Status on Reviews and More

Due to some complications in my personal life, I am suspending writing reviews for the time being. I am still working on Vanessa's story, and I'm still reading. I just don't have it in me right now to continue to pick apart the books, write it all down, edit it, then get it posted and formatted to all the right places. I'm not sure how long this will last, but until something changes for me... this is how I have to do it.

I will try to keep the read list for this year as up to date as I can, and I might be changing the formatting of some things on here in the near future. I'll try to make a post with the changes when I can. I also put myself on a writing schedule to try an keep this book on track. If I can stay the course, and if life allows me to, the writing of this book will be completed by the end of the year. After that it is all editing and cover design! I am hoping to have it published in early March.

A Dance of Mirrors- ♥♥♥♥♥

DavidDalglish- A Dance of Mirrors

378 pages

This one was an interesting change of pace. Angelport is very different from Veldaren. While there were some similarities, the social climate was different. The power structure was also something new to get used to. So much more about the world was revealed, and I feel like I have a much better understanding of how everything works in Neldar. There is also a much greater introduction into the Elves.

Haern comes further into himself and begins to more thoroughly understand what he wants to become. Alyssa showcases a lot more of who she is, and I find myself liking her a great deal. Zusa has a much more prominent role, and she is one of my favorites.

While this book wasn't what I was expecting, I loved it just as much as the first two.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

A Dance of Blades- ♥♥♥♥♥

DavidDalglish- Dance of Blades

391 pages

This book carried on the fantastic vibes from the first book. I really love how the characters are separate yet unified, and dangerous but lovable. There are still some lingering questions about the setup of the world, but they are overall irrelevant for now. It’s more just curiosity on my part. The level of change and growth in a lot of the characters was astounding. While five years had gone by, Dalglish did a really good job of moving them forward in a way that felt authentic. I’m pretty attached to most of the main characters now, even the new ones. They each have something fantastic about them that I can’t help but to love.

I liked this plot significantly more than the previous, which is saying something. While the last book was about Thren trying to impose his will onto Aaron, this one focuses on Haern deciding who and what he wants to be. A couple new characters added impact the dynamic in interesting ways. The way Dalglish builds up plot arks, the next couple of books should be just as amazing if not more so.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

A Dance of Cloaks- ♥♥♥♥♥

David Dalglish- Dance of the Cloaks

461 pages

This book was truly incredible! When I think of fantasy novels, this is what I want. Dalglish talks in the author’s note at end about not having a complex world built, but I think he did an amazing job setting everything up. The main characters are extremely flawed people, and it makes watching their lives unfold so much more interesting. My emotional connections to several characters were strong almost immediately. Others took some warming up to. There is a real rollercoaster of feelings toward several characters. Love and hate blend wonderfully.

While this isn’t exactly a mystery, the complete ark of the story isn’t really known for most of the book. Things are revealed slowly and deliberately. While a few of the twists are a given, the rest caused interesting things to happen to the perspective of the story. There is still so much of the world left to explore, and the next books I hope will unlock it all. Overall I am really happy I swung by the library on a whim, and even happier the name Dalglish jumped out at me!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Undead and Done- ♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Done

285 pages

As much as I came to be annoyed with this series, I am sad to be done with it. It’s an odd feeling. This book got a lot closer to what I expected from this series. While there were still the annoyances from previous books, I could almost look past them. Betsy hit the mark on everything I expected of her; sarcasm, some avoidance, awesome secret intellect, and the best sense of humor. I still didn’t get to see as much of Tina as I wanted to, Marc was still more than fabulous, Jessica and Nick weren’t around as much, but that was ok, and Laura… was Laura.

The plot here was interesting, if a little old (it seems like most supernatural series do this one). It was a cool way to wrap up the series, but the ending didn’t really feel final (which bothered me). All the questions from the series beginning have been answered, but there are a few things I just want to know. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m too picky about my endings.

I did like it, I’m glad the series is over (it was definitely time), and I will miss it a bit.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Undead and Unforgiven- ♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unforgiven

286 pages

This book felt so much better to me. There was still a lot of things I didn't like. The babies being a huge part of it. I mean no matter how you look at it, it makes no sense. I just can't be ok with it. Being close to Betsy doesn't have any impact on her pregnancy. Even in a made up world, with made up rules, that doesn't make any sense. I absolutely hate that ark. There is nothing about it I can be ok with, and honestly that is going to be a huge reason this can't get a five from me.

I fell in love with this series so fast, and that love was destroyed so quickly. I have some of that back now. A little. There is only one book left, so I don't think that love can be completely restored, but I don't hate it anymore. Betsy is still pretty awesome in my book. I absolutely love her personality. I love how bitchy she can be. I still think I'm more like Fred, but Betsy is still amazing.

After this book, I like Sinclair more. I still wish there was more of Tina. Marc is fabulous as always, and I'm happy for him. Jess and Nick (even after the speech, I just can't) weren't as prominent here, but it was a better balance.

The next book is the last, and I'm honestly pretty glad. I think it's time for the series to be done. While I love Betsy, this world has gone too far for me.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unwary- ♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unwary

303 pages

I am less than enthusiastic about this series because I can’t help but to always go to the what if’s… There is so much more this series could have been. I try not to hold it against each book, but it’s hard. The series got ripped apart several books ago, and while I can see the good coming back, it’s hard to not think about what could have been.

Anyway… Betsy does more growing here. I’ve said it the last couple books, but it’s been true every time. She has been growing tremendously in recent books. It’s been good to see for the most part. All of her friends/roommates/family are changing too. Some of it was really good, some of it… not so much. This one has a lot to do with Hell, which was interesting.

The plot was kind of all over the place. It worked though, in a weird way. There are several that seem to compete for importance. I’m actually not used to that. It was a little strange, but it somehow worked. I still can’t bring myself to give it a five. There are still too many issues I have with the story, how it’s going, and what the next step looks like. While I did like it, I can’t seem to get back that sense of loving fondness I had for it in the beginning. Two books left. We’ll see how it goes.

Note: I’m not adding a detailed review of this one. I probably won’t of the next two either. I think I will end up writing one longer post encompassing the end of the series, and anything I hadn’t covered yet.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unsure- ♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unsure

301 pages

It feels a lot like Davidson is trying to right the world she tilted (read: broken). I feel like this book is a step in the right direction. While there are still plenty of things I’m not happy about, they stemmed from other books. I can’t really hold them against this book. Betsy seems to make a lot more personal progress in this book, which I am really happy about. While this really isn’t a lighthearted series anymore, I feel like it is starting to regain its readability. Jess and Nick have more of a focus in this book, which was a long time coming. Tina seems to less and less relevant, which makes me sad. I like Sinclair a lot more after this one. I didn’t hate him before, but I didn’t really like him either. Marc is fabulous, as always.

The plots seem to be getting thinner and thinner, but it wasn’t bad. It took the overall storyline through logical paces. It was definitely needed, but it just wasn’t as exciting as some of the previous books. I think I am starting to lose interest in all of it. Maybe it will get better because the crazy is being reigned in, but we’ll see. Some crazy is good, it keeps things interesting, but this series has taken crazy to a whole other level. It got to the point of being obnoxious. There are still three books left, maybe the series can end on a high note!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Undead and Unstable- ♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unstable

312 pages

NOTE: I figured out while I was reading this, Wolf at the Door actually comes after this book, not before. The intro to Wolf at the Door says it takes place after the events in Undead and Undermined, however after completing this book, I found events that happen in Wolf at the Door that hadn’t happened yet in this book.

This was a definite improvement on Undead and Undermined. While I still didn’t love this one as much as I like the beginning of the series, this book is making a step in the right direction. I actually like the changes in Betsy herself. The changes came on slow, but while I was reading this book it struck me how different she is from when she got hit with the Pontiac. She still carries the same fun, bitchy, sarcastic vibe, but there is a little more maturity there. The rest of the roommates were pretty much the same in this one, a few things were a touch different, and those seemed to come out of nowhere.

The plot to this book, left somethings to be desired. I saw the ark, but it felt a little… lacking. Maybe it just because of how weird everything I now. I don’t know, but I felt like this book was missing something important. I just can’t decide what it was missing. I did like the ending quite a bit though. It wasn’t something I expected, which is rare, and it gave the story something fantastic. I struggled with the rating. I couldn’t decide between three and four, but ultimately, it didn’t fit in with what I expect of the fours.

Rating:

♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Wolf at the Door- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Wolf at the Door

272 pages

Oh how I love the Wyndham werewolves! It was really nice to get into this book when I feel like the Undead series is such a mess right now. I really liked Rachael. She was a bit different that the other characters I am used to seeing with the Wyndham’s, and it was a good change of pace. Edward was pretty awesome too. He reminded me of Marc actually, and Marc will always be one of my favorites in this whole thing.

The plot was good and occasionally frustrating (not in a bad way either). With all of the chaos that is the Undead series right now, somehow Davidson made this story fit in the timeline without compromising it. When I saw that Betsy was going to be a part of it, I was very concerned that it would drag the Wyndham’s down with it’s crazy. This book moved back toward the tone I have come to expect from these two entwined series. This one is definitely worth the read.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Undead and Undermined- ♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Undermined

279 pages

Ugh… where to start… Ok, a lot of people seemed to get angry over the last book. I really liked the last one for the most part. This one though… I had trouble getting through it. Part of it might be because I am not a huge fan of time travel and messing with timelines (everything being different is a pain in my ass, makes keeping character arks in check difficult, and over complicates the story line). Part of it is just the vastly different tone of this book. I loved how lighthearted and breezy this series was. Don’t get me wrong, I read a lot things that are dark and heavy, but I expect it going in. I feel like completely changing the books and their overall feel can be a pretty big slap in the face to the readers. I was ok with going along with it all in the last book because it still carried some of the lightheartedness I expect out of Betsy, and change in a series can be a good thing (after all, when each book is almost exactly like the last a series can start to drag). This book? There was almost nothing lighthearted about it. I get it, she writes for herself, I do to, but I feel like there are some lines you have to not cross. If she wanted to write something serious and heavy she should have started a new series. I am going to stick with the series only because I’m invested. I don’t have the ability to walk away without knowing what happens. I will say that I am pretty disappointed with how this is going. I sincerely hope before the end the series can redeem itself… otherwise I will have to remove this series as one I highly recommend to other people.

I feel like I can’t give anything in regard to character development because none of them are what they started as. I think it’s kind of a cop out to just give yourself a complete do-over when you want to see a character in a situation you took away from them instead of either realizing the moment is gone, or taking the character through a process of realization and change.

I’m pretty disappointed right now, and not really looking forward to the next book…

Rating:

♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Writing Stuff

It's been a long time since I have published anything... Some stuff happened that made writing difficult, and then getting back to the writing itself has been difficult. Since I am struggling quite a bit with what to do with Harley, I am going to set that down for a little while. I am starting a book, maybe series, to try to fall back in love with writing. As much as I love Harley, I started her story when I was dealing with some things personally. Jumping back into her has been beyond difficult. I will get back to her. I will finish her story. If I don't a few people I know might get more than a little upset! So, for now, Vanessa's story is where I am going to focus. I'll try to keep updates here as I go!

Undead and Unfinished- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unfinished

296 pages

The sheer amount of information in this book is amazing. It’s the most we’ve gotten from any of the previous books. Centered almost entirely around Betsy and Laura, it brings us to a better understanding of how things got to where we are. I think it was set up really well. Some of the information I have been dying to know is reveled here.

The plot was good, and most of my complaints center around this type of plot line (maybe it just goes over my head), but I’m not going to hold it against this book. Time travel has always been kind of hard for me to understand. It’s the nuance of it really. I get stuck in a weird line of circular thought that gives me a headache. I just try not to think of that part too much. The ending left me… confused. I feel like that was the point though, so the next book or so will probably unconfuse (if that’s a word!) me.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unwelcome- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJaniceDavidson- Undead and Unwelcome

266 pages

I really like the new Betsy. I’ve always liked her, but now I feel like she is much better as a person and as the Queen of the Vampires. While the last book was definitely the turning point, the changes are much more defined here. I’ve always been kind of meh to Sinclair. I still don’t like how little we know about him. It’s what, eight books in now, and I can’t tell you much about him. Same thing with Tina. Jessica and Marc are definitely favorites of mine. They seem to be going through changes too. I was always enamored with them, but I am now. Laura is… I don’t know how I feel about Laura. Sticking with the trend here, she is changing too.

There are two pretty big plot arks here. Unlike a lot of her books in this series, Davidson made the ending worth it. Beyond worth it. The plot wrap ups are given the attention they deserve (finally). I want this to continue. It was always a bit disconcerting for the plot to wrap up in a page, maybe two.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unworthy- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unworthy

264 pages

This book was a turning point for Betsy. She seems to finally be stepping more firmly into her role as Queen. Just by looking at the difference in the cover art you can see that something is different. She isn’t one to be told what to do though. She still answers orders with sarcasm and sass. While the books seem to get less and less lighthearted the longer we go, they are still fun reads. This one was a little harder, but not everything can be sunshine and roses right?

The plot of this book was expected. Looking over the events happening in previous books you just have to know the fiends will recover and they won’t be happy. It was a decent storyline, and I think it forced Betsy into a position she needed to be in to see how she needs to carry herself in the future. It’s getting close to where I left off the last time I read the series. I’m remembering less and less of what will happen next. There is still one major event I am waiting for before I start up the in depth reviews again.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Fish Out of Water- ♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Fish Out ofWater

270 pages

As much as I like Fred (I’m still pretty positive I am her), this book just didn’t go as well as the others. The plot was ok, but it wasn’t anything I was super excited about. I liked seeing Fred’s dynamics with Jonas, Thomas, and Artur, but there just wasn’t enough depth to the storyline for me. Then the ending was disappointing, of the major plot not the whole book. Davidson has a habit of ending major arks in a page or two. Not all the time, but enough to make me sad. It makes even really good arks seem anti-climactic.

I’ll be sad to not see more of Fred, but I have hopes she will show up in a Betsy story (I’ve been under the impression Fred, Betsy, and Wyndham are all intertwined). Now, while I didn’t like how the major ark was resolved, I did like how the trilogy was wrapped up. The ending for everyone involved was near perfect for me. I was more than happy with the course everyone’s lives were set, and even if I don’t see Fred again, I am comfortable with how we left things!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

Undead and Uneasy- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJaniceDavidson- Undead and Uneasy

258 pages

I liked this one a lot. We get to see a slightly different side to Betsy. Usually she is surrounded by people that do anything from help her solve a problem or just solve it for her. In this book she is pretty well on her own. You get a good look at her ability to do for herself when things get hard. I think it was really good for her, and I feel like it lets us connect with her a bit more.

While Betsy’s personality pretty much guarantees the book will be fun, this one definitely had a heavier feel to it. A lot more was at stake, we saw a lot of character growth, and you get to see more sides of several of our favorites. The last couple of chapters were really good. In other books I have complained that either the plot wasn’t strong enough or that it wasn’t completed well, but in this book rounded out so well. AND! You get to see more werewolves!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Swimming Without a Net- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJaniceDavidson- Swimming Without a Net

271 pages

As much as I loved Fred in the first book, I love her in this one even more! I am still convinced I am the human version of her! I like seeing how Fred adapts (begrudgingly) to what is happening around her. Everything that happens in this book is incredibly well done. While the concept of a supernatural being wanting to come forward and be known to the world has been done before, the way this book handles it is pretty great. Listening to the Pelagic was interesting, and it flowed really well.

Jonas is still one of my favorite people, and he and Dr. Barb make such a cute couple. Jonas is so ideal for a best friend. I do wish Fred was a little kinder to him, but she isn’t that bad. Thomas and Artur are there, of course, and their dynamic is also really fun to read. I have to say though, as far as supporting characters go… Mekkam using “motherfucker” repeatedly was my favorite thing!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unpopular- ♥♥♥♥

MaryJaniceDavidson- Undead and Unpopular

252 pages

While this book still showcased Betsy’s sass, it didn’t carry the same lighthearted feeling. I felt like it lacked a solid plot line too. The main story ark felt like it should have been a subplot and not the main focus. Betsy seemed to take things a little more seriously, but not a whole lot. While I love the characters in this book, I just can’t give it five hearts.

Betsy has always been fun to read. Her sarcasm alone is enough to make me love her. She did spend a little too much time whining about life than trying to make the best of it though. With this book it feels like she took a step toward rectifying that. The other characters seemed to make little to no progress forward though, which was a little sad, but not a huge deal. There is still a lot of books that come after this, so there is plenty of room for more improvements.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

Swimming with the Fishes- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJaniceDavidson- Sleeping with the Fishes

268 pages

I love Fred the mermaid. I think I am Fred… only without the green hair and the ability to grow a tail. The crass, irreverent sense of humor, the sarcasm, the not being a huge fan of people. She is fantastic. I love Jonas as her best friend. Everything about him is pretty wonderful. The friendship he has with Fred is a touch one sided which makes me sad. I think that should be rectified. And quickly.

The book itself is an easy read. Fred’s series is intertwined with Betsy’s, and it reads just as lighthearted and fun. This book was much less hearted than Betsy stories, but lighthearted all the same. The plot here was good, so was the way the ending was handled. While reading it there were several times I laughed out loud. That doesn’t happen all that often, but Davidson seems to be good at bring that out.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unreturnable- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unreturnable

250 pages

The last book was more intense than the ones before it, and this one continued the trend. This book seems a little more grounded too. Betsy seems to be growing up, but her sarcasm remains (thank god)! Even though there are several signs that Betsy is starting to level out as a character, her personality quirks are mostly unchanged.

Both Sinclair and Laura get shown in another light, and I think it will help to move the series along. While I won’t talk about the specifics, in general terms the other sides are pretty much what you’d expect. It was definitely necessary though. I think without that being shown how it was, the characters would start to feel less authentic and we would care much less. As it stands now, I am really happy with this series.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unappreciated- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unappreciated

271 pages

This book came across as more intense than the ones before it, but it was still pretty light hearted and fun. This book gives you a better look at those around Betsy. I think it adds a lot to this world. Betsy is still quite a bit over the top, but she seems to be leveling out.

Sinclair was more than a little irritating in this book, but not necessarily in bad way. He is hard to pin down, but I think that keeps it interesting. You do get to see a little more of him, and it’s worth it. He is an interesting character, and I he brings a lot to the story. He’s just a touch reserved.

I really like this series, and it has been nice to read something a lot more lighthearted than I’ve read this year. The books are short, and relatively easily to read, so you can move through them quickly.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Derik's Bane- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Derik’s Bane

292 pages

This book made me really happy. I like the Wyndham werevolves, and this is there first full length novel. The three stories were really good, but there’s only so much you can get out of a short story. Derik was always one of my favorite wolves. Don’t get me wrong, I like Michael and Moira just fine, but Derik just resonates with me better.

Like with the Undead series (the one intertwined with this one), this book has a very silly lighthearted vibe. The plot line is solid and interesting. Watching how Derik’s story plays out is fun. This is the kind of book you read when you want a break from the serious and just want to have fun with it. Sara is a really interesting character too. I love her personality. Maybe that says something about me that I like strong, stubborn, sarcastic main characters! All in all, I love this addition to the series!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unemployed- ♥♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unemployed

273 pages

Just like the previous book, this book is lighthearted and silly. Betsy is endlessly amusing, and I love to read about her. I feel like a lot of her inner monologue (and even some of the things she says out loud) are things a lot of us at least think. As I said before, the only complaint I have about her is the level of whining. Sometimes it can be a bit much, but I love her anyways.

The plot for this book was good. It flowed pretty easily on its own, while maintaining the feel from the first book. Since this series is intertwined with the Wyndham werewolves’ series, I have been going back and forth between then. I like how fluid the world is. It’s a fun world to be dropped into, and I will be reading more of it soon!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Undead and Unwed- ♥♥♥♥

MaryJanice Davidson- Undead and Unwed

255 pages

This is one of those books I love coming back to. It’s over the top silly, and that what makes it one of my favorites. Betsy is crass, stubborn, and more than I little vain. I love her. She can be a tad childish sometimes, but it doesn’t annoy (me anyway). She is very seriously flawed, but not only admits it, she owns it. I like her inner monologues because I feel like we are all a little like her sometimes. Really my own complaint about her as a character is how much she whines. It can be a little excessive.

The plot is pretty solid overall. At times the books seems to move kind of slowly, but not so much so that I wanted to stop reading it. This book is just fun. It is a relatively easy read, it doesn’t take itself at all seriously, and that makes any small lulls inconsequential. I struggled with the rating. In some respects I feel like it doesn’t fit it with the other books I gave five hearts to… but damnit, I really do love Betsy. Five hearts it is. I highly recommend it. It is a little racy though. Anyone that doesn’t want to run into every erotica like scenes should pass on this book.

Since I have already read this series (several times) I won’t be writing a more in depth review. I already know what’s going to happen, so I feel like I can’t speculate honestly. Once I reach the point in this series I have not read, I will start writing the in depth reviews again (will be somewhere near the end).

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

Graduation Day- ♥♥♥♥

Joelle Charbonneau- Graduation Day

391 pages

This one didn’t resonate as well as the previous two. It was still good, it was just missing something the other ones seemed to possess. One of my biggest complaints is lack of a solid conclusion. There are some answers, but not enough. Since this is the last book of the series, I shouldn’t feel like I waiting for another book. The intensity is there though.

Cia and Tomas go through a lot in this book. They have to make a lot of hard choices, and attempt to figure out who can be trusted. Some of their friends will surprise you (both good and bad). It seems like everything was moving along at a good pace. I wonder if the reason it doesn’t sit right with me is the ending. I’ve been wondering if Charbonneau created too many twists and surprises and wasn’t able to efficiently rein them in at the end.

Overall the series was really good and definitely worth the read. The flaws I found with this book, while annoying, wouldn’t cause me to reconsider recommending it.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Independent Study- ♥♥♥♥♥

Joelle Charbonneau- Independent Study

310 pages

Some parts of this book move a little slower than the first book, but I still really liked it. The setting at University is much different that it was in the testing, but some of the same vibes still come through. You get an even deeper look at the system Cia’s world has created. I think some of the intense interest there is because of what her world says about ours. The way we live now, all the choices we make, the leaders we put faith in… that almost brought the end of the world. They are now dealing with the fallout of our mistakes. Some of it feels like it could happen, we could be pushed into that situation. While I have always loves dystopian novels, this one feel the most realistic of a future for us. It’s scary, but fascinating to watch how things are rebuilt.

Cia goes through a lot of character changes. It is something that was interesting, but at times hard to watch. I really felt for this girl. Tomas doesn’t seem to have the same personality and inner conflicts that Cia deals with, but that’s almost understandable. The two of them have such different perspectives on things. They are from the same place, but some experiences just seem to color the world differently for them. Tomas was a little less endeared to me in this one. I didn’t dislike him, but I didn’t like him as much as in The Testing.

The writing is really well done again. The way the information comes in keeps the story interesting without feeling like it is dragging. I have a few minor complaints about the plot, but they don’t take away from how much I like the book. I like her choices of imagery a lot, and her word choice even more so.

The ending was also really well handled. It gives a clear end to the major ark in this book, setting up the next book, and still leaves you mostly satisfied. Based on this book and the previous one, I am really interested to see what other kinds of things Charbonneau has written!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

The Testing- ♥♥♥♥♥

Joelle Charbonneau- The Testing

325 pages

I had been wanting to read this book for a while. I wish I would have picked it up sooner! I really liked the setup of the story. While it isn’t a mystery, exactly, there is a lot of information that is withheld. It all kind of trickles in. The world Charbonneau is interesting, and so far only parts of it have been revealed.

I like the way human psychology is explored. There are a lot of points in the book that showcase the lengths people are willing to go for their own survival, and the lengths others are not willing to go. It puts morality on the line and bends it. Some of the choices are difficult, and they make you wonder what you would do if you had to make the same choice. Others seem easy… until you add in that your life in is danger.

Cia is such a great character! She is smart, thoughtful, and introspective. She also has a tendency to underestimate herself in most aspects of her life. She is relatable in such an amazing way. All of her actions as she is preparing to leave for the testing are very telling about her and her morality. Watching all of it being pushed to the limits was hard, but interesting.

Tomas is a typical popular boy, until he isn’t. The depth of his character was surprising to me. I guess that shows my bias. He brings a lot of interesting twists to the story. He is also a pretty solid character that makes the story better for being there.

The story was relatively fast paced, and kept my interest the entire time. The lulls in action were completely made up for with new information about the world and the people in it.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Domination- ♥♥♥♥

Jon S. Lewis- Domination

277 pages

Domination fit well as the conclusion to this series. Its pace felt better to me than the other two, and its ending is satisfying. Sure it would be nice to hear more from CHAOS, but I'm ok with where we left things.

Colt really came into his own here. You really get to see him round out as a character. Even though he is still young, he really starts to decide who he is and what his values are.

Dani was still a little disappointing to me, but she was better in Domination. I would have been happier to see more character progression from her. It almost feels like she was most put to the side and forgotten about after the first book.

Oz was lack luster in this one. The changes and trials I was expecting just weren't there. It bothered me quite a bit, but I still like him as a character. I felt like more could have been done with him in this book.

The hardest thing to deal with in this book was the resolution of the major ark. There was an awful lot of buildup and then it just... ends. More time should have been put into that resolution.

All in all I like the book and the series, and I would be very happy if at some point another book was released!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Alienation- ♥♥♥♥

Jon S. Lewis- Alienation

274 pages

Reading this book gave me some perspective on Invasion. I guess with Invasion I kept expecting to see other planets. That doesn't seem to be the goal of this series. This isn't about traveling around, it's about the impact those other places can have on Earth. I'm kind of disappointed, but the story is still good!

Alienation gives you a much broader understanding of CHAOS and their technology. Most of it was pretty interesting, some of it I couldn't understand. I don't really hold that against the book, more so against my understanding of STEM as a whole. It makes the world more appealing and definitely more dangerous.

I really like how Colt is developing as a person. He seems to be coming into his own and figuring out the kind of person he wants to be. He's starting to accept that some of the things done to him in childhood can't be changed now, and he's moving forward. This book was full of revelations for Colt, and it really pushed him to be better.

Danielle on the other hand... I'm not thrilled with her. She went from being this strong willed badass to practically cowering in the corner. Maybe the third book will change that. I really hope it does. While I understand having to give your characters flaws, they can't be perfect, that kind of personality change didn't really help move the story forward it just made me not like her so much (which is sad!).

Oz was just Oz. Throughout the course of the book he didn't really change much. It isn't a bad thing, he's kind of an awesome character. I would like to see him improve himself some in the next book, and I have a feeling he will go through the self-revelation process that Colt did in this book.

The plot was solid, though a few things didn't seem to add up. The third book might hold those answers (I'm still looking for some answers from the first book). The third book will be the last, and I feel like there is a lot of little mysteries that need to be cleared up. I wish there was a little more closure from this book, but I know why there wasn’t.

Rating

♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Invasion- ♥♥♥♥

Jon S. Lewis-Invasion

336 pages

This book has a lot of great aspects, but I felt like the story progression was a bit slow. There were several times it just felt like too much filler was happening. This kind of books often requires a lot of set up, world building, and explaining, and all of that stuff is good with me, but there were just a few too many lulls for my taste.

All of that aside, I like Colt. He is an interesting character with an interesting history. The little stuff that bothered me about him just go to strength him as a character. It makes him more realistic and more relatable. They are human flaws not writing flaws.

Dani is also a really great character. She felt the most authentic to me out of all the people in this book, she could be a main in her own right. Her sense of humor is pretty fantastic too. Colt and Dani balance each other so well, and their dynamic was definitely refreshing to read.

I didn't want to like Oz, but I did. He's kind of an ass, but in the best possible way. He is able to be overly silly and weird (in a good way!) then turn around and be serious and kind of badass. I did end up liking what he brought to the table.

The plot is a little... lacking. It doesn't feel like there was that big of an ark, and I don't feel like it was resolved enough. Even though it is part of a series, and there are more books to read, it seems like more should've been accomplished.

Overall, I liked the book and have high hopes for the second book!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review, (including spoilers) click here!

Strike- ♥♥♥♥

D.J. MacHale- Strike

I have more thoughts on this books than the other two combined I think! Overall, this book is a lot better than the previous two. The writing, while still not great, is much better. There was a lot more showing instead of telling. I felt much more connected to the characters, and actually cared about what happened to them.

This is the final book, so you figure out what the goal of both sides is. I was close to guessing, but not quite on the mark. I feel like that will be the case for most people. The ending of the book is solid. Based on the course of the book I didn’t think I would be happy with how it ended, but I was. It fit it a really good way.

There are still some things that didn’t sit well with me. I don’t want to go too much into detail because of spoilers, but it mostly boiled down to the medicine they have. I just didn’t like it. They mention the medicine in other books, and you get to see even more of it here. It doesn’t ruin the book, it just feels wrong as you go along.

This book is getting an additional heart from me because this was the way the whole series should have been written. The intensity was much better, the characters were written better, it was just better.

Rating:

♥♥♥♥

For a more detailed review (including spoilers), click here!

Storm- ♥♥♥

D.J. MacHale-Storm

I have a lot of the same complaints with this book as I did with Sylo. The intensity was missing, some of the phrasing was awkward and wordy, and the characters just aren't likable enough.

Again, this story has such a fantastic concept with these great opportunities to capitalize on it and MacHale seems to miss them completely. When you mix in the botched attempt made to write in a love story.... it's just not that great. The attempt at romance really bothered me. It just doesn’t seem to fit with the story that’s already being told, it doesn’t add good content to the books, and I felt like it was all pretty cringe worthy.

I have the give the book credit for the last roughly 90 pages. The intensity picked up and the writing came across much better. It felt so much more authentic, and allowed me to bond with a few of the characters.  I know I said it after Sylo and was let down, but maybe there is hope the third book continues in the same vein that Storm ended.

Rating:

♥♥♥

For more detailed thoughts (including spoilers big and small) click here!

I had some help with this one! Spade wanted to help me read this book and he had some feedback!

Sylo- ♥♥♥

D.J. MacHale- Sylo

I’m struggling a little with what to say about this books. I liked it, but there was just something about it that felt off.

The entire book is a mystery. You follow along as the main characters try to figure out what is going on. I felt like the author was trying to give off intense vibes sometimes, but they just didn’t really work. The entire book moves along at a pretty steady pace. It’s not slow, it’s just not exciting. Events that should have been heart stopping were just a little more interesting, but it didn’t have that page turner quality.

I think the concept is fantastic. It’s set in a very realistic world, with relate-able characters. The problem is… I just don’t care about some of them enough. There are a couple that I feel attached to though. A few deaths hit me harder than others (not a spoiler, you can tell from the first paragraph that lots of death is coming). Only one of them gave me true sadness. The rest didn’t really bother me that much. I felt worse the other people had to handle it than truly sorry for the loss. I feel like there needs to be more focus on developing the characters and showing us who they are.

That all said. I did like the book. I will be starting the second one (probably later today). I am hoping as the series goes on the character depth will increase and I’ll get to rate the books higher.

Rating:

♥♥♥

For more detailed thoughts (including spoilers big and small) click here!

The Grisha- ♥♥♥♥♥

By Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone

Siege and Storm

Ruin and Rising

Six of Crows

Crooked Kingdom

I've been debating whether or not to put this up, I decided the series was too good not to. In the future books will be reviewed individually, and I might add a final post to cover the series as a whole. This series I finished before I decided to write about them, and since lines blur between books easily... I decided to do them all at once. When I started my journey with the Grisha I didn't read them in the correct order. Overall nothing was ruined (just a few minor plot lines), but I suggest reading the Grisha trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising) before reading Six of Crows and its sequel, Crooked Kingdom.

I really loved these five books for so many reasons!

1. There are so many important issues addressed and discussed. Slavery, human trafficking, racism, sexism, poverty, and grief just to name the big ones. It adds a lot of depth to the story, and it shows how all of these issues can impact individuals and society. Greed is a pretty big one too. The entire Unsea (something you learn about very early in on in the Grisha trilogy) is the result of one man's greed. It's all written and handled beautifully.

2. In the Grisha trilogy, you love the villain but hate them too. For me, a sign of a great writer is someone that can make you care about their villain. You realize they are a villain and need to be stopped, but at the same time you feel for them and know where they are coming from.

3. The characters are easy to connect with. There's a lot of them (over 20), but each of them will get a special place in your heart. It doesn't feel over bearing. It feels natural.

4. It’s well written. The only complaint I have is it's written in third person. I'm not of huge fan of third person, but that's personal preference. All of the plots arch perfectly. There isn't really any lulls in the books. All of it has a purpose. Filler wasn't needed, the story was good all on its own.

5. The relationships feel authentic. So many times you read stories and it seems no matter what happens each couple is immediately forgiving (or at least too forgiving). That doesn't really happen here. The progression of the relationship is realistic. The fights are dealt with. Lines are drawn in the sand. It made rooting for them feel so much better.

6. The complexities of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom were intensely satisfying. I'm usually really good at picking up clues and guessing plot twists before they happen. I never hold that against a book; it’s just something I like to challenge myself with. These two books? I was nowhere close. The twists and shifts in power were impressive to watch unfold. I feel like every time you read it you will find hidden gems you won't believe you've missed.

Ok, on to the stuff I was less than happy with.

1. The ending of the Grisha trilogy. It wasn't awful, there were just a few smaller things that got under my skin. I felt like there were two alternative ways the major plot arch could've taken to make it sit better with me.

2. I feel like Crooked Kingdom's ending left a great launching pad for another book. From what I understand Bardugo said she may come back to the series, but she may not. That could be why it was left the way it was. It isn't a bad ending, it just left you with some questions about the future.

3. I would have liked to see a little more background on the Suli. Again, it's not a major problem, but I think it would have enhanced the connection to one of the plots.

In summary, I highly recommend these books. The few things that bothered me were minor, and the good greatly outweighs it!

Rating:

♥♥♥♥♥