[Review: Ruined by Amy Tintera]

"Ruined"
Author: Amy Tintera
Series: Ruined #1
Pages: 368
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date Published: May 3rd, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.

But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.

In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.

Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

We have new Amy Tintera guys! When I heard that Tintera was stepping into fantasy, I got really excited. I adored her zombie novels Reboot and Rebel, and I've been needing a fix of Tintera's writing. And boy did she deliver. 

Ruined is a fast paced adventure that doesn't play by all the normal fantasy tropes. I found myself being pulled into the story immediately, and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with the world and the characters that filled the pages. I'm actually really bummed that I'm going to have to wait for the rest of series. Which is really really good thing.

One thing that I've always loved about Tintera's writing is her ability to write fantastic underdog stories, and Ruined is no different. Em is a girl without magic who's had to overcome so much, though she doesn't make it seem that way. She's had to use the skills and assets that she's been given to make her as strong as the people filled with magic around her. In fact it makes her seem like she has a lot more going for her than anyone else in the story. I found myself instantly pulled into the tale because of Em's strong voice. She's someone anyone can cheer for.

Cas is also a bit of an underdog in his own rite. He may be a prince, but he's not the prince anyone wants him to be. It makes him interesting. It makes him more than eye-candy. And its makes the story between Cas and Em so much more touching, annoying, and beautiful. It will make you feel all those things, and possibly in that order. 

Tintera also doesn't shy away from making her characters fierce. Body count, blood spillage, and gore are not things that she shies away from. It gives this story so much life. Conflicted characters who make tough calls are my favorite, and this book is full of them. 

If you're looking for a fantasy novel that's full of great characters, great world building, and tons of conflict (without being too much drama), this book is perfect. 

Rating:

  5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

Mini Review Batch

"The Great Hunt"
Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: Eurona Duology #1
Pages: 416
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal
Date Published: March 8th, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

“Aerity…” Her father paused as if the words he was forming pained him. “I must ask you to sacrifice the promise of love for the sake of our kingdom.”

She could only stare back, frozen.

When a strange beast terrorizes the kingdom of Lochlanach, fear stirs revolt. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity knows her duty to the kingdom but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger…until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. There’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast—but the princess continues to surprise him, and the perilous secrets he’s buried begin to surface.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, and a princess willing to risk all to save her kingdom.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Higgins creates a glistening world in The Great Hunt that I quite enjoyed. In fact, her world building was my favorite thing about the novel. Right out of the gate she hits you with a death, which got the story moving at a fast rate, and I love that. I will say that as the book went on, I felt that there were moments that it dragged a bit. The characters were a lot of fun. And I liked the predicaments that Higgins forced them into. I will say that I found the plot a tad predictable, and even though Aerity is fierce, she also gets a bit too swoony for my taste. I will be on the look out for the sequel, since I'm pretty sure that I'll like this book even more once I've finished the whole story in its entirety.  

My Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it a lot, but it had its issues!

"Harmony House"
Author: Nic Sheff
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Horror
Date Published: March 22nd, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Jen Noonan’s father thinks a move to Harmony House is the key to salvation, but to everyone who has lived there before, it is a portal to pure horror.

After Jen’s alcoholic mother’s death, her father cracked. He dragged Jen to this dilapidated old manor on the shore of New Jersey to “start their new lives”—but Harmony House is more than just a creepy old estate. It’s got a chilling past—and the more Jen discovers its secrets, the more the house awakens. Strange visions follow Jen wherever she goes, and her father’s already-fragile sanity disintegrates before her eyes. As the forces in the house join together to terrorize Jen, she must find a way to escape the past she didn’t know was haunting her—and the mysterious and terrible power she didn’t realize she had.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Harmony House reads like an underdeveloped, or weak season of American Horror Story. There is really no better way to put it. It's sold to us as a horror novel, and while it has it's creepy moments, it's so disjointed that it never pulled me in enough to feel freaked out. Disturbed? Sure. But freaked out, nope, I never got to that point. I'm still a little confused about what I read to be honest. And while I liked the atmosphere that Sheff created, and I don't mind unlikable characters, I found that I just didn't connect with much of anything in this book. The characters flip flop in their emotions so quickly that you question if they feel anything at all, and the religious aspect didn't feel original. It just ended up feeling like an overused trope. So while I was interested enough to finish the book, I have to say that I'm not satisfied with my reading experience, though there was hope all along that it would end up being something more than it was.  

My Rating: 

2 Unicorns = It was okay, but something didn't work for me!

Mini Review Batch

"Burning Glass"
Author: Kathryn Purdie
Series: Burning Glass #1
Pages: 512
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Date Published: March 1st, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, and she can’t always decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the charming-yet-volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

This book started out so promising! Death and mayhem filled the beginning, and I thought that I had found a book I would adore. Now, I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy this book, because I did, but I will say that once we made it into the kingdom, it became something I wasn't expecting. Purdie knows how to write gruesome depictions, and swoony moments, and who doesn't love that. I will say that as the story went on, I found that the book became a little too swoony for my taste, and the bloody parts seemed a little less hard hitting because of that. Sonya was a great protagonist though, and even though she seems a bit boy crazy, it's clear that she's got a good head on her shoulders. So, even though this book was middle of the road for me, I'm looking forward to the next installment, and I'm curious to see what Purdie does next.

Rating:

  3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!

"Seven Black Diamonds"

Author: Melissa Marr

Series: Seven Black Diamonds #1

Pages: 400

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal

Date Published: March 1st, 2016

Publisher: HarperCollins

Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Lilywhite Abernathy is a criminal. Her father’s “unconventional” business has meant a life of tightly held secrets, concealed weaponry, and a strict code. But Lily’s crime isn’t being the daughter of a powerful mob boss. Her guilt lies in the other half of her DNA—the part that can coax ancient rumors from stones and summon fire with a thought. Lily is part fae, which is a crime in her world.

From the time before she was born, a war has been raging between humanity and fae. The Queen of Blood and Rage, ruler of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wants to avenge the tragic death of her heir—a death that was the fault of reckless humans.

Lily’s father has shielded her from the repercussions of her ancestry…until she is sent to the prestigious St. Columba’s school, straight into the arms of the Black Diamonds.

Mysterious, glamorous, and bound together in their mission but constantly at odds, Zephyr, Creed, Will, Roan, Violet, and Alkamy are a Sleeper cell of fae, planted in the human world to help destroy it from within. With covers as rock stars and celebrity children, the Black Diamonds carry out the queen’s war against humanity. And unbeknownst to Lilywhite, she’s been chosen to join them.

Now more than ever, Lily’s heritage puts her in peril, and even the romantic attention of the fae singer Creed Morrison isn’t enough to keep Lily from wanting to run back to the safer world of organized crime.

Melissa Marr returns to faery in a dramatic story of the precarious space between two worlds and the people who must thrive there. 

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

Out of all the YA fairy stories out there, I always enjoy Melissa Marr's the most. Seven Black Diamonds is no exception to that rule. The plot is intricate, the characters have conflicting motives, the kids feel real, and the magic doesn't seem corny. I did feel like this book was a lot of set up. Not at say that it wasn't good set up, but I am looking forward to the next book in the series, since I feel like I really know the characters now. Trust me, Marr gives a lot of characters a voice in this novel. I also enjoyed how she mixed the fantasy world with one that felt normal, though slightly off. Plus, I enjoy the fact that there is always a slightly sinister angle to Marr's stories. This one was a lot of fun!

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!

[Review: Revenge And The Wild by Michelle Modesto]

"Revenge and the Wild"
Author: Michelle Modesto
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical, Paranormal
Date Published: February 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Here it is, my first five unicorn read of the year! This book is so good. It's a standalone, it's kind of historical, it's full of fantasy, and it's got one of those heroines that will not soon be forgotten. This book is something really strange and wonderful. 

Clearly I'm already a Mosesto fan, and this is her first book, so I'd say we're off to a good start. Her world building is spectacular. She gives us this setting that is full of historical detail, but is drenched in a fantasy world. She mixes turn of the century California history with vampires, trolls, magic, and a whole slew of other creatures. It makes the book a little kitchy, but the subject matter is really heavy, so there is a balance that's really nice.

Westie is everything you want from a main character. She's so herself that you never doubt her intentions, or her person. She's in your face, has a foul mouth, and ends up in all sorts of situations, but in the end she's super lovable, and would do anything for her family. Basically, I really liked getting to know her, and would have totally been fine with this being more than one book, and that doesn't happen very often.

The rest of the characters are also amazing, and really well crafted. None of them go to waste, and it's fun to see such evenly matched villains and heroes in one novel. Everyone had their part to play, and they all played it well. Even the characters who had bit parts were vital to the novel, and that's saying something.

I also loved that Modesto wasn't afraid to write such a gory story. When you add cannibals to a story it sometimes falls flat, and I can say that that isn't the case for Revenge and the Wild. Modesto makes sure that these flesh eating people are to be feared, and so they are. 

I must admit that while some of the novel was a tad predictable, most of it was really surprising and fantastic plotted. You might think you have things figured out, but then Modesto hits you with something you didn't even know you should be looking for. 

Everyone, read this book! It's like a toned down episode of Penny Dreadful, and what's not to love about that.

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW! 

[Review: The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine]

"The Impostor Queen"
Author: Sarah Fine
Series: The Impostor Queen #1
Pages: 336
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date Published: January 5th, 2016
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by magical priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.

But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.

Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

 Okay, I have to be honest here. The first 6% of this novel is brutally slow. I almost didn't feel like I was reading a Sarah Fine novel. I was so confused about what was going on (not story wise, but pacing wise) because Fine is the queen of pulling you right into her stories, but there was a disconnect in the beginning for me. That being said, soon I was pulled into a story that just never quit, and then the slow beginning made perfect sense. I guess what I'm saying is, don't mind the slow start, because Fine has knocked another book out of the park, and it'll leave your heart pounding. 

This is Fine's first dive into full on fantasy and I have to say that she nails it. She's built a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. She paints the city with blood, and tells a story of a girl who isn't what she planned on becoming. I love the fact that Fine messed with the idea of "what happens when you're not who anyone else thinks you are." It effects Ellie in ways that you can only imagine. It's a different angle than I've been seeing lately, and Ellie is a very different lead then I'm used to seeing Fine create. 

Ellie herself is so soft. But she's also someone that you have to look out for. The girl doesn't give up, so even though she might seem weak, she's powerful in the fact that she's not afraid to do what needs doing. I really liked her. I think she's what so many of us can be, and she's a massively relatable. I think everyone will see bits of themselves in her character.

Fine is also well known for her ability to round out her casts with wonderful secondary characters, and she doesn't disappoint there. Even characters that only have a few pages of book time make you notice them. They're used correctly. Every single time. 

There is a bit of a love story, but it doesn't over shadow what's going on with the story. Plus, Oskar is a total winner, and he knows how to provide for his family.

Some of my favorite parts of this story were the bits about the magical temple that Ellie leaves behind in the beginning of the story. Fine layers gory details into the novel, and I'm hoping that we get a lot more of that in the next novel. I want to know about the creepy inner workings of this magical realm. 

I suggest that everyone read this novel, and everything that Fine has ever written!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

 

[Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski]

"The Winner's Curse"
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Curse Trilogy #1
Pages: 355
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date Published: March 4th, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format Read: Hardcover from the library

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Summary:

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Winner's Curse,

I love a good fantasy story and you did not disappoint. I loved that there doesn't seem to be any magic inside of you either, it makes the world building feel a bit more real. Your characters are interesting. Your love story doesn't rule all. The twists and turns that unfold are interesting. All in all, I'd say that your a grade A fantasy novel...

-The White Unicorn

The concept of The Winner's Curse is an interesting one. The fact that when you win something that you also loose something at the same time isn't a new thought, but the way that Rutkoski writes about it, puts it in a new light. I love that the whole novel is based on this idea. That even though so much more goes on in the book, that that was the idea that sparked the whole book is fantastic. 

Rutkoski also created a brilliant world for her characters to play in. It's a place filled with warriors, debutantes and slaves. When you put all of those people types in the same story, you know that there is going to be a lot of drama unfolding. You're not sure who is in the right and who is in the wrong, because her characters are human. They mess up, they make mistakes, and they are complex. 

Kestrel was a fun character to get to know. She's a strategist, but not much of a fighter, much to her father's disappointment. All he wants is for her to join him on the battlefield, and all she wants is to play music. She has a lot of different dimensions to her character. She's both a product of her upbringing, and a product of her own making. The two things don't always go well together, but it makes her a really interesting character to read.

Arin is another layered character. Nothing is as it seems with him. It quickly becomes clear that he might be more than just another slave, but you can't be sure. I liked his conflicting traits. It made him a character that I wanted to get to know more.

The love story was okay. I don't think that it's one of the best that I've ever read. But then I felt like it wasn't the main point of the novel, and I liked that. In this case, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Then again, I know a lot of people really bought into the love story. I just have this feeling that something else is going on. Maybe it comes to light in later books?

If you're looking for an exciting fantasy novel with some really interesting characters and fantastic world building, here it is.

  Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: Defy by Sara B. Larson]

"Defy"
Author: Sara B. Larson
Series: Defy #1
Pages: 336
Genre: YA, High Fantasy
Date Published: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press

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Summary: 

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Defy,

I have mixed feelings about you. On one hand I liked your story. On the other hand your love triangle drove me crazy. I wished that you wouldn't have had one. Or that it would not have been a love triangle of the irritating type. In a way, it kind of ruined you for me, but your story was strong. It just is what it is...

-The White Unicorn 

Why do frustrating love triangles exist? Honestly, this book would have been so much better without it. As I was reading I was left with the same kind of feeling that I had while reading The Twilight Saga, that being a wish that there was one love interest. Or at least two men who offered something of substance for our main character. It could have worked, but I have to say that I don't think that Larson executed it well, though she should have just executed the love triangle to begin with. I just feel like shouting "WHYYYY" into the wind, because though I think that the love triangle brought the story down two or three unicorns, Larson wrote a really interesting story.

The story of a girl who cuts her hair and pretends to be a boy so that evil will not befall her is one that we've heard before. This book reminded me of Disney's Mulan on that front, but I liked that Larson decided to give her world a really dark backstory. Meaning that Alexa had to hide who she was so she wouldn't end up in a breeding house. Larson's world building was one of my favorite things about this book. I thought the army, the king's guards and the breeding house were all great additions to the world of Defy. 

I also liked Alexa a lot. Though I feel like she goes from being a girl with a secret to a girl who just kind of acts like a girl. A lot of sad stuff happens to her, and she finds herself alone in her deception. I wish she would have really been as alone as she thought she was, but then, all the boys who love her always knew that she was girl, and all the love happens. 

Rylan and Damian both want to treat Alexa like a girl, and it gets a tad annoying. I honestly didn't like either of them as love interests for her, though I have to admit that I did like them as characters in the story. They were both pretty awesome, when they weren't being annoying about Alexa. 

In the end I think that this book is geared toward people who love love triangles, and people who like them to take the main focus. I am not that crowd, and I wish that Larson's brilliant world building, and her none-romantic story line would have been able to take center stage, because they were great. 

Rating:

  2 Unicorns = It was okay, but something just didn't work for me!

[Review: A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas]

"A Court of Thorns and Roses"
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Pages: 416
Genre: YA, Fairytale Retellings, Fantasy
Date Published: May 5th, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's
Format Read: ARC provided by publisher for honest review

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Summary:

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To A Court Of Thorns And Roses,

Two words = Mind Blown. You are an amazing novel. You have all the ships, because there are characters in you that I want to support in the shipping department, and there are characters that I just want to ship myself. You seem like Beauty and the Beast retelling, and even though that is what you are, you are so much more than that. I have so much love for you that I want everyone to read you. Everyone. Let's start a petition on your behalf, okay? On top of that you were so good that you gave me stroke, no seriously, I went to the hospital and everything...

-The White Unicorn

Everyone knows that I have nothing but good things to say about anything that Maas has ever written. The way she tells a tale is something that only she can do. Her writing is so vivid that you get pulled into the worlds she creates. She also has this ability to tell a story that we've heard a thousand times before, but make it feel like it's the first time. Like she concocted it, because she layers so much of herself into the pages. This book is so beautiful and haunting. 

Maas has mashed Beauty and the Beast together with fairy stories, and it works so well. ACOTAR takes its cue from the original tale more than the Disney version, so if you're expecting that version of the tale, stop it, now. The original tale lends itself to this story so much better. On top of that we get all these elements that Maas created, that takes something familiar, and makes it feel delightfully new. 

Characters are also a strong point, on top of the story. Feyre is an extremely strong lead. She's prickly to say the least. She's had to become a warrior to feed her family. She's had to become something different from her sisters, who still wish they were rich. She's a realist, and she knows she can take care of herself. Some people might complain that she does too much for love, but I think that she's always had a bit of hero complex, so why would that change. To me she's a very consistent character, and a total badass.

Tamlin is a beast like we haven't seen before. He's slightly sweeter than we've seen previously, but it means that he balances out Feyre well. I quite like them together. Plus, I enjoyed seeing the liberties that Maas took with their relationship.

Not to mention Lucien and Rhysand! I have to admit that even though I loved Tamlin for Feyre, I liked both of these secondary gents a bit more. They are a little more feisty and a little more twisted, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I'm so glad that this novel isn't a stand alone and that I will be able to dive back into this wonderful world . Since the whole story of Beauty and the Beast has played out in the completion of this book, it'll be fun to see where Maas takes it in later books. 

Everyone, read this!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hand on this NOW!  

[Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas]

"A Wicked Thing"
Author: Rhiannon Thomas
Series: A Wicked Thing #1
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Date Published: February 24th, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To A Wicked Thing,

Hmmmm? I don't love you. I wanted to. I thought you were going to be cool, but you feel really flat for me. I will say that you ended on a bit of a high note, and I'll probably read the next book in your series if I feel so inclined, but I can't be sure. You were just a tad boring, that's all. Too boring for what could have been happening...

-The White Unicorn

We all know how I feel about Fairytale Retellings, so I was stoked when I heard about A Wicked Thing. I love the idea behind the book and a piece of me has always wondered what would happen after Aurora woke up. I think that my middle of the road review comes from the fact that this isn't what I would have picked to happen. I know that that isn't very fair, but I'm just being honest. I do feel like Thomas had some really clever ideas, but her execution of them left me not really caring when I knew that I was supposed to be feeling something substantial. Let's just say that this book did not give me the feels, and that made me sad.

Thomas drops us into the Sleeping Beauty story after Aurora is woken up by the kiss of a Prince. A Prince named Rodric who had the personality of a wet towel... or a door mat. She's instantly pushed into an engagement with the man and she's trying to deal with the fact that 100 years have passed since she took her long nap. I honestly kept being told that Aurora was a bit of a firecracker, but the whole time I was reading I didn't think she was a very strong character.

In fact, maybe that's where my biggest problem with this book happens. The characters just aren't that great. I feel like we're told, over and over again what these character are like, but in the end their actions don't back it up. Finnegan was the only one who kept my attention and even he was fairly boring. And Tristan? I forgot about him more than once. I don't think that should happen.

The story was okay and like I said it got better at the end. Once Aurora was actually let out of her room and what not. Seriously, so much of this book was in her rooms or the castle. 

So sadly, I didn't like this one. It wasn't terrible though and I think that a younger teen would eat it up with a spoon!

Rating:

2 Unicorns = It was okay, but something didn't work for me!

[Waiting On Wednesday: An Ember In The Ashes]

Waiting On Wednesday happens every week on Wednesdays (hence the name) and is hosted by Breaking The Spine.  It's were people talk about the books they want to read about that aren't out yet.

My pick this week is...

"An Ember in the Ashes"
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Release Date: April 28th, 2015

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Summary:

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself. 

-Goodreads

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What are you waiting on this week?  I wanna know!

[Review: Ensnared by A.G. Howard]

"Ensnared"
Author: A.G. Howard
Series: Splintered #3
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retellings
Date Published: January 6th, 2015
Publisher: Amulet Books
Format Read: Purchased hardback

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Summary:

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Ensnared:

Parting is always such sweet sorrow and leaving you behind is kind of like that. I have loved the books that fill your series and even though some of your plot points bugged me. We can't love everything about each other. That's what makes a real friendship and you, book, seem to be a good way to end ours. That is until I decide to read all of you and your companions again. Thanks for doing you and all the creepiness that that implies. 

-The White Unicorn

I've had this weird, uncontrollable love for A.G. Howard's Splintered series from the beginning. The imagery is some of the best that I've read in a long time, and you get pulled into the dark, twisted world that she builds, without even realizing it. That being said I've also had issues with the whole series, namely a dude named Jeb, but I have to admit that I might have felt something like love for him in the last installment of this series. All in all I have to say that this has been a fun ride and I'm pretty bummed that it's over. I'm totally okay if Howard wants to write a few more novellas to go along with this series, that's all I'm saying. 

Ensnared is full up of all the adventure of the last two novels in the series. This time Al has to sneak through the cracks in a mirror to see if she can save the people most important to her, with the help of her father. Howard uses this chance to examine a different realm of Wonderland. This time we are in AnyElsewhere. It's where all the broken creatures of Wonderland come to play, so the creatures held within will make your skin crawl. The world building is once again top notch, and I love that Howard gives us a different view of her Wonderland. It really does play out well. 

I also adored the fact that we get to see more of Al and her father interacting. The family aspect of these books has always been something that I admire and Ensnared delivered on that front. It was also awesome to see what the whole story behind Al's father's family was. Howard even introduced us to a few new characters this way. And of course, getting Al's mother back was all a part of the plot. I do wish that we would have gotten to know Al's mom better in the scheme of things, but this is a small complaint. 

Of course there were also many of the original characters in play. Chessie has a rather large role and I love this version of him, so it's always delightful to see him out and about. We had a new fairy bouncing around by the name of Nikki and Rabid shows his face a few times as well. Throw in the evil Queens that we've come to know so well and the whole cast (plus some) were there. 

The reason why this book isn't getting 5 unicorns comes from the conclusion of the love triangle that Al has been in the middle of all this time. As a story teller I think that Howard was really clever with the conclusion. From a story telling POV, I can't really fault her with her choices and I think they fit well with the story that she has established. That being said, I selfishly wanted a different conclusion. I wanted something more definitive to happen. Al has always seemed a bit weak in her relationships to me and the end game didn't make her feel any stronger. I wish I felt differently, but I do not. 

I'm so glad that I delved into this world that Howard created and that I got to meet Morpheus, who still wins, out of all the characters she pinned, in my book anyway. He was perfect in this final chapter and I couldn't have asked for more. I mean except the one thing I wish would have happened for him in a nicer way. But what am I saying. I'm just showing favoritism, which I think he would approve of.

If you have ever been a fan of Alice in Wonderland, you need to read this series. The books are beautiful even if they are a bit flawed. But isn't that how all the best things in life are?

Rating: 

4 Unicorns = Close to Perfect!

[Waiting On Wednesday: Ensnared]

Waiting On Wednesday happens every week on Wednesdays (hence the name) and is hosted by Breaking The Spine.  It's were people talk about the books they want to read about that aren't out yet.

My pick this week is...

"Ensnared"
Author: A.G. Howard
Release Date: January 6th, 2015

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Summary:

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She’s determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world—-a parallel dimension filled with mutated and sadistic netherling outcasts.

In the final installment of the Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that’s gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But even if everyone succeeds and comes out alive, can they all truly have their happily ever after?

-Goodreads
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What are you waiting on this week?  I wanna know! 

[Waiting On Wednesday: Crimson Bound]

Waiting On Wednesday happens every week on Wednesdays (hence the name) and is hosted by Breaking The Spine.  It's were people talk about the books they want to read about that aren't out yet.

My pick this week is...

"Crimson Bound"
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Release Date: May 5th, 2015

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Summary:

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.

(This is a standalone novel, not part of the Cruel Beauty Universe.)

-Goodreads

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What are you waiting on this week?  I wanna know! 

[Review: One Wish Away by Kelley Lynn]

"One Wish Away"
Author: Kelley Lynn
Series: ?

Genre: YA, Sci Fi, Fantasy
Date Published: November 24th, 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

Be careful what you wish for…

Lyra has always been ahead of the curve. Top of her class in school, a budding astronomer, and with a best friend like Darren she barely has time to miss the mother who abandoned her family years ago. She's too busy planning to follow in her father's footsteps, and to become the youngest astronomer at Space Exploration and Discovery.

When a star goes missing Lyra is determined to get to the bottom of it only to discover her braniac dad is the mastermind of a top-secret government experiment. They promise to build a perfect world, one galaxy at a time, but with every tweak of the present, a bit more of the future starts to crumble.

Lyra has to go undercover to reveal the truth and let humanity decide if the consequences are worth more than wishing on a star.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To One Wish Away,

You were a mixed bag of tricks for me. On one hand you were a fun and fanciful read. You didn't seem to take yourself too seriously and your plot was well thought out. On the other hand, you were really off the wall and none of you made any logical sense. These things made me like you and feel rather "uh" about you at the same time. I honestly don't really know how I feel about you as a whole, but I can't say that I didn't enjoy you.

-The White Unicorn

I'm not even sure where to start this review. Lynn has managed to write a book about what would happen if you could turn real stars into real wishes and mess with time and events in history. Let's just say that it makes a huge mess, that's what it does. These scientists are playing God and we all know that that never turns out well in the end. It keeps the tension levels up and it keeps you interested, but at the same time it's not believable and there in lies this book's odd charm.

As a work of complete fiction this book actually works. It's what I like to call a "fun read". You can't take it seriously, but it's plot and your interest level keep you attached enough to forget the things you know and jump on board with the story. Still, some of the things that happen in this book can't even be helped by that kind of reading style. The star machine itself and some of the rest of the story (like the ending) get a little too far fetched. Though I still give Lynn mad props for the ideas and moral questions displayed in this novel.

I liked Lyra as a main character. She's smart and sure of herself in most things and I liked that about her. But like with the story I felt her lack of self confidence in how she looked went against the rest of her personality and this bugged me a bit. In the end I liked her a lot though, even with my issues.

Darren seemed like he was the perfect match for Lyra and I can't help but be a fan of the whole friends to more thing. He was also there for her even in the tough times and that really worked for me. He also ended up being a really solid rock for her in her chaotic life. 

The ending was another thing I took into account when I rated this book. I have no problems with how this book ended, that is, if it's a series, but if it's not than I have beef with it. The book ends on what can only be called a cliff hanger and I can't find whether or not there will be more books. If there aren't going to be more books, I want to know where the rest of the ending is.

If your looking for a book about a group of really smart people who make stars into wishes, then look no farther, this is the book for you.

 3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!

[Review: Empire Of Shadows by Miriam Forster]

"Empire of Shadows"
Author: Miriam Forster
Series: Bhinian Empire #2
Pages: 496
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Date Published: November 4th, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Cast out of her family three years ago, Mara turned to the only place that would take her—a school where students train to protect others. But Mara is stunned when guarding a noble girl in the Empire’s capital turns out to be more dangerous than she could’ve imagined. More shocking still, she finds the boy she thought she had lost forever outside the gates of her new home.

Mara knew her life in the dizzying Imperial city would hold dangers. How could she have known that her heart, as well as her life, would be at stake?

Empire of Shadows will take readers on a spellbinding journey into the world Miriam Forster first introduced in City of a Thousand Dolls—a world with a divided society, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and deeply laid conspiracies.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Empire of Shadows,

Hey book, look at you with your gorgeous cover and your thick amount of pages. To be completely honest I would have been fine with you being about a hundred pages longer, but you weren't. You were full of mystery and death and swoony love. I'm not sure what is a better combination than those things, so you made me very happy. I'd like another book in this series, because God knows how much I adore companion novels that can stand on their own legs. 

-The White Unicorn

It's well known that I loved Forster's City of a Thousand Dolls, so I was elated to learn that there was going to be a companion novel. Forster, feel free to keep writing them, because if you do, I will read them! I really liked the cast of the first book, so I was curious to see who Forster was going to focus on this time around, and I have to admit that I fell in love with this cast just as much as the old one.

Forster is a master story teller. She weaves both of her novels together seamlessly. In a way that really works. She's the master of mystery and intrigue, blending characters and stories together in way that makes you realize that she really puts her work into planning her books out. She makes sure that no little detail goes untouched. And the best part is that it doesn't matter which book you read first, or if you read them both (but please read them both).

Empire of Shadows is a book that's told through duel POV. This keeps the book moving in a forward motion and also keeps the mystery hidden till the correct moments. I found both Mara and Emil's voices to be interesting and captivating. And their love story didn't seem to get in the way of the bigger picture either, which is always a plus. 

Mara is an interesting character. She carries a chip around her shoulder that's almost as big as the secret that she's a Sune (shifting human). The book is about her redemption in more ways than one. She's trying to make up for the wrongs that she's done in her past by becoming a warrior, sworn to protect one person till death. She's so multifaceted that she keeps you reading her story till the end. 

Emil is the perfect love interest for Mara. He's equally as loyal as she is, but in a sweeter, less feral way. The contrast really works well. Seeing things from his POV also lightens the book a tad, which is nice. They're really cute together and it's nice to see that their beginning leads to so much in the end.

The mystery and pacing of this book are also to be praised. As well as the large cast of secondary, cross over characters between both of Forster's books. It was so delightful to get to learn more about the people in Nisha's life (the main character in City of a Thousand Dolls). 

To end this review I'm just going to say that you should read these books. It doesn't matter how you read them or what order you read them in, it just matters that you read them!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!