Destiny by Gillian Shields REVIEW

Immortal series: Book Four

Summary:

Helen has always been the "crazy" one among the girls of Wyldcliffe, scarred by her bleak past and her troubled relationship with her mother, the former headmistress and leader of the Wyldcliffe coven, Mrs. Hartle.

But Miss Scratton promised Helen that a love "beyond the confines of this world" is waiting for her. Could this be Lynton, the mysterious music student who visits Wyldcliffe for his lessons? And what about the brooch her mokther gave her--what can the Seal reveal about Helen's past and future?

Now that Miss Scratton is gone, life at Wyldcliffe takes an even darker turn. An unexpected threat arrives in the form of a new high master, whom Helen remembers from her unhappy childhood. Can Helen, Evie, and Sarah finally overcome Wyldcliffe's darkness? Will Lady Agnes come to their aid? And what sacrifices must they make to fulfill their destiny?

My Thoughts:

This series should have ended after Betrayal. The narration changed again for this book, and although I should be used to it by now, it didn't change completely. All of the main characters have certain parts of this book to narrate. I'm used to it after reading a couple books that were like that (not by this author), but this was different. This series should have never changed narration if it wanted to be a great series until the end.

Velvet was given a bigger role in this book, but not big enough.

My Rating: 1 star

Eternal by Gillian Shields REVIEW

First: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!
Now: On to the book review!!!

Immortal series: Book Three
Summary:

At Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, Sarah is the faithful friend to Evie and Helen, her sisters in the Mystic Way. But this term Sarah finds that their friendship is tested. Evie is turning her back on the Mystic Way after laying her beloved Sebastian's soul to rest; Helen is distracted by her tormented relationship with her mother. Sarah struggles to keep the sisterhood together as the threat of attack looms from the dark coven and the Unconquered lords.
All that keeps Sarah going is her connection with her earth powers and a promise she cannot break. When she must step out of the shadows and fight the eternal darkness, will her sisters join her, or will help come from unexpected sources, like her Romany ancestors and a love she'd only just dared hope for?

My Thoughts:

I was sad to find that Sebastian died in the previous book, and I wasn't eager to read this one, since the protagonist is a different person than the last two books.
First: why won't the coven just die??? do they have an infinite lifespan? because they want to be immortal, they aren't supposed to be immortal, but they don't seem to die. at all.
Second: the plot twist with Velvet was supposed to be interesting. While Velvet is present for about half the book, she doesn't seem to play a part in the overall story.
Third: I had to keep reminding myself that Evie isn't the narrator. Why can't the whole series be narrated by just one person? I understand that other characters can be added in, like in the Lunar Chronicles, but the narrator in this book isn't a new character.
Conclusion: While this book was well written, it was definitely not as good as the previous books when you talk about the storyline.

My Rating: 2 stars

Betrayal by Gillian Shields REVIEW

Immortal series: Book Two

Summary:

When Evie Johnson started at Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, her life changed in ways she couldn't possibly have envisioned: the discovery of her link with Lady Agnes, her special bond with Helen and Sarah, and their sisterhood in the astonishing secrets of the Mystic Way. Above all, Evie's love for Sebastian has turned her world upside down.

Now Evie returns to Wyldcliffe for another term and more danger. Surrounded by enemies, she lives every day in fear that Sebastian will fall into the darkness of servitude to the Unconquered Lords. The Wyldcliffe coven is plotting to destroy Evie and use Sebastian to secure their own immortality. Evie and her sisters must master the power of the Talisman before it is too late. But could it be Sebastian himself who will ultimately betray Evie?

My Thoughts:

The first book, Immortal, was really good even though I read and reviewed it a very long time ago.

I expected this book to be just as good.

While it was well written and exciting with lots of surprising twists, it gave you the wrong idea of what would happen at the end; if you think Sebastian will be saved but still live, you'll be disappointed. While Sebastian got free of becoming something that he never wanted to be, he could only stay alive for one more day. He died, but he wouldn't be in torment like he would have if he didn't die.

Conclusion: this book was a great sequel but not as good as the first one.

My Rating: 4 stars

Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed REVIEW

My Thoughts:

This book was okay, but not that great.

Sometimes the chapters switched between perspectives of different people on different sides--which would have been cool if there were more of them and if they had more character development.

Overall, the story was not that bad, but it wasn't amazing.

My Rating: 2 stars

**I received this ebook from NETGALLEY for my honest review. Thank you!!!**

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch REVIEW

**Sequel to Snow Like Ashes**

Summary:

It's been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring's king, Angra, disappeared--thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria's lost chasm of magic. Theron is hopeful and excited--with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira knows that the last time the world had this much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm's secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe--even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Jannuari--leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell's growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter's security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception is woven tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom--and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for winter, but for the world.

My Thoughts:

I have been waiting for this book for so long!!!

After the previous book's cliffhanger ending, I was eagerly anticipating this book.

It is well written--but most of it is on Meira's search for allies and not enough of Mather's part in fighting for and helping the Winterians.

This book was good--but not better than the previous one.

My Rating: 3 stars

The Rose Society by Marie Lu REVIEW

**Sequel to The Young Elites**

Summary:

Adelina Amouteru's heart has suffered at the hands of both family and friends, turning her down the bitter path of revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she flees Kenettra with her sister to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army of allies. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.

But Adelina is no heroine. Her powers, fed only by fear and hate, have started to grow beyond her control. She does not trust her newfound Elite friends. Teren Santoro, leader of the Inquisition, wants her dead. And her former friends, the Dagger Society, want to stop her thirst for vengeance. Adelina struggles to cling to the good within her. But how can someone be good when her very existence depends on darkness?

My Thoughts:

I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO READ THIS FOR SO LONG AND NOW I FINALLY HOLD IT IN MY HANDS AND READ IT!!!! IT'S SO EXCITING!!!!

After the cliffhanger ending of The Young Elites,  I have been eagerly awaiting for this book to come out. And I wasn't disappointed at all.

Not only is this book written well, but it is a great sequel--when most sequels are terrible.

I have only one bad thing to say about it: some of it was confusing.

Now I can say that I am looking forward to the next book, if there will be one.

My Rating: 4 stars

 (not my picture)

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis REVIEW

Summary:

Grace Mae knows madness. She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

My Thoughts:

Okay, first: THAT COVER IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Now, let's get on with the review.

This book was really good!!! It wasn't as awesome as it looked and sounded, but it was still pretty good.

The only thing is: it sounds like they are hunting Jack the Ripper, but they aren't. Which disappointed me (I acquired a strange fascination with Jack the Ripper shortly after I started reading and watching Black Butler).

My Rating: 4 stars

The Shock of Night by Patrick W. Carr REVIEW

My Thoughts:

This book was way better than its prequel, By Divine Right. Things were explained instead of making you guess and there was a better and more interesting plot.

The main character is trying to solve a murder--well, several murders that happened the same way. His life turns upside-down when he is given a gift that the public thinks doesn't exist anymore. He meets a secret organization and they don't know if they should kill him or help him.

This book was very good, but it sometimes got boring and dragged on.

My Rating: 4 stars

**I received this as an ebook from NETGALLEY for my honest review. Thank you!**

Embers & Ash by T. M. Goeglein REVIEW

**Sequel to Cold Fury and Flicker & Burn**

Summary:

Sara Jane Rispoli finds herself on the wrong side of the Russian mob, but closer to finding her family than she's ever been. And she's willing to do whatever it takes to end this terrible journey once and for all--even if the price is her own life.

The very cold fury that has seen her through the worst of her troubles is now killing her, its deadly electricity--a weapon against her enemies--attacking her from the inside our; she knows the cure, but she can't sacrifice the electricity until she's rescued her parents and little brother. To do that, she'll need every drop of cold fury she has. But if she does rescue her family, she knows it won't be the happy reunion she's been hoping for. And it won't end the torment. Only destroying the Outfit completely can stop this terrible nightmare. And she may have figured out just how to do that.

In the meantime, old enemies return to seek vengeance, double-crosses abound, and even more mysteries are uncovered as we rocket toward a conclusion no one saw coming.

My Thoughts:

This book was ok.

It wasn't as good and exciting as Flicker & Burn, but it was better than Cold Fury.

It didn't seem as exciting. I feel as if the books could have been two instead of three and it would get a lot better of a rating.

My Rating: 3 stars

Giveaway on Author Lori M. Lee's blog!

Hey everyone! Here is an awesome giveaway on Lori M. Lee's blog!!!
Link

Flicker & Burn by T. M. Goeglein REVIEW

**Sequel to Cold Fury**

Summary:

Sara Jane Rispoli is still searching for her missing family, but now, instead of fighting off a turncoat uncle and crooked cops, she's running from creepy beings with red, pulsing eyes and pale white skin speeding through the streets of Chicago in armored black ice cream trucks; they can only be described as ice cream creatures.

While she battles these new pursuers, Sara Jane also finds herself navigating the unexpected terrain of new family members: an uncle Jack who's suffering from Alzheimer's, but whose foggy memories might also help her unlock some of the most baffling Outfit secrets; and cousin Heather, a gorgeous former child actress, who's guarding a cold fury secret of her own.

The more Sara Jane learns about the Outfit, her family and the fury burning inside of her, the more desperate she becomes to find her family. And after seeing her mother's amputated finger and being whistled in for a sit-down with the Outfit boss himself, Sara Jane knows she's running out of time.

"My name is Sara Jane Rispoli. It's not my birthday, and I haven't eaten cake since I turned sixteen, but I'm plagued by ice cream.

If anyone offers me a cone, I'll break his nose."

"I don't have any plans for the future, other than to continue breathing."

My Thoughts:

This book was SO GOOD. Unlike Cold Fury, it wasn't boring at all. Not even a little bit. 

Which was good, because I hate it when books have boring parts in them.

I love how much action is in this book. I really love it when books like this are written, because there are many disappointing books that make me feel sad.

I hope that the next book will be just as good, or even better!

My Rating: 4.5 stars

The Shadow Behind the Stars by Rebecca Hahn REVIEW

Summary:

Mine are the fingers that choose the wool, that shape the thread, that begin it. The sun smiles upon me. Men love me without knowing who I am. I have lived forever and will live forever more. 

My sisters and I have been on our isolated island for centuries, longer than any mortal can remember. We spin, measure, and slice the countless golden threads of human lives.

We are the three Fates, and we have stayed separate for good reason: It is dangerous for us to become involved with the humans whose lives we shape. So when a beautiful girl named Aglaia shows up on our doorstep, I try to make sure my sisters don't become attached. But in seeking to protect them, I discover the dark power of Aglaia's destiny. As her path unwinds, my sisters and I find ourselves pulled inextricably along--toward mortal pain, mortal love, and a fate that could unravel the world.

My Thoughts:

This book was boring at first. It got better later on, but it also got a lot more confusing . . . 

The narrator, Chloe, is talking to you and telling the story at the same time.

I am not used to books that are written that way.

It was pretty good, but definitely not the best.

My Rating: 2 stars

The author's website is here.

Winter Comes Out Today!

THE FOURTH BOOK IN THE LUNAR CHRONICLES IS OUT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and yes, it deserves that many exclamation points)

I have been waiting FOREVER for it to come out.

and the COVER! IT'S SO PRETTY!

I cannot wait to read & review it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler REVIEW

Four Riders of the Apocalypse: Book Four

Summary:

Contrary to popular belief, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse aren't just harbingers of doom--they actually keep life in balance. But what happens when their leader and creator, Death, becomes suicidal?

Before the first living thing drew its first gasping breath, he was there. He has watched humanity for millennia. And he has finally decided that humanity is not worth the price he has paid time and again. When Death himself gives up on life, a teenager named Xander Atwood is the world's only hope. But Xander bears a secret, one that may bring about the end of everything.

My Thoughts:

This book was SO much better than the last one. I mean it. *yay*

But a lot of it was really confusing--mostly Xander's story and Death's sudden goodbyes.

I feel as if it would have been fine as just a trilogy, or if there was a book about Death becoming Death as the first book in the series would have been better.

My Rating: 3 stars

Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler REVIEW

Four Riders of the Apocalypse series: Book Three

Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Billy Ballard is the kid that everyone picks on. Things change drastically when Billy learns that years ago, he'd been tricked by Pestilence, the White Rider of the Apocalypse. Now it's Billy's turn to wield Pestilence's Bow and spread sickness through the world. He uses his new power to lash out at his tormentors . . . and accidentally causes an outbreak of disease. Horrified by his actions, he wants nothing more than to be rid of the Bow. For that to happen, Billy must track down the previous White Rider, who is hiding in a place where even Death cannot go.

By the time Billy finds the man who had tricked him so long ago, the White Rider is completely insane and is poised to unleash a plague that would make the Black Death look like a summer cold. And only Billy can stop him. Does one bullied teenager have the strength to stand his ground and the courage to save the world?

My Thoughts:

This book was actually really terrible. Maybe it's the character, or maybe it's the storyline, but I did not like this book at all.

A lot of it was boring, and what wasn't boring was confusing.

I hope that the last book will be better than this and exceed my high expectations. Because I hated this one.

My Rating: less than 1 star

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler REVIEW

Four Riders of the Apocalypse: Book Two

Summary:

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 razorblade, 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.

My Thoughts:

The first like 50 pages were strange. But the rest of it was pretty good. In some ways, it was even better than Hunger.

But it wasn't that amazing.

Most books sound appealing--but less than half of them end up disappointing or just ok.

That's what I felt with Rage.

My Rating:  3 stars

Dark Matters by Michael Dow REVIEW

My Thoughts:

I love that cover! It's so beautiful! *squeaks*

This book was good, but not amazing.

For the most part, it was good, but it went off the storyline a lot.

It was also at times confusing.

The chapters alternated stories between three people, but didn't say which one was which. You had to figure it out yourself.

Also, a lot of characters died at the end, ones that I thought were kind of important. And it isn't a stand-alone book. It's the first book in a trilogy.

My Rating: 3 stars

You can find the really amazing book trailer at: http://www.darkmattersbook.com/books/

Art Students League of New York on Painting REVIEW

My Thoughts:

At first, I thought: A book of paintings sounds cool! So I requested it for review.

But there were some inappropriate paintings in there. I CAN THINK OF MANY OTHER THINGS TO PAINT. SO WHY?

If that didn't happen, I would have gladly loved this book.

But it happened. So I didn't.

My Rating: 0.5 star

More Info

Author Bio

**I received this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review. Thank you!**

Neverseen Comes Out Today!

The fourth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series is here!!!

The cover is so beautiful!!!

I can't wait to read it and review it!!!

Death Riders by Justin Richards REVIEW

My Thoughts:

This book was better than Heart of Stone, the previous Doctor Who novel that I reviewed.
But it still wasn't amazing.
A space monkey is controlling a human. It wants to eat the humans at the fair.
The Doctor, Amy, and Rory must stop it.
Like I said, this book was good, but not the best.

My Rating: 3 stars

**I received this as an ebook from NETGALLEY for my honest review. Thank you!**

Heart of Stone by Trevor Baxendale REVIEW

My Thoughts:

This book was okay. It wasn't amazing at all.

The Doctor, Amy, and Rory land in a farm. Moonstone appears there. A rock man can turn anything it touches into stone.

I think I might have liked it better if it was an actual Doctor Who episode.

It wasn't that exciting to read, but maybe if I watched it I would have liked it better.

My Rating: 1 star

**I received this as an ebook from NETGALLEY for my honest review. Thank you!**

System Wipe by Oli Smith REVIEW

My Thoughts:

This book was pretty good, but it wasn't extraordinary.
Some of it just wasn't explained well enough.
The Doctor, Amy, and Rory find themselves at the end of the world.
Robots are coming to destroy and recreate the world.
There is a game where the humans are gone but their avatars are still there and working on their own.
They must save both worlds before they are all dead.
The avatar concept reminded me of Sword Art Online (an anime series).
It was good, but not my favorite.

My Rating: 3 stars

**I received this as an ebook from NETGALLEY for my honest review. Thank you!**

The Witch of Lime Street by David Jaher REVIEW

Summary:

The 1920s are famous as the golden age of jazz and glamour, but it was also an era of fevered yearning for communication with the spirit world, after the loss of tens of millions during the First World War and the Spanish-flu epidemic. A desperate search for reunion with dead loved ones precipitated a tidal wave of self-proclaimed psychics--and, as reputable media sought stories on occult phenomena, mediums became celebrities.

Against this backdrop, in 1924, the pretty wife of a distinguished Boston surgeon came to embody the raging national debate over Spiritualism, a movement devoted to communication with the dead. Reporters dubbed her the blonde Witch of Lime Street, but she was known to her followers simply as Margery. Her most vocal advocate was none other than Sherlock Holmes's creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who believed so thoroughly in Margery's powers that he urged her to enter a controversial contest, sponsored by the Scientific American and offering a large cash prize to the first medium declared authentic by its impressive five-man investigative committee. Admired for both her d=exceptional charm and her dazzling effects, Margery was the best hope for the psychic practice to be empirically verified. Her supernatural gifts beguiled four of the judges. There was only one left to convince . . . the acclaimed escape artist Harry Houdini.

My Thoughts:

This book was terrible. I didn't even try to finish it.

It was not written in an interesting way.

There was a lot of talk about Spiritualism and weird things like that.

I do not recommend this book at all.

My Rating: 0.5 star

More Info 

Author Bio

Author's Website

**I received this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review. Thank you!**

Marked by Sue Tingey REVIEW

My Thoughts:

This book was okay.
Lucky de Salle is able to see and communicate with ghosts--even her best friend is a ghost. But then demons show up. Lucky is unaware that her best friend is actually a demon, not a ghost--and that most of her friends are demons. Then she finds out that she's her friend's half sister--and is demon royalty, too.
The book was kind of boring at first, but it got better later on.
This seems to be the first book in a series, and some of the problems aren't resolved at the end.
The story was okay, but I didn't like it very much.

My Rating: 2 stars

**I received this book from NETGALLEY for my honest review. Thank you!**