Mini Review of "An Ember In The Ashes"

An Ember In The Ashes 

By Sabaa Tahir 

Stars: 5 

Source: Purchased 

When Laia's brother is arrested for treason she has to make a split second decision, stay and fight or run. 

Laia runs to save herself but almost instantly regrets her choice. 

While looking for a way to free her imprisoned brother she finds herself in the middle of the Resistance. The only way they'll help her and her brother is if she spy's on the Empire from inside their military school and gather useful information. 

Elias is a solider within the academy, the most promising and secretly, the most unwilling. 

Elias is all set to abandon his ranks and flee the Empires tyranny when he too is forced to make a life changing choice. 

When Elias and Laia's path cross they realize they both have more in common than they could have ever imagined and that perhaps, they may be able to help each other escape their chains and finally become free.

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I've read/watched so many reviews for this book and they all seem to have one thing in common. 

They usually start off with "I could. Not. Put this book down!" 

Well this review isn't any different. 

I opened up this book and instantly found myself in ancient Rome (or as close to it as possible). 

Laia's character (and her chapters) were slightly slow and off putting at first. She was like a newborn, unsure what to do, where to go, how to act. But as the book went on she developed this... fierceness that had me mentally cheering for her and praying that she would make it out alive. 

Elias' chapters (and character) were a little harder. He had this wall up that for his own protection he couldn't allow anyone past, even his closest friends. Hell, even as a reader, seeing his internal struggle and how much he hated being forced to act a certain way I still found myself doubting his true character. 

Even thoough this book is 400+ pages I found myself flying through it and staying up well into the early morning hours to finish. 

I'm so glad I read this book after the sequel was announced because otherwise I would have been inconsolable. 

Sabaa did an amazing job of not only telling an enchanting, thrilling, terrifying story but setting it in a world just close enough to our own that we could see it happening to us. 

I cannot wait until the next installment in this series and I hope everyone will go pick themselves up a copy! 

Until next time, 

Ginger 

ARC Review of "Made You Up"

Made You Up 

By Francesca Zappia 

Stars: 5 

Source: Edelweiss 

Release Date: May 19th 2015 

For as long as Alex can remember she's had trouble differentiating reality from delusion. Diagnosed with schizophrenia early on in her life helps her understand that sometimes what she sees isn't real but telling the difference is becoming a problem. 

Never leaving the house without her camera Alex captures every peculiar, eyebrow raising moment throughout her day, then she returns home to see what was real and what was purely her imagination.  

When an old delusion suddenly appears at her new highschool she is understandably skeptical. But the blue eyed boy seems to interact with everyone and luckily she doesn't seem to be the only one who can see him. 

Alex goes from zero to sixty in under a minute and finds herself making friends, attending parties and even falling in love, all things she never thought possible with her diagnosis. 

But when the line between reality and fiction is blurred it's all too easy to find yourself teetering between them. 

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If you only read one book this month make it this book! 

I remember reading the synopsis for this book months and months ago when I requested an ARC and when I got approved I couldn't wait to start it. I built it up in my head and when the time came to read it I was so terrified that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. 

Not only did it live up to my (incredibly high) expectations, it surpassed them ten times over! 

I haven't read too many books told from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, in fact I can probably count on one hand the number of books that fall into that catagory but "Made You Up" takes the cake. 

No matter how closely you're paying attention and no matter how many times Alex (and her mother) remind you that most of what she sees isn't there Francesca still manages to throw a curve ball right at the readers heart. 

"Made You Up" is without a doubt one of those books that you finish and half an hour later realize you've been starring at a wall processing everything you've read, completely unaware of the passing time. 

I loved Alex's wit and dry humor, when things got tough she still managed to brush it off sarcastically and move on.

Miles was, of course, one of my favorite characters and I would literally (read: theoretically) kill for some chapters told from his smart ass point of view. 

It was such an addictive read, I couldn't put it down no matter how hard I tried (Spoiler alert, I didn't try that hard). 

I can't recceomnd this book enough and I eagerly await anything that Francesca comes out with next, a tweet, a grocery list, an email, anything! 

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.