All the Rage by Courtney Summers

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A devastatingly real portrait of the brutality faced by teenage girls, All the Rage will haunt you.  Summers has a talent for relating horrifying events and their aftermath  succinctly and with precision.  Her writing style is flawless and her plots are never as straightforward as they seem.  Despite the fact that she writes stories that are hard to wrap the head around, I am always left with a sense of hope that sentimental books fail to deliver.  All the Rage is beautifully narrated and is not to miss.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Although there are several elements in this story that are reminiscent of other YA favorites (Red
Rising, The Hunger Games, even Divergent), I feel quite strongly that Aveyard has made Red Queen strong on it's own.  There are many reviews claiming hatred and insinuating minor plagiarism, but can you honestly tell me that you can't see any equal similarities in The Hunger Games, Divergent, and even Red Rising?


Those who have nothing but disparaging remarks for this book are entitled to their own opinions.  I won't tell them they're wrong for not liking exactly what I like.  But we, as consumers of the written word, need to get over this "special snowflake" issue.  Yes, Mare is special.  So was Katniss.  And Katsa.  And Darrow.  And Percy Jackson. So was Jane Eyre, for that matter.  Books, series especially, would suffer greatly were the main character to not be "special."

The writing is strong here: the characters aren't quite what you expect, the plot is propelled by an excellent main character, the pacing and action are on point, and the ending is set up nicely for the next installment. Victoria Aveyard has given us a strong beginning to this trilogy.  I am looking forward to the next piece of it.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: Love it or hate it, it's up to you.  But I encourage you to read it because I thought it was great.  Available now from libraries and booksellers.

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Seeker is a bit slow and dull in the beginning.  And by beginning, I mean 200 pages or so.  I found the four narrations to be quite scattered from each other and had a hard time drawing everything together in my mind. 

Making cohesive connections between Quin, John, Shinobu, and Maude was difficult for most of the book.  As a reader you have to sort through four pasts leading up to the point of intersection, and then through four perspectives of events after they join to become the same story line.  I had a hard time relating to any of them, but I am a fan of books in which I don't particularly like the characters.  So I kept going.

There weren't really an plot twists that I hadn't already been anticipating.  The writing, however, is solid.  The characters might be hard to relate to, but they are all dynamic, evolving people who push the novel forward.  I do think that Seeker would have benefited from being shorter (i.e., not including every tiny detail of everyone's pasts, making readers wonder when this story is going to continue, never minding where it's going).  I did like it, though.

Yes, I did like it.  The action, when it finally happens, is intense and quickly paced leaving us on a cliffhanger and wondering where the story could go in the next installment.  I"ll be keeping an eye out for the sequel. 

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton: Get through the slow parts and it's definitely worth it.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.

Deviation (Clone Chronicles #2) by Heather Hildenbrand

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this installment of the Clone Chronicles.  There were parts that were excellent and full of action.  And there were parts that didn't make a lot of sense, story-wise, and were overflowing with cheese-tastic dialog, characters that had been dynamic suddenly falling flat, and a sense of being rushed through the reading.

Ven really irritated me this time around.  She was whiny, irrational, and not herself.  Which sounds odd to say about a fictional person, but it felt almost as if the book were narrated by someone else posing as Ven.  Several scenes seem to be just tossed in for the sake of inclusion rather than any actual pertinence to the story line. 

Regardless, Deviation is still the second part of this series and I feel it necessary to read if only because you'll miss a few important things and might be confused during the third installment.  You might not be a fan of this one individually, but to get a sense of the encompassing plot of the entire set. 

Deviation (Clone Chronicles #2) by Heather Hildenbrand: A must if you're going to read the series.  Otherwise mass chaos and confusion will ensue.  Available from libraries and booksellers now.

Zoey and the Nice Guy (Big Girl Panties #1) by Carter Ashby

 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Just to get the negative out of the way, Zoey and the Nice Guy presented some issues for me, as far as character development.  Her regression from independent, self-sufficient chick who takes care of those she loves to stark-raving lunatic at a certain plot point was annoying.  She went from being a character I could applaud to one I wanted to push down a flight of stairs.  I am a fan of stories where I don't always admire the characters, though, so I kept on with her tale.

For fans of modern romance this is a good choice.  It's quick, it's got a decent plot, and it has some excellent characters.  Zoey is fiercely loyal to her friends, her friends are not spineless twits, and Kellen is a good counterpoint to Zoey.  I would recommend it for its happy ending. 

Zoey and the Nice Guy (Big Girl Panties #1) by Carter Ashby: If you're not a fan of the romance genre, skip it.  Otherwise, you'll probably like it.  Available now from libraries and booksellers. 

Waiting for April by Jaime Loren

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is decent if you're looking for just a romance.  The problem overall, however, is that it's not just a romance.  There the angle of reincarnation, with a theme of soul mates who will find each other in any time or place. 

The characters are presented well, each being fairly memorable and unique.  The concept of the story is a good one.  Sadly, it just doesn't mesh together.  There is entirely too much time devoted to the coupling-up of April and Scott.  A mystery is hinted at.  Intrigue is introduced.  Danger is definitely dangled.  But the development of plot isn't really there. 

I felt as if the ending was rather slapped together, not to mention unsatisfactory.  If you have read any of my other reviews you'll know that I am not always a fan of a happy ending.  I love an ending that leaves you feeling a little cheated, so long as the ending makes sense for the rest of the story.  But the suspense is quickly flung into an overly dramatic, not-clearly-explained mash-up of plot twists that leaves you dangling over the edge of a cliff by your fingernails. 

Waiting for April by Jaime Loren: I can't say I recommend this book, but I'll leave it up to you whether or not you'll read it.  Just don't be surprised if you're not a huge fan by the last page.

Altered by A. D. Croucher

 

 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Although this isn't the deepest mystery I've ever read, I really enjoyed this book.  The characters, especially Reese, are engaging, memorable, and highly developed.  The plot is excellent, with expertly timed twists, fantastic pacing, and great dialogue.  It's a fast read- perfect for those who like action, mystery, and just a hint of science-fiction weirdness.  I'll definitely be reading the sequel, and so should you.

 

Altered by A. D. Croucher: A must-read that you won't regret.  Available from booksellers and libraries now!