Review: Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf

Series: Unknown #1
Publication Date: June 5th 2018
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Genera: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: Zera is a Heartless – the immortal, unageing soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a Prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum; if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy her heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him – every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him – until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The Prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally. 

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

I feel like I've said this before, but this book will definitely go down as the favourite for 2018. I usually write reviews right after finishing books, but with Bring Me Their Hearts I had to take a step back and actually work up the courage to write a review good enough to describe this masterpiece. 

Zera would do anything to go back to her old life, but sadly she is a heartless who's had her heart taken from her when she was at the brink of death, by a witch who saved her life and now she must do the witch's bidding. The only perks of her new life is that she cant be killed (at least not by normal things) and she doesn't age. But when rumours of another war start spreading the witch's devise a plan to turn the prince into a heartless to bribe the king, and the best person for the job is Zera. Posed as a long lost niece, Zera becomes one of the contenders to be the prince's new bride. Zera though the job would be easy, she never expected to start falling for the prince.

Oh my goodness I can't even begin to describe how much I love Zera to you guys. She is brilliant, sassy, strong and such a well rounded character. She starts off as an amazing character, and then somehow gets even more amazing by the end. Half of the things coming out of Zara's mouth made me stop reading because I was laughing so hard, if you love the strong and witty female character types (like Sarah J Maas characters) you will definitely love Zera. 

The other leading characters in this novel were also very unique in their own way, but all absolutely brilliant. Lucien definitely has that brooding character trope, that actually has a heart of gold once you get to know him, and even though I though he was a tad stupid for trusting Zera so easily, it was still cute to watch his character development. Malachite was probably my favourite (right after Zera), he is the prince's guard and also his best friend, he is just as witty as Zera and makes a great friend. 

Throughout this whole book, I was really worried that I was going to have to give this book four stars rather than five for being too predictable. Because clearly right from the beginning you get the hint that yes Zera will end up falling for the prince and it will be very difficult for her to do her job, and she most likely wont end up doing it. You also can clearly tell who the bad guy of the story is, and assume that he will try to kill the main characters near the end of the book. And while yes these things did happen, there were two other twists in the story right at the end of the book that I was definitely not expecting. While I was pleasantly surprised that I was surprised (ya see what I did there?) at the events at the end of the book, I was a little sad because it has a huge cliffhanger ending and now I'll have to wait forever to find out what happens next.

Overall, amazing main character, fantastic supporting characters and a great story in general. It was hilarious, serious and a truly fantastic novel. While it was a tad predictable, it did surprise me in the end. Fair warning, huge cliffhanger ending at the end, so this will definitely be a first novel in a series. I cannot wait to continue this series, and I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

Happy Reading,

Aneta 

Review: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Series: Legacy of Orisha #1
Publication Date: March 6th 2018
Publisher: Henry Holt books for Young Readers
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. 

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. 

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

“I won't let your ignorance silence my pain” 
Children of Blood and Bone is fantastic, breathtaking and made me fall in love, laugh and cry all within a few pages. I honestly can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book.

Zelie's mother was taken from her family and murdered by the monarchy along with the rest of the population that could perform magic. Zelie now trains with her staff for a time when the king comes to murder her next. When Zelie's father almost dies trying to earn enough coin to pay for Zelie's tax, Zelie and her brother Tzain, take it upon themselves to travel to Legos to earn more money, but when Zelie leaves the city she not only brings with her a big purse of gold, but also a runaway princess, a magic scroll and a price on her head. As Zelie, Tzain and Amari try to escape with the scroll, Inan, Amari's brother and the prince of Orisha will stop at nothing to bring back his sister and the scroll, and kill the girl that's betrayed her King.

Honestly, this book was so wonderful that I cant find anything to complain about. All four of the main characters were all so different and unique, and while I necessarily didn't love all of them, I definitely was interested enough to read in their point of views and see where the story takes them next. I absolutely loved Zelie and Amari right from the beginning, they are polar opposites at the beginning of the book, but they both have such amazing character development throughout the story. They are relatable, strong and fierce women, I love them both. I loved Tzain just as much as the girls, he is such a kind person and a wonderful brother. Inan on the other hand was not the best, I thought he was very childish and ignorant at times, and while he had his moments where his story was interesting and it almost seemed like he was going to become a good character, in the end I just wasn't that impressed with his character.

The relationships in this book were great. I absolutely love the relationship Zelie has with her brother, they fight, they pull pranks on one another, but in the end they would do anything for each other and care about one another immensely. They truly felt like a real family, and it made me wish that I had a brother and a relationship like this. The romance between Amari and Tzain was also fantastic. They have a sweet, slow burning romance that brings joy to your heart when you read their story. You can just tell that they will make a wonderful couple in the future.

The plot of the story was absolutely perfect. There was action right from beginning to end. The story definitely keeps you on your toes, as there were many instances where something happened that I never would have expected, it made the story change quickly and kept the reader guessing what will happen next.

Surprisingly, as much as I loved this story, I loved the author's note even more. I rarely read the author's note, but I am so glad that I did this time. The author links the fictional world that she created to the real world, and lets just say that what she wrote made me cry. If you're reading this book or you've already finished it and missed the author's note, I definitely suggest giving it a look through.

Overall, this book was amazing. I have no bad words about it. I definitely recommend this book to all young adults and even adults, whether you like fantasy or contemporary, this book is such an important read that I think everyone can find something about it that they will love.

Happy Reading,
Aneta 

Review: Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Cole

Publication Day: March 20th 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA, Contemporary 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid.

The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it's up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean. 

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

Grab a box of tissues and get ready for a waterfall of tears.

Tyler Johnson Was Here is such an important read. I can’t stress it enough. No matter what colour your skin is, or what country you are in, I really think you should give this novel a read, it may change the way you look at the situation.

This book focuses on Marvin as he deals with the disappearance and death of his twin brother Tyler. There are so many important aspects of this book. It talks a lot of police brutality, and the two sides to how people react to it. It also shows just how hard it is to get over the death of a family member, especially when they were murdered.

Marvin is a fantastic main character, and reading from his point of view was great. He is so compassionate and caring, it really breaks your heart just going through the story with him. Seeing his development throughout the story was fantastic, we see just how the events change his perspective on life and what he wants to do with his. He is honest and truthful, and overall makes a wonderful main character.

The plot of the story goes very fast. It’s not a long novel, so if you have the time like I did, you can definitely finish it in one night, and the book is so captivating that I guarantee you won’t want to put it down for long. 

If anything, the only thing I didn’t particularly like in this story was the addition of the romance. While I was glad that Marvin found someone, and that she helped him deal with the pain of losing his brother, it seemed a little forced and while it didn’t make the story any worse, it also didn’t make the story any better. It was just there.

Overall, this book definitely changed my perspective on the situation. As someone who is white, and doesn’t like in the United States, we hear a lot of stories but they never feel as personal as reading from Marvin’s point of view did. I highly recommend this book to all young adults and adults, no matter what genre you usually read.

Happy Reading,

Aneta 

Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Series: The Folk of the Air #1
Publication Date: January 2nd 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA, Fantasy 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

The characters. The ending. Oh my goodness I need more! 

In Faerie, it is up to the husband to take care of the children of his wife, even if the wife runs away with someone else. Madoc kills both of Jude's parents in order to get his daughter Vivi back, but he also takes Jude and her twin sister Tarynn, the bastard children of his wife. Jude grows up in Faerie, and even though she should hate the world and the man who stole her, she doesn't. Jude wants nothing more than to fit in, and be respected, even though no one respects mortals in Faerie. She has no power, she can die of old age, and she isn't as beautiful as the other fae. When Prince Cardan starts picking on Jude and Tarynn, Jude cant control herself any longer, she decides to fight back, even though it just might get her killed.

This book had a very slow beginning. It was a bit confusing at first, and there wasn't much action till about a third into the book. But once you pass the first third of the book, it really picks up, and I couldn't put the book down after that.

Jude is such an amazing main character. You can easily tell that she's the underdog in the story, but she never gives up, she fights for her rights and those of other humans. She works hard at being better and actually ends up being able to use her skills for a better cause. Her character development was truly amazing. You can see that she battles the good and evil inside her, she's determined to get what she wants, and she will do whatever it takes to get her there.

I wasn't a huge fan of the other characters. Jude's sister Tarynn just seemed really weak and boring to me, sure she makes her own decisions, but she choses the easy way out rather than fighting for what she believes in. Jude's other sister Vivi was alright, even though she is fae and will live forever, she does not accept the world that her father brought her into and would do anything to go back to the human world. Cardan and his group of friends were really interesting, they were all very different and it was nice to see their character development as well, and what was the reason behind them acting the way they did.

The plot of the story was fantastic, although the beginning could be improved a bit. There was enough mystery and suspense to keep the reader engaged in the book. And there was the perfect balance between "I knew that was going to happen" and "No way, I didn't see that coming." It was really well written. The world that Mrs. Black created was breathtaking. 

The ending was really creative and well written. While it doesn't leave you with a cliffhanger, it is the type of ending that will make you want to pick up the next book right away.

Overall, this book was amazing. It was definitely worth getting past the slow beginning. The plot, characters and the writing were all fantastic. I cant wait to read the next book in this series. 

Happy Reading,
Aneta 

Review: Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely

Series: Unknown #1
Publication Date: January 2nd 2018
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson 
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: James Patterson presents a bold new heroine--a cross between Katniss Everdeen and Annie Oakley: Serendipity Jones, the fastest sharpshooter in tomorrow's West. 

Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. She's been offered a life of fame and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she pays for her freedom may be too great....
In this extraordinary debut from Lyndsay Ely, the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S. into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot.

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

Gunslinger Girl was a powerful book set in a dystopian western society. It was so creative and unique, I loved every minute of it.

Pity can't wait for the day she can escape the commune. After her mother's death, Pity has lived a life of being told what to do by her father. When her father returns to town and tells Pity of his plan to sell her off to some stranger because she's "fertile," Pity decides that her escape is either now or never. Pity is taken to Cessation where she is offered a life of fame in the Theatre as Serendipity Jones, the fastest gunslinger in the west, but freedom comes at a price.

This book was not at all what I originally expected, but I fell in love with it nevertheless. Pity is an amazing main character and I just cant get enough of her. She is so strong and smart but she's also very human. She is not always brave and occasionally does the wrong thing, but her character development throughout the book was absolutely exquisite. She becomes stronger and a better woman. I cant wait to read more of her story and what she does next.

The supporting characters in this book were also very unique and engaging. I absolutely loved Max and Selene. Max is definitely the mysterious, artistic, bad boy type with a good heart that you cant help to fall in love with. And Selene is such a strong ruler, but also very loveable at times. The rest of the characters were really interesting as well, although it took me a bit of time to figure out who was who as I got the names confused in the beginning.

The plot of this story was what surprised me the most. I was expecting the typical western, like something out of Back to the Future III, but instead you get a complex dystopian world, that is something you haven't heard about before. The world that Miss Ely created was breathtaking and I absolutely loved it. We got to know the politics and how the country is run, as well as the backstory of what happened to create this dystopian world. I really hope to explore the world a lot more in the future books.

Overall, I loved this book so much, and I can't wait to read more from this series and from this author. I highly recommend this book to all YA Fantasy and Dystopia lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.

Happy Reading,
Aneta

Review: My Lady Jane

Series: My Lady Janies #1
Publication Date: June 7th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis: The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

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 is about to become the Queen of England.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

A beautifully written novel by some of the best authors. This book will not let you down.

My Lady Jane features the story of three main characters, a dying King Edward, Lady Jane who is set to become the next Queen and Guildford Dudley, the man Jane has been forced to marry. With a fantastic addition of magic to classic history, this book easily became one of my favourites. 

I fell in love with Jane right from the beginning, she is so intelligent and determined, any book lover will fall in love with her immediately. Throughout the book, we see her open up to people, go out of her comfort zone and become a truly amazing character. I also really liked Guildford, her was entertaining and hilarious right from the beginning. I wasn't a huge fan of Edward in the beginning. He was whiny and kind of annoying. He was really clueless not only about his safety but also the relationships he has and what is truly going on around him. After about third of the book, his story really picks up and I really started to enjoy his point of view. His character development was really wonderful.

The world that the authors created was fantastic. The world building was great and every setting was very different yet you could picture it clearly.

These three authors created such an amazing book, not only do you get some valuable history lessons, but it also contains breathtaking fantasy ensuring that the reader never gets bored. Their jokes were absolutely hilarious, I found myself laughing out loud every few chapters.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to all YA fans, whether you like fantasy, historical fiction or contemporary. I'm sure you'll fall in love with this one.

Review: The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Publication Date: August 1st 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre:YA, Fantasy 
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD

Synopsis:  When Dee Moreno makes a deal with a demon—her heart in exchange for an escape from a disastrous home life—she finds the trade may have been more than she bargained for. And becoming “heartless” is only the beginning. What lies ahead is a nightmare far bigger, far more monstrous than anything she could have ever imagined.

With reality turned on its head, Dee has only a group of other deal-making teens to keep her grounded, including the charming but secretive James Lancer. And as something grows between them amid an otherworldy ordeal, Dee begins to wonder: Can she give someone her heart when it’s no longer hers to give?

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

The Hearts We Sold was such a breathtaking novel. I really didn’t want it to end.

Coming from a broken home, Dee’s only escape from her alcoholic parents is her boarding school. But when her scholarship runs out, and there are no other ways for Dee to make enough money in time, Dee strikes a bargain with a Demon. The catch to the deal is that Dee loses her heart for two years, and during that time she has to do the Demon’s bidding. Dee and three other heartless must destroy voids created at random places by imploding them from the center, but it’s a dangerous mission, and not all who enter the void come out alive. 

It was so amazing to read from Dee’s point of view. I truly loved her as a main character. Dee starts off as a desperate girl, who is always afraid of everything and does her best to be the perfect student and the perfect daughter. Watching her develop throughout the book and becoming a more outgoing person who starts looking at her own life, and doing what she truly wants. I loved her character development and she will definitely go down as one of my favourite characters.

The romance in this story was perfect. No love triangle, and no insta love. There is a beautiful slow burning romance that starts off very slow and gradually picks up until its something beautiful. The author did an amazing job with this romance, its so realistic yet its very easy to ship the couple. 

There was lots of action throughout the story. There was a bit of action in the beginning, and it gradually picked up and by the middle of the book I was so hooked that I could not put it down. 

My favourite part of this book was definitely the ending. I totally didn’t see it coming but it was so beautiful and well written that it was impossible not to love. Well done Emily.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book to all Contemporary and Fantasy fans, it is perfect for both. I cant wait to read more from this author.

Happy Reading, 
Aneta

Review: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Series: Three Dark Crowns #1
Publication Date: September 20th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: When kingdom come, there will be one.

In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.

But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.

The last queen standing gets the crown. 

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review 

“Three dark queens

Are born in a glen,

Sweet little triplets

Will never be friends

Three dark sisters

All fair to be seen,

Two to devour

And one to be Queen” 

Three sisters must fight to the death. The winner, becomes queen until her own triplets are born. Three Dark Crowns is a story about Katherine the poisoner, Mirabella the elemental, and Arsinoe the naturalist. 

Honestly, I loved this book with all my heart. I was so scared because I read the synopsis, loved the book and bought it online, while it was shipping I read some bad reviews for it and was very scared that I bought this book and it would suck. I'm very happy to say that I'm so glad I bought a copy because the book was everything I love, I cannot wait for the next one to be released.

Usually when there are three main characters, you pick your favourite and kind of skip over the other main character's parts. At least that is what I usually do. For Three Dark Crowns I could not pick my favourite character (well I'm kind of leaning towards Arsinoe atm but they're still really close). Every Queen is so very different, yet they're all loveable in their own way. 
Katherine starts off as the anorexic little weakling, not having her poisoner powers come in yet she is basically tortured every day. Once she meets and falls in love with Pietyr she instantly starts growing as a character. Her character development throughout the book is absolutely amazing, I loved watching her develop into such a strong woman.
Mirabella is the sweetheart. Even though she's the most powerful of the three sisters, she feels great remorse knowing that she has to kill her siblings. Mira is the only one of the three sisters that has memories of their past, back to when they were 6 years old and lived together. While some view her emotion as a weakness, I think it makes her incredibly strong emotionally. Also I believe she is the smartest of the three sisters and I definitely admire her for it.
Arsinoe is the wild one. She is outdoorsy and doesn't give af about her looks. Arsinoe is extremely likeable, she just has that aura around her that makes everyone like her. While she has no powers yet, she keeps working towards them on her own and never ceases to try. I loved her work ethic and her realism in this book. She knows she is weak, but she never stops trying to get better.

The romance in this book was very fascinating. It was basically the only part of the book that really managed to surprise me (especially in the end). Having said that, there were parts of the book that I kind of predicted, and then told myself "nah that's not gonna happen" and then it happened. So I wasn't too shocked, I thought the author kind of made the twists obvious. I have a feeling what will happen in the books to come, so I hope the author can throw in some curve balls.

The world building was really great as well. We get to see the three town the queens are staying in, as well as a few places here and there. The author was very descriptive and did a fantastic job creating a new world.

Overall, I loved this book from beginning to end and I absolutely cannot wait for the next one. I highly recommend it to other people who love fantasy. Take my word for it, just because a book has a few bad reviews doesn't mean you won't love it.

Happy Reading,
Aneta

Mini Review: Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux #1.5
Publication Date: December 1st 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: Experience the epic love story of OBSIDIAN as told by its hero, Daemon Black…

I knew the moment Katy Swartz moved in next door, there was going to be trouble. Lots of it.

And trouble’s the last thing I need, since I’m not exactly from around here. My people arrived on Earth from Lux, a planet thirteen billion light years away. Plus, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that humans can’t be trusted. We scare them. We can do things they only dream about, and honestly, we make them look weak as hell. ‘Cuz they are.

But Kat is getting to me in ways no one else has, and I can't stop myself from wanting her—or wanting to use my powers to protect her. She makes me weak, and I’m the strongest of our kind, tasked with protecting us all. So this one simple girl…she can mean the end for us. Because the Luxen have an even bigger enemy—the Arum, and I need to stay on my game.

Falling for Katy—a human—won't just place her in danger. It could get us all killed, and that’s one thing I’ll never let happen... 

My Rating

4/5 stars

My Review

“And I also know that although she wasn’t mine now, she would be one day.”

Oblivion is a must read to anyone who wants to re-read the Obsidian, or wants a step inside Daemons head.

Oblivion is essentially the first book in the Lux series, but told from Daemon's point of view rather than Kat's. You get to see what exactly Daemon was doing when Kat wasn't looking, and everything that was going through his mind.

I absolutely loved Obsidian and Daemon so my love for this book is evident. Even though you knew exactly what was going to happen (if you read the first book that is), it still felt like a brand new book where you have no clue what the main character has up their sleeves. Daemon never disappoints and always keeps you on your toes.

I gave Obsidian a 5/5 star rating, but I only gave this one a 4/5 because no matter how much I loved Daemon and his point of view, it just wasn't the same as seeing things from Kat's eyes.

If you love this series, definitely give this book a try. You will not regret it.

Happy Reading,
Aneta 

Review: A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd

Series: The Madman's Daughter #3
Publication Date: January 27th 2015
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: With inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this breathless conclusion to the Madman's Daughter trilogy explores the things we'll sacrifice to save those we love ...even our own humanity. Juliet has killed the men who tried to steal her father's research and escaped to a remote estate on the Scottish moors. Owned by the enigmatic Elizabeth von Stein, the mansion is full of unexplained oddities: dead bodies in the basement, secret passages, and fortune-tellers who seem to know Juliet's secrets. This is not the safe haven Juliet was searching for. As she uncovers the truth about the manor's long history of scientific experimentation - and her own intended role in it - Juliet is forced to determine where the line falls between right and wrong, life and death, magic and science. She must decide if she'll follow her father's dark footsteps or her mother's tragic ones - or make her own. 

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

“Sometimes you remind me so much of your father it's frightening.” 

I was so excited to find out what happened to the rest of the story, that I didn't realize how much I'll miss these characters once the series is over.

After the conclusion from Her Dark Curiosity, Juliet, Montgomery, Edward, Balthazar and Lucy are travelling to Elizabeth's estate to escape the police chasing them for the murder that Juliet committed. Just when Juliet thought that she could outrun her father's past, Elizabeth names her heir to the estate, along with the journals of Victor Frankenstein, and the science that goes with bringing one back from the dead. 

I am so sad this series is over, but I am very happy with the ending. There were no loose ends, the storyline was always exciting, and (almost) everyone got their happy ending.

I will always have a soft spot for Juliet, I love her passion and curiosity for science, and I admire that she chooses to do it in a safe and humane way. Throughout the book, Juliet is still facing her internal struggles of trying not to be like her father, and remaining a good person, with new internal struggles of finding right from wrong, and when its sometimes right to do the wrong thing.

I've never been a huge fan of Lucy, she was just kind of there in the back during the first two books, I kind of ignored her most of the time. She was definitely more present in this book and I'm not sure if I liked it or not. I love her support for Edward, its wonderful how much she cares about him but she is also very emotional and doesn't think rationally, which sometimes comes back to bite her in the ass.

I've always loved Balthazar, but my love for him in this book has grown so much! He's so cute and loyal, I wish I had him as a friend.

If you loved the other two books in the series, you will love the conclusion to the series. It still has that dark and twisted feeling to the book, but with new plot and an even more exciting storyline.

Happy Reading,

Aneta

Review: Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Series: The Dark Artifices #1
Publication Date: March 28th 2016
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ B&N

Synopsis: In a kingdom by the sea…

In a secret world where half-angel warriors are sworn to fight demons, parabatai is a sacred word.

A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other—but they can never fall in love.

Emma Carstairs is a warrior, a Shadowhunter, and the best in her generation. She lives for battle. Shoulder to shoulder with her parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, she patrols the streets of Los Angeles, where vampires party on the Sunset Strip, and faeries—the most powerful of supernatural creatures—teeter on the edge of open war with Shadowhunters. When the bodies of humans and faeries turn up murdered in the same way Emma’s parents were when she was a child, an uneasy alliance is formed. This is Emma’s chance for revenge—and Julian’s chance to get back his brother Mark, who is being held prisoner by the faerie Courts. All Emma, Mark, and Julian have to do is solve the murders within two weeks…and before the murderer targets them.

Their search takes Emma from sea caves full of sorcery to a dark lottery where death is dispensed. And each clue she unravels uncovers more secrets. What has Julian been hiding from her all these years? Why does Shadowhunter Law forbid parabatai to fall in love? Who really killed her parents—and can she bear to know the truth?

The darkly magical world of Shadowhunters has captured the imaginations of millions of readers across the globe. Join the adventure in Lady Midnight, the long-awaited first volume of a new trilogy from Cassandra Clare.

My Rating

5/5 stars

My Review

“There was beauty in the idea of freedom, but it was an illusion. Every human heart was chained by love.” 

I don't think I'll ever outgrow the shadow hunter world.

After the events of City of Heavenly Fire, Emma Carstairs has grown up in the Los Angeles Institue, alongside her parabatai Julian Blackthorn and his family. While out patrolling the streets with fellow shadow hunter Christina, the two girls find a body. Bodies of humans and fairies are being found similar markings that Emma found on her parent's bodies after the war. Emma was certain it wasn't Sebastian who murdered her parents, and the new trail of dead bodies could lead to her finding the real killer. But the mysteries of Los Angeles are more dangerous and twisted than Emma and Julian could have ever known.

I walked into this book with low expectations. Cassandra Clare has written some amazing books, but in all honesty, I didn't think she could write another fantastic book in the shadow hunter series. But I was slightly wrong.

While I do think this book was absolutely amazing, and still deserves 5 stars for the writing, it just wasn't as good as City of Bones or Clockwork Angel. With those two series, we had brand new characters and exciting settings. Yet with this release, we already knew Emma and Julian from City of Heavenly fire, and Los Angeles isn't the most creative setting to pick from.

It was wonderful to see the characters from both series again. We do get to find out what has happened to Jace and Clary as well as Tessa and Jem, as they are featured in the book multiple times. But I personally found it a tad annoying, I wanted to read about the characters from this book. It just felt like Cassy was trying to drag on the original stories way longer than they should have been. I will always stand by the quote "A good author knows when to finish a book," and I just don't think Cassy knows how.

The action and storyline of this book were absolutely amazing. Cassy threw in twists and I didn't see coming, and had me loving characters I never thought I would like. 

Even though this book had such a good storyline and romance, it just felt a little bit too long. There definitely could have been parts of the book that could have been skimmed and shortened. While I don't want to think badly of the author, I'm worried she just made the book a little longer to try and make more money out of it.

Either way, it was am amazing book compared to other series. As for Cassie's books, this series isn't one of her best. 

I still highly recommend giving this one a read, especially if you wanna find out what has happened to Clary, Jace, Tessa and Jem since the last book.

Happy Reading,

Aneta