Disclaimer: I received a copy free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
After her parents’ bitter divorce, family vacations to the Big IslDisclaimer: I received a copy free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
After her parents’ bitter divorce, family vacations to the Big Island in Hawaii ceased. But across the miles, eighteen-year-old Tegan Rossi remains connected to local Kai Kapule, her best friend from childhood. Now, Tegan finds herself alone and confused about how she got to the Big Island. With no wallet, no cell phone, purse, or plane ticket, Tegan struggles to piece together what happened. She must have come to surprise-visit Kai. Right?
‘It seems like nothing bad can happen, as long as he is holding my hand.’
The Best Week That Never Happened was a heartwarming, poignant and bittersweet read about love, hope, and discovering yourself. It is a coming-of-age story that has a subtle blend of fantasy. Dallas Woodburn managed to balance the light and fluffy romance with the darker tones of death and grief really well. The Best Week That Never Happened is a book about second chances – in both life and love. The reason this one is getting a slightly lower rating is because the beginning had a little bit of a rocky start – it was slightly less engaging, and the fantasy/paranormal element could have been improved.
Firstly, I’d like to talk about the romance. It was a best friends to lovers romance with a little bit of star-crossed lovers mixed in – a romance that was impeded, but also aided, by tragedy. I liked it, and while it was slightly cliché, it was a lovely and sweet romance. Tegan was a good protagonist – kind, ambitious, but also selfish at times which I appreciated.
“Tegan Rossi, you surprise me. I thought you weren’t afraid of anything And suddenly, you’re letting fear rule your life.”
The Best Week That Never Happened has a heavy focus on romance but it does feature a paranormal aspect too – namely what happens when you die. It was an interesting premise that at times was executed extremely well and I especially enjoyed the ‘life is a cycle‘ aspect too, but I feel as though there were too many unexplained parts for me to get fully engrossed in this book. It is probably more an ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situation as I love books that really delve deep into religion, belief, the afterlife etc and I probably would have liked this book more if a heavier focus was placed on that. (view spoiler)[ I’m still not 100% sure if at the end of the novel, it was all real or if it was just a dream? (hide spoiler)]. But really, at the heart of this book it is a love story. and if that is what you want from a book, then I do highly recommend.
The Best Week That Never Happened was a quick and easy read and I would highly recommend to those who enjoy romance....more
I received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review
Carmen in sixteen and, due to her largely absent mother, she’s looked after hI received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review
Carmen in sixteen and, due to her largely absent mother, she’s looked after her little brother for as long as she can remember. However, her mother dies and Carmen will do anything to keep her and her brother together and out of foster care. Ollie life is more stable – parents, friends, school, and summer plans. When the two fall into each other’s lives, Ollie is infatuated with Carmen after a kiss they shared at a party but then struggles to find her again. Months later they meet, in a bar of all places, but everything is different and the two have secrets and losses they have suffered that make their relationship harder.
Pieces by G. Benson is not a happy or fluffy book, but it is romantic and discusses a lot of topics in a nuanced way. It discusses neglectful parents, the foster system, homelessness, poverty, abuse, grief, and loss. Pieces does have a happy ending, especially in terms of Carmen’s and Ollie’s relationship. The reason it only got three stars from me was purely due to the pacing, I felt like it was a very long book which sometimes didn’t have a lot going on so it did feel like it dragged sometimes, but I did enjoy the content.
I loved the discussion about the foster system, something I’ve never come across in YA before. It showed how the system fails a lot of children, especially teenagers who are about to ‘age out’ of the system so are often neglected. It shows how children in the foster system can be abused, and it’s pot luck if you end up with someone nice or not.
Pieces is a diverse book, it has two women of colour as protagonists. Ollie is black and Carmen in Latina. Sara, Ollie’s best friend, is a trans woman who is also attracted to girls and ends up in a f/f relationship. Deon, another one of Ollie’s friend, is both asexual and aromantic.
I really enjoyed Carmen’s and Ollie’s relationship. I enjoyed the contrast it showed in their lives despite suffering the same tragedy of losing their mothers. The romance, though, isn’t a central focus of the story, but a nice addition nonetheless. I loved their relationship, but I also really liked them as individuals. Carmen was brave, caring, and loyal. Ollie was kind, compassionate, and an understanding person.
Overall, Pieces was a violent and gritty book in places but discusses a lot of important topics and has a nice f/f romance....more
I received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars
Willa and Finn have been sent to future leader camp with a select feI received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars
Willa and Finn have been sent to future leader camp with a select few from their respective schools. Both have been picked for the leaders of their groups while participating in the camp game. Finn, who is usually confident, has been thrown off her game. And highly competitive and serious Willa is having a hard time opening up to people. When the two girls meet, they have a hard time getting along, especially concerning the game, but they both have to learn to put their conflicting ideals to the side and still win.
I enjoyed Future Leaders of Nowhere. I really liked the 'game' that the camp played. Those taking part were split into groups with their schools, and each appointed their own leader. Each were given territory and resources. Some groups were dictatorships, and some were democratic. Finn's group drew the wildcard, which meant that they had no territory or resources, they were intellectuals who had to work out how to find their own resources and territory or perhaps negotiate with other groups. They had to camp outside while everyone had their own beds. Willa's group was a dictatorship with the largest territory. It was an interesting aspect and created a really great dynamic, especially between Finn and Willa.
I did like both Will and Finn. Future Leaders of Nowhere was split into two halves, one with Finn's POV and one with Willa's. I liked Finn, she was ambitious and wanted her team to be independent and make it on their own, but she was also a little unsure of herself and her role as leader. Willa came across as a bit cold and serious, but I liked how she really opened up to Finn at the end. I liked the two together, they were cute, but also competitive. I felt like the characters could have had more depth to them, but I liked them nonetheless.
There was a problematic element that I noticed, that I feel I should warn readers about. Willa is Indian & biracial. However, there was a comment that was made about another student, I can't talk about this in detail, but I feel like I should warn readers about it, because it sounds a bit offensive:
"Avi's Indian too, but real Indian. Both parents and a culture."
Other than that, It was an enjoyable read with a cute f/f romance....more
I received a copy via the author in exchange for an honest review
Willa is counting the days until graduation, not because she can’t wait for high schoI received a copy via the author in exchange for an honest review
Willa is counting the days until graduation, not because she can’t wait for high school to be over – quite the opposite. Willa is surrounded by people she feels knows who they are and what they are going to do with their lives, and Willa doesn’t know what she’s going to do in two weeks when school finishes. However, these last two weeks hold something she’s never expected. Her best friend Teddy – now Theo – has started to defy his parents, become distant, and reveal something that changes what she thought she knew about him. A new girl called Joss makes Willa confront her feelings and growing attraction to girls, and her long time crush Grady finally is paying attention to her.
Chasing Days is, ultimately, a coming of age book. A book following Willa in her last days of high school and her journey of self-discovery. She navigates complicated friendships and explores her sexuality. She develops new feelings for a new girl, called Joss, and has to learn to navigate these feelings and new relationships with Joss and Grady. She is figuring out what to do after high school and who she really is.
A lot of people who follow me have probably seen me recommend Radio Silence by Alice Oseman a 100 times due to how well it deals with teenagers and the pressures they face to have everything figured out and uncertainty for the future, and what options are available for teenagers. I think Chasing Days also does a pretty decent job of this, so definitely a book I’d recommend to teenagers unsure of where they are going.
Chasing Days also had some pretty great parental relationships. Teddy had some pretty demanding parents, who didn’t understand him as a person and put a lot of pressure on him to follow the path they have laid out for him. A lot of his story is him disobeying them and trying to be true to himself. Willa, on the other hand, has parents who support her in whatever endeavour she wants to do. They are fun, supportive, and give her a lot of space to be a teenager – even if she doesn’t really take advantage of it.
“It’s too bad they don’t realize the thing dad and I did earlier. So many of us parents think it’s our job to make you into these certain kinds of people, like you’re supposed to be little duplicate images of us, but I believe it’s our job to build you a nest, give you all the flying pointers we know , and then encourage you to spread your wings”.
Throughout the novel, Willa is exploring her sexuality. It was a confusing and complicated thing for her, she didn’t know where to put herself or which labels to use, she didn’t know whether she had to pick the boy or girl – and what it meant when she did. But her exploration was positive and I liked it. She was discovering what it meant for her, and not anyone else. But I did also love how everyone around her was so supportive – her parents and friends, and both Joss and Grady, her two love interests.
“I’ve come to understand that I’m not picking a guy or a girl, not Grady or Joss. This isn’t about me being bisexual, not able to make a commitment, or being a slut like the girls in the bathroom said. I’m not a stereotype nor am I defying assumptions about what it is to be bisexual. This is about me committing to myself.”
Overall, a great coming of age story – one I’d definitely recommend for a number of different reasons. I’d also definitely read other works by this author as I’ve consistently heard good things about both Sugar and Pearl....more
I received this free in exchange of an honest review
I feel so terrible because I got asked to read and review this book months ago and I literally havI received this free in exchange of an honest review
I feel so terrible because I got asked to read and review this book months ago and I literally have only just picked it up because I was drowning in both NetGalley books and university work – literally - and I finally have a little breather before I have to go head first into my dissertation so I thought I best read this while I can, otherwise it would have probably taken me another 6 months to pick this up.
Anyway, on to my review. A Time to Reap was a good debut novel which was fast paced and action packed. A Time to Reap had a large amount of originality which was a positive and I liked it and I felt like the power aspect was really well developed, and the world building was decent but a lot of the time I felt confused about what was happening and sometimes it felt like the plot was a bit all over the place, but perhaps it was the time-travel aspect which just confused me.
I liked Carter, he was witty, sarcastic and funny. I felt he was the most developed character out of the lot and some of the other characters, such as his mother, just felt a little flat and underdeveloped. One problem I did have was the romance between Carter and Mo. It was a bit too insta-love for me, too much happened at once. While I enjoyed their team work and friendship, I think their romance may have worked better had it been a slow-burn romance.
There were many twists and turns and I think fans of time travel and science fiction may enjoy this one. ...more
I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review
Actual Rating - 4.5
Emeranne Goode is a part of a coven of witches in Snow Valley.I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review
Actual Rating - 4.5
Emeranne Goode is a part of a coven of witches in Snow Valley. One day, when Ems is in the forest, she stumbles upon a brutal murder of a witch. There is a new danger for the coven of teen witches, and all eyes are on Ems. Ems also dreams of a forest full of fireflies and a boy on the ground. Bennett Bassett is an immortal witch hunter, but he is conflicted between his humanity and his duty. While Ems and Bennett become closer, secrets are revealed and lives are put in danger.
Around a year ago I read Firefly by the same author - you can read my review here. P.M. Pevato took into account her readers views and constructive criticism and went back and revised her novel. There has been a lot of improvement and it is very noticeable that she listened to her readers. I rated Firefly 3.5 stars, so you can tell I enjoyed the revised version more. In my other review I mentioned that the second half lost it's mojo a little bit, which is why it let me down a bit. However, Firefly: Ice Born definitely had more tension and suspense in the second half and did hold my interest for longer.
The writing was much more improved. I felt like it flowed more and it made the story feel more magical. I particularly liked the dream scenes, they were definitely my favourite aspect of this novel. The plot itself did keep me turning pages and it was quite riveting. The effort that the author put in to create this magical world is obvious and it paid off because the world building is pretty good. The cliffhanger was pretty good as well, and really does leaves you wanting the next one.
Now on to the characters. Firefly: Ice Born is told in two different point of views, Ems and Bennett. Personally, while I really liked Ems, Bennett was a favourite of mine, which is a change from the first draft and I felt like his creepiness went down a lot. I thought he was a really well developed character and I was really interested in his past, and how he disliked what he was and how his humanity got in the way. I also really liked Ems as I felt like she was strong, independent and driven but just so normal - minus the witch part. She was just an average girl for the most part. She hung around with her friends, ate pizza and cake and I really loved that. I think that is why I really liked the relationship with her friends. They were all so supportive of each other.
The romance was much improved in this version. It was more developed, less forced, and it wasn't really at the forefront. The main story took the main focus of the story.
Overall, a much improved version. A must read if you enjoy paranormal romance. ...more
I received this from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review
Short & Happy (or not) is a collection of short stories in a range of differenI received this from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review
Short & Happy (or not) is a collection of short stories in a range of different genres. There are stories in here for everyone's needs. There are some humorous stories but there are also some heartfelt and sad stories. Each story is written well and some of them really drag you into the story despite them only being short stories. While I was reading it, I was writing what I thought of each story after I finished them. I only wrote a sentence or two, but I will probably try and expand on them here. There are a lot of stories in this book, and I am going to try and cover them all.
Surviving a Cold Snap by Jo Alkemade - 3/5 stars An enjoyable little read which was well written. It was a nice start to the collection of stories. It is a Valentines Day story - a romance. Gwyneth is struggling with her marriage and has gone away for a while. This is a story of her, in a way, reconnecting with her husband. Surviving a Cold Snap is a little funny near the end, but overall it is an enjoyable little read.
Dream Time by Lenora Rain-Lee Good - 4/5 stars A very original story which really captured my attention. It is about a woman who dreams what seems like an alternative reality. It is very strange yet it is strangely entertaining.
The Night Doctor by Ellen Barnes - 5/5 stars Two women meet at a bus stop and a old story is told. I really liked this one. The story was very enticing and interesting and despite only being a couple pages long there was a atmosphere to the story which suggests how well written it was. I could imagine a story like this being a great full length novel.
Coprolith by Ian Lahey - 4/5 stars Coprolith was another strange read, yet very entertaining. I assume they are paleontologists searching for some fossils, but there is a paranormal twist to it. It was a well written, entertaining and humorous story that really did capture my attention.
November by Sherri Fulmer Moorer - 3/5 stars November is a little story about Tamara who is upset over the loss of a summer fling. November is a nice little story.
Old Bones by Rob Johnson - 5/5 stars Old Bones is about a boy who goes for his palms read and the events following. I really loved this one. It was very well written and a great piece of historical fiction. The characters are very memorable, as is the story, and it really did keep hold of my attention for the whole story.
First Contact by Richard Bunning - 2/5 stars First Contact was the story about a man's flying experience. I didn't find this one too interesting. Probably because I don't find flying planes all that interesting. It was well written, and others probably would enjoy this one more, but not me personally.
I See Angels by Bobbi Carducci - 3/5 stars I See Angels is a story about a woman looking after her mother who is close to death. This was a sad, but nice little story.
Taking Flight by Caroline Doherty de Novoa - 4/5 stars Taking Flight is a story about a girl overcoming her fears. Despite being only a page long it was a good read. I liked the character and she was very memorable despite the story being so short. It is very well written and I wished there was more of this story.
Unhappily Ever After by Ellen Barnes - 5/5 stars Unhappily Every After goes on to talk about our well known princess and what would realistically happen to them, and their supposed 'happily ever after'. This was a great story. It was strange, but original. These princesses didn't actually get happily ever afters' and I think the point of the story was to show that they have to create their own endings, instead of relying on their 'prince'. I loved it.
A Fragile World by Tahlia Newland - 4/5 stars It is a story of a woman during a storm and a powercut. I liked this one. It is well written and it shows how reliant human kind is on electricity and the vulnerabilities of the modern world.
I'd Rather Die by Dixiane Hallaj - 4/5 stars A woman's reaction to the death of her fiancé. This was a sad and heartfelt story, and it really did capture my attention. Very well written.
The View From 3½ Feet by Wendy Wong - 3/5 stars This is a story of Ms. Benjefield and a day at work and the lives of some of her pupils. An interesting and engaging read.
Walking by Jane Buchan - 2/5 stars I personally didn't really get this story. This was a strange and a little interesting read, and also well written. But I'm still not really sure about it.
Trip Up by John Byk - 2/5 stars Didn't really like this one.
Captain's Barbeque by S. M. Kraftchak - 2/5 stars Not a huge fan of this one either
African Heaven by Jo Alkemade - 4/5 stars A story of a woman trying to get a trip to see a Leopard. This was a nice story and I really enjoyed it. It was a really nice gesture for the woman to do for her father.
To Love Again by Maryann Miller - 2/5 stars An elderly woman is figuring out if she wants to risk dating. This was an ok read for me, but nothing special and it didn't manage to hold my attention for long.
Final Gifts by Jane Roop - 2/5 stars This one also struggled to keep my attention.
O'Budlin Matricentricity by Richard Bunning - 2/5 stars This one also didn't keep my attention for long.
One Shot To Be Born by S. M. Kraftchak - 3/5 stars An okay read that was a little enjoyable, but slightly confusing.
Dragon Slayer by Melanie Starkey - 5/5 stars Dragon Slayer is the story of a girl and her brother during their outings. This was a really great story. You really got to know the characters, despite it being so short and you really cared for them. A sad ending, but a very good read which was very well written.
The Last Wave Good-Bye by Marjorie Rommel - 5/5 stars The Last Wave Good-Bye is a story of a relationship between two elderly neighbours. This was such a heartfelt story with well written and interesting characters. A very nice and enjoyable read.
The Closet Monster by Dixiane Hallaj - 4/5 stars A story of a woman's look at an apartment. A light and entertaining read.
A Cup of Coffee by J. D. Kipfer - 3/5 stars A story of a woman's day at her stressful job. An okay read and entertaining at times. One positive is that all the characters seemed very fleshed out.
Out of the Box by Wendy Wong - 2/5 stars Wasn't too bothered about this story. Didn't really connect with the character, and the story itself just didn't capture my attention.
The Uncertainty Principle by Maria Elizabeth McVoy - 4/5 stars I really liked this one. It was an interesting take on gaming and how games could potentially help those with phobias overcome them. Very interesting and enjoyable.
The Water Bomb War by Majorie Rommel - 5/5 stars Two young girl are fed up with their grumpy neighbour stealing from their apple tree so they decide to try and stop it. I love this. It was very fun and the characters were very memorable and enjoyable. The writing was also very good.
Left Behind by Colleen Grimes - 2/5 stars Didn't really capture my attention.
The First Coven by P.M Pevato - 5/5 stars The First Coven is the story of a young girl determination to get her mother back after she passed away. This is by far my favourite story in the book. Pevato manages to create an atmosphere much like those in fairytales and it was fascinating, magical and enjoyable. Highly original and entertaining. The writing is also superb.
The Big Short by Jane Roop - 2/5 stars An interesting read but didn't really keep my attention for that long.
The Indian Cure by Sakeena Edoo - 2/5 stars Didn't really capture my attention.
Granny Hitt by Lenora Rain-Lee Good - 2/5 stars Also didn't really capture my attention.
Rickestmortaphobia by Krisi Keley - 4/5 stars A woman's explanation of her phobia. This was a dark and sad story which did capture my attention.
A Lesson In Loss by Caroline Doherty de Novoa - 5/5 stars Miguel's story of his mother's illness. Such a sad story. Each character is very memorable. The story itself is very touching. A very good read and very well written.
Doesn't Matter by Ian Lahey - 2/5 I'm not really sure about this one. It was a little confusing but that is probably the science talk and it didn't really hold my attention for very long.
Overall, some of the stories were fantastic and the authors show great imagination and skill in crafting such stories in such a small amount of words. Some stories weren't really for me, but I have no doubts that others will enjoy them much more than me. Overall, a superb collection which I suggest you give a go....more
I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Alexa is new to school, and all she has ever dreamed of is to play Cosette in LeI received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Alexa is new to school, and all she has ever dreamed of is to play Cosette in Les Misérables. So when the Drama Club starts to hold auditions for the play, she jumps at the chance to audition. However, she soon realises that the auditions are fixed and she will never be able to play Cosette. Drama Unsung is the story of jealousy, ambition and passion.
I had issues with the book, but overall, I did enjoy it. I'll start with the problems I had with this.
'They haven't gotten far enough into being gay to worry about their appearances, though.' 'Not a gay scent either. Too clean and not-designer smelling.' 'Straight faces'
I don't know about you, but I didn't know that their was such a thing as 'gay scent' or 'straight faces'. That was the only big issue I really had with Drama Unsung.
It was very stereotypical, such as the characters. There was the good girl, the mean girl, the boyfriend of the mean girl who is a sweetheart, and the gay best friend. The characters were not really people I could relate to, but I liked their passion for the music and show.
The plot was one thing that I did enjoy. It was a light read, and it kept me entertained enough. There were some good twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. I've never read or even watches Les Mis, but I got the idea of it from reading this, as Jamelli did a good job explaining it.
I liked the romance, despite the insta-love. There was some good chemistry between the two, but it mostly felt like she didn't even talk or look at him and he was falling madly for her, and vice versa.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but perhaps I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have because it was maybe a little young for me. It would probably appeal more to lovers of Les Mis, and younger readers....more
I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review
Aralias can move back in time. He is a traveller. Clara Heartwell is a widow and I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review
Aralias can move back in time. He is a traveller. Clara Heartwell is a widow and an archaeologist who crosses paths with Aralias when he comes to return a lost relic that was given to her. Together they work together to save his son Jack who was kidnapped by a mad who wants power over time. They are faced with many dangers along the way.
The Undays of Aralias Lyons was an OK read. It is set in the Victorian Era, with a steampunk setting with some fantasy added to it. The description was very well done and very vivid. The creatures were also very original and there was some good world building. It is obvious the author has a great imagination. The writing was good, but I did notice a few times that there were commas where there wasn't supposed to be commas, and no comma when there should have been one. It wasn't the biggest issue, but the story probably could have done with a little bit more editing.
The characters, to me, were not that memorable. I didn't really connect to any of them and that is why I am only giving a 3 star rating. I was not bothered at all what happened to the characters, which is unfortunate. If the characters impacted me more then I probably would have enjoyed The Undays of Aralias Lyons more considering there was a lot of the story which was character driven, and a lot of scenes where Aralias and Clara were just bickering.
The story itself was good, but when I got about 30% in, I just started losing interest. A personal opinion, but I think the author failed to keep the momentum and the suspense going. This led to me enjoying it less.
Overall, a decent book, which is fairly cheap if you own a kindle. If you are a fan of steampunk, then this is a book that you should probably give a go....more
I received this free in exchange for an honest review
'We are expected to transition from one directly to the other: first a virgin, pure of heart, empI received this free in exchange for an honest review
'We are expected to transition from one directly to the other: first a virgin, pure of heart, empty of mind, uncorrupted of body - and then we are supposed to instantaneously metamorphose into a submissive, compliant and faithful housewife who ages into a benign and doting grandmother. This is the only permissible course. To refuse to follow this path, to seek knowledge and pleasure, to seek adventure and independence, to attempt to define one's own destiny on one's own terms, is to be labelled - no branded - as wanton and undesirable, a dangerous outcast, an abomination, something somehow anomalous and unnatural.'
The Daughters of Aphrodite have come to Chicago. Their show draws in a large audience, yet it is deemed to be obscene and evil. Constance is nearing her 18th birthday, her father is trying to marry her off, has heard about The Daughters of Aphrodite and sneaks out to watch their show. Victoria is the leader, she is intelligent, gifted and goes against all the norms of women at the time. She teaches Constance new things about society and open her eyes to the inequality.
Dicing Time for Gladness is a very good novel. It is a quick and easy read, with very good writing. If you are a feminist, and believe in equality, then this is the book for you! I loved how Victoria openly opposed the oppression of women, and that is why she has her show. She wants to show people that women are capable, and free and independent. I liked how much of the things talked about, are still relevant today - e.g slut shaming! I liked how Austin Scott Collins wrote these women. They were smart, independent and they were living the life they wanted to do. I liked how he wrote the reactions of the society and how they tried to stop the show and drive her out of town. It seems all very realistic, and I would image that it how it would have been at the time. One little negative was I wasn't much interested in the science aspect, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment much. If you enjoy feminism and women challenging the norm then I highly suggest you read this!
The characters were great! Constance had a lot of character development and she was a character I truly admired. Victoria was also a character I really loved. I would have really loved to see more of the other girls, and hear more about their past.
Don't let the cover put you off, (I personally am not a big fan), it a very well written book that really does capture your attention. I would definitely recommend. ...more
I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review
I don't make a sound. I don't flinch. I wander quietly, quietly, deeper into the I received this free from the author in exchange for an honest review
I don't make a sound. I don't flinch. I wander quietly, quietly, deeper into the dark forest, guided by the pure light of a full moon and the sparkly glow of lantern bugs
Actual Rating - 3.5 stars
Tessa Goode is a witch and part of the Snow Valley Coven. She is gifted with the Sight, but the sight failed her when it came to a murder of a member of the older coven. Tessa also dreams about a boy, in a dark forest. She sees only his grey eyes and his silver veins. William is an immortal witch hunter. He sketches the face of a girl he doesn't know. Until he goes to Snow Valley.
The first half of the story seemed really promising. But the second half lost its mojo and let me down a little bit. I still did enjoy it but if the second half held my attention the same as the first I probably would have rated this about 4.5.
I will start with the characters. I liked Tessa, but I felt when it came to William she got blubbery and weepy real fast. When she found out who William was she reacted how I would expect some one to react which was good. She wasn't one of those girls who believed his every word straight away, she actually ran like hell and tried to crush him with trees. William was an ok character for me. He was a little creepy with the stalking, (she also seemed freaked out by that so that's a plus), but other than that he was just an average character for me. Their relationship was also just average, I didn't feel much of the chemistry, so it felt a little flat to me. I would have really loved for some more internal dialogue so I could have maybe connected with the characters a bit more easily. I really did love all her friends - Morgan etc. They all held their own personalities and weren't just cardboard cut-outs so that was a positive.
The story itself was quite riveting and it really did keep me interested and turning the pages. I was a little confused at the end, (view spoiler)[I'm assuming she thought that William was dead so kissed him, getting poisoned and is dying when William wakes up. (hide spoiler)]. I felt the villains were not very complex and a bit predictable with the shut up you stupid little witch comments - but then again they didn't have much motivation apart from the fact that they were witch hunters, so I guess it was not really needed for the story.
Overall, it was a pretty good read, fairly short, so if you are looking for a good YA paranormal romance then I do highly suggest that you check this one out....more
I'll start with the positives. Armored was nicely written and it flowed quite well. I enjoyed the different take on vampire and werewolves and the oriI'll start with the positives. Armored was nicely written and it flowed quite well. I enjoyed the different take on vampire and werewolves and the origin of many legends, that was interesting and more original to other vampire/werewolf YA books around. The plot was also something I liked, it did lose me a bit in the middle of the book, but it really picked up its pace for the ending. There was also some characters I enjoyed, such as Ran and Meka as they had a enthusiastic personality and great chemistry and made me laugh, and allowed for a quick and easy read. However, an aspect which I disliked in this book was the romance. It seemed to have popped up out of nowhere and it seemed to be based just on physical attraction as Aaron admitted he's attracted to her but not that he had any feelings towards her which weren't physical. So I thought that was a little bit of a let down. I also didn't like the fact that Beckit seemed to trust Aaron so much, and didn't question much in the beginning. But Beckit and Aaron as characters were good as they were strong and independent (although Aaron was way too possessive, but Beckit took notice of that and stood up for her self on several occasions). Overall, it was a quick and easy read and I would recommend it....more
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