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Book Review: Rage by Jackie Kessler

*Note -This is the second book in the Riders of the Apocalypse series and may contain spoilers

For my review for Book 1: Hunger

“Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different. That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control. A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.”

This follow up to the first, is very different but just as interesting and intense. Since I felt a personal connection to Hunger, I was interested to see how different the next book would be. I don’t have first hand experience in self harm. However I did know people in my life that did, and perhaps it’s because of that that I still felt a powerful connection to the story.

Actually, it’s probably because of the sister’s bit. That hits close to home.

Moving on. Missy is a perfect War, so much better than the first one we met. I enjoyed that Missy had a personality, no matter how conflicted it is. It makes her human, and that’s what makes this series a standout. Her characters are human (until their not), and they’re teenagers. They are going through that transition in life that no one has a guide book for.

Missy takes to War much easier than Famine, and as a reader you are right along with her. Yet there still beats a human heart and as Missy begins to learn to control her new power, she can see she has the power to control her self harm. A fantastic message.

Plus the romance bit with death is weird, interesting and odd. It’s like the chance to date Kurt Cobain. Even if it isn’t him, who wouldn’t want that opportunity?

The ending to Rage is more of my taste as well. The connection between the horseman within the books is subtle -making me crave more, but nevertheless this second book doesn’t disappoint.

Book Review: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Apr2

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine seems to be living the dream. It’s 1950’s, and Josie works as well as lives in the room above the local bookshop in New Orleans exciting French Quarter. Yet behind her strong appearance she hides many secrets.

Her mother is a prostitute, working at the tough as nails Willie Woodley’s establishment on Conti Street where Josie also cleans every morning. When she makes a contact that could get her out of the Big Easy, tragedy strikes. A traveler is found dead and Josie’s mother is a suspect. Josie will have to fight for her dreams and her life during this quest for the truth.

Sepetys has an amazing ways with words. The imagery, the language, the tone of voice of the characters is stunning! I could feel the heat from the New Orleans sun, smell the spices of the gumbo and taste the saltiness of the vivid characters. The past is alive, breathing, swearing, and beating within every page of this book.

Plus there’s no ‘traditional YA’ romance! Hurray! I find the romance bits true and realistic for the time period. This book couldn’t get any better and I was so sad as I rushed to the end! I wanted more! I wasn’t expecting how it ended was how it would go! All of which makes me love the book more and will cause me to throw it into the hands of others that are looking for a well written historical YA that has a streak of mystery and thrill to it! Out of the Easy should not be missed!

Book Review: Crash into You by Katie McGarry

Mar26

Please note this is the third book in the Pushing the Limits series, however, the characters are only slightly connected so there will be no spoilers!

Rachel is a good girl from the right side of the tracks. Growing up the youngest from a well to do family, she craves the speed her Mustang GT gives her. It’s where she can think, where she can dream, where the truth of her reality doesn’t have to exist.

Isaiah is living on the edge, literary. Barely getting by, his only hope is to pass a test that could open every door to a future he never thought could be his.

Then one night everything changes for both Rachel and Isaiah. It was supposed to be the final time for Isaiah. Rachel chose the wrong night to breach the underworld of drag racing. Now they owe the roughest guy in town, and he will do whatever it takes to get what is his.

She’s a blonde eyed angel and he’s a tattooed saviour also in need of rescue. When they start to fall in love, will it make matters worse? Or build them their stairway to heaven?

I’ve really enjoyed how different McGarry makes each of her books in this series. It keeps me coming back for more and I still get a thrill each time one of the past characters makes an appearance. It’s like a healthy ecosystem of narrative.

This book doesn’t disappoint and follows the same flow as the others. I loved Rachel’s backstory and it’s nice to be able to get into Isaiah’s head! I felt the language, the setting, the premise of the plot all worked really well. It starts off a bit slow, but boy, does it pick up! The growth within the characters is natural and genuine, causing me to tear through the final chapter to know what happens! It’s also important to note that the issue of pride is put on a more relatable level. I had to take a step back to be able to see it, and it’s something that McGarry does well. Her characters are so real, full of flaws but still capable of growth. Rachel doesn’t want to be rescued and she fights for her chance to help and fix the issues on her own. Isaiah is deep and fragile in his own way, something his persona won’t allow others to see.

Everything is a race against time in this third book and it was well worth the wait! My dear readers you know I am not a fan of romance, but for McGarry, I’m always thrilled to make the exception. Her romance has depth, heart and controversy that makes this series a romance standout!

Book Review: World After by Susan EE

Mar19

*Please note, my reviews may contain spoilers as this is the second in a series. Check out my review of the first book Angelfall here.

Penryn has returned. Paige has been found. Both of them are not as they were before.

Paige is now a monster, a former shadow of the frail younger sister she used to be. Her skin has been restitched all over her face and her teeth are filed points of danger. She won’t eat, can barley speak and still remains somehow frail despite her transformation. Just as Penryn makes a bit of progress, Paige is gone yet again.

The angels are getting stronger. As Penryn hunts for Paige she tries to push all thoughts of Raffe away. She carries his sword and his enemies lurk nearby, making her attempt impossible. As she tries to help a group of struggling people the angels swoop in on their trap.

Now they are en route to Alcatraz, where the horrors of the past are mere children’s stories compared to what has been awakened on the island. As the days get darker and the world seems at its end, it’s up to Penryn to continue to fight for her family and the lucky humans that get caught in her path.

I do have to admit that there is a bit more romance in this second book than in the debut. I love the idea of angels being horrible, these saviours turned assassins. The romance bit is the only thing that rubs me the wrong way. I feel it cheats a bit of Penryn’s character. The star crossed lovers – it’s all a bit cliched for my taste.

However, the romance isn’t a dominating bit. What I loved about this continuation to the series is how gross it got. I mean, I was a bit ill reading some of the chapters! The truth of the angels intentions were so nightmarish. The imagery kept me up at night. This is dystopian behind the curtain. One’s imagination couldn’t get any worse and Ee stays true to her vision of this new world. It’s amazing. Horrify, but you can’t stop reading because you want to know just how bad it’s going to get.

There’s still one more book on the way. I have a feeling it’s going to get a whole worse. I can’t wait.

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Mar12

I’m going to use the blurb to describe this book – it’s just the best way to go about this fantastic piece of writing:

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

I adored Fangirl. I saw it trolling on social media for a bit and immediately requested it from my library…which meant I had to wait like five weeks.

Anyways, once I got my hands on it – I did not put it down! I got shivers reading the opening fan fiction piece! (it’s so spot on Harry Potter – it’s just moving.)

However, there is a lot more to this story than just the amazing fan fiction obsession that thankfully the world is embracing. It’s also about twin sisters striking out on their own – forming their own identities – falling in love and growing up during that crucial first year of college. There is also mental illness, abandonment and the struggle of not giving up what you believe in.

This is one powerful book, and there are so many deeper messages that crawl under your skin and sink into your heart. It deserves every bit of it’s hype and I am thrilled to jump on the Rowell bandwagon.

It’s going to be a fun ride.

Book Review: Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

Feb19

Zoe isn’t her real name, but that’s not what matters. Zoe has a deep, dark secret. She reaches out by writing letters to an inmate, Stuart Harris, on Death Row in America. Somehow it seems safer, to divulge her secret to someone who is also a killer. See, Zoe has killed someone herself. Through her letters Zoe writers her pain, guilt and struggle to deal with what she has done. As Harris’ death date draws near, Zoe fights with herself to reveal her secret, and face the horrible truth of what her life has become.

This tale is painful, raw and just ever so youthful in a terrifyingly sad way. The closer I got to the ending, the more I didn’t want to continue. I wasn’t sure how the ending was going to come about, but then all at once, I was there.

For a YA book, Ketchup Clouds touches on grief and loss in a realistic way. Her emotions and reactions are fascinating, her voice is strong and clear within her letters. This was not the type of book that I expected it to be. I love it when books makes me feel things, when events don’t turn out the way I thought they would. It’s still moving and beautiful and everything it needed to be. It stands on it’s own and crawls under your skin, allowing for you to remember how grief hurts for others when you are in pain inside.

This book is best read when one is least expecting it. It’s a lovely break from the traditional romance and a stellar example of how love in YA needs to be: true.