CHAMPION OF FATE By Kendare Blake

September 4, 2023 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.

CHAMPION OF FATE By Kendare BlakeChampion of Fate by Kendare Blake
Series: Heromaker #1
Published by Quill Tree Books on 9/19/23
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 473
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Aristene are an order of mythical female warriors. Though heroes might be immortalized in legends, it’s the Aristene who guide their paths to victory. They are the Heromakers.

Raised by the order after being orphaned, Reed grew up surrounded by her future sisters-in-arms and the incredible stories of their quests. She’s been counting the days until her initiation, and now one final test stands in her way: shepherding her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and her place in the order is secured. Fail, and she’ll be cast out of the only home she’s ever known.

But Reed didn’t count on Hestion, her assigned hero, being both infuriating and intriguing. When their strategic alliance turns into something more, it forces Reed to question the cost of becoming an Aristene. As battle looms and fate hangs in the balance, Reed must make an impossible choice: her hero or her order.

Short and Sweet Review

The Aristene are legendary female warriors who are the ones who guide every hero to their path to victory. Reed was orphaned at a young age and was raised by the Aristene and now its time for her to go on to her final test, guiding a hero to their path to victory on the battle field, if she succeeds she’s earned her place as an Aristene and if she fails she’ll be cast out. Reed’s hero is a prince named Hestion, he honestly has no desire to be a hero and that makes him infuriating to Reed but also she’s interested in him. Being around Hestion makes Reed wonder if she really wants to be an Aristene.

Champion of Fate is an amazing fantasy book! We follow Reed who is an initiate for the legendary Aristene, who took her in when her village was slaughtered. Reeds mentor and mother figure is a woman named Aster who happens to have a high ranking. I loved the relationship between the two of them, Aster had a tough love approach but Reed always knew she could count on her. For Reed’s test she has to help Hestion a prince becomes a hero and lead him on a path to glory, but upon meeting him she learns that Hestion really wants to be in the background and he’s okay with his brother Belden being the one to take the credit. We see Reed and Hestion spend a lot of time together and get to know one another and they end up developing feelings for each other, which is easier for Hestion than it is for Reed. Reed knows once the war is finished she can’t stay with Hestion and she’ll have to move on. I did like the dynamic between these two and how for a while Hestion had Reed questioning if she really did want to become an Aristene or maybe stick around and leave that life behind. We follow these characters as they go into war which was pretty cool to see how amazing Reed and her friend Lyonene were at fighting. We also learn something about Reed that ends up changing everything. I loved Reeds character, she was strong and thoughtful, but also she cares a lot for the people she loves, she also has a horse that has a big personality. I also thought it was pretty cool to see one of the queens from the Three Dark Crowns series make an appearance.

The ending was not what I was expecting but in a good way and now all I want is the sequel in my hands. The writing is amazing and it will have you hooked from page one. I think of Reed being the Phil to someones Hercules. Champion of Fate is a fantasy book that will have you blown away and leave you wanting more!

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A STUDY IN DROWNING By Ava Reid

August 30, 2023 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.

A STUDY IN DROWNING By Ava ReidA Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
Published by HarperTeen on 9/19/23
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Gothic, Mystery & Detective, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Short and Sweet Review

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales, and since she was a young girl she has been haunted by the Fairy King. Her favorite author Emrys Myrddin wrote a book about a mortal falling in love with the fairy king and it just happens to be one of Effy’s favorite books. When Myrddin’s estate puts out a concert to redesign the late authors estates Iffy jumps at the chance. When she gets to Hiraeth Manor, Effy learns that her task is nearly impossible, the house is built near the sea and its close to falling in. She also meets another university student from the Literature college who is planning on exposing Myrddin as a hack but to do that he needs Effy’s help. There’s a lot of forces coming together to stop Effy and Preston, and they have to keep their wits about them to survive.

A Study in Drowning, is a scholarly mystery combined with dark fantasy elements. Effy is a student at the Architecture college and unfortunately she’s the only girl in that college and there’s some rumors or maybe truth to her being with a teacher. Effy is often looked down on because of her gender, so when she’s picked for the contest she’s ready to go and prove herself. Iffy meets Preston the other college student and finds him insufferable but they’re just two very different people who believe in different things which is why I did like this romance, because they took the time to understand each other and see things from the others point of view. Our setting is a decrepit manor on a cliff near a sea and even the writing makes you understand how dark and dreary this place really is. When Preston asks for Effy’s help, we see them both put their selves at risk to discover the truth. Ianto is Emrys’s son and there’s definitely something off with him, we see glimpses of the Fairy king in him. I could never tell whether or not to trust what Effy was seeing. Effy is one of those characters you end up falling in love with, she’s lived a life where a lot of people put her down and don’t always believe her so I’m glad in this book we see Preston coming around and having her back.

This book was an interesting combination of mystery and fantasy and I liked the characters and their determination to uncover the truth. I enjoyed this book and everything it had to offer.

Filed Under: Reviews

LOVE & LUCK By Jenna Evans Welch

August 21, 2023 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.

LOVE & LUCK By Jenna Evans WelchLove & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch
Series: Love & Gelato #2
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on 5/8/18
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 321
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding and hoping she can stop thinking about the one thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind.

So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism.

And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother.

That is if they don’t get completely lost along the way.

Short and Sweet Review

Addie and her family are in Ireland for her aunts wedding. What should be a joyous occasion is ruined by Addie and her brother Ian fighting. Addie is supposed to go to Italy to visit Lina, and Ian is coming to, but their mom warns them if they step out of line they’re going to face punishment. We learn that Addie and Ian have been arguing about something that happened back home, which is why Addie is reading a guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken. On the day Addie and Ian are supposed to leave for Italy she finds him getting in a car with his friend Rowan to go to a music festival instead which leads to an exploration of Ireland and trying to fix broken hearts.

I wasn’t sure about this book when I started it, mainly because the arguing and tension between Ian and Addie was too much. It was like if someone breathed the wrong way one of them would explode, we don’t really get to the bottom of what happened until the end of the book but we do learn it’s about a boy Addie was seeing. Back home Ian is a jock so Addie is shocked to find out he’s a popular blogger and music is his main topic. Ian is determined to go to landmarks that are important to music and do a few interviews and make it to the festival to see his favorite band play one more time. The thing is their mom believes they’re in Italy so they really have to be careful because how big is Ireland really? I loved Ian’s friend Rowan, he was also dealing with a bit of heartbreak which is why he was willing to go to some of the places in the guidebook. It was a roadtrip where we learned a little more about each character and I loved that. I thought it was cool that Addie knew a lot about cars and was the reason the trio got so far. I was kind of bummed that she wasn’t able to go see Lina in Italy but I also understand that this was Addie’s adventure and it needed to take place in Ireland. I do think that the end was a little rushed and I felt like it was abrupt.

Overall, I did like this book. I will say the beginning wasn’t my favorite but when things got going and we saw the different places recommend by the guidebook I was all in. This was a quick and easy read and I’m looking forward to reading the next book!

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THE NAME DROP By Susan Lee

August 18, 2023 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 NAME DROP By Susan LeeThe Name Drop by Susan Lee
Published by Inkyard Press on 9/12/23
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 273
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer.

When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself.

It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the mistake: they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations.

As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?

Short and Sweet

Elijah Ri and Jessica Lee are both in New York for an internship at the Haneul Corporation. The difference is that Elijah is the son of the owner and is expected to one day be the CEO, Jessica is the daughter of an accountant for the company. Elijah is expecting to live very comfortably when he arrives in New York but he’s surprised when he’s in an apartment with 10 other interns for the summer. Jessica ends up in a nice brownstone and now she knows something is wrong. Jessica and Elijah realize that they have the same Korean name and Elijah decides it may be okay to switch places for the summer and if anyone finds out they’ll deal with it when the time comes.

The plot of this book was basically a case of mistaken identity. Jessica and Elijah are very different. She’s hard working and has to work for the things she wants and Elijah lives a life of luxury but he can never make his father happy. When these two decide to switch places we see that Elijah is dedicated to working hard and also being a team player, Jessica on the other hand is hard working but is a nervous wreck about being caught. This book feel flat for me I didn’t like the characters there wasn’t much to them. The plot wasn’t anything to rave about we see them have the same Korean name but them getting away with it at the airport and for most of the summer seemed too far fetched. The romance also felt underdeveloped and I didn’t feel sparks when reading about these two and in the end the romance was rushed.

Overall, this book was okay, it wouldn’t make it on a list of my favorites. Everything in this book let me down from the characters, plot, and romance. I believe this concept would have worked if it was executed better.

Filed Under: Reviews

THE LIBRARY OF SHADOWS By Rachel Moore

August 14, 2023 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 LIBRARY OF SHADOWS By Rachel MooreThe Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
Published by HarperTeen on 9/5/23
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn’t uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father.

Not literally, of course. She doesn’t believe in ghosts. Going to her dad’s school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was.

But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe—probably—definitely—a real ghost. And an annoying one at that.

When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library’s secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did.

Except following her father’s footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren’t just myth. And if she isn’t careful, she’ll be next.

Short and Sweet Review

Este has enrolled at Radcliffe Prep one of the most haunted schools in the country in hopes of finding her dead father. Instead she ends up meeting Mateo who frames Este for stealing a valuable book, now Este has to find the book or risk being expelled. Este wants to follow in her father’s footsteps but she didn’t realize how dangerous it could be. The more Este investigates the library she learns that the school has a dark past that includes students going missing and if she isn’t careful, she’ll be next.

The Library of Shadows was an engrossing book. Este wants to figure out what happened to her father and that leads her to Radcliffe Prep. While investigating the library and finding a book called the Book of Fades, Este meets Mateo who eventually steals the book. Este is forced to find the book or get expelled. Mateo and Este eventually work together and she finds out that he’s a ghost and he’s missing his soul. Mateo isn’t the only ghost, there’s a few more in the same predicament as him. The Book of Fades is the solution to their problem and learning about why every ten years a student disappears. Este also has a pretty cool roommate, Posy, who starts a paranormal investigation club. I do wish that Este was nicer to Posy but Este is used to living a life where she feels that she can only depend on herself. I’m not sure how I feel about the romance seeing as though Mateo is dead. Mateo and Este have an interesting back and forth, she’s stubborn and Mateo isn’t exactly forthcoming with information. I did like the cast of characters and the mystery. The setting of the library with secret passageways was fun and set the mood. There are a lot of twists but they were good and keeps you on your toes guessing what could really be happening.

Overall, this book was great! I enjoyed the plot and the pacing and the thought of hanging out in a library full of ghost makes this the perfect book for the fall season!

Filed Under: Reviews

AGAIN AGAIN By E. Lockhart

August 11, 2023 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.

AGAIN AGAIN By E. LockhartAgain Again by E. Lockhart
Published by Delacorte Press on 6/2/20
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 288
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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If you could live your life again, what would you do differently?

After a near-fatal family catastrophe and an unexpected romantic upheaval, Adelaide Buchwald finds herself catapulted into a summer of wild possibility, during which she will fall in and out of love a thousand times--while finally confronting the secrets she keeps, her ideas about love, and the weird grandiosity of the human mind.

Short and Sweet Review

In Again Again we meet our main character Adelaide, who is trying to figure out how to feel about her brothers drug addiction and her struggles with a recent break up and having feelings for someone new. We also see Adelaide’s story play out in different universes of this could have happened or maybe not depending on the choices she made.

I like the idea of seeing how what ifs would play out but the way it was written in this book was very confusing to me and I had trouble following along. I couldn’t tell which what if I was reading so that didn’t help. Besides that I did like seeing how Adelaide’s relationship with her brother was different and how they were working on repairing it. I wasn’t into the romance because that’s where most of the what ifs came into play.

There’s really not much to say about this book, it’s kind of repetitive. I did like that the book was short and I was able to finish it in one sitting. I wish the multiple universe aspect Lockhart was going for would have been better executed and maybe the book would have been an easier read.

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MOCKINGJAY By Suzanne Collins

August 2, 2023 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.

MOCKINGJAY By Suzanne CollinsMockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #3
Published by Scholastic Press on 8/24/10
Genres: Action & Adventure, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 339
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss Everdeen.

Short and Sweet

The 75th hunger games didn’t go as planned and if you thought President Snow was angry before, watch out! Katniss and Finnick were rescued from the arena and taken to district 12, while Peeta, Johanna, and whoever else was alive in the arena were taken to the capitol. In district 13 Katniss meets Alma Coin, who is looking to be the new president but needs Katniss’s help. Katniss needs to become the Mockingjay and help lead the revolution against the capitol and President Snow. Katniss agrees as long as Coin also agrees to rescue Peeta and pardon him.

This is the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy and everything was leading up to this moment, Katniss being the face of a revolution and hope. Katniss’s main focus in this book is keeping those she loves safe, saving Peeta, and finally getting rid of President Snow. Katniss is taken around to different districts to see the destruction left behind by the Capitol and this really gets her motivated and she gives messages not only to the districts but also to President Snow. Peeta is eventually rescued but his time in the capitol changed him and his reunion with Katniss isn’t a happy one. I will say I did like how the champions who have competed in the hunger games all deal with their PTSD and we see how Katniss and Peeta are really haunted by their past.

I did enjoy this final installment, I will say I think Catching Fire was my favorite book. This book was focused on the revolution and we see Katniss figure out who was truly the enemy. I loved the ending and that goes back to Katniss working through some things. The ending was good but also a little bittersweet in a way. The Hunger Games was an exciting series and we see over the course of the three books the climax build to finally lead us here and overall it was successful. This trilogy was filled with excitement and characters who are clever and who you grow to love. The Hunger Games trilogy is one I can see myself picking up again in the future just to relive everything.

Filed Under: Reviews

A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS By Mara Rutherford

July 31, 2023 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.

A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS By Mara RutherfordA Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford
Published by Inkyard Press on 8/29/23
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Gothic, Retellings, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 351
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The bloody plague is finally past, but what fresh horror lies in its wake?

Princess Imogen of Goslind has lived a sheltered life for three years at the boarded-up castle—she and the rest of its inhabitants safe from the bloody mori roja plague that’s ravaged the kingdom. But Princess Imogen has a secret, and as King Stuart descends further into madness, it’s at great risk of being revealed. Rations dwindle each day, and unhappy murmurings threaten to crack the facade of the years-long charade being played within the castle walls.

Nico Mott once enjoyed a comfortable life of status, but the plague took everyone and everything from him. If not for the generosity of a nearby lord, Nico may not have survived the mori roja’s aftermath. But does owing Lord Crane his life mean he owes him his silence?

When Lord Crane sends Nico to search for more plague survivors in the castle, Nico collides with a princess who wants to break out. They will each have to navigate the web of lies they’ve woven if they’re going to survive the nightmares ahead.

Short and Sweet Review

Princess Imogen has lived in Goslind for three years, the castle has been boarded up so that the people living in the castle could avoid catching the bloody mori roja plague which has ravaged most of the kingdom. Imogen has a secret that she’s been hiding for the past three years and its getting closer to being revealed each day, not only does she have to worry about that but the king is slowly descending into madness.

Nico Mott on the other hand used to live a good life before the plague took everything and everyone from him, if it wasn’t for Lord Crane, Nico would also have succumbed to the plague. Nico and two other boys are tasked by Lord Crane to travel to the castle to see if anyone else has survived the plague. When Nico runs into Imogen and learns she wants to leave, he has to stall to keep them alive and away from the horrors that lie outside of the castle walls.

A Multitude of Dreams is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s A Masque of the Red Death. I haven’t read Poe’s story but I did enjoy what Rutherford wrote. Princess Imogen is actually someone named Seraphina, who has been pretending to be the princess after her death and to keep the king happy. Seraphina knows she’s walking on eggshells, especially around princess Giselle who makes her distain for Seraphina well known. The king seems okay but if triggered he goes off. Seraphina wants to know what life outside the castle is like, she’s also Jewish and has seen her people persecuted so she’s sure her family isn’t alive but she still has hope that maybe someone survived. Because of her want to be outside of the castle Seraphina becomes close to Lord Greymont who suggests she should bring it up to the king. Nico on the other hand is on the way to the castle and realizes that Lord Crane isn’t the man he thought he was. Nico ends up getting into the castle and meeting Seraphina. Nico, Seraphina, and a few others make a plan to get out of the castle but first they have to get past the undead and Lord Crane.

Seraphina is a great character, she says what she means and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion, it throws some people off because they don’t think that’s how a princess should act but Seraphina isn’t a princess she’s just pretending. Nico on the other hand feels a strong obligation to make things right and to protect those around him. I did like how there was a sense of romance but that was put on the back burner until these two could solve the more pressing matters at hand. The idea of the plague was pretty well done and I liked how even after contracting the plague there was still a possibility of the people to become undead.

This was an exciting book! I loved that both Seraphina and Nico had woven a web of lies to stay alive and now their lives are on the line. There was a lot of suspense about what would happen to those inside and outside of the castle. The writing was well done and it was a good take on Poe’s story. Check out this book when it’s released!

Filed Under: Reviews

CATCHING FIRE By Suzanne Collins

July 28, 2023 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.

CATCHING FIRE By Suzanne CollinsCatching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #2
Published by Scholastic Press on 5/28/10
Genres: Action & Adventure, Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Short and Sweet Review

Katniss and Peeta have won the 74th hunger games and are adjusting to life in the Victor’s Village in district 12. Katniss’s antics with the berries in the games didn’t go unnoticed, by the capitol or the people in other districts. President Snow pays Katniss a visit and tells her to be on her best behavior and make sure that people know that her actions in the games were because of her love for Peeta. After that Katniss learns of uprisings in other districts and she decides to join in but obviously on the down low. The President obviously is not about to let the uprisings or Katniss be the downfall of all he’s worked hard for, so for the 75th Hunger Games he decides to put past victors from each hunger games back into the arena. Now Katniss and Peeta have to survive in an arena with people who also have experience playing the games.

Catching Fire was more exciting to me than The Hunger Games. In The Hunger Games we see the build up to everything and we kind of see it come to a head in Catching Fire. Katniss knows she made the people in the Capitol angry but she wasn’t expecting to learn about the uprisings that are happening in other districts. Katniss isn’t sure what to make of this, the only thing on her mind is keeping her family and friends safe, she even thinks about running away again. In the end Katniss decides to be apart of the revolution but she’s not sure what to do especially after she gets the news about having to take part in the 75th Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta still try to play the crazy love bird angle but I’m starting to think its becoming more than an act to Katniss. The two are also advised by Haymitch to start making some alliances. I did enjoy seeing all of the new competitors but was also sad when some of the people in Katniss’s alliance met their ends. Finnick was pretty useful and it was nice seeing another guy who knew what they were doing around in the arena he also had sponsors. The arena this time was different but there was a pattern the group figured out and in the end there were some things that happened that I wasn’t expecting.

I loved the ending and I’m ready to see how things end in the next book. Even though I’ve seen the movies it’s been a while and I did like seeing how much more detail is in the books. On to the next!

Filed Under: Reviews

CRESS By Marissa Meyer

July 7, 2023 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.

CRESS By Marissa MeyerCress by Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #3
Published by Feiwel & Friends on 1/1/14
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Retellings, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 560
Format: Ebook, Hardcover
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and prevent her army from invading Earth.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being forced to work for Queen Levana, and she's just received orders to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is splintered. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a higher price than she'd ever expected. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Emperor Kai, especially the cyborg mechanic. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has.

Short and Sweet Review

Cinder and Thorne are still fugitives and on the run but now they have Scarlet and Wolf with them. The group is still trying to figure out how to stop Levana and the wedding. They also end up taking a detour to get Cress from her Satellite. Cress is a lunar shell and she’s been on the Satellite for a while, she works as Levanas hacker, she’s very tech savvy and as of lately has been helping Cinder and her crew. The group gets to the satellite and are ambushed and they’re separated and we’re also introduced to Jacin Clay a lunar guard who’s there to serve his princess. Cinder takes this time to go to Africa to meet up with Dr. Erland and try to regroup while most of the group is split up. Cinder is still willing to put a stop to the wedding in hopes that it will delay Levana’s reign of terror.

Cress is just as good a book as the last two. We’re introduced to more characters mainly Cress, Jacin, and a little bit of Winter. Jacin is guarded and the glimpse of Winter that we do see we learn she’s not well. Obviously this book is about Cress and she’s been alone most of her life except for visits from Sybil Mira, Levana’s right hand. Cress has been tasked with finding Cinder for Levana, but instead has been helping the group. I did like seeing the group being split up because they all have to find a way to get back to each other. Cress and Thorne are together and unfortunately he’s temporarily blinded so he has to rely on Cress to lead the way. Scarlet is being taken to Luna, and Cinder is in Africa with wolf and Jacin.

Cress is full of diverse characters and I love how they all come together. Cinder is still her sarcastic self but she’s also still determined to make things right. None of these characters wanted or ever thought they would be heroes or even start a revolution but they know they need to in order to make things right and stop Levana from getting what she wants. The next book Winter is when everything comes to a head and I’m ready to see how everything ends!

Filed Under: Reviews