Review: Mirage

Mirage
Author: Somaiya Daud
Published On: 8/28/18
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Synopsis:(Found on Goodreads)

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is 

a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing 

poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya 

that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

Review:

4/5

Quick fast paced read. I cannot wait till book two next year. The concept is interesting

and I enjoyed the characters including the "Villian."

Amani is a brave woman whisked away just to stand in for a princess whom the

entire world despises.

Maram is a half blood not belonging to her fathers people of Valthek nor her deceased

mother`s Andalaan people. She was taught to hate her mothers people (the conquered)

and rule in her fathers place as a sterile Valthek.

Idris is a captive in his own way and Amani hopes to utilize that to her advantage.

Her plans to escape Maram and her evil father`s wrath takes a turn when Maram

becomes friendly with Amani.

Overall I really enjoyed this and wish it was longer than 300 pages. Knowing I get

book two in a year makes the wait bearable.

Review: The Wish Granter

Title: The Wish Granter

Author: C.J. Redwine

Publisher: Balzer + Bray Harper Collins

Pages: 432

Synopsis (from GoodReads):

The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of

Súndraille’s king. Now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly

overrun with violence he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess.

And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her

brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter

named Alistair Teague.

Rating: 5/5

This adventure back into the world of Ravenspire was just as entertaining as the

first and I’m looking forward to more. This retelling of Rumpelstiltskin was amazing.

Thad and Ari suddenly find themselves as King and Princess of Súndraille,after

their mother's murder and the mysterious deaths of the royal family. Thad finds himself

on the throne of a kingdom in disarray,  that he cannot bring back into balance

without consequences. Ari is slowly uncovering her brothers secret and researching

what she can do to help him, along with the help of the new weapons master, she begins

to learn how she can fight the ruthless man that Teague is; whilst trying to keep herself

and her best friend out of  the Wish Granter’s grasp.

Thanks to Ashley I am going to treasure my copy because it was my very first signed

book, and it is personalized to me, plus the map is gorgeous.

Review: Fresh Ink

Title: Fresh Ink: An Anthology

Author: Lamar Giles (editor), Nicola Yoon, Malinda Yo, et al.

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers, August 14, 2018

Pages:208

Synopsis(from GoodReads):

Careful--you are holding fresh ink. And not hot-off-the-press, still-drying-in

-your-hands ink. Instead, you are holding twelve stories with endings that are still

being written--whose next chapters are up to you.

Because these stories are meant to be read. And shared.

Rating: 4 /5

I’m gonna be honest, I’ve never read or heard of the authors whose stories are in

this book other than Nicola Yoon and Melissa de la Cruz. That is something that I like

about anthologies; you get the chance to read something from authors you may not

know and the stories usually leave you wanting an entire book rather than a short story.

I gave Fresh Ink a lower rating only because a few of the stories were harder for

me to get through than others. Not because I didn’t like them it was just harder for me

to relate to something in the story.

My favorite story in Fresh Ink was actually from an author I’ve heard of but

have not read before. One Voice:  A Something In Between Story by Melissa de la

Cruz. It addresses how people will often judge and threaten someone over something

they have no control over like their race, or the color of their skin.

Another story that I enjoyed a lot was the opening act so to speak; Eraser Tattoo

by Jason Reynolds, it was very sweet and left me wanting to what was next for Shay

and Dante.

Each of these stories address some things that are not always seen in a positive

light in today’s society.

Review: Goodbye Days

Title: Goodbye Days

Author: Jeff Zetner

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 405

Date(s) Read: 7/31- 9/18/17

Synopsis (from GoodReads):

What if you could spend one last day with someone you lost?

One day Carver Briggs had it all—three best friends, a supportive family,

and a reputation as a talented writer at his high school, Nashville Academy

for the Arts.

The next day he lost it all when he sent a simple text to his friend Mars, right before

Mars, Eli, and Blake were killed in a car crash.

Rating: 5/5

* Jeff could write about anything and I would read it.

Jeff Zetner did it again, another enthralling book with a teen facing real life things,

that left me wanting more. Jeff is extremely good at taking serious, real life things

and turning them into a relatable story that leaves an impact on those who have read it.

Carver Briggs’ world is flipped upside down with a simple text to one of his best

friends Mars. Mars was driving back from a movie with Eli and Blake. Carver

never got a message back from Mars. The next thing he knew, all three of his best

friends were dead.

Carver is in misery of course, but his guilt outweighs it all. Eli’s twin sister tells

everyone she can that Carver murdered her brother and his friends. Alongside all

this, Carver and Jesmyn; Eli’s girlfriend become close, and Jesmyn is the only one

who stands by him at school. Carver’s parents have him start seeing a therapist as

he won’t talk to them. With the possibility of him being arrested for the deaths of

his friends; Carver starts experiencing frightening panic attacks.

Blake's grandmother asks Carver to spend a Goodbye Day with her to share

memories of Blake. Soon the other families are asking for him to do the same with them but he is unsure if they will help make peace with their losses or bring him closer to prison.

Review: Everless

Everless
Sara Holland
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published On: 1/2/18
Pages: 368
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Selling or Giving blood (time) as currency is an intriguing concept.

Jules the main character suffers as do the rest of the community surrounding Everless.

The Gerlings rule the area. Like the cover blurb states "Time is a Prison. She is The Key."

Time is worth your weight in gold literally. Every ounce of your blood can be drained to

pay rent, buy a pretty dress or just a loaf of bread.

Jules and her father narrowly escaped the hatred of the Gerlings back when

her father worked in Everless. Now she must return back there to afford to pay off

her fathers debts.
Everless has a bit of info-dumping the first few chapters but sometimes its hard

to spread information out that is needed to understand the world and plot.

Miscommunication plays a huge part in this book so as a reader it was a bit

frustrating that Jules did not stop and listen to her father.. or anyone for that matter.

Overall I enjoyed the plot and world of Everless and I will be picking up

the second book when it releases.

~Ashley

Review: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

Title: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

Author: Mackenzi Lee

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Pages: 513

Date(s) Read: 9/18-10/27

Synopsis (from GoodReads):

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but

he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and

the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his

roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of

spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

Rating: 4/5

Gentleman’s Guide was a special book for me before I even read it because

it was the first book that I ever defaced.

Henry Montague was born to be a gentleman, but gentleman he is not.

“Monty” as Henry is known by his sister Felicity and his best friend Percy, is

about to leave on his grand tour of Europe, which turns out to be nothing like he

planned. His father has him meeting with high members of society along the way as

he plans to have Monty take over the family estate when he returns. On top of that;

both to the dismay of Monty and Felicity: their father has Felicity tag along with

Monty and Percy to drop her off at finishing school. Plus Monty is dealing with an

impossible crush, and turns their trip into a man hunt with his reckless roguish decisions.

I really enjoyed Mackenzi’s writing style, I was kept intrigued through the entire

book. As wild and reckless as Monty is, or Percy’s kind thoughtful manner, my favorite

character is actually Felicity as she tends to have her nose in a book, she is passionate

about science and does everything she can to learn more; and avoid finishing school

while trying to keep her brother from making too rash decisions. I’m looking

forward to follow her story in The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy.

Review: The Bird and The Blade

Title: The Bird and the Blade

Author:Megan Bannen

Publisher: Blazer + Bray

Pages:336

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

As a slave in the Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home,

her family, her freedom … until she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape

of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father as they flee from their enemies across the vast

Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead,

Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes

increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into a hopeless love.

3/ 5 stars

This was not one of my favorite reads so far this year. I felt it was quite similar

to books I’ve read before. Family of a girl with status falls on hard times, girl

becomes a slave to hide identity. Prince gives her an apple, she falls in love with

him over time. Down the road truth is told and she’s actually supposed to kill him.

She cannot bring herself to kill him, he actually loves her too, but she kills herself in

attempt to save him.

It was also very slow then faster paced then slow again, wasn’t a steady flow

of keeping me interested.

Review: Seafire

Title: Seafire

Author: Natalie C. Parker

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages:384

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

After her family is killed by corrupt warlord Aric Athair and his bloodthirsty

army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx is left to chart her own course on the dangerous and

deadly seas. She captains her ship, the Mors Navis, with a crew of girls and women

just like her, whose lives have been turned upside down by Aric and his men.

The crew has one misson: stay alive, and take down Aric's armed and armored fleet.

5 out of 5 stars

I picked up this book at BEA and couldn't wait to actually read it. I mean

pirate chicks who hold their own on the open waters, I was immediately intrigued.

I loved this book and am so glad I only have to wait about a year for book 2. It is

going to be so worth it. Now I was really drawn to the fact that the main characters

were an all female crew in this story. As my sisters and I are often that, the three of

us don’t always get along or agree but stand by each other when it comes to getting

things done.  I really liked the relationships between all the girls on the Mors Navis

and that eventually they used that pesky Bullet to assist their crew. I loved that the

girl’s ship appeared to be like your traditional pirate ship with some more modern

upgrades so the could pull off the feats they do in the book. I truly enjoyed Parker’s

writing style as it leaves you guessing what is going to happen next and not want to

stop reading.

Review: Sadie

Title: Sadie

Author: Courtney Summers

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 320

Synopsis:(from GoodReads)

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her

sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and

keep their heads above water. But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world

crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring

her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.

3/ 5 stars

I thought this book was going to be little different than how it was. I like the the two

different point of views but I wasn’t lead to any super feels for the story. I like how

Summers went into a darker side of a teen girls life. It made me want to keep reading

but not keep reading like right now, I could put it down willingly to do other things.