A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

isbn: 1619634465

isbn13: 9781619634466

format: Hardcover

Published May 3rd 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had to give this a night before typing up a review so I could voice all my thoughts aloud and work through some of the things I loved and did not love about ACOMAF. This book is in dangerous feels territory. so. many. feels.

What I love:

1)First and foremost on any list is Feyre, who is everything. She proves to be just as fierce and sharp as in the first book, which is a profound relief. It's always disappointing (and none too rare) to return to a series and find the heroine--now in love with her new partner--somewhat tamed, and not as hard-edged as when she began. Sometimes it's a good thing; undoubtedly, Feyre grew more hopeful and open through her first adventure. That is, until Under the Mountain. Book 2 starts out with Feyre utterly broken. I was disappointed and furious as I read the first few chapters. I was terrified of finding her tamed, trapped in that weird wedding-planny, poofy-dress Hell. No spoilers, but the book managed to assuage my fears and reaffirm why I fell in love with the series.

2) Rhysand. I can't say too much about Feyre's bargain with Rhysand, but it does come around BIG TIME in book 2. When his character was introduced in book 1, I was totally entranced, and a little disappointed that Feyre had fallen so hard for Tamlin that Rhys didn't stand a chance. I was also nervous about a love triangle. I HATE love triangles, and such a petty, small plot twist was far above what I'd come to expect of Maas. Anyway. My instant interest in Rhysand was very much satisfied in ACoMaF, and I love him!

3) The unexpectedness. Let me tell you: I've read A LOT of YA, and I've never read one that has done what ACoMaF has done. Again, I wish I could say more. I'll just say that Maas has crafted a story with an intense and undeniable ability to make you feel. It's not strong-handed, or by force. It subtly and slowly led me along until I was somewhere I never expected. Just brilliant.

4) The new setting. I ADORED everything that Feyre got to see and experience in this novel. She got to see so much more of Prythian, and I loved learning about the world in a way I didn't get as much of in book 1. It's all vivid and bright and dark and alive.

5) New characters. Although somewhat predictable (dare I say cliche?!), the new characters added a depth and pace to the story that helped round out Feyre's experience. I love that everything wasn't all about the boy toy all of the time. The story makes an honest effort to make Feyre's growth about more than her romantic attachment. Sometimes, though, the friendships felt a little forced, and I didn't totally buy into their instant love for her. Like, what are they getting out of this friendship? But anyway, I liked the addition of the super smart and strong Illyrians.

Ok. Now for some honesty. It hurts, but...
What I do not love:

1) The sex. Now, I'm no prude. I like a steamy romance as much as the next romance reader. And I LOVED all of the flirtation, sassiness, and hints that led up to the (ahem) climax of the story. But Feyre's relationship was about so much more than physical attraction, and the sex scene we'd been waiting for sort of denied that spiritual and emotional connection and became a cheap bodice-ripper encounter. That's just my opinion. Probably I'm being too picky and everyone else in the world thought it was beautiful and perfect. I just wished it would have been more personal, and less...hardcore. (view spoiler)[(THEY DIDN'T EVEN GET A FIRST KISS. IT WAS JUST BOOM--WE ARE HAVING SEX. NOW WE ARE IN LOVE AND WILL NEVER STOP HAVING SEX. WE ARE MATES FOREVER.) (hide spoiler)]

2) No spoilers, but there is "The requisite battle scene" and things were confusing. It ended up being a lot of talk and weird bursts of action that I didn't quite follow. By the end I'd caught up, but I thought everything felt a little...off. Like it wasn't what I'd expected to happen. At one point I turned to my husband and complained because Feyre did something totally dumb. (view spoiler)[ Who gets their powers back and just gives that secret away to the king without attempting to winnow out, or even take him down? Why did she just stand there and let everything happen when she probably could have done something with her powers? Probably because the author knew exactly what she wanted to happen--for her to go back with stupid Tamlin and go on reconnaissance. Ugh!  (hide spoiler)] However, the very end left me DYING for the next book. I cannot believe what happened, and what Feyre has gotten herself into. (And, yay Rhys!!!)

To sum up: This series is groundbreaking new adult fantasy that does everything you want it to. It makes you feel strong, weak-kneed, furious and totally in love. I cannot wait for the next release in May, and I hear there's rumors of at least a few more books coming! If you plan to read the series, I'd say wait until the books are all out, if you can last that long, because they leave you needing more.

View all my reviews

Booktalking: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Trying on a new format for a new genre!

A Walk in the Woods on Amazon: https://goo.gl/8IgPkg

A Walk in the Woods on Goodreads: https://goo.gl/XSSfPL

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

Published September 22nd 2015 by Greenwillow Books
 ISBN13: 97800624)

Review:

I love Rae Carson's other series, Girl of Fire and Thorns. If you are a fantasy fan, GO NOW! READ IT! THERE'S NO TIME, JUST GO!

So I was a bit skeptical when I heard the premise for her new one. A historical novel? A western, at that? And the supernatural powers didn't help. I mean, "gold senses," in the Gold Rush? Convenient. And kinda lame.



via GIPHY

But, I do LOVE western YA lately. (If you haven't read Vengeance Road or One Came Home, again, GO NOW!) And I do LOVE Rae Carson. So...I picked it up.

And guys--I read it in 2 epically long, no-sleep, eating-over-book, no-TV, ignore-husband sittings. It was phenomenal! I'll admit, it took me just a bit to really sink my teeth in. The beginning is heartbreaking, but I wasn't sure about the characters yet, especially the potential love interest.

But by then end of the first few chapters, I was hooked.

You remember playing Oregon Trail in grade school, and bemoaning your poor oxen, your missing leg, the rattlesnake bites and diseases? This book brought those emotional memories right back up to the surface. It's a brutal trek, full of danger, sickness, and trauma. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, especially during the harrowing medical incidents. Lee is always on guard, worried about her secret, but there's so much more happening that her secret becomes a subplot in this much more interesting story. There's little-to-no mushy romance. She spends 90% of the book on horseback or sweating under manual labor. This is first and foremost a survival story. These happen to be right up my alley. Girl vs. Nature, surviving by the sweat of her brow. Go get em, Lee.



via GIPHY

And those magical gold powers? Not goofy or convenient at all. They don't seem like a gimmick, pasted into a Gold Rush story to make it more interesting. It's so natural to Lee that it folds right into the story like it was meant to be there. And it DOES make it more interesting.

The characters were excellently developed. I love Lee's internal struggle about her own femininity, and the choice she comes to in the end feels so natural and mature. I love her as a character. She is tough but kind, resourceful but relatable. I also love the relationships she builds with the other travelers--especially Becky Joyner. I don't wanna give away too much, but I was totally impressed with the subtle growth of their friendship, and the tiny revelations that Becky is actually pretty awesome.

This is an epic journey, filled with tons of action that is sure to make you keep reading, desperately, late into the night. You will love Lee, and love the authentic, wild atmosphere that harkens back to Oregon Trail and Little House. 

5/5

Burn For Burn by Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han

Date Published: August 2013 (Reprint edition)
ISBN: 9781442440760

Review:

I got this as an advance for the reprint version, and it honestly took me awhile to pick it up. However, I've been in a contemporary kick and I needed a quick escape. This book has been beckoning from my shelf for eons, so I figured it was time.

And...OMG.

Seriously. Why did it take me so long to read this book? How did I not know this would be fabulous? The synopsis on the back cover is pretty meh, honestly, and I didn't think a book about high school revenge would be so utterly readable, but I'm gonna chalk one up to the superstar writers. This book totally hooked me. I read it in two sittings, right before bed and right after waking up (meals were eaten one-handedly, over the book).

I loved how readable and easy it was, but at the same time, this book covers some tough stuff. Rape, suicide, drugs, poverty, loss, privilege, and of course bullying are tackled with realistic and emotional characters at center stage. These girls are extraordinary, but at the same time, I had no problem putting myself in their places and wondering, would I have done the same? 

The characters make this book. Lillia, Mary, and Kat take turns narrating, and with every switch there was a little pang of "don't go!I want to know what happens to you!" mingled with "Ooo, who's next, I can't wait to find out what ___ thinks about ___!" The supporting characters are usually the love-to-hate type, with some just-love ones, especially Nadia, whose relationship with her sister Lillia is heartwarming, flawed, and a great addition to the book. I also want to take a minute to shout out the parents in this book, which are rare and endangered in the YA world. So, "Hi Parents!!! Good to see you! Please ground your children!"

I feel like I should mention at least one thing I didn't like, and that is probably the major unknown "THING" in Mary's story. I don't want to ruin too much, but the locker thing, and the exploding lights thing? What is going on there? Is this a contemporary or a paranormal? I keep thinking Mary might be more damaged than we realized.

I can't recommend Burn for Burn enough. This was just astounding, and I can't get my hands on Fire with Fire soon enough.

Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree: 5/5!

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black (Audiobook Review)

Description from Goodreads:

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

ISBN: 9780316213103
Release date: September 3, 2013

Now the review!

I admit, I tried to quit this book. It was available on audio at the library, I needed a new audio, and I picked it up without knowing much about it. This was my first Holly Black novel as well, as none of her other works really ever caught my eye. So, I downloaded it, started it up, and actually enjoyed the beginning quite a bit: the house full of corpses, the suspense, the idea of glamorous Coldtowns. However, and maybe it was because I was haphazardly listening, I found myself lost rather quickly and quite confused, as if I had missed something that Tana hadn't. 

So after a few chapters of meh, I quit.

Then, a few weeks later, I noticed a 5-star review by my BFF and book soulmate, and knew I had to try it again. I picked up the hard copy to refresh my memory of the first few chapters, and dove back into the audiobook.

It was much better the second time, but maybe because I had my friend's voice in my head the whole time: do it! it was amazing! and because I had taken the time to remind myself what had happened. Honestly, I'm not sure why I didn't catch on the first time, but it may have been something to do with the audio narrator's voice, which was pretty grim-sounding, and a little boring, although I hate to admit it. Aidan sounded way less annoying on paper, as well.

However, I gave the audiobook another try, and it worked out much better. The world is so similar to our own, like a parallel timeline where Instagram and Tumblr exist, but so do murderous vampires. I LOVED that. It made me think about what my life would be like, what I would choose, and how the world would be different if monsters were real.

I was wary of another vampire/mortal romance, and while the story totally goes there, it was developed and slow enough to make sense. I liked Gavriel.

Tana, on the other hand, did not shine through as a genre-shaking heroine like I'd hoped. I feel like we are left guessing about what kind of person she is, besides utterly reckless. Valentina, Jameson, and other supporting characters are basically gray, blobby blips on Tana's radar that sometimes help and sometimes get in her way. The entire world of characters could have died, and Tana would have climbed over them to find Pearl. I understand, but still, I felt  the loss of connection to anyone besides Gavriel was a major down side of the book. She even leaves Aidan behind--admittedly for her own safety--with only a few regretful thoughts here and there which are drowned out by new boss fights in which Tana loses yet another dress.

That, I was annoyed by. I mean, a girl needs friends. So I was relieved by Pauline's off-stage character, a little. I wish she would have been in there, it could have been fun!

What I did like about Tana was her fearlessness. Or rather, her ability to ignore fear and go plunging toward doom with a crossbow. She gets some serious vampire slaying on. The fights, the danger, and the inner workings of the Coldtown were interesting to read about. 

I also appreciated the flashbacks to Gavriel's past, which added a spicy layer to the vampire story casserole. The pieces of the puzzle were gradually laid out and only put together at the end. The end reveal was kind of abrupt, and I don't really know how Tana figured it out, but whatever. By that point I had to assume she was 100x smarter than I. 

The action was constant, if confusing and bloody. I was definitely interested at all times, which is a major plus. The suspense is intense, especially when the audio accompanies tense moments with creepy music, and I am alone at night walking to school, for instance. 

In summary, I enjoyed TCGiCT the second time, and I'm glad I gave it another chance. It wasn't my favorite vamp YA (Vampire Academy will forever hold that torch, perhaps), but it was a great take on the myths. The parallel world was eerily similar to ours, and the romance is well-developed, making for a beautiful, bloody read.     

Rating:







Banyan tree (4/5)

H2O (aka The Rain) by Virginia Bergin

• Description from Amazon:

They don't believe it at first. Crowded in Zak's kitchen, Ruby and the rest of the partygoers laugh at Zak's parents' frenzied push to get them all inside as it starts to drizzle. But then the radio comes on with the warning, "It's in the rain! It's fatal, it's contagious, and there's no cure."

Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Anyone who's been touched by rain or washed their hands with tap water is dead. The only drinkable water is quickly running out. Ruby's only chance for survival is a treacherous hike across the country to find her father-if he's even still alive.

ISBN: 978-1492606543

Release Date: October 7, 2014

And now the review!

This book is a re-release of a novel previously published in the UK as The Rain. It was pretty obvious from the get-go that the book was written in the UK, and I actually enjoyed reading the book with an accent in my mind the whole time. Some of the little phrases Ruby uses were fun to read as an American obsessed with BBC and Masterpiece Classics. 

As it's a novel narrated by an only-just-turned-fifteen year-old British girl, the style was actually pretty nerve-grating at first. In fact, for the first 50 pages or so, I could hardly read the book for all the eye-rolling I was forced to perform, and I seriously considered quitting. For instance, there are A LOT of exclamation marks. And A LOT of ALL CAPS. Lots of "totally" and "ugh" and "huh?!" that really pushed me toward putting the book down and walking away. However, I was intrigued by the premise and I knew it would probably be a quick read.

Actually, I read pages 60-the end in a single day. I was determined to finish! And by halfway through, I was enjoying the book. I learned to take Ruby for what she was, a scared girl who was actually doing pretty well at the whole survival thing. She coped amazingly, considering. I probably would have kicked it immediately without showers, electricity, or Pinterest...Ruby is relatable (who WOULDN'T raid the fancy boutiques first?), and I can't say I was never frustrated with her (Ruby, look at the sky BEFORE you go running out into the wild?!) but her actions were probably some of the most realistic and, often, the smartest, I have read in a YA dystopian. 

There is no immediate and forced love-interest (serious cool points!). I appreciated her character development as she tried to survive alone, without any romantic tension or kissing scenes to distract us from Ruby's sheer power of will. She eventually takes on travelling companions, including a slew of animals, a teenage boy, and a silent little girl. I loved how they added to Ruby's character strength and helped along her development, rather than distracting from it. Darius and Princess were also three-dimensional--I grew to care about both of them just as much as Ruby.

The plot is constant and quick, and kept me reading all day long. It is an easy book to power through, especially as the prose is witty but easy to read. The constant action and the world-building are perhaps the novel's strongest points. The way the world went crazy, the infected water, and all of the simple ways to die, make for a world that is similar to other dystopia, but holds its own in the flooded YA market.

So, if they can make it through the first 50 pages, and the narrator's style doesn't send them running for the hills right off, I think YA fans will be welcoming this hilarious and realistic dystopia with love and a grain of salt.

Overall rating:

Banyan Tree
(4/5)

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

James is "away" at boarding school: basically high school, except with dorm rooms and musical prodigies. He is surprisingly alone; it seems there is no Bagpipe Student Coalition. He cannot deny it, he is only here for one reason. Dee. But despite the awful events that happened over the summer, the once best friends are still on awkward footing, to say the least. His love for her is slightly pushed to the back burner when Nuala enters the scene. James had hoped to leave behind the Other World forever. It seems, however, that Thornking-Ash, the prestigious academy, has some secrets, and unfortunately for James, he is about to stumble upon them all.

Ballad is the sequel to Lament. If I didn't write a review of Lament (OMG how did I not review that one?) then here is the summary: OhemgeeitwasthebestbookI'vepossiblyeverread. Seriously. So here is my review of Ballad:

OhemmgeeitwasthebestbookI'veeverread. Seriously. This book made me want to find Maggie Stiefvater, buy her a throne, and sit at her feet so that some of her writing magnificence would float down to me. I can't begin to tell you how close I am to making an "I Heart Maggie" tee shirt. This book, was fantastic.

At first I was less than thrilled because it changed from Dee's to James' point of view. But it took me 15 pages to fall head-over-heels in love with James. And I quote: "We played our roles according to where we sat in the orchestra. Brass players: jerks. Woodwinds: snobby cliques. Strings: overachievers with their hands up all the time. Percussion: class clowns. Bagpipers: me." Ahhhh his POV is so great! James is a snarky little know-it-all who manages to belong in the front and back row of the classroom. He is a still wounded from his heartbreak over Dee, but he hides behind humor. Everything he says is golden.

Then Nuala comes around, and I like her. Immediately. I'm not sure what more there is to say.

The book is full of Faerie legends, which I love, but James has a pretty good grasp on reality, and you don't see much of the Fey, with the exception of Nuala, but she was so different from the rest of them that it was like a whole new world.

Ballad is full of mystery and suspense. It's got a looming quality to it, although the tone is generally upbeat. James is hilarious and keeps up the comic relief, so it never felt too dark.

My favorite part of Ballad was the snark. It came from James mostly, but Nuala gave it right back. Even outside of dialogue, in James' head, it was a great place to be. Honestly, I cannot name one bad quality in this book. I would recommend it to anyone who liked the first, but I think even if you read them out of order it won't mess you up TOO bad. (You should still read Lament first, though.) So, seriously, you have to read these.

On a side note: I am naming my children after Maggie. (Boy: Stief. We'll call him Steve.) Love her!

5 million/ 5
Shay-la <3