Dove Arising (Book #1) by Karen Bao

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Published: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Pages: 336

Source: First to Read Program
Synopsis: 
    Phaet Theta has lived her whole life in a colony on the Moon. She’s barely spoken since her father died in an accident nine years ago. She cultivates the plants in Greenhouse 22, lets her best friend talk for her, and stays off the government’s radar.

    Then her mother is arrested.

    The only way to save her younger siblings from the degrading Shelter is by enlisting in the Militia, the faceless army that polices the Lunar bases and protects them from attacks by desperate Earth-dwellers. Training is brutal, but it’s where Phaet forms an uneasy but meaningful alliance with the preternaturally accomplished Wes, a fellow outsider.

   Rank high, save her siblings, free her mom:  that’s the plan. Until Phaet’s logically ordered world begins to crumble...

   Suspenseful, intelligent, and hauntingly prescient, Dove Arising stands on the shoulders of our greatest tales of the future to tell a story that is all too relevant today.

My Rating:

★★★★★

Review:

I received a galley of this book from the First to Reads program in exchange for an honest review. This is a young adult book where dystopian meets science fiction. 

I loved this book! At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this because the main character Phaet, she is also known as Stripes, doesn't talk much. Because she didn't talk I thought she would either be a really weak character where others would have to carry her throughout the book or the plot was going to fall through and be boring because she doesn't talk very much. This book surprised me and blew my expectations out of the water. She goes through a lot of character development through out this entire book, first she has to enlist in the Militia alone so she can't rely on anyone to talk for her and second she has no friends when she first starts so she is really out on her own. It makes her figure out things for herself and learn to rely on herself more. 

I did not like Phaet's mother. Only because I seriously believe that once you have children your life is about them and if there isn't another parent to help with things than you better make sure they are cared for if you are not around or you have a back up way to take care of them. I see this to many times in real life where parents don't take care of their children properly. I can understand why Phaet's mother did what she did because she wanted to make it all a better place for everyone but still. Maybe if the mother would have told Phaet something about her plan or kept her in the loop some way it could have been different but she didn't tell Phaet anything.

The world building in this book was wonderful, very spot on. I recently have read a few books that the world development wasn't explained very well and it brought the whole book down, this did not happen for this book. It was done very well, I wasn't confused about anything dealing with the politics or how life on the moon was. 

I don't usually compare books to others but this one really reminded me of some other ones. Phaet at first reminded me of Tris from Divergent when she was training and fighting in the Militia, and since this all takes place on the moon it reminded me of Ender's Game, except done a whole lot better and not just filled with mostly guys. This is definitely it's own book though and very different from both of the books I mentioned just little things reminded me of those other books I have read. 

I was surprised at the ending and how it kind of left off on a cliff hanger I am definitely interested in what comes next and how they will end up getting back to base IV on the moon to help Phaet's family. I am so glad I got the chance to read and review this book early, I love the simple cover design as well and hope to see many more stories from this author.

This is Karen Bao's first book and if you would like to know more about her or her books you can visit her website at: http://www.karenbaobooks.com/. 

The Paper Masque (Book #3) by Jessica Dall

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Published: December 4, 2014
Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing

Pages: 283

Source: The author sent me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
     Elsie Wembley has never suffered boredom gladly. Oldest of three—and second in line to the throne—she knows Carby like the back of her hand, always staying only one step ahead of trouble. When Elsie meets button-down Laurence Flynn, however, it seems she may finally have found someone to keep her out of it for good—at least until his secrets catch up to them.

     With war on the horizon and nothing certain, Book 3 of The Broken Line Series continues in a quickly changing world.

My Rating:

★★★★★

Review:

Elsie is kind of a mix between Mary and Adela, but she is still very much her own person. She just seems to have a few qualities from the other two, like for example Elsie easily gets bored with things and doesn't like sitting still which she got from Adela. Though like her mother Mary she also doesn't really want all that comes with being royal either. 

I remember when reading this that the main character Elsie reminds me of cat woman with how much climbing and getting into places she's not supposed to. When I first started reading this book and seeing her be with more than one guy, I thought uhoh not another Adela but I really started to like this character as the story went on. I liked her views on things and how forward thinking they were for that time, she also tried to find ways around things like with the up coming war. 

I thought it was funny you do get to see Antony in this book as well, he is that one character that has stuck through all three books and the novella that is out. You just get a glimpse of him in here at a really old age but he is still kicking and drawing as usual. I wish we would have seen a little bit more of him but Elsie and him didn't seem to get along to well or at least she didn't much care for him.

I really like Third he was like the perfect hero, I won't spoil anyone for what happens but he just saves the day in many different ways. 

I am not sure of what I think of this cover, it's not as extravagant as the other covers but that is kind of understandable since it is in a different time but it feels plain next to the other ones for me. Maybe if the character on the book was wearing one of her party dresses it would have been more eye catching.

Over all I again really enjoyed this book like many of Jessica Dall's other books. The writing is done really well, and she definitely paints a picture with words. There are still two more novella's that are set to come out one will be about Mary  right after the second book and I am guessing the third one will be about Elsie and set after the third book. There isn't much known on the third novella quiet yet but if you keep an eye out on her blog which is, http://jessicadall.com/, she will post more on the novella's as they are about to come out. I am not sure if there will be more books in the series or not but I do plan on and am can't wait to read the two novella's that will be coming out in the future.

The Girl Who Never Was (Book #1) by Skylar Dorset

Genre: Fantasy, Young-Adult
Published: June 1, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 304



Synopsis:
     THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS is the story of Selkie Stewart, who thinks she’s a totally normal teenager growing up in Boston. Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right?

     When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.

    Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.

My Rating:

★★★★☆

Review:
This was a bit slow to start, but the middle and ending quickly  made up for it. Selkie is one girl who isn't going to sit around and not let things sit. She wants to know more about her mother that left her with her father, and by looking into where her mother is and asking the right question she ends up breaking through an enchantment and learns that not everything is as it seems. Fey are all around her especially where she is currently living in Boston, and the Seelie Court is on the move to find her. 

My favorite character would have to be Ben, I really want to know more about him especially with how this book left off. Ben is fey but unlike other fey he can travel basically anywhere he desires. He is also the one that has been hiding Selkie until she of course breaks his enchantment. Since the fey live a very long time or very short depending their time is different from ours well depending on which time line you are going by I think. Ben and the other fey bring this up on many occasions so it definitely  makes one thing about different points of view and how time can be long yet short as well and would time matter if one did not keep track of it? These are some of the questions that ran through my head when reading this book.

I'd also like to mention I love this cover, and I saw the second book and it is this cover basically flipped I love that they did that. I am so excited to read more and hopefully learn more about Ben. Since Selkie is half fey and half ogre I would like to know more about her ogre side  and what powers that comes with. I know she can withstand somethings that fey can't because of her ogre blood but that is all that is basically mentioned in the first book. 

If you want to jump down the rabbit hole so to speak and learn of another land and world all together I highly recommend this book. 

Have you read this book let me know what you think if you have?

Bout of Books 12 Sign-Up

It's almost Bout of Books time again, and of course I must participate! This doesn't start till January 5, 2015 so I wont be posting my TBR pile yet until a little bit closer to the time. Here is some more info on the read-a-thon.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 5th and runs through Sunday, January 11th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 12 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 

- From the Bout of Books team

If you would also like to participate please go here to sign up and be a part of Bout of Books 12. Hope to see everyone there, can't wait!

The Copper Rebellion (Book #1.5) by Jessica Dall

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Published: November 5, 2014
Pages: 129

Source: The author sent me this  in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Living abroad, Adela Tilden has avoided the worst of the rebellion. But now that King William has ordered her back on risk of disinheritance, it doesn’t seem she’ll be able to stay out of the tumult. Of course, Adela has never abided being a pawn.

With two men ahead of her, and one left behind, she has to hope she can control this game–or else she might lose her life. Between books 1 and 2 of the Broken Line series, The Copper Rebellion is a glimpse into Antony and Adela’s lost years after The Copper Witch.

My Rating:

★★★★★

Review:

Okay so first up I have to say this cover is so beautiful, each of the covers so far have been so pretty but I think by far this is my favorite one. So as you can see by my rating up above I highly enjoyed. Even though it had Adela Tilden in it again and I didn't much like her in the first one there was enough going on that it kept it interesting.

This book is really about; how many licks does it take to get to the center of the tootsie pop... ahem I mean how many guys does one have to sleep with in order to confuse enough of them into thinking that the unborn child might be theirs and in order for Adela to feel safe. In this novella Adella is still as insufferable as ever just like she was in the first book. I guess though she has grown on me a little because it didn't bother me to much or not enough to deter away from the plot. I have read the second book before reading this so I was curious as to who the real father was. You definitely find out the answer, but I won't say anymore on that here.

This novella really pieces together what happened between book one and two and how everything got so messed up. I do believe she really did do what she had to, for her. She could have always chosen to stay and be with Antony, but of course she is to ambitious for that and easily bored. I also thought it was interesting how Adela thought she was getting old at age 18. Even back in those days that is still young, she had many years ahead of her of beauty still and if she kept taking good care of herself many more after that. But to her she couldn't see beyond that, couldn't see past what she thought of herself I think. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the third book The Paper Masque's which is out already and what I am currently about to read. As always if you would like to find out more on this series and any of Jessica Dall's many other works please stop by and visit her website at http://jessicadall.com/ 

November Wrap Up

I had a busy month for November since I was writing for NaNoWriMo. I would first of like to say that I did indeed win NaNoWriMo and I did write a little more than 50k words.

I still have a long way to go 50,000 words only got me through like a little over half my novel. So I will be working on it and hopefully have it done by April so that for Camp NaNoWriMo I can work on revising this monster. I also am getting the winners t-shirt for this year since there is a dragon on it and I love dragons! Thought I would reward myself for writing a novel that was outside my comfort zone. So with out further ado I will get into the three books I did finish for the month of November.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Rating - ★★★★☆
This book I think everyone needs to read. Especially if they are a young adult that is going through problems in life that maybe they can't speak to anyone about. I remember feeling somethings that Melinda the main character felt. I didn't go through the same thing as her exactly but I had a lot of the same symptoms and feelings that she did because of what I went through. This book would help I think, help you not feel so alone even when you feel like you are and even if you have no one you think you can talk to.

Eve - The Soul Reaper by Leonard Clifton
Rating - ★☆☆☆☆ 
I have a longer review of this book here on my blog, so I wont say to much on this here. Other than it had a great plot it just wasn't executed the best.

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Rating - ★★★★☆
This is the first book in the Splintered series and I read this for a buddy read with Melissa and Brittain. I enjoyed this book a lot and loved the creep factor that the author brought to this Alice in Wonderland retelling. Also if you pick up this series you do not have to have read the original Alice in Wonderland in order to Understand it. I have only watched the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland and pretty much understood what was going on.


Over all I think I had a very productive month and this month I have a long list of books to try to get through before the end of the year. I am taking a break on writing but hope to start writing again little bit by little bit in January and of course I will have a lot of reading challenges to go through this next year 2015 I will post what I plan to do next year in a later post once it is a bit closer to the new year.

Eve- The Soul Reaper by Leondard Clifton

Genre: YA, Paranormal Publisher: Xlibris
Published: June 19, 2014
Pages: 170
Source: I received this novel in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In the small town of Wonderwood, Eve Summers feels an immediate connection to the handsome new guy in town named Adam Winters. The teenagers discover they’ve lived a past lifetogether fighting Grim Reapers that has resurfaced in search of a powerful scythe that takes souls which will give Eve the power to restore souls. But first, Adam and Eve must fight their fear of losing everyone they love by the Grim Reapers creating an army of destruction. It’s an eternal battle between good and evil searching for the scythe. May the best reaper win.

My Rating:

★☆☆☆☆ 

My Review: 
I loved the premise of this book and thought it had a good idea for a plot. So of course I had to read it when I saw the author looking for reviews. This was a bit of a struggle to get through for me. There were a lot of grammatical and structural issues through out the entire book, and I think with a bit more polishing it could turn into a great read.

The main character Eve is interesting at first but then she fell into the insta-love thing with Adam and she lost my favor. I did like Farah I felt she was the only one that really had a voice throughout the entire book, she was a good side character and brought some flavor to the story. I also liked the description that was used when Adam went to go train with the eagle gods and loved the realm of the faeries. I would have liked a bit more description then the rush that the reader gets before the teenagers are back in the human realm.

This felt rushed and hurried. 170 pages is not enough time to really flush out a story of this magnitude and explain everything that needed to be. I really didn't want to give a one star review since I don't ever give out one stars unless if I could not finish it or hated it to its very core. I think it could be a very good book with a little bit more work.

I also did not like the switching of point of views. for Eve the story was in third person, but for her sister it is in first person. Very confusing, really needs to be in only one point of view and left there. Overall I think this book could be really good with more world building and a bit of revamping, I would love to see more from this author and see what he can do with a little more work.

Waiting on Wednesday - Revenant by Larissa Ione

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly even hosted by, Breaking the Spine, that gives me a chance to show upcoming releases that I am anticipating on getting and reading.

This week I have chosen:

Revenant by Larissa Ione (Lords of Deliverence #6 / Demonica #11)
Publication Date: December 16, 2014
Summary:
HELL HATH NO FURY . . .

For five thousand years, Revenant believed he was alone in the world, a fallen angel beyond any redemption. Now he finds he has a twin brother who had all the light and love Revenant was denied. Caught in a tug of war between Heaven and Hell, he must weigh his thirst for revenge against his desire for a mysterious female named Blaspheme—a female whose very origins could deliver him into salvation . . . or destruction.

LIKE AN ANGEL SCORNED

Blaspheme has a deadly secret: she's the forbidden offspring of an angel and a fallen angel. Hunted by both heavenly and satanic forces, she has survived only by laying low and trusting no one. When Revenant claims he can save them both, how can she possibly believe him? But the powerful angel is persistence incarnate and for Blaspheme, there's no place she can hide in Heaven or Hell where he won't find her . .

Why I am waiting?
This will be the newest book in the Demonica series and I am highly intrigued to learn more about Revenant. He is Reaver's twin brother that we don't even really find out about until the last book. We know nothing about him other than he has been in Hell since he was a young child, I love this series and the twists and turns it takes. I can't wait to get my hands on this one, I do still have to read the novella Azagoth so that will have to tide me over for a couple of weeks.

What are you waiting on this week?