Monday, December 31, 2018

Last Reviews of 2018!


I cannot believe how quickly this year went by! Here are my last two reviews of the year! Thank you for sticking with me, and happy reading lovelies!


A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

RATING: 5/5 ⭐

Quick phrase to describe this one: A bold fairytale fantasy.

I absolutely loved this story. The lush fictional landscape was well written, and the details were great. The fairytale storyline was engaging, and the elements followed the famous tale. The plot was fairly fast-paced, which I appreciated, and had a variety of action, romance, and heartbreak.

The characters were great to read about. I like the changes in perspectives, and raw emotion from each individual. Harper's kindness was a contrast to Rhen's bold personality. I liked Harper's character because she was relatable, confident, and did not let her cerebral palsy define her. Rhen and Harper had interactions that were enjoyable to read about, despite being in a desperate situations throughout the novel.

Overall, I know this will be a popular book among YA fantasy fans, and I can't wait for the next in the series!

* Thank you to Raincoast Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review *

Link to Goodreads Review: click here

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Airports, Exes, and Other Things I'm Over by Shani Petroff

RATING: 4/5 ⭐

This story follows high school senior Sari, as she deals with heartbreak over her cheating (ex)boyfriend.  To make matters worse, she is then stuck with him for hours in the airport after a cancelled flight home from spring break. This quick read was fun and carefree. It was enjoyable, and the characters were easy to follow. Sari's personality was realistic and I liked the touches regarding her passion for music. The plot was simple, but also relatable for many high school readers. It was simple and cute, a typical sweet contemporary!

* Thank you to Raincoast Books for the review copy in exchange for an honest review *

Link to Goodreads Review: click here


Thank you again everyone for the support, and Happy New Year!

Sunday, December 23, 2018

2019 ARC Reviews

Hey lovelies! Hope you are enjoying some holiday festivities! Here are my two most recent ARC reviews:

FOUR DEAD QUEENS by Astrid Scholte


RATING: 4.75/5 stars

This is one of my most anticipated novels of 2019, and it did not disappoint. The story was interesting, and the murderous plot kept the suspense high. The unique writing style, especially in regards to the time frame of the chapters, took a bit to get used to, but offered the opportunity to understand the perspectives of a variety of characters.

The different characters were engaging, and I liked the different personalities. Some had monstrous motives, some had a shadow of guilt overlaying their every move, and others were merely trying to survive. The diverse elements were done well, and the small romantic pieces were just enough to soften this deadly tale. 

Finally, THAT ENDING THOUGH. Extremely well done, and I cannot wait for everyone to read this one! Highly recommend!

* Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the ARC review copy *

Review on Goodreads


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IF YOU'RE OUT THERE by Katy Loutzenhiser


RATING: 4.5/5 stars

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Cover Photo from Goodreads
This contemporary with a suspenseful flair was much better than expected! The characters, especially Zan, were relatable, and easy to connect with. I loved the concept of the story, and the social media use was a clever touch in this novel. The writing style was simple to read and despite starting slow, the story picked up quickly.


Logan was probably my favourite character in this one, the way he interacted with is family and Zan was heartwarming. I liked his story line, in terms of his past, and his personality. Zan's family was also enjoyable to read about, and the diverse elements were well written.  The mystery solving elements I liked most, it kept the story engaging. The ending was intense and wrapped up nicely. Overall, it was much better than I expected, and for fans of bold contemporary novels, I recommend this one!

* Thank you to HCC Frenzy for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review *

Review on Goodreads

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Hope everyone has a wonderful holidays!

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

ARC Review: Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith


Thank you to the Raincoast Books team for an ARC of Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith in exchange for an honest review!

RATING: 4.5/5 stars

REVIEW:

Princess Aurelia is a strong character, who strives for justice across the kingdom, despite being hunted for her blood magic abilities. After fleeing to safety, she discovers a happiness she never had in the castle. But she is not safe for long as a terrible plot is unfolding, and she must choose between saving herself, and the kingdom. This book was one of my most anticipated books of 2019, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. With royalty, secrets, and a revolution, it encompassed some of my favourite fantasy tropes and created a brilliant twisting tale.

The grim fantasy world was well-written, and with a fast paced plot it will hook readers from the beginning. The twist and turns throughout are surprising, offering suspense and mystery. With betrayals, murders, and more, it can be a touch gruesome, but it was bold and added to the uniqueness of this novel. The strong characters I loved, adding to the plot with genuine personalities and dangerous secrets.

The conclusion was my favourite part - a mixture between heartwarming, heartbreaking, and haunting. Absolutely adored this one, and cannot wait for other readers to enjoy it!

Friday, December 7, 2018

ARC Review: We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia


Happy Friday friends!

I finished my first read of the month, We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia, featured on the left of the picture - and I loved it!

RATING: 4.5/5 stars

REVIEW:

Fantasy, Feminism, Freedom.

This bold story follows Dani, a top ranked Primera married to an influential politic's son. After being approached to become a spy for a strong resistance group, she begins questioning where her loyalties lie, and with who. 

I absolutely loved the characters in this novel. Dani was strong willed and does her best to find the most promising version of herself. Carmen is another smart character, while Mateo and Sota are both holding a variety of secrets to keep their powerful positions. 

In terms of the story, it had a great blend of action, romance, and suspense. The diverse characters were written very well, and the spy elements kept readers engaged. The unique dystopian backdrop completed the story line, with a dominant society with upper class individuals ruling most of the island, resulting in uproar and riots from those not inside the exclusive area.

As Dani begins working both sides, her loyalties begin to blur, and the dangers around her only increase. Overall, I highly recommend this novel when it releases in February!


Special thank you to the HCC Frenzy team for sending it my way!


Saturday, December 1, 2018

November Haul + Wrap Up


And we're back! Another month gone by, but it was GREAT in terms of reading!

WRAP UP:

The Iron King - 4.25 ⭐
The Iron Daughter - 4.5⭐
The Iron Queen - 5 ⭐
Boneless Mercies - 4.25⭐
Mirage - 4.5 ⭐
Always Never Yours - 4.5 ⭐
Dysasters (ARC) - 4.5 ⭐
Heart of Thorns - 4.5 ⭐

Reviews for all these are available on Goodreads and will be under the Reviews tab of the blog soon!


BOOK HAUL:

From PUBLISHERS:
  • Bloodleaf
  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely
  • ROAR

From BOOK BOXES:
  • What If It's Us
  • Grim Lovelies
  • Blanca & Roja
  • Shadow of the Fox

From GIFTS:
  • Kingdom of Ash
  • Boneless Mercies