[Review: This Darkness Mone by Mindy McGinnis

"This Darkness Mine"
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: None
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller, Horror
Date Published: October 10th, 2017
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by the publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Sasha Stone knows her place—first-chair clarinet, top of her class, and at the side of her oxford-wearing boyfriend. She’s worked her entire life to ensure that her path to Oberlin Conservatory as a star musician is perfectly paved.

But suddenly there’s a fork in the road, in the shape of Isaac Harver. Her body shifts toward him when he walks by, her skin misses his touch even though she’s never known it, and she relishes the smell of him—smoke, beer, and trouble—all the things she’s avoided to get where she is. Even worse, every time he’s near Sasha, her heart stops, literally. Why does he know her so well—too well—and she doesn’t know him at all?

Sasha discovers that her by-the-book life began by ending another’s: the twin sister she absorbed in the womb. But that doesn’t explain the gaps of missing time in her practice schedule or the memories she has of things she certainly never did with Isaac. As Sasha loses her much-cherished control, her life—and heart—become more entangled with Isaac. Armed with the knowledge that her heart might not be hers alone, Sasha must decide what she’s willing to do—and who she’s willing to hurt—to take it back.

Edgar Award–winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a dark and gripping psychological thriller about a girl at war with herself, and what it really means to be good or bad.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

If you've ever wondered what it would be like if Mindy McGinnis wrote a magical realism book, This Darkness Mine is the answer to your question. And yes, it's just as twisted, uncomfortable, and utterly fucked up as you'd expect it to be. Honestly, this book isn't for the faint of heart. This book is brutal... in all the best ways.

Mindy McGinnis is one of the few authors who are on my instant buy list, and she hasn't let me down yet. Even though this is the weirdest book in her catalogue so far, I dig it. This Darkness Mine is one of those books that's hard to review, because you don't want to give anything away, and you honestly can't put your finger on how to review it. 

I'm sure that some people are going to say that the plot isn't realistic, and I think that that's what makes it work. I mean the main character absorbs her twin in the womb, and that's just the beginning of the messed up things that "perfect" Sasha Stone has done to the people around her. Is Sasha the only one living in her body, or is her dead twin still around? McGinnis explores this idea in ways that can't be medically verified, but like I said, this book feels like a messed up, magical realism novel, so it worked for me.

Sasha starts out as this perfect angel, and it's fun to see who she truly is. Some might call her an antihero, some might call her a villain, and truth be told, she's not a good girl, that's for sure. 

On one side, it feels like you're watching Sasha's life unravel, but if you look closely I think that this book is about Sasha finding herself. She's not nice, she's not a reliable narrator, and if you're looking for a cute story about a girl finding out who she is, this isn't going to be the book for you. McGinnis is unflinchingly real with her narrative, and even though you'll be disturbed, you won't be able to look away.

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

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: Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace]

"Shallow Graves"
Author: Kali Wallace
Series: None
Pages: 368
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Supernatural, Horror
Date Published: January 26th, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

For fans of Holly Black and Nova Ren Suma, a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric novel about murder, revenge, and a world where monsters—human and otherwise—lurk at the fringes.

When seventeen-year-old Breezy Lin wakes up in a shallow grave one year after her death, she doesn’t remember who killed her or why. All she knows is that she’s somehow conscious—and not only that, she’s able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past. In life, Breezy was always drawn to the elegance of the universe and the mystery of the stars. Now she must set out to find answers and discover what is to become of her in the gritty, dangerous world to which she now belongs—where killers hide in plain sight and a sinister cult is hunting for strange creatures like her. What she finds is at once empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.

Tense, complex, and wholly engaging, Shallow Graves is a stunning first novel from Kali Wallace.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

Shallow Graves is such an interesting novel, and it's certainly going to put Kali Wallace on a lot of people's radars. This book is dark, like really really dark. It asks a lot of interesting questions, and it'll give you goosebumps to boot. It's a novel told from the POV of monsters, but it begs the question as to if they're actually evil or not.  It felt like the story could have been an episode of Supernatural, just told from the monster's POV.

I loved Breezy's character. She's an interesting one in the fact that she knows who she was, but has no idea who she is once she wakes up. Wallace makes sure to give us enough flashbacks in the story that we get to know Breezy as she was, and as she is now. She goes from a carefree high schooler to a dead girl walking, and the changes she goes through to be okay with herself are extreme. Wallace uses Breezy to ask the question "what does it mean to be human" over and over again. 

I have to admit that while I enjoyed the plot, and all the characters in the novel, it was Wallace's writing choices that made the book so strong for me. From when she decided to tell us who the killer was, to the fact that there isn't a drop of romance, to the fact that it's really just about characters struggling with the oddities they've been dealt in life. I have to say that these are the things that made Shallow Grave stand out for me. 

There are so many more things that I'd like to talk about, but I feel that the way the book is written limits me to what I can say about it. If I let anything slip, I feel like people won't have the same reading experience that I did, and that would be a total shame.

Read this novel if you enjoy twisted moral questions, lots of gore, and compelling characters.  

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Da Vinci's Tiger by L.M. Elliott]

"Da Vinci's Tiger"
Author: L.M. Elliott
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance
Date Published: November 10th, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Young, beautiful, and witty, Ginevra de’ Benci longs to take part in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence. But as the daughter of a wealthy family in a society dictated by men, she is trapped in an arranged marriage, expected to limit her creativity to domestic duties. Her poetry reveals her deepest feelings, and she aches to share her work, to meet painters and sculptors mentored by the famed Lorenzo de Medici, and to find love.

When the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, arrives in Florence, he introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers—a world of thought and conversation she has yearned for. She is instantly attracted to the handsome newcomer, who admires her mind as well as her beauty. Yet Ginevra remains conflicted about his attentions. Choosing her as his Platonic muse, Bembo commissions a portrait by a young Leonardo da Vinci. Posing for the brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them—one Ginevra can only begin to understand. In a rich and enthralling world of exquisite art, elaborate feasts, and exhilarating jousts, she faces many temptations to discover her voice, artistic companionship, and a love that defies categorization. In the end, she and Leonardo are caught up in a dangerous and deadly battle between powerful families.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Da Vinci's Tiger,

Man, I wanted to like you more than I did. Your historical detail was great, you used awesome historical figures, you were so detailed that you could have been fantastic. But then... nothing really happened, and some of the things that happened made me kind of uncomfortable. So while you had so many good things about you, I just can't be a fan, since the story was a whole lot of feelings and not a whole lot of plot. 

-The White Unicorn

I have to start out by saying that I have mad respect for the historical detail that Elliott put into her novel. It's obvious that she made sure that every moment of this book was dripping in rich, historical, moments. I was blown away by the amounts of research that she layered into her work. It's something to be applauded. And if you're a history buff you're going to love the way Elliott wrote this book. 

On the other hand, this book fell really flat for me. I understand that Elliott was trying to write a book about a female liberating herself in world where females were limited, and I applaud her for that, but more needed to happen. Ginevra could have been a wonderful character, and in some ways she was, but she falls flat because the story ends up being about her relationships with all the men in her life. This book is a victim of too much historical detail, and a secondary plot. 

I would have liked to have seen more scenes between Ginevra and Leonardo. But I felt like so much time was spent in Ginevra's head, and I wish more interaction would have happened between the two, because that's were the magic was in this story. 

I also liked that Elliott decided to feature Italy's platonic love history. Though I must say that Bembo was a creep. There is a scene that happens in the book were he tries to take advantage of Ginevra, and I have to say that the way the scene was handled made me squirm. Though Ginevra tells him off, something about it still felt really uncomfortable to me. 

So in the end this book is full of lush historical detail that stands out to me, while also falling really flat from a story line perspective.    

Rating:

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

[Review: Newt's Emerarld by Garth Nix]

"Newt's Emerald"
Author: Garth Nix
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance
Date Published: October 13th, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Lady Truthful will inherit her family’s most valued heirloom on her eighteenth birthday. Until the Newington Emerald is stolen.

Lady Truthful, nicknamed “Newt” by her boy cousins, discovers that to her horror, the people closest to her have been framed for the theft. But Newt won’t let their reputations be damaged by rumors from a false accusation. Her plan is simple: go to London to recover the missing jewel. Despite her best intentions, a young lady travelling alone is frankly unacceptable behavior. So Newt and her aunt devise another plan…one that entails men’s clothing and a mustache.

While in disguise, Truthful encounters the handsome but shrewd major Harnett, who to her amazement volunteers to help find the missing emerald under the assumption that she is a man, Henri de Vienne. But once she and her unsuspecting ally are caught up in a dangerous adventure, Truthful realizes something else is afoot: the beating of her heart.

Truthful has far more than romantic complications to worry about. The stolen emerald is no ordinary heirloom-it is the source of the family’s luck and has the power to yield vast magic. It would be completely disastrous if it fell into the wrong hands. The fate of England depends on Truthful securing the emerald.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Newt's Emerald, 

You're adorable, and so much fun. I did find you to be really simple, but I enjoyed you a lot. Really I can't complain about much of anything. Also, you have gender bending, and God knows how much I love a good gender bending story!

-The White Unicorn

So, this was my first Garth Nix book ever. I've heard that this one is nothing like his other books, which makes me curious about the rest of the books that he's put out into the universe. I liked this one a lot. Though I did feel like it was written for younger YA audience. Truth be told, it could be because of the other books I've been reading lately, but I liked how light the writing felt. 

This book is regency romance, that also happens to be a fantasy, that also happens to be a gender bending adventure story. It's most of the things I love, thrown into one story, and it all happily works together. This book is just plain cute. 

Truthful is a spunky lead. I mean her name is Truthful. Though everyone calls her Tru and Newt instead. She's full of pluck and doesn't like sitting on side lines. I enjoyed the fact that she grew up with three brother-like-cousins, so she's not some girly girl. Sure she knows how to play with the girls, but she's interesting because she also has the ability to wear a charmed mustache and become a fellow. I enjoy this twist on the normal regency novel. It added something really enjoyable to the mix. 

Nix also adds a huge fantasy element to the story. Magic fills the pages in a way that is unexpected and refreshing. I liked that Nix decided to make this story more than just a typical regency romance. 

Also Nix makes sure that no one is what they seem as the story unfolds, which causes some issues for Tru and Charles. That being said I really liked their little romance, even if it didn't feel like it was developed enough for my taste. I did find Charles to be a great male lead. I just wish we would have gotten to know him better. 

All in all this book is simple, fun, and full of adventure. Readers of a younger age will eat it up, and those of us who are older are guaranteed to find reasons to fall in love with it as well.  

Rating:

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

[Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis]

"A Madness So Discreet"
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Date Published: October 6th, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To A Madness So Discreet, 

I needed a book like you in my life, and I'm glad that I found you. You're creepy, dark, wonderful, and just the right amount of unsettling. You blur the lines between madness and sanity in a really smart and interesting way. You're one of those books that I'll be thinking about for a good long while. And honestly you're one of my favorite books of the year, so there's that!

-The White Unicorn

Mindy McGinnis is a genius. Her books are so well written that I can never find anything to complain about. It takes a lot to be able to write a book that not only has a smart plot, but also is smart in what it has to say, and A Madness So Discreet is one of those types of books. It also helps that McGinnis isn't afraid to push the envelope when it comes to her story lines and characters. Happy go lucky novels aren't her thing, and I love that.

This is one of those books that has something for everyone. Do you like historical fiction? Do you like crime thrillers? Do you like books that take place in asylums? Do you like books full of demented secrets? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, get this book in your hands now, because all of those elements writhe inside these pages. 

McGinnis gives us a story with a lead that seems to be mute, but here, nothing is as it seems. I adored Grace. It was nice to see McGinnis giving us a softer, yet still extremely strong, female lead. Grace has been through the ringer. She was thrown into an asylum for a pregnancy, brought on by some horrific circumstances. There were so many times where she could have thrown in the towel, but instead she fights against what life has handed her and finds a purpose solving crimes alongside a handsome doctor. She's strong enough to leave everything behind and take on a new identity. Grace should have had it all, and instead she finds a family within the walls of a mad house. It's rather genius, isn't it?

It's refreshing, the way that McGinnis doesn't pull any punches with this book. The story deals with a lot of really tough issues. Madness turns out to be the least of her character's worries. All these people have dark secrets, and the lines of true madness are blurred in the smartest of ways. 

Though Grace clearly carries the story, McGinnis doesn't shy away from giving us a brilliant cast of secondary characters. Grace quickly become friends with Elizabeth (a girl who observes things through an imaginary String), Nell (who doesn't have issues with expressing her sexual needs), and Janey (the head nurse of the Woman's ward).

There is also Thornhollow (the handsome doctor I mentioned before). He's uncovering new ways to solve crimes, and decides that Grace would be the perfect partner. There actually isn't any love story between them to speak of, and it works. Though, if I'm honest I'd like there to be another book where maybe they end up together. Can you get on that McGinnis? 

Everyone should read this book, because it's brilliant. The thoughts, the words, the plot, the characters. Nothing is out of place. Everything is perfect. Read it!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee]

"This Monstrous Thing"
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Alternate History, Steampunk, Retelling
Date Published: September 22nd, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.

His brother, Oliver—dead.

His sweetheart, Mary—gone.

His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.

Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.

But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.

Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To This Monstrous Thing,

When I think of creative books, I'm always going to think of you. You not only are a retelling of a classic novel, but also an alternate history book. Those are some of my favorite genres, and you pulled them both off wonderfully. I really couldn't have asked for more from you. I enjoyed you immensely.

-The White Unicorn

Do you enjoy retellings of classic horror novels? Do you enjoy alternate history stories? Do you enjoy the steampunk genre? If you answered yes to one or all of these questions then This Monstrous Thing is the perfect book for you. Mackenzi Lee isn't messing around with her debut novel, and it shows not only in her story telling, but also her writing. She's created a story made from the bones of classic horror and a reimagined history of it's author. She asks the question, "what would happen if Mary Shelley got the inspiration for Frankenstein from her own life?" It's a question I never knew I wanted the answer to, but I'm glad that I have it now. 

The book takes place in real places. It houses characters that actually existed. But then it steers away from the norm and throws a Steampunk element into the mix. Lee gives us a industrial revolution that effects people. There are people that are fully human in her world, and others that have body parts or organs made of gears and metal. It's creates factions in the society, and raises some pretty heavy moral questions. It's the perfect setting for a Frankenstein retelling. 

The fact that Mary Shelley is one of the book's characters is an interesting move. When I read the back of the novel and found out Lee's reasoning behind making the book an alternate history piece instead of just a retelling, I liked what she had to say. I highly suggest that you read the afterword when you've finished the book. It's interesting to see the brothers that Frankenstein is based on brought to life. Literally and figuratively.  

I just adored Alasdair. He's a conflicted soul, but he always does what he thinks is right. He's likable, which isn't what people who know the tale of Frankenstein remember him to be. Oliver is also much more than meets the eye. He's not the monster we know either. The book looks at what makes us human, and what has nothing to do with it. Also, I enjoyed what Lee added to the story with Clemence's character. She's a winner in my book.

So, if you enjoy all the things that I've mentioned, go get your hands on a copy of this fantastic novel!

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez]

"Kiss Kill Vanish"
Author: Jessica Martinez
Series: None
Pages: 423
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller
Date Published: October 7th, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Valentina Cruz no longer exists.

One moment, she was wrapped in Emilio’s arms, melting into his kiss. The next, she was witnessing the unthinkable: a murder in cold blood, ordered by her father and carried out by her boyfriend. When Emilio pulled the trigger, Valentina disappeared. She made a split-second decision to shed her identity and flee her life of privilege, leaving the glittering parties and sultry nightlife of Miami far behind.

She doesn’t know how to explain to herself what she saw. All she knows now is that nothing she believed about her family, her heart, or Emilio’s love, was real.

She can change her name and deny her past, but Valentina can’t run from the truth. The lines between right and wrong, and trust and betrayal, will be blurred beyond recognition as she untangles the deceptions of the two men she once loved and races to find her own truth.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Kiss Kill Vanish,

So, you were fun and I liked you a lot. On the flip side, I found some of the elements inside of your pages to be extremely unrealistic. Sure, you are a work of fiction, but I would have liked you more if your believability factor would have been higher. That being said, I did enjoy the mystery within your pages and I didn't managed to call all of your twists, so that was good!

-The White Unicorn

Kiss Kill Vanish is one of those books that was almost wonderful, but in the end, just ended up being okay. Martinez gives us a unique story and some interesting story building, but in the end I couldn't believe all the happenings that surrounded the story. Luckily I felt like her characters were strong, even if some of the circumstances of their stories were weak. This is one of those books were nothing is as it seems and it kept my attention because I needed to know what was going on.

Val is an interesting character. She's running away from the one place she's ever known and she's forced into living in a room that is more like a closet in Canada. She's used to the lavish things in life, but after she witnesses her boyfriend murdering someone for her father she runs away. I loved that she sees something terrible happen and actually tries to get herself out of the situation. It would have been easy for Val to turn a blind eye and continue living her life, but she gets out. On the other hand she then starts to fall apart as a character. She falls into this pit of whinny self doubt and starts running into the arms of all the boys. She could have been so strong and she could have proved to be an awesome female lead, but her need for male attention gets in the way and it kind of drove me nutty.

The males involved are very different, though they both seem to be older than Val. Which, truth be told, I found to be very interesting. Emilio is 23, which technically makes their involvement illegal. That being said it works for the story. I have to be honest when I say that I didn't really like the guy and I'm not sure what Val felt for him. Marcel is the other man in Val's life and I have to say that I kind of adored him. But then again, Martinez actually has time to build a solid relationship between the two. I was glad that their isn't a weird insta-love thing to this part of the story, because I'm not sure what I would have done had that been the case.

The actual mystery of the book is one that is both predictable and shocking at the same time. I think if Val would have been a little bit more on the smarter side of things it wouldn't have been as good. This brings up an issue with the story because I wanted Val to be smarter and I would have settled for a smaller pay off mystery wise if she would have been, but as you can see that didn't end up happening.

In the end, I'll tell you that this is a fun book and that there is a lot going for it, but sadly the execution fell flat for me and ended up not having the effect that I would have preferred. If you're looking for a semi-fluffy, slightly gory, thriller then this might be the perfect book for you!

Rating:

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

[Review: In A Handful Of Dust by Mindy McGinnis]

"In a Handful of Dust"
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: Not a Drop to Drink #2
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Date Published: September 23rd
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The only thing bigger than the world is fear.

Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.

In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To In a Handful of Dust,

It's odd that a book will pull on my heart strings and make me want to vomit, but that's what you're able to do. The characters that you house have become some of my favorites. Lynn and Lucy have this thing about them that makes you like them even though you know that they're not all that loveable. Thanks for being such a good home for them and for bringing them to life once again.

-The White Unicorn

Not a Drop to Drink was easily one of my favorite reads from last year and so when I found out that McGinnis was writing a companion novel, I was elated. McGinnis is a master story teller and I couldn't wait to dive back into the morally conflicted world that she's able to create. Let's just say that I was not disappointed by what I just read. McGinnis is back and better than ever.

This book doesn't pick up where Not a Drop left off, in fact McGinnis drops us into the future. Lucy is no longer a little kid and Lynn isn't a teenager anymore. I was so glad that we got to catch up with both characters in this book, because God knows there was a chance that Lynn could have already been dead, even though this book is only 10 years ahead of where the last one left off. Of course the happenings at the end of book one have had an emotional effect on both of the characters and McGinnis doesn't let you forget the crazy shit that's already gone down. 

It was interesting to see Lucy as a teen. She's looking for herself out in the world and trying to walk the fine line between what her mother was and what Lynn is. The beginnings of the book seem like they could go the route of a love story, but quickly that fades away. Lucy and Lynn are forced to build their bond and survive in some insanely hard situations. I love that McGinnis doesn't take it easy on her characters. It means that her characters are pig headed, little beasts, but you love them anyway. 

Lynn isn't much different from the teen we met in Drop. In fact, if anything, she's harder then that girl. She's tough in a way that could make her really unlikeable, but I still find myself connecting with her and rooting for her. It was also interesting to see her playing a mothering role this time around. We got glimpses of it in the first book, but it's one of the main things she's worried about this time around.

The book heavily features Lynn and Lucy, and though there are other characters, they don't get much page time. I think this was a great call. It was wonderful to watch them interact with each other. One is on a mission to protect and the other is searching for what it means to be yourself. Their relationship is unlike anything I've ever read. They love each other in such a unique way and their ups and downs are huge because of the world that they live in.

As always McGinnis adds in tons of blood and treachery and vomit inducing gross bits. Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but she knows where to put things in her books that make you wonder what it would be like to crawl inside her brain as she writes. This book is just as brutal as the first and I couldn't have been happier. 

So, in the end, I say that you need to read these books. McGinnis has a way with her characters and events that will leave you reeling and wanting to read, even when you should be sleeping.

Rating:

    5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: Vivian Divine Is Dead by Lauren Sabel]

"Vivian Divine is Dead"
Author: Lauren Sabel
Series: ?
Pages: 288
Genre: YA, Contemporary , Mystery
Date Published: June 3rd, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Filled with surprising twists and poignant moments, Lauren Sabel brings a fresh new voice to contemporary fiction with Vivian Divine Is Dead. Creepy, clever, funny, and romantic.

When a death threat arrives with teen celebrity Vivian Divine's fan mail, Vivian has no choice but to go on the run to Mexico. She soon discovers, though, that her Oscar-nominated performance killing villains on-screen did nothing to prepare her for escaping a madman in real life. Some people say he's a hero, others tremble in his presence, but one thing is clear: he won't stop until Vivian is in his grasp. Why didn't she pay more attention during those judo lessons for her role in Zombie Killer?

Vivian finds an ally in the mysterious and charming Nick. He is everything Hollywood boys are not-genuine, kind, and determined to see Vivian for who she really is. But even he seems like he can't be trusted-what could he be hiding?

Beat up, hungry, and more confused than ever about who she's running from, Vivian is living in a real-life blockbuster horror flick. But there's no option to yell "cut" like there is on set....

Lauren Sabel's Vivian Divine Is Dead is a creepy, witty, fast-paced adventure about family, fame, and having the courage to save yourself.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Vivian Divine is Dead,

Well, you were quite a romping adventure, weren't you. You were fast paced and fun and cheesy as all get out, but I liked you anyway. Your "twists" were silly and you didn't scare me one bit, but I still enjoyed you. You were kind of like a bad horror flick and I mean that in the best way possible. Totally predictable, full of convenient plot twists and maybe a genuine surprise thrown in every once in awhile. In the end you were wonderful and just what I was in the mood for, so thanks for that!

-The White Unicorn

This book is so fluffy that you just want to pet it. It's fast paced, funny, silly and even has some gory bits thrown in for good measure. I highly enjoyed the ride, even if it wasn't anything I haven't seen before. This book was kind of like a blood soaked, safety blanket, and I enjoyed that so much.

Sabel does a wonderful job on her settings, which gives the book an air of authenticity that really worked. She breaths life into Hollywood, giving us tricked out, star, trailers and backlot antics. Then she flips everything on it's head and gives us dusty, dirty, exciting, Mexico. As a person who has been to both places I can tell you that she's nails it. It made the book that much more exciting that it took place in both venues too. Seeing a starlet in her element the whole time would have been boring, but the Mexico parts become funny and terrifying all at once.

I liked Vivian and her evolution as a character a lot. She starts out as the rich kid who has it all. A great family, a hunky and famous boyfriend, the best best friend a girl could want and the best manager she could ask for. Of course she's spoiled and naive and sometimes you just want to drop her in the wilderness and she if she survives, but she's also likeable. Plus Sabel does drop her in the wilderness, so there's that. Everything gets taken away from her and she goes from the girl who would die in two seconds to the girl who kind of figures out how to take care of herself. People always seem to show up conveniently in her life to help her out though. It might have been nice to see her on her own more. Even though life got tough, it never really got that bad for her.

There was some insta-love going on, but in this case it really fit the flow of the story. I don't know if I bought Vivian and Nick's love story, but in the end it makes sense. Plus, Nick is the stuff that dreams are made of, so I was fine with getting to spend some time with him. 

This book is technically a murder mystery/run for your life story. That being said there are a lot of twists and turns happening. Some of them are pretty ridiculous and most of them are predictable, and yet Sabel still has a few surprises in store for her readers. I know a few things were a tad shocking to me. 

This is that book that you want to read when you're looking for something fun, quirky and oddly enough, not very cute. Yes, it had it's overly convenient issues, but it was also a good read. If you like bad horror films, this would totally work for you!

Rating:

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

[Review: Exile by Kevin Emerson]

"Exile"
Author: Kevin Emerson
Series: Exile #1
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Music
Date Published: April 29th, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Catherine Summer Carlson knows how to manage bands like a professional—she’s a student at the PopArts Academy at Mount Hope High, where rock legends Allegiance to North got their start. Summer knows that falling for the lead singer of her latest band is the least professional thing a manager can do. But Caleb Daniels isn’t an ordinary band boy—he’s a hot, dreamy, sweet-singing, exiled-from-his-old-band, possibly-with-a-deep-dark-side band boy. And he can do that thing. That thing when someone sings a song and it inhabits you, possesses you, and moves you like a marionette to its will.

Summer also finds herself at the center of a mystery she never saw coming. When Caleb reveals a secret about his long-lost father, one band’s past becomes another’s present, and Summer finds it harder and harder to be both band manager and girlfriend. She knows what the well-mannered Catherine side of her would do, but she also knows what her heart is telling her. Maybe it’s time to accept who she really is, even if it means becoming an exile herself. . . .

On sale in April 2014, Kevin Emerson’s EXILE is a witty and passionate ode to love, rock and roll, and the freedom that comes in the moment when somebody believes in you, even if you’re not quite ready to believe in yourself.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Exile,

Oh hey there book.  Just one question, have you been hiding in my closet and watching my life for the past couple of years?  I mean, sure, you're not an exact copy of my life, because that would mean that I would be like Summer (no thanks) but they're were some parallels.  It made you a really fun read.  I knew some of  the venues and areas that were mentioned, I loved the legitimacy of the band and how it worked and that vinyl library made me want to weep.  Talk about heaven for hipster Belle's everywhere.  You weren't perfect but you were one heck of a ride.

-The White Unicorn

It's no secret that I've been running my own Indie music blog for the last 5 years or that I've grown up around and with musicians my whole life, so Exile was one of those books that felt like home to me.  Emerson paints a fairly legit picture of what it's like to be in a band and what it's like to be on the outside looking in.  My favorite parts of the book were all the bits that had to do with the band.  Coming up with a terrible name, hammering out the dynamics (both in the music and with the players), the craziness of gigs and tours and the insider look into musicians totally worked for me.  

I loved the use of a teenage, female band manager.  Summer was really likable to begin with and I really connected with her early on.  Sadly as the book progressed I became less of a fan.  Maybe it's just because I'm over the whole "girl gets jealous of guy and thinks that he wants to be with all the other girls all the time" trope?  And all the truth withholding got a little old too.  So many of the issues I had with the story would have gone away if Summer would have actually acted like the 18 year old she was supposed to be.  I think I just found her to be juvenile and I didn't want that.  I'm hoping that since this is a series she will get over her issues and be able to kick some butt in the next book.  But I guess I'll have to wait and see if that happens.

The romance (mainly due to my issues with Summer) wasn't one of my favorites.  Caleb is definitely a winner, but he became a little tainted.  It was cool to see all the mess his dad had created piling up on top of him.  It created a lot of tension and a lot of questions for the band to deal with as a whole.

The other part of the novel that I found highly entertaining was the mystery that Emerson manages to weave into the book.  It adds this extra layer that keeps things fresh and also gives us a music driven subplot that doesn't focus on the band and the band alone.  But it still has it's hooks in rock n roll and the crazy world of fame.

In the end, Exile was a really fun ride.  If you're a music junky or if you are a part of the music world in any capasity I say check this one out.  It's got a lot going for it and who knows maybe other readers will connect with Summer more than I did?

Rating:

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

[Review: Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell]

"Dear Killer"
Author: Katherine Ewell
Series: None
Pages: 368
Genre: YA, Thriller, Horror
Date Published: April 1st, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong.
Rule Two—Be careful.
Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest.
Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible.
Rule Five—The letters are the law.

Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has ever known.

But when a letter appears in the mailbox that will have the power to topple Kit’s convictions as perfectly as she commits her murders, she must make a decision: follow the only rules she has ever known, or challenge Rule One, and go from there.

Katherine Ewell’s Dear Killer is a sinister psychological thriller that explores the thin line between good and evil, and the messiness of that inevitable moment when life contradicts everything you believe.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Dear Killer,

Book, you leave me feeling queasy and confused.  For some reason, going into you I thought you were about a teenage vigilante, but what you gave me was something completely different.  You took me into the mind of a serial killer.  A 17 year old serial killer and then you let me watch as she justified her murderous actions.  I don't think I liked you very much.  But I don't think that I was supposed to.  I think I was supposed to feel like I do and I'm still not sure how I feel about that...

-The White Unicorn 

Dear Killer really had a lot going for it.  It's a premise that hasn't really been touched in YA lit before.  I mean sure there are books with serial killers in them, but they are always told through the eyes of the good guys.  The ones who are trying to save people from murder.  Ewell gives us something else entirely.  She gives us a protagonist who is the murderer and tries to take us into this young girls mind as she commits the "perfect murders" that she's so famous for.  

This book is off putting and I had a really hard time connecting with Kit, because no matter how hard I tried to understand her, I just couldn't do it.  She has no moral compass.  It makes the story work, but it makes you strongly dislike her as the main character.  It was interesting because it was easy to understand why Kit was the way she was, but it didn't make it any easier to swallow.  Honestly (I could be wrong) I think that is what Ewell set out to do, and if I'm right then she deserves a standing o for creeping me the hell out.

The feeling you get while reading this book is the same as watching a movie like The Strangers.  You know things like this happen and it makes you sick to your stomach and yet, you can't look away from what is happening on screen.  This book is coined as a thriller, but I'd say that it also has a strong horror element.  And just like most horror flicks, it has it's issues.  Things go a little too easy for the killer and the rest of the people around her aren't the smartest people on the planet.  You look at it and you can easily see that if the people in Kit's life opened their eyes and used the brain cells they were given she wouldn't have lasted as long as she did, or killed as many people.

Kit's mother wasn't the best parental figure.  Nope, she taught her daughter to be a stone cold killer and in the moments where Kit starts to doubt that what she's doing is right, her mother steps in and tells her that she needs to kill in order to make people fear which will bring them all together.  Her dad isn't around much.  She makes friends with one of her future victims and builds this wonderful relationship that you think might help turn Kit around, even if Maggie is slightly off her rocker.  Seriously, she flips back and forth between different persona's.

I actually really liked Alex.  He's the cop that Kit befriends early on in the book.  Their relationship is a really interesting one.  But like I said before, he's the one who needed to open his eyes.  The answer to the Perfect Killer case was right in front of him and he didn't even know it.  *shakes head in disbelief*  

One more thing that I didn't love about this book is that the book takes place in London (I love London, that's not the issue).  I don't know if things got switched up when this book was edited for the US, but it irritated me that they didn't stick to English slang.  They called Tennis Shoes Tennis Shoes instead of Trainers and Alex orders a Pepsi, when it's well known that the UK favors Coke.  I know this is just a little thing, but as someone who loves England it seemed wrong that everything was so American, even when the setting was London.  

In the end I think that Ewell has a really exciting writing future before her.  Sure, I might not have loved Dear Killer, but it did have it strong moments and the fact that Ewell is only 18 makes me think that she has bigger and better things coming in the future.  Also, I wouldn't mind if she wrote a book with a character who knew the difference between right and wrong.

Rating:

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

[Review: Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam]

"Elusion" 
Author: Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam
Series: ?
Pages: 400
Genre: YA, Sci Fi
Date Published: March 18th, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Elusion,

Okay, so this letter isn't going to be one of those warm and fuzzy love fests, I just thought I'd let you know that right now.  For a book, you didn't have much of a plot.  Honestly, I felt like a two year old at Easter, trying to find an egg and no one would stop what they were doing to help me get my hands on one.  That's how hard it was to find your plot.  I just don't know where it was.  And in the end I didn't even get candy out of it.  Major party foul book, party foul!

-The White Unicorn

I wanted to like this one, but alas that didn't end up being the case.  Gabel and Klam actually managed to build a decently interesting world, but a book can't survive on that alone.  Both writers seem like they are tech savvy ladies and that showed in how they wrote the book.  This will be a wonderful thing for some people.  I have to admit that even though I am a nerd at heart, all the tech talked bogged down the little bit of story that filled this book.  Sure it was well detailed, but it just didn't flow right (IMO).   

The descriptions of the world were also detailed, even if they were a bit flowery.  Stepping inside of Elusion was fun.  I enjoyed those bits of the book.  I also liked how dark Detroit was when the characters weren't in the virtual world.  The contrast really worked for me.

That being said, there was almost no plot in this book.  It felt like I was just reading about tech building, seeing what Elusion looked like and following Regan around her daily life.  The same bits of plot kept being brought up over and over again.  But the book didn't really go anywhere until the last 20% (I was reading an eARC) and even then, it didn't really blow me away and I saw the ending coming a mile away.  Also, I'm not sure if this is a series, but the book didn't really end.  So, I'm hoping that the fans of this one get to finish the story and that wasn't the actual conclusion.

Oh, there was also this really weird love triangle.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good love triangle when it's executed right and the thing is that this one wasn't.  It felt like a plot point and too much of the book rested on these two boys.  Josh and Patrick themselves had some good character traits, but seeing them through Regan's eyes didn't work for me.  Which, I guess, means that Regan wasn't my favorite character.  She felt too stereotypical to me.  There wasn't anything that made her stand out to me.

In the end, I think that this book had a great foundation, but the execution and lack of plot took what could have been epic and turned into something that won't be sticking around in my mind for long.

Rating:

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