Tag Archives: young adult

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros: A Book Review

Book Reviews November 16, 2024 Leave a comment

by Aden Polydoros

Author's Website

HarperCollins' Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

StoryGraph

LibraryThing

Hardcover.app

Genre: Historical fiction, Fantasy, YA
Number of pages: 336
ISBN: 9781335458032

ASIN: 1335458034

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, CD), eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook)
Publication date: October 10, 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins, Inkyard Press
Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Huge thanks to Harper Collins Canada and Inkyard Press for a physical ARC of this book. I offer this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS A BIT OF SPOILERS, NOT MANY, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW.

I have to be honest, the striking cover with the girl’s fierce expression and the Hebrew writing got me interested in this book. Then, I saw the title and got excited—sounded totally up my alley! I read the blurb and I just fell for it. I had to read this gem! And so, I requested it from Harper Collins Canada and I’ve been honoured to have it granted to me as a paperback galley!

But what do I think of this book?

Well, for starters, I just loved it and I will never forget it. Vera and Akiva are dear to me, they’re seared into my heart. The book will sit high on my bookshelves, and I will look upon it with affection and satisfaction.

Also, honestly, this is the most humane fantasy story I have read in a long time.

Care to discover how so?

Keep reading, loves!

The Positive Points

Underneath the surface of this book is a coming of age story about identity, your place in the world, figuring out who you truly are and what you value versus the opinions of others, and how you choose to go about it. All told from the point of view of a golem girl made of a dead girl’s body parts and clay. It’s as surprising as poignant as it sounds (and even more when you read it!) Vera’s reflections on on life, death, pain, happiness, and what it means to be human are touching, poignant, and relatable (although she is a golem, but it is indeed an interesting vessel for these reflections.) The story revolves around the concepts of monster and man, who’s the monster and who is the man (or woman here) in that war? It reminds me of Clopin singing “Who’s the monster and who is the man?” in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Disney.

The great friendship and companionship between Vera and Akiva is sweet and comforting. They have a cute, bittersweet companionship. And their banter is fun; it’s genuine, like Vera describes it. Vera’s attraction and affection for Akiva seems forbidden, due to the nature of her creation, yet it’s what she wants as well as Chaya, but as herself. Golems have wants too. I was suffering reading their moments together because shipping them feels forbidden, like a transgression somehow, but they’re so cute. And believe me, there will be many surprises with their relationship! You’re in for a jolly good ride with them; several tears, groans, smiles, and one joyful shriek (at least that’s how it went for me). Moreover, Vera’s confrontation with Akiva learning the truth about her being a golem is so sad and rife with angst. But I love how she still tries to claim her right on her body parts and life, although it does seem weak, poor doll. I was so shocked, but glad in the end because Akiva’s always been that good guy, I know. 🙂

Also, I looooved meeting their enemies and friends; mostly their friends, like a kind girl named Miriam, and Gulzifa (you’ll see). There were several plot twists along the reading, two of which I hadn’t seen coming, so kudos there. It was both incredibly sweet AND heart-wrenching. And Omfg, meeting the Nazi they’re after was such a surprise! Mostly in the how it’s done! Plus, It’s so f*** true how appearances can be deceiving; how monsters can hide in plain sight and look innocent. Yet the true innocent are persecuted and viewed as monsters.

I particularly noticed a “polyglot moment”. I saw that in some scenes where Vera struggled with which word to utter in what context, yet they all surged in her mind for her to use in all the languages she knows. It feels exactly like that as a polyglot, ha! (I’d know because I’m one.)

One thing that is very important in Wrath Becomes Her is how Vera wants so much to be loved. As herself. Don’t we all? Plus, the imagery to describe her emotions is often interesting because the author uses words related to water, rocks, and rivers, and so on (where she comes from). She doesn’t understand death, and is always trying to grasp its concept, just as life, yet her descriptions are striking.

At some point, Vera has to fight some clay or creatures like her. she doesn’t want to do it, yet she has to. This is just like some did to survive, they had to kill the enemy to breathe air for one more day… Like in the concentration camps and out of them during the war. It was a good mirror moment.

I must say the last chapters are quite dark and horror-like, which is beautiful and fitting to this novel. And they’re quite exciting, with thrilling action!

As for another character, Ezra, he’s such a complex yet angsty character. We don’t like him right away, but we can understand his motives. But in the end, it’s lovely and he’s thoughtful. That took me by surprise, even though I’d hoped for something similar from him. Finally, he accepts his “creation”. We get to we see what acceptant and love can do. In addition to that, I love how their creators (Ezra being Vera’s) give the Golems traits and purposes; like Vera got rage, emotions, curiosity, and empathy.

According to theories and beliefs explained here and there in the book, it seems Vera does have a soul of some kind. So sweet! It’s about the Luz bone (where the soul resides) and reincarnation, interesting! Also, Vera goes from being seen and feeling like a monster, to being seen as and acting like a protector. That transformation of perspective and reactions is amazing and touching. It pulls my heart out but replaces it a bit better, too. This book explores death, grief, life, happiness, survival, injustice, love, and fear. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching, yet it aims so true. It’s human, and it’s beautiful, in all its messiness.

And awwww, wow, a lovely, fitting ending!!! Such a twist! I’M LOVING IT! I was somehow hoping for it, yearning for it, but I thought it was too… dark for a young adult book, but hey, the author surprised me greatly! Dang, I just adored that!!! The perfect ending for Wrath Becomes Her in my opinion!!! I will never forget it, it left its mark on me, haha.

The Negative Points

The only negative point is that sometimes the author would repeat words and phrases a few times in the same page, it’s slightly annoying but it doesn’t happen too often. Yet it’s not worth taking away a star for this!

In Conclusion

All in all, Wrath Becomes Her is also about how to make a difference in the world, in something seemingly insurmountable, and it’s positive, it’s about helping people, which I adored. This is honestly the most humane fantasy story I have read in a long time. For all these reasons of positivity and humane feelings, I give Wrath Becomes Her a solid, unbreakable rating of 5 stars out of 5.

If you want to learn more about the author, Aden Polydoros, you can visit his website, his Goodreads Author page, or his HarperCollins' Author Page. You can also connect with him on Instagram! Don't forget to add Wrath Becomes Her to your wishlist or your cart as well as your bookshelves!

New Chapter Published on Inkitt: Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence (YA Superhero Novel)

chit-chatting with Cat, Miranda Kane (ROAH:R), My Projects August 25, 2021 Leave a comment

Hello, folks!

Are you missing Miranda Kane like me? Well, I've got good news: there's a new chapter of Rise of a Heroine: Resurgence up on Inkitt for you to read for free!

In this chapter, Miranda, overwhelmed by remorse at her supposedly incapacity to save her best friend during the assault by Thomas Lance, goes to visit Amy, her bestie, at the hospital. As the chapter progresses, the two friends exchange strong emotions and tears as well as hard truths. Miranda's also starting to get into her head that something needs to change… and maybe she'll be the one to bring it about.

Don't forget to read it here!

Also, please comment or like on Inkitt as it boosts my visibility and chances to get a publishing deal! You'll have to create an account, but it takes five minutes, so please consider doing it for me and Miranda Kane?

I hope you enjoy reading it!

See you soon with the next chapter, my loves!

Melissa Benoist - Benoistmotion | [Animations] #2: She looks amazing on repeat! - Fan Forum

Second Star: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 19, 2019 Leave a comment

Amazon.ca

Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Science-fiction, Retellings, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: 352

ISBN: 9781948583008

ASIN: B07DH1PJS3

Format: eBook, Paperback

Publication date: March 5th, 2019

Publisher: Bleeding Ink Publishing

Type: Fiction, Novel (Series), Retellings

*A big thanks to Bleeding Ink Publishing, NetGalley and J.M. Sullivan for granting me this much-loved ARC in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation and reviewed it willingly.*

Second star to the right. Such a beautiful phrase in Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie and a brilliant idea for a retelling novel, Second Star by J.M. Sullivan. The title itself is what grabbed my attention, the gorgeous cover held it for a while, and the blurb had me requesting it on NetGalley. Here’s a hint to my review: I loved it!

Positive Sides:

I rarely do this, but I'll start right away with the writing itself because it's note-worthy! Not only is it good and pretty, but it's also action-oriented and all showing, very little telling. I really like her writing! The names of the companions as acronyms for the robots and parts are excellent! Wow!! This made me grin and giggle so much. It's a nice spin on them. Moreover, the author makes creative genius and touchy feelsy uses and explanations of real quotes like "the second star to the right". She uses the quotes brilliantly and they're so faithful to the characters. It made my heart squeeze with so many feels!

As for the action of the story, the book jumps right into the action and lasts a long while which is highly entertaining. Because when action starts, it's action upon action and it's always the worst-case scenario that happens! In my opinion, this is the best reading experience, and it's thrilling. The action scenes had me engrossed and captivated, with my heart beating faster in real life. I have to give kudos to the author for they're fun, well-written, and there is no confusion about what's happening or who's doing what. At some point in the book, things got slow, but I swear the thrill picked back up on the next page or so. It was expertly woven.

That's all very good, but what about the story itself? Well, I thought the setting was genius! It's so different and creative in a retelling, yet so many hints and equivalences are there like Tink and more. In a space academy? Then off onto a spaceship? And landing on the Neverland planet? That's genius right there. Neverland is both stunning and foreign, and I love how everything is beautiful yet tinged or made slightly different. The fact that it's an alien planet has been taken into consideration – neat! Also, I love how there is coding and technical and engineering stuff that appear prominently; that makes it realistic for the future. This might be a silly remark, but it overjoyed me that Peter is a redhead! Often in retellings he is blonde or brown… but I prefer red heads, so it made me squeal as I could imagine him even more easily. Thanks, Miss Sullivan!

As for Wendy, I like that she's at school and one for the elite at that! Plus, the fact she has no brothers and that Johns and Michaels are her besties is a cool way to to reinvent the wheel! Her relationships with her "soul brothers" is so friendly, cute, and platonic (amazing!). In addition, I looooove how Wendy is in charge! She's different, and this makes her complimentary to Peter. And there's this special treat of how Wendy always has to look proper even in most dire situations. This trait reminds me of her mother role to the boys in the original and the era she's from where everyone of status looked dapper. What about Peter? He and Tinc are immensely likable! They're mine, okay? MINE!

And… the villains! Yes, villains are AWESOME. Dangerous, too! I'm so glad the author put in the original good form argument and attitude from Hooke. I'm also quite impressed by the twist and use of Peter's shadow; very surprising and innovative. Can I add that the showdown at the end is marvelous? WOW! Furthermore, I love how science is used in this book as well as the new concepts for devices, ships, and so on. Last, I swear the author made the Mermaids' Lagoon as important as in the original (if not even more), which made me so happy.

On a side note, may I talk about the thimble? YES, she included the thimble! Oh, my emotions! I cried and all the feels and I ship it!

You may now proceed to the negative sides, thank you.

Negative Sides:

Besides its many good points, this book has two main issues, in my opinion: cheesy romance and inconsistencies. In my book, romance is not very important in books, but this one was way too cheesy to believe in. I mean, Wendy and Peter just got to know each other for a week or two. I barely buy it, which makes me go rather "bleh" and rolling my eyes or sighing while reading. So, I'm warning you: this might get on your nerves like it did with mine. If only more time had passed, that would have been more understandable. While I know love at first sight might happen for a few people (does it even exist, though?), this was brimming full with insta-love.

The other issue is how regular are the inconsistencies. I noted two of them, glaring ones, but there are a few more. For example, in the beginning, the power is out and in the previous paragraph it is said that the ship Jolly Roger is pitch black, so then how come Peter can see cook’s face and his men like in daylight? The only source of light is Tinc, and it’s not said whether or not she is near him for this scene. Also, much later in the book, there's a scene where the gun isn't working anymore, but two chapters later it does with no explanations how. This is so confusing! I had to reread several times the passages, yet I couldn't make any sense of it, so I figured these were inconsistencies. It's annoying, but mostly because the book is so good overall that you want to understand.

In Conclusion:

So, I got this ARC months ago but only got to write this review this week due to health issues, BUT what I'm about to say still stands strong: Second Star is one of the few best retellings I've ever read and the best book I've read in 2018, clearly. Heck, it's the end of 2019 and I'm still thinking about it a lot, remembering all those charming characters, engrossing action and enticing world. Thanks to all of this, I give Second Star by J. M. Sullivan a rating of 4.5 out of 5. I didn't take a point for the cheesiness of the romance (which is still cute), but I took a .5 for the (unfortunate) inconsistencies. All the rest is amazing! I'm eager to read the sequel!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads. You can visit her publisher, Bleeding Ink Publishing. You can also add Second Star to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Vault of Verona: A Book Review

Book Reviews September 4, 2019 Leave a comment

(Copyrighted Catherine Girard-Veilleux, 2019)

The Literature Factory

Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: 282

ISBN: 9780648127918

Format: eBook, Paperback

Publication date: July 5th, 2017

Publisher: Marissa Price (Literature Factory)

Type: Fiction, Novel (Series)

*I received this free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to BookTasters and Marissa Price!*

Introduction:

I was browsing the selection of books by BookTasters when I stumbled upon this gem: a Romeo & Juliet retelling! You have to know that it's my favorite love story, ever. And yes, I know it's not realistic (don't care) and it's a tragedy (exactly why I love it). I read the blurb and… a modern girl who goes back to 14th century Verona?! As Juliet?!

You guessed it: I chose The Vault of Verona as this month's book. Let's be honest here: I couldn't have possibly scrolled past it. Not with my love for the play, retellings, AND such a good idea with a modern girl facing the Middle Ages as one of them!

The Blurb:

Harriet Hunter, a modern Australian and teenage student, has to write a homework about Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Harriet's feminist personality doesn't like this story, nor weak Juliet much, and she draws a picture of what she'd look like if she existed. Overnight, Harriet is transported back in time to Verona with Paris, Romeo, Friar Lawrence, and other play characters… but she finds herself as Juliet! And so the race begins to try and end the play (or is this real life?) in another manner than the original and to find a way back home.

The Positive Sides:

For a start, the MC, Harriet, oozes feminism and equality as the pop references and the story itself do. This story has strong beliefs and stands up for women. I enjoyed how it paints women from earlier times just like us but without the means and rights to be who they were, as well as how other people aren't magnified, but simply human and humane (for the most of them, that is). Also, I love, love, love Harriet's feminist interventions with the ladies in Verona. It's so funny and empowering! In summary, it's undoubtedly a novel written by a woman for women and lauding their strength.

Speaking of Harriet more precisely, I loved her! She's intelligent and cultivated. She thinks quickly. All these elements are so hard to pull off. Her intelligence and the deft writing that shows it believably. I so rarely see this in books that I read—I'm just awed! FINALLY that's a smart character and not one-whose-author-tried-to-make-them-like. The three only other intelligent characters done well (in my opinion) are Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and Thomas from the Maze Runner, and Annabeth Chase from Percy Jackson. So, cheers to the author for this feat! Moreover, I loved how Harriet cared about saving Juliet and the lives of those around her in the 14th century. Her gradual understanding of Juliet's character and own strength by being in her shoes is beautiful and inspiring.

On a character side note, I love the Nurse character. Her love for Juliet is clear to see and so heartwarming. I also appreciated the switch of POV to Paris and other characters we either saw very little of in the play, or not at all. It allowed us to explore their thoughts and personality as well as situations.

As for the realism of the Middle Ages, I liked the details of life in that time such as the velvety black sky with twinkling stars that is so much different from the one we see in cities nowadays. Also, the short breaths because of corsets and the very pale lights due to only the moon and a candle. Nice ones!

The friendships were on the spotlight in The Vault of Verona. I loved the talk of equality between one of the main characters and Harriet and her interest about marriage equality as well as the truth of women's equality and how it had to be fought for. It filled me with pride and hope for women and other marginalised people.

As for her writing, the vocabulary is well chosen and not childish, but often literary. Admirable. Indeed, she has good writing, mostly in metaphors and comparisons (as well as her literary words). For example, "against the hunger of the dark" (I find this beautiful, poetic and poignant.) The descriptions of her settings are precise and gripping without being overwhelming. Also, the transitions are smooth between thoughts, actions, events and chapters. The hooks at the chapter ends are awesome and make you want to find out the famous "What happens next?"

But what about the rhythm and coherence? Well, the tension and action imposed by the situation and Harriet's actions are fun and engrossing. You feel the ticking bomb. Something else that pleased me was how every little thing or mention finds meaning at some point in the story. It's beautiful. Another thoughtful thing is how the author talks about all the characters' new situations at the end. There is a real satisfying closure.

All in all, this book messes up with your expectations and there's an excellent middle plot twist!! It was a long time since I was so hooked to a book, thinking about it even when I wasn't reading, while doing banal chores (I'm looking at you dishes and showering). I had a blast!

P.S.: There is such a good hint about where she's headed next towards the end.

The Negative Sides:

Now, there were a few mistakes that I can't just toss away such as how the dialogues are a bit too revealing about information the characters should already know. Also, the Harriet's main setting (Wineglass Bay, Australia) was hard to grasp before a good thirty pages. The author gives such small crumbs of info it was hard to piece them together until she mentioned the name of the city later so I could google it. This was more annoying than a real mistake per se, mind you.

Also, I found a few spelling mistakes ("focussed", for example), but the real problem was the editing. Let me explain with examples. There is an instance where Juliet's father is called "Lord Montague" instead of "Capulet". Wrong family. Moreover, there's this part where it says "Taking a deep breath (…), she took a deep breath." in the same sentence! And such other editing issues appear throughout the book. Has this been edited? Because I'm sure an editor would have caught them and it would have made this already awesome book into a perfect one.

Lastly, Romeo doesn't seem to care about the murder of his best friend, Mercutio—he only has eyes for Juliet. And I noticed a bit of head-hopping, but it's always introduced with the name of the following head-hopped character in a sentence right before it. So this doesn't really count as a mistake, but more of a technique to improve, I think?

In Conclusion:

Seriously, this read was captivating and thrilling! Like I said, it's been a long while since I was so hooked to a book. Despite its editing flaws, I think this book is a gem in terms of historical fiction, retelling, and feminism; it makes you care. I took out a point for the editing, but I can't give The Vault of Verona any less than a rating of 4 stars out of 5 for how fun reading this book was and how many emotions it made me feel.

I'll gladly recommend this book to everyone I know, mostly if you have tastes in these genres! Also, I'll keep myself updated about the author and her books because this is certainly not the last of hers I will read! In fact, I'm staring at the second volume. I'll try to get it as a review copy (because more promotion for this great series!), but if I can't it's a sure purchase!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site and The Literature Factory. You can also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads. You can also add The Vault of Verona to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Big Surprise: Interview with Author Chris Babu

Book Reviews, Interviews May 13, 2019 Leave a comment

Hello, hello, folks!

Remember a few months back when I foreshadowed some big reveal on Twitter? Well, here we are:

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Chris Babu, author of The Initiation and The Expedition, both YA sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, dystopian first books in the trilogy with Permuted Press.

PLEASE NOTE that this is an audio interview (I’m sorry I said “video” in it).

On this, I really hope you enjoy this interview with Chris Babu! It was a fun experience for me (my very first interview!) and I won’t stop there.

Thank you to the awesome Chris Babu and Permuted Press for this glorious experience!

Listen here:

The Interesting Links

Chris Babu’s Web site

His Goodreads account, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

The Initiation: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Indigo, Goodreads, LibraryThing, WorldCat

The Expedition: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Indigo, Goodreads, LibraryThing, WorldCat

My review of The Initiation and my review of The Expedition

Permuted Press

Tell me, what did you prefer? What answers spoke to you or not? Also, are you excited for the third book?

Thank you very much for tuning in!

See you next post, lovelies. *Mwah!*

The Expedition: A Review

Book Reviews April 11, 2019 Leave a comment

Genre: YA,Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian

Pages: 347
ISBN: 978-1682618356
Format: Hardcover, Paperback (September 2019), eBook (Kindle & Kobo)
Publication date: December 4th, 2018
Publisher: Permuted Press
Type: Novel (2nd in a trilogy)

A special thanks to Chris Babu and Permuted Press for providing me with an eCopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Blurb:

Having survived the Initiation, Drayden and his gang must go on a deadly mission to contact other civilizations (if they still exist!). The New America’s solar and battery power is failing and they need help in other for the colony to survive. But Drayden has his own plans: he wants to find out what truly happened to his mother and the reason why Guards are accompanying them. It couldn’t really be for their protection now, could it…?

Introduction:

I was offered the opportunity to review the first two books in Chris Babu’s dystopian trilogy by Permuted Press. I jumped on it because, as you lads and lasses know, I’m a big lover of dystopian. The blurb appealed to me. It seemed to have anything I love: logic, realism, courage, quests, trials, a dystopian setting… and I could go on! So, here’s my review of the second book, The Expedition. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for this pleasant opportunity, Chris Babu and Permuted Press!

The Positive Sides:

What did I love the most about this book? The stakes! They’re greater than ever; yes, even than the Initiation! It’s now a deadly mission against the Aeru virus that destroyed most of the human population across the world. It only seems like a simple boat ride Drayden and company need to go on… but you know it’s going to get pretty nasty. Indeed, I enjoyed (big time!) how progressively worse it gets for the characters as the story unfolds. My excitation was high because the suspense kept building on and on. These were delicious steps I had to climb!

Speaking of characters, I liked how they clearly have evolved (like Drayden being more confident in his own abilities and self) to be a more fulfilled version of themselves. I felt as though they were more “complete” to themselves. Plus, their relationships followed the same path, what with Drayden now having a girlfriend in his group of friends. This group of friends is also more tightly knit in the face of danger. It’s fun that they learned from the Initiation and build on it.

Now, something else that I appreciated about The Expedition: secrets are everywhere! You think all’s good but uh! Oh! someone overhears officials talking about a plan and later other secrets come out into the light-Drayden’s light and ours, that is. This was quite entertaining as, while it was obvious the boat mission wasn’t all it appeared to be, it was awesome to catch glimpses of what was truly going on underneath the whole situation.

Moreover, I was happy to find that the puzzles were back and have evolved along with the rest! Indeed, they’re more discreet and while they have you working out the whole plot, there are other puzzles on the side and under (in the subplots!) It was a real delight as I feared the puzzles and general intrigue would be gone… But no, they just took on a different shape!

The Negative Sides:

Frankly, what really stuck out to me was the info dumping. Unfortunately, it happens at the beginning of the book. Even though it’s spaced, it’s still apparent, which is a slight disappointment. Then, the info dumping happens further along the book.

BUT since it’s not big info dumps (they’re cut in smaller bites), that makes them easier to swallow. I told myself “Meh, okay, I’ll roll with it for the sake of this book.”

And I have to admit that the ones at the beginning do help in situating us better, so it’s not that bad.

Of course, if you hate those, it’s a negative point. Most people dislike them, but you can roll with the few in this book for the sake of the awesome story, great writing and the sheer suspense!

And that’s it; I don’t have any more issues with this book.

In Conclusion:

Since I really enjoyed this story, I give The Expedition a rating of 5 out of 5. I kept wanting to jump back in and read more and more of it. What happened to Drayden? What about THAT secret? Now, now, I’m not trusting those guys…

See? It’s just captivating. I’m genuinely hooked to this series and will be waiting for the third (and last) one to come out eagerly.

Can I read it now?

Oh. What, it’s not out yet?

But maybe… just maybe… I could take a peek at-

No?

Oh.

I WANT THE THIRD ONE, OKAY?!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit his Web site, you can also follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (he posts really funny and sweet pictures, so go there!), and Goodreads. You can visit his publisher, Permuted Press, https://permutedpress.com/. You can also add “The Expedition” to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Expedition: A Review

Book Reviews April 11, 2019 1 Comment

Genre: YA,Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian

Pages: 347
ISBN: 978-1682618356
Format: Hardcover, Paperback (September 2019), eBook (Kindle & Kobo)
Publication date: December 4th, 2018
Publisher: Permuted Press
Type: Novel (2nd in a trilogy)

*A special thanks to Chris Babu and Permuted Press for providing me with an eCopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

The Blurb:

Introduction:

Thank you so much for this pleasant opportunity, Chris Babu and Permuted Press!

The Positive Sides:

The Negative Sides:

BUT since it’s not big info dumps (they’re cut in smaller bites), that makes them easier to swallow. I told myself “Meh, okay, I’ll roll with it for the sake of this book.”

And I have to admit that the ones at the beginning do help in situating us better, so it’s not that bad.

Of course, if you hate those, it’s a negative point. Most people dislike them, but you can roll with the few in this book for the sake of the awesome story, great writing and the sheer suspense!

And that’s it; I don’t have any more issues with this book.

In Conclusion:

See? It’s just captivating. I’m genuinely hooked to this series and will be waiting for the third (and last) one to come out eagerly.

Can I read it now?

Oh. What, it’s not out yet?

But maybe… just maybe… I could take a peek at-

No?

Oh.

I WANT THE THIRD ONE, OKAY?!

Colliding Skies: A Review

Book Reviews March 11, 2018 Leave a comment

36428272

by Debbie Zaken

Oftomes Publishing Official Web Site

Genre: Sci-fi, Romance, YA

Pages: 380

ISBN: 9781999963309

*I received an ARC for free by Oftomes Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*

IMPORTANT: I was kindly given this book for reviewing. However, I’m not one for sci-fi and even less sci-fi romance. BUT this is NOT a negative review; it is quite positive, on the contrary! I just want to tell you that my opinion might not be trustworthy when it comes to the sci-fi romance in this book. So, I will focus on other interesting elements and simply skim the actual romance to make a fair review for everyone to read.

The Story:

Since Skye Reilly can remember, she has been looking up to the stars. With high school graduation upon her, her telescope in one hand and her college acceptance letter in the other, she has life as meticulously mapped out as her star chart. That is, until the Celeians arrive and she meets Ethan, an alluring alien. Ethan collides into her like an asteroid, causing a gravitational shift in Skye’s trajectory and hurling her life into a cataclysmic collision course of interplanetary proportions.

The Celeians promise many things. An end to disease, global warming, and famine. The knowledge to help humankind. Despite the suspicions surrounding the intriguing aliens and rising anti-alien protests, Skye gives Ethan her trust, and eventually her heart. The very heart he could stop with a lethal electrifying touch of his hand.
When the Magistrate, a council of alien leaders, threatens to put an end to their interspecies relationship, following her heart could cost Skye her life and the lives of everyone she loves.
Not even light can escape the pull of a black hole.

The Negative Points:

Let’s start with the two negative points for they’re few, as you can see. Best to go through them to better enjoy the positive ones. Whenever the story got a bit slow, new tension or problems arose from all sorts of situations. Also, the more we kept reading, the worse they became (a nice touch in my opinion!). The last point is how the romance sometimes looks… a bit too forced and quick. I mean, yes, there is development, but in a month? And for them to be willing to sacrifice everything for the other one? I sometimes find it too much for such a short time window. However, like I announced before the review, please take my opinion on the romance with a grain of salt.

The Positive Points:

Now, let’s dwell on the positive sides of this awesome story, shall we? First, it’s just marvelous! There, I said it. To me, who usually dislikes sci-fi books AND sci-fi romance even more, this is huge. I loved it so much that I talked my bestie into purchasing his own copy, can you imagine?! My jaw hit the floor when I realized my growing love for this book. You’re not surprised, I am! The main character, Skye, deserves praise. Not only is she courageous, she’s also brilliant! Something I rarely see in female MCs and I always complain about the lack of them. But no-oh in this story! Plus, she’s a real geek and loves all things astronomy and physics-related and I… I just love her, okay? Women are seldom shown loving things that have to do with numbers and such, so this was fun and refreshing. I’m a huge astronomy geek too so the references and the right terms used made me squeal with enthusiasm! No, seriously, Skye always means to call astronomic events by their real name and it makes my day, okay? She won’t settle for less than the truth. That’s my girl! As for Ethan, her interstellar love (a Celeian), he’s both amusing and loyal. He’s even got a funny side, though he can be extremely protective. I like him too. Nonetheless, I think he’s way too ready to give up everything for a mere human—the Celeians are a superior race, so this seems strange to me.

However, I liked how they’re depicted: gorgeous, calm and peaceful. Humans who meet them can hardly look away for they’re that stunning physically. They’re also quite intelligent, which could make or break it. Because are they on Earth for good or evil?

Something else that makes me adore this book? The humour! Actually, it was the first thing that caught my feelings and interest. It’s full of sass and intelligent twists. Speaking of twists, the ending is surprising! I mean, I saw some of the big ‘’revelations’’ coming, BUT the main character does get hurt (and a lot)! Can we all just appreciate that? Usually, main characters get lucky or they’re just SO good and skilled and awesome that they don’t even have a scratch on them at the end of the big battle. Realistic? Hm, no. But in Colliding Skies, let me say I was pleasantly taken aback! It deserves an award for this. The award for ‘’Finally, the MC Gets Badly Hurt Physically’’.

There’s more: it ends with a cliffhanger. A lot of you hate those, but I genuinely couldn’t live without them. They’re fun and only increase my need to know more, which is good for the author (and for me, if I care about the story). It’s nice—there are so few books with cliffhangers it makes me sad. But fortunately, there’s this one.

The Conclusion:

In conclusion, Colliding Skies by Debbie Zaken receives a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from me! It surpassed every expectation I had and it also made me enjoy something I (let’s be frank here) hate. So, if you ask me, it’s quite impressive. This sci-fi romance is, believe it or not, one of the best books I had the pleasure of reviewing. Congratulations, Debbie! Also, dear readers, buy yourself a copy and read it with an open mind, just like I did. You’ll see, it’ll be rewarding in both fuzzy feelings (for those who love romance) AND adventure (for those like me who love to explore the universe).

If you want to learn more about Debbie Zaken, head over to her Web site, Twitter account, Facebook acount or her Instagram account.

The Gentleman ‘ s Guide to Vice and Virtue: A Review

Book Reviews February 23, 2018 Leave a comment

I still have nightmares about trying to read Moby Dick for a college literature class. Seriously, that book is my great whale. Despite many (many!) attempts to read it, I still haven't been able to get through it all. Consequently, I believe it is on

By Mackenzi Lee

Genre: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, YA, Romance

Pages: 513 (Hardcover edition)

ISBN: 9780062382801

The Story:

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men. But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy. Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

My Favourite Points:

Two things really stood out for me in this book: the quality of the writing and Monty. This book was very well written. The drama was there as well as humour and intriguing plot points. As for the characters themselves, I found them to be quite unique and they even managed to develop over the pages. Although I'd have wanted for Monty to grasp things more quickly and change more than what he did, but it was simply realistic so I can't really talk against that aspect. The plot was fun and interesting, though it sometimes lacked realism or high stakes. My favourite character was Felicity (hands down!). She's strong, independent, determined and impressive in her own way. She's pursuing medecine in her free time despite what her father and society think of a woman having a passion (or the wits!) for it. I can't wait for the sequel, which is all about Felicity!

My Lesser Points:

However, Monty didn't sit well with me. At all. He's such an idiot from beginning to end. Yes, okay, at the end he's a bit more open-minded and kind, but since the characters were done realistically, people will often come back to behaving just like they used to so with very few differences… He's arrogant and careless and doesn't even put himself in Percy's shoes for… EVERYTHING. It's always others' fault and he's so oblivious. I know he has a hard past, but he's really just blind or plain stupid. Either way, I don't like him. It's his personality I dislike. Reading this book wasn't a lot of fun because he was in it, see? I don't even know why I finished it. Probably because Felicity is awesome and Percy is so cute. But Monty? Thank God the sequel isn't about him!

Conclusion: But not everything is lost for there's a special treat in this book: interracial homosexual love. Like, why don't we see this more often? In all possible combinations: interracial love, homosexual love, and interracial homosexual love. It's cruelly missing and this book gives it to us. Lastly, the realism surrounding epilepsy and madhouses is heart-wrenching. But well done! Oh, I forgot: it's set in 18th century, so that's pretty great. All in all, the book and story themselves weren't bad, but Monty ruined it for me. I hated picking up the book and having to read HIS point of view. If it had been Percy's, now, that would have been perfect and sweet, I'm sure of it. I guess it's 4 disappointing stars for this one. I can't rate it less than 4 because a character didn't sit well with me, right? Let's say I'm judging the overall product as a 4 stars.

If you want to learn more about Mackenzi Lee and her books, head over to her Web site or her Twitter account.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue: A Review

Book Reviews, LGBT February 23, 2018 Leave a comment

By Mackenzi Lee

Genre: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, YA, Romance

Pages: 513 (Hardcover edition)

ISBN: 9780062382801

The Story:

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

My Favourite Points:

Two things really stood out for me in this book: the quality of the writing and Monty.

This book was very well written. The drama was there as well as humour and intriguing plot points.

As for the characters themselves, I found them to be quite unique and they even managed to develop over the pages. Although I’d have wanted for Monty to grasp things more quickly and change more than what he did, but it was simply realistic so I can’t really talk against that aspect.

The plot was fun and interesting, though it sometimes lacked realism or high stakes.

My favourite character was Felicity (hands down!). She’s strong, independent, determined and impressive in her own way. She’s pursuing medecine in her free time despite what her father and society think of a woman having a passion (or the wits!) for it. I can’t wait for the sequel, which is all about Felicity!

My Lesser Points:
However, Monty didn’t sit well with me. At all. He’s such an idiot from beginning to end. Yes, okay, at the end he’s a bit more open-minded and kind, but since the characters were done realistically, people will often come back to behaving just like they used to so with very few differences… He’s arrogant and careless and doesn’t even put himself in Percy’s shoes for… EVERYTHING. It’s always others’ fault and he’s so oblivious. I know he has a hard past, but he’s really just blind or plain stupid. Either way, I don’t like him. It’s his personality I dislike. Reading this book wasn’t a lot of fun because he was in it, see? I don’t even know why I finished it. Probably because Felicity is awesome and Percy is so cute. But Monty? Thank God the sequel isn’t about him!

Conclusion:

But not everything is lost for there’s a special treat in this book: interracial homosexual love. Like, why don’t we see this more often? In all possible combinations: interracial love, homosexual love, and interracial homosexual love. It’s cruelly missing and this book gives it to us.

Lastly, the realism surrounding epilepsy and madhouses is heart-wrenching. But well done!

Oh, I forgot: it’s set in 18th century, so that’s pretty great.

All in all, the book and story themselves weren’t bad, but Monty ruined it for me. I hated picking up the book and having to read HIS point of view. If it had been Percy’s, now, that would have been perfect and sweet, I’m sure of it. I guess it’s 4 disappointing stars for this one. I can’t rate it less than 4 because a character didn’t sit well with me, right? Let’s say I’m judging the overall product as a 4 stars.

If you want to learn more about Mackenzi Lee and her books, head over to her Web site or her Twitter account.