ARC Review of "The Shadow Queen"

The Shadow Queen   

By C.J Redwine   

Stars: 5

Source: EW

Release Date: February 16th 2016 

Lorelai Diederich has a plan to get her kingdom back. With the help of her little brother and a loyal friend, she's been training, growing more powerful everyday, getting one step closer everyday to killing the evil queen and reclaiming her rightful throne. 

But when Queen Irina creates the perfect huntsman to track down Lorelai and kill her it throws a wrench in her carefully laid out plans. 

Suddenly she has Kol to worry about. A new King, a Draconi (DRAGON!!!) forced to make a deal to save his people from a gruesome Ogre attack that will surely wipe out his kingdom. 

Lorelai will do anything to get her crown back, Kol will do everything to save his people and Irina, she'll kill anyone who gets in her way. 

-----------------------------------

This was my first C.J Redwine book and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! 

I was just on the edge of falling into a reading slump when I picked up this book. I made it about 6% into it and almost gave up and DNF it. Crazy! I know! But I'm so glad I kept reading. 

This book is pretty much everything you could wish for in a fantasy 're-telling'. 

I myself am not a fan of re-tellings because I always feel like you know where the story is going and there aren't any big surprises or plot twists. 

But I actually have a hard time calling this a re-telling because it is so unique and a story all it's own. 

I mean it has magic, dragons, family drama, revenge, did I mention dragons? 

Also, and I feel so dumb mentioning this, it has a gyrfalcon. Which up until, well today, I thought was a mythical creature... 

Thanks FaceBook for correcting me... 

Awkward. 

Anyway, Lorelai has a special telepathic connection with this (very real) gyrfalcon, Sasha, and honestly, their conversations were my absolute favorite. It added the perfect amount of... Lightness to the book without downplaying the darkness or the danger. 

I also adored Lorelai and Kol's slowing burning romance. It definitely wasn't your typical YA love story, what with him trying to murder her, and that's what I really enjoyed about it. 

It was refreshing to see a strong, powerful, female character who could stand on her own two feet and didn't go all 'damsel in distress' every time the love interest entered the room.

All in all this is one of my favorite books that I've read this year and I'm excited to get my hands on some more of C.J's books and discover some new favorites! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of Sword and Verse

Sword and Verse   

By Kathy MacMillan   

Stars: 4

Source: EW

Release Date: January 19th 2016

Raisa was just a child when she was sold into slavery, forced to work in the very castle of the people who murdered her family. What they don't know is that Raisa's father was teacher her to read and write, something forbidden in Qilara unless you are royalty or a tutor. 

Year later, after the current tutor in training is found to be a traitor Raisa is miraculously named her replacement and spared an unknown punishment for stepping out of place. 

All of a sudden Raisa is thrust into a position that allows her to not only learn more of the language her father fought so hard to teach her but she now has the ability to help the growing rebellion that is starting to rise all around the kingdom. 

A spy within the walls, she finds herself getting caught in a game of cat and mouse, slowly but surely helping the rebels carry out their plans for a imminent uprising. But when she suddenly starts falling for the Prince she's not sure whose side she's on anymore. 

-----------------------------

I really enjoyed this book. I was really iffy going into it because I hadn't heard a ton about it but it was a really nice surprise. 

It reminded me of a mash up between The Red Queen and An Ember In The Ashes. 

What I liked about it was that most of the story was about Raisa learning to read and write this language that has been kept from most people for hundreds of years. It was repetitive, her being taught and trying to remember the different symbols for different words/letters. But it was never boring.

Sometimes with books where the plot gets a little redundant I'll catch myself skim reading but I didn't do that with Sword and Verse. It was more like I caught myself re-reading sentences over and over again because they were so beautiful. 

Honestly the only thing I didn't like about this book was the romance between Raisa and the Prince. For some reason he just rubbed me the wrong way. I ended up not hating him in the end of the book but I never fully liked him. 

Other then that this book was amazing and I would recommend it to (as I mentioned above) fans of An Ember In The Ashes or Red Queen. 

Now I've heard people say this is a standalone, which makes sense because everything was wrapped up nicely in the last chapter but on GoodReads it is marked as #1 in a series so we'll see how that goes. 

As much as I loved this book I feel like I loved it because it read like a standalone and I almost hope that it stays that way. 

I'd love to see more from this author, even a story set in this world, but I think these characters story played out perfectly in one book and I don't feel like a second one is needed. 

If you've read this let me know what your thoughts are! 

Until next time, 
Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of The Year We Fall Apart

The Year We Fell Apart   

By Emily Martin

Stars: 3

Source: EW

Release Date: January 26th 2016

If Harper could take back all of the mistakes that she has made in the past year she would do it in a heartbeat. Earning a reputation as the schools slut, getting kicked off the swim team, distancing herself from her family. She'd take it all back. But the thing she regrets most is Declan. Messing up their friendship, destroying their relationship. Turning away from him when he needed her the most. 

But now Declan is home from boarding school and he makes it almost impossible to ignore him and the choices that she's made. 

Is it too late to move forward or will the past catch up with her before she's ready to confront it? 

-----------------------------------

"In the tradition of Sarah Dessen..." That is why I picked up this book... Let's just say I WOULD NOT compare this to Sarah Dessen... At all. 

This book started off great, it had everything I wanted when I picked it up, (somewhat) unrequited love, family dynamics, new and old friendships, summer! 

The middle kept me going, it was fast paced, had witty commentary and even a teeny bit of mystery to it. 

The ending... The ending was just... Just there! One minute I'm reading and the next I'm sitting there wondering if I missed a chapter (or three).  

Spoilers ahead! Turn back now or continue at your own risk! 

*Please keep in mind I did read this as an ARC and the finished copy may be more... complete. If you had read the finished book and know something I don't PLEASE let me know!*

What the hell? 

The loose ends in this book are enough to make me that fringe purse I've been eyeing at Target! (What? The 70's are coming back baby!)

First off Harper's Mom, is she going to die? Be okay? Make a miraculous recovery and climb Everest? 

Does Harper even care? 

While I didn't want her mom's cancer to be the focal point of the story it would've been nice if Harper showed a little bit more emotion and concern for her dying mother! 

But no, that's too much to ask for!

Then there's her "best friend" Sadie. What. A. Little. Bitch. 

She's always dragging Harper out to party, dumping her the second she finds a guy to hook up with and then by the time she's ready to leave she's too drunk to drive. On top of all that she doesn't give an eff about Harper's mom or the fact that she should be home spending time with her family. Nope she just wants a ride somewhere and then she's gone, off doing god knows what. 

But is there a wrap up? A light bulb turning on over Harper's head leading up to the last chapter? A moment when Harp realizes that a toxic friendship is the last thing she needs in her life right now? 

Nope. 

Because she's too focused on Declan. 

The ENTIRE book revolved around 'will they, won't they'. Will they talk? Will they get back together? Does he still love her? Can he forgive her? 

It was like Ross and Rachel times ten minus the actual romance. 

I'm all for romance but deal lord... 

To top it all off, I hated Harper as a character... 

In the beginning it wasn't that big of a deal but as the book went on and she continued to make 'mistake' after 'mistake' (silly me I tend to call those patterns or choices if you tend to do it OVER AND OVER AGAIN) and never learned from them... I got so frustrated! 

You ruined your reputation by making out with someone else's boyfriend so instead lets hook up in the back of a car with a guy you barley know. 

You got too wasted to see right from wrong so lets do a shot! 

You couldn't drive yourself home from the party last night because you drank too much and your friend had to come and get you but let's go out tonight and do it all over again. 

You're probably wondering why in the hell I gave this book 3 stars when I obviously didn't like it I'll just clarify. 

It wasn't awful. While I didn't like some of the characters (surprisingly the side ones weren't that bad) or the plot (if you can call it that) I really did enjoy the writing.

In fact if the ending hadn't of had all those loose ends I probably would've given it 4 stars.  

Emily Martin is a debut author and I'll actually be on the lookout to see what she has coming out next. 

Let me know if you read this one and how you felt about it! 

And if you're reading this part... Thank you for sticking around and reading that revi- rant. You deserve a gold star!

Until next time, 
Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.  

ARC Review of "Shallow Graves"

Shallow Graves  

By Kali Wallace  

Stars: 3

Source: EW

Release Date: January 26th 2016

Breezy doesn't remember who killed her. Or how she ended up in a shallow grave a couple of blocks from her house, in the backyard of a house that's for sale. She doesn't know why she's waking up after a year of being 'dead'. She doesn't know why the man who dug her up is now laying dead next to her. She doesn't know why she has to remind her heart to beat. She doesn't know how she can pick murderers out a crowd. And she doesn't know why her touch kills them. But while she searches for answers she realizes she isn't the only one with supernatural abilities and that there are people out there whose soul purpose in life is to hunt people like her. 

------------------------------------

I have such mixed feeling about this book. When it first started I was hooked. I hadn't read anything about this so I went in blind, and the first couple of chapters were amazing. But then it took a weird turn and left me a little disoriented. 

I loved the idea behind Breezy's story. She was murdered and now she hunts murderers. It reminded me of a much, much darker version of Kimberly Dertings "Body Finder" series. 

But when it turned into 'crazy cult hunting monsters' it lost me. It almost felt like two different books with two different plots mashed up together. 

I would've liked it so much more if it had stayed on the same track as the first couple chapters. But from the second she entered the 'church' I kept having to force myself to finish it. 

It went from what I thought was a book about murder and justice to this weird occult train wreck. 

Personally (if you couldn't tell already) this wasn't a book for me. 

I'd be interested to see what else the author has coming out but I wouldn't recommend this book.  

Until next time, 
Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of "Shade Me" By Jennifer Brown

Shade Me 

By Jennifer Brown 

Stars: 5 

Source: EW 

Release Date: January 19th 2016 

---------------------------

A phone call from the hospital in the middle of the night. Someone you don't know has been attacked and your number is the only one in their cell phone. They need you to identify the body. Do you go? 

Nikki Kill does. And what she finds out is that the schools most popular girl has been beaten within an inch of her life, left for dead and she is now in a coma. 

Any normal person would identify her and let the police take care of it. But Nikki isn't exactly what you would all 'normal'. 

Thanks to a rare phenomenon called 'synesthesia' Nikki can see things that other people can't. Her senses are overlapped in a way that allows her to see emotions, numbers and letters as colors. 

Lies are gray, lust is violet, etc, etc. 

Nikki has always thought of her diagnosis as a disadvantage, a disability, but it might be just what she needs in order to solve the mystery of Peyton Hollis before someone else gets hurt.   

-----------------------------------

"Shade Me", book one, in what I hope will be a very long series, sucked me in from the first couple of pages. 

Nikki is like the (slightly) less kiss ass version of Veronica Mars. She may not have a giant drooling sidekick (Backup, not Wallace!) or a taser (though she should invest in one) but she's got her seriously cool diagnosis of 'synesthesia', the mysterious death of her mother and now the mystery of Peyton Hollis' attack. 

Add in a hot brother (Peyton's not Nikki's) a nosy cop and (of course) an absentee parent and you've got yourself a thrilling suspense YA.

Her synesthesia is originally what drew me in but Brown's writing and characters are what I ended up staying for. 

Yes there were those "Oh no she didn't" moments where you're screaming at her to run away/lock the doors/call for help/let the police handle it, but without those moments we wouldn't have this book so I just rolled with the punches and tried not to let her total lack of self preservation bother me. 

I do admit that some times her color clues (what I called her synesthesia) threw me a little bit, but all in all I still couldn't give this book anything less than 5 stars, because a book that you stay up until 3AM to finish when you have work in the morning is a book deserving of 5 stars.  

That being said I almost wish this had been an adult novel. Nikki is 18, her dad was barely in the book and for it being 'young adult' there was a ton of sex and violence. Plus I feel like it would've been longer if it had been adult or even NA. And I'm ALL about more Nikki Kill. 

I can't wait for the next book! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

P.S *SPOILERS* 

Well spoiler-ish but whatever. 

Am I the only one who instantly shipped her and the cop (whose name I cannot remember!!!)??? 

Maybe I'm crazy but I really love them together and I can see a good working relationship between them (with benefits of course ;)).

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of "Making Pretty"

Making Pretty 

By Corey Ann Haydu 

Stars: 2 

Source: Edelweiss 

Release Date: May 12th 2015 

Montana is used to her fathers girlfriends popping up in her and her sisters lives, moving in, bringing their collection of shoes with them, adding their own touches to the New York apartment. 

Shes use to them becoming fiances and eventually wives and ex wives. What she's not used to is the girlfriend in question turning out to be her best friend, Karissa, whose been hiding the relationship from her for months. 

While things at home quickly spiral out of control Montana seeks solace with her new boyfriend, one of her Dad's ex-wives and even Karissa, driving a wedge between her and Arizona. 

It doesn't take long for secrets to come out and lines to be drawn but whose side do you take when neither one is right? 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Book Depository

----------------------------------

Oh boy... 

Where do I start? 

I'm really surprised I finished this book, at the beginning I really enjoyed it, but how quickly the tables turned. 

Montana is one of my least favorite characters, she's so intent on writing in her journal about things she's grateful for and things that make her happy every day and yet she never physically shows her appreciation or gratitude. All she does is write it down and then in the next sentence she's complaining about how she hates her life. 

Karissa was beyond words. She was insane, downright mental and yet Montana babied her and made her feel like she wanted her there instead of telling her how she really felt about the relationship between her and her father. 

Arizona wasn't much better. She still blamed the ex wife (Natalie I think) who (along with their father) gifted them each certificates for plastic surgery on their 13th birthday and yet she freaking used it! She was so mad at Montana for still having a relationship with the only real mother figure she'd ever known all because of a horrible 'gift' that she used! Where is the logic in that?! 

Then there is her father... I refer to him as Frankenstein. He 'can't help' but to point out every single flaw in every single person he sees. He goes as far as coloring on family pictures of the girls with a sharpie to point out flaws and make notes on what he would change. His 'selective memory' was such a load of BS I couldn't even handle it and the way he was always guilting the girls into going along with things they weren't comfortable doing was manipulative and honestly quite creepy. 

I could go on, talk about Karissa's own manipulative tendencies, the fact that there was absolutely no character growth in the end or how much I hated Montana's 'relationship' with Bernardo but I think I'll stop here... 

Sadly I just want to make a note that while I (obviously) hated the story and the characters the writing was actually really good and it's the reason I finished the story at all. I'll still consider reading other books from Haydu but I definitely won't be recommending this one.

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

Review of "The Orphan Queen"

The Orphan Queen 

By Jodi Meadows 

Stars:5

Source: EW (First 12 Chapters) and Gift 

Release Date: March 10th 2015 

Wilhelmina is a Princess, an orphan and a spy. 

Ten years ago Wil's kingdom was attacked, her parents killed right in front of her and her land stolen from her and her people. 

Now nearly a decade later Wil and the other orphans have banned together and have a plan to take back what it rightfully theirs. 

Wil and her closest friend Melanie have lied their way into Skyvale Palace in order to gather inside information about the enemies army, their tactics and their plan to destroy the Wraith before it destroys them. After all, what good will it do for Wil to get her kingdom back if the Wraith kills everyone inside of it? 

During their mission Wil begins fighting along side the vigilante Black Knife, helping him kill the Wraith creatures who find their way into the city limits. But concealing her magic from him is getting harder and harder and if she slips up even once she's afraid she'll disappear along with the other flashers he has apprehended. 

"The Orphan Queen" is high fantasy at it's finest and it has the perfect blend of magic, love and revenge. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

------------------------------------------

This. Book. Killed me. 

While this is a spoiler free review I would like to just get this out of the way: I'm 99.9% positive that Jodi Meadows lives off the the tears of her readers. That is all. 

I loved this book from the first chapters. 

Wil is such a kick ass character! She isn't stupid and she doesn't run into things without a plan, a backup plan and a backup for the backup plan. She's a thinker, quick on her toes and she can handle herself in a fight. 

I loved how she knew from the very beginning that she was a princess and that her kingdom was taken from her. There wasn't a slow, building lead up to a big revel where the lonely orphan discovers her heritage. She knew from the start and she knew she would do anything to reclaim it. 

I loved all the Osprey's (excluded Patrick) and how they each had a purpose and a place. 

But I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Black Knife. 

First off he's a vigilante so I instantly pictured Stephan Ammell all dressed in black flying across the rooftops. 

Secondly he is mysterious as hell, never revealing his identity or giving any clues as to who he might be. 

Thirdly the banter between both him and Wil is perfection! I couldn't get enough! 

I flew through this book, I picked it up and didn't set it down until I reached the last page and I instantly regretted it. 

I wish I had stretched it out a little longer and enjoyed the world bit more. 

I've already added this book to my re-read list because I know I won't be able to go very long without picking it back up again. 

I am warning you that the ending will tear you to pieces, it's heartbreaking. 

What's even more heartbreaking at this I've heard this is only going to be a two book series and not a trilogy. I'm praying it's at least three book but I would love more (12 would be ideal). 

To sum it all up you need to read this book! It's only March and I can already say that this is one of my top books of 2015.  

Until next time, 

Ginger

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of "The Walls Around Us"

The Walls Around Us 

By Nova Ren Suma 

Stars: 5 

Source: Netgalley

Release Date: March 24th 2015 

"The Walls Around Us" is a story about three girls and how their paths cross, their mysteries intertwine and their secrets unravel.  

Violet's dream is to be a professional ballerina, she has trained and studied for years and in just a few short days she will leave for Julliard. 

Amber is in a girls detention center, surrounded by murderers, thieves and druggies, oh my! 

Ori is the girls that ties Vi and Amber's stories together. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

-------------------------------------

I don't want to say too much about this book because I feel like it's the kind of book you have to go into blind. 

It's such a good mystery and it's supernatural/ghostly undertone adds a depth to it that you don't see a ton of in the YA genre.

I was a little hesitant when I first started it because it was a little difficult to tell exactly where the timeline of each chapter was taking place but it didn't take long for me to just let go and roll with the punches. I feel like if you try to over think this book and draw a clear timeline you'll drive yourself crazy and end up not finishing it. 

One of the thinks I loved about this book was how the divide between reality and fantasy wasn't always black and white but a dark gray.

I feel like if this book were to be turned into a movie the only person who could direct it and make it a worthy adaption would be M. Night Shyamalan. 

It's got that eerie, cryptic, spooky factor that makes you want to read it in the middle of the afternoon yet you still find yourself staying up way past midnight to finish it. 

This is definitely one of those books that you finish and you immediately feel the need to flip to the first page and read all over again.  

I cannot wait to read more from this author and I HIGHLY recommend this book! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of "Everything That Makes You"

Everything That Makes You 

By Moriah McStay 

Source: Edelweiss 

Stars: 3 

Release Date: March 17th 2015 

Fiona Doyle was badly scared twelve years ago in a freak accident. 

Fi Doyle was not. 

Everything That Makes You is two stories about one girl. 

Moriah McStay dares us to ask, is it personal choices, fate or some twisted destiny that defines who we are and who we are meant to become?

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

---------------------------------------

When I read the synopsis for this book I instantly thought of Cat Patrick's book "Just Like Fate". It has the same basic idea of how one event can cause a fork in the road and leave you with two alternate realities. 

I loved "Just Like Fate" so I definitely had high hopes for this book going into it. 

While it wasn't my favorite it did have some parts I really enjoyed. 

The first half of this book held my attention and mesmerized me, I couldn't put it down and when I did I couldn't stop thinking about it. 

I had an idea as to where the story was going and I'm sure I'm not the only one who figured it out early on, there is a small, for lack of a better word, plot twist half way through the book that I really liked and its the reason I gave this book 3 stars. 

However after it happened it seemed like the book just stalled out. I lost interest pretty quickly and the almost gave up finishing it 2-3 times. 

It was hard for me to relate to Fiona/Fi which I find so strange because I was given my choice of two main characters and I didn't like either one of them. 

Her mother (in both realities) drove me CRAZY! I just wanted to reach into the book and slap her. She claims to want what's best for her daughter but all she ever does is berate her and make her feel bad about herself. 

I did like that there were two different love interests in each reality. At first I was against it and I kept hoping that both versions of Fiona would end up with the same guy but it became clear that that was not a possibility. 

All in all it was an okay book but not one of my favorites and if you're looking for an alternate reality/duel perspective, 'what if' kind of book I think that there are a couple books out there that I would recommend above this one.   

Until next time, 

Ginger

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.

ARC Review of "Bone Gap"

Bone Gap By Laura Ruby 

Source: Edelweiss 

Stars:3 

Release Date: March 3rd 2015 

Bone Gap isn't a place you stay in, it's a place you leave, which is why when young, beautiful, mysterious Roza goes missing no one believes that she was taken, they think she ran off, moved on to the next city, forgetting all about Bone Gap and it's inhabitants before she even crossed the state line. 

However Finn know's the truth, Roza would never leave him or his brother, Sean. Not without a goodbye, an explanation, something. So he sets out to find her, following the smallest clues and the tiniest of hunches, never giving up hope. 

Bone Gap is a beautiful, strange, wonderous book that haunts the reader long after they've finished it. 

Amazon - Barnes and Noble  - Book Depository

---------------------------------------------

I knew from the second I picked up this book that it was going to be so hard to review it. 

It was hard enough to decide how many stars to give it let alone talk about my opinions towards it and how I liked/disliked certain aspects. 

First off, this is the weirdest book I have ever read, it has these moments of pure clarity and realization and understanding and before you have time to acknowledge those moments or contemplate them they are suddenly overcome with these unexplainable events or odd, perplexing scenes that leave you wondering if you're reading the same book you were two minutes ago. 

I'm not going to lie I had a love hate relationship with most of this book. 

It instantly reminded me of "Lovely Bones" which I don't even think I finished because I despised ever second of it (including the movie) but for some reason I really enjoyed "Bone Gap". 

I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone but if you're okay with unusual characters and somewhat paranormal undertones I'd check it out. 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. 

My review is my honest opinion.