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
Buy on Amazon

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.


Filed Under: Reviews

MY CONTRARY MARY By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

July 6, 2021 by Leave a Comment

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

MY CONTRARY MARY By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi MeadowsMy Contrary Mary by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows
Series: Mary #1
Published by HarperTeen on 6/22/21
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 512
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?

Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she’s a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It’s a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.

Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn after the king meets a suspicious end. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis face a viper’s nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary’s secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll.

Short and Sweet Review

We’re in the time of the Renaissance France and Mary Queen of Scots has lived in France since she was a young girl. Mary has always known she was going to marry the Dauphin Francis, but Mary has a secret she’s an Eðian. This gives Mary the ability to change into her spirit animal which is a mouse and she uses this ability to learn things about the other royals living in the castle. Unfortunately there’s a lot of scheming going on and soon Mary and Francis are going to be thrust on the throne and even sooner someone is going to try to get them off.

There’s a lot of characters in this book we have Mary and Francis and we have Mary’s four ladies in waiting also all named Mary so they all go by nick names and we have Ari Nostradamus and Catherine De Medici and King Henry, oh and Mary’s uncles.

Anyway the book started off a little slow which I suppose was to build everything up and things did pick up halfway through the book after King Henry met his end. Catherine De Medici is up to no good and so are Mary’s uncles but they’re not working together so at some point Mary and Francis do end up splitting up and Mary goes to Scotland and Francis is in France dealing with his mother. Ari Nostradamus was an okay character she was hired by Catherine to spy on Mary and I feel like she started the ball rolling with the trouble that came to Mary after her and Francis’s marriage. I guess Ari was useful because she could make potions but some of the things she did were annoying. Mary was an a good character she didn’t want to believe that her uncles would plot against her and Francis felt the same about Catherine.

Overall this was a good book. It definitely got better during the second half when things started to pick up and more of the plots against Mary and Francis were revealed. I’m excited to see what the next installments in the Mary series will bring!

Filed Under: Reviews

DON’T BREATHE A WORD By Jordyn Taylor

May 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment

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

DON’T BREATHE A WORD By Jordyn TaylorDon't Breathe a Word by Jordyn Taylor
Published by HarperTeen on 5/18/21
Genres: Historical, Mystery & Detective, Thrillers, Young Adult
Pages: 347
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

Eva has never felt like she belonged . . . not in her own family or with her friends in New York City, and certainly not at a fancy boarding school like Hardwick Preparatory Academy. So, when she is invited to join the Fives, an elite secret society, she jumps at the opportunity to finally be a part of something.

But what if the Fives are about more than just having the best parties and receiving special privileges from the school? What if they are also responsible for keeping some of Hardwick’s biggest secrets buried?

1962:

There is only one reason why Connie would volunteer to be one of the six students to participate in testing Hardwick’s nuclear fallout shelter: Craig Allenby. While the thought of nuclear war sends her into a panic, she can’t pass up the opportunity to spend four days locked in with the school’s golden boy.

However, Connie and the other students quickly discover that there is more to this “test” than they previously thought. As they are forced to follow an escalating series of commands, Connie realizes that one wrong move could have dangerous consequences.

Separated by sixty years, Eva and Connie’s stories become inextricably intertwined as Eva unravels the mystery of how six students went into the fallout shelter all those years ago . . . but only five came out.

Short and Sweet Review

Present day: Eva doesn’t feel like she belongs not with her family or with her friends back at home, so she definitely doesn’t feel like she belongs at Hardwick Preparatory Academy. When Eva has the chance to join a secret society called the Fives she jumps at the chance to finally belong to something, but the Fives are hiding some of the school’s biggest secrets.

Past: It’s 1962 and one of the biggest worries is a possible nuclear war so when Hardwick makes a fallout shelter and gives six students the opportunity to stay in it for four days Connie volunteers. But the only reason Connie volunteers is Craig Allenby the schools golden boy. The fallout shelter isn’t what any of the students expected, it ends up being more of an experiment and six students went in but only five make it out.

Both of our main characters go to Hardwick Preparatory Academy but during different time periods. We see Connie during the 60s and Eva during the present day. Connie is more timid and the thought of a nuclear war freaks her out. Connie only agrees to volunteer to go in the fallout shelter because Craig Allenby is also planning to go and she likes him, problem is he has a girlfriend. While in the fallout shelter we see the students go through scenarios and drills that their teacher who is running the fallout shelter is making them go through. Over the course of the four days we see the students make questionable decisions which one student questions. In the end Connie starts wondering if she made the right decision signing up and how she’s going to make it out.

Eva is more sure of herself than Connie so when she gets an invite to join the Fives she’s all about it. After doing all the initiation stuff and being accepted Eva learns that the fallout shelter is an off limit topic. Eva also meets Erik during track and learns that one of the students who was in the fallout shelter that died was a relative of his and that sets of the mystery. While trying to avoid getting caught by Dean Allenby (yes that Allenby) and the fives, Erik and Eva sneak around and try to find as much information about the fallout shelter and the people in it as they can.

I liked how the two stories intertwined. I got a creepy feeling while reading this book and I loved it! I felt so bad about what happened in the fallout shelter it did seem like an unfortunate accident. The ending was great and I’m happy that everyone seemed to get some kind of closure.

Filed Under: Reviews

PRIDE AND PREMEDITATION By Tirzah Price

April 7, 2021 by Leave a Comment

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

PRIDE AND PREMEDITATION By Tirzah PricePride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
Series: Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1
Published by HarperTeen on 4/6/21
Genres: Historical, Mystery & Detective, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates.

Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed.

Short and Sweet

Lizzie Bennet wants to be a lawyer at her fathers firm, so when a murder takes place in London’s high society Lizzie knows this is her chance to prove herself. The only thing that’s standing in her way is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, a solicitor that works for a firm that rivals her fathers. Lizzie is convinced that the wrong person is being blamed for murder and she’s determined to find the actual culprit.

Characters

Lizzie: Lizzie prefers to spend her time at her fathers firm than with her mother and her sister doing social calls. Lizzie was a good main character. I just loved her! Lizzie wasn’t perfect but it was easy to relate to her. In the time that this book takes place in women aren’t seen in the law and order scene. But Lizzie is good at what she does on the down low she looks into some cases for her dad, and she just wants to prove herself and eventually get a position at their firm, Longbourn and Sons. Lizzie is determined, smart, and good at putting the pieces together.

Darcy: Darcy works for his father at their prestigious firm Pemberley Associates. Darcy is a solicitor and was formally hired by the accused. Darcy is determined to prove his clients innocence and he thinks that Lizzie is just getting in his way. Darcy comes off as cold but he takes his job seriously and is also trying to prove that he’s good at his job.

Romance

Lizzie and Darcy: There’s some tension her mainly because Darcy was actually hired and Lizzie is kind of consulting, but Darcy feels like he doesn’t need Lizzie interfering with the case. I liked these two they had good banter between them and when they actually put their heads together they made a good team. Perhaps a great crime solving duo in the future?

Lizzie and Wickham: I’m not really sure if I saw a relationship between these two looking back. I think maybe they were better as friends but there was some flirtation going on. Wickham is a runner that Lizzie meets after she gets caught for “breaking and entering” but is it really breaking and entering when someone lets you in? Anyway after that encounter Wickham and Lizzie follow some leads together and they get along great.

Lizzie and Collins: Collins works at Longbourn and Sons, and is expected to get the firm if and when Mr. Bennet dies. Lizzie absolutely despises Collins. Collins thinks that he’s better than everyone and honestly he’s not that great at his job. Collins is also expected to propose to Lizzie but Lizzie can’t stand the thought of being married to him.

My Thoughts

Lizzie wants to be a solicitor at her father’s firm so when he asks her to prove herself she decides to take on a murder case. Mr. Charles Bingley is accused of killing his brother in law, but he maintains his innocence. Lizzie decides to offer her expertise, but is stopped short when she finds out that Bingley is to be represented by Mr. Darcy. But Bingley likes Lizzie so much that he accepts her help also. Lizzie realizes that solving this case would give her the chance to be hired by her father and maybe inherit Longbourn and Sons. Lizzie had more of an investigative way of going about things while Darcy thought that Mr. Bingley’s good reputation would save him. I loved following Lizzie around London and seeing how she would follow leads. I also liked how she was friends with Fred, someone who would get information for her. While Lizzie is out and about she’s avoiding her mother and sisters while they go on social calls. Lizzie’s mother is trying to marry her and her sisters off but Lizzie can think of better ways to spend her time. Lizzie did a great job following her gut and piecing things together, though some of her leads did get her into some trouble. I loved Lizzies relationships with her sister Jane, her father, and her friend Charlotte. This was a good mystery I wasn’t sure who the murderer actually was. The ending was great and just leaves you wanting more!

Overall

This was a book I could not put down! I found the characters funny, there was a great plot, and I honestly did not mind following Lizzie around. Lizzie is such a determined character but she also has her faults, its hard not to root for her! The ending just made me want more and I can’t wait to see what Lizzie’s next adventure has in store!

Filed Under: Reviews

REBEL ROSE By Emma Theriault

November 9, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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

REBEL ROSE By Emma TheriaultRebel Rose by Emma Theriault
Series: The Queen's Council #1
Published by Disney-Hyperion on 11/10/20
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue-and a touch of magic.

It's 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress's curse, restoring the Beast to his human form as Prince Adam, and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it's only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.

Belle has always dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her roots as a commoner, and her future as a royal. When she stumbles across a mysterious, ancient magic that brings with it a dire warning, she must question whether she is ready for the power being thrust on her, and if being Queen is more than just a title.

Short and Sweet Review

In 1789 France is on the brink of a revolution. Belle and Lio have recently gotten married and are trying to realign themselves into society. After learning about everything going on in France Belle and Lio agree that they have to put their people first to prevent a revolution taking place in Aveyon.

Lio enlists the help of his cousin Bastien, who has been living in France and has more information on customs and laws that Lio would have missed out on while he was under the curse for the past ten years. Bastien is one of those people who seems like they’re helpful but they’re actually up to no good. Because he’s Lio’s cousin Lio tends to take his side but Belle can see that Bastien doesn’t have the best intentions. While trying to go about how to make Aveyon a better place Bastien suggests that they focus on noblemen while Belle wants to focus on commoners, this leads to tension between the two.

Lio ends up going to visit noblemen around the town and he ends up being gone for a while. Belle is still at the castle and though she doesn’t want to be called a princess or queen she still has the authority to make decisions. Most of the decisions she makes are shot down by the advisors, but sometimes the advisors agree because Bastien agrees first. Belle also stumbles upon a magic mirror which gives her warnings about what’s to come, one of them being a revolution is closer than she thought. While Lio is gone its almost like she has no friends which is why I’m glad when Marguerite comes to Aveyon. Marguerite is someone that Belle met at one of Bastien’s parties in France. Marguerite is someone Belle can confide in and is also very helpful in organizing the library and setting up a salon.

I did like the relationship between Belle and Lio, they have a closer bond then most people think, because of what they had to go through when the curse was still intact. Lio sometimes still has nightmares about the curse and it seems like Belle is the only one who can soothe him.

I loved how this was a retelling but also included actual history as well! We also get to see some familiar characters from Beauty and the Beast. Belle is everything you want in a heroine, someone who cares about people, someone who wants to do the right thing, and someone who trusts their gut. I’m so happy that I got to read this book and I’m excited to see what the next book in the series has in store! Definitely check this book out if you like retellings but with some history sprinkled in!

Filed Under: Reviews

KINGDOM OF THE WICKED By Kerri Maniscalco

October 26, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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

KINGDOM OF THE WICKED By Kerri ManiscalcoKingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Series: Kingdom of the Wicked #1
Published by Jimmy Patterson on 10/27/20
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 448
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

Two sisters.
One brutal murder.
A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself...
And an intoxicating romance.
Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia's side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women's murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is at is seems...

Short and Sweet Review

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are witches who secretly live among humans. One night when Vittoria doesn’t come to the families restaurant for dinner service, Emilia goes out to look for her and ends up finding Vittoria’s body in the street. Emilia vows to find her sisters killer and get revenge, and this requires her to use forbidden dark magic. While on this quest Emilia meets Wrath, a Prince of Hell. Wrath wants to find out who has been murdering witches, so the two of them team up.

We start the book when Emilia and Vittoria are 8 years old and we learn that they were entrusted with necklaces given to them by their nonna. The story takes place when both girls are now 18 years old and they just want to live normal lives but that isn’t in the cards for both of them. The gates of hell are weakening and we learn that the necklaces the girls have are important to what’s happening. After Vittoria’s death Emilia learns that her sister was keeping secrets and she tries to discover what they are. Emilia starts by summoning a demon she thinks its simple but she ends up summoning a Prince of Hell. Emilia has heard her entire life that The Prince’s of Hell cannot be trusted so she’s wary of everything that Wrath says but she knows it could be beneficial to work with him.

The relationship between Wrath and Emilia was an interesting one. They go back and forth a lot, he doesn’t necessarily want to work with her and he doesn’t like the fact that he was summoned. Emilia on the other hand isn’t too excited about this partnership either but she deals with the hand she was dealt. Over the course of the book we can see that these two do care about each other. There is a bit of romance between them which was steamy. I wish there was more but Emilia had a hard time trusting him so things weren’t exactly great between them in the end.

Wrath’s goal is to find a bride for Pride, but when he meets Emilia his goal changes to finding who is murdering the potential brides. I liked seeing Emilia and Wrath follow leads. Emilia did go off on her own sometimes which did put her in a lot of danger. We also get to meet a few other Prince’s of Hell and they definitely live up to their names.

I did not want to pick this book down! I was so invested in what would happen next. I can’t wait until the sequel is released, the cliffhanger in this book left me wanting more. I loved the plot and the characters and would definitely recommend that everyone checks this book out!!!

Filed Under: Reviews

MY LADY JANE By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

July 22, 2020 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.

MY LADY JANE By Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi MeadowsMy Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows
Series: The Lady Janies #1
Published by HarperTeen on 6/7/16
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 512
Format: Hardcover
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

ReviewedbyDani

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong.

Short and Sweet Review

King Edward is dying of the affliction and he needs someone to take the throne after he dies, and he picks his cousin Jane. The only problem is Jane needs to get married and produce a male heir who will eventually take the throne.

Jane would much rather spend her days reading books than to be bothered with the thoughts of marriage much less running a country.

Gifford or G, spends his day as a horse and his nights as a man and would prefer to be free and not get married.

When Edward, Jane, and G learn that the kingdom and the throne are in danger they realize that only they can put a stop to it.

We get Edward, Jane, and G’s POVs and I don’t think there was one I preferred more than the other. So Edward is dying of the affliction and his time is running out rapidly. Although Jane doesn’t want to get married she’ll do anything to help her cousin. Jane and G don’t have a lot in common, and they argue with each other often. Over time their bond and relationship gets better and realize that they do have feelings for each other and are willing to risk their lives for the other. There were some things that I wasn’t expecting especially after Jane loses the throne. I liked seeing how the characters were separated and eventually found each other and had to come up with a plan to win the throne back. I loved Edward’s sister Bess she knew what she was doing and was kind and knew how to command a room. I enjoyed this book but I still thought it was a little weird when the humans would talk to the animals.

I’ve already read the second book in this series and I’m excited to read the third book!

Filed Under: Reviews

THE LADY ROGUE By Jenn Bennett

July 10, 2020 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.

THE LADY ROGUE By Jenn BennettThe Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
Published by Simon Pulse on 9/3/19
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck returns from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

Short and Sweet Review

Theodora has a treasure hunting father and she’s always wanted to go traveling with him but he doesn’t let Theo join him only his apprentice Huck. The only thing left for Theo to do is stay in the hotel in Istanbul. But when Huck comes to the hotel without her father Theo knows something is wrong. Following the clues her father left in his journal, Theo and Huck go on an adventure to rescue her father. After going through the journal Theo and Huck learn that her father was looking for a ring that once belonged to Vlad the impaler, and this ring may be the key to finding her dad. Huck and Theo travel through Romania following clues and also avoiding enemies who are also after the ring.

I was really excited to read this book and to be taken on an adventure to find relics. Theo and Huck used to have a romantic relationship until her father put a stop to it, now things are tense and awkward between the two. I did find myself becoming disinterested and bored at some points I did want to stop reading the book. I think it was because some things just dragged on and I didn’t really like the interactions between Huck and Theo some of it seemed forced.. I did like how Theo and Huck met different characters and how they always had to make sure no one was on their tail. Overall the book was okay I wasn’t as into it as I thought I would be.

Filed Under: Reviews

THE PAPER GIRL OF PARIS By Jordyn Taylor

May 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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

THE PAPER GIRL OF PARIS By Jordyn TaylorThe Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor
Published by HarperTeen on 5/26/20
Genres: Contemporary, Historical, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon

NOW:

Sixteen-year-old Alice is spending the summer in Paris, but she isn’t there for pastries and walks along the Seine. When her grandmother passed away two months ago, she left Alice an apartment in France that no one knew existed. An apartment that has been locked for more than seventy years.

Alice is determined to find out why the apartment was abandoned and why her grandmother never once mentioned the family she left behind when she moved to America after World War II. With the help of Paul, a charming Parisian student, she sets out to uncover the truth. However, the more time she spends digging through the mysteries of the past, the more she realizes there are secrets in the present that her family is still refusing to talk about.

THEN:

Sixteen-year-old Adalyn doesn’t recognize Paris anymore. Everywhere she looks, there are Nazis, and every day brings a new horror of life under the Occupation. When she meets Luc, the dashing and enigmatic leader of a resistance group, Adalyn feels she finally has a chance to fight back.

But keeping up the appearance of being a much-admired socialite while working to undermine the Nazis is more complicated than she could have imagined. As the war goes on, Adalyn finds herself having to make more and more compromises—to her safety, to her reputation, and to her relationships with the people she loves the most.

Short and Sweet

Alice is spending her summer in Paris, and its not to for vacation, when her grandmother passed away she left Alice an abandoned apartment that no one knew about. Alice wants to find out why the apartment was abandoned and why her grandma never mentioned it.

Adalyn doesn’t recognize Paris anymore, its been taken over and everywhere she looks she sees nazis. Adalyn doesn’t know what to do but when she’s given the chance to fight back she takes it. But being a part of the resistance is harder than she thought especially when she has to keep everyone she loves in the dark.

Characters

Alice: Alice is our main character from the present time. Alice was determined to figure out what happened in the past and learn more about her grandmas upbringing. I felt bad for Alice, she felt a lot of pressure from her parents to sell the apartment, but she wanted to keep it in the family.

Adalyn: Adalyn is our main character from the past. Adalyn was smart and willing to do whatever it took to feel like she was making a difference. I loved Adalyn but I was constantly worried for her, the more she worked for the resistance the more risky it would get for her.

Romance

Alice and Paul: Alice and Paul met in a coffee shop, they were cute I like that he was willing to help Alice on her quest to find out more information about Adalyn. There was this one moment where Alice got mad at Paul and I don’t think he deserved it but other than that they were a cute couple.

Adalyn and Luc: Adalyn and Luc met when she found him defacing posters. They both were apart of the resistance and they didn’t see each other a lot because Luc leaves but he comes back occasionally and that’s when they usually see each other. I thought that they were sweet and they did have chemistry.

My Thoughts

~ We get two POVs one from Alice which is during the present and one from Adalyn which is during the past.

~ I felt so bad for Adalyn her best friend was her sister Chloe (Alice’s grandma), but while working for the resistance Adalyn had to keep what she was doing a secret. This ended up putting a rift between the two sisters and eventually they don’t even speak to each other anymore.

~ I like how Alice learned more details from Adalyn’s life from the diary. I liked seeing the diary entries. Alice and Paul learn a lot from things left behind in apartment, which was basically a time capsule.

~ I wish that Alice’s grandma was still alive so that we could learn more about her life during that time.

~ The last chapter for Adalyn was hard for me to read, she did a lot for her country and she was ready to risk it all. I just wish that she didn’t have to seem like she was fraternizing with the enemy.

Overall

The Paper Girl of Paris was an entertaining read. I liked how the past and present intertwined. Following Alice’s adventure to learn more about the past and then reading about Adalyn’s mission to make the future of Paris better was captivating. I thought it was a good read and it held my attention the whole time, I recommend it!


Filed Under: Reviews

DEATHLESS DIVIDE By Justina Ireland

January 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

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

DEATHLESS DIVIDE By Justina IrelandDeathless Divide by Justina Ireland
Series: Dread Nation #2
Published by Balzer + Bray on 2/4/20
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Horror & Ghost Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 560
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler: Get out of town, stay alive, and head west to California to find her mother.

But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to a protected village called Nicodemus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880s America.

What’s more, this safe haven is not what it appears—as Jane discovers when she sees familiar faces from Summerland amid this new society. Caught between mysteries and lies, the undead, and her own inner demons, Jane soon finds herself on a dark path of blood and violence that threatens to consume her.

But she won’t be in it alone.

Katherine Deveraux never expected to be allied with Jane McKeene. But after the hell she has endured, she knows friends are hard to come by—and that Jane needs her too, whether Jane wants to admit it or not.

Watching Jane’s back, however, is more than she bargained for, and when they both reach a breaking point, it’s up to Katherine to keep hope alive—even as she begins to fear that there is no happily-ever-after for girls like her.

Short and Sweet

After the fall of Summerland all Jane wants to do is survive and make it to California to find her mother. But when Jane and company end up to a survivalist village called Nicodermus, she learns that things aren’t what they appear to be. Katherine never thought that she would become allied with Jane but she knows that she needs Jane, and even though Jane won’t admit it she needs Katherine too.

Characters

Jane: Jane is still amazing and great at killing shamblers. I feel like Jane had a lot more on her plate this go around. She had to protect a group of people from Summerland and get them safely to Nicodermus. She also dealt with a lot of loss on the way and Jane doesn’t deal with her emotions properly she rather keep them all bottled up which at some points did take a toll on her. At some point in the book Jane loses who she is and she just became cold and I’m glad that she had Katherine around to bring some of her humanity back.

Katherine: Katherine is back and I just loved her presence and being able to read from her POV. Katherine is more levelheaded than Jane and is like the voice of reason. Katherine is also amazing at killing shamblers. She also dealt with a lot but she kept moving forward and doing what she thought was best and that’s what I like most about Katherine she never loses sight of what’s important.

Quotes

~ “You cannot go around threatening murder whenever someone annoys you.”

My Thoughts

~ Deathless Divide takes place right after Dread Nation and the fall of Summerland. Jane and Katherine are with a small group from Summerland trying to safely make it to Nicodermus.

~ I feel bad for Jane she lost someone so soon after learning things about them that were being kept secret. It just made her feel like she wasn’t enough.

~ Anytime the group travels they’re risking their lives and there were a few times I was worried that shamblers would catch up with them.

~ In Nicodermus the girls see some familiar faces from Summerland and that’s when Jane learns that Nicodermus may not be as safe as they originally thought.

~ Gideon Carr is in Nicodermus and he continues to look for a vaccine that will give people immunity to the shamblers bite but he ends up doing more damage than good.

~ After everything that happens in Nicodermus Jane and Katherine are separated, this hurt me. I didn’t like that the two girls were apart. And this is where Jane changes and ends up becoming a cold blooded killer.

~ Katherine on the other hand heads west and tries to find the town that Janes mother may have been headed too.

~ I love the relationship between Katherine and Jane they balance each other out and over time they’ve become best friends.

Overall

This book pulled at all my heartstrings. I LOVED every moment of this book and I’m so glad that we got both of the girls POVs. The friendship between the two girls is heart warming and they truly look out for each other. The ending was amazing, everything about this book is amazing. If you haven’t read Dread Nation yet pick it up and then read Deathless Divide, don’t miss out!

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