates the underground world of magicians and mediums in 1920s New York, though the real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother. But as Anna's powers intensify, she experiences frightening visions that lead her to explore the powers she's tried so long to hide.

Short and Sweet Review

It’s the 1920’s and Anna Van Housen is an illusionist but she’s more than that and when she’s discovered by a young man who realizes that she has more abilities Anna is introduced to members of a secret society in hopes to learn more about herself.

Anna Van Housen is an illusionist she has the ability to communicate with the dead, feel peoples emotions, and see the future, but around her mother she keeps these abilities under wraps. Marguerite Van Housen is the star of the show but she also doesn’t have any abilities of her own, but if it seems like Anna is in the spotlight Marguerite is not a happy woman, Marguerite will even go as far as to try to embarrass Anna in front of an audience at one of their shows just to let her know who’s boss.

Anna meets Cole and he seems to know about her abilities. Cole introduces Anna to a group of people who are members of a secret society. The members of the society are eager to help Anna learn more about her abilities and herself. Honestly I don’t feel like much happened in this book. I lost interest in it 30% through. It was a lot of Anna trying to find out more about her abilities and making sure she and her mother were safe. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and the ending wasn’t something to talk about it was kind of abrupt. I will read the sequel just to see what happens but Born of Illusion was a book that had potential but just fell short of my expectations.


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MOXIE By Jennifer Mathieu

March 17, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

MOXIE By Jennifer MathieuMoxie by Jennifer Mathieu
Published by Roaring Brook Press on 9/19/17
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Pages: 335
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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MOXIE GIRLS FIGHT BACK!

Vivian Carter is fed up. Fed up with an administration at her high school that thinks the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment, and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules.

Viv's mom was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

Moxie is a book about high school life that will make you wanna riot!

Short and Sweet Review

Vivian Carter is a normal high school junior. She hang’s out with her friends, goes to the football games, and see’s her grandparents almost daily. But when a new girl in class tries to answer a question and a boy replies with a sexist remark Vivian realizes she’s fed up. She’s fed up with the administration doing nothing, the boys getting away with everything, the harassment, and the sexist dress code. Vivian decides to make Moxie, a feminist zine that she leaves in the girls bathrooms anonymously. Vivian didn’t think that Moxie would mean anything, but when other girls start to reply she starts to realize how important Moxie is.

I loved Vivian, she was grounded, passionate, and realistic about what she wanted. Vivian’s mom was a Riot Grrrl in the 90s and that leads to some of Vivians inspiration to start Moxie. I love how Vivian left Moxie anonymous and there wasn’t a leader, I felt like that aspect made it easier for other girls to contribute which I loved!

Vivian becomes friends with Lucy after the mishap in class. Lucy is a pretty strong feminist and she loved Moxie and how it was sticking it the the man. We also see that Claudia, Vivians best friend didn’t really understand the idea of Moxie but eventually comes around. Vivian also begins a relationship with Seth. I did like Seth he was all for the cause but sometimes he did have to be educated on why certain things weren’t okay.

I don’t go to East Rockport High School, but I was tired of the boys and the sexist things that they got away with and the administrations lack of discipline. I loved seeing more girls band together to fight for what was right! Vivian got different perspectives from girls at her school and I just think it inspired her more.

I loved this book! It was fast paced and it was great seeing how Moxie started off small but ended up with most of the girls in the school joining the movement! This book has an important take on feminism and should definitely be read!

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SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA By Becky Albertalli

March 10, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA By Becky AlbertalliSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Series: Simonverse #1
Published by Balzer + Bray on 4/7/15
Genres: Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met.

Short and Sweet Review

Simon isn’t out yet but he finds happiness sending emails back and forth with someone from school who is calling themselves Blue. But when a classmate, Martin, sees those emails he decides to blackmail Simon into becoming his wingman. Now Simon has to navigate being blackmailed and making sure his secret isn’t out before he’s ready.

Simon is obviously our main character, and he lives a pretty normal life, he’s in the school musical, has a good group of friends, but no one knows that he’s gay. Simon finds comfort emailing Blue someone who also isn’t out yet. Here’s where things get a little messy, after using the school computer Simon forgets to log out and his classmate Martin sees the emails between him and Blue and decides to use that against Simon. Now Simon has to try to help Martin get with his friend Abby. I thought Martin was the worst character and I was furious about what he did. Although Simon was put in a tough situation he tried to make decisions that he thought were right which in the end he learned weren’t. I really liked Simon’s friends and how supportive they were, I especially liked the emails between Simon and Blue! Simon learns to be comfortable with who he is and eventually meets Blue!

I thought this was a really cute book, it was a fast read and had an important message. I did cry a few times but I also laughed! Definitely read this book, the movie isn’t bad either!

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CATACOMB By Madeleine Roux

March 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

CATACOMB By Madeleine RouxCatacomb by Madeleine Roux
Series: Asylum #3
Published by HarperCollins on 9/1/15
Genres: Horror & Ghost Stories, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 332
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Sometimes the past is better off buried.

Senior year is finally over. After all they've been through, Dan, Abby, and Jordan are excited to take one last road trip together, and they're just not going to think about what will happen when the summer ends. But on their way to visit Jordan's uncle in New Orleans, the three friends notice that they're being followed . . . and photographed. Then Dan starts receiving messages from someone he didn't expect to hear from again—someone who died last Halloween.

When the trio arrives in New Orleans and the strange occurrences only escalate, Dan is forced to accept that everything that has happened to him in the past year may not be a coincidence, but fate—a fate that ties Dan to a group called the Bone Artists, who have a sinister fascination with notorious killers of the past.

Now Dan's only hope is that he will make it out of his senior trip alive.

Short and Sweet Review

Senior year is over and Dan, Abby, and Jordan reconnect to go on a road trip before starting their first year in college. The group is on their way to New Orleans to visit Jordan’s uncle, but along the way they make a few stops and notice that someone is following them and taking pictures. Things only get worse in New Orleans when a group called the Bone Artists seem to have a connection to Brookline.

This is the last installment in this trilogy. I will admit that this wasn’t my favorite book. The first 25% where they kept stopping so that Abby could take pictures for her project was slow. Dan is getting messages from Micah that are sort of like a warning and one of those texts clues Dan in to the fact that the group is being followed. We also get more information about Dan’s birth parents which I liked. The group meets Oliver and Sabrina, Oliver was a friend of Micah’s and he’s also been getting text. Oliver thinks that Dan can help him repay his debt to the Bone Artists. Jordan and Abby don’t trust Oliver and Sabrina and they were really rude to them and spent most of the book being mad at Dan and blaming him for the things that were happening. Abby and Dan are still dating, but I don’t understand why because there doesn’t seem to be any chemistry between them. The ending was good but it also felt a little rushed.

Overall this was a good book but I think the first two books are the best. The plot is good and I liked the mystery surrounding Dan’s parents and how the Bone Artists had a connection to things that went on at Brookline.

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SANCTUM By Madeleine Roux

February 26, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SANCTUM By Madeleine RouxSanctum by Madeleine Roux
Series: Asylum #2
Published by HarperCollins on 8/26/14
Genres: Horror & Ghost Stories, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 353
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Dan, Abby, and Jordan remain traumatized by the summer they shared in the Brookline asylum. Much as they'd love to move on, many questions remain, and someone is determined to keep the terror alive, sending the teens photos of an old-timey carnival, with no note and no name. Forsaking their plan never to go back, the teens return to New Hampshire College under the guise of a weekend for prospective students, and there they realize that the carnival from the photos is not only real, it's here on campus, apparently for the first time in many years.

Sneaking away from sample classes and college parties, Dan and his friends lead a tour of their own—one through the abandoned houses and hidden places of a surrounding town. Camford is hiding a terrible past, and the truth behind Dan's connection to the asylum's evil warden is more terrifying than Dan ever imagined.

Short and Sweet Review

Dan, Abby, and Jordan are going back to Brookline. After the traumatizing summer they had there it seems like even when they left someone wants to keep the terror going. The trio has been receiving photos and even Felix gave them a set of coordinates to properties close to campus. So the three go to campus as prospective students and try to get answers.

Our characters are back at New Hampshire College and that’s when they realize that the pictures they’ve been sent featuring a carnival is actually happening on campus grounds. Dan and his friends know that the only way to get answers is to sneak away from their guides for the weekend and visit the coordinates that Felix gave them. This book still has the creepy vibes that the first book gave us. Dan still sees things through the eyes of Daniel Crawford and he’s also seeing the ghost of children.

The group learns a lot more about the past of Brookline and even learn that there’s a cult in the midst of everything. It was interesting to see how much the group uncovered. This book had me flipping through pages just to see what would happen next. I was always worried for the characters something about the campus and the people on it are not right.

I’ve enjoyed reading the first two books in this series and I’m excited to see what’ll happen in the third especially because we’re leaving Brookline behind. What I love most about this series is the creepy vibes and the pictures sprinkled in it!

Filed Under: Reviews

EVERY SINGLE LIE By Rachel Vincent

February 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

EVERY SINGLE LIE By Rachel VincentEvery Single Lie by Rachel Vincent
Published by Bloomsbury YA on 1/12/21
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery & Detective, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 324
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Nobody in sixteen-year-old Beckett's life seems to be telling the whole story. Her boyfriend Jake keeps hiding texts, which could mean he's cheating on her. Her father lied about losing his job and so much more before his shocking death. And everyone in school seems to be whispering about her and her family behind her back.

But none of that compares to the day Beckett finds the body of a newborn baby in a gym bag--Jake's gym bag--on the floor of her high school locker room. As word leaks out, rumors that Beckett's the mother take off like wildfire in a town all too ready to believe the worst of her.

Beckett soon finds herself facing threats and accusations both heartbreaking and dangerous. Nobody believes her side of the story, and as the police investigation unfolds, she discovers that everyone has a secret to hide and the truth could alter everything she thought she knew.

Short and Sweet Review

Let’s just get into this. Beckett skips school but ends up remembering she has a test to take so she does end up in school and while in the girls locker room she finds a baby in a duffle bag, unfortunately the baby is dead. Anyway everyone in town starts to think that Beckett was the mother of the baby and start calling her a baby killer. It gets even worse when media and an online presence of supporters for the baby start making their anger known.

The premise of this book is what drew me in. I was interested to follow the mystery and see how everything would unfold. Beckett was an okay character but she was not detective material. I think that’s what frustrated me most about the Beckett was she would get a lead and then confront a potential suspect with a clue she blew out of proportion and then take back what she said because she would get evidence that would clear them, she did this more than once. The romance was okay, Beckett thought Jake was cheating on her and broke up with him but they try to work things out. Beckett also has a lot of family problems, her dad recently died and her mom works late hours and is barely home so its mainly Beckett and her brother and her sister.

Overall this was an okay book I think things could’ve been better, starting with Beckett she wasn’t a character I really related to. I felt bad about all of the threats she was receiving and that no one would believe her side of the story. I also felt like the pacing was a little slow and that might have been because of how bad Beckett’s detective skills were. There were things that could have been better but in the end Every Single Lie fell flat.

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ASYLUM By Madeleine Roux

February 18, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

ASYLUM By Madeleine RouxAsylum by Madeleine Roux
Series: Asylum #1
Published by HarperCollins on 8/20/13
Genres: Horror & Ghost Stories, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 321
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, the New Hampshire College Prep program is the chance of a lifetime. Except that when Dan arrives, he finds that the usual summer housing has been closed, forcing students to stay in the crumbling Brookline Dorm. The dorm was formerly a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane.

As Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan start exploring Brookline's twisty halls and hidden basement, they uncover disturbing secrets about what really went on at Brookline . . . secrets that link Dan and his friends to the asylum's dark past. Because Brookline was no ordinary asylum, and there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Short and Sweet Review

Dan is at the New Hampshire College Prep program for the summer. This is important to Dan, he’s an outcast at his school so this is his chance to make friends before college. The only thing that’s not exactly easing to think about is the fact that the dorm the students are staying in used to be an asylum. Dan does make some friends, Abby and Jordan. The trio end up exploring the asylum and learn some disturbing facts about their new home for the summer.

I found Asylum to be an enjoyable read. I will admit that some parts were predictable but that didn’t really bother me. I thought the setting was creepy and the pictures just added a lot to the book. Sometimes I found the pictures scarier then what was actually happening. Dan, Abby, and Jordan all have some unexplainable things happen to them that kind of makes them feel like they’re losing it especially Dan. We do learn that Dan may have a connection to the asylum which maybe why he feels like things are speaking to him and why he’s having strange dreams about being places in the asylum he’s never seen before. I didn’t really care for the romance I thought it was better when Dan and Abby were just friends. There was a cliffhanger at the end. I plan on finishing the rest of the series just to see how everything works out. Even thought the book may have been predictable it kept me engaged and I just wanted to see what would happen next!

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IMMORTAL REIGN By Morgan Rhodes

February 13, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IMMORTAL REIGN By Morgan RhodesImmortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes
Series: Falling Kingdoms #6
Published by Razorbill on 2/6/18
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 416
Format: Ebook, Paperback
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Jonas continues to willfully defy his destiny, but the consequences of plotting his own course are drastic. As the fight for Mytica rages on, he must decide just how much more he's willing to sacrifice.

Lucia knows there's something special about her daughter and she'll do anything to protect her, even if that means facing Kyan alone.

Amara is called back home to Kraeshia. Grandma Cortas has her own plans for Mytica's future. She promises Amara power, revenge, and dominance if she agrees to be part of her scheme.

Magnus and Cleo's love will be put to the ultimate test. Dark magic is causing widespread destruction throughout the kingdom. Enemies across the sea are advancing. And unrest is stirring throughout the land. Is their love strong enough to withstand the outside forces tearing them apart?

Short and Sweet Review

After the events of the last book, two of our characters have the kindred in their body trying to take control. Kyan is still trying to reunite his siblings and rule Mytica. All of our characters have to band together to save Mytica and their friends.

I feel like over the course of 6 books all of the characters have grown immensely. I loved Lucia she basically had a redemption arc, she was hell bent in the last book but the birth of her child sort of grounded her, I also liked her friendship with Jonas. Cleo and Taran had the kindred in them and we can slowly see it taking over. Cleo tries to learn how to use the kindreds power but her attempts were futile. I love that Magnus was trying to find a way to save Cleo we can see how much he loves her. Amara left Mytica and went back to her kingdom and although she’s not my favorite character it was interesting to see how things occurred with her grandma and being crowned.

I love this series and the ending was beautiful. Everything that occurred made you wonder how things would resolve and there was a twist that I wasn’t expecting. I love these characters and its been a journey but a satisfying one!


Filed Under: Reviews

SHADOW AND BONE By Leigh Bardugo

January 15, 2021 by Leave a Comment

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SHADOW AND BONE By Leigh BardugoShadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1
Published by Henry Holt and Co. on 6/5/12
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold―a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.

Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite―and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.

As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.

Welcome to Ravka . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.

Short and Sweet Review

Alina is a soldier and she’s going across the Shadow Fold and knows she might not survive. The Shadow Fold is filled with monsters. When her regiment is attacked and one of her closest friends is in danger Alina unleashes a power she didn’t even know she possessed. After revealing her power Alina catches the attention of the Darkling, the leader of the Grisha. The Darkling believes that Alina could be the key to destroying the Shadow Fold, if she masters her power.

Alina is our main character and everything for her changes. Alina never knew that she had this power and now she’s the only sun summoner. At the little palace where the grisha reside, Alina has to make herself at home and learn the ropes. At the palace Alina meets Genya, a tailor who seems to be Alina’s closest confidante. I liked seeing Alina go to trainings and become friendly with the other grisha at the palace.

We see interactions between The Darkling and Alina. There is a bit of a connection between these two but its weird considering that Alina is a teenager and The Darkling is somewhere in his hundreds. There’s a lot going on that Alina doesn’t know about but once she’s warned she leaves the palace and ends up being reunited with Mal. I love the relationship between Mal and Alina they’ve been friends since they were kids but there’s always been something more between them.

The first book in this series sets the tone for everything more forward. We watch Alina learn how to use her power, we see a lot of secrets being revealed and the end is just amazing! Everything picks up during the ending and it just leaves you wanting more!

Filed Under: Reviews