Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun

This was a confusing book for me.  There wasn't enough detail of the world in which I found myself immersed- a world of witch queens, magic, giant morphing toads, and drunken vampire-unicorn hybrids.  There was entirely too much information on dancing trolls under bridges and the sibling rivalry between perfect Rose and inadequate Katherine.  There were also a lot of mixed metaphors and a weak plot.

I think Accession has the potential to kick off a good series, but it might have been  better condensed.  Part One of a story, rather than the whole book.  It definitely needed more editing, and the writing style was so messy it was painful at times.  I will most likely read the second in the Sarath Web series, but if I am as disappointed in it as I was in Accession, I will give it up for good. 

Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun: 2 out of 5 stars.

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin

Tabula Rasa is quickly paced, full of action, and answers the questions it creates for readers.  Sarah is a strong narrator supported by great writing skills.  Although we're not given deep looks at many of the other characters, they're described so well that they also stand out from the pages.  Sarah's interactions with everyone in this book affect the ultimate outcome of her life after the brainwashing of a clinic. 

One of the aspects I liked most about this book was the fight against those in control without being set in a futuristic dystopian society.  Its current setting makes it slightly easier to relate to, without delving into a huge breakdown of a society that we don't yet understand.

I also like that it can stand alone.  We might want to know more of what happens in Sarah's life after breaking free of the clinic, but there's no cliffhanger that makes a sequel necessary.  There is chaos and confusion from the beginning, but Sarah is forced to plan and take action in a small timeframe.  I've said it before, and I know I'll say it again: not everything has to be dragged out in a series. 

What begins with a girl who is literally a blank slate ends solidly with a protagonist who realizes the lengths to which she would go to reveal the truth, especially when the truth about herself might be the scariest thing she's ever had to face. 

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin: 4 out of 5 stars.

Broken by Lauren Layne

Layne has written a provocative story of two people who think they are damaged beyond redemption.  The dual first-person narration provides insight into the thoughts of both Paul and Olivia, highlighting the struggles and demons of each.  Broken will move you to tears, yes, but in a few places it will also make you laugh.  Ultimately, that is the test of fiction based on real life- if it affects your emotions the same way, it's a good story.  Layne accomplishes what few authors can with modern fiction: she makes you feel like you're part of the story that's unfolding on the pages. 

Broken by Lauren Layne: 5 out of 5 stars.

Tear You Apart by Sarah Cross

Cross has presented fans with another fairytale retelling that is replete with wry humor, complex characters and dark, twisted plotlines.  A companion to Kill Me Softly, Tear You Apart details the story of Vivian and Henley, who are under a Snow White curse.  We first met them through Mira and Blue, the main characters from Cross's previous book. 

Though it's hard to be sympathetic to either Vivian or Henley, their story is gripping.  Determined to overcome their feelings for each other, they both do everything they can to cause the other to hate them.  Despite all this, though, they can't seem to stay away from each other, even as they freely acknowledge that they will destroy each other in the end.  Vivian is sarcastic, ungrateful, and demanding of Henley.  He is alternately her doormat and just short of physically restraining himself from hurting her.  None of their friends can fully understand, even if they are under curses themselves. 

Cross's writing is sharp, delivering twists where they are least expected and expertly weaving together modern and antique.  None of the curses follow their fairytale predecessors exactly, and there is an overlap of stories.  The dual narration offers insight into both sides of this Snow White curse, giving readers an intimate view of what Viv and Henley are thinking and feeling.  Cross successfully blends hope, fear, despair, love, and darkness in this story, proving that, much like the originals, fairytale retellings can provide as much horror as beauty. 

Tear You Apart by Sarah Cross: 5 out of 5 stars.

Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig

I really liked this book for several reasons.  I know there are arguments that the characters and plot aren't developed, lack resolution, and fall flat for many reasons.  If you're not looking for something amazingly deep, though, this is a fun read. 

Not many high school students would think to rob the Franklin Mint, but Alice, Jason, Dakota, and Benny do.  They're forced to think everything through to the last minute, drafting and redrafting their plans.  Things go horribly awry (as these things are wont to do), but they all band together to figure out the next steps. 

Things don't end perfectly.  There are issues that haven't even begun to be resolved.  But the narration and writing are strong, the characters are engaging, and the entire concept is fun.  Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig is worth the read.

4 out of 5 stars.

Third Degree by Julie Cross

I ended up really liking this one.  I wasn't expecting to because I found Izzy to be so condescending and annoying from page one.  Surprisingly, she turned out to be human and a teenager after all.  Her character development is gradual, taking place over the course of a school year and is detailed greatly for the reader. 

Marsh makes a great counterpoint to Izzy, providing us with the guy everyone wants to befriend, even if we don't know it yet.  There's depth to him that Izzy isn't aware of at first- which is nice because Izzy seems to think that she knows everything just because she's a textbook genius. 

There's a fair amount of conflict, too.  Izzy's parents aren't perfect, or perfectly happy, which is a stunner to her.  Her career isn't going exactly the way she expected it would, and she's not even finished being a medical intern yet.  Her nemesis seems to know things she doesn't, even though she's clearly smarter than he.  And Izzy just can't seem to escape Marsh, who seems to take great pleasure in letting Izzy know everything she does wrong. 

At times this entire story appears to self-involved.  (Yes, it's narrated in the first person which lends itself to the thought that it would be self-involved.)  For someone who is so incredibly smart Izzy is outright stupid about life.  No one is more surprised by her shortcomings than Izzy and it's her acceptance of them that makes her redeemable, and Third Degree a good book. 

Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

Ever wanted to be inside the head of London's most notorious serial killer?  Dear Killer provides readers insight to the mind of Kit, seventeen-year-old hired killer who never backs down after she decides to take a life. 

I found myself thinking oddly during this book.  Mainly because Kit makes everything seem so rational, following her rules to the letter.  I'd find myself thinking, yeah, that makes sense. Then I'd remember she was talking about killing someone without leaving evidence, flawlessly evading capture.

Kit's a very introspective person, frequently wondering about herself and how others would feel or react in different situations.  This does present a problem for the reader, giving the impression that Kit is too self-centered and unfocused to represent a true serial killer.  It can be overlooked, though, as it can be construed as the self-examination of a girl who can't share her thoughts with anyone else at the risk of her own exposure. 

I did have an issue with the ending, but after thinking about it for a while, I feel it was the right way to go.  I can't say any more than that without sharing too much. 

My main problem was the authenticity.  The writing is good, but it doesn't have a British feel.  Yes, it's set in London and Kit mentions some famous landmarks and streets.  But she refers to her mother as "Mom," not "Mum." Her speech patterns also don't match those of other authors who successfully capture all things British.  I was able to push past that, though, and enjoy the story.

I also had trouble with the relationship between Alex and Kit.  For a police officer, he's entirely too trusting of her randomly turning up at crime scenes and offering her input.  Unless someone is a forensic genius, why would a cop listen to the opinion of a teenager wandering through almost every area in which there is a dead body?  Also, why is this same cop meeting said teenager regularly for coffee and lunch when they have had no previous benign relationship?  I'm not sure this could have looked more sketchy under any circumstance. 

After wavering back and forth several times and reading a few things between Dear Killer and writing this review, I have to admit that I liked it.  It was intriguing, it provided a lot to think about, and Kit is a strong character.  I could have been much better with more authenticity, some consistency, and some more revision. 

3 of 5 stars. 

Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

By the end of Billy and Me, I was underwhelmed. Sophie May's secret wasn't really a secret. The relationship between Sophie and Billy seemed to have not progressed at all from when they first met and barely knew each other. Sophie became a character I didn't even like. (How does one relate to a character who seems to do nothing with her life other than be someone's girlfriend?) And what was supposed to be a happy ending felt saccharine and overly sentimental.

The writing is technically correct- too correct, actually. Everything was so formal it felt almost like reading a recitation of facts rather than being told a story by a friend. The use of ellipses drove me absolutely crazy. There was, at a minimum, one per page. Exclamations points were used in even the most mundane of sentences, making me feel as if I were talking to someone who'd indulged in way to many espressos before telling me this (mostly) dull story of a regular girl's love for a famous man. 

It's unlikely that I'll read this again.  I'll give Fletcher's next book a chance, but I don't hold high hopes. 

The Girls at the Kingfisher Club by Genevieve Valentine

A fantastic reimagining of the fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses,"  The Girls at the Kingfisher Club takes readers into the speakeasies of New York in the Roaring '20s. 

Although the third-person narration is primarily centered on Jo, the eldest of the Hamilton sisters, the reader is occasionally allowed insight to the other eleven sisters.  Valentine does a wonderful job of distinguishing each of the girls, making each one her own force within the larger group.  The background characters are also distinct and memorable, weaving in and out of the Hamilton sisters but never overshadowing them.

The writing style is also great.  The jargon is authentic- at least according to my grandmother, who remembers the '20s as some of the best years.  The dances  and popular music of the time are also presented accurately, making at least this reader want to try it all.

While the ending can't be described as the perfect romantic closing, it is nonetheless hopeful.  Real life doesn't always work out with full closure and happy endings for all, but this story will leave readers feeling satisfied with leaving the Hamilton sisters, knowing that even if everything isn't how they imagined, they're at least together and happy. 

Six Feet Over It by Jennifer Longo

What begins as the musings of almost sixteen-year-old overworked, severely underpaid, and largely ignored Leigh becomes the beautifully written and narrated story of love- love of family, love of friends, first love, and love of knowing one's purpose in life. 

Leigh's voice is authentic, garners reader sympathy immediately, and gives us insight to everything she observes.  And she observes so much.  She takes care of Kai, her older sister who is in remission from cancer, in any way she can.  She helps her parents by selling grave plots because her dad can't handle it and her mom, for all intents and purposes, is a total flake who is only interested in her painting and getting back to the town they left.  She knows she'd like to be friends with Eleanor, but doesn't know how after losing the only true friend she's ever had.  She helps Dario in any way she can because Dario has helped her to see who she can become if she just lets go and stops overanalyzing everything.

Jennifer Long presents us with a awesome (and awesomely flawed) characters, excellent morbid humor, and a book you won't want to miss. 

We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

I think what intrigued me most about this story is that it's written as if Nell, the narrator, is talking directly to her sister Layla. Nell's need to be involved in every aspect of Layla's life, and her subsequent confusion over why Layla only ever speaks to her when she needs Nell to cover for her with their parents is beautifully illustrated.  The first-person point of view gives a visceral account of what it's like to be so close to someone for so long and then inexplicably pushed away.  Reinhardt's writing style is superb, as is the voice she has found for sixteen-year-old Nell. 

The difficult part for me, though, is the lack of resolution.  It's not even that I am unhappy with how things turned out; it's that I'm frustrated with the story ending before anything can happen.  It was incredibly frustrating to be pulled in to Nell's thoughts so deeply and then be abruptly tossed out before there is any sort of solid ending.  I know real life doesn't always have a happy ending, and I'm okay with that.  It's hard to reconcile that with, what felt like to me, no ending at all.

Scintillate by Tracy Clark

The description of this book, to me, sounded like an Anne Bishop-style YA fantasy involving a girl who can see auras, and has a remarkable one herself.  Unfortunately, the story doesn't hold up, the characters are weak, and the dialogue is so sugary-sweet that I felt a little nauseated.

What drove me absolutely crazy, though, was the occasional phonetic spelling of Finn's accent- most of which were instances of strong cursing.  If some was going to be included that way, all of it should have been.

 I felt a little cheated after reading the entire story. There's not enough explanation of this special power, or the history behind it, for the length of this book. I don't think it needed to be strung out into a trilogy.

Aspen by Rebekah Crane

Aspen is an amazing story of the strength one person can find inside herself.  It is well written, the characters are strong and easily related to, and for many, the ending will come too soon.  Anyone who has ever felt that she won't be accepted if others knew all her truths (and who among us hasn't?) will love this story as much as I did.  A beautiful narration details incredibly hard moments offset by wry humor, Aspen is one story you should definitely read.

I Am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff

 This intense story begins with a nameless boy who excels at his job.  He doesn't try to hide how good he is from readers, and he isn't coy about his skills.  He knows what he has to do, and he does it well.

Because of his training, Ben, as the reader comes to know him, keeps his distance from everyone.  There are multiple background characters essential to the progression of the plot, but just when Ben and readers come to predict those people, things change again.  This not only proves Ben's thoughts that no one can be trusted, but it keeps the true events of the book hidden until the last moment.

Almost as succinct as Hemingway in writing style, I Am the Weapon is full of heart-stopping action, devious plans, and will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Isaura by Ruth Silver

In the third installment of the Aberrant trilogy, Olivia finds herself trying to save Joshua, fending off advances from Henry, and keeping herself from being killed by Isaura.  This could have been so much better in so many ways. 

The writing was truly terrible.  The punctuation errors alone had me confused as to the emotional state of every situation.  The entire narration is awkward- not just the conversation. There are so many "plot twists" that they become tedious- time travel, reproduction experiments, telepathic communication, portals, blah, blah, blah.  Because of these, there are also so many holes in the story that one just gives up hope of anything making sense at all.

 Olivia comes across as a whiny narcissist who wants everyone to listen to her because she's the only woman left who can naturally conceive a child. At every confrontation I expected her to stamp her foot and shout "Because that's the way I want it!"  I was so annoyed with her by the end of the book that I almost didn't even care if she had resolved her internal issues with being able to have a child versus wanting to have a child.

Isaura, the evil villain of the tale, was ludicrous.  This ties directly in to the holes in the story.  I still have no idea what her actual motive was.  She hates Olivia.  Okay, but why?  And what is the purpose to everything?  There isn't one, as far as I could tell.

The ending was also overwhelmingly saccharine. Yes, I like a good, solid ending.  I even like endings that others might not find "happy."   Everyone was so happily wrapped up that I wanted to gag. 
I was disappointed in the conclusion of this trilogy.  It started out so well, and went downhill from there, ending with this pile of poorly put together words.

Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick

Becky had promise from the first page. She's aware of her own physical shortcomings and she doesn't make any excuses for them.  She is the way she is, and everyone can accept that or keep their opinions to themselves.  When she's offered the chance to be the most beautiful woman in the world, she takes it.  Who wouldn't? My opinion of her didn't last. 

 There were a few problems with this story as a whole, though.  The conversation is stilted quite frequently.  There's also something...off about the entire narration. Maybe because it's written by a man voicing a teenage girl, maybe it's because Becky has a tendency to describe everything to epic proportions.  Becky was okay as a narrator, but I didn't connect with her fully.  She never upheld her promise of being that sarcastic, funny girl who wryly observes the world and subtly changes it to suit her own needs.

The biggest issues with this book are Tom Kelly and his dresses.  He promises to make Becky the most beautiful woman in the world using "magic" but this magic is never explained.  Sure, I was able to glean some of how it works along the way, but I never fully understood what was happening.
 Then there is Tom himself, with the biggest plot twist of all.  This could have been an amazing addition, bringing readers back again and again.  I won't say what it is, in case you want to read the book, but the reveal was pretty huge and then the whole thing just fizzled.  Not everything needs a scientific explanation, but there is no evidentiary support at all.  There's just nothing. 

The entire story came across as shallow and mean.  I think it was supposed to be a cutting social commentary, but Becky never seemed to learn anything from her time as the most beautiful woman in the world other than how to provide better service to the rich.  She had dreams of providing for those who were physically impaired, and for those who didn't have the means to make better lives for themselves.  When her looks returned to normal, though, she seemed to have forgotten her ambitions entirely.  To me, this just says that the only way we can use our assets to help those in need is if we're beautiful enough to make a public spectacle of it all. 

I think with a little bit of effort this could be the scathing commentary it was supposed to be.  As it is, though, Gorgeous doesn't add up to a good read. 

Thief (Scarab Beetle #1) by C. L. Stone

  Kayli is a thief, who makes sure never to steal from those who can spare a little cash, and she never steals from women or children.  All she wants to do is protect her little brother and get him into college so she doesn't have to worry any more.  When she meets some mysterious guys who want her help to stop a guy from his illegal activities, she wants to help make the world a better place.  But will they be able to stop him in time?

This book had a lot of potential.  It was a bitter disappointment.  Kayli may be a thief with morals, but she has no depth and shows no growth or development.  She is the same on page one as she is on page 339. 

I have to question the sanity of a girl who will put herself into a car with guys she just met, even if she is a fictional character.  I would like to think I would have been a little suspicious of their motives, but she just jumps in and doesn't have a clue where they want to take her.  Or do to her. 
She also doesn't hesitate to have intimate encounters with four guys in as many days- including the villain of the story.  She's so distracted by a pretty face, she can't seem to turn any of them down.  She also manages to string along the rest of the male cast for the entirety of the story. 

Her brand of flirting is everything I would hope isn't actually done in real life.  She hits guys, and then complains when they dare attempt to get her back.  She vocally disdains girls who play the coquette, but she masterfully does the same any time she has a chance.  She also hates it when girls are helpless, yet she plays that card several times too.  I particularly detested her ruminations on why physical violence gets her libidinous thoughts flowing. 

She also can't control her temper at all.  She shoots a guy with a nail gun just because he irritated her.  Did he seem to mind?  Not really.  As soon as he was released from the hospital, he was kissing her again.  She ran away from the team of guys who was supposed to be keeping her safe, straight into the lair of the bad guy, to whom she then gave away every single secret of the group working to take him down.

My biggest issue with this story is its lack of just that- story.  There are 300 pages of Kayli flirting, making out, and telling the reader why she's not ready for a relationship.  There are about nine pages of actual story.  When I finally got to the real action of the book, it was so anticlimactic it was almost laughable.  All the sexual tension dragged throughout the entire book made me even forget what was really supposed to be happening. 

I don't even want to know what happens in the next installment. 

Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno

I was expecting much more from this book.  There was very little that wasn't almost absurd  when it came to the magical elements, and I'm not even remotely making a comparison to actual magical practices. The romantic story line was saccharine at best.  I wasn't very attached to either Skye or Drake, not to mention the background characters.  It wasn't even hard to peg who the Singularity was, from the first time she was mentioned.  I found this to be a cute, not too engaging or absorbing story. I might read the next one just because I invested the time to read this one, but we'll see.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E Pearson

Kiss of Deception is a story of fierce determination and fighting for a dream.  Lia, Kaden, and Rafe make intriguing protagonists with revolving points of view who give readers insight to everyone's thoughts, goals, and motivations. 

These three main characters are strong, and the alternation viewpoints illustrate how each one evolves and drives the plot ever forward.  This was an instance when I was sure a sequel was coming and I didn't have any reservations about wanting to read it.  I was mildly confused about the sudden inclusion of Pauline's first person narrative because it only lasted for one chapter, but it had relevance to the plot and I think it will have an effect on the way the story progresses in the next book. The rest of the characters are also strong, no matter how small their roles.  Whether you hate the Chancellor and the Scholar or love Lia's brother's, each person is memorable.  

I will have to say that it drove me absolutely bloody crazy that, even though I knew one guy was the prince from whom Lia was running and one was the assassin sent to kill her in her sleep, I had no idea which one was which until about a third of the way through the story.  I had a good guess as to the identity of each, but I would question myself occasionally.  I will also have to admit that I liked that I didn't know for sure, that Pearson kept me guessing for a while.

I would have also liked to know a little more about Lia's gift.  She's certain she doesn't have one at all because it's never made itself known to her before she's seventeen. Other women in the story have the gift, too, though, and there's not a lot they have to say about it either.  I found this a little frustrating, to be honest, but as the mysteries unraveled, I felt more confident that more information would be provided.  Maybe it wasn't in this book, but I'm okay with waiting for it. 

The Kiss of Deception is definitely one I would purchase and I'm really looking forward to reading the next installment of Lia's story. 

Searching for Perfect by Jennifer Probst

I liked this romance between the nerd turned hottie and the outwardly perfect woman who is supposed to find his perfect match.  It was a decent story, a good way to forget about everything else for a while.

Nate makes a good male protagonist, even given tiny level of understanding about mathematics and aeronautics. He's comfortable with himself, he's honest, and he just wants to find love. He's smart, driven and has that hidden heart of gold- the trifecta of romance heroes. 

I wasn't that attached to Kennedy as the female protagonist, though.  I know that every woman has issues with her own body no matter her age (I certainly do), but she isn't a character I connected with.  She knows she's physically perfect, she knows men find her attractive, and she's a little too restrictive with herself about food.  Maybe it was that disconnection that makes me feel like she didn't suffer anything THAT traumatic during high school, that she should get a grip already, and just accept herself for who she is, no matter if there's a tiny change in her physical appearance.

I think what I found most memorable (and most odd) about the whole book was the scientific sex scenes.  I appreciate honesty and dirty talk as much as the next girl, but goodness, Nate's was so matter-of-fact that I felt like I was reading a manual rather than a novel.  I don't embarrass easily- I am publicly posting a review of a romance novel, after all- but these scenes had me blushing. 

I'm curious to see who Probst chooses as her next subject for a story.  I know I'm not the only one interested in finding out more about Wolfe.